CABINET TO VISIT HEPBURN AND CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS SHIRES

Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Premier John Brumby today went online to announce that Community Cabinet would visit Hepburn and Central Goldfields shires next week.

Mr Brumby said the upcoming meeting would be the 83rd Community Cabinet since the Victorian Government created Community Cabinets in 1999.

“We are taking action to govern for all Victorians, no matter where they live,” Mr Brumby said.

“Since 1999 Community Cabinet has been giving Victorians an opportunity to speak directly with the decision makers of the state.

“It is about providing an opportunity for local communities to raise their ideas and concerns directly with ministers and senior government officials, delivering on our commitment to make government more accessible to people across Victoria.”

The Victorian Government introduced Community Cabinet in 1999 as a way to bridge the gap between government and communities.

The Hepburn and Central Goldfields shires Community Cabinet will take place on May 19 and May 20. It will involve site visits by ministers and a series of forums and roundtable meetings with community members with some announcements also expected.

Mr Brumby said regional Community Cabinets, including the most recent in Southern and Northern Grampians shires, had been successful with community members using the opportunity to present a wide range of issues to the Victorian Government.

“In addition to our ongoing Community Cabinet program we are boosting access for all Victorians to government information through a redesigned and improved website,” he said.

“The new website which I launched in March offers people new ways to interact with our government. As well as giving site visitors access to speeches, media releases and interview transcripts, the site is giving Victorians a whole new view of government with new video and audio content.

“It now also features up-to-date reports from our latest Community Cabinet where Victorians can listen to local community members speak about Community Cabinet in their shire.” 

Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government was looking forward to having the opportunity to hear first-hand concerns and ideas from communities in the Hepburn and Central Goldfields shires. 

For more information about the Victorian Government’s Community Cabinet program visit www.premier.vic.gov.au .