Putting People First Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural and Regional
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Victorian Budget 2020/21 Putting People First Rural and Regional Budget Information Paper
The Secretary
Department of Treasury and Finance
1 Treasury Place © State of Victoria 2020
Melbourne, Victoria, 3002 (Department of Treasury and Finance)
Australia
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Fax: +61 3 9651 2062
Website: budget.vic.gov.au
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2020/21 Budget paper set which includes: including Government logos.
Budget Paper No. 1 – Treasurer’s Speech
Budget Paper No. 2 – Strategy and Outlook Copyright queries may be directed to IPpolicy@dtf.vic.gov.au.
Budget Paper No. 3 – Service Delivery ISSN 2206-3501 (print)
Budget Paper No. 4 – Statement of Finances ISSN 2206-351X (online)
(incorporating Quarterly Financial Report No. 1) Published November 2020
1
Putting People First
This Budget delivers the investment to get
This year is a year like no regional Victorians back on their feet and set
other. It’s challenged us in us up for a strong recovery:
ways we never could have → $6 billion to build more than 12 000 new
imagined. social and affordable homes, and make
housing more accessible and affordable
for Victorians
It’s also reminded us of the importance of
community – our connection to the place
→ $4.7 billion of country road and rail
upgrades, including $2 billion to progress
we call home and to each other.
Geelong Fast Rail
As we rebuild from this global pandemic,
we need to make sure our recovery reaches
→ $869 million to extend mental health
services to Victorians, including new
every corner of our State. That’s particularly
Hospital Outreach Post‑Suicidal
true in regional and rural Victoria.
Engagement (HOPE) locations in
With the Victorian Budget 2020/21, the regional Victoria
Andrews Labor Government will do
exactly that.
→ $682 million to drive cheaper, cleaner
energy, including accelerating the
We’ll deliver more local schools for development of new Renewable Energy
local families. Zones across our State, creating thousands
of jobs as part of our clean energy
We’ll invest in the care that every
investment
Victorian deserves.
→ $626 million for the landmark
We’ll build new road and rail – reducing delays
Digital Future Now initiative to radically
and creating thousands of new jobs.
improve mobile coverage and deliver
We’ll back the projects and priorities that make upgrades in communities that currently
regional communities strong – local parks, only have access to satellite and fixed
playground and sporting ovals. wireless services
And we’ll get more Victorians back into work, → $465 million for the Victorian Tourism
ensuring they have the stability and security Recovery Package to attract new tourists
of a job. and support local jobs, including a new
Victorian Regional Travel Voucher Scheme
This Budget is underpinned by five key
to encourage people to visit and stay in
principles:
regional Victoria
→ Creating secure, decent jobs
→ Taking care of those we love
→ Looking after families
→ Building strong connected communities
→ Ensuring a strong recovery
2
→ $385 million to repair and upgrade → $121 million investment in Better at Home,
44 schools and 10 special schools in increasing the delivery of hospital services
regional Victoria, and further funding for in patients’ homes – allowing more patients
two new school campus developments, in regional and rural communities to
delivering great learning spaces for access care
regional kids
→ $120 million for the Regional Health
→ $384 million to redevelop the Warrnambool Infrastructure Fund to continue
Base Hospital, delivering a new emergency our upgrades to rural and regional
department, operating theatre and beds health services
→ $272 million to improve rural water → $115 million investment in the future of
management and supply, protecting Victorian agriculture, assisting the sector
and restoring priority catchments to become more innovative, expand into
and waterways new markets and create new jobs
→ $170 million to make kinder free next year, → $35 million to improve our regional
saving families around $2 000 for every creative spaces and support new and
child enrolled in a participating funded touring exhibitions
kindergarten program
This Budget invests over $8 billion to help
→ $156 million to extend the Regional Jobs
regional communities recover – and come
and Infrastructure Fund, delivering local
back stronger.
projects identified by local communities
Since the 2015-16 Budget, we have invested
→ $142 million total funding to complete the
$18.2 billion to help support regional Victoria.
final stage of the Kardinia Park Stadium
redevelopment, plus an extra $110 million Our ultimate success won’t just be measured
for the Community Sports Infrastructure by the wealth of our economy – but also the
Stimulus Program to build and upgrade wellbeing of our people.
community sports facilities across the State
This is a Budget that puts people first.
This is the Budget to repair, recover,
and make us stronger than before.
This is a Budget that puts people first.
Rural And Regional 3
4
Creating secure, decent jobs
As we rebuild from this pandemic, we need to make sure
we’re supporting every part of our State.
That means supporting Victorians in our Our success relies on making sure we’re
regional communities to train, retrain and playing to regional Victoria’s strengths –
find new opportunities. in tourism, agriculture and new energy.
Helping those hardest hit during the This Budget provides a comprehensive
pandemic find work – ensuring not only plan to make sure no community and no
a job, but certainty and self‑belief. Victorian is left behind.
And creating strong, secure and decent jobs
for the future – and for our future generations.
→ Securing water supplies in remote
Building Works projects areas for firefighting
In May 2020 the Government announced → Mansfield Police Stables restoration
the $2.7 billion Building Works package to
stimulate our economy and create new jobs. → Local Roads to Market Program
These investments recognise it’s not just → Tower Hill infrastructure upgrades
the big projects that will steer our recovery → Kardinia Park Stadium Trust
– the smaller projects that matter to local capital works
communities are just as important.
→ Macedon Ranges Trails development
The package included hundreds of
shovel‑ready projects across the State, → Mildura Riverfront Precinct Village
along with a $55 million TAFE maintenance Square development
fund and upgrades to community and → Maldon streetscapes revitalisation
public housing.
