General News
23 May, 2025
Wins, losses and missed opportunities define the budget’s local impact
The Allan Labor Government has delivered the 2025/26 budget for Victoria in what is a mixed bag for the Central Goldfields Shire.
Local residents have come out with wins big and small, from health through to roads, while also accumulating a few losses and missed opportunities.
Committed to “fiscal responsibility”, according to treasurer Jaclyn Symes, her first budget will end “inefficiency” to prioritise families, cost of living relief, and the health system.
It will be welcome timing for some in an environment that’s defined by cost of living pressures and a strained local healthcare system — although infrastructure projects and COVID spending have left the state with an increasing net debt of $167 billion.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett, however, was pleased with the government’s budget considering the economic environment.
“We have to just continue to be fiscally responsible while also still delivering the services that people need and that they deserve,” she said.
The State Government claim that addressing inefficiencies in the public sector, including several thousand people expected to lose their jobs, has allowed the government to reinvest in frontline workers.
In health, the Maryborough and District Hospital’s previous $11.7 million investment for opening and operating has been finalised.
“I know that [MDHS CEO] Nickola Allan and her team were very relieved to get that extra funding so they could make sure everything could run really smoothly from the get go,” Ms Haylett said.
“That extra boost of funding has meant we can deliver fantastic health services sooner.”
In another step easing the pressure on local GPs, an $18 million investment will enable pharmacists across the state to treat more people without needing a GP script.
Conditions they will be able to treat include allergies, nausea, high blood pressure and minor wound care — the list will grow over the next two years.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victoria branch president George Tambassis said the approach put patients first.
“This reform future-proofs our health system. It’s good for patients, their families and local communities,” he said.
Moving from the physical to the mental, the budget also puts $900,000 toward the National Centre for Farmer Health.
Following the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which will see farmers paying tens of thousands of dollars more on top of pre-existing pressures, local fire brigade captains have flagged farmer mental health as a growing concern locally and across the regions.
Labor’s investment in health is a point of pride for Ms Haylett — who said she’s been trying to improve the sector since before she got into politics.
“When I was a little girl I had really significant hearing difficulties,” she said.
“At the time my family didn’t have much money, were really struggling with the basics as well, and if it wasn’t for the public healthcare system I wouldn’t have been able to fix my hearing and be able to be the person I am today.”
Ms Haylett said this is a part of an ongoing effort to improve hospitals, big and small, across the region.
“I never want it to be the case that just because you live in a rural or regional town you can’t access world quality healthcare,” she said.
The budget also outlines a number of ways locals can save.
Those with a concession card can expect $100 off an upcoming energy bill.
Rebates will also be available for energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems which the State Government said can save households $400 a year.
While cost of living is important to locals, the condition of regional roads sits beside it in Ms Haylett’s experience.
Locals will be hoping a $976 million investment in fixing potholes and road surfaces across the state will be seen locally.
Ms Haylett encourages locals to get in touch with any roads they think need work across the shire.
“I contact [the Minister for Roads’] office very, very frequently about the state of our roads in our region and I know there is still a lot of work to do,” Ms Haylett said.
“I’m very eager to make sure that we get a really good slice of that funding.”
The budget also turns to public transport and making it more affordable.
From the start of next year public transport will be free for all Victorians under the age of 16.
Locals aged 60 and over can expect free public transport on weekends as well.
While Ms Haylett described these as a “game changer” for locals, it’s a missed opportunity within a system that’s “fragmented” according to a survey conducted by the Central Goldfields Shire Youth Council last year.
Ms Haylett recognised the need for more regular services on the Maryborough trainline and admits the budget won’t address this.
“I will continue to advocate for those improvements into the future but this time around, yes, it’s more about making it much more affordable,” she said.
In contrast, local education will see some direct funding from this budget at Maryborough Education Centre (MEC).
A slice of $10 million will fund the planning of upgrades to the school’s infrastructure, allowing it to better accommodate students’ needs.
While planning will take place over this year, the school will have to wait until the next budget to get the project over the finish line.
“I’ll go and fight for some more funds in next year’s state budget to try and make that a reality ... because the community deserves it,” she said.
Families with a healthcare card or concession card will receive some help with camps, school, sports, and excursions too.
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund is increasing from $154 per year for primary school students and $256 per year for secondary students to $400.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Victorian branch criticised the budget more broadly, however, for delaying the “state’s commitment to fully fund public schools to 2031”.
Their president Justin Mullaly said more investment is needed from the wages of staff through to TAFE and preschools.
“The Premier and the Education Minister need to fix this mess if Victoria is to be the ‘education state’,” he said.
In an effort to boost housing construction, last year’s concession for eligible off-the-plan apartments, units, and town houses will continue until October 2026.
However, it seems unlikely to significantly help the Central Goldfields Shire’s goal of 1700 new homes by 2051, as set by the State Government earlier this year.
However, Ms Haylett hopes the budget will help locals get ahead.
“All of it has an impact on locals and their ability to manage the cost of living,” she said.
“I’m regularly talking to very passionate locals who want to see more affordable homes in Maryborough and across the shire.”