Member for Morwell Russell Northe has written to the State Government Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley seeking answers on behalf of the Gippsland community on how it intends to spend the money it has allocated in its most recent budgets.
“In the last two Victorian budgets, the Andrew’s Government has in its own words budgeted to fund the acquisition of land, and build a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment facility in Gippsland,” said Mr Northe
“I applaud the Government for such investment; however it appears that not a dollar of the $9.7 million or the $40.6 million that was budgeted for, has been spent purchasing land or building a facility in our region”, Mr Northe said.
The concern for our community is that in response to Mr. Northe’s constituency question raised in Parliament on 7th August 2018, the Minister referenced the HOPE Restart Centre in East Gippsland as part of the State Governments investments.
“Whilst I congratulate the State Government for providing funding for the ‘operations’ of the HOPE Restart Centre in East Gippsland”, Mr. Northe said, “I note the acquisition of land and the construction for that particular facility was provided by entities other than the State Government”.
“In this regard, I’m seeking for the Minister to provide details on where and when will the promised funding to acquire land and construct a rehabilitation facility in Gippsland actually happen.” said Mr Northe.