Victorian Budget winners and losers

Updated

Take a quick look at what the 2019 Victorian budget means for you.

The 2019 Victorian budget was delayed to wait on the outcome of the federal election, after the two big parties made very different funding promises.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Labor had promised billions more for infrastructure than the Coalition — money that will now not be delivered.

Instead, the re-elected Coalition Government is offering $4 billion to build the East West Link, but Mr Andrews is refusing to accept it and insists the road project doesn't stack up.

Another issue causing headaches for the bean counters at Spring Street is the recent drop in Victoria's property market.

Fewer houses and apartments being sold means a huge fall in stamp duty revenue, blowing a $5.2 billion hole in the Budget over the next four years.

How does the Government plan deal with it? Take a look at the big winners and losers.

Loser: Public service

The public service must find $1.8 billion in savings through efficiencies to free up money to spend on priority areas

It will be up to departments to decide how to save the money and the process will be overseen by the secretaries of the departments of Premier and Cabinet, and Treasury and Finance

The Treasurer said forced redundancies would be a last resort

Winner: School dental

Free dental care will be rolled out at all Victorian public primary and secondary schools

The first school dental vans will hit the road in term 3 this year. They will be rolled out to all Victorian public schools by 2022

The 'Smile Squad' vans will provide free check-ups, teeth cleaning, fluoride applications, fillings, root canals and other non-cosmetic treatments

Winner: Prison system

There's funding for 1,600 new prison beds across the state

Of those, 548 beds will be added to the new Chisholm Road prison being built outside Geelong, making it the largest maximum-security prison in the state

100 new beds will be funded in the women's prison system

Loser: Foreign investors

The tax paid by foreign property investors will be increased from 7 to 8 per cent from July 1

The tax paid by absentee landowners will increase from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent

These two tax hikes will raise an expected $330 million over four years

Winner: Rail commuters

The Budget contains $2 billion to upgrade the Sunbury line to enable higher-capacity trains

Platforms will be extended at 10 stations along the line, allowing an extra 113,000 passengers to travel during peak periods

$750 million is being used to duplicate the Cranbourne line to allow trains to run every 10 minutes during the peak

On the Hurstbridge line, 4.5 kilometres of track will duplicated and new stations will be built at Greensborough and Montmorency

18 new V/Line VLocity trains will be shared between the Albury, Ballarat and Geelong lines at a cost of $340 million

Three new stations will be built around Bendigo

Loser: Luxury car buyers

There will be a tax hike on luxury cars worth more than $100,000

Buyers of cars valued between $100,000 and $150,000 will be charged a duty of $14 per $200 of market value. Vehicles worth more than $150,000 will incur a duty of $18 per $200 of market value

Caravans, motorhomes, low-emission cars and cars used by farmers will be exempt from the tax hike

Winner: Regional kinders

The budget contains $880 million to start the rollout of the Government's promised 15 hours of subsidised kindergarten programs for all three-year-olds

The rollout will start next year in six regional local government areas —Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, South Gippsland, Strathbogie and Yarriambiack

In 2021 this will be expanded to a further 15 regional areas, with plans to have it rolled out statewide by 2029

Loser: Gold miners

A 2.75 per cent gold royalty will kick in from January on all large companies, generating about $56 million over four years

Small miners will be exempt

The State Government says this will bring Victoria in line with other states

Winner: Renewables

The Government's existing scheme to provide rebates and zero-interest loans for solar panels, hot water systems and batteries will be expanded

The scheme will now include renters, meaning they too can install half price solar with no up-front costs

It will come at a cost of $1.3 billion

Winner: New parents

$135 million will be used to upgrade Early Parenting Centres — and build new ones in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo — to support new parents.

$7.2 million will fund an expansion of the 24-hour Maternal and Child Health Line

Baby Bundles will be given to about 35,000 new parents every year including a nappy bag, growsuit, safe sleeping bag, muslin wrap, teething ring, information on safety and parenting, and picture books

Loser: Dodgy energy companies

There's additional powers for the Essential Services Commission, including an extra commissioner

The Government says the $27 million investment will allow the regulator to investigate and prosecute more energy companies that rip off customers

Fines for retailers who wrongfully cut power supply to households or engage in deceptive conduct will also increase

Winner: Treaty

$30 million has been allocated to progress the Victorian Treaty process

This money will establish the First People's Assembly to work on Treaty negotiations with the state, fund communications to help the community understand the Treaty process and support for traditional owners to prepare for negotiations

Topics: community-and-society, education, government-and-politics, budget, state-parliament, tax, health, parliament-house-3002, melbourne-3000, ballarat-3350, bendigo-3550, geelong-3220, wodonga-3690, vic

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