The Big Build – Supporting Workers, Families & Our State

Today, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia has confirmed what we knew: Victoria continues to lead the nation – investing more in infrastructure per person than any other state in Australia.

For the second year running, Victoria has taken out top spot in Budget Monitor rankings, with an $85.3 billion four-year allocation to infrastructure.

That’s 22.7 per cent of total general government expenditure going to infrastructure. And we’re comfortably ahead of New South Wales, currently sitting in second place at 17.9 per cent.

For Labor, it means much more than just numbers in an accountant’s ledger. Because every dollar of investment equals opportunity for Victorian workers and their families.

And good, fair and safe jobs have been our priority since the beginning.

Construction workers, builders, plumbers, electricians, and thousands more are employed on our Big Build – delivering the road and rail, schools and hospitals our state needs.

Thousands more are working in our supply chains – making everything from steel to uniforms, because we choose to buy and back Victorian.

And then there’s the thousands of Victorians who are caring for their community – nurses, mental health workers, teachers, childhood educators, and more.

Each of them working because of our investments – and all of them helping to create a better, brighter future for our state.

That includes Victorians like Dylan in Berwick, who is working as a labourer on Suburban Rail Loop. Before that, he was working on the Metro Tunnel, with skills he learnt from doing his Certificate III in Civil Construction – studied for free at Holmesglen TAFE.

Then there’s Hannah from Macclesfield. She’s also part of our Big Build, working on the Metro Tunnel as an electrical apprentice. She works on the project alongside her partner – and because they both have the certainty of a good job, they’ve just been able to buy their first home.

Matt from Barwon Heads is also an electrician on the Metro Tunnel. Before this job, he was in and out of work. But because of our investment, he now has peace of mind – for himself, and his son Kal, who has also joined the project.

Chol from Mill Park is two years into his plumbing apprenticeship and working on the Royal Melbourne Hospital upgrade. Originally