Keeping communities safe

At a glance

Every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their home, and in their community.

That’s why this Budget invests $1.6 billion to back in our tough new bail laws, with funding to support our police and justice workforces, speed up our courts and deliver Australia’s first machete ban.

These investments will make sure police, courts and corrections have the resources they need to keep communities safe.

The toughest bail laws in Australia

The Victorian Government is delivering the toughest bail laws in the country.

The first tranche of these laws has passed the Parliament, with the second bill to be introduced in the middle of the year.

And these laws are working.

With this Budget, we’re backing in these bail changes and expanding the capacity of Victoria’s prisons and youth justice centres – investing $727 million to bring more beds online and make sure the system can cater for more offenders.

In total, almost 1,000 additional adult beds will open across the system, and a further 88 youth beds will open at Cherry Creek and Parkville.

The Budget will also fund the recruitment of a further 320 new roles in youth justice and 400 new roles in adult corrections.

The sign-on bonus of $8,000 announced at the start of the year for new recruits at Western Plains or Hopkins Correctional Centre has also now been extended to all other adult prisons.

As part of supporting people in custody to use their time to rehabilitate, the Budget will also expand healthcare, rehabilitation, and support services across the adult and youth systems – helping drive down repeat offending.

Early intervention to break the cycle

With this Budget, we’re also investing $176 million to help break the cycle of reoffending.

Funding of $19 million will continue programs in the corrections system, including support for prison employment hubs and additional transition coordinators to help prisoners transition safely back into the community.

A $135 million investment will help support young people with more rehabilitation and reintegration programs, providing them with the skills and support they need for a positive future.

Funding of $22 million will also help address the over-representation of First Peoples in our justice system, with the provision of a new self-determined grants program to support Aboriginal Victorians on remand and on bail.

Backing policing and community safety

Our hardworking police put their lives on the line to keep communities safe.

And as a Government, we’re in their corner.

Already, Victoria Police funding has increased by around 88% – from $2.4 billion in 2014-15, to $4.5 billion in 2025-26.

This year’s Budget delivers a $92 million boost to keep our communities safe, including a more efficient fines collection service to reduce paperwork and ensure all parts of our justice system can focus on what matters most to Victorians.

This year’s Budget includes:

• $7.4 million to strengthen frontline police recruitment, to encourage more Victorians to take up rewarding careers in the police force.
• $3.8 million to continue the Embedded Youth Outreach Program at Dandenong and Werribee police stations – helping reach more at-risk young people and get them back on track.
• $3 million to continue supporting community safety organisations including Crime Stoppers Victoria and Neighbourhood Watch.
• $13 million to implement Australia’s first machete ban, alongside new powers for police to search for dangerous weapons.

Delivering justice for victims of crime

Every Victorian deserves to feel heard, supported, and safe – especially if they’ve been the victim of a crime.

That’s why this Budget invests $290 million in stronger, more compassionate support for victims, putting their needs at the heart of our justice system.

This includes $287 million for the new Financial Assistance Scheme and supporting victims of crime. The Financial Assistance Scheme will help victims rebuild their lives, providing access to counselling, assistance with medical expenses and emergency financial help.

An investment of $3.2 million will continue the work of the Victims’ Legal Service, providing specialised legal services for victims of crime.

Keeping young people on track and our community safe

Our tough bail laws are targeted at serious and repeat offenders.

At the same time, we’re investing in early intervention to keep young people on the right path and help stop crime before it starts.

This Budget invests $135 million to help support young people and keep communities safe, including:

• $20 million to continue to support young people at risk of disengaging, with increased case management, dedicated education and employment programs and wrap-around alcohol and other drug support.
• $7.5 million for the Living Learning program to help young people finish school.
• $1 million for kids who are involved, or are at risk of involvement, in the youth justice system to reconnect with their school or access other support with help from an Education Early Intervention Officer.

Strengthening our courts

Our justice system must be fair, effective and efficient.

That’s why we’re investing $188 million to speed up court processes, and make sure Victorians can navigate the legal system.

This includes $114 million to open the Wyndham Law Courts for Melbourne’s rapidly growing west. This creates the largest court complex in Victoria outside the CBD, bringing together the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Children’s Court of Victoria, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Victoria Police, and local community legal services.

Building on this investment, the Budget will also provide $73 million to improve and strengthen our existing court system, including:

• $29 million to help court users to get ready for hearings and support early diversion. This will reduce the number of unnecessary delays or adjournments at the Magistrates Court of Victoria.
• $19 million for dedicated Court Security Officers at Specialist Family Violence Courts, making sure family violence victim survivors feel safe. Funding will also continue the Remote Hearing Support Service, which gives victims the option to attend a family violence hearing without coming to court.
• $15 million to maintain case management systems in the County Court of Victoria and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, making sure our courts are operating efficiently.
• $5.9 million to continue the Online Children’s Court, helping vulnerable children and families get access to justice and support.

Preventing and responding to family and sexual violence

Victoria is leading the nation when it comes to preventing violence against women and girls.

We’ve implemented every one of the Royal Commission into Family Violence’s 227 recommendations – changing our systems and society to prevent and respond to violence.

Last year, we announced the Women’s Safety Package – a $108 million investment to keep women and children safe, with greater accountability for perpetrators and more support for victims.

But when it comes to keeping women and children safe – there’s always more to do. As well as making our courts safer for victim survivors, we’re investing another $172 million including:

• $80 million to support victim survivors, including one-on-one case management to help victims navigate services and rebuild their lives. Funding will also support Respect Victoria to help prevent family and gendered violence before it begins.
• $40 million to embed data-driven risk management into the entire family violence service system so that those that need help, get help.
• $27 million for sexual assault support services, continuing the after-hours crisis line and specialist treatment services.
• $24 million for specialised family violence legal services.

A new tobacco and liquor regulator

Victoria has introduced the toughest penalties for illegal tobacco in Australia, to crack down on this illegal trade.

This Budget invests $65 million to create an integrated tobacco and liquor regulator, to deliver better oversight and address health risks.

Protecting vulnerable children and their families

Every child deserves to grow up safe, happy and connected.

That’s why this Budget invests $297 million to better protect vulnerable children, delivering more early intervention, more help for parents and more support for our child protection workforce. This Budget includes:

• $167 million to help more families, providing earlier support to parents and carers, and addressing the root causes of vulnerability.
• $90 million to improve outcomes for more children and young people with complex needs in residential care and provide vital support for carers through the Carer KAFE.
• $25 million for community-led support and advocacy for First Nations children and young people in the child protection and family services system.
• $14 million to grow and support our critical child protection and family services workforce to support vulnerable children and families.

Strengthening our emergency services

From bushfires and floods to everyday emergencies, our firefighters, SES volunteers, and emergency service workers are there when we need them most.

This Budget continues our investment in the people, equipment, and infrastructure that keep Victorians safe – delivering faster response times and stronger recovery for communities right across the state.

An investment of $206 million will ensure we continue to keep communities safe, supporting the operational capacity and firefighting capability of the state's emergency service organisations.

This investment will ensure our first responders have the equipment they need at their fingertips, and is on top of our Emergency Services package announced in the 2024/25 Budget Update.

This Budget we’re making our emergency management response even better, with:

• $14 million to build a new Victorian State Emergency Service Unit for Footscray, supporting volunteers and locals in Melbourne’s west.
• $21 million to deliver 2 new satellite Country Fire Authority stations at Wendouree and Hampton Park and deliver a number of CFA stations including at Hoddles Creek and Winnindoo to support firefighting services.
• $6.8 million to boost Marine Search and Rescue operations, including new vessels at 2 priority locations.