→ Mt Hotham ‑ Alpine Gateway
Many of the projects are being delivered development
in regional Victoria, including:
→ Buloke streetscapes revitalisation
→ Macalister Irrigation District
Phase 2 Modernisation Project → Bendigo Botanic Gardens works
→ Restoration and maintenance of → Ararat Hills Mountain Bike Project
waterways and catchments
→ Ned Kelly Glenrowan project
→ Barmah National Park Joint development
Management Plan Implementation
→ Infrastructure works at
→ Private Overhead Electric Power Lines Cape Bridgewater
program
→ Maryborough Energy Breakthrough
→ Repair and replacement of essential upgrade
water infrastructure
→ Mount Buffalo Chalet: Wilderness
→ Gunaikurnai Joint Management Eco Pods
Plan implementation
Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 5
→ Paynesville Boardwalk upgrade Upgrade and construction of 22 regional
schools announced as part of Building Works:
→ Mildura worker housing development
→ Ararat Primary School
→ Pyramid Hill streetscapes revitalisation
→ Baimbridge College
→ Swan Hill worker housing development
→ Bairnsdale Secondary College
→ Sea Lake Visitor Centre development
→ Ballarat High School
→ Sorrento Ferry Terminal upgrade
→ Bellarine Secondary College
→ Tawonga Caravan Park connection
to reticulated sewer and upgrades → Bellbrae Primary School
→ Benalla Foreshore and → Clifton Creek Primary School
Splashpark upgrades
→ Cowes Primary School
→ Active transport linkages around
→ Delacombe Primary School
Heathcote, Goornong and Bendigo
→ East Loddon P‑12 College
→ Twelve Apostles Trail Timboon ‑
Port Campbell → Gisborne South Primary School
→ Bullock Island facilities improvements → Greater Shepparton College
→ Kerang Industrial Estate civil services → Latrobe Special Developmental School
connections
→ Miners Rest Primary School
→ Cohuna CBD and Waterfront development
→ Morwell Park Primary School
→ Portland Foreshore redevelopment
→ Newcomb Park Primary School
→ Chiltern Community Hub development
→ Newcomb Secondary College
→ Ouyen Community Gym works
→ Phoenix P‑12 Community College
→ Seymour trades hub development
→ Upper Yarra Secondary College
→ Parwan Employment Precinct gas
gate connection
→ Wangaratta District Specialist School
→ Regional rail various maintenance projects → Warracknabeal Secondary College
→ Bushfire Roads to Recovery projects → Wonthaggi Secondary College ‑
San Remo Campus ‑ Stage 2
→ Landslips works
Upgrades to regional TAFEs as part of
→ Bridge strengthening
$55 million TAFE maintenance fund:
→ Pier and jetty maintenance
→ Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE
→ Portarlington Pier renewal
→ South West TAFE
→ Rail reserve hazardous vegetation
management
→ Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
→ V/Line Fleet maintenance and → TAFE Gippsland
sustainability works → The Gordon
→ Various regional courts facilities → Wodonga TAFE
maintenance and upgrades
6
Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 7
Kick‑starting regional tourism
The Andrews Labor Government recognises Flagship projects
the critical importance of our regional tourism
Our investment in flagship regional
industry, which contributes $9.4 billion to our
projects will enrich Victoria’s
economy and employs 110 000 Victorians.
visitor experience and create local
As restrictions ease, we want to encourage jobs, including:
more Victorians to explore their own
backyard – supporting regional economies
→ Grampians Peak Trail Projects to
build new walking trails
and local jobs.
This Budget’s $465 million Victorian Tourism
→ Falls to Hotham Crossing, delivering
new walking infrastructure across
Recovery Package will enrich Victoria’s visitor
the high plains between the
experience, including:
two ski resorts
→ $149 million for regional tourism
infrastructure, campsites and visitor
→ Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation
including a park and ride network,
amenities projects, and establishment of
extra accommodation and improved
the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks
visitor facilities
Authority to coordinate management and
make improvements to visitor facilities to → Murray River Adventure Trail with
support jobs and local communities development of a long‑distance
cycling, walking and aquatic trail
→ A $150 million Regional Tourism Investment
Fund to develop new attractions and → Gippsland Tourism Recovery Package
support our local tourism partnerships including Nunduk Eco Tourism
enabling infrastructure, Metung
→ A new Victorian Regional Travel Voucher
Hot Springs works, Cape Conran
Scheme with $28 million for vouchers
accommodation, Raymond Island
to encourage Victorian residents to
Koala Sanctuary, Snowy Rail Bridge
travel within the State, supporting
and Far East Gippsland camping.
local businesses and jobs
As well as upgrade of access and
→ $20 million to attract a strong pipeline visitor facilities at Mallacoota Inlet
of regional events to draw visitors from and Point Hicks Lighthouse near
Melbourne and interstate the Croajingolong National Park
in East Gippsland
→ Funding for skills development for regional
tourism businesses, continued support for → Great Ocean Road Revitalisation
our Regional Tourism Boards and targeted including Fairhaven to Skenes Creek
marketing campaigns to attract visitors coastal trail and Surf Coast camping
→ Brambuk Cultural Centre
Revitalisation as a leading Aboriginal
cultural tourism attraction
→ Mallee Silo Art projects including
Rainbow Silo Art and the Mallee
Silo Art initiatives
→ Ballarat Centre for Photography to
attract new visitors to the city
→ Prosecco Road early works to
enhance the King Valley food
and wine trail
8
We will provide $682 million to drive cheaper,
Jobs for regional Victorians cleaner energy for economic recovery, with a
The Andrews Labor Government’s new focus on accelerating the development of new
$619 million Jobs for Victoria initiative will help Renewable Energy Zones across our State, the
hundreds of thousands of Victorians looking for modern‑day equivalent of a power station.
work find the security and stability of a job. These zones will combine energy generation,
This includes $250 million to support transmission and storage to deliver a reliable
businesses to hire at least 10 000 Victorians energy system.
through a six‑month wage subsidy – including Our Renewable Energy Zones will require
in regional Victoria. deliberate planning and coordination to
These positions will be for Victorians hardest ensure they are located in suitable areas and
hit by this pandemic, including young people, acknowledge the needs of local communities.
retrenched workers and people who have been These investments are in addition to the
long‑term unemployed. Victorian Big Battery. This 300 megawatt
At least $150 million of subsidy support will battery will be installed near the Moorabool
go towards getting women back in work, with Terminal Station, just outside Geelong, and will
around a third of such placements being be ready by the 2021‑22 summer. Construction
provided to women over 45, recognising their of the battery will create more than 85 jobs.
additional barriers to employment. Furthering our transition to a zero emissions
These subsidised positions will be focused on economy by 2050, the Victorian Budget 2020/21
creating new ongoing jobs, making sure we’re includes $92 million for carbon farming on
providing long‑term security for these workers private and public land by incentivising the
and their families. restoration of native vegetation and soil
productivity.
