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Victoria’s opposition have claimed the state budget for 2018/19 will increase taxes while failing to deliver on health and tackling crime.
Shadow treasury spokesperson Michael O’Brien said Victorians were worse off now than four years ago.
(Victorian Premier) Daniel Andrews had a chance in this budget to deliver real relief to struggling Victorian households but instead he’s delivered more of the same with no hope that working harder will get you ahead,” Mr O’Brien said,
“There’s no reward for effort for Victorians in this budget.”
The coalition said the combined total of state-level taxes such as payroll tax, stamp duty and vehicle registration has increased by 35 per cent to more than $24 billion in four years.
Opposition training spokesperson Stephy Ryran said one of the budget’s flagship items, free TAFE courses in ‘priority’ trades, was just a cover up for falling enrollments.
”Instead of rescuing TAFE, Daniel Andrews has gutted it,” Ms Ryan said.
“Under Labor, students have turned away from Victoria’s training system in droves.
“Daniel Andrews’ latest TAFE rescue threatens to decimate adult education providers and leave skilled Victorians out of work.”
Opposition energy spokesperson David Southwick said a $50 payment for households signing up to an energy plan price comparison website would still leave families worse off.
“Daniel Andrews cant bribe his way out of this mess, Victorians know Labor has no plan to lower energy prices,” Mr Southwick said.
“This $50 bribe will do nothing to support vulnerable and low income households who are being hardest hit by Labors skyrocketing energy prices.”
“What good is $50 when Victorians have seen their average bills jump by over $300 under Daniel Andrews?”
EARLIER – 1.20pm
The Grampians region has continued to receive substantial rail transport funding despite already chalking up $130 million in pre-budget announcements.
Victoria’s 2018-19 budget, handed down on Tuesday, has instead focused on roads, education, and family violence and social services in the Wimmera, Grampians and south west Victoria.
The Ararat And Maryborough rail lines will share in $130 million for track and signalling upgrades to improve the reliability of the network and create a pathway for a future return of passenger rail for Dunolly.
As previously announced, Stawell Secondary College will receive $4 million and Stawell’s North Park will receive $600,000.
Also previously announced was $98 million for planning and pre-construction for Western Highway bypasses of Ararat and Beaufort, as well as $32 million to partially fund the East Grampians pipeline project.
Newly announced in the budget was funding for pedestrian upgrades on Ararat-Halls Gap Road near Marian College and St Mary’s Primary.
Federal Member for Mallee Andrew Broad has called on the state government to spend part of a multi-billion dollar windfall from the sale of the Snowy Mountains Scheme on a business case for returning passenger rail to Stawell and Horsham.
The state government will spend 50 per cent of that money outside Melbourne as part of a $4.3 billion package for regional Victoria.
However, areas around Horsham and Ararat will have to make do with a share in $22.2 million for new bus services.
The budget had $3.6 million for kinder across the Wimmera and South West to improve school readiness.
The budget has also allocated $1.3m “to better protect women and children from violence” through crisis support across the Wimmera-Southern Mallee regional partnership area.
The partnership areas includes Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire, West Wimmera Shire and Yarriambiack Shire.
Victorian Regional Development and Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the budget had a strong focus on farming.
“Our roads funding includes $100 million for local roads,” Ms Pulford, the Member for Western Victoria, said. “We’re investing in better traceability for our agriculture products. There’s money there for artisan producers, which is a high-value niche area and particularly important for our regions.”
As part of a $760 million spend based on suggestions from regional partnerships across the state, the Wimmera-Southern Mallee will receive $500,000 for a Grampians Cycling Plan business case and $300,000 for a trail through existing silo art installations in the Wimmera and Mallee.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said he wanted to spread Victoria’s economic good fortune across the state with a further reduction to payroll tax rates for regional businesses.
The budget also had $172m to make priority TAFE and pre-apprenticeship courses free and $304m to make apprenticeships available in secondary colleges.
The ‘priority’ non-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathway courses for free tuition are:
- Certificate IV/Diploma/Advanced Diploma in Accounting;
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support; •
- Certificate II/III/IV in Agriculture;
- Certificate III in Agriculture (Dairy Production).
- Certificate III/IV in Allied Health Assistance;
- Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology;
- Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology;
- Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology;
- Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation;
- Certificate IV/Diploma in Building and Construction (Building);
- Certificate III in Civil Construction;
- Certificate III/IV/Diploma in Community Services;
- Certificate III in Concreting;
- Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing;
- Certificate III/IV in Dental Assisting;
- Certificate IV in Disability;
- Certificate III/IV in Education Support;
- Certificate IV in Engineering;
- Certificate III in Horticulture;
- Certificate III in Hospitality;
- Certificate III in Individual Support;
- Certificate IV in Mental Health;
- Diploma of Nursing;
- Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services;
- Certificate II in Construction Pathways;
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start);
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Pre-vocational); 2018-19 Service Delivery Chapter 1 51
- Certificate II in Engineering Pathways;
- Certificate II in Engineering Studies;
- Certificate II in Furniture Making;
- Certificate II in Glass and Glazing;
- Certificate II in Horticulture;
- Certificate II in Meat Processing (Food Services);
- Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship);
- Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts (General);
- Certificate II in Retail Baking Assistance;
- Certificate II in Salon Assistant;
- Certificate II in Signage and Graphics.
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