Crime taking a toll on communities

Communities throughout the Mildura electorate are feeling increasingly uneasy as crime continues to affect daily life, The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, told Parliament this week. “People in our region are proud and resilient, but right now they are feeling unsafe in their own communities,” Ms Benham said. Small business owners are dealing with…

Repeal clears path to focus on housing

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, says the Cladding Safety Victoria Repeal Bill 2026 marks an opportunity to refocus attention on one of the most pressing challenges facing regional Victoria: housing supply. Speaking in Parliament on the Bill, Ms Benham highlighted how the repeal could allow governments to focus on unlocking housing for communities…

Benham meets with Italian Ambassador

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, recently had the pleasure of meeting and enjoying lunch with the newly appointed Ambassador of Italy to Australia, His Excellency Nicola Lener, and Consul General Chiara Mauri. Ms Benham, who proudly spoke about her Italian heritage during the meeting, joked that she was “the Calabrese peasant in a…

Benham slams ‘revolving door’ bail system

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has slammed the Premier, Jacinta Allan, over the failings of Victoria’s bail system, in Question Time this week. Late last year, a 21-year-old allegedly stabbed two retail workers with a syringe during a 10-day crime spree in Mildura. She was charged and released on bail. After breaching bail,…

Benham calls out Labor’s cost of living disconnect

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government’s spin on Victoria’s cost of living crisis, saying it shows just how out of touch the government has become. Ms Benham was speaking in Parliament in response to the Allan Labor Government’s Matter of Public Importance, which claimed Victorian families are under…

Benham rides for Lifeline

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham recently participated in the Sunraysia Lifeline Project ride. The highly successful event raised just under $25,000 for mental health services while uniting the community in a shared commitment to mental health and wellbeing. Traveling from Bunnings Mildura to Robinvale, the ride brought together a record 192 attendees whose…

Neighbourhood Houses deserve support, not a sales pitch

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has criticised the Allan Labor Government’s position on Neighbourhood Houses, saying it offers no guarantee for the future of these vital community services, forcing them to operate on a year-to-year basis while juggling limited resources. Ms Benham asked the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Ros Spence, whether the…

Regional Victoria can’t run on reassurances

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has told Parliament that regional Victoria is in crisis. The Allan Labor Government is failing communities with inaction, dishonesty, and a lack of leadership. Transparency is ignored, public confidence is dwindling, and regional communities are being left in the dark. “Farmers, workers, and families are facing real crises,…