May 2005

Government pledges a fair go for Victorians

The Government has pledged to improve opportunities and living standards for the neediest Victorians through a targeted $788 million investment in new initiatives and reforms.

Releasing A Fairer Victoria, Premier Steve Bracks and Deputy Premier John Thwaites said reducing disadvantage and giving Victorians opportunities to participate in their communities were among the Government’s highest priorities.

‘Victoria is enjoying great prosperity and we must do everything in our power to ensure all Victorians share in that prosperity,’ Mr Bracks said.

‘Across Victoria, some people and places still face barriers in accessing the opportunities they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.

‘Disadvantage and poor health can lead to entrenched cycles of inequality, poverty and crime and place major pressures on health and community services.

‘Strong families are the foundations of strong communities and we want to make Victoria the best place, and the fairest state, to bring up a family.’

Mr Bracks said A Fairer Victoria, a major focus of the 2005–06 State Budget, would make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged groups and communities in Victoria.

‘It delivers specific programs to protect children and give them the best start in life.

‘It will also support young people at risk, families in crisis, people with disabilities and mental illness, Aboriginal communities and disadvantaged rural and suburban communities.

‘But it is not just about money—fundamentally changing the way Government works with disadvantaged communities is what will make the most difference.

‘We will make departments work together at the local level and link the performance contracts of senior executives to achieving better results for families and communities.’

Mr Bracks said over the next four years A Fairer Victoria would deliver:

• $101.8 million for children, including funding to cut kindergarten fees for 17,000 low income families, extra kindergarten places at childcare centres, funding for children with disabilities and strengthened child protection services;

• $45.6 million to help troubled teenagers get their lives back on track;

• $35.1 million for new approaches to family violence including 24-hour support and referral for women and emergency accommodation for perpetrators so women and children could stay in their homes;

• $50.1 million to give older Victorians more opportunities to live independently by expanding home care and providing 2,000 personal alert alarms;

• $12.2 million to provide fairer access to services for disadvantaged Victorians;

• $49.6 million to increase home ownership among low-income people and increase supply of affordable houses in growth suburbs;

• $82.4 million for the justice system including $23.7 million for a Neighbourhood Justice Centre in inner Melbourne to help break the cycle of re-offending by young people;

• $27.1 million to help turn around the poor health and prosperity of Aboriginal Victorians—the largest single investment in Aboriginal programs in Victoria’s history—and $18.7 million to protect and support Aboriginal children;

• $119.5 million for Victorians with disabilities, providing more access to equipment such as shower rails, upgrades to accommodation and more respite for their families;

• $180.3 million to support Victorians with mental illness, providing more beds and mental health workers and new treatment programs;

• $84.6 million for neighbourhood renewal programs to strengthen communities and involve public housing tenants in rejuvenating their neighbourhoods and to develop partnerships with local government, business and community groups.

Deputy Premier John Thwaites said the Government was looking for new and better ways to make a difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged in our community.

One of the keys was reforming the way Government departments delivered programs and worked with Victorians.

‘All Government departments will adopt eight common regions, to streamline services for clients and community groups.’

Mr Thwaites said the Government would improve program delivery at the local level by formally involving local council CEOs in regional forums to plan services, by involving local people in decision making and by working with business.

• For more information on A Fairer Victoria visit www.vic.gov.au.