2020 has been tough.
For most of us, this will be the hardest year we've ever lived through.
It's also been a year that's shown us what matters most; our connection to each other,
looking after one another.
It's why this year, and with this Budget, we're doing exactly that.
Looking after people.
That extends to every corner of our state, making sure our regional communities recover too.
Even now, with kids back at school, we know it’s a daily juggle for families.
It’s why we’re making kinder free next year and expanding outside school hours care, saving parents money and making life that little bit easier.
Particularly for mums going back to work.
We also want to help reduce the financial pressure that lots of Victorians are feeling this year.
So, we’re helping cover the cost of power bills, putting more solar panels on roofs, and giving families vouchers to cover the cost of kids’ sport.
Any Victorian who’s had a loved one with serious illness or injury knows that every day they’re in hospital is challenging for them, and for you.
It’s why we’re making sure more patients can get the treatment they need, close to the people they love, and in the comfort of their own home.
We’re also investing in a new recovery workforce to help people get back on their feet, and delivering a mental health system Victorians can actually rely on.
As we recover, we want Victoria to be fairer and stronger than we were before.
That includes fundamentally transforming our school system for kids with a disability, making sure we’re focused on what our kids can do, instead of what they can’t.
And we’re delivering the biggest ever investment in social housing, giving thousands more Victorians
the security and stability of a place to call home.
This pandemic has exposed the cracks in our society and our economy.
Too many workers have had to choose between going to work sick and feeding their family.
It’s why we’ll take the first steps towards doing what no other government has done; delivering five days of sick pay for casual workers in the most vulnerable industries, protecting them, and all of us.
And because we know secure, decent jobs will be at the heart of our recovery, our goal is to create 400,000 new jobs, half of them by 2022.
We’ll also invest in thousands of new training and TAFE places to help Victorians into work.
We'll build big to invest in communities and create local jobs, connect country towns and business
with broadband for the very first time.
And we’ll deliver a ‘wage subsidy’, partnering with employers to cover the wages of 10,000 new workers, and employ Victorians hardest hit by this pandemic; workers who’ve lost their jobs, young people and women.
Because as we recover, our success won’t just be measured by the wealth of our economy, but by the wellbeing of our people.
This Budget is about repair, recovery, and making us stronger than before.
This is a Budget that puts people first.
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