The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has taken aim at the Allan Labor Government over its handling of a simple question about which department owns a set of vacant buildings in Traralgon.
Mr Cameron was contacted by residents who raised concerns about the state of vacant government-owned properties on Hyde Park Road in Traralgon, siting broken windows and doors as giving way to squatters and anti-social behaviour.
“In September 2024 I was assured the properties were owned by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions (DJSIR), so that’s where I directed questions about what was being done with them,” Mr Cameron said.
“After sitting on the enquiry for five months, the DJSIR advised it had referred my enquiry to the Minister for Housing, claiming the properties fell under her portfolio.
“Then, the Minister for Housing sat on the referral for four months before informing me the properties were actually the responsibility of the Minister for Health.
“Last week, in a development that everyone saw coming, the Minister for Health informed me the properties were actually the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health.
“So now, after an entire year, this simple question from Latrobe Valley residents is sitting with a fourth Minister and we are still none the wiser.
“This is a comical albeit infuriating example that illustrates the Allan Labor Government is a complete basket-case.
“It’s impossible to get information out of Ministers who don’t even know their own portfolios, and it’s Victorians who are being short-changed every time.
“Given this has dragged on for a year now, I sincerely hope the Minister for Mental Health can provide an answer to this very simple question and give Latrobe Valley residents the respect of doing so in a timely manner.”
