The Allan Labor Government is making life easier, safer and more affordable for families in Laverton.

Cost of living pressures are being felt by everyone in Laverton. That's why this Budget is slashing the cost of commuting. We’re delivering free public transport until the end of May, then half-price fares from June 1 until the end of the year. This will save the average daily commuter in Laverton more than $1,300.

Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East is driving up fuel prices, putting local households under pressure. That's why we're delivering 20% off rego. With 20% off rego, a driver with one car will receive up to $186, and a family with two cars will receive up to $372. It’s one-off cost of living help for families right now, while still delivering a surplus.

Local families in Laverton are struggling with the cost of living. Expanding place-based information and support services – like Bring Your Bills days – provides real, practical in person supports for those who need it. This program will be extended to more Local Government Areas, including Wyndham.

While cost of living pressures affect every Victorian, some families are finding it harder than most. That’s why the Allan Labor Government is investing $1.8 million in expanded financial counselling services in locations such as Wyndham. These financial counselling services are helping local families navigate financial struggles and get back on their feet.

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.

We’ve been listening to the needs of local schools and will be providing a reconfiguration of the buildings at Doherty’s Creek P-9 College to improve learning outcomes for students.

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.

Managing the time between school hours and work hours can be a juggle for every family. But for families with children with disabilities, those challenges can be complicated. We’re helping families by continuing to fund high intensity outside of school hours care at 35 specialist schools, including Western Autistic School.

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.

As part of our $284 million investment to open and expand more hospitals in growing outer suburbs and regions, we're delivering $95 million to open and operate Werribee Mercy Emergency Department later this year. This will double ED capacity, and once fully operational will feature 67 treatment spaces, 6 spaces for mental health and alcohol and other drugs treatment and separate but co-located paediatric and acute and short stay zones, allowing the hospital to treat an additional 25,000 patients a year.

Families in the west can continue to access world-class care, including 32 new post-natal beds in the West Metro Network, 1,500 additional sonography appointments and nine new special care nursery cots at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s for babies with complex needs.

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 most and keeping communities in Laverton safe. We’re also investing $33.5 million in the Violence Reduction Unit, to stop crime before it starts.

The Allan Labor Government is strengthening our courts system to be more efficient, so cases can be heard and dealt with more quickly. We’re investing $7.2 million for more prosecutions at the Wyndham Law Courts, helping to keep families in Wyndham safe.

The Allan Labor Government created the state’s first South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group, and this Budget invests to begin work on a South Sudanese Community Hub. This will help build community connections and address the over-representation of South Sudanese young people in the justice system.

With this Budget, 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.

Which is why we’re also investing to make sure our public transport network is world-class, including adding more nine-car VLocity trains on the Wyndham Vale Line in the morning and afternoon peaks, these trains will have up to 50 per cent more capacity, benefiting passengers along the line.

We know many locals in Laverton rely on bus connections and frequency is a barrier for many. This is why we are increasing the 408-bus service to 30-minute-averages on Sundays. 

The Liberals have promised to cut VLocity services out of lines on the Wyndham Line. Cut trains to Melton. Cut trains to Wyndham Vale. Cut services to Tarneit and Caroline Springs. They even admitted it themselves — it would leave the corridor "thin".

Work is also progressing to upgrade the Melton Line and allow more and regular services through the west. This Budget includes the next investment for the Melton line, undertaking development works to support the future electrification.

Investing in roads helps to give busy Victorians time back in their day. This Budget makes the biggest investment in roads funding – ever. This record spend on road maintenance will fix potholes and upgrade road surfaces, delivering better roads for families in Laverton. We’re also upgrading intersection signalisation at Dohertys Road and Woods Road, helping everyone get home safer and sooner.

Having somewhere safe and secure to rest your head at night is a basic human right. This Budget continues to invest to help people break the cycle of homelessness including a $17.5 million package for nine new outreach teams that are supporting rough sleepers and helping connect them to support across the Brimbank Melton and Western Melbourne regions.

Labor is investing in Laverton – do the Liberals support our investments, or will they cut them?

Quote attributable to Sarah Connolly MP, Member for Laverton

“This Budget delivers real cost of living relief for Laverton families – cheaper fares, 20% off rego, and support for families with the cost of education.”

“Only Labor is planning for a future electrified Melton line and delivering better bus services. By upgrading schools, health services and boosting train capacity, we’re making it easier for local families.”