Jennifer Pittorino
Maribyrnong council supported three motions to be put to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), for the State Council Meeting, which provides an opportunity for local government to submit motions for key priorities that require state or federal government support.
The MAV will be holding its second State Council Meeting for the year on October 13.
The three motions developed by Maribyrnong council to be put to the MAV included an inquiry into the psycho-social impacts of COVID-19, that the state government consider additional measures and funding to invest in mental health and to provide financial support to struggling small businesses.
Councillor Anthony Tran said mental health is a big point of advocacy for himself as well as many of the other councillors.
“In this rationale it is very clear there has been just below a 20 per cent increase in mental health illness across the state, including in Maribyrnong,” he said.
“I have had conversations with school psychologists who are seeing the students day in and out who are struggling.
“And they are struggling to provide the correct services for the kids at these schools.”
Councillor Micheal Clarke said all three motions going to the MAV require support.
“The first motion speaks to the psychosocial impact of Covid on our community,” he said.
“This is a world wide phenomena that has occurred post-Covid, because of this we have never seen this level of behavioural disturbance with young people in the history of our council.
“It requires investigation and our first motion goes a long way to answering some very important questions.”
Cr Clarke said the motion for financial support is necessary to see the community not only survive but thrive.
“The second motion looking at wellbeing, the level of community stress and distress demonstrates we have to provide some support,” he said.
“We need the state government to step in here and provide support for us.”