This investment will also deliver targeted and
tailored support for unemployed Victorians – To fast-track our shift to a circular waste
including Victorians in regional communities economy, and in addition to the 10‑year
– delivering mentoring, career counselling or $322 million Recycling Victoria package
more intensive support. announced earlier this year, this Budget invests
$41 million to build regional material recovery
facilities. These facilities will create sustainable
regional jobs and attract new reprocessing and
Leading the transition manufacturing to regional areas.
to clean energy Standalone power systems and microgrids
Our goal is for Victorian businesses and will be deployed in regional communities to
households to have access to the cheapest ensure essential electricity supply is not cut
energy in Australia, while pursuing a clean off by bushfires.
energy future. We are also rolling out an electric vehicle fast
Regional Victoria is at the forefront of charging network across major highways and
our effort. key tourist destinations, supporting these
regional economies.
This Budget delivers a $1.6 billion investment
to drive clean energy across our State and
create thousands of regional jobs.Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 9
10
Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 11
Digital Future Now Backing our farmers
This year, technology has been more and producers
important than ever.
Agriculture is vital to Victoria, with
To build on the developments we’ve made – Victoria our nation’s largest producer of
and make it one of Victoria’s strengths – food and fibre products and supporting a
this Budget delivers the $626 million landmark $42 billion processed food industry.
Digital Future Now initiative.
With this Budget, we’re investing in our
This investment will radically improve mobile producers and growers, making sure this
coverage and broadband access in regional integral part of our State and economy
areas, while supporting businesses and remains strong.
creating new jobs.
This Budget invests $115 million to further grow
This includes $250 million to co‑fund and modernise Victoria’s agriculture including:
business‑grade broadband connectivity
→ $65 million to support a new agriculture
for Victorian regional towns through the
strategy, making sure we’re helping
Gigabit State program, which we are working to
farmers take advantage of new technology
deliver in partnership with the Commonwealth.
and remain internationally competitive.
Regional communities that currently only This investment will also establish an
have access to satellite and fixed wireless AgTech Regional Innovation Network and
services will be upgraded to metropolitan a Pathways to Export program to take
grade services. advantage of recovering global markets,
as well as boosting the Agriculture
Gigabit State will address gaps in the
Energy Investment Plan and delivering
availability of reliable high‑speed fibre optic
a new phase of the Food to Market
and wireless broadband services for business
Infrastructure Program.
users – helping them find new customers and
new markets. These initiatives will help the sector to
become more innovative, promote the
It will also create new local jobs, with the
uptake of new technologies, add more value
construction and operation of this new
to food grown and processed in regional
broadband infrastructure to support up to
Victoria and help businesses expand into
2 000 jobs.
new markets and create new jobs
A further $300 million will eradicate Mobile
→ $50 million to upgrade the accommodation
Black Spots in populated areas of regional
and research and learning facilities at
Victoria – supporting local businesses,
regional agricultural training facilities
local economies and local communities.
including Longerenong College, University
This investment remains subject to a
of Melbourne’s Dookie campus and Marcus
co‑contribution from the Commonwealth,
Oldham College to help attract new
which has responsibility for our nation’s
students and support training in emerging
telecommunications network.
sectors such as the native food industry
An investment of $64 million will deliver
the Digital Skills and Jobs Program,
enabling unemployed regional Victorians
to undertake digital skills training or a
digital internship – helping them find new
opportunity and employment.
This ground‑breaking investment will assist
5 000 unemployed Victorians into a potential
new career, helping them to retrain and reskill,
with a strong focus on supporting women.12
Victorian farmers and food processors will → A number of taxes and charges that were
also benefit from the new Manufacturing either frozen or waived. Liquor licence fees
and Industry Development Fund focused have been waived for 2020 and 2021, while
on supporting new investments and jobs in the 2020‑21 Fire Services Property Levy
key growth potential sectors such as food was frozen at the 2019‑20 revenue target.
manufacturing. Increases to the landfill levy have also
been deferred
A key focus of the Government’s new
$2 billion Breakthrough Victoria Fund is → Land tax relief for eligible small and
the agri-food sector. The Fund will drive medium businesses that own their
investment in research and development and commercial premises. Owner‑occupiers
the commercialisation of new innovations to of commercial properties can obtain
accelerate industry growth and support jobs. a 25 per cent waiver of the property’s
2020 land tax, while payment of the
remaining tax can be deferred to
Helping businesses 31 March 2021
recover and grow Additional support delivered in this
Budget includes $836 million in New jobs
From the smallest family‑owned firm to our
tax credits to encourage small and medium
own homegrown success stories, businesses
businesses to increase employment by rehiring
are the lifeblood of the economy – creating
staff, restoring staff hours and hiring new staff.
and supporting Victorian jobs.
This incentive means the more these
With the onset of the global pandemic, the
businesses re‑hire staff and employ new
Andrews Labor Government moved quickly to
workers, the less payroll tax they’ll need to pay.
support Victorian businesses and their workers.
This tax relief measure will be available for
Regional businesses will continue to
two years, saving businesses a combined
benefit from a suite of support and
$836 million and helping to support an
recovery initiatives, including:
estimated 9 400 Victorians back into work.
→ More than $2 billion in tax deferrals,
The Government will also increase the
including allowing businesses with payrolls
threshold for paying payroll tax on an
of up to $10 million to defer their 2020-21
annual basis from $40 000 to $100 000,
payroll tax liabilities for up to 12 months.
reducing administration costs and providing
This represents a $1.7 billion cash flow boost
$309 million of cash flow support to
to businesses in 2020‑21
7 000 businesses.
