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Labor Budget delivers cost-of-living relief and regional investment across Eastern Victoria’s services

Labor’s Budget delivers cost-of-living relief and major investment across Eastern Victoria, including transport discounts, health and education funding, and improved regional infrastructure and services.

By news@gippsland - 15th May 2026 - Back to News

The Allan Labor government is making life easier, safer and more affordable for families in the Eastern Victoria Region. Cost of living pressures are being felt by everyone across regional Victoria. Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East means Victorians are paying more for fuel. That’s why this Budget delivers 20% off rego, saving a driver with one car up to $186, and a family with two cars up to $372. It’s real help with the cost of living, right now, while still delivering a surplus.

Labor Budget invests in regional education, health and services, while providing cost-of-living relief for families through schools, healthcare and community support programs

Cost of living relief

The Middle East means Victorians are paying more for fuel. That’s why this Budget delivers 20% off rego, saving a driver with one car up to $186, and a family with two cars up to $372. It’s real help with the cost of living, right now, while still delivering a surplus.

We’re also taking pressure off the pump with free public transport in April and May - then half-price fares from June 1 until the end of the year. This will save the average daily commuter in the Eastern Victoria Region more than $1,300.

The Rural Financial Counselling service offers free help to families across the Eastern Victoria Region who are doing it tough, helping them to get their finances back on track. This Budget invests $1.8 million to continue this important work, supporting local farmers and families. Local families in the Eastern Victoria Region are struggling with the cost of living. Expanding place-based information and support services - like Bring Your Bills days - provides real, practical in person support for those who need it.

Regional investment budget

Regional Victoria is at the heart of this Budget - and this Labor government. We’re investing $114 million in regional education, including $95 million to upgrade local schools. The $75 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund will go towards supporting regional hospitals and health services. And we’re investing $20 million into the Future Regions Program to boost productivity and livability in the regions. Because no matter where you live, every Victorian deserves access to the same quality public services.

Victoria has one of the best school systems in the world, with NAPLAN results that lead the nation. But the rising cost of living is putting pressure on household budgets. From free School Breakfast Clubs, to more affordable uniforms, this Budget invests $59.4 million to help families with school-age kids. This includes expanding the Glasses for Kids program to more schools - delivering free eye tests and free glasses to kids who need them.

Education investment boost

From Free Kinder to Free TAFE - and everything in between - the Allan Labor government invests in education. We’re transforming early childhood education and delivering Free Kinder - saving families up to $2,700 per child every year. This Budget also invests nearly half a billion dollars to build and upgrade kinders and government-run childcare centres.

Locally, Mornington Park Primary School is receiving $331,000 for fencing to improve safety for students. Capital upgrades will also include $323,000 for Stratford Primary School, and $428,000 for Briagolong Primary School.

School upgrades funded

For the local community in Warragul, we’re delivering $6.67 million to upgrade Warragul North Primary School - because Labor is making sure kids get the education they deserve in world class facilities. We’re helping families by continuing to fund high intensity outside of school hours care at 35 specialist schools, including Peninsula College and South Gippsland Specialist School.

We’re investing in three new TAFE Centres of Excellence in partnership with the Commonwealth, including the $50 million Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence at Gippsland TAFE in Morwell.

Health system investment

The Allan Labor government always invests in our health system. Since 2014, we’ve delivered 11 new hospitals and hired 41,900 nurses, midwives, doctors and healthcare workers. This Budget invests to hire 250 extra graduate nurses and delivers fast-tracked surgery and specialist appointments for kids.

Early Parenting Services provide practical, hands-on help and wellbeing support to new parents, from birth up to age 4. From sleep to feeding, they deliver day and overnight programs for free. This Budget invests $6.8 million to open the brand new Hastings Early Parenting Centre for local families.

PET scanners help to diagnose cancers sooner, and track them more closely. They’re an important tool in delivering better care for cancer, heart disease, brain disorders and other conditions. That’s why this Budget invests $25.6 million for a new PET scanner at Frankston Hospital. We’ve just redeveloped the hospital, and now we’re investing to make it even better for families in Mornington.

