Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Budget 2023–24

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (09:46): I am pleased to acknowledge some significant announcements in the 2023–24 state budget, including $350,000 to upgrade the clubrooms at the Ivanhoe Bowling Club, with over 100 years of fantastic effort and community contribution at Ivanhoe Bowling Club. And also at the Banyule Support and Information Centre, BANSIC, every dollar counts, and the $5000 grant to them for the amazing food relief services that they provide from their centre in Heidelberg West – I am really grateful for that contribution.

For Heidelberg Primary School over $14 million was promised by the Andrews Labor government at the last election. It is a fantastic school in my electorate that has been due for this upgrade for some time, and that will enter the planning stages for the school’s upgrade development fund. And we have already got significant construction projects underway at Viewbank and Banyule primary schools.

Mercy Hospital for Women and the Austin Hospital – two great hospitals built by the Bracks Labor government on the one site – will also share in a broader $58 million program that will see new women’s health clinics, one-stop shops for women needing treatment and advice on a range of health issues. There will be one there at the Austin and Mercy Hospital for Women. The Austin Hospital as well will share in the $320 million Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund to expand the emergency department at Austin Hospital. Already over 90,000 patients have been treated in that emergency department, and the expansion is much needed. I really welcome that investment in the budget and many other great initiatives, and I commend the budget to the house.