Council & Politics
29 October, 2025
Town talks issues: MP hears about youth crime, improving street scapes and more
There wasn’t a subject untouched.
WE JUST want someone to listen.
This was the theme of the chat St Arnaud locals had with Liberal MP Joe McCracken when he visited town last week.
Locals put it all out on the table for the Western Victoria Region MP as they sat in front of a cafe with hope he may be able to achieve changes from improving the town’s street scapes to crime gripping local businesses.
There wasn’t a subject untouched.
“There’s people moving interstate instead of staying in Victoria,” Hen Picked Crafts owner Lisa Radomski said.
Mr McCracken said he understood the concern as they told him of all the recent break-ins across town.
“I would much rather have more officers on the beat than pay for a metro tunnel,” he said.
“It’s a matter of priorities.”
Youth ambassador Dusty Raiyn McIntyre outlined the issues facing young people in town.
“I see so many leaving school and then they’re out roaming the streets, they don’t feel supported,” she said.
There was also a matter of doctor shortages, re-instating a passanger train line closer to St Arnaud and the Emergency Services tax discussed.
St Arnaud Community Action Network secretary Eric Mattsson said he just wanted to see the town be a place people want to come to.
“Stawell has events like the Gift, why can’t we be up there too?” He said.
“Seating and bubble taps in the main street, it can all happen.”
Mr McCracken said after the meeting with residents that he would raise their concerns in State Parliament this week.
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