Labor rolls out some detail ahead of State Budget

THE Labor Government has revealed some of its initiatives in the 2021-22 State Budget ahead of it being handed down today (Thursday, May 20), including addressing family violence and helping victim survivors, changes to taxes estimated to raise $2.7 billion, and building more trains.

The budget will deliver $44.1 million to support children affected by family violence and sexual assault, including adolescents who use violence at home.

The funding supports the statewide expansion of adolescent family violence programs, ensuring kids can access the counselling and care they need.

To intervene early and address problematic behavior, the funding will also extend sexually abusive treatment services and provide specialised sexual assault support to children and young people.

The budget will also include $1.3 million to support victim survivors of family violence to ensure the safety of, and ongoing connection with, their pets.

As well as a new windfall gains tax, an increase to the tax on large land holdings and a new premium stamp duty rate, Labor will extend the point of consumption tax framework to keno taxation from April 15, 2022, and resume the annual indexation of fee and penalty units from July 1 this year.

Government wages policy will be adjusted with a reduction in the guaranteed annual increase from 2 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

“It’s only fair that those making large profits return a reasonable proportion to the community – this means more Victorians can have the schools, hospitals and support they need and deserve,” Treasurer Tim Pallas said.

“Our tax system is fair and progressive – making sure that everyone pays their fair share to support Victoria’s economic recovery.”

There will also be $986 million for 25 new X’Trapolis 2.0 trains and related infrastructure to modernise the state’s train fleet, which will directly support about 750 jobs across manufacturing and supply chains.

Detailed design work is already under way, with manufacturing of the new trains to begin late next year.

Ahead of the budget, Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan released his wishlist for the Surf Coast and Golden Plains shires.

It includes:

• Funding and direction for local projects including the Emergency Services precinct in Bannockburn as well as the government’s decision on water options for Anglesea’s Eden Project
• Fixing known road blackspots, and more funding for councils to manage their extensive rural road network
• Better access to public transport options into Geelong along with consolidated, affordable and accessible community health services
• Real funds allocated towards affordable and social housing projects in towns such as Bannockburn, Winchelsea and Anglesea, and
• Extra funding to help fast track land rezoning and infrastructure in order to sustain affordable and sustainable housing choices.

“Labor has overspent wildly on big projects in Melbourne while basic infrastructure and urgent upgrades are being ignored in the regions,” Mr Riordan said.