→ More than $1.8 billion in relief from taxes
and fees, including a full refund and waiver Backing regional Victorian businesses
of 2019-20 payroll tax for small and medium
To support regional businesses to open,
businesses, providing cash back in their
relocate and expand, the Andrews Labor
bank accounts when they needed it most
Government will deliver a 50 per cent
→ $1.1 billion in cash grants to support the stamp duty concession on the purchase
hardest‑hit sectors including hospitality, of commercial and industrial properties,
tourism, accommodation, creative brought forward to January 2021.
industries and retail, building on $1.8 billion
The 50 per cent land transfer duty concession
in previous funding support
will now apply to contracts entered into from
1 January 2021 – rather than 1 July 2023 – for
commercial and industrial properties anywhere
in regional Victoria.
This investment will save a combined
$40 million and builds on our existing cuts
to payroll tax in regional Victoria – currently
the lowest rate anywhere in Australia.Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 13
The Budget also includes funding for
Building skills to get our Skilling the Bay and The Geelong Project
State back to work to support students, including those at risk
of disengagement, to participate in school,
We are investing $1 billion in TAFE and training and employment pathways.
training – investing in the skills of Victorians,
wherever they live. This Budget will help The Government’s $350 million Higher
more Victorians to train, retrain and find new Education State Investment Fund is also
opportunities, including: supporting universities to fund capital works,
applied research and research partnerships.
→ up to 80 000 new Free TAFE and subsidised The Fund is open to projects based in
training places. Almost 60 000 of these regional campuses such as Federation
places will be in Free TAFE courses University in Ballarat, Deakin University
including health, and community and in Geelong and Warrnambool,
disability services. $155 million is dedicated and La Trobe University in Shepparton.
to creating new opportunities for young
people, women and those most affected by
economic disruption to reskill and upskill
→ $57 million for the delivery of accredited
skill sets and a workforce skill set pilot,
helping unemployed Victorians reskill
This Budget
and find a job fast
→ $19 million to introduce innovative
will help more
new models for apprenticeships and
traineeships, including enhanced support Victorians
for apprentices most at‑risk of dropping
out, and new measures to encourage
women to pursue non‑traditional
to train, retrain
roles, including in the building and
construction industry and find new
opportunities.
→ Funding to expand the pilot of higher
apprenticeships and traineeships in the
social services sector. This will create
opportunities for 400 existing workers
to continue their employment, while also
validating their on the job work experience
by gaining a high‑level qualification
→ Funding will also attract and support
people to reskill as teachers at Victorian
TAFEs, including teacher scholarships
and mentoring14
Taking care of
those we love
This year, and wherever you live, we’ve been → $5.2 million to purchase land and
reminded of what matters most in life – the plan for the future expansion of
health and wellbeing of the people we love. Maryborough Hospital
As we begin our State’s recovery, that will → $3.6 million to plan and design a new
continue to be our focus. Women’s and Children’s Hospital: University
Hospital Geelong offering more maternity
That means building a mental health system
and paediatric services to meet the growing
that Victorians can actually rely on.
demand in the Barwon region
It means making sure our regional healthcare
system is there for those who need it. Funding is also provided to continue
planning and purchase land for the new
It means finding new ways to deliver care –
Torquay Community Hospital, ensuring
particularly for our most vulnerable.
this growing local community has access
And it means looking after the Victorians to high-quality care.
who look after us.
This Budget also invests $40 million to install
This Budget builds on our commitment to solar power and high efficiency LED lights in
give regional Victorians the best care close Victoria’s public hospitals.
to home – and give every family confidence
that their loved ones will be taken care of.
Regional Health
Building our Infrastructure Fund
regional hospitals A strong recovery means continuing to
ensure regional Victorians can get the
As always, our regional hospitals and local very best care, close to home.
healthcare services have been at the heart
Established in 2016, our $350 million
of our communities this year.
Regional Health Infrastructure Fund is
We want to help keep them strong, investing the biggest of its kind in Victoria.
a further $2.8 billion of funding to support
And already, it’s helped deliver more than
our health services, including supporting the
280 projects across rural and regional Victoria.
delivery of elective surgery delayed during
the pandemic. The Andrews Labor Government is building
on this investment, with an extra $120 million
This Budget also provides:
for the Regional Health Infrastructure
→ $384 million to redevelop the Warrnambool Fund to improve hospitals and local health
Base Hospital with a new emergency services across the State.
department, operating theatres and acute
From big projects to small, the Fund will
inpatient beds
help assist regional health services and
→ $85 million to upgrade and replace organisations to continue to care for their
medical equipment in rural, regional and local communities.
metropolitan hospitals
→ $10 million to renew rural residential aged
care facilities across our State, making sure
our parents and grandparents are being
looked after
→ $7.6 million for Wangaratta Hospital to
expand maternity accommodation and
investments in critical infrastructureRural And Regional 15
16
Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 17
Care close to home Mental health
This pandemic has changed the way we This pandemic has had a profound impact on
live, the way we work and even the way we the mental health of Victorians – and revealed
access healthcare. the very deep cracks in our mental health system.
To make sure we can continue to offer more This Budget invests $869 million to ensure
flexible medical treatment for regional Victorians have the mental health support they
Victorians, this Budget invests: need as we get on with fixing a broken system.
