100 days to go: Bring Parliament back to regional Victoria

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20 August 2026

With 100 days until the Victorian election, Regional Cities Victoria is calling on all political parties to commit to holding regional sittings of Parliament at least twice a year.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said regional sittings of Parliament are more than a symbolic or costly gesture – they are an investment in regional communities and a demonstration that Victoria’s regions matter to the people who govern them.

“Please don’t tell regional Victorians that bringing Parliament to us twice a year is too expensive while asking us to help pay for a $200 billion railway that will never come anywhere near us.”

Cr Blain said regional communities had seen too many commitments disappear while billions continued to flow into Melbourne.

“We were promised the Commonwealth Games. They disappeared. The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped. Our roads have deteriorated while Melbourne has had its Big Build,” he said.

“That’s why we’re calling for a $1 billion Regional Fund to create jobs, unlock more homes and invest in the infrastructure our growing cities need, and a $2 billion Regional Roads Package to finally fix our broken roads. 

“These are investments in the future of Victoria, but too often the decisions about our future are made without regional Victoria in the room.

“Government is very good at connecting things to regional Victoria – like transmission lines for renewables to power the state’s future. It hasn’t been nearly as good at staying connected to regional Victorians. Distance from Spring Street has too often meant distance from the decisions that shape our future.

“Regional Victorians are constantly coming to Parliament House to make our case. We travel to Melbourne, knock on doors, request meetings and compete for 15 minutes in diaries because decisions made in Spring Street have enormous consequences for our communities.”

The last time both Houses of Parliament sat in regional Victoria was in 2012, when the Legislative Assembly travelled to Ballarat and the Legislative Council sat in Bendigo.

“Regional sittings also support local accommodation, hospitality and businesses, open Parliament to regional students and residents, and give MPs from across Victoria an opportunity to experience the communities affected by their decisions.

“After years of regional communities being forced to go to Melbourne to be heard, it’s time the Parliament of Victoria came back to listen.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

BACKGROUND

The last regional sitting was the Legislative Council in Echuca on 18 April 2024, held in recognition of communities recovering from the 2022 floods. Before that, the Legislative Council sat in Bright in 2021 after the bushfires.

A regional sitting must originate as a motion from the House and the Governor must issue a proclamation to enable the house to meet outside Parliament House.

The last time both Houses of the Victorian Parliament sat in regional Victoria was 6 September 2012, when the Legislative Assembly sat in Ballarat and the Legislative Council in Bendigo. 

Regional sittings originated under the Bracks Government in 2001. 

Scrap the SRL? Invest $3 billion in regional Victoria

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12 August 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says billions earmarked for Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop could be redirected to regional roads, housing, infrastructure and jobs, declaring it is time to rebalance Victoria’s infrastructure priorities.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain, speaking at Parliament House today,  said regional communities had watched billions flow into major metropolitan projects while regional roads deteriorated, the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped and councils were asked to shoulder increasing costs.

“People want to live in regional Victoria. The opportunity is already there – what we are missing is the investment to match it,” Cr Blain said.

“If the Suburban Rail Loop is abandoned, I can tell the next government exactly where to start with some of those billions.

“Give regional Victoria $2 billion over four years to fix our roads and $1 billion toward infrastructure to unlock housing and kick-start job-creating precincts.

“That $3 billion that could start changing regional communities immediately.”

RCV is calling on all parties contesting the November state election to commit to:

• an additional $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years to address the deteriorating condition of regional roads; and
• a $1 billion Regional Fund to unlock enabling infrastructure, housing, investment and jobs across regional Victoria.
  

Cr Blain said the state election presented an opportunity to reset the relationship between Spring Street and regional Victoria after years of frustration over the balance of government investment.

“We watched the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund disappear while enormous investments continued to be made in Melbourne,” Cr Blain said.

“We’ve watched our roads get worse, and new costs imposed on our communities through things like the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, and too often regional Victorians feel their concerns aren’t being heard.

