Victorian government funds infrastructure and health services in new budget

VICTORIA’S latest financial blueprint has been released and it is a tighter budget than the two before it. So who are the winners and losers?

Daniel Andrews’ government revealed its latest budget.

VICTORIA’S latest financial blueprint has been released and it is a tighter budget than the two before it.

Treasurer Tim Pallas claimed the third budget will deliver more than $8 billion in surpluses over the next four years, with a $1.2 billion surplus this financial year.

The Andrews government is spending big on infrastructure and law and order but new car buyers and property investors look like they’ll be slugged with extra tax, proving there are definitely some losers in this budget.

WINNERS

Commuters

The Victorian government is investing $1.45 billion in regional rail services and upgrades. More than $400 million will go towards fixing up the Gippsland line.

The government will also upgrade the Warrnambool lines and provide funding for the Surf Coast Rail Project.

“If we can better regional communities with Melbourne, if we can better connect between regional communities, that’s great for families, it’s great for employment,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.

About $100 million has also been pledged for the North East Link, which connects the Metropolitan Ring Road at Greensborough with the Eastern Freeway or EastLink.

This freeway has previously been dubbed Melbourne’s “missing link”.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy however said there was no way the planning for the road could be done for $100 million, but does admit it needs to be built.

In other roads announcements, Victoria will spend $300 million building a 9km bypass around suburbs on Melbourne’s southeastern edge and Mr Andrews said it would bring the state closer to solving traffic congestion.

Construction on the Mordialloc bypass will start in 2019 and take traffic from the end of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway in Melbourne’s southeast, to the Dingley Bypass. It is expected to be completed by 2022.

The government has also committed $10 million to investigate private Melbourne airport rail link options.

The new North East Link.

Health services

The government announced it would funnel $26.5 million to improve ambulance response times after new data showed the best performance in seven years.

The extra millions will be used to continue to improve the response time.

The Maternal Child Health Service will also get $80 million for its expansion and $63 million will also go towards expanding the Monash Medical Centre emergency department, with an exclusive area for children.

About $15 million will fund real time monitoring systems to ensure faster responses to large scale emergencies like the thunderstorm asthma event.

Victoria will spend an unprecedented $1.9 billion combating family violence, more money than ever before, Treasurer Tim Pallas says.

The funding is at the heart of the state’s budget, including 17 support and safety hubs across the state.

“There is more money directed to family violence in this budget, than the state of Victoria has ever committed to family violence in all preceding violence combined,” Mr Pallas said on Tuesday.

Monash Medical Centre will have its emergency department expanded. Picture: Sarah Matray

Sporting precincts

Melbourne Park, the home of the Australian Open, will get $271 million to complete the third stage of its redevelopment. It will fund a new 5000-seat sunken stadium, central terrace and outdoor public space. Two new match courts will also be built.

Victoria Racing Club will also have its Flemington Club Stand redeveloped, with the held of $128 million promised in the budget.

Kardinia Park in Geelong will also be given almost $4 million for an upgrade.

The last stage of the Melbourne Park upgrade will be completed with money put aside in the budget.

Police

A whopping $2 billion for more police and other Community Safety Statement initiatives will be part of this year’s budget. There will also be $308 million committed to overhaul management of serious, violent offenders. That will include electronic monitoring, curfews and no-go zones.

The government will spend $81.1 million on rehabilitation beds, Aboriginal health workers and drug treatment services under the Ice Action Plan.

Victoria Police will receive $2 billion for more police and other community safety initiatives.

Schools

The Herald Sun reports some schools will receive $50.7 million to improve poor results and the government has committed $695 million to an education works program. Cash from this funding will be put aside so land for 11 future schools can be purchased in growing regional areas.

Almost 60 schools in regional areas will be upgraded and 49 schools in the city.

Some struggling schools will receive funding to help with poor results. Picture: iStock

LOSERS

New car buyers

Treasurer Tim Pallas announced those in the market for a new car will pay more stamp duty from July 1, reaping the government more than $100 million a year.

Property investors

Also from July 1, investment property transfers between partners will no longer be exempt from stamp duty. It’s estimated about 3000 people a year use such an arrangement and it will generate $20 million a year. Land tax will also be revalued annually instead of biannually from 2019.