I HAVE been encouraged by the first batch of surveys sent back to my office as part of Mallee’s Biggest Survey 2025 edition which should have landed in your letterbox over the last week.
You can also go to my website www.annewebster.com.au to share your views on over 35 questions about issues that matter to you.
I value your voice and I want to hear from you. As always, you can email me at anne.webster.mp@aph.gov.au if you want to outline your opinions further.
It’s too early to present you with findings from that survey and responses received before July 18 are in the running to win a new 11-inch 128GB (A16) Apple iPad.
This last week I have been in Canberra with some of your local mayors and councillors for the Australian Local Government Association conference.
As the new shadow minister for regional development, local government and territories, I spoke with the conference on some of the struggles you and your shires are facing, because I unashamedly support regional councils.
Some of the city councils had to hear a few uncomfortable perspectives on how tough regional councils are doing it across the nation.
I was approached by the Australian Mining Cities Alliance about ‘ghost populations’ which sounds very similar to the problem facing Robinvale.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics are letting down the towns with temporary workforces, whether they are migrants who pick fruit or fly-in, fly-out or drive-in, drive-out mining workers.
Robinvale’s population is at times three times what the ABS thinks it is, and the mining cities like Karratha and Kalgoorlie-Boulder reported similar distortions to me.
It makes it really hard for councils to provide services when governments believe those populations are smaller than they really are.
There is an immense amount of work in the local government portfolio alone, as I also sink my teeth into the other shadow ministry responsibilities of regional communications, regional development and the territories.
I am absolutely confident my new role will benefit you in Swan Hill, Robinvale and other communities because I remain 100 per cent focused on your needs.
