He said Wannon had been forgotten about due to it being a typically safe seat.

"In the last couple of weeks the issue of roads have come up constantly," he said.

"There just needs to be a serious discussion about funding. When you are sometimes out of sight, you are out of mind. Wannon has been a very safe seat for awhile and marginalised seats are prioritised at times.

"We need to get our voice heard. I have heard the message loud and clear about the state of our roads and what needs to be done. It's a huge priority.

"Wannon hasn't been prioritised and served well for quite a while and it needs to be. It's such a great area to live. The state of our roads goes to the issue of safety. Not just for locals but around tourists too.

"We need to make it safe for people coming to the area, who will spend dollars and then go back and talk to their friends and promote the area. Their experience has to be a good one."

Mr Billi said it was imperative the dangerous and dilapidated Prince Highway West was included on the National Land transport Network.

"The work of the Princes Highway West Action alliance also reflects the urgency for action in regard to the safety on this major highway," he said. 

He said the electorate and farmers were crying out for "a well-planned and thought out energy policy".

"That is critical across the board but particularly in rural Victoria and agricultural areas," he said.

He said connectivity to high-speed, good quality internet was also a priority. 

"Farming is changing and technology is having an impact in that area," he said. "Connectivity is a huge issue."

Mr Billi, a school focused youth service coordinator at Grampians Community Health, said he didn't come from a political background.

"I feel that people's voices are being heard less and less - people on the edges and the marginalised are becoming a bigger group," he said.

"They haven't had a voice and they feel like they are not part of the conversation. The party that aligned with my values and beliefs the most was the Labor party." 

He said supporting people affected by family violence and those who had mental health issues was critical.

"We know our young people are being impacted by a whole range of issues around mental health and well-being," he said. 

"Getting good quality and extra services in rural and remote areas where people often miss out is a passion." 

Recruiting and retaining people to regional and rural areas was also important, he said. 

"There is so much to celebrate and sell here," he said. "We need to get people coming to the area." 

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in south-west.