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Leadership programs cut in regional Victoria

By Georgia Tacey

Jun 14, 2023

Unhappy with cuts: State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Funding has been cut for community leadership programs in regional Victoria.

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The funding, which was set up by the Victorian Coalition Government in 2011/12, will end this year after the Labor Government announced the funding would be ceasing at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing earlier this month.

Shadow Minister for Regional Development Peter Walsh said the program was given funding by the Coalition to help develop leaders in our regional communities.

“These programs deserve long-term financial security,” he said.

“They shouldn’t have to go knocking on doors to raise funding in order to continue.”

Mr Walsh said strong community leaders developed by these programs could help regional communities during challenging times.

“With the premature closure of the native timber industry, changes to power generation and the recent floods in parts of Victoria, developing community leaders is more important than ever,” he said.