Since 2014, we’ve invested $36 billion in our regions, building the public transport infrastructure, TAFEs, schools and community spaces and hospitals regional Victorians need.
With this Budget, we’ll invest $5 billion in the services and projects that matter to regional Victorians.
And with this Budget, we're delivering every regional commitment we made at the last election, all while repaying the COVID debt.
Since 2014, we’ve created more than 175,000 jobs across regional Victoria. Regional Victoria currently has an unemployment rate of 3.7% as at March 2023 – with more regional Victorians in jobs than ever before.
While unemployment in regional Victoria is very low, global challenges of high inflation and rising interest rates have put pressure on family budgets.
That's why this Budget provides direct cost of living relief to regional Victorians, making it cheaper for them to get around on public transport and driving down the costs of energy bills.
We're investing $42 million in neighbourhood batteries – providing crucial extra storage capacity for local communities, even if they don't have solar panels.
We've capped regional public transport fares at metro prices – making it cheaper for regional Victorians to use public transport for work, to access education and healthcare, and to travel around our state. And we'll invest $2.8 billion over 10 years on a package of maintenance and flood recovery works for roads across Victoria, including around $1.8 billion for works in regional Victoria.
We are transforming the way people and freight move around our state, with a number of initiatives to help people get home sooner and safer.
These upgrades mean regional Victorians spend less time in the car or on the train, and more time at home with the people they love.
We're building and upgrading schools across the state, because every child deserves a great local school – no matter where they live.
And we’re making the investments our healthcare system needs, supporting health workers, so they can keep delivering the very best care to regional Victorians.
Reviewed 22 May 2023