Thursday, 29 May 2025

Ministers statements: cost of living

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:32): I want to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s real help to Victorians with the cost of living. Right now the cost-of-living pressures, we know, are hurting many, many Victorians. They are feeling it in their bills and in their grocery shops. The Labor government are on their side, and that is why this budget has delivered a record $2.3 billion in cost-of-living relief. We are making public transport free for kids under 18, saving families around $755 per kid. Seniors will also benefit from statewide public transport on weekends that is free, meaning that they can experience even more of our state without the extra expense. They just have to have their seniors card. We are delivering another round of the power saving bonus, which I talked about earlier, that is delivering $100 just in time for winter bills. We are also investing a further $18 million to expand the community pharmacy pilot to enable pharmacists to treat more Victorians and more conditions without a trip to the doctor for a prescription. We are also covering the cost of the consult, which means that Victorians can continue to access this care for free, which I have learned is something that other states do not do. We are the only state that does not charge a fee for that service. We are delivering targeted support for families that need it most by increasing the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund to $400 a year so that kids do not miss out. This is on top of ongoing support delivering free breakfast, free glasses, free swimming lessons and free pads and tampons to every government school. We are also building on our landmark Best Start, Best Life reforms with a $2 billion investment in the budget to continue free kinder, which my colleague will be out spruiking again and again. This will save families $2600 a year. These investments make a real difference to families. This budget and this government are focused on what matters most to Victorians.