THE Federal and Victorian governments must ensure regional areas like the Mildura electorate are not forgotten in post COVID-19 recovery efforts with unemployment likely to soar.
Figures show the Mildura Local Government Area (LGA) traditionally has higher unemployment compared to Victorian and Australian averages.
It is a factor Member for Mildura Ali Cupper says must be taken seriously as governments look to infrastructure investment as part of the COVID-19 economic recovery phase.
Mildura LGA had an unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent in December 2019 compared to Australia’s 5.1 per cent and Victoria’s 4.7 per cent.
“Victorian Government modelling released last week has predicted the state’s unemployment rate could peak at 11 per cent in the September quarter,” Ms Cupper said.
“Given history tells us the Mildura LGA has traditionally higher unemployment rates compared to the state and national average, we are facing a very sobering and potentially bleak period ahead.
“That’s why both the Victorian and Federal governments must ensure regional areas like Mildura are not forgotten.
“We are going to need investment more than ever in our region. We don’t want token efforts, we want substantial investment in infrastructure.
“We need to ensure we are not left behind, that we are not going to be worse off – when history shows us we are traditionally worse off already.”
Ms Cupper again pointed to the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct as just one example of a major infrastructure project in her electorate that needed funding as a matter of urgency.
She is urging the Victorian Government to provide $10 million to ensure the precinct is completed in full.
“The Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct project was at the top of my priority list for funding in the 2020 Victorian budget and given what has happened with COVID-19, securing that investment has never been more important,” she said.
“Projects like Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct will provide employment in the construction phase as well as long term.”
