BELLARINE MP Lisa Neville has returned to her parliamentary and ministerial duties after an absence of six months while she recovered from surgery and treatment for Crohn\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
As of Monday this week, Ms Neville is continuing in her roles as the Minister for Water, Police Minister and Co-ordinating Minister of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.<\/p>\n
She also retains responsibility for COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, which will run the quarantine facility now being built at Mickleham.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a tough time, but I\u2019m ready to get back into it,\u201d she said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI probably had two months where I thought I wasn\u2019t going to improve, and when I put out my last statement at the end of June, I then thought that there is light at the end of this, a way of coming back – I just wasn\u2019t quite there at that point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll still have medical interventions along the way, to keep me well and able to do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that after considering advice from her doctors, some of the requirements of the Emergency Services portfolio \u2013 including regular travel around to remote parts of the state at short notice \u2013 were not compatible with managing her condition and recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just practically could not, even with medication, be predictable enough to support communities who need that support often in the worst time of their lives, and I felt it was the right thing to do to let that go.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, Jaclyn Symes has taken over as Minister for Emergency Services, working with Emergency Management Victoria and emergency services organisations to continue preparations for Victoria\u2019s next fire season.<\/p>\n
Jaala Pulford has added Resources to her existing economic portfolio responsibilities.<\/p>\n
Ms Neville said she planned to get out and about in her electorate as soon as COVID-19 restrictions allowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, the most important thing right now is containing the coronavirus, and I don\u2019t want to play any role in risking any spread down the Bellarine, but as soon as I can, definitely – there\u2019s a couple of things that I\u2019ve had in my diary that just might be pushed a little bit further out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Ms Neville had \u201cshown enormous strength and resilience\u201d through her recovery, \u201cand I know how determined she has been to return to work\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BELLARINE MP Lisa Neville has returned to her parliamentary and ministerial duties after an absence of six months while she recovered from surgery and treatment for Crohn\u2019s disease. As of Monday this week, Ms Neville is continuing in her roles as the Minister for Water, Police Minister and Co-ordinating Minister of the Department of Environment, […]<\/p>\n