→ $121 million for Better at Home, increasing That includes starting to implement the
the delivery of hospital services in patients’ Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental
homes, ensuring more Victorians can Health System’s interim report findings and
receive care in the comfort of their own recommendations, including:
home. This includes investment in software
→ $492 million to build 120 more acute mental
to facilitate telehealth appointments
health beds, including beds for Geelong
→ $32 million in preventing, treating and
→ $21 million to deliver the statewide
improving recovery from cardiac, stroke and
expansion of the Hospital Outreach
cancer conditions. This includes increased
Post‑Suicidal Engagement (HOPE) service,
rural community testing and screening
with individual, intensive and one‑on‑one
activities close to home and embedding
support for Victorians as they rebuild
access via telehealth to clinical trials and
their lives. New sites include Warrnambool
supportive care following diagnosis
and Mildura, with additional clinical
→ $5 million to contribute to the construction capacity added to existing sites in
of a new 20 bed private respite service to Wodonga and Ballarat
help meet end of life care needs, offering an
→ $16 million to support Victorians with lived
alternative to hospital
experience of mental illness to use their
personal expertise to improve our mental
Because minutes matter in an emergency,
health system
the Government is providing year‑round
ambulance services to residents in Nagambie. → $7.7 million to address workforce shortages
in the mental health sector and support
Further funding will support continuation of the
future expansion of the workforce
Mobile Stroke Unit to reduce the time patients
wait to receive critical treatment. → $4.4 million to continue support for
Aboriginal wellbeing programs and
commence design to establish a
new Aboriginal Social and Emotional
Wellbeing Centre
This Budget also includes $26 million to meet
critical demand, funding extra inpatient beds
and increased access to community mental
health services.
As the demand for mental health services
grows, so too does the need for highly
qualified professions.
To support Victorians who want to join the
workforce, the Budget provides $13 million to
promote pathways into employment, including
scholarships and mentoring.18
Looking after families
This pandemic has been the hardest thing Building on a huge uptake in regional areas,
many of us will ever go through. the Andrews Labor Government’s Solar Homes
will also be expanded to an additional
We’ve worried about our kids and their
42 000 homes, cutting power bills for families.
future. We’ve worried about our parents
and their health. Additionally, the Solar Homes battery
program will be expanded, with 17 500 rebates
Some have had to worry about keeping a
made available over the next three years.
roof over our head – or keeping the lights on.
‘Postcode eligibility’ will also be removed,
We want to make sure that as we recover, meaning Victorians in every corner of the
we’re giving Victorians less to worry about. State can now apply for a battery rebate.
Helping our kids to catch‑up. Covering the
cost of kinder.
Extra support for regional
Making sure more Victorians don’t have to
worry about paying their power bill. Making parents and families
sure fewer Victorians have to worry about
Even with kids back at school, the daily
taking sick leave.
balancing act that many families know all
This Budget is about looking after too well isn’t any easier.
Victorians – wherever they live – and
We want to give families one less thing to
looking after their families.
worry about – and help support more parents,
particularly women, back into work.
Driving down power bills This includes making kinder free in 2021 and
delivering outside school hours care at up to
Spending more time at home has meant 400 extra schools, saving parents money and
bigger power bills for many regional families. giving them greater flexibility when it comes
to work, study, training or re‑entering the
That’s why this Budget will help hundreds of workforce. This investment includes:
thousands of families cover that cost – and
drive down their energy use. → $302 million to continue the rollout of
universal three-year-old kindergarten,
A one‑off $250 payment is provided to help including in rural and regional communities
cover the cost of their electricity bills for
eligible concession card holders, including → $170 million to make kinder free next year,
Victorians receiving JobSeeker payments. saving families around $2 000 for every
child enrolled in a participating funded
$448 million is available to help more kindergarten program
Victorians improve the energy efficiency
of their home, while reducing the costs of → $82 million to increase the availability of
their power bills. This includes: before and after school care. Grants of up
to $75 000 will be made available to start
→ $335 million to replace older wood, electric new outside school hours care programs
or gas fired heaters with new more efficient
heating and cooling for 250 000 low‑income → $68 million to provide grants to local
households government and other eligible providers
to build, expand and upgrade kinders
→ $112 million will deliver upgraded energy and early childhood facilities
systems for 35 000 social housing homes
– reducing bills for tenants and making → $21 million to help cover the cost of
winter and summer more comfortable kids’ sport, with $200 vouchers for sports
equipment, uniforms or membershipsRural And Regional 19
20
Universal three-year-old kinder will
be extended across an extra 15 local
Victoria’s Big Housing Build
government areas in regional communities Victoria’s Big Housing Build will help ensure
in 2021, giving kids up to 15 hours each week: more Victorians have a place to call home,
→ Alpine delivering the biggest investment in social
and affordable housing.
→ Ararat
With $6 billion, this investment will
→ Campaspe supercharge Victoria’s economic recovery.
→ Central Goldfields It’s win‑win. With our Big Housing Build,
→ Colac‑Otway we’ll give thousands of Victorians the security
and stability of a home – and thousands
→ Corangamite of Victorians a job.
→ East Gippsland Regional Victorians will benefit from Victoria’s
→ Glenelg Big Housing Build to transform the social and
affordable housing system with $5.3 billion in
→ Hepburn funding to construct more than 12 000 new
dwellings, including:
→ Indigo
→ Loddon → 9 300 new social housing dwellings
replacing 1 100 old housing units
→ Murrindindi
→ 2 900 new mainly affordable and low-cost
→ Southern Grampians homes in locations that are close to jobs
and transport
→ Towong
→ West Wimmera The package also includes funding to
accelerate the public housing capital
upgrade program, including enhanced gas
heater servicing. These works will improve
the comfort of home for public housing
tenants and support jobs.
Regional Victorians will benefit from this
transformation of the social and affordable
housing system. A quarter of the total
investment will be in regional areas.
Victoria’s Big Housing Build will be delivered
through partnerships with the community
housing sector, private sector construction,
industry and other investors.
It is estimated that 10 000 jobs will be
supported on average per year, over the next
four years, as well as increasing economic
activity across the State.
