Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Ministers statements: budget 2025–26

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:35): Victorians in difficult, challenging times expect their leaders and their government to be on their side, to stand up for them, to help ease their pressure, not add to it, and to back families in, not just back in themselves. In our Labor government that is exactly what we are doing.

Let me run through the examples. There is free public transport for kids everywhere every day, and not only that, we are also going to help the grandparents get to see the grandkids with free travel for seniors every weekend right across the state. There is the work that we are doing to get young people into a home – helping young people buy their first home, start a family and build their long-term wealth. There is that fantastic initiative, free care at the chemist – being able to go and get treated for more conditions at your local chemist or pharmacy, avoiding a trip to the GP, saving time and money, and for people and families, getting care sooner as well. There is the help with school costs that the Deputy Premier has been working on, there is the increase to the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and there are the Get Active Kids vouchers, making sure that kids are not missing out on those important experiences and opportunities. Then of course the SEC is back, that one-stop shop helping to reduce energy bills and backed with the power saving bonus as well, providing important relief through the winter period.

We know families and working people are counting every dollar. Every dollar counts, and they are looking to government for support, not to be overlooked. The member for Brighton did not mention families, children or parents once yesterday. We are on the side of working people and families, and we will back them every day.