The Nationals’ Member for Mildura and Shadow Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government after the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Luba Grigorovitch, was unable to answer straightforward questions about respite services during the recent Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) Budget estimates hearings.
Ms Benham questioned the Minister after the Department Performance Statement in the 2026–27 Budget showed the performance measure for respite and support services falling from 440,000 hours last year to 261,250 hours this year – a reduction of almost 180,000 hours.
“If the Minister for Carers and Volunteers can’t explain her own Budget papers, who can?” Ms Benham said.
“If the performance measure has changed, explain it. If the hours are reported elsewhere, point to them. Victorians deserve clear answers, particularly when carers and respite services are involved.”
Ms Benham said the exchange highlighted a concerning pattern during this year’s PAEC hearings, with Ministers repeatedly unable to provide direct answers to legitimate questions about their portfolios.
“These hearings are about accountability. Ministers should know their own Budget papers and be able to explain them.
“Carers and the people they support deserve more than warm words about how important they are. They deserve certainty that respite services will be there when they’re needed, and clear answers when questions are asked about those services.”
As Shadow Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Ms Benham said she would continue pressing the Government for answers.
“I’ll keep asking the questions that carers, volunteers and service providers deserve to have answered. Transparency shouldn’t be too much to ask.”
