News and media

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $1 million to rejuvenate the Thornbury town centre. 

Our investment will mean a more welcoming space for locals, tourists and traders - attracting more business to the area. 

This funding will enable Northcote High to work with the Victorian School Building Authority to complete the detailed planning and design. It's about doing the groundwork now, so the school has a finalised project design that’s shovel ready.

The Carroll Labor Government is planning more parkland for Melbourne’s growing north – giving families space to get outdoors as new neighbourhoods take shape.

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $140,000 to support local multicultural and faith groups in Northcote.

I'm immensely proud to announce that a re-elected Labor Government will invest $7.87 million to redevelop Northcote Primary School's two-storey learning building, creating modern, fit-for-purpose spaces for students and teachers!

A re-elected Labor Government will invest $300,000 to support the Darebin Creek and Merri Creek Management Committees.

This funding will support the local volunteers who roll up their sleeves and protect these waterways for future generations.

Labor knows community houses bring people together

That’s why Labor will deliver $250,000 to renew the house’s physical and digital infrastructure.

The Northcote Festival, hosted by the Holy Monastery of Axion Estin, will receive $200,000 over four years under a re-elected Victorian Labor Government, securing long-term support for one of the inner north’s growing multicultural celebrations.

Learning in nature is one of the best ways for children to start their education journey.

The Carroll Labor Government is backing our Bush Kinder programs to give even more Victorian children this hands-on opportunity.

Labor’s investment will help the nursery grow more local indigenous plants, supporting biodiversity restoration across Melbourne.

This means more native plants for local parks, creeks and gardens.

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $85,000 to support a new scoreboard at John Cain Memorial Park.

Labor knows our local sporting parks provide a place where members, supporters and volunteers come together.

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $85,000 to support a new scoreboard at Hayes Park, Thornbury.

A new electronic scoreboard will help their players and supporters follow the game.

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $2.53 million to rebuild the library at Penders Grove Primary School in Thornbury.

Labor’s upgrade will replace the outdated library with a new one: a modern, accessible learning space.

A re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $1.85 million to redevelop the pavilion at the Alphington Bowls Club.

 The pavilion hasn’t been upgraded in more than 50 years – it’s outdated, isn’t accessible and lacks female-friendly amenities.

The Carroll Labor Government is bringing support closer to home and making life easier for families.

Labor’s new Northcote Early Parenting Centre (EPC) is one step closer, with designs now released.

Once open, the service will provide free specialist care for families with children up to four years old.

The Carroll Labor Government is saving working families money with free dental care for kids.

Premier Carroll today visited Alphington Primary School to see Labor’s Smile Squad in action.

From today, Victorian renters can transfer their existing bond to their next rental and avoid wearing the cost of two bonds at once.

Labor’s new Portable Rental Bond Scheme means renters can port their bond across through the existing residential tenancies bonds system.

It ends a situation where renters were left out of pocket, often for weeks, waiting for a refund on their old bond.

With half-price fares now in place until the end of the year, Victorians are already saving hundreds of dollars a year – now we’re making catching the train even easier.

Tap and go will be switched on in stages on the rail network:

• 7 June: Sunbury, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Metro Tunnel, Werribee, Williamstown, Sandringham, Frankston, Stony Point, Bendigo, Gippsland and Geelong lines.

• 14 June: Mernda, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines.

Labor is making it easier and fairer for Victorians to rent, buy and stay in their homes.

New laws introduced to the Victorian Parliament today will protect renters and make buying a home fairer.

Reserve prices out in the open

For too long, Victorians have wasted their Saturdays at auctions chasing homes they were never going to get.

That ends now.

Labor's Australian-first laws will require agents to publish a reserve price at least seven days before any auction or sale.

Yarralea Street in Alphington is set to have a new school crossing installed to improve safety for students, families and local residents. 

Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous MP today announced $150,000 from the Victorian Government to deliver the project as part of Labor’s Safe Local Roads and Streets Program. 

Labor is making our transport network safer and more accessible, because catching the tram or train should be easy for everyone.

The Victorian Budget 2026/27 invests $76 million in our tram network, to deliver level access tram stops on some of Melbourne’s busiest streets, including along High Street in Northcote and Thornbury.

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

Cost of living pressures are being felt by everyone in Northcote. 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 Northcote more than $1,300. 

Today, our Victorian Labor Government confirmed that we’ll build a brand new multipurpose gymnasium, a dedicated library, and modern classrooms at Wales Street Primary!

It’s a major investment - and I know it means so much to our community.

Wales Street families will finally have an indoor space to bring the whole school together.

A place where students can learn new skills, perform creative works and celebrate the big moments.

More comfortable classrooms and new facilities for the outstanding teachers to expand how they deliver high-quality education.

A real investment in public education and the futures of local children.

Located at 30 Green Street, the EPC will offer specialised support for parents with children up to the age of four. 

Families will be supported with expert advice and care when they need it most.

EPCs offer programs to strengthen parenting skills and support child and family health and wellbeing.  

The centre is designed to feel like a home away from home and will feature 10 overnight family units.

Consulting rooms, a shared kitchen, dining areas, a playroom and various outdoor spaces will also be included.

The Victorian Budget 2026/27 invests almost $100 million to:

• Expand bus hours and weekend services

• Deliver new and upgraded routes in growing suburbs

• Boost services connecting to universities

Northern suburbs

• Improving access to La Trobe Uni, with additional weekday and evening services (Routes 301, 551 and 561)

• More evening services and Sunday trips extended between Roxburgh Park and Pascoe Vale (Route 542)

• More services in the evening between Mernda Station and RMIT Bundoora (Routes 386 and 387)

• More evening trips, improving connections to Sydney Road, Brunswick and Northcote stations (Routes 508 and 526)

Investing in new trains also supports more services on the network and more space at peak times.

Mernda and Hurstbridge lines:

• trains every 20 mins to Mernda and Eltham all weekend – up from every 30 mins in the evening and every 40 mins on Sunday morning

• services every 10 mins between the city and Clifton Hill – up from every 15 mins on weekend evenings and every 20 mins on Sunday mornings into the city

Kat Theophanous MP announced that local Parkside Clubs in Alphington will share in more than $18.3 million for 78 new projects through the latest round of the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Darebin Council will receive $452,000 towards repair and renewal to the ground at Pitcher Park, including drainage, levelling and resurfacing with natural turf and renewal of the cricket wicket. 

Labor is making renting fairer and more affordable. 

Building on the more than 150 renters’ reforms Labor has introduced, further reforms to protect renters come into effect on Tuesday.

These reforms will make finding a rental even fairer, faster and more affordable.

Victorians will soon be able to access three hours of free power in the middle of the day, every day of the week.

This could save families up to $300 per year off their energy bills, and up to $1,070 if they have solar panels and batteries.

Victoria’s Midday Power Saver offer will be available from 1 October 2026. 

Henderson Park in Thornbury is set to receive a major upgrade thanks to $498, 600 in new funding from the Victorian Government’s Pick My Park program, including matched funding from Darebin City Council.

This investment will help deliver important improvements to one of our neighbourhood’s most loved local parks, making it an even better place for families, children and neighbours to gather, play and relax.