Tuesday, 5 May 2026

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (14:16): Easier, safer and more affordable – that is what this Victorian budget is about and what Labor governments deliver in the support of all Victorians. We see record investments in health funding, with upgrades on the way for Dandenong Hospital of $305 million to improve the theatre rooms there and provide better health care, after backing in our health services at Frankston Hospital and the Victorian Heart Hospital in recent years, and with an upgrade to Monash Medical Centre just around the corner. We see upgrades to our schools in our Kingston and Greater Dandenong communities. With the wonderful principal leadership of Sherri Jenkins at Keysborough Gardens Primary School, $8 million will be delivered to complete the school and deliver a library and a science and technology space that will be so innovative for the kids in Keysborough South into the future. I want to give a shout-out to those educators, who do so well in our community. We also have for Edithvale Primary School a $1.33 million to upgrade their outdoor learning spaces and their outdoor basketball court facilities. Thank you to Detta Gordon and the wonderful school community there, who have achieved that outcome.

We are backing in Victorians at a time of need with support for the cost of living like we have not seen before. There is a 20 per cent refund on rego across our state from 1 June to support Victorians. We are seeing free public transport throughout April and May for the conflict in the Middle East started by President Trump. We see the impact that the Middle East conflict has had, but Victorians know that Labor governments back them in, and it is why we will have half-price public transport for the rest of the year as we support Victorians.