State Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford will visit the city on today to announce that commissioner Luke Wilson will be based in Wodonga.

Mr Wilson has worked in the agriculture, forestry and energy fields and across private and public sectors.

He currently has a senior role with the Victorian Department of Economic Jobs, Transport and Resources. 

“Over the coming months, I will be meeting with many individuals and organisations, and am really looking forward to hearing from you, and then getting things fixed,” Mr Wilson said.

Victoria’s installation of a cross border commissioner follows NSW which first had someone in that role in 2012.

NSW commissioner James McTavish, who lives in Wagga, has previously expressed his enthusiasm for a Victorian counterpart.

The Labor government’s basing of its commissioner in Wodonga contrasts with the Coalition Opposition, which has said if it is elected it would have a cross border chief housed in Mildura.

The Mallee Regional Partnership had driven the creation of a cross border commissioner. 

Wodonga Liberal MP Bill Tilley said in January siting the commissioner in Mildura made sense geographically given its proximity to NSW and South Australia.  

He said he was “not necessarily confident” the Labor government would have a cross border commissioner based outside Melbourne.

Ms Pulford said that the government’s decision had shown it was heeding border concerns.

“We’ve listened to our border communities, to people living in cities, towns and smaller communities along our borders, who have told us about the need for a Commissioner – someone who could advocate for those living and working in border areas to make your lives easier,” Ms Pulford said.

Mr Wilson will begin his new job next month.

He will liaise with government department offices in Wodonga, Mildura and Echuca.