The 2020-21 Victorian State Budget

Published: 24 November 2020

The 2020-21 Victorian State Budget has been handed down in parliament by the Treasurer, Tim Pallas MP.

This year’s budget focuses on people - protecting and creating jobs, looking after families, building strong and connected communities, and setting Victoria up for a strong recovery.

The Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR) has a major role to play and highlights for the department include:

$1.46 billion for the first phase of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, including a new landmark contemporary art and design gallery, NGV Contemporary, and an 18,000 sqm immersive public garden.
$625.8 million for the Victoria’s Digital Futures Now program, an unprecedented investment in digital infrastructure and skills, particularly in regional Victoria. This will future proof our state for decades to come - creating thousands of new jobs and laying the foundations for our businesses to be more globally competitive now and into the future.
$619.4 million to provide jobseekers with the information, advice and support they need to get back to work through a record investment in an expanded Jobs Victoria. This work will include a major focus on getting women back into the workforce - central to our recovery and vital to ensuring women, who have been hit hard by the downturn, have access to quality jobs.
$343.7 million to respond to the needs of regional Victoria - investing through jobs, skills and infrastructure that will drive local communities’ recovery and help them become even better places to live, work and invest.
$352.2 million over four years for the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan to support regional jobs by attracting more tourists through flagship tourism infrastructure projects across the state - and making sure more Victorian families can experience the best our state has to offer.
$115 million to further support the agriculture industry, including $65 million support for a range of initiatives that will increase the use of technology, improve infrastructure across the supply chain and boost energy efficiency on our farms, underpinned by a new strategy that responds to the challenges facing our farmers and positions Victorian agriculture for future growth. The Budget also invests $50 million to improve facilities at agriculture colleges.
Over $164 million towards infrastructure that will drive participation in community sport, including the $21 million Get Active Kids Voucher Program, a Victorian first that supports kids to get involved in organised activities.
$148 million to deliver local infrastructure development to help build even stronger, connected communities. This will include $20 million in Suburban Revitalisation and Growth in key activity centres and $75 million for local community infrastructure through the Growing Suburbs Fund, allowing Melbourne's diverse and rapidly growing peri-urban councils to deliver hundreds of infrastructure projects, community facilities and enhanced services, creating jobs and boosting local economies.
$34.7 million for regional creative infrastructure projects, including new and upgraded galleries, performance venues and other creative venues, providing more creative experiences and opportunities for Victorians wherever they live.
$12 million to support small business to recover and grow to create jobs, helping them to come back stronger than ever before.

The budget papers are available on the Victorian Budget website.

Overview by portfolio

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Employment

A record $619.4 million to provide jobseekers with the information, advice and support they need to get back to work through an expanded Jobs Victoria, including:
- $250 million to create around 10,000 jobs to transition jobseekers into longer term work with a major focus on getting women back into the workforce.
- $266.5 million for Jobs Victoria to deliver face-to-face advice and support to those who need extra help.

Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy

$626 million over six years for a landmark investment to radically improve mobile coverage and broadband access in regional areas, while supporting businesses and creating new jobs. This includes:
- $250 million for the Gigabit State Program to deliver high-speed business-grade broadband in more suburbs and regional towns across Victoria.
- $300 million for the Mobile Connectivity Program to fix mobile blackspots across the state over the next six years.
- $12 million over two years to establish a flagship Digital Hub in Cremorne.
- $64 million over four years for the Digital Skills and Jobs Program to reskill unemployed Victorians to undertake digital skills training or a digital internship – helping them find new opportunities and employment.
- $10.3 million over the next year for the Victorian Innovation and Jobs Fund to further boost jobs growth across the state and the adoption of innovative technology in our growing SMEs.
$60.5 million to establish the Victorian Startup Capital Fundto support early-stage entrepreneurs to scale up and create jobs.
$40 million over four years for LaunchVic to continue to support the growth of Victorian startups.
$10 million over three years for the Women’s founders Angel Sidecar Fund to support female founders.
To accelerate the efforts of our Medical Research sector, investments include:
- $155 million to back a new Australian Institute for Infectious Disease to prevent future pandemics and rapidly develop treatments.
- $16.5 million to further support coronavirus (COVID-19) research to develop treatments to address its immediate, medium and long-term health impacts over four years.
- $1 million to develop a business case for the establishment of a National Centre for Inflammation to be led by the Hudson Institute.
- $2 million to establish the Human Challenge Clinical Research Facility, to be led by the Doherty Institute.
- $35 million over four years for the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance to provide increased access to research developments in genomic sequencing for precision care.
- $33.1 million over four years to improve cancer outcomes.
- $25 million for the Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre.