Community safety investment

As part of our $284 million investment to open and expand more hospitals in growing outer suburbs and regions, we’re operationalising Pakenham Community Hospital with $18.8 million to deliver allied health, pathology, public dental and urgent care services. The Allan Labor government is making it easier to get quality, affordable healthcare in our community.

Victoria has more police than any other state. With this Budget, we’re boosting police resources by recruiting 200 police reservists for desk jobs. This $62 million investment will free up frontline officers, making sure they’re out where they’re needed in Eastern Victoria. We’re also investing $33.5 million in the
Violence Reduction Unit, to stop crime before it starts. That’s why this Budget invests $9.5 million to boost Blue Light Victoria’s successful youth mentoring program in Morwell.

Emergency services funding

The Allan Labor government is backing our volunteer emergency services, making sure they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. We’re delivering an additional $100 million for new CFA tankers and pumpers to ensure our firefighting fleet can protect Victorians. We’re also investing $26.2 million to deliver CFA facilities.

This includes planning and designs for a modern station for the Lakes Entrance Brigade, and capital funding for a new modern station for the Mirboo North Brigade. And we are providing a new boat for Marine Search and Rescue at Port Welshpool Vessel to keep locals and visitors
safe in the water.

Regional agriculture support

Agribusiness is a cornerstone of our regional economies, including in Eastern Victoria. This Budget invests $7.4 million to support those working in agriculture, including backing the next generation of women leaders through the Rural Women’s Network Leadership and Mentoring Program.

For generations, the Country Women’s Association of Victoria has been looking out for regional communities. The Allan Labor government is proud to support the CWA with $150,000 to provide financial relief and practical help to women, children and families in need.

We’re making life easier by giving busy Victorians time back in their day, with better roads and more public transport. We’re funding the biggest roads blitz in the state’s history - $1.04 billion is going towards rebuilding, repairing and resurfacing roads across Victoria, with 70 per cent of the funds going to regional Victoria.

Transport and upgrades

We’ve helped to make PT more affordable, with free travel for kids, and for seniors and carers on weekends. We’re also investing to make sure our public transport network is world-class. Which is why this Budget delivers trains as frequently as every 20 minutes on weekday evenings on the Belgrave, Lilydale, Glen Waverley, and Alamein lines.

We’re delivering critical road upgrades across Gippsland, installing new traffic signals on the Princes Highway East in Trafalgar and progressing plans for the Leongatha alternative truck route and improvements to the Strzelecki Highway.

Community sporting clubs bring the Eastern Victorian Region locals together. This Budget invests $125,000 for lighting upgrades at Boneo Tennis Club, and $100,000 for a masterplan at Koonwarra Rec Reserve making local facilities even better.

Homelessness support funding

This Budget continues to invest in breaking the cycle of homelessness, including $17.5 million for nine new outreach teams supporting rough sleepers and connecting them to services across the Eastern Victorian Region. Labor is investing in the Eastern Victoria Region - do the Liberals support our investments, or will they cut them?

Harriet Shing MP, Member for Eastern Victoria said, "This budget continues to provide Victorian families with real help to meet the cost of living. It also invests in the healthcare, schools, public transport, and roads that our growing communities need."

Tom McIntosh MP, Member for Eastern Victoria said, "This Budget ensures families have the high-quality support they deserve close to home, while easing everyday cost of living pressures with free public transport and reduced rego."

Pictures from TAFE Gippsland Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• East Gippsland Seniors Festival returns this October, inviting community events across the shire
  East Gippsland’s Seniors Festival returns in October, inviting community groups to submit events celebrating older residents under this year’s ‘Connect, Create and Celebrate’ theme.
• Baw Baw Shire Council urges community advocacy for major projects ahead of Victorian state election
  Baw Baw Shire Council is urging residents to support advocacy for the Rokeby to Noojee Trail Extension and urgent Warragul-Drouin intersection upgrades ahead of the Victorian state election.