The Roberts Road Bridge in Yarragon will be replaced thanks to Australian Government funding under Round 5 of the Bridges Renewal Program (BRP) and Round 7 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP).

Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the $366,000 in funding for the bridge replacement saying the timing couldn’t be better to see funding flow to deliver better and safer bridges and freight roads in Monash.

“This vital funding will allow communities like the Baw Baw Shire community fast-track their highest-priority infrastructure projects, providing a much-needed boost to local jobs and the economy,” Mr Broadbent said.

“Every single local job we support in Monash by investing in infrastructure projects like the Roberts Road Bridge replacement means one less worry for another Australian and their family, reliable work on the books for local construction companies and more cash flowing through local businesses and communities doing it tough.

“By improving our country roads and bridges this funding will also help keep people safe on our roads while making key freight routes more efficient, delivering long-term benefits to drivers, businesses and local communities.

“This includes our local truckies, who form an essential part of the backbone of our national economy and have been working tirelessly during COVID-19 to keep supermarket shelves stocked, hospitals supplied and the economy moving.

“Now more than ever the continued roll out of road infrastructure projects is important to support local jobs, underpin economic growth and ensure all our local produce in Gippsland can reach destinations sooner and safer,” Mr Broadbent said.

$250 million will be injected into regional Australia, encouraging more Australians to travel and experience a home-grown holiday, boosting regional jobs and local economies.

The package include two measures announced today, a $50 million Regional Tourism Recovery initiative to assist businesses in regions heavily reliant on international tourism and $200 million for an additional round of the Building Better Regions Fund.

Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the funding saying the package would deliver targeted support for regional tourism from Bass Coast to Walhalla, Wilsons Promontory to Mount Baw Baw.

“By investing $200 million in an additional round of the Building Better Regions Fund we are investing $200 million in securing regional Australia’s future.

“This Budget will set aside $200 million for projects to boost local infrastructure in regional communities, $100 million of which will be dedicated to tourism-related infrastructure.

“We know every dollar spent on building local communities is a dollar well spent and that is at the heart of our economic plan for a more secure and resilient Australia.

Mr Broadbent said the Regional Tourism Recovery initiative  would target regions that had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic such as Phillip Island helping them to bounce back firstly by attracting more Australians and then overseas visitors when our international borders re-open.

“Tourism is such an important job creator and driver of many regional economies. We want to make sure that our tourism regions are in the best possible shape on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This targeted new fund will support internationally dependent tourism regions to adapt their offerings, experiences and marketing to appeal to domestic visitors in the short-term and be in the strongest possible position to welcome back international tourists down the track.

“More local jobs, better community infrastructure and a boost to our local economy – that is exactly what the Building Better Regions Funding program and the Regional Tourism Recovery initiative will bring.

“I look forward to seeing local tourism and infrastructure programs being constructed that will not only support local families and jobs but will be vital for the tourism for when we can welcome visitors back to our great region.

BBRF Round 5 will be delivered like its previous four rounds, with Infrastructure Project and Community Investment streams. Grant Opportunity Guidelines will be made available shortly, consistent with the existing BBRF framework, to assist potential applicants.

If you meet someone who says they have no regrets, find a new friend. My lingering regret is that I did not use my maiden speech to the Parliament in 1990 to argue the case for the release of Lindy Chamberlain, convicted of killing her baby daughter, Azaria.

I had a burning passion to see righted this dreadful injustice, possibly the greatest miscarriage of justice in Australia’s legal history.

A national whispering campaign, four inquests, a trial, wrongful conviction, appeal, acquittal, a Royal Commission, and finally exoneration.

There were no admissions in the case against her, no witnesses, no proven cause of death, no body, and only a five minute window of time to commit the crime and dispose of the body.

If we think that could only happen in the Northern Territory, never in the supposedly more sophisticated parts of Australia, we should all think again.

In 2007, Peter Smith was released after serving 12 months in a Melbourne prison when police admitted he’d been falsely charged with murder.

