Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has welcomed a 2010 State Budget that invests heavily in services for Victorian families, cuts taxes and builds for the future – including a record $4 billion boost to Victoria’s hospitals and health system.
Regional Victorians will now receive a grant of $26,500 when purchasing a new home, the biggest first home buyer’s bonus in Australia.
“This is the most generous package in Australia, making regional Victoria one of the most affordable places in the country.
“It will stimulate local jobs in the housing industry and provide a positive flow-on for our regional communities.
“This Budget continues to invest heavily in healthcare, education and community safety all of which underpins family life in Victoria.” Ms Tierney said.
Treasurer John Lenders said the 2010 State Budget was a budget for families across the whole of Victoria.
“The Brumby Labor Government’s AAA-rated economic management means Victoria is leading the worldwide recovery from the Global Financial Crisis, and the Government is able to invest heavily in the services that support local families,” Mr Lenders said.
“Our Budget builds for the future as this Government sets about the hard work of delivering on our plans to give Victorians job security, the best hospitals and schools, a safer State and a secure water supply, as well as transforming our transport network.”
Health
This budget will deliver a record $4 billion boost to Victoria’s health and hospital system including:
– $25.8 million for the redevelopment of three sites at Coleraine Hospital including the acute hospital (15 acute, 12 aged care, emergency, allied health and medical clinic), 40 bed hostel site, and the day care facility and primary care facility in Merino.
– $33.1 million for the planning and purchase of land for a new community hospital and additional inpatient and ICU beds at Geelong Hospital.
Education
This budget again reinforces the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to education with a number of schools to be upgraded including:
– $300,000 for the Cudgee Primary School
– $300,000 for the Nullawarre and District Primary School
– $300,000 for the Beeac Primary School
– $300,000 for the Cressy Primary School
– $300,000 for the Deans Marsh Primary School
– $300,000 for the Lavers Hill P-12 College
– $300,000 for the Lismore Primary School
– $300,000 for the Shelford Primary School
– $300,000 for the Branxholme & Wallacedale Community school
– $300,000 for the Cavendish Primary School
– $300,000 for George Street Primary School in Hamilton
Community Safety
Victoria has never been more prepared for the threat of bushfire and this budget further adds to this preparation with a 136.5 million investment to protect the state from bushfires.
Stations to be upgraded as a part of the $26 million program include:
– Elingamite Fire Station
– Swan Marsh Fire Station
– Yeo Fire Station
– Yeodene Fire Station
– Condah Fire Station
The state’s SES teams will also be boosted including a number in Western Victoria. Under the $6.695 million project the:
– Port Campbell SES will receive New Medium Rescue 4WD
– Lismore SES will receive a New Road Crash Rescue Kit
– Winchelsea SES will receive a New Road Crash Rescue Kit
Rail – Regional Rail Link
The Regional Rail Link Initiative will construct a number of new stations and a duel track link of up to 50 km from West Werribee to Southern Cross Station.
This will allow regional rail services to run express into Melbourne and reduce congestion on the metropolitan network.
Western Victorians will experience faster travel when using regional rail services to Melbourne due to the Brumby Labor Government’s record investment in regional rail.
Other highlights of the Brumby Labor Government’s 2010 State Budget include:
• A Safer State: 1,966 more police on the front line – the biggest one-off boost to frontline police in the State’s history. The Brumby Labor Government is investing $561.3 million for 1,700 additional frontline police, as well as $112.3 million to redeploy 266 desk-bound and call-taking police to the front line;
• Regional Victoria: investing in regional Victoria to deliver a fair share of the State’s economic success, including the biggest regional hospital project ever announced for regional Victoria – a new $473 million hospital for Bendigo;
• Tax Reform: $461 million worth of tax cuts, cuts to WorkCover premiums and tax incentives to create aged care and disability facilities;
• Leading the Recovery: Revised forecasts over the forward estimates revealing tens of thousands of jobs saved, borrowings coming down and economic output growing;
• Building for the Future: a $9.5 billion infrastructure program that will secure an additional 30,000 Victorian jobs next financial year, with key projects brought to book such as the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link; and
• The Best Start for Victorian Children: $271.3 million invested to exceed by 53 schools the pledge to fund the rebuild, renovation or extension of 500 government schools by 2011.