“The next government has the opportunity to right those wrongs.

“Regional Victoria is growing. People want to live there. Businesses want to invest there. But we need roads, housing and enabling infrastructure to turn that demand into long-term prosperity.

“Regional Victoria isn’t asking to be saved. We’re asking government to stop making growth harder than it needs to be.

“If there are billions of dollars freed up from the Suburban Rail Loop, regional Victoria is ready with a plan for more homes and more jobs,” Cr Blain said.

“And unlike the SRL, you won’t have to wait decades to see the difference.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

Regional Cities invites new Premier to regional Victoria

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4 August 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has welcomed Premier Ben Carroll’s new ministry and has extended an invitation for the Premier and his ministers to reconnect with regional Victoria and renew focus on the regional economies helping drive the state’s future.

Chair Cr Ben Blain said RCV stood ready to host the Premier in any of Victoria’s 10 largest regional cities to show firsthand the opportunities, challenges and enormous potential that exist beyond Melbourne.

“We’d love to welcome the Premier to one of our regional cities and show him what’s happening on the ground,” Cr Blain said.

“Regional Victoria isn’t just where you go for a weekend away. There’s a lot of economic opportunity waiting to be unlocked. Our communities are growing, we’re building homes, creating jobs and backing the industries that can support the state’s future. There is so much to capitalise on and invest in outside the metropolitan boundary.”

Cr Blain thanked former Premier Jacinta Allan for her service and acknowledged her longstanding connection to regional Victoria.

“Jacinta Allan was a champion of regional Victoria, but somewhere along the way the Government lost touch with the needs of rural and regional communities,” Cr Blain said.

“The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund that helped communities get important projects off the ground was scrapped. Regional and rural Victorians continue to pay more because of policies like the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund levy. Billions have been invested in metropolitan rail and road projects meanwhile regional roads are busted and broken.

“It’s these things that have left a lot of people wondering whether the regions – and the rural communities they support – are still part of the conversation.”

Cr Blain said RCV was keen to work with the Carroll Government to rebuild regional economic development.

“We’re asking for a $1 billion Regional Fund to unlock even more housing and jobs, and an extra $2 billion on top of the existing maintenance spend to fix regional roads. We want to restore confidence to help build the economies that growing regions need,” Cr Blain said.

“I want to assure the new Premier, once you leave Melbourne, you don’t leave opportunity behind – you find it.”

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

Huge win for RCV road maintenance advocacy

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13 July 2026

Regional Cities Victoria’s long-running campaign for greater investment in Victoria’s regional and rural roads has received significant recognition, with the Victorian Coalition today committing $5 billion over four years to road maintenance as part of its election platform.

For years, RCV has argued that Victoria’s road network has continued to deteriorate despite record maintenance spending, consistently calling for governments to move beyond short-term repairs and commit to the long-term investment needed to rebuild the state’s roads.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said today’s announcement demonstrated that the condition of Victoria’s rural and regional roads had become one of the defining issues of the state election.

“For years we’ve been warning that our roads are going backwards despite record maintenance spending,” Cr Blain said.

“We’ve repeatedly said the current approach is like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole. You simply cannot patch your way out of decades of underinvestment.

“Today’s commitment is a significant acknowledgement of the case regional communities have been making for years.”

Cr Blain said safe and reliable roads underpinned every aspect of regional Victoria, from freight and agriculture to tourism, emergency services and everyday travel.

“Victorians are expected to drive roadworthy cars. The least government can do is provide car-worthy roads.”

RCV has consistently advocated that investment in roads should focus on rebuilding the network, not simply maintaining its decline, arguing that deteriorating roads are increasing costs for families, businesses and local government while undermining regional productivity and safety.

“RCV welcomes the fact that road investment has become a major election issue,” Cr Blain said.

