Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney has taken the fight to retain Colac Area Health’s financial counselling program to State Parliament.
In a speech made last night, Ms Tierney called on the Minister for Health, David Davis to immediately restore funding to the financial counselling service.
“Cutting funding for such a valuable service in Colac is extremely dangerous and irresponsible in a community which has pockets that are on a knife’s edge.
“Financial problems are extremely serious and have devastating effects if they are not resolved.
“These problems can cause generational disadvantage for families, leading to all sorts of other significant life problems.
“This decision is one that risks all sorts of negative outcomes for a relatively small amount of savings.
“This is a well-utilised and very valuable service in the Colac surrounding region, it simply must not be jeopardised,” Ms Tierney said.
In her contribution to Parliament Ms Tierney also spoke of the Napthine Government’s plan to increase phone counselling service to off-set the loss in services.
“I understand the government has indicated that it will add more phone counselling positions, however this is simply not an acceptable solution.
“Extra phone services simply will not cover the gaping hole that the cuts to this program will cause,” she said.
Ms Tierney made mention of the Colac Herald editorial and Colac Otway Shire Mayor, Lyn Russell’s comments published in January in her contribution.
As stated in the Colac Herald in January, the Napthine Government’s cuts will essentially halve the service reducing it from 1.5 full-time equivalent positions to 0.7 full-time positions.