Victorian Budget 2023-24: Key Portfolio Measures

23 May 2023

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Department of Treasury and Finance

The Government has invested in new technology which will expand the ability of the State Revenue Office to ensure compliance with new taxation measures. The Government has also committed to whole-of-government regulatory reform.

Expenditure in the Department of Treasury and Finance in 2023-34 includes:

  • $178.2 million over five years from 2022-23 to continue to expand the ‘State Revenue Office’s Compliance’ Program. The funding will be used to invest in new technologies to increase compliance.
  • $45.1 million over four years from 2023-24 to coordinate a ‘Whole of Government’ program across regulators and councils to prioritise regulatory reform opportunities and establish an Economic Growth Commissioner.
  • $26.6 million over four years from 2023-24 to expand the Partnerships Addressing Disadvantage (PAD) initiative with two additional partnerships which will aim to address social issues affecting vulnerable Victorians.
  • $24.2 million over four years from 2023-24 to establish a dedicated monitoring and enforcement unit for the construction sector within WorkSafe. The funding will also be used to hire new inspectors from the construction industry.

Department of Premier and Cabinet

Funding is primarily provided for ongoing planning and infrastructure programs and industrial relations reform. This includes measures to continue the ‘land and precincts’ program, as well as measures which aim to build equity across Victoria, including funding to support strategic industrial relations attraction and retention policies, and female participation in building, construction, and infrastructure sectors.

Expenditure in the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2023-24 includes:

  • $14.7 million over the next two years to continue the ‘land and precincts’ program within the Department of Transport and Planning and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
  • $10 million over the forward estimates to support strategic industrial relations attraction and retention policies.
  • $9 million over the next two years for on-demand worker support, to continue implementation of the Government’s response to the Inquiry into the Victorian On-Demand Workforce, which includes the establishment of the Gig Worker Support Service.
  • $8.3 million over the next two years to continue the Job and Skills Exchange, which will reduce labour hire and consultancy expenditure by increasing mobility and development opportunities within the public service.
  • $6.7 million in 23-24 to support Wage Inspectorate Victoria’s operations, so that it can continue to protect workers from exploitation and to recover employees’ lawful workplace entitlements.
  • $2.4 million over the next three years to increase women’s participation in the building, construction, and infrastructure sectors, through the development of Women in Construction Strategy.

Department of Transport and Planning

The Government continues to invest in a wide range of road and rail upgrades, particularly in regional Victoria where it capped the price of regional fares, and plans to invest in additional VLocity trains and services.

Expenditure in the Department of Transport and Planning in 2023-34 includes:

  • $650 million to upgrade the Melton line, build extra stabling, and upgrade stations. $9 million will be provided in 2023-24 with the remaining funding to be allocated at a later date.
  • $646.5 million over five years from 2022-23 to upgrade key roads and intersections in major growth areas.
  • $578.7 million over four years to provide 23 new VLocity trains to enable increased capacity on the Melton line. The trains will be manufactured in Victoria.
  • $560 million over four years from 2023-24 to undertake road pavement works across Victoria, including routine maintenance, road resurfacing and rehabilitation.
  • $338.6 million over two years from 2022-23 to prepare for day one operations of the Metro Tunnel. This includes the recruitment and training of train drivers, developing wayfinding and customer information, and bus network changes.
  • $219.4 million over five years from 2022-23 for additional train services across regional Victoria.
  • $189.4 million over five years from 2022-23 to reduce the cost of regional public transport across Victoria by capping regional fares at the same price as metropolitan zone 1+2 fares.

Department of Health

A feature of the 2023-24 Budget for the Department of Health includes the Government’s continued investment in Victorian hospitals, including service delivery, planning works, and infrastructure delivery. The Government has also committed additional funding to preventative and public health services, as well as aged care.

