Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Minister for Medical Research) (09:46): This Victorian budget delivers, and it delivers for the people of Niddrie, my electorate. This is a budget that focuses on local families, better schools, improved public transport, safer roads, stronger health care and real cost-of-living relief.

In education we are investing $24 million to upgrade Essendon North Primary School, delivering a major classroom wing upgrade and modernising the learning spaces for the local students. In Keilor East there is $10.5 million for the Keilor Heights Primary School, while students at Essendon Keilor College will benefit from upgraded facilities and improvements.

The Minister for Public and Active Transport visited the electorate recently, where we are funding the 476 bus service, providing more services more often to better connect people right across our growing community. The new trams are on their way, and that is why this budget also has new development funding for the new accessible level crossing tram stops that will be required.

Community strengthening is also at the heart of this budget, with more funding for Avondale Heights Football Club to do their pavilion master plan and for the Avondale Football Club as well, the soccer club, to support them, and Horseshoe Bend at Brimbank Park, a wonderful community that is growing so much. We are continuing to really invest in the people of Keilor.

We are also making sure the Calder and the Tullamarine freeways are getting the maintenance upgrades they need. Cost of living: 20 per cent off vehicle registration and half-price public transport. This is a Labor budget that has practical improvements for the local community of Niddrie, and I am proud to be part of a government that knows and invests in the north-west.