Spiralling cost of living has affected country people in Victoria more than others according to the state Nationals party.
Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath has called for the state government to increase financial counselling support in regional areas where, she said, households were charged 20 per cent more for water and 30 per cent more for electricity than city counterparts.
Ms Bath said there was a high demand for financial counsellors due to the burden of state taxes, increased utility bills, interest rates and rental costs. "There is an ever-growing issue around homelessness with more people sleeping rough and emergency food banks struggle to keep up with demand".
More counsellors are needed to assist financially stretched Victorians who are becoming reliant on credit cards and other low lines of credit, Ms Bath stated.
The Nationals are calling on the government to fund targeted programs to ease cost of living pressures in regional areas and invest in helping manage the financial stress many are facing, she said.
Ms Bath said the government was failing to address the crisis with one-third of households experiencing food insecurity and mortgage stress.