In 2009 Fara Jama was released after serving 15 months in a Victorian jail for rape, convicted on faulty DNA evidence for a crime that didn’t happen.

It is deeply worrying that in cases where appeals are exhausted but doubts of innocence remain, the only way to be referred back to the court is through the relevant State’s Attorney-General, a politician.

It is nearly impossible in this country of the fair go to have your case referred back to the court. It takes a brave Attorney-General to do that, and my experience of politicians is that when there is a vote involved or the court of public opinion is waiting to judge, bravery can be missing in action.

Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine, Stephen Cordner has called for the establishment of a Criminal Case Review Committee. I strongly back his call. One innocent Australian wrongly convicted, stuck in an Australian gaol, is one too many.

I can only wonder how many unjust rulings, let alone unjust laws have affected our First Peoples.

I have written to the Attorney General asking for such a Commission to be established, deleting politicians from the process.

New Zealand introduced its Commission on 1 July this year. It’s time we follow our trans-Tasman cousins.

Such an act would redeem the Chamberlain stain on our collective conscience and shine a light on any other injustices hiding in the shadows.

I’ve been feeling a little bit testy this week, I wouldn’t be on my own.

I don’t know how each of you are coping at the moment, but coming from a stage 4 lockdown area, I am missing all that we once took for granted.

Hugs from friends and family, especially grandchildren, shopping with my wife, a haircut and travelling anywhere I like without feeling threatened with a fine.

Going to the hardware store or nursery to pick up what I need and of course the things I don’t need.

Not seeing friends and when you do their face is hidden.

Picking up the papers without lining up, seeing thriving businesses crushed by the restrictions, they teeter on the edge of survival.

Just freedom to move.

Access to the Parliament of Australia, where I am elected to serve.

Going to work with my staff, moving about my electorate, just walking down to Logan’s to buy lunch for my office because stage 4 residents are not allowed in Warragul shops.

Yes, I do understand the need to defeat this COVID-19 virus, but many are doing it hard, really hard, and alone.

I’m one of the lucky ones, with today’s technology I can continue doing my job, with a large garden and plenty of space I’m not cramped in like others.

How would I be cooped up in an apartment? Heaven knows!

This is a testing time for all of us, freedom restricted, living life to its full denied. These times will pass, and we will all have a new appreciation of all the little things we took for granted, I sure will.

Stay strong, stay safe and above all treasure every intimate moment, every hug and every smile.

A mental health hub is planned for Warragul, with the Minister for Health announcing 15 new clinics across Victoria.

Local Member for Monash Russell Broadbent welcomed the announcement and encouraged anyone in the community struggling with their mental health, to seek support.

“This is a terribly difficult time for so many people in the Monash electorate and throughout the state. It’s important they know it’s okay not to feel okay.

“Free mental health support services will now be available at Sutton Street in Warragul.

“Our Government recognises that the ongoing restrictions are having a significant impact on the wellbeing and mental health of individuals and communities in Victoria. We are committed to ensuring that support is available across the state, including here in Gippsland, in our community,” Mr Broadbent said.

The clinics are staffed by multi-disciplinary teams of mental health professionals which may include GPs, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and/or other allied health workers.

Mr Broadbent said the new clinics, branded with the HeadtoHelp logo, will provide a place within the community for people to access mental health care as early and as conveniently as possible.

“The HeadtoHelp clinics will provide on-site mental health support, and will also connect to other mental health services in their region, including intensive mental health care or social supports, to ensure people get the help they need when they need it.

“The clinics will play a key role in supporting our GPs, emergency departments, and hospitals by providing easily accessible mental health care.

“This collaboration between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments is ensuring that the new clinics will be integrated with local services and will support other enhancements to Victoria’s mental health system,” Mr Broadbent said.

In addition to the clinics, $5 million in funding is being provided to enhance existing digital and phone services for specific groups that are experiencing significant challenges during the restrictions in Victoria.

These services providers include The Butterfly Foundation, Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), Q-Life, Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA), and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) Yarning SafeNStrong helpline.

