BREAKING NEWS
State Budget delivers for Northcote

Dear Subscriber First Name,

The Andrews Labor Government has delivered an historic State Budget to get our economy back on track and build a stronger and fairer state for Victorians.

It’s the most significant budget our state has seen. But it’s not just about recovery - it’s about making our recovery meaningful.

The Budget delivers the jobs our recovery relies on. Critically, it also delivers enormous reforms to give people certainty and security.

Investments in social housing, mental health, secure work, energy efficiency, education, employment and transport will transform our State.

I’ve worked hard to make sure that the budget delivers for our local community too - read below to see some of the wonderful initiatives for Northcote!

Local Schools Win Big!

Getting funding for our local schools to build better facilities is an absolute priority for me. Over the last two years, I’ve worked with our schools to secure $72 million in funding for upgrades.

Four more schools in our community are now set to be transformed:

Bell Primary

$7.2 million is going to Bell Primary to build Stage 2 of the school’s Masterplan - including a new school hall and gymnasium. A win for the school and for our local sporting community.

I surprised them with the news last week - check out their reactions here.

Thornbury High

A brand new STEAM Centre will be built at Thornbury High, thanks to funding of $14.9 million! The Premier and Minister for Education visited the school on Budget Day to make the announcement.

This has been an incredible journey for THS and it would not have happened without the school, parents and students who worked alongside me to put a positive vision forward the school.

“I’ve worked very closely with our school communities to be able to make these projects a reality. It’s been a long journey - but so rewarding.

A special thanks to the Bell Primary and the Thornbury High parents groups - your efforts made my job of delivering this funding easier.”

Croxton Special School

We’re continuing our work to upgrade Croxton Special School with a $7.9 million upgrade to modernise their buildings.

This will complement the new classrooms, therapy areas and sensory courtyard we’ve already completed at the school, and truly make Croxton a first-class facility for students with a disability.

Giving Principal Bev Fegan the news was a beautiful moment - we know this will put such a big smile on the faces of the school community.

Preston High School

A new performing arts, music and library space as well as a brand new four level building with creative arts, design technology and classrooms are coming to Preston High! The $18.9 million in funding delivers the next stage to accommodate new year levels at the brand new school.

While the campus is just outside the boundaries of the Northcote Electorate, this is great news for many local families who are zoned to Preston High. That’s why I’ve supported the Member for Preston, Robin Scott, and the school to secure this funding.

More support for students in all schools

Funding for schools isn’t just about buildings. It’s also about giving kids the support they need to reach their potential.

Our budget does an Australian first - rolling out a $1.6 billion Disability Inclusion package that will benefit every school across the state of Victoria.

The package will double the number of students that receive additional support - such as those with autism, dyslexia or complex behaviours.

Workforce Recovery

Jobs Plan

At the heart of our economic recovery must be job creation - and this budget will create jobs. The Andrews Labor Government has done it before - together with Victorians we can do it again.

Aside from the Big Build, the Jobs Plan has ambitious targets for the creation of 400,000 new jobs by 2025.

This includes a dedicated focus on those most impacted by this pandemic: women, young people, those aged over 60, and Victorians who have plenty of experience but don’t always have a formal qualification.

Locally, we have already created over 200 jobs through the Working for Victoria program and many more will be supported through our Big Build projects.

I look forward to seeing even more opportunities for job creation in our suburbs as we roll out this landmark plan.

Follow the link to learn more about just how comprehensive the Jobs Plan is.

Tackling Insecure Work

The pandemic has shone a light on insecure work. Sadly, for some it’s meant a choice between following health advice and putting food on the table.

Just because we have the virus under control doesn’t mean we should leave workers in insecure roles - we have an opportunity to create a fairer employment system.

That’s why we’re piloting up to five days of sick and carer’s pay at the national minimum wage for casual or insecure workers in priority industries.

All the research shows that when people are secure in employment they contribute more to the economy.

It’s what’s fair, it’s what’s safe, and it’s what we’ll deliver.

Helping families doing the juggle

Free Kinder in 2021

To help families manage and to give our youngest the best opportunity - we are making kinder free next year.

This will mean around $2,000 of savings per child - and will mean that some families won’t need to choose between kinder and returning to work.

Every child enrolled in a funded kinder program will be part of this. And families with children attending unfunded 3-year-old kinder will also have reduced fees. Good for kids. Good for our economy.

Specialised Support for Kinder Kids

The Andrews Labor Government is doing something that hasn’t been done anywhere else in Australia – we’re funding our kinders to give specialised support to children facing educational disadvantage.

This means for the first time ever, our kinders will get targeted funding to access speech and occupational therapists, language and literacy professionals and child psychologists.

I'm thrilled that 28 early childhood services across the Northcote electorate will get a share of this package!

And it's not just a one off - this will be a permanent feature of Victoria’s early childhood education system

Better Energy in Efficient Homes

Victoria has been leading the nation when it comes to transitioning our energy mix - and we won’t leave families or workers behind.

Labor’s budget is delivering an enormous $1.6 billion investment in clean energy. It’s the largest investment in clean energy of any state, ever.

Energy Efficient Homes

I’ve spoken many times about just how important it is that we see improvements in the efficiency of our homes to reduce demand for energy.

Now, the Labor is investing $797 million to help Victorians cover the cost of their power bills and make homes more energy efficient.

The funding will:

• replace old heaters with new energy-efficient systems and save 250,000 households between $300 to $900 each year on their energy bills;

• seal windows and doors, and upgrade heating, cooling and hot water in 35,000 social housing properties;

• introduce minimum efficiency standards for rental properties, benefitting renters living in around 320,000 poor-quality accommodation; and

• set Victoria up to move to 7-star efficiency standards for new homes.

We’re also expanding our Solar Homes program so more residents of the Northcote Electorate can reap the benefits of solar - including battery technology

Local Energy Projects

Local communities are going to benefit from $27 million in funding for local clean energy projects - like microgrids, neighborhood batteries and community-owned renewables.

Another $21 million will help community groups install renewable energy systems in their buildings and funding will also go to rolling out a fast-charging network for electric vehicles.

Improving the Grid

Labor will invest $540 million to develop Victoria’s Renewable Energy Zones to bolster system strength and unlock new renewable energy investment that will support economic growth and jobs.

The tenders will be sought for more than 600 megawatts of new build renewables - enough to power all our schools, trains, hospitals and other government services.

It’s a massive boost for the renewable energy sector and exactly what Victoria needs to build long term sustainable jobs.

Social Housing

The health pandemic has reminded us all just how important it to have a safe place to call home.

As the Chair of the local consultative committees for social housing projects in Northcote and Preston that are already underway, I know how transformative these projects can be in lifting people out of poverty and giving them opportunity and hope.

Along with a group of other Labor MPs I’ve worked hard to make the case for the value of a boost to housing - so I’m thrilled with the recent announcement.

Labor will invest $5.3 billion to build 12,000 new homes and support around 10,000 jobs per year for the next four years. This nation leading initiative will deliver real social change and supercharge our economic recovery.

Rest assured I will be making sure that our local community gets its fair share of these new homes - and the jobs that come from building them.

Thank You

My office and I are here for you!

Should you wish to contact me on any of the information above or with any other matter, please email me at kat.theophanous@parliament.vic.gov.au or call the office on 03 9481 5777.