A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver more support for Victorian families, with two new policy initiatives to reduce cost of living expenses announced today by Premier Denis Napthine.
The new measures unveiled today by the Coalition include:
- Delivering a $100 rebate on kindergarten fees for every Victorian child attending kindergarten in the year before school; and
- increasing the number of primary welfare officers to cover all state schools.
Dr Napthine said the Fairer Kinder rebate will apply each year for the next four years, with more than 200,000 families expected to benefit from the measure.
“The Coalition Government recognises that young families are feeling cost-of-living pressures and this is a simple, effective and financially responsible way to help ease those pressures,” Dr Napthine said.
“While the government already provides substantial per capita funding to kindergartens to ensure Victorian children have access to 15 hours of kinder per week, this rebate will cut costs by directly reducing the fees paid by parents.”
Dr Napthine said that having delivered on its commitment to provide an additional 150 Primary Welfare Officers in its first term, a re-elected Coalition Government will increase the number of welfare officers to cover all state primary schools.
“This initiative will help all government primary schools to better manage challenges such as bullying and will support students with behavioural, mental health and welfare issues,” Dr Napthine said.
The Coalition Government’s Supporting Families package also contains a range of other measures to help ease cost-of-living pressures and secure a better future for Victorian families including:
- Free trams in the Melbourne CBD and Docklands precinct;
- reduced Metro train fares for travel across Zones 1 and 2;
- extending free zoo entry for children;
- tougher restrictions on energy companies to avoid ‘bill shock’; and
- more mental health services for school-aged children.
Dr Napthine said that the Coalition Government is committed to supporting Victorians who are raising a family.
“In our first term of Government, we introduced a number of initiatives that have significantly reduced the cost of living for Victorian families,” Dr Napthine said.
“These included cutting the cost of public transport, reducing the cost of utilities and rates for concession card holders, delivering $100 savings on water bills through the Fairer Water Bills initiative, and reducing the cost of the fire services levy.
“Our Plan is about securing a better future for Victorian families,” Dr Napthine said.