This new support builds on the more than $500 million additional funding provided by our Government for mental health and suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 10 additional Medicare subsidised psychological therapy sessions for people subject to further restrictions.

Anyone concerned about their mental health can visit these clinics in person or call 1800 595 212 to talk to a health professional or connect to a service near them.

More information on how to access the HeadtoHelp clinics and additional digital supports can also be found at health.gov.au/resources or headtohelp.org.au.

Recently my office was contacted by constituents who were advanced in age. They were concerned and anxious.

What used to be a simple action for them pre-COVID was now causing stress and anxiety.

They needed to return forms to a government department. Previously they could fill them out in handwriting and drop the forms back

but now they’re required to go “online” to submit them.

On this occasion it was a government office, but next time it could be a bank, an insurance company, or a real estate agent.

Now more than ever, business is requiring everyone to go “online”.

Yet to some people, not all of them advanced in age, “online” is a foreign country.

Life experiences differ. Not everyone is “connected” in the digital age.

Expecting them to go where they have never been, where the language makes no sense and the landscape is confusing, creates stress in an already anxious environment.

The digital divide is real. But as with all divides in our society, empathy and understanding can help bridge it.

Governments, companies and service staff tend to take it for granted that going “online” is just what everyone does.

But it isn’t.

Understanding that is the key to helping those unfamiliar with the digital world to embark upon the journey of discovering it.

I have written to the Minister for Government Services to alert him to the need to ensure our service staff consider the impact of their advice before giving it.

Before telling clients or family members, for that matter “to go online”, we need to ask the question: “Are you familiar with the online service?”.

If they’re not, guide them how to access it and what to do when they get there.

Yes, it takes time. But it is a worthy investment. Share your knowledge. Take someone on the journey of learning. Everyone will benefit.

Eighty years ago this month, one of Australia’s greatest political tragedies and most shameful political cover-ups took place.

On the 13th of August 1940 RAAF pilot Flight-Lieutenant Robert E. Hitchcock was one of two army pilots charged with flying a bomber jet to Canberra with ten people on board, including four distinguished passengers.

Amongst Hitchcock’s charges were the esteemed Minister of Air and former world war one pilot, James Fairbairn. Minister for Army, Graham Street. Vice-president of the executive council, Sir Henry Gullett; and chief of the general staff, General Sir Brudenell White.

The world was again at war and PM Robert Menzies needed his most trusted military brains in Canberra for a cabinet meeting. But rather than Flight-Lieutenant Hitchcock piloting the plane, James Fairbairn took control.

He was the lead pilot when it crashed into Mt Stromlo on its approach to Canberra. The air strip where he nearly landed was named in his honour a year later.

It wasn’t just four brilliant military and political minds that died that day. So too did the reputation of RAAF pilot Hitchcock secretly ousted from the cockpit by Fairbairn.

Two quick formal inquiries did not seek to establish who flew the plane. Witnesses to both changed their evidence, contradictions emerged. An eye-witness who saw Fairbairn’s body strapped to the pilot’s seat kept the secret for decades. It was war time scandals are buried, lies are told in the name of the national interest.

But then is not now. And now is the time for the truth that was buried with Flight-Lieutenant Hitchcock to see the light of day. Former MP Michael Wooldridge, who also kept the eye-witness’s account secret for thirty years, has now broken his silence. So, too, should the official wall of silence around this truth.

One of our community, Kaye Greene of Warragul, has a direct and tragic association with this event. Her mother Olive Blanch Hitchcock was married to Flight-Lieutenant Hitchcock. Cowered by shame and shaming, she took her own life. The pilot’s son and Kaye’s brother Bob Hitchcock now 81, has suffered humiliation and community barbs all his life.

We owe it to them and the families and descendants of the others who perished that dreadful day to publicly correct the record.

I have written to the prime minister in just those terms. I noted: ‘now that we know the truth, declaring it will set us free from the lie which has bound us. It is time to right this wrong.’

Watch this space for his response.

Russell Broadbent MP
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