Opinion & Perspectives
26 January, 2026
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: great service from St Arnaud business and health service issues
Here's what you thought about this week.
What fantastic service means in small towns
OVER the Christmas – New Year break, our Farm Pro Multi Bin broke down.
After years of hard living.
Not expecting anything much, I called Farm Pro and left a message.
I got a call back.
I got great help on the phone.
I set up a meeting with a Farm Pro person – let’s call him Dan – and drove from Highlands (near Yea) to St Arnaud to get parts.
Dan opened the factory, organised the parts, gave us some advice and went far beyond what we expected as service.
That kind of help is what makes a local business a great business.
It’s why I will be talking up Farm Pro – and in turn, I hope that in a small way, it will contribute to secure jobs in regional towns.
That Multi Bin is working again.
Which is handy.
Because on January 9, we got caught in the Longwood fire, lost 90% of our pastures, most of our fences, loads of trees and 500 Composite ewe lambs.
The Multi Bin is feeding the rest.
Marcus Elgin
Stewart Creek
Minister gaslighting regional Victorians on public health wait times
JADE Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government for failing to address growing public health wait times, accusing the Minister for Health of attempting to gaslight regional Victorians by minimising serious delays as an “inconvenience.”
Ms Benham said a response from the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, to her request for action relied on statewide averages and future plans, rather than acknowledging the real impact on patients.
“Patients waiting for a specialist appointment at Mildura Base Public Hospital are being told, ‘sorry, there is still a long wait, we are way behind,’” Ms Benham said.
“This is not an inconvenience. People’s health is deteriorating while the government sits on its hands and spins the truth.”
Ms Benham said the Minister’s focus on millions of statewide appointments and median wait times is a deliberate attempt to gaslight regional Victorians, ignoring the added barriers caused by distance, limited services, and workforce shortages.
“Regional Victorians are being failed by unacceptable wait times for specialist care, and the government’s inaction is putting lives and wellbeing at serious risk,” she said.
“The Minister for Health must stop the spin and face the reality: people are suffering while Labor hides behind numbers and excuses. Access to healthcare should never be a lottery.
“The public health system is in crisis. Wait times are worsening, emergency targets are being missed, and thousands of Victorians are left in pain and uncertainty
“Labor can’t manage health, it can’t manage money, and regional Victorians are paying the price.
Jade Benham
Member for Mildura
Gratitude to CFA as fires contrinue to burn across state
DEVASTATING fires still burn across Victoria, putting lives and communities at risk and testing the courage, resilience, and spirit of all those affected.
Even as the threat is being downgraded, the destruction left behind, and the lives forever changed, is profound.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the family affected by the tragic loss of life in the Longwood bushfire, and to the many who have lost homes and livelihoods.
No words can lessen such a loss, but the bravery of those fighting these fires is a powerful reminder of the strength of our communities.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the CFA volunteers and emergency personnel who risk their lives to protect others, even as some face the unimaginable challenge of seeing their own homes destroyed.
Their courage, dedication, and selflessness are truly extraordinary.
At the same time, these fires highlight ongoing and urgent challenges. Many firefighters continue to work with outdated vehicles, insufficient and unreliable equipment, and the impacts of long-term budget cuts.
While nothing can replace their bravery, providing modern, dependable tools is essential to safeguard both our volunteers and the communities they serve.
It is vital that the CFA is provided the resources, support, and respect our volunteers deserve.
To every firefighter and volunteer battling these fires, and to the communities coming together in their wake: thank you.
Your courage, resilience, and commitment define Victoria at its very best.
Danny O’Brien
Leader of the Nationals
Shadow minister for Emergency Services
Read More: Local