State government consultation with the Ararat community about a new violent and sexual offenders unit in Ararat has come under fire from Ripon MP Louise Staley.
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The new unit will house serious offenders who have served their time, but are deemed unsuitable for release by the courts.
Ms Staley said the government was only pretending to consult with the Ararat community, having already made up its mind to go ahead with the project regardless of the communities views.
The community advisory group has already met once this week, and is chaired by former Ararat Rural City mayor Bill Jones.
Ms Staley said it was not genuine community consultation.
“How can a community express their disappointment in a project when a decision has already been made by the government?” she said.
“If Daniel Andrews was serious about consulting the community he would have opened up these conversations before a final decision.”