VICTORIA’S State Budget for the 2022/23 financial year has been presented as a major boost for the health sector and rural Victoria, with a $12 billion Pandemic Repair Plan and dedicated $5.7 billion for the regions among its most prized components.
However the Opposition and an industry representative said the State Government had not given regional Victoria its fair share, pointing to funding cuts for regional development, agriculture and roads.
The Glenelg Shire has largely missed out on targeted funding, aside from ongoing capital works support for Casterton Primary School and planning to redevelop Heywood’s aged care facility.
Record debt and tax increases are also in the spotlight.
Pandemic Repair Plan
THE Pandemic Repair Plan is the $12 billion crown jewel in the State Budget, with the Government intent on addressing the strain Covid-19 has put on Victoria’s health system.
GP shortages and emergency response times are among the concerns the State Government intends to tackle in its plan, which includes staff increases and upgraded facilities across the state.
The plan does not break down how funding will be allocated to each individual region, with the Budget primarily targeting larger regional centres for significant upgrades outside of Melbourne.
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, praised healthcare workers for their efforts during the pandemic.
“That’s why we’re giving our healthcare workers the extra pair of helping hands they need, so they can give you the very best care,” he said.
The government’s intentions for boosting staff numbers include training and hiring up to 7000 new healthcare workers including 5000 nurses, increased capacity for Triple-Zero call-takers and dispatchers and more paramedics.
The staffing boost will be supported by what the government calls an “unprecedented” package to help upskill nurses and allied health workers.
An allocation of $1.5 billion will provide for a Covid Catch-Up Plan to increase surgical activity beyond pre-pandemic levels, with the aim of providing for 240,000 surgeries annually by 2024.
$698 million will be invested in the Better at Home program to expand the care patients can access in the comfort of their home, without the inconvenience and cost of travel.
Health Minister, Martin Foley said the Pandemic Repair Plan was putting health workers at the forefront of the Budget.
“The pandemic has shown us that investing in our hospitals, ambulance services and community-based services is the best way to meet the growth in demand and catch up on deferred care,” he said.
Further schools support
CASTERTON Primary School is earmarked for around $2.2 million funding in the next financial year for ongoing capital works as part of a $1.6 billion investment in school upgrades and new schools across the state.
More than $5 million has already been provided for the school since capital works began.
A further $2.55 million is expected for the school after the coming financial year, with works expected to complete in 2024.
Capital works funding is also ongoing for the Hamilton Parklands School, which will receive around $7.3 million in the State Government’s push to upgrade every special school in the state.
The funding adds to more than $13.5 million that will have been poured into the school by the end of this financial year.
A further $5 million is also expected to finish the project, with completion expected late 2023.
Roads left behind
THE State Opposition says the government has “short-changed” communities hoping for increased investment in fixing rural roads.
Aside from the upgrade of an intersection in Portland, no roads in South West Victoria have been targeted for improvements in the State Budget.
While the budget refers to $780 million being provided for road maintenance works across the state, less than $600 million has been allocated to road asset management compared to more than $820 million invested two years ago.
However, the government still aims to treat over 300,000m2 more regional road area than its target for this financial year, despite expecting to fall short of that target by a similar amount.
Lowan MP, Emma Kealy said the government had “wasted” an opportunity to significantly invest in rural roads.
“So many of our roads are in desperate need of repair to make them safe and usable so that people in our region can safely get to school, work, healthcare appointments and other vital activities,” she said.
“The shocking state of Victoria’s roads is an economic drain on our state, and we can’t afford to be continually pushed down the list.”
It follows a campaign launched by the Opposition in April, encouraging local drivers to submit online reports to vote for Victoria’s most dangerous road.
Victorian Farmers Federation President, Emma Germano, also criticised the Budget’s roads spending, saying the budget has failed to address regional Victoria’s “crumbling” road network.
“Western Victoria has particularly missed out on funding for upgrades to critical freight routes so farmers can get food and fibre to market,” she said.
Agriculture takes hit
DESPITE promising nearly $40 million more funding for agriculture in this year’s State Budget than was targeted last year, the government’s investment is around $48 million less than what has been provided in this financial year.
The government is targeting a $504.1 million investment for 2022-23, compared to $464.7 million originally earmarked for the sector in the last State Budget.
However additional funding that was provided for the Seasonal Agriculture Workforce and Plantations programs, ballooned the government’s actual investment in 2021-22 to around $552 million.
This year’s targeted investment is also considerably less than the $527.9 million promised for the sector two years ago, which excludes the Capital Assets Charge that was discontinued after the 2020-21 Budget.
The VFF’s Ms Germano said the government also failed to mention agriculture as one of Victoria’s key export industries.
“Agriculture plays a vital role in keeping Victoria’s economy moving and the investment in services and infrastructure we need and deserve is totally underwhelming,” she said.
“Farmers have helped to keep Victoria alive through the pandemic and now that we are approaching the other side, we can’t be treated as an afterthought.”
Compare for power bonus
THE State Government is offering households a $250 bonus each if they seek out a better energy deal on the Victorian Energy Compare website in the next financial year.
The government’s State Budget will invest $250 million in the Power Saving Bonus as it tackles the rising cost of living.
From 1 July, 2022, the one-off payment will be open to all households in Victoria who register and use the website to compare their energy deal, but switching plans is not necessary to receive it.
Victorian Energy Compare is a free online service for comparing energy prices.
Western Victoria MP, Jaala Pulford said the bonus was about putting power back in the hands of households.
“We’re easing the cost of living for Victorian families,cutting energy bills and saving money,” she said.
A $250 bonus is already available for concession card holders until 30 June, 2022 and households that have previously claimed a Power Saving Bonus will still be eligible for the new one-off payment from July.
Eligible concession card holders include those receiving payments through the Pension Concession, JobSeeker, Austudy, Abstudy or Youth Allowance programs, or who hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.
The government said seven out of 10 visitors of the website ccould save money by switching energy offers, with typical annual savings of $330 on energy bills in the first year of switching alone.
Combined with the $250 Power Saving Bonus, households could save up to $600 a year.
While the quickest way to apply for the bonus will be through the website, households that do not have access to a computer or internet can call the Victorian Energy Compare helpline for support.
The Power Saving Bonus program has already provided more than $110 million to help more than 850,000 Victorian households look for a better electricity deal.
Visit the Victorian Energy Compare website to register and compare.
