Settle takes on ag role

FRESHLY minted Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle has been promoted to parliamentary secretary for Agriculture and Regional Development.

As part of her roles, Ms Settle will assist the Minister for Agriculture, Gayle Tierney, and the Minister for Regional Development, Harriet Shing, in their duties.

Ms Settle got the offer from Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday and said she was excited to take on the positions.

“The role really means supporting our wonderful ministers in attending events, [helping with] policy development, any way I’m able to support them,” she said.

“I know how incredibly important [agriculture] is to the economy and the state… and of course regional development applies to all of regional Victoria.

“I’ll continue to serve [Ballarat, Golden Plains and Moorabool] as a local member but it’ll be great to have that extra lens.”

Ms Settle said her experience running her family’s farm, and her postgraduate research into post-COVID regional development makes her poised to focus on agriculture especially.

“It’s not often you get to use your masters thesis in your workplace so I’m very happy about that,” she said.