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 Tel: +61 3 9651 5111 Fax: +61 3 9651 2062 Website: budget.vic.gov.au Authorised by the Victorian Government You are free to re-use this work under a Creative Commons 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne, 3002 Attribution 4.0 licence, provided you credit the State of Printed by Southern Impact, Mount Waverley Victoria (Department of Treasury and Finance) as author, indicate if changes were made and comply with the other This publication makes reference to the licence terms. The licence does not apply to any branding, 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 [email protected]. 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 year is a year like no This Budget delivers the investment to get 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 $4.7 billion of country road and rail community – our connection to the place → upgrades, including $2 billion to progress we call home and to each other. Geelong Fast Rail As we rebuild from this global pandemic, $869 million to extend mental health we need to make sure our recovery reaches → 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 $682 million to drive cheaper, cleaner exactly that. → 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.

Building Works projects → Securing water supplies in remote 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 Wangaratta District Specialist School gate connection → Warracknabeal Secondary College → Regional rail various maintenance projects → Wonthaggi Secondary College ‑ → Bushfire Roads to Recovery projects → 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 Sunraysia Institute of TAFE management → TAFE Gippsland → V/Line Fleet maintenance and → 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 Grampians Peak Trail Projects to backyard – supporting regional economies → build new walking trails and local jobs. Falls to Hotham Crossing, delivering This Budget’s $465 million Victorian Tourism → 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 Wilsons Promontory Revitalisation infrastructure, campsites and visitor → 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

Jobs for regional Victorians We will provide $682 million to drive cheaper, 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

Building skills to get our The Budget also includes funding for 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, This Budget helping unemployed Victorians reskill and find a job fast will help more → $19 million to introduce innovative 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 → Funding to expand the pilot of higher apprenticeships and traineeships in the opportunities. 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 mentoring 14

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 infrastructure Rural 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 memberships Rural And Regional 19 20

Universal three-year-old kinder will Victoria’s Big Housing Build be extended across an extra 15 local 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 9 300 new social housing dwellings → Loddon → 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

Regional school upgrades → Falls Creek Primary School → 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 School Victorian 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 School 24

Building strong, connected communities

The Andrews Labor Government is building Upgrading regional rail strong, connected communities. 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 restoration Victorian 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 kinder in 2021 Clean Energy Education Initiatives

Emergency Services

Environment and Parkland

Health Point Hicks Lighthouse Princes visitor facilities Justice Highway upgrade Public Transport Regional Investment

Roads

Wilsons Promontory Mallacoota Inlet Sport and Recreation revitalisation access upgrade 28

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

Creating jobs by protecting The Government is delivering on our 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 between agencies Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural And Regional 31 32

Listening to local voices Regional partnerships

The need for local communities to shape local The nine Regional Partnerships established by investments has never been more important. the Government will also be central to rural and regional Victorians shaping their own future. That’s why this Budget combines local input with a more targeted approach to deliver the Bringing together locals, businesses and projects and programs that matter most to councils, these partnerships are integral to regional Victorians. ensuring the voices of communities are heard at the heart of government. This Budget will deliver $10 million in grants to address the urgent recovery needs of regional The Victorian Budget 2020/21 delivers on communities, including funding for short‑term recently identified Regional Partnerships stimulus projects to get more regional priorities, including: Victorians into work. → Works at Lakes Entrance to address critical To continue our ongoing partnership with erosion and flood risks local communities, this Budget also delivers → Coordinated management of the an extra $156 million for the Regional Jobs and Great Ocean Road Infrastructure Fund, including: → Establishment of regional startup → $110 million for the Economic and accelerators to promote entrepreneurship Community Development Fund to support in regional Victoria priority community projects that can be activated quickly to create and retain jobs → Development of regional skills demand profiles to help align local skills and → $36 million in additional funding for the labour market needs Regional Jobs Fund to support businesses to develop and expand their operations → Funding to improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians → $10 million for regional communities to accelerate planning and business cases → Management of bushfire risk across public for projects of strategic importance and private land → Delivery of business-grade broadband to regional towns and eradication of mobile blackspots → Renewal and revitalisation of the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Promontory → Duplication of the Princes Highway East between Traralgon to Sale at the Flynn and Kilmany locations → Upgrade of the rail line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds stations → Funding to implement the Victorian Regional Renewable Energy Roadmaps If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format please email [email protected] or telephone (03) 9651 5111. This document is also available in PDF and Word format at dtf.vic.gov.au Victorian Budget 2020/21 Rural and Regional budget.vic.gov.au