State Budget 2018: Your five-minute guide

VICTORIAN Treasurer Tim Pallas has unveiled a State Budget spending spree on hospitals, roads, prisons and schools. Here’s everything you need to know.

VICTORIAN Treasurer Tim Pallas has unveiled a State Budget spending spree on hospitals, roads, prisons and schools.

Among the projects to get a funding boost are the North East Link, the Geelong to Melbourne fast train, Etihad Stadium, Lara Prison and Victoria’s Heart Hospital.

STATE BUDGET FULL WRAP

HIGH-SECURITY WAITING ROOMS FOR ICE PATIENTS

FREE COURSES IN EDUCATION CASH SPLASH

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s Budget.

State Budget 2018: By the numbers

REVENUE

* $1.4 billion surplus

* Stamp duty to rise from $7 billion to $7.7 billion in four years

* $24.1 billion total tax take 2018/19

ECONOMY

* Triple A credit rating remains

* Total revenue up $5.5 billion to $69.5 billion 2017/18

* Spending up $6.2 billion to $68.1 billion

* Net debt up $4.7 billion to $24.3 billion

ROADS

* $2.2 billion to ease congestion on Melbourne’s busiest arterials

* Planning of North East Link fast tracked with $110 million boost

* $941 million to fix country roads

* $712 million for Stage 2 of Monash Freeway Upgrade

Because the ‘fast trains’ to Geelong aren’t fast enough, $50m has been set aside to work out how to make them even faster.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

* $50 million for Geelong-Melbourne fast train planning

* Upgrades on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines at a cost of $572 million

* Regional rail services to receive $704 million boost

TOURISM

* Revamp of Port Melbourne’s Station Pier at $5.8 million

* $4.5 million boost to Victoria’s Major Events Fund

EDUCATION

* $172 million to make key TAFE and pre apprenticeship courses free

* 1700 apprentices to finish school fully qualified under $50 million Young Tradies program

* 19 news school sites costing $282 million

HEALTH

* Record $647 million spend on mental health services and treatment

* Victoria’s Heart Hospital fully funded at $543 million

* $217.6 million elective surgery blitz

* $100 million boost to Ice Action Program with crisis hubs built at six hospitals

$225m will be injected into revamping Etihad.

SPORT

* $82 million to upgrade women’s sporting facilities and venues

* $225 million redevelopment of Etihad Stadium

LAW AND ORDER

* $689 million expansion of Lara Prison

* $128.9 million to recruit new judges and increase court capacity

* 50,000 more roadside drug tests per year

COST OF LIVING

* Households to receive $50 bonus for signing up to Govt’s Energy Compare website

* Cap on the Utility Relief Grant for struggling families increased from $500 to $650

* $1.9 million to make train passes cheaper for regional students

JOBS

* Unemployment will drop to 5.5% by next year

* Wages to grow at rate of 3.25% within four years

* Public sector wages up $2.57 billion to $25.5 billion

REGIONAL VICTORIA

* $153.2 million for Geelong City Deal including convention centre

* $313 million upgrade and new VLocity trains on Shepparton line

* Double stamp duty free threshold for young farmers

* Payroll tax for 4000 regional businesses cut from 3.6% to 2.425%

EMERGENCY SERVICES

* $43 million to upgrade CFA and SES facilities

* Increase lifeguard patrols at Victoria’s most high risk beaches at a $11.5 million cost

FEES AND FINES

* Speed camera fines increase by $3 million to $371 million

* On the spot police fines jump $8 million to $150 million

* Toll road evasion fines surge $21 million to $140 million

MELBOURNE ENGULFED IN SMOKE HAZE

MASKED MAN ‘SPRAYS’ TERRIFIED FRANKSTON BANK STAFF

CAMPER’S STUNNING FIVE DAY BUSH SURVIVAL