CREATING JOBS AND CARING FOR MELTON

The Andrews Labor Government is creating jobs and caring for the people of Melton.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 will support an average of 38,000 jobs every year over the next four years, while also investing in the care, services and infrastructure our community needs.
$94 million will be invested on the Melton and Wyndham Vale corridor to enable higher capacity trains, including 9-car VLocity trains. These longer trains will increase peak capacity by up to 50 per cent during peak periods, increasing comfort for local passengers. Development work will also be undertaken for a new commuter train as a future replacement for the existing classic fleet operating on regional lines.
Our buses connect locals to work, to school and to each other. This Budget invests $74.3 million to improve our state's bus services, including ongoing funding for Routes 444 and 454 in Melton.
The Labor Government is also delivering the schools we need for today, and tomorrow. That means building new schools as well as locking in land to build schools for the future. The Budget will secure land in Brookfield for a new primary school, giving local families confidence their kids will have a great local school.
The best start in life for young Victorians begins with a great early education. That's why the Labor Government is rolling out three-year-old kinder for every Victorian child from next year. That means every child in Melton will have access to at least five hours of funded kinder per week, increasing to 15 hours by 2029. It's not just great news for kids – families will save $1150 on average, while an extra 6,000 roles for qualified early childhood teachers and educators will also be created.
Trees make our streets more attractive, provide shade and decrease pollution. Under this year's Budget, suburbs in Melbourne's west – including Melton – will see thousands of new trees planted, further beautifying our community.
This Budget also invests $250,000 to develop a business case for TAFE provision in the Melton local government area, recognising this is one of the fastest growing areas in our state.
An investment of $954 million will deliver 22 reformed area mental health and wellbeing services to replace current services. These services will have more capacity to treat and support Victorians experiencing severe and complex mental health challenges.
Young Victorians are at the heart of our reform, with $842 million in mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people. This investment will see two separate streams of care created – one devoted to infants and children and one devoted to young people. This investment will deliver more early intervention, more intensive support for those who need acute care, and three new community-based hubs, providing a one-stop approach to children’s mental health, health and development.
Not only are we delivering the mental health system Victoria needs – we’re also supporting around 3,000 new jobs. From doctors to nurses, support staff to peer workers, this investment is creating new opportunities for thousands of Victorians. To train and recruit this critical workforce, we’re also funding new scholarships, job placements and continuing our Free TAFE courses.
With this Budget, we’re creating new jobs and caring for Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie
“This is a Labor Government that backs workers and their families – that’s why this Budget is caring for our community and creating new local jobs.”
“Whether it’s more mental health support or dedicated care for families, we understand that every dollar of investment needs to make a difference in the lives of local families.”