This package builds on the $498 million
provided earlier in the year through
Building Works for upgrades across public
and community housing.Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 21
Making housing Shared equity expansion
more affordable → The Victorian Homebuyer Fund provides
$500 million to accelerate Victorians into
Victoria’s Big Housing Build also includes home ownership. The fund will contribute
$678 million to help unlock more affordable to the purchase price in exchange for
and accessible housing for Victorians. a proportionate equity interest in the
property. This reduces the size of the
Extending the regional deposit required and will help Victorians
First Home Owner Grant afford their homes sooner. The fund will
support the purchase of both established
→ The $20 000 First Home Owner Grant for and newly built homes
people buying or building a new home
in regional Victoria has been extended
to apply to contracts of sale entered
up until 30 June 2021. This is double the Upgrading regional schools
$10 000 grant for first home owners in
metropolitan Melbourne This Budget will make sure students have the
classrooms, libraries and learning spaces they
deserve – wherever they live.
Relief on stamp duty on
residential property transactions Delivering the biggest single investment in
our regional schools ever, the Andrews Labor
of up to $1 million Government will upgrade 44 regional schools,
→ Tax relief on stamp duty for residential as part of a $254 million Budget boost.
property transactions of up to $1 million will Work on the new Wangaratta District Specialist
also be provided. A waiver of 50 per cent for School (Benalla campus) will commence
new residential properties, and 25 per cent and further funding is provided for the new
for existing residential properties, will be Wonthaggi Secondary College (San Remo
available for purchases of up to $1 million campus) – as part of our commitment to open
for contracts entered into between the day 100 new schools across the State by 2026.
after announcement and 30 June 2021
This investment builds on the upgrade and
construction of regional schools, including
Land tax discount for bushfire‑affected Clifton Creek Primary School
build-to-rent projects and Greater Shepparton Secondary College,
→ To increase the supply of housing and announced earlier this year as part of the
create more options for renters by Building Works schools package.
establishing the build‑to‑rent sector in Upgrading and building new schools is a
Victoria, from 1 January 2022, Victoria’s win‑win for regional communities, delivering
Big Housing Build will provide a great classrooms for kids and new jobs for
50 per cent land tax discount for eligible local economies.
new developments until 2040. These
developments will also be exempt from the Our regional schools and students will also
Absentee Owner Surcharge over the same benefit from more than 4 100 tutors being
period. Investment in the build‑to‑rent deployed across Victorian schools in 2021.
sector will stimulate construction activity, With $250 million of investment more than
create jobs and support Victoria’s 200 000 students across the State will have
economic recovery extra support to catch up.22
→ Falls Creek Primary School
Regional school upgrades
→ Geelong South Primary School
→ Bairnsdale Secondary College
→ Grovedale West Primary School
→ Beechworth Primary School
→ Hazelwood North Primary School
→ Bellaire Primary School
→ Hopetoun P‑12 College
→ Bendigo Senior Secondary College
→ Korumburra Secondary College
→ Beveridge Primary School
→ Kurnai College
→ Birregurra Primary School
→ Kyabram P‑12 College
→ Cape Clear Primary School
→ Kyneton High School
→ Chewton Primary School
→ Linton Primary School
→ Churchill North Primary School
→ Lorne P‑12 College
→ Clifton Springs Primary School
→ Maiden Gully Primary School
→ Concongella Primary School
→ Merbein P‑10 College
→ Currawa Primary School
→ Merrivale Primary School
→ Elmore Primary School
→ Myrtleford P‑12 College
→ Epsom Primary SchoolVictorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 23
→ Nagambie Primary School
Ensuring every child
→ Natimuk Primary School can be their best
→ Newstead Primary School
Teachers and families have done an
→ Northern Bay P‑12 College incredible job in supporting our students.
→ Rainbow P‑12 College We want to help make their school
communities stronger than ever, delivering
→ Skipton Primary School an historic investment in inclusive education.
→ Stawell Secondary College The Government will provide $94 million to
upgrade 10 special schools in regional Victoria,
→ Strathmerton Primary School
making sure every child has every opportunity
→ Tarnagulla Primary School to be their best.
→ Tooborac Primary School A further $1.6 billion investment will
transform how we support students with
→ Traralgon College ‑ Grey St Senior Campus
disability and their families, doubling the
→ Waaia Yalca South Primary School number of students receiving extra support
in the classroom to 55 000.
→ Wallan Primary School
A world‑leading pilot program in more than
→ Warragul Regional College
100 schools will now be rolled out across
→ Wodonga Middle Years College Victoria, putting the needs of students with
disability at the heart of our response.
Every government school will benefit from the
Specialist school upgrades reform, enabling them to support students
who may have previously been ineligible for
→ Ballarat Specialist School targeted support – such as those with autism,
dyslexia or complex behaviours.
→ Baringa Special School
This reform will be supported by the creation
→ Barwon Valley School of up to 1 730 jobs across the State by 2025,
→ Cobram and District Specialist School as well as new support and resources for our
incredible school staff in delivering inclusive
→ Colac Specialist School education for every student.
→ Hamilton Parklands School
→ Hampden Specialist School
→ Horsham Special School
→ Nelson Park School
→ Swan Hill Specialist School24
Building strong,
connected communities
The Andrews Labor Government is building
strong, connected communities.
Upgrading regional rail
Because we understand – investing in our This Budget invests $3.8 billion to upgrade and
regional communities means investing in the support our regional rail services to make sure
people who call them home. more regional passengers can spend more
time at home. This includes:
A faster commute means more time spent
with loved ones. A new school means more → $2 billion to progress Geelong Fast Rail,
certainty for local families. which will provide faster, more frequent
and more reliable services between
Every one of these investments is an Melbourne and Geelong
investment in what matters most: people.
→ $899 million toward the $901 million
This Budget continues the Government’s upgrade of the rail between South Geelong
strong record of investing in regional Victoria – and Waurn Ponds stations and to develop
making sure that as we recover from this a business case for the Geelong to
pandemic, no community or corner of our South Geelong Tunnel
State is left behind.
