When Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos came to town to announce the construction of five new mountain biking trails on Mt Buller, it was a flying visit.

He came, he saw, he filmed a short piece of content with the Delatite Hotel in the background.

It's perhaps no surprise, given the Allan Labor Government and Mansfield Shire Council's recent history of falling upon opposing sides of big issues in 2025, that he didn't knock on the door of 33 Highett Street to have a chat with council to find out what's on their mind.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie called it an opportunity missed.

But when Bev McArthur, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government, came to town for a Liberal Party function, she harboured no such reservations about talking to council - she would miss no such opportunity.

She met with Mayor Cr Steve Rabie and Cr Bonnie Clark and she asked them what issues the shire is currently tackling.

They discussed the ESVF and the Allan Labor Government's insistence on using Victorian local governments as their tax collectors, they discussed the planning reform and housing targets which threaten to strip planning powers away from councils, and they discussed the thousands of Mansfield Shire sheep lost to predation from the canids living on public land, hunting on shire farms.

They even discussed the Allan Labor Government's recent announcement that it would be doubling the amount of money it takes from local councils for each cat and dog registered in their LGA.

Nothing slipped them by, buoyed by their firm disagreement with recent policy announcements and their shared disapproval of Minister Dimopoulos' failure to call in at council.

"It's very disappointing that Steve Dimopolous was in Mansfield Shire and didn't have the courtesy to reach out to the Shire and come and see me or the other councillors about these bike trails," said Cr Rabie.

"I know they're on Mt Buller but Mt Buller is right in the centre of the shire geographically and his government - the government - are forcing this council to collect the new tax, the fire levy, from Mt Buller.

"They've already got the ARV (Alpine Resorts Victoria), why is council having to collect the tax from Mt Buller?"

Ms McArthur jumped onto the mayor's frustration.

"You may have just answered the question as to why he didn't knock on your door Mr Mayor," Shadow Minister McArthur responded.

"You might have grilled him about the fact that you're now responsible for collecting his great big new tax.

"Councils are not and will never be a tax collection arm of the state government," she said.

"I'm a bit geographically challenged, I will tell you that for a start, but even my GPS managed to find the Mansfield Shire Office.

"I'm very pleased to be here, I'll always knock on your door first, I won't announce something without your knowledge or your input."

To finish Mayor Cr Rabie addressed Minister Dimopoulos directly.

"It's very easy to find us Steve, you type in 'best little shire in Victoria' and it will bring you straight here."