Expenditure in the Department of Health in 2023-34 includes:

  • $2.34 billion over five years from 2022-23 to support the delivery of patient needs and outcomes in Victorian public hospital services. The funding will also be used to operationalise new and expanded facilities as well as support investments in blood products.
  • $320 million over four years from 2023-24 to deliver the Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund which will plan the delivery of major investments at seven hospitals across the State.
  • $201.5 million over four years from 2023-24 to assist Ambulance Victoria in responding to growing demand for ambulance services across Victoria. The funding will also support a Victorian Virtual Emergency Department as well as secondary triage services.
  • $160.1 over four years from 2023-24 to continue delivery of alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, including the Medically Supervised Injecting Room in North Richmond, outreach services, treatment, and withdrawal beds.
  • $154.2 million over fiver years from 2022-23 to support nurses and midwives in resuscitation bays, maternity night shifts, intensive care units, high dependency units, coronary care units, and aged care residential in-reach facilities. The funding will also be used to provide sign-on bonuses to new graduates.
  • $125.2 million over two years from 2023-24 for Public Health Victoria to continue the operation of local public health units and additional functions such as public health prevention, regulation and emergency response.
  • $113.9 million over four years from 2023-24 to build three new residential aged care services in regional Victoria, as part of delivering the Rural and Regional Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services Revitalisation Strategy.
  • $53.2 million over two years from 2023-24 for stage 3 funding, including for planning and development, of the redevelopment of Thomas Embling Hospital.

Department of Education

The Government will construct nine new schools, contributing to its commitment to open 100 new schools across the state by 2026. Additionally, the Government has provided funding to continue to deliver the Best Start, Best Life: Free Kinder initiative. Funding has been allocated to students to undertake work experience in clean energy and other priority pathways, as well as funding to introduce a clean energy Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathway to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) vocational major from 2024.

Expenditure in the Department of Education in 2023-24 includes:

  • $617.7 million over the forward estimates to build nine new schools, as part of the Government’s commitment to open 100 new schools across the state by 2026.
  • $378.2 million over the forward estimates for school enrolment-based funding for government and non-government schools. This initiative contributes to the Department of Education’s School Education – Primary output and Secondary output.
  • $202.9 million over the forward estimates for students with disability and their families. This includes Outside School Hours Care program to 30 specialist schools by 2026.
  • $217.5 million over the forward estimates to contribute to the Department of Education’s Supports for Schools and Staff output for essential maintenance and compliance programs including the ‘Student Resource Package Maintenance and Minor Works’ program to fund schools and the ‘Student Resource Package Ground Allowance.’
  • $47.7 million over the forward estimates to deliver free kinder programs and transition four-year-old kinder to pre-prep, as part of the Best Start, Best Life: Free Kinder initiative.
  • $31.9 million to continue and expand the Students with Disabilities Transport Program, which provides transport to students with disabilities enabling them to attend specialist schools.
  • $18.6 million over the forward estimates for 10,000 students to undertake work experience in clean energy and other priority pathways.
  • $6.1 million over the forward estimate to introduce a clean energy VET pathway to the VCE vocational major from 2024.

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The Government affirmed its commitment to renewable energy and the State Electricity Commission (SEC) through a range of funding measures. Funding has been allocated for an additional round of Power Saving Bonus Funding for all Victorian households to reduce energy costs, as well as funding for Solar Victoria to provide interest-free loans for solar battery storage installations. Additionally, the Government is providing funding to support the managed transition out of native timber harvesting in State forests.

Expenditure in the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in 2023-24 includes:

  • $1 billion over the forward estimates for an equity investment into the SEC, to accelerate investment in renewable energy to meet energy targets.
  • $400 million for an additional round of the $250 Power Saving Bonus for all Victorian households that use the Victorian Energy Compare website.
  • $200 million towards Timber Harvesting Transition Support for the managed transition out of native timber harvesting in State forests. An additional, $15 million over the next two years has been funded for timber industry and worker transition support services.
  • $48 million for the establishment of the SEC.
  • $20 million over the forward estimates for climate change policy capability, to deliver the Government’s climate action agenda, funded from the Sustainability Fund, subject to final eligibility.
  • $16 million for Solar Victoria to provide interest-free loans for Victorians to install solar battery storage systems in their homes.

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions

The Government will expand the free TAFE program, provide further support for jobseekers, and establish a new Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund.