→ $400 million for the Shepparton Rail
Line Upgrade Stage 3 which will enable
nine daily return passenger services
to Melbourne
→ $260 million for the Warrnambool Rail Line
Upgrade Stage 2 to allow modern VLocity
trains to operate to and from Warrnambool
for the first time
→ $188 million to support reliability,
punctuality and safety across our regional
passenger and freight rail network
These commitments build on our significant
investments made in regional rail, including the
$2 billion Regional Rail Revival program, which
is upgrading every regional passenger rail line
in the State, improving journeys and creating
regional jobs.Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 25
Repairing country roads Geelong Fast Rail
We are also continuing to address the decades This Budget will deliver $2 billion towards
of underinvestment in our regional road Geelong Fast Rail, reducing travel times and
network – ensuring regional Victorians have supporting more passengers on our State’s
a smoother, safer journey. busiest regional rail line – matching the
Commonwealth’s contribution to the project.
This Budget continues that work, delivering
big and small road upgrades across the State. As an investment, it will mean fewer stops,
This includes: faster trips and less crowded trains for locals.
It’ll also reduce reliance on local roads,
→ $300 million for a road maintenance blitz
including the Princes Freeway road corridor.
across regional Victoria. This includes
routine maintenance, road surface Most importantly, it’ll mean less time
replacement, bridge strengthening and commuting – and more time spent with the
replacing intelligent transport systems such people you love.
as traffic signals and electronic speed signs
This funding builds on funding provided in last
→ $255 million to upgrade Victoria’s iconic year’s Budget to deliver detailed planning and
Great Ocean Road and surrounding design works.
inland routes, supporting Victoria’s
The project will support over 2 800 jobs at
tourism industry and local economies
the peak of construction and will continue
in the south west
supporting jobs once complete, with improved
→ $241 million to duplicate the Princes connections between the two cities. The project
Highway East between Traralgon and is part of the Western Rail Plan and will unlock
Sale at the Flynn and Kilmany locations capacity to enable future rail infrastructure
and service upgrades.
→ $17.4 million to upgrade freight routes for
farmers and processors in Victoria’s vital
south-west dairy supply chain, saving them
time and money
→ $10 million for upgrades to sections of the
Robinvale – Sea Lake Road to improve
safety for motorists and the efficiency of
freight in this part of northern Victoria
→ $4 million for safety improvements for
motorists on the Henty Highway between
Horsham and Lascelles
Together with the $2.8 billion of investment
in our State’s regional roads over the past
five years, these projects continue to ensure
our road network is connecting Victorians –
wherever they are.26
Investing in every corner of the State
HOPE Restart
facility
Big Housing
Build
Shepparton Rail
Line Upgrade
Stage 3
Robinvale to
Sea Lake Road
upgrade
Nagambie ambulance
3-year-old
year-round service
Mallee Silo Art kinder in 2021
Murray River
Henty Highway upgrade Adventure
Former Kyneton Trail
Primary School new
exhibition space
Longerenong
Agricultural
College upgrade
Dja Dja Wurrung
multipurpose
cultural hub
Brambuk
Cultural Centre
revitalisation
3-year-old
kinder in 2021
3-year-old
kinder in 2021
Ballarat Centre
for Photography
Kardinia Park
Stadium Stage 5
Warrnambool Redevelopment
Rail Line Upgrade
Great Ocean
Road renewal
Warrnambool
Base Hospital South West Dairy Former Korumburra
redevelopment Supply Chain Station restorationVictorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 27
STATEWIDE
→ $6 billion for Victoria’s Big Housing Build, including to → $836 million in New jobs tax credits to re-hire staff,
build more than 12 000 new social and affordable restore hours and create new jobs
homes, and make housing more accessible and → $774 million invested in early childhood education,
affordable for Victorians, supporting thousands of jobs including free kindergarten programs in 2021 and the
→ $2.8 billion to maintain capacity in our health system continued roll-out of funded 3-year‑old kinder
as hospitals move to COVID Normal, allowing for more → $626 million for Digital Future Now package to
elective surgeries support our transition to a digital economy
→ $2 billion for the Breakthrough Victoria Fund to build → $619 million Jobs for Victoria initiative to help provide
on our strengths in research and development across targeted and tailored support for Victorians most
key industries affected during this pandemic
→ $1.9 billion to upgrade 162 schools, build one new school → $450 million for a statewide road maintenance blitz
and four additional stages at recently built schools to improve safety for all road users and help maximise
→ $1.7 billion cash flow boost for businesses through the the productivity of the Victorian road network.
deferral of 2020-21 payroll tax liabilities for payrolls up → $388 million invested in the Keeping Victorians Moving
to $10 million initiative to reduce congestion and wait times for
→ $1.6 billion invested in cheaper, cleaner energy to registration and licensing services across the State
power the economic recovery → $250 million to employ tutors in every government
→ $1.6 billion to transform how we support students school and for every non‑government school that
with disability needs them
→ $1.3 billion for child protection initiatives providing → $235 million to build our Recovery Workforce to create
support for care leavers, early intervention for families jobs across mental health, family violence, health and
and support for vulnerable children child protection
→ $1.1 billion in grants to support small and → $191 million to provide solar panel system and battery
medium‑sized businesses storage rebates to more homes and small businesses
→ $1 billion invested in the training system, → $120 million top up for the Regional Health
providing greater access to training through Infrastructure Fund
a number of initiatives
→ $869 million invested in mental health initiatives,
including more acute mental health beds
Big Housing
Build
Arts
3-year-old
Clean Energy
kinder in 2021
Education Initiatives
Emergency Services
Environment and Parkland
Health
Point Hicks Lighthouse
Princes Justice
visitor facilities
Highway
upgrade Public Transport
Regional Investment
Roads
Wilsons Promontory Mallacoota Inlet Sport and Recreation
revitalisation access upgrade28
A strong recovery
2020 has shown us what matters most:
Investing in local sport
The safety and security of our families, our
kids, our parents. Having confidence in what This year we’ve come to appreciate our local
tomorrow might look like. parks, playgrounds, footy ovals and sporting
fields more than ever. As Victorians spend more
And those most basic things – our connection time outdoors with the people they love, this
to each other, looking after one another. Budget invests in new local community spaces.
