The Victorian Labor government has recently shared its ‘bad news’ budget which includes stalling major projects and abandoning key promises in an effort to reduce the state’s spiraling debt. Treasurer Tim Pallas has stated that these measures are necessary to address the financial challenges facing the state. As a result, there have been mixed reactions from the residents of Victoria.
Prospective first-home buyer, Nicholas Spanos, expressed his disappointment over the scrapping of the state government’s first home buyers scheme and transition to the federal government’s Help to Buy scheme. He hopes that more people will benefit from this new scheme but also calls for legislative intervention around real estate agents’ price quoting practices, which can create false expectations for buyers on tight budgets.
Commuter Ishan Jagaty, who travels from Fraser Rise to Port Melbourne for work, has expressed his frustration over the government’s decision to stall Western Freeway upgrades, which he sees as vital infrastructure for the growing north-western suburbs. While he looks forward to the Metro Tunnel project, he questions the lack of budget allocation for improving the Myki ticketing system, which he believes is subpar.
Luke and Jess Rose, a young family living in Boronia with children Lily and David, find the budget to be lacking in support for families like theirs. Despite the treasurer calling it a ‘family-friendly’ budget, Jess notes that young families struggling with childcare expenses could use more assistance. They are considering moving their eldest child to a Catholic school due to the condition of nearby public schools.
Small business owner Gerard Kelly, who runs a hospitality venue in the CBD, voices his disappointment in the lack of support for small businesses in the budget. He highlights the challenges faced by small business owners to keep their establishments open amidst rising operational costs and reduced consumer spending. Kelly calls for more tax relief and long-term solutions to help small businesses thrive and grow.
Overall, there is a mix of reactions to the Victorian Labor government’s budget announcements, with some residents expressing disappointment over the lack of support for key areas such as housing affordability, infrastructure projects, and small businesses. While some are hopeful for the impact of the federal Help to Buy scheme for first-home buyers, others are calling for more proactive measures from the government to address the needs of different sectors of the community. The budget’s focus on reducing debt and cutting back on major projects has left many Victorians questioning the government’s priorities and allocation of resources.
