HEALTH
• An expansion of local elective surgery capacity by turning Bellbird Private Hospital in Blackburn into a dedicated public elective surgery centre - now called the Eastern Health Public Surgical Centre (now taking public patients);
• A new Priority Primary Care Centre in Box Hill, operating seven days a week for up to 16 hours a day to provide urgent patient care and take pressure off local Emergency Departments;
• 13,000 more nurses and midwives and upskilling 8,500 nurses by making study and training free from 2023; and
• More paramedics, more ambulances and more Triple Zero staff.
SCHOOLS
• Securing over $45m in local school infrastructure investment including major upgrades at Koonung Secondary College, Blackburn High, Box Hill North Primary, Laburnum Primary, Kerrimuir Primary and Chatham Primary.
A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will also deliver a $13.5m STEM Centre at Orchard Grove Primary School in Blackburn South, as well as $8.9m for further expansion of Koonung Secondary's new two storey building for years 7-9.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
• Commencing work on the removal of the level crossings at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert – with the crossings to be removed in 2023, two years ahead of schedule;
• Commencing work on the Suburban Rail Loop in Box Hill;
• Securing funding to improve bus services between Box Hill and Deakin University;
UPGRADES OF LOCAL SPORTING FACILITIES
Upgrades to community sporting facilities to meet the needs of our local clubs at Morton Park (Blackburn), Sparks Reserve (Box Hill), Koonung Reserve (Blackburn Nth), Hagenauer Reserve (Box Hill Nth) and
Canterbury Sports Ground.
HELPING WITH THE COST OF LIVING
I am also proud to be part of a Labor Government that is helping local families with cost-of-living pressures through supports such as:
• The popular $250 Power Saving Bonus - now available to all Victorian households;
• A Sick Pay Guarantee - providing up to 38 hours of provides up to 38 hours of sick or carer's pay to Victorians in casual and insecure work;
• Free Kinder for all Victorian three and four-year-olds from 2023, saving families up to $2,500 per child;
• Free TAFE – providing free tuition in more than 70 courses across key growth industries;
• Capping Council rates to restrict the amount that councils can raise their rates each year
"I believe only a Labor government can be relied upon to continue to deliver the jobs, health, education, transport and climate change action that local families need both now and in the future. We're doing what matters" - Paul Hamer