Small Business

$12 million to back local small businesses and grow local jobs, including:
- The $6 million Small Business Support Toolkit, that will fund best-practice workshops, mentoring and coaching services across the state – helping businesses to digitise and innovate, adapt to meet changing customer needs and navigate regulatory requirements across different levels of government.
- The $5 million Ready for Growth Initiative that will support at least 1000 businesses with high-growth potential to reach new markets and create new jobs.
- The Victorian Small Business Commission that will receive $1 million to establish a new case management system to streamline its successful dispute resolution services.

Business Precincts

$3 million to protect and preserve Princes Pier, a Melbourne icon.

Industry Support and Recovery

$20 million for the Australian MedTech Manufacturing Centre to boost our capacity to produce vital medical equipment in Victoria.
$60 million for the Manufacturing and Industry Development Fund, cementing and strengthening Victoria’s status as the manufacturing capital of Australia.
$40 million for the Industry Recovery and Growth Fund to help attract more investment and create more jobs in key areas like manufacturing, clean energy, digital tech, regional tourism and many others.
$6 million to help businesses attract new Defence manufacturing and industry contracts and the high skilled jobs they support.
$9.6 million to boost employment through government procurement and the operations of the office of the Local Jobs First Commissioner.

Trade

$15.7 million to support an Export Recovery Package, with an additional $16 million to ensure Victoria remains globally competitive, strengthens its international network, and positions itself as the leading Australian state for international engagement.
The International Education sector will benefit from $33.4 million to support the sector’s recovery, including continued support for international students, confirming Victoria as a top study destination and Melbourne as Australia’s number one student city. The package will drive demand in key international markets including India and South East Asia, expand Victoria’s high-growth presence in high-growth markets like Latin America and support new opportunities in offshore delivery. It will also support the return of international students to Victoria in 2021 with new initiatives to support student welfare and employability.

Racing

$7 million to support the recovery of professional sport and racing.

Tourism, Sport and Major Events

$352.2 million over four years for the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan, including:
- $120 million for flagship tourism infrastructure projects across the state, including the Grampians Peak Trail, facilities at Wilsons Promontory, the Mallee Art Silo and the Ballarat Centre for Photography.
- $100 million for the Regional Tourism Investment Fund to deliver projects focused on the four growth sectors identified by the Regional Tourism Review.
- $30 million to support intrastate and interstate marketing.
$34 million for Visit Victoria’s destination marketing activity to support the sector as it continues its recovery from bushfires and coronavirus (COVID-19).
$20 million for the Regional Events Fund ($4 million 2020-21 Regional Events Fund, plus $16 million in Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan).
$152 million additional funding over four years for the Major Events Fund.
$9.7 million to support Melbourne Convention Bureau to acquire business events.
$28 million for the Regional Tourism Voucher Program to encourage Victorians to holiday in the regions.
$42.2 million for the Stage 5 works at Kardinia Park Stadium in Geelong, cementing its status as one of the top sporting and event precincts in regional Australia.
$22 million for the development of a world-class State Basketball Centre in Knox.
$6.3 million for the Essendon Football Club Community Education and Events Centre.
$7.3 million for upgrades at the North Melbourne Football Club’s Arden Street base.
$15.5 million for the Richmond Football Club Punt Road Oval precinct.
$36.6 million for Stage 2 of the Whitten Oval Master Plan.
$7.3 million to develop the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing at Moorabbin.

