I enjoyed a recent article in The Australian by demographer Bernard Salt, reminiscing about his Terang upbringing: reading the local paper and listening to the local radio with scarcely a care about Melbourne or events beyond.

Bernard argued that city folk are being enticed to locations within cooee of Melbourne or other capital cities seeking personal safety and a romanticised, perhaps work-from-home country lifestyle.

Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong have bloomed thanks to their proximity to Melbourne and the largesse of a Victorian Labor Government that cynically apportions taxpayer money (well, future debt actually) for political gain.

Meanwhile Horsham, Mildura, Swan Hill and scores of towns in Mallee suffer next to zero investment from a city-centric government.

Monday week ago in Donald, Wendy shared with me her terrible story that due to several serious medical conditions she is selling up and moving to Melbourne just to access the healthcare she needs to survive. On Monday I shared Wendy’s story in Parliament.

Northwest Victorian residents have inadequate bus and train services and can otherwise only get to Melbourne - or beyond - by plane with high ticket prices.  The only alternative is to take the perilous drive on roads councils can’t afford to improve. The Victorian Government prefers to pour $billions more (debt) into the Suburban Rail Loop project rather than invest in our regions.

At the same time our local news services struggle – Mallee does not have one locally based television news service.  We have become invisible to the state and nation, even to ourselves – unless, as I do, we use satellite TV capability, social media and protests in Melbourne and Canberra to make ourselves seen and heard.

Mallee produces the food and fibre for our nation and the world. We also frequently stage or host significant tourist drawcard events.  We provide a rapidly growing amount of government revenue but receive nowhere near that investment is made back into our region.

Mallee residents are justifiably indignant and I continue to serve as your voice in the best form of retaliation that works: politics - demanding a fair go for our region and more broadly for regional Australia.