Mond

Monday, 18 September 2006

FIGHTING FOR FINANCIAL COUNSELLORS

Extra financial counselling services are ‘a must’ for people in the Alpine Shire battling to make ends meet following the frost damage to tobacco crops earlier this year and the forthcoming tough dry times.

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has spoken with and written to Sherryl Garbutt, Minister for Community Services seeking immediate investigation and resolution of the problem of reduced financial counselling services in the Alpine Shire.

Dr Sykes said, “Insufficient financial counselling services in the Alpine Shire have been an ongoing issue. Over the past two years, I have worked with Cheryl Sanderson, Chair of Ovens Valley Awareness Group (OVAG), Alan Gurney, Financial Counsellor and the Alpine Shire seeking funding for financial counselling services.

“Over the past few years, funding for a basic service (one day/month at Bright and three days/month at Myrtleford) has been supplemented with fire recovery funding which was extended until 2006 because of the continued dry times.

“However, this extra funding has now ceased and the current financial services are booked out until well into 2007.”

Dr Sykes continued, “I have asked the Minister for Community Services to immediately provide additional funding so that people ‘doing it tough’ can at least be given sound, professional financial assistance to manage their money.

“Alpine Shire Mayor, Jan Vonarx and Councillor, Nino Mautone, advise me that they met with the Bracks Government last week and argued their case for support for financial counselling and other services to help people through the tough times.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I will ‘keep at’ the Bracks Government to ensure that the needs of people in the Alpine Shire are not forgotten as the Premier focuses on retaining its Melbourne based Labor seats. The Bracks Government must live up to its promise to govern for all Victorians.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989