Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party has secured the state government’s commitment to a regional housing summit in Creswick on October 4 after months of persistent lobbying.

Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell MP said her Western Victoria colleague and state leader Stuart Grimley MP since late last year had repeatedly pressed the government in Parliament to act on regional communities’ calls to fix the housing crisis.

“Housing Minister Danny Pearson MP and Regional Development Minister Harriet Shing MP today announced the Regional Affordable Housing Summit,” Ms Maxwell said.

“It will involve local government, community housing sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, members of Regional Partnerships and Regional Development Australia Committees and other peak organisations.

“Regional Victoria is struggling to house people who want to live and work in our communities.

“Without housing, people and families won’t move to towns to fill jobs, businesses can’t operate at full capacity and councils miss out on rate revenue to maintain local infrastructure and services.

“We want people who live in regional Victoria or want to work here to have fair, just and equal opportunity to do just that.

“For too long regional Victorians have been taken for granted.”