The Allan Labor Government is focused on what matters most to families on the Bellarine, delivering real help with the cost of living and more investment in frontline services.
We’ve helped locals 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 on their energy bills each year.
We’re also providing energy bill relief to those doing it tough in our community. This Budget delivers a $100 Power Saving Bonus to eligible Victorian households with a concession card, in time for their August winter bills.
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 on the Bellarine Peninsula.
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.
Playing sport keeps kids on the Bellarine active and healthy. But the cost of uniforms, equipment, memberships and more means some young Victorians are forced to sit on the sidelines.
That’s why with this Budget, we’re delivering more than 65,000 extra Get Active Kids vouchers for families who need it most. These vouchers worth up to $200 help with the cost of sport and recreation memberships, registration fees and essential equipment and uniforms.
With more vouchers, we’ll help remove the financial barrier for families, and make sure kids on the Bellarine get the chance to play the sport they love.
Bellarine locals love their sport – especially basketball.
This Budget invests up to $200,000 to help resurface the basketball courts at Point Lonsdale Primary School for the benefit of Point Lonsdale Basketball Club, including adjustable backboards and new equipment.
It’ll mean even better facilities for the club, as well as the school community.
The cost of living pressure means more Australians are relying on the help of food relief charities. With this Budget, we’re delivering an extra $18 million in funding to support their work. That includes doubling key support for food relief in regional communities, with $6 million for foodshares in Geelong, Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura and Warrnambool.
We’re also strengthening local and statewide food delivery networks, enabling Foodbank to deliver around 480,000 kilograms of food to six Regional Foodshares.
The Labor Government introduced Australia’s toughest bail laws to protect people in the community from the risk of serious crime – and now, more serious and repeat alleged offenders are going to jail, not getting bail.
That’s why the Victorian Budget 2025/26 will invest $727 million to ramp up capacity in Victoria’s prisons and youth justice centres, bringing more prison beds online to deal with the increasing number of alleged offenders being denied bail.
And we’re investing $3 million into Foodbank’s GROW program, making sure surplus produce doesn’t go to waste and helps struggling Victorians instead.
Getting in to see a GP is hard – especially one who bulk bills. That means too many families on the Bellarine 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.
Our buses give locals the choice to leave the car at home, saving money on fuel and parking, and reducing congestion.
That’s why we need to make sure the routes and frequency of services reflect what our community needs. This Budget will deliver a review of Bellarine buses, opening community consultation to make sure local voices shape the future network.
This is a Budget – and a Government – focused on what matters most to Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
“This Budget delivers real help with the cost of living, with meaningful and practical support to ease the pressure for families on the Bellarine."
“A review into buses on the Bellarine will help improve services and connect our community to jobs, education, and opportunities across our region."
