2026 Budget Announcements for Northcote
EASIER, SAFER AND MORE AFFORDABLE IN NORTHCOTE
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.
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.
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.
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.
This Budget delivers upgrades to 59 more schools across the state. Locally, Wales Street Primary School is receiving $21.3 million for an upgrade and modernisation – because Labor is making sure kids get the education they deserve in world class facilities.
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 Croxton 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.
Evidence shows the Allan Labor Government’s fixed site pill testing service is reducing drug harm and saving lives. This Budget invests $9.2 million to continue this life-saving service, keeping Victorians safe.
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 Northcote safe. We’re also investing $33.5 million in the Violence Reduction Unit, to stop crime before it starts.
We’re also investing to make sure the courts operate efficiently, so that cases can be heard and dealt with quickly. We’re continuing to deliver financial and legal support for victims of crime, and we’re investing $9 million to support Legal Aid, including its family advocacy and support service that helps families in Northcote.
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.
As our suburbs grow, Victoria’s bus network makes it easier for locals in Northcote to get around. This Budget invests almost $100 million to deliver more buses where they’re needed most – including more weekday peak and weekend frequencies on Route 508 and uplifting Route 526 to operate on average every 20-minutes, 7-days a week.
Public transport has never been more important to families in Northcote. We’ve helped to make PT more affordable, with free travel for kids, and for seniors and carers on weekends. We’re also investing to make sure our public transport network is world-class. Which is why this Budget is delivering trains every 20 mins to Mernda and Eltham all weekend. We’re also delivering $2.5 million to make stations across the network safer and easier to access, including by installing tactile ground marker indicators at Northcote station.
Community sporting clubs bring Northcote locals together. Through our Get Active Kids voucher program, we're making sure the cost of fees and equipment doesn't keep kids from playing the sport they love. And we're also investing to make local clubs even stronger. This Budget invests $500,000 to deliver surface upgrades and planning for a pavilion at Mayer Park, making local facilities even better.
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 North Eastern Melbourne area.
Labor is investing in Northcote – do the Liberals support our investments, or will they cut them?
Quote attributable to Kat Theophanous MP, Member for Northcote
“Cheaper fares and 20% off rego will save families in Northcote money – only Labor is delivering cost of living relief.”
“Wales Street Primary School is a fantastic school – and we’re making if even better with funding for an upgrade. This is another example of Labor delivering world class facilities.”
