A more democratic Victoria
The State Labor Government has revitalised our State’s democratic institutions.
We have introduced fixed four-year terms for both the Lower and Upper Houses of the Victorian Parliament – making MPs more accountable to their electorates.
We have reformed Victoria’s Upper House – the Legislative Council – to make it more representative. Proportional representation will ensure that a broader range of political parties will be represented.
We have provided for referendums for future constitutional change – giving Victorians a say in their Constitution for the first time. We have taken Parliament to the people, holding sittings of both Houses of Parliament in our regional centres.
Since coming to office, the State Labor Government has pursued a robust legislative program, passing a record number of 114 Bills in 2003 and 112 in 2004. One hundred Bills were passed in 2005. We have entrenched and strengthened the role of independent parliamentary office holders such as the Auditor General, Ombudsman and Director of Public Prosecutions.
Our Community Cabinet program has seen the Cabinet meet in rural, regional and metropolitan Victoria more than 67 times since 1999. The program reflects our commitment to giving communities the chance to discuss important issues directly with Ministers.
We have enshrined local government in the Constitution as an essential tier of government and reformed local government elections, aligning them to a common cycle of fixed four-year terms.
"The State Labor Government has revitalised our State’s democratic institutions"Regional management forums have been established to reinforce stronger partnerships with local government, to help ensure the priorities of local communities are built into government planning.
After an extensive consultation period we have developed a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities – the first Australian State to do so. The Charter will ensure that rights people take for granted are protected and that governments in future value the rights of all Victorians. The Brumby Government is committed to improving transparency, accountability and access to government.
Growing Victoria Together outlines the Government’s medium-term objectives of improving triple-bottom-line accountability, developing caring communities, and creating a vibrant democracy. The document also details the key performance measures against which the Government can be assessed. Budget papers now include reports on the progress made by government against these measures.
Creating Opportunity and Addressing Disadvantage
In April 2005, the State Labor Government released A Fairer Victoria, a blueprint to improve access to vital services, reduce barriers to opportunity and strengthen assistance for disadvantaged groups and places.
A Fairer Victoria is about creating a better Victoria for everyone and making sure that all Victorians – no matter who they are or where they live – can get a fair go.
Victoria is enjoying great prosperity, and the State Labor Government is committed to doing everything in its power to ensure all Victorians share in that prosperity. Strong families are the foundations of strong communities and we want to make Victoria the best place, and the fairest state, to bring up a family.
A Fairer Victoria is not just about money – fundamentally changing the way Government works with disadvantaged communities is what will make the most difference. Departments are working together at the local level to achieve better results for families and communities.
"making sure that all Victorians – no matter who they are or where they live – can get a fair go"The State Labor Government’s total commitment to A Fairer Victoria is now in excess of $1.6 billion. Children are a major focus of A Fairer Victoria, which provides funding to cut kindergarten fees for low income families, extra kindergarten places at childcare centres, and strengthened child protection services. The second instalment of
A Fairer Victoria, outlined in the 2006-07 State Budget, provides $268 million for improved children’s services and child protection, including the child welfare and foster care systems.
A Fairer Victoria also includes:- Help for troubled teenagers to get their lives back on track, including mentoring and more support for young people in trouble with the law;
- New approaches to family violence including new 24-hour support and referral for women;
- Fairer access to services for disadvantaged Victorians and multicultural communities;
- Increasing home ownership among low income people and increasing the supply of affordable houses in growth suburbs;
- Increased funding for the justice system including a new child witness program and reforming the system for handling sexual assault;
- $45.7 million to help turn around the poor health and prosperity of Indigenous Victorians and support and protect Aboriginal children. The 2006-07 Budget committed a further $61.7 million for Aboriginal programs including implementing the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act;
- Additional funding for Victorians with disabilities, providing more access to necessary equipment, upgrades to accommodation, help for young people in nursing homes to move to more appropriate accommodation, and more respite for families;
- $180 million to support Victorians with mental illness. The 2006-07 Budget provides a further $136 million for initiatives including prevention and early intervention, community-based and hospital-based services, housing services and community education; and Strengthening communities through increased funding for neighbourhood renewal, new Neighbourhood Houses in disadvantaged areas, support for volunteering and to develop partnerships with local government, business and community groups.
Better Support and Services
The Brumby Government is investing in services and working with communities to ensure all Victorians can access the opportunities and support they require.
In Housing, the State Labor Government has spent more than $1 billion on the acquisition, redevelopment and improvement of social housing for low income families since 1999.
Victoria has invested significantly over and above its obligations under the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement on affordable housing, including more than $70 million for the establishment of not for profit housing associations and more than $90 million for the successful Social Housing Innovation Project.
The State Labor Government led other states and the Commonwealth to reach agreement to develop a comprehensive approach to a national affordable housing agreement involving all tiers of government.
In 2004, the Government overhauled Victoria’s concessions system, increasing funding for concessions and directing benefits to areas of most need. Since 1999, the State Labor Government has invested $340 million in the
redevelopment of 42 residential aged care facilities to provide Victorians with high-quality residential aged care services, particularly in regional Victoria.
"That’s why the State Labor Government significantly increased funding for child and family services"The State Labor Government has maintained and expanded the Home and Community Care Program with more services including podiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics, home help and delivered meals to enable older Victorians to live independently at home.
We have increased funding for personal alert alarms for older Victorians living at home – more than doubling the number of personal alert alarms since coming to office. An extra 1,200 monitored alarm devices will be provided in 2006.
Access to high quality services for young children is critical for their health and wellbeing. That’s why the State Labor Government significantly increased funding for child and family services. This has resulted in kindergarten participation rates for four year olds hitting record levels and over 97 per cent of babies under 12 months being checked by maternal and child health services.
The Government has also funded over 50 new Children’s Centres and kindergartens to give parents 'one stop shop’ access to a range of vital services.
A record $27.8 million was provided for neighbourhood houses in the 2006 Budget to develop new and existing facilities and improve information and communications technology access and infrastructure.
"The Brumby Government is investing in services and working with communities"Victoria leads the nation in services to support people with disabilities. Funding per capita on disability services is the highest of any Australian state or territory. Since 1999, funding for disability services has increased by 82 per cent. This boost in assistance has provided a range of benefits such as additional respite breaks for people with disabilities and additional places to help with accommodation and support for people with disabilities and their families.
We have established and supported the development of Disability Action Plans in all government departments to reduce barriers to employment and promote access and participation, and we are providing new supported housing in the community for 377 people who used to live at the old Kew Cottages.
A Stronger Community
The Brumby Government is working hard to deliver a range of services to our richly diverse community – from strengthening consumer protection to improving problem gambling services.Find our more by using the link below.