The Andrews Labor
Government is building the projects our state needs to get people home to their
families safer and sooner, and keep Victoria number one for new visitors.

The 2015-16 Victorian Budget commits up to $22 billion in
infrastructure, eclipsing the $2.7 billion spend in the previous Government’s
first year in 2011-12.

It includes a record
investment in public transport – a 41 per cent increase from 2014-15 – because
we’re getting on with the projects that will reduce congestion on busy roads,
transform public transport and improve safety.

The Budget commits up to $6
billion – including up to $2.4 billion over four years – to deliver a project
that will remove 50 of our most dangerous and congested level crossings.

Removing level crossings
reduces congestion, helps reduce the road toll and allows more trains to run on
every line. The project will grow our economy, save tradespeople money and time
and create 4500 jobs.

The Labor Government will
also improve safety at 52 high-risk country level crossings and 25 high-risk
pedestrian crossings, because the road toll touches our whole state.

The Budget commits up to
$11 billion to deliver the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, including $1.5 billion
over four years to complete the planning, design and early works and commence
construction by 2018.

Building Melbourne Metro
Rail will bring our sluggish and crowded train system into the new era,
relieving train congestion in the City Loop, creating space across the network
to run more trains and carry 20,000 extra passengers in peak times.

It’s the biggest overhaul
to the train system since the construction of the City Loop, and it will lay
the foundation for a network that’s so efficient, with services so frequent and
reliable, that timetables become redundant.

Melbourne Metro Rail is
also the first step to expanding the network in the future. That’s why the
Budget also provides $9 million to develop and plan the Mernda Rail Link, in
Melbourne’s fast-growing outer north.

The Budget invests $50
million to trial all-night public transport on weekends, to help shift workers
and revellers get home safe, and $13 million for the new Frankston Station
precinct.

The Labor Government is
investing in new trains and trams to cater for more passengers and support
local jobs. Public transport patronage is growing and Victoria’s train and tram
fleet is ageing.

The Budget provides more
than $600 million to build 20 new E-Class trams, 21 new VLocity train carriages
and refurbish the Comeng train fleet and B-Class trams, with 50 per cent local
content in all new orders.

Melbourne’s busiest train
line will be transformed. Every level crossing between Caulfield and Dandenong
will be removed and 37 new high-capacity trains will boost passenger capacity
by 42 per cent. 

The Budget also provides
$100 million to improve bus services by introducing new and expanded routes in
growth areas, and includes $15 million for smarter integration of the bus and
rail network – services that make sense.

To help people spend less
time on busy roads and more time with their families, the Labor Government is
investing over $600 million on projects to reduce congestion and travel times.

The Budget provides $273
million towards a project to widen CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway, from
the Burnley Tunnel to the Melbourne Airport, saving businesses thousands of
hours a month.

The Budget also provides
$110 million to duplicate the Chandler Highway Bridge over the Yarra River. In
2014, the bridge was rated Melbourne’s number one congestion point in the RACV’s
Redspot Survey.

The Western Ring Road is at
breaking point. The Budget provides $150 million to undertake the next stage of
the M80 upgrade, to widen the road and improve traffic management from Sunshine
Ave to the EJ Whitten Bridge.

The Budget also invests
$86.7 million to resurface unsafe, deteriorating road surfaces around the
state, plus $90 million in a range of road upgrades including deployment of
intelligent transport systems that will make a big difference to congestion in
suburban and regional areas.

To allow heavier freight
loads, the Budget provides $76 million to strengthen bridges on key freight
routes, on top of $30 million already fast tracked to complete Stage 1 of the
Murray Basin Rail Project.

The Budget also provides
$80 million to establish and operate the world’s first dedicated road safety
education complex and $24.4 million for free defensive driving courses for Year
10 students.

Victoria is the creative
capital, home to arts, music, culture, sport, blockbuster major events and the
world’s most liveable and multicultural city. That’s what sets us apart and
makes us the number one state for new visitors.

The Budget will help keep
Victoria number one, investing an additional $80 million to sponsor major
events across Victoria, attracting more visitors and growing our tourism
industry.

To boost Victoria’s
reputation as a world-leading destination for business and industry tourism,
the Budget also invests funding to undertake the Stage 2 development of the
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Victoria’s arts, culture,
screen, music and design sectors make up our creative industries, support
thousands of jobs. The Budget invests over $200 million to help these sectors
create more jobs and attract more visitors.

The funding will expand
regional and independent arts and boost the Victorian contemporary music
industry. $13.4 million will also be provided to save the crumbling Palais
Theatre so live performances can continue.

$55.4 million will be
invested in an $83.1 million project to redevelop the State Library, increasing
public access by 40 per cent and broadcasting its resources into the family
home.

Victoria is the sporting
capital of the world, and the Labor Government will upgrade stadiums across the
state so they can host more events, make room for more spectators and join the
MCG in the league of great arenas.

The Budget invests $70
million to build a new grandstand at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium, increasing
ground capacity to 36,000, and $25 million to redevelop historic Junction Oval
and build a home for Victorian cricket.

Because community sport
brings the family and the neighbourhood together, $100 million will be invested
to upgrade tired grounds and dilapidated facilities at local clubs, and $9.6
million to build 64 new netball courts.

The Budget invests $174 million to help our state lead
the nation on climate change, preserve our pristine natural environment and
encourage more families to get outdoors and see our greatest natural assets.

Our greatest human asset is our diversity. The Budget
invests $37.9 million in community initiatives to strengthen multiculturalism
and $11.1 million to support our state’s bustling cultural precincts.

Quotes attributable
to Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews

“It’s not
road versus rail – we’re investing in both roads and rail to reduce congestion
and get our state moving.”

“It’s a
record investment in public transport – up to $22 billion to build new trains
and trams, remove our worst level crossings and undertake the biggest overhaul
to the train system since the construction of the City Loop.”

Quotes
attributable to Treasurer of Victoria, Tim Pallas

“We’re
widening and duplicating some of the state’s busiest roads, to help families
save those crucial extra minutes every evening and help businesses save
thousands of hours every month.”

“Major events, arts and culture, sport – these are the
things that give Victoria the edge and get more tourists through the door. This
Budget is our blueprint to keep Victoria number one.”