“RCV has made road investment one of its signature advocacy priorities through election campaigns, ministerial meetings, regional roundtables and joint advocacy with industry and local government partners.

“We look forward to hearing how all parties intend to restore Victoria’s roads and deliver the long-term investment regional communities deserve.”

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

Regional Victoria speaks with one voice on roads

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MEDIA RELEASE

Meeting attendees in photo L-R (looking at the photo from empty chair next to Minister Spence):

• Bradley Thomas, Rural Councils Victoria Secretary and CEO of Hepburn Shire Council
• Scott Young, Vice President Victorian Farmers Federation
• Charlie Thomas, CEO Victorian Farmers Federation
• Cr Ben Blain, Chair RCV and Mayor of Warrnambool
• Russell Borchard, President Livestock & Rural Transporters Association
• Alina Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer Livestock & Rural Transporters Association
• Lisa Patroni, CEO Victorian Tourism Industry Council

 

Today, Regional Cities Victoria, the Victorian Farmers Federation, Rural Councils Victoria, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council and the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria delivered a united message to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ros Spence, calling for long-term investment in Victoria’s regional and rural road network.

We met with the Minister to discuss the growing safety and economic impacts deteriorating roads are having on communities, businesses and industries across the state.

The meeting provided an opportunity for frank discussion about the state of the network, and we reinforced that the time has come to move from talking about the problem to investing in the solution.

Whether it’s delivering freight, getting stock to market, welcoming visitors, taking the kids to footy or simply driving to work, communities right across rural and regional Victoria depend on safe and reliable roads.

Poor road conditions are adding costs throughout the supply chain, increasing freight costs and ultimately putting further pressure on the budgets of Victorian households.

We presented a united front, making it clear that this issue extends beyond individual roads, isolated projects and won’t be fixed by year-to-year funding announcements.

Regional roads are critical economic infrastructure, and investment needs to reflect the long-term role they play in keeping communities connected and supporting the industries that drive Victoria’s economy.

One of the most encouraging aspects of today’s meeting was the determination to make a difference. Different sectors and different perspectives, but the same message: we need a long-term investment plan for safer and more reliable roads which are essential to supporting regional and rural communities, strengthening productivity and keeping the Victorian economy moving.

We welcomed the opportunity to continue working constructively with the Victorian Government and look forward to turning today’s discussions into meaningful action.

Importantly we were encouraged to report urgent road hazards to VicRoads hotline 13 11 70 to record dangerous conditions that require immediate attention, and share this number across our networks. For more information about reporting road hazards visit this link.

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

 

IV findings back RCV call for urgent regional roads investment

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MEDIA RELEASE

19 May 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says a new report released today by the Victorian Government’s independent infrastructure advisor has reinforced the urgent need for major investment in regional roads.

Infrastructure Victoria’s (IV) Warning Signs report warns that bushfires, floods and extreme heat will inflict worsening damage on Victoria’s transport network over coming decades and calls on the Government to begin upgrading infrastructure now to improve resilience. 

RCV Chair Ben Blain said the findings directly support RCV’s advocacy for a dedicated $2 billion regional roads package.

“We’ve been warning for years that the Government’s annual roads maintenance spend is not keeping pace with the deterioration of the regional network,” Cr Blain said.

“This report confirms what regional communities are already experiencing – our roads are under growing pressures compounded by underinvestment.”

RCV is calling for a $2bn regional roads package for an additional $500 million per year over four years above existing maintenance funding to stabilise and begin rebuilding regional roads.

Cr Blain said current funding levels are a Band-Aid on a bullet hole, while the condition of the network continues to worsen.

“The State is required to maintain roads. That’s not new investment, that’s basic responsibility – but we can’t keep patching roads that are structurally failing.

“The funding just hasn’t kept pace with the task, meanwhile billions have been absorbed by major metro transport blowouts.”

Cr Blain said the consequences were becoming increasingly serious.

