Wednesday, 12 August 2026

 Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (19:04): (1771) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for First Peoples. Echuca Football Netball Club is facing financial ruin, its future held to ransom by an Indigenous group apparently determined to not just ignore but ride roughshod over the wishes of its community. The $13 million redevelopment of Campaspe shire’s Victoria Park has been stalled for months following the discovery of bones. I understand that the issue has been appropriately resolved, but the determination to weaponise the cultural overlay has already added untold costs and delays to the project. With a real fear it will never be completed, this proud football netball club, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, may well face years without a permanent home. Minister, why aren’t the shire’s drawn-out negotiations about overlays and financial demands with Yorta Yorta being made public and transparent? I am told that Bowden, the contractor for the build, has handed back the keys and walked away because the project has become so bogged down with delays from these overlays. Early estimates suggest the club has already lost more than 20 per cent of its 2026 revenue, and counting. No country club can be belted like that and survive for long.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Murray Plains, could you just rephrase your question to be an action?

Peter WALSH: The action I seek from the minister is that she have the drawn-out negotiations about overlay and financial demands with Yorta Yorta be made public and transparent.