LIBERAL Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has condemned the State Government’s response to her request to continue emergency funding for Lifeline Loddon Mallee made in Parliament last August.
Ms Lovell made the $119,000 funding request in State Parliament on August 15, seeking an extension of emergency funding which had been received in the wake of the pandemic in addition to their standard annual funding.
Ms Lovell received a written response from Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams on Tuesday indicating the Andrews Government would cease the additional emergency funding but would continue to support Lifeline with ongoing funding.
“In response to the 2022 floods in regional Victoria Lifeline was given a once-off funding $250,000 to support the mental health and wellbeing of Victorians impacted by the floods,” Ms Williams said.
“The Andrews government continues to support the valuable services provided by the Lifeline centres in Victoria. In 2023-2024 Lifeline Centres in Victoria will receive ongoing funding totalling $1.55 million.”
Ms Lovell said it was a “disgrace” Labor’s funding withdrawal had come at a time when parts of the region were still recovering from the October 2022 floods. She added that without the additional funding the service would have to cease a vital grief and loss counselling service and reduce volunteer recruitment from the required 35 to 15.
“Tragically, a life was lost to suicide in the Loddon Mallee region every four days in 2022 and hospitalisations for self-harm rose significantly in the past year,” she said. “Lifeline Loddon Mallee is playing a crucial role in helping those in need.
“The service supports a region where many are still suffering from the impacts of both the pandemic and the October 2022 floods, and I urge the Minister to reconsider this callous decision and reinstate the additional funding requested.”
Ms Lovell said the standard funding received by Lifeline Loddon Mallee from the Andrews Government covered only 25 per cent of the service’s annual operating costs and called on Ms Williams to reconsider her decision and provide the vital funding to the service.
