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Steph Ryan celebrates P-12 funding but questions rest of state budget

By Simon Ruppert

May 4, 2022

Mixed feelings: State Member for Euroa Steph Ryan has welcomed state budget funding for Benalla P-12 College but has questioned a lack of money for mental health services. Photo by contributed

State Member for Euroa Steph Ryan welcomed funding to complete the rebuild of Benalla P-12 College.

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However she said it was the highlight of an otherwise bare state budget.

Ms Ryan, who has campaigned for the school’s rebuild since she was elected in 2014, has congratulated the school community.

“Benalla students deserve first-class facilities and finally they will get them,” Ms Ryan said.

“I’m very proud to have advocated for this project. The school’s rebuild was started under the Nationals when we were in government and I have been fighting for its completion ever since Labor took office.

“Like all the staff, students and families I can’t wait to see these new buildings up and running.”

Ms Ryan said she felt the state government’s management of the pandemic was poor and the uncertainty created had taken a massive mental toll on local people, with funds for new acute mental health beds in Shepparton and Wangaratta desperately needed but long overdue — even before the pandemic.

She also questioned why the government had cut the budget for mental health community support services.

“I’ve been calling for additional mental health services for our region for a long time,” she said.

“I am pleased that the government has finally come to the table and recognised the huge gaps that exist in mental health provision in our area but I cannot understand why they are giving with one hand and taking with the other.

“It makes no sense to cut community mental health support which is critical to ensuring people don’t reach the point of requiring acute services.”

Ms Ryan said beyond funding for Benalla College and new mental health beds in the region, important projects such as funding for Euroa Health, the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre and better road maintenance had been ignored.

"(The state government) has cut more money from road maintenance, public dental, agriculture and regional development.

“The budget also reveals enormous cost blowouts in metropolitan projects, including another $3.9 billion on the West Gate Tunnel and an enormous debt burden.

“(The government’s) mismanagement of major projects means vital projects in regional Victoria are missing out.”