$82.3 million support package for Victorians

Low-income Victorians will receive targeted concessions for essential services, such as water, energy and ambulances, and young people and veterans will receive extra support services under the Brumby Labor Government’s $82.3 million support package unveiled today.

Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said the Brumby Labor Government was taking action to provide practical assistance to Victorians who needed it most.

“The Brumby Labor Government understands the pressures on Victorian families, and is providing this assistance to those who need it most,” Mr Batchelor said.

“The additional assistance we are providing to community organisations and support services is crucial to building stronger communities across Victoria.

“Building stronger communities is vital to the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to make Victoria the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

Central to the package is increased targeted concessions for essential services for low-income Victorians, including:

• $41.3 million to increase the Water and Sewerage Concession cap;
• $2.1 million in the next financial year to continue free emergency ambulance services to eligible concession card holders;
• $2.5 million over four years to increase the Medical Cooling Concession from three to six months of the year for people with medical conditions that make regulation of body temperature difficult, and expand eligibility; and
• $667,000 over four years to set up the Water Wise program to provide free water audits and retrofits to low-income households.

This package comes on top of other initiatives in the Budget, including:

• $4.1 million to audit and retrofit homes for around 2600 low-income families with energy-efficient light globes, low-flow showerheads, insulation and draught-stoppers, which will cut greenhouse emissions and bills by up to $118 a year; and
• $16.2 million over 10 years to extend the Home Wise Program, to assist households in financial hardship to repair or replace essential appliances.

Community Services Minister Lisa Neville said the package would help families recovering from financial hardship and deliver specific programs to support young people, veterans and Victorians who have grown up in institutional care.

“This support package for vulnerable Victorians is a key initiative in delivering the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to make Victoria the best place to live, work and raise a family,” Ms Neville said.

“The Brumby Labor Government is managing the economy in the interests of working families, and this package ensures the most marginalised Victorians are not left behind.”

Ms Neville said the Budget would invest $7.1 million to establish support services for Victorians who grew up in State care and experienced harm and abuse from their carers. The service will be developed in consultation with care leaver representatives and other stakeholders.

“This is an important step towards acknowledging the past failures and assisting those affected to deal with the legacy of their childhood experiences,” Ms Neville said.

“With the establishment of this service, the Brumby Labor Government will also prepare a formal response to the Forgotten Australians report.”

Mr Batchelor said a $13.9 million 2008-09 State Budget investment in the Victorian Government’s Action Plan: Strengthening Community Organisations would help ensure the long-term sustainability of the not-for-profit sector, announced on 9 April.

The funding will be used to establish a new Office for the Community Sector, which will help introduce portable long service leave within the sector, and provide greater support to not-for-profit agencies.

Youth Affairs Minister James Merlino said $3.8 million would be allocated for youth mentoring projects across metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas, linking young Victorians to volunteer mentors in their local community.

“We’re boosting volunteer programs for young people to help them connect with their communities and increase their participation in education, training and skill development activities,” Mr Merlino said.

Other community support measures in the Budget include $1.5 million to protect and promote Victoria’s veteran heritage and educate young people about the service, sacrifice and contribution of our veterans, and $9.4 million to help Victorians recover from financial hardship.