The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering on its election promises for our community – investing in what matters for the people of Melton.
We haven’t wasted a day delivering the services and projects that matter to Victorians. With the Victorian Budget 2023/24, we’re getting on with doing what we said we’d do.
Victorians remember the State Electricity Commission (SEC): it meant a fair deal on your power prices and good, stable jobs for workers.
That’s why we’re bringing it back – to drive down power bills and create thousands of jobs in renewable, government-owned energy.
An initial $1 billion investment in the SEC will help deliver 4.5 gigawatts of power – the equivalent replacement capacity of Loy Yang A – through renewable energy projects.
Bringing back the SEC won’t just mean more renewable energy, lower power bills and reduced carbon emissions – it’ll also help create 59,000 jobs.
As part of a more than $2 billion investment in schools across Victoria, this year’s Budget includes $8.87 million to make sure students at Melton Secondary College have the facilities they deserve, with upgrades to Block T and the rugby/soccer pitch.
With this Budget, we’ll kickstart planning for upgrades at Kurrunjang Secondary College, Melton South Primary School and Toolern Vale Primary School, so students can get the world-class education they deserve.
We’ll also contribute $5 million towards a new campus of St Lawrence of Brindisi Primary School, Weir Views, as we help low-fee Catholic and independent sector to deliver great local schools.
With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has the most profound impact on how our kids develop.
That’s why we’re delivering Free Kinder for three and four-year-olds, establishing Pre-Prep, and upgrading or providing new equipment to kinders across the state to make sure Victorian kids can get the best start for the best life.
With huge demand for a skilled workforce, the Labor Government is making sure Victorians can get the skills they need for the job they want.
An investment of up to $55 million will begin work on a new TAFE campus in Melton, delivering a dedicated construction skills training facility to support around 600 students.
We know many apprentices scrimp and save as they start out in their careers. But when you rely on your vehicle to do your job every day, costs can quickly add up. We’ll ease the cost of living pressure for our hard-working apprentices, making rego free – saving eligible trade apprentices up to $865 every year.
Every Victorian who’s ever been a patient or had a loved one in hospital knows the value of our nurses and midwives.
They’re there for us during some of the hardest times in our lives. We have so much to thank them for – their patience, strength and most importantly the skilled care they provide.
We've made it free to study nursing and enshrined nurse-to-patient ratios in law. Now, we’ll do even more to give nurses the support they need to keep caring for Victorians.
More than $154 million will put more nursing staff in intensive care, high dependency and coronary care units – and more nurses and midwives in our maternity services.
As part of this package, we’ll make sure Victoria is the best place to be a nurse – with sign on bonuses for graduate nurses and midwives, funding to attract more international healthcare workers, scholarships for nurses to upskill and the recruitment of an extra 450 nurses.
Melton commuters deserve a great public transport network – with modern facilities – that gets them where they need to go.
We’ll invest $650 million to upgrade the Melton line – delivering bigger and better nine-car VLocity trains and extending station platforms including at Ardeer station – increasing capacity on the line by 50 per cent.
There is also funding to complete a business case for upgrading the Western Highway between Melton and Caroline Springs. And a new bus service will begin between Melton Station and Eynesbury, a further win for our local community.
We’ll keep supporting the transformation of Melton by continuing funding for the successful Melton Suburban Revitalisation program.
We’re backing the community organisations that provide care, support and services to help Victorians when they need it the most.
Everyone knows what a massive contribution Hope Street Youth & Family Services First Response Service makes to improving local lives, that’s why we’re ensuring they have what they need to keep supporting young people in our area with a $870,000 grant.
These are the things that matter – and the things we promised to Victorians.
And with this Budget, we’re getting on with delivering every election commitment we made at the last election.
Quotes attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie
“Melton is booming – and as our area continues to grow, we’re investing in the schools, trains, roads and skills training our community needs now and into the future.”
“The new Melton TAFE will be a boon for the western suburbs, giving students and workers alike the opportunity to get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
