The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering on its election promises for our community – investing in what matters for the people of Kalkallo.

We haven’t wasted a day delivering the services and projects that matter to Victorians. With the Victorian Budget 2023/24, we’re getting on with doing what we said we’d do.

Victorians remember the State Electricity Commission (SEC): it meant a fair deal on your power prices and good, stable jobs for workers.

That’s why we’re bringing it back – to drive down power bills and create thousands of jobs in renewable, government-owned energy.

An initial $1 billion investment in the SEC will help deliver 4.5 gigawatts of power – the equivalent replacement capacity of Loy Yang A – through renewable energy projects.

Bringing back the SEC won’t just mean more renewable energy, lower power bills and reduced carbon emissions – it’ll also help create 59,000 jobs.

With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has the most profound impact on how our kids develop.

That’s why we’re delivering Free Kinder for three and four-year-olds, establishing Pre-Prep, and upgrading or providing new equipment to Kinders across the state to make sure Victorian kids can get the best start for the best life.

Victorian parents should be able to count on having a great local school, no matter where they live. By building two new schools – Lockerbie Secondary College and Lockerbie Specialist School – we’ll deliver the world-class spaces Kalkallo kids and their hardworking teachers deserve.

And to make sure that wherever you choose to send your kids to school, they have access to first-rate facilities, we’ll contribute $5 million towards a new campus of Kolbe College in Mickleham – as part of our support for the low-fee Catholic and independent schools.

We’re improving the local roads people in Kalkallo use every day, by delivering a diamond interchange at Watson Street and Hume Freeway for road users in Wallan.

This funding will deliver a full diamond interchange on the Hume Freeway in Wallan as part of our election promise to improve capacity and get local drivers out of traffic and home to their families sooner and safer.

Every Victorian should be able to get the healthcare they need, when they need it. We’re kickstarting planning, development and early works for the new emergency department and extra beds at the Northern Hospital through our $320 million Hospital Infrastructure Development Fund.

A new comprehensive women’s health clinic at the Northern Hospital will change the way women’s health issues are treated, providing care and support for conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause and menopause.

We’ve made it free to study nursing and enshrined nurse-to-patient ratios in law. Now, we’ll do even more to give nurses the support they need to keep caring for Victorians.

More than $154 million will put more nursing staff in intensive care, high dependency and coronary care units – and more nurses and midwives in our maternity services.

As part of this package, we’ll make sure Victoria is the best place to be a nurse – with sign on bonuses for graduate nurses and midwives, funding to attract more international healthcare workers, scholarships for nurses to upskill and the recruitment of an extra 450 nurses.

Sport is such a big part of our community, helping families in Kalkallo to stay active and get engaged. That’s why this Budget includes $5 million towards the Greenhill Recreation Precinct project in Wallan, delivering an integrated facility for stadium sports, gymnastics, and aquatics.

As our neighbourhood grows, it’s important we keep delivering quality recreation facilities across Kalkallo. And we’re doing just that with a $450,000 Splash Park in the Donnybrook Road Corridor, providing a new space for kids and their families to enjoy.

We’re also taking the first step in developing a new recreation reserve in Beveridge with a $50,000 masterplan – ensuring locals in our growing community have access to the open spaces they deserve.

These are the things that matter – and the things we promised to Victorians.

And with this Budget, we’re getting on with delivering every election commitment we made at the last election.

Quotes attributable to Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence:

“With this Budget, we’re delivering on every election commitment we made to the people of Kalkallo – including building the new Lockerbie Secondary College and Lockerbie Specialist School.”

“We’re delivering a major upgrade to the Watson Street and Hume Freeway interchange which will improve traffic flow and ensure local families can get home sooner and safer.”