Expenditure in the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions in 2023-24 includes:

  • $201.2 million over three years from 2023-24 in funding for grants and programs for new community sport and active recreation infrastructure.
  • $186 million over two years from 2023-24 to adjust the training subsidy eligibility criteria to allow training courses including free TAFE to be more freely available for people who are returning to study.
  • $90.5 million over two years from 2023-24 towards subsidised accredited training including ‘Free TAFE’.
  • $89.7 million over two years from 2023-24 for TAFEs to continue providing services to students, employers and communities including student support services.
  • $40.2 million over two years from 2023-24 to establish an Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund and a Manufacturing and Industry Sovereignty Fund. Additionally, providing support for Victoria’s defence and space industry and supply chains to secure major defence contracts.
  • $36.1 million over two years from 2023-24 to support disadvantaged jobseekers improve their job prospects through extensions to the Jobs Victoria Mentors program.
  • $23 million in 2024-25 towards additional funding for the Major Events Fund.

Department of Justice and Community Safety

The Government will invest in frameworks to maintain integrity in the gambling and racing industries and provide additional funding for youth justice programs.

Expenditure in the Department of Justice and Community Safety in 2023-24 includes:

  • $355 million over three years from 2024-25 to lift the amount of net wavering revenue returned to the Victorian Racing Industry from 3.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.
  • $110 million over two years from 2023-24 to maintain a robust gambling regulator and support people experiencing gambling harm.
  • $87 million over four years from 2023-24 to provide support for growth of the Victorian Racing Industry.
  • $50.9 million over two years from 2023-24 to continue funding initiatives in youth justice.
  • $36 million to maintain the Western Plains Correctional Centre as well as provide training and recruitment activities.
  • $18.3 million over two years from 2023-24 to support the operation of the corrections system and reduce recidivism through a range of programs.

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

The Government continues to invest in child protection and family services, including responding to the demand for residential care placements to support children and young people. The Government has also funded a number of its election commitments including installing air conditioners in Victoria’s public housing high-rise tower dwellings and funding for a range of initiatives to support multicultural and multifaith communities.

Expenditure in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in 2023-24 includes:

  • $548.3 million over the forward estimates to respond to the demand for residential care placements to support children and young people. This also includes funding to increase therapeutic support and targeted care packages.
  • $141.5 million over the forward estimates for installing air conditioners in Victoria’s public housing high-rise tower dwellings.
  • $77.6 over the forward estimates to provide funding for a range of initiatives to support Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities, including funding for multicultural support programs.
  • $77.1 million over the forward estimates to provide support servicers for victim survivors of family violence and sexual assault and perpetrators investigations.
  • $67.6 million over the forward estimates to deliver a Housing First response, including support for individuals experiencing rough sleeping.
  • $58.8 million in 2023-24 for the settlement of civil claims for historical institutional child abuse suffered by victims while in the State’s care.
  • $40.4 million over the forward estimates for targeted housing and programs to support people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness.
  • $23 million over the forward estimates to supply free sanitary items across Victoria.

Department of Government Services

The Department of Government Services was established on 1 January 2023 and focuses on a range of digital strategy and transformation measures including cyber security reform and modernising and digitising government service delivery. Funding will be provided to support the families who were affected by the insolvency of home builder Porter Davis Homes. The Government continues its digital transformation, making government information easier for the community to access.

Expenditure in the Department of Government Services in 2023-34 includes:

  • $90 million over the next two years for Service Victoria to continue to digitise government service delivery and improve public access to government services.
  • $34.7 million over the next two years for cyber security reform to strengthen cyber defence systems across the Victorian public sector.
  • $15 million in 2022-23 to support the families who signed a domestic building contract and paid deposits to insolvent home builder Porter Davis Homes but had no valid domestic building insurance taken out by Porter Davis Homes.
  • $4 million over the next two years for the professional engineer registration scheme to ensure Victoria’s registered engineers are appropriately qualified and experienced.
  • $1.5 million to keep public Wi-Fi access free and available in Melbourne’s CBD until April 2025.

 

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