Creative Industries

$1.46 billion for the first phase of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, including a new landmark contemporary art and design gallery, NGV Contemporary, and an 18,000 sqm immersive public garden.
$34.7 million for regional creative infrastructure projects, including new and upgraded galleries, performance venues and other creative venues, providing more creative experiences and opportunities for Victorians wherever they live.
$21.1 million for Victoria’s screen industry, including support for local productions and to attract international projects, creating thousands of jobs and positioning Victoria to capitalise on high global demand for screen content.
$9 million for a creative industries survival package comprising funding programs focused on hard-hit independent creatives and microbusinesses, regional touring and the contemporary music industry, as well as First Peoples focused initiatives.
$19.8 million for capital and operational funding to help state-owned cultural institutions and venues recover, adapt and meet the challenges ahead. This includes projects to make venues COVIDSafe and enable them to present outdoor events and performances.
$24 million over four years to continue and boost Creative Victoria’s Cultural Facilities Maintenance Fund to support the safety and accessibility of Victoria’s state-owned cultural venues.
$17.2 million for summer and autumn outdoor activations, performances and COVIDSafe programs across the state, which will employ thousands of Victorians across the creative, music and events industries.
$94.5 million to support the viability of Victoria’s iconic cultural institutions and secure jobs in a range of creative, live music and screen organisations within the experience economy.

Community Sport

$21 million for the Get Active Kids Voucher Program, a Victorian first, to support eligible children to get involved in organised activities by providing $200 vouchers to help families with the cost of sports equipment, uniforms or memberships.
$100 million for the Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program (Round 2) to continue investment in sporting infrastructure projects across the state, helping grassroots sports communities get back in the game when the time is right.
$27 million towards existing and new programs that deliver better and more accessible sports facilities.
$6 million for the Sporting Club Grants Program to provide grants for clubs across Victoria to boost their equipment, skills and administration expertise.
$10 million for the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct to establish the multivenue sports precinct in Mildura South.

Local Government

$75 million for critical infrastructure in local communities through the Growing Suburbs Fund.
$13.3 million over two years for the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and the Public Libraries Program to help local councils and regional libraries renew, redesign or rebuild libraries.
$2.79 million for the Roadside Weeds and Pests Program.
$1 million for the Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program (MERP) to help councils with emergency management planning in readiness for major threats like bushfire and flood.
Councils will be able to access low interest loans from the $100 million Local Government Community Infrastructure Loans Scheme, which is already supporting dog parks, bike trails and community hubs across the state.
$6.3 million over two years for the Women Building Surveyors Program, giving women an opportunity to take on surveyor cadetships in local government.

Suburban Development

$20 million for Suburban Revitalisation and Growth, to revitalise town centres in Altona, Broadmeadows, Boronia, Frankston, Lilydale, Melton, Noble Park, Reservoir and Tarneit, delivering upgrades and improvements to local community spaces.
$3 million to extend the Metropolitan Partnerships, to bring together business, community and local government representatives from the Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western, Inner South East and Inner Metro areas, ensuring local voices are heard.

Agriculture

$65 million to support a strategy that responds to the challenges facing our farmers and positions Victorian agriculture for future growth.
$50 million for the Agricultural College Modernisation Program – to help more Victorians to pursue exciting careers in agriculture.
- $20 million in funding for upgrades to student accommodation and teaching facilities.
- $30 million for the Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund to support TAFEs and other agriculture education and training providers to develop students’ skills and carve a pathway into the industry.
$2.1 million in the Rural Financial Counselling Service to ensure Victorian farmers continue to have access to impartial financial counselling as they recover from drought, bushfires and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
$8.2 million in funding to reduce the potentially devastating impact of pests, like the Queensland Fruit Fly, foxes and wild dogs.
$5.3 million to develop a second Sustainable Hunting Action Plan to deliver more hunting programs.
$11 million to continue delivering important puppy farm and pet shop reforms including the renowned Pet Exchange Register and commercial dog breeder scheme.
$5.2 million to re-home pets.
$2.9 million will go towards horse and pony rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming, and organisations that provide free or heavily subsidised de-sexing of cats and dogs for disadvantaged Victorians.

Regional Development

$10 million for the Coronavirus Short-Term Regional Recovery initiative to address the most urgent socio-economic recovery needs as identified by regional communities.
$156 million for the flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund to create more jobs, support more community projects and build more of the infrastructure locals need.
$125 million to ensure the Rural and Regional Victoria group can provide localised support to regional business and industry to increase jobs and give communities a much-needed boost.
$5.9 million for local projects to facilitate investment and business growth opportunities in key industries in the Portland Diversification Priority Actions initiative.
$4.2 million for the Regional Skills Demand Profiles initiative to ensure planning aligns local skills with local labour market needs into the future.

Resources

$5 million to enable the restart of the onshore conventional gas industry.
$16.5 million to help the resources sector boom continue across the state.
$21.1 million to reduce the risks from rehabilitating mines and quarries including funding for the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority and Earth Resources Regulation.