“This report says what regional Victorians already know: You can’t climate-proof roads with pothole funding.”

“The Government’s own independent advisor is now saying we need to strengthen these roads for the future, and that the cost of delay will only grow.

“It’s no longer just about potholes and rough roads. Regional Victorians are driving on ageing infrastructure that is more at risk of deterioration and becoming more dangerous every year.”

 

New Local Infrastructure Fund a win for RCV advocacy

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13 May 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s new $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund – announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget.

The fund, which includes $500 million dedicated to regional Australia, is a major win for RCV’s sustained advocacy to unlock more housing in the regions – securing investment in the essentials needed to deliver new homes including roads, lights, footpaths, sewerage, drainage, water and power.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the fund was recognition that regional Victoria cannot solve the housing crisis without serious infrastructure investment.

“Governments just can’t continue to focus on housing targets while ignoring the infrastructure we need to actually unlock housing supply.”

Cr Blain said RCV had consistently pushed for greater Commonwealth investment in enabling infrastructure through its federal budget advocacy and during the alliance’s Canberra delegation earlier this year.

“In March we took a clear message to Canberra, and we were obviously heard – regional Victoria is ready to help solve the housing crisis, but councils cannot keep footing the bill for growth alone,” Cr Blain said.

“Regional Victoria has the land and the ambition. What’s been missing is infrastructure investment that keeps pace with growth.”

Cr Blain said while the regional allocation was a positive start, he anticipated demand would far exceed available funding.

“Half a billion dollars across regional Australia over four years sounds significant until every growing regional council in the country lines up for a share of it. This will be a highly competitive national program.”

Budget investment initiatives – including new funding rounds for the Growing Regions and Stronger Communities programs – reflected growing recognition that regional cities can play a critical role in delivering the homes Australia needs, while supporting economic growth and easing pressure on capital cities.

“Housing affordability isn’t just about building homes faster – it’s about making sure regional communities have the infrastructure needed to grow sustainably and remain great places to live,” Cr Blain said.

 

RCV calls for “Eyes on Victoria” crime response

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12 May 2026

RCV has called on the State to ensure regional communities don’t become an organised crime blind spot following today’s announcement of the new “Eyes on the City” crime crackdown for metropolitan Melbourne.

RCV Deputy Chair Cr Michael Gobel, Mayor of Wodonga, said the same criminal behaviour impacting Melbourne is also a threat to regional Victoria.

“Organised crime does not stop at the Calder or the Princes Freeway,” Cr Gobel said.

Cr Gobel said RCV supported stronger investment in surveillance and crime prevention infrastructure, but warned any response limited to Melbourne risked creating blind spots across the rest of the state.

“You cannot run a statewide crime strategy with half the state left off the map. If criminals know the cameras stop at the metro boundary, what does that mean for regional businesses?” Cr Gobel said.

RCV member councils have raised growing concerns around threats associated with the illicit tobacco trade and related criminal activity, including intimidation, property damage and organised criminal behaviour extending well beyond metropolitan Melbourne.

Cr Gobel said regional Victoria should either receive its own dedicated “Eyes on our Regions” surveillance and safety program, or regional businesses should be eligible to apply for support through the Victorian Government’s new $10 million Hospitality Security Fund.

“Regional Victorians pay taxes too. Their businesses help fund this program, so they deserve access to it,” Cr Gobel said.

“Crime doesn’t recognise postcodes and any government response to this crime wave shouldn’t either.”

RCV welcomed Victoria Police’s increasing focus on partnerships and safer communities under Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and said stronger collaboration between councils and police would be critical to tackling organised criminal activity across the state.

“We are encouraged by Victoria Police’s renewed focus on community partnerships and prevention. Regional cities stand ready to work alongside Victoria Police to strengthen local safety, improve intelligence sharing and help build more resilient communities,” Cr Gobel said.

“A camera network that only watches Melbourne is not a statewide solution – it’s a statewide vulnerability.”