It’s why this Budget is dedicated to doing This Budget includes $110 million for the
exactly that: looking after people. Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus
As we rebuild, we know we need to bring every Program to build and upgrade community
community – every Victorian – with us. sports facilities across the State, in partnership
with local communities and councils.
This Budget is about repair, recovery, and
making us stronger than before. An additional $27 million will deliver new and
upgraded community sport and recreation
upgrades, including community club lighting
and scoreboards, seniors’ community sports
Our Creative State infrastructure, community football and netball
facilities and female friendly changerooms.
To further cement our status as Australia’s
cultural capital, this Budget is investing in Total funding of $142 million will complete
the creativity of our regional communities. the final stage of the Kardinia Park Stadium
This includes $35 million to improve creative redevelopment, with a new two‑tiered
spaces, including: northern stand and new communities
facilities, supporting Geelong’s ability to
→ A new exhibition space at the former
host major events.
Kyneton Primary School
This Budget also delivers the Get Active Kids
→ New creative spaces at the
Voucher Program, supporting kids to get
Castlemaine Goods Shed
moving and help families with the costs of
→ Benalla Gallery redevelopment including community sport.
additional space and storage areas
This $21 million investment will help children get
→ Shepparton Arts Museum external works involved in organised activities by providing
$200 vouchers for sports equipment, uniforms
→ Latrobe Creative Precinct landscaping
or memberships.
and forecourt works
→ Rex Theatre Charlton backstage and
accessibility upgrades
→ Surf Coast Recreation Centre refit to
develop the Torquay Multi Arts Centre
→ Euroa Community Cinema refurbishment
→ A new collections care and storage program
to enable touring and safekeeping of
collections statewide
Support is also provided to the Geelong Arts
Centre to manage service disruptions as a
result of current redevelopment works.Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 29
The Government is delivering on our
Creating jobs by protecting Biodiversity 2037 commitment with funding
our environment of $48 million, including:
Regional Victorians understand better than → Partnerships with private landholders
anyone the need to preserve our environment and local government authorities for weed,
– safeguarding it for future generations pest, and habitat protection
and protecting regional communities → Increasing the area of suitable habitat
and livelihoods. for the Helmeted Honeyeater and
This Budget continues our investment in Leadbeater’s Possum
environment protection and improved → Continuation of the Managing Country
environment management, drawing on Together program with Traditional Owners,
the practices of Traditional Owners. and the implementation of the Wotjobaluk,
That includes $21 million to continue Dja Dja Wurrung and Eastern Marr
incorporating Aboriginal values and Settlement Agreements
expertise, including supporting Traditional → Additional resources for Parks Victoria
Owners’ organisations, in our State’s to manage our parks and ensure more
water management. Victorians can enjoy them
An additional $251 million continues our
commitment to building a sustainable Further funding of $29 million will support
water sector, including: bushfire biodiversity recovery through
revegetation and reseeding activities and
→ Safety improvements to high‑risk small construction of predator‑proof fencing.
dams across Victoria to minimise adverse
environmental effects or property damage Previously mined lands will continue to be
from a dam failure rehabilitated with $21 million to establish
the new Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority,
→ Flood protection management and including progressing remediation of the
infrastructure works former Benambra mine site.
→ Works to protect and restore priority This Budget also provides $18 million
catchments and waterways to manage deer. A further $14 million is
→ Rural water infrastructure projects to invested in programs to control wild dogs
increase regional water security, including and in pest management.
continuation of the Sustainable Irrigation
Program to support a modern irrigation
sector and ensure Victoria meets its
salinity management obligations under
the Murray Darling Basin Agreement
→ Ground water treatment program to
safeguard Bendigo’s urban waterways
The Victorian Water Register will be upgraded
to a new technology platform to enhance the
delivery of online water market services.30
A stronger, fairer State Supporting communities
To continue to support vulnerable to recover
Victorian families and members of our
For some communities in our State, 2020
community across all corners of the
began with bushfires – and then the global
State this Budget provides:
pandemic hit. Making sure these Victorians
→ $1.3 billion to support children and families, have the support they need is at the heart of
including extending the Better Futures this Budget.
Home Stretch pilot, ensuring every young
That means long-term recovery – working with
person in out‑of‑home care can receive
locals to support and rebuild their communities
support up to the age of 21, helping to make
in the months and years to come.
sure they have the stable foundation to
begin their lives. Funding will also support This Budget provides $124 million for the
early intervention to help families stay establishment of Bushfire Recovery Victoria,
together and support for vulnerable a permanent and dedicated agency to work
children who are unable to live safely directly with bushfire‑affected communities to
with their families listen, respond and support Victorians in their
recovery journey.
→ $357 million, our biggest ever investment
in support for our Aboriginal communities, In preparation for bushfires, funding is
including $86 million to reduce the over provided to build and upgrade 1 447 kilometres
representation of Aboriginal children in care of fuel breaks across Victoria, targeting the
and continue to support self‑determination highest priority fire risk areas. This includes
for Aboriginal Victorians, a $40 million upgrading the temporary Cowwarr‑Bruthen
service delivery fund for Aboriginal fuel break in Gippsland, built during the
Community Controlled Organisations, and 2019‑20 fire season.
$20 million to advance Treaty, support
The Budget also delivers $46 million for
greater self‑determination and ensure even
the management of bushfire risk through
more community voices are being heard
expanded mechanical fuel treatments and
→ $209 million to support a range of services the recruitment of additional firefighters.
outside the scope of the National Disability
An additional $20 million investment over
Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including
two years will staff the State Control Centre
support for people with psychosocial
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensuring
disability who do not meet the National
we’re prepared to respond to emergencies
Disability Insurance Agency’s threshold
all year round.
for NDIS access
Emergency service staff and volunteers will
→ $238 million to continue our record of
also be supported to respond to incidents,
support for victim survivors and their
with $4 million to enhance public emergency
families, including therapeutic and
warning and information systems, and support
flexible support packages for women
emergency staff to access critical information
and their children, funding for additional
while they’re out in the field.
case management and strengthening
information sharing capabilities
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