The Allan Labor Government is focused on what matters most to families in the Northern suburbs, delivering real help with the cost of living and more investment in frontline services.
The Metro Tunnel will open this year, with twin nine-kilometre tunnels running underneath the CBD and five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
This critical infrastructure investment will double the size of Melbourne’s underground rail network and create a second rail line under the city, easing congestion in the City Loop for more reliable services on other lines.
It’ll also link the Sunbury line in the north-west with the Cranbourne-Pakenham lines in the south-east, creating a new continuous connection.
And to bring it all to life – this Budget invests $727 million to enable services through the Metro Tunnel, and along the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines – meaning more trains for local families.
And by taking trains out of the existing City Loop, we can deliver more trains across our public transport network.
This Budget invests $46 million for extra train services on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Werribee and Sandringham lines. These additional services are made possible by the extra capacity created through the City Loop – thanks to the new Metro Tunnel, opening later this year.
For passengers on the Upfield line that means an increase in off-peak services with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the line, including late at night and on weekends. For passengers on the Craigieburn line: increase in services during shoulder peak and off-peak periods, with trains running at least every 20 minutes on the line, including late at night and on weekends.
We’re also investing $2.98 million in making train stations safer and more accessible, including installing tactile ground surface indicators at North Richmond Station, to improve platform edge safety.
For parents in the North, every dollar counts. It’s why we’re making public transport free for Victorians under 18.
It’ll mean savings of up to $755 a year – per child. With free PT for under 18s, we’re ensuring cheaper school runs, more affordable weekends – and one less thing for families to worry about.
It’ll make Victoria the first state to introduce free public transport for kids and teens, with the investment beginning 1 January 2026.
More homes means more opportunity. But where they’re built matters.
It’s why we’ve identified a further 50 activity centers, including in inner Melbourne, Brunswick, Coburg and Thornbury. Located around train and tram stops, these activity centers will deliver more homes for more families – close to jobs, transport and services.
To make sure we get the planning right – this Budget invests $24 million to deliver new planning controls for these activity centers, giving certainty to communities about how these places will grow over the coming decades.
More apartments and townhouses getting built means more homes for young people and families in Melbourne’s North to rent or buy.
It’s why this Budget delivers $61 million to continue the stamp duty concession announced last year, slashing the price for off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses for another 12 months.
Previously, the concession was only available to first home buyers and owner occupiers – and even then, eligibility was capped based on the value of their build.
By extending the concession, this investment will mean more homes for families in Melbourne’s North.
We’ve helped families in Melbourne’s North slash thousands off their power bills by switching to solar and making their homes more energy efficient. This Budget delivers more rebates for energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems, so that more families can save up to $400 a year on their energy bills.
We’re also providing energy bill relief to those doing it tough in Melbourne’s North. This Budget delivers a $100 Power Saving Bonus to eligible Victorian households with a concession card, in time for their August winter bills.
We want young Victorians to have everything they need to succeed. It's why this Budget invests in upgrading schools across our state, including Collingwood College.
This $6.9 million investment will deliver an upgrade of the music and drama rooms – making sure our kids have the best spaces to learn.
No one should miss out on the things that make school fun. But the cost of camps, school sports and excursions can be too much for some families in Melbourne’s North.
That’s why we’re increasing the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund to help families with a Health Care Card or concession card. Payments will increase from $154 per year for primary school students and $256 per year for secondary students to $400, from 1 January 2026.
And to protect the most vulnerable groups in Victoria, this Budget invests a total of $7.46m into mental health services.
Funding of $1.1 million will go to Mind Australia’s support services for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, providing inclusive and safe support.
This Budget also continues to fund statewide specialist trans and gender diverse services through the Royal Children's Hospital and the Monash Health Gender Clinic, as well mental health and primary care services through Orygen, and peer and family support services through Transgender Victoria and Transcend Australia.
To make sure everybody’s rights at work are protected, this Budget will also invest $7.6 million to continue support for the Migrant Workers Centre through the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
Free Kinder is saving families in Melbourne’s North up to $2,600 per child on fees, and making sure young Victorians get all the benefits of two years of play-based learning.
This year alone, Free Kinder is helping over 150,000 families. This Budget continues that support, with an additional $2 billion investment.
It’s some much-needed cost of living help for families in Melbourne’s North, while also making sure every child gets the very best start in life.
An extra $14.5 million will deliver new Building Blocks grants – for kinders to improve and upgrade their facilities.
JJ Holland Park is the home of community sport in the inner-north, and the proud home of the Flemington Kensington Junior Football Club, Kensington City, and Dynamo FC. That’s why this Budget invests up to $40,000 to upgrade the digital scoreboard at the oval. The upgraded scoreboard will show off every goal scored, making victory that little bit sweeter.
This Budget will also invest up to $200,000 to deliver an all-weather synthetic futsal court and dog park within Atherton Reserve Gardens in Fitzroy.
Getting in to see a GP is hard – especially one who bulk bills. That means too many families in Melbourne’s North put off looking after their health. This Budget invests a further $18 million to enable pharmacists to treat even more Victorians with even more conditions – without a trip to the doctor for a prescription. Previously trialled as the Community Pharmacy Pilot, this investment locks it in for good – and makes it even bigger.
That means pharmacies will be able to treat more conditions with medicines usually only available with a GP script – including allergies, nausea, high blood pressure and minor wound care, with more conditions added progressively over the next two years. We’re also covering the cost of the consult – ensuring Victorians can access care for free.
We have introduced tough bail laws to keep communities safe. To deal with the increasing number of alleged offenders being denied bail, this Budget invests $727 million to ramp up capacity in Victoria’s prisons, delivering almost 1,000 extra adult prison beds and 88 youth justice beds, as well as funding to attract, train and support over 700 new prison officers.
A further $13 million will support Australia’s first machete ban, alongside new powers for Victoria Police to search for dangerous weapons. The Budget also includes $3.5 million to install additional CCTV cameras with the City of Melbourne to help keep the CBD safe.
At the same time, we're also expanding healthcare, rehabilitation and support services across the adult and youth systems – helping drive down reoffending and keep communities safe.
And we're investing $135 million in early intervention to keep young people on the right path and help stop crime before it starts.
The Royal Exhibition Building has been a jewel of our city since 1880. To keep this landmark shining, this Budget will invest $9.6 million into conserving this building and protecting its heritage for years to come.
This is a Budget – and a Government – focused on what matters most to Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Sheena Watt
“The Metro Tunnel will give Victorians more ways to move – and for families in Melbourne’s North, it means more services across the Upfield and Craigieburn Lines.”
“We know that getting the kids to school can be a real cost for families – which is why we’re making public transport free for all Victorians under 18.”
Sheena Watt MP
Member for the Northern Metropolitan Region
G04,23 Black Street, BRUNSWICK VIC 3056
P: 03 7008 6588 E: [email protected] W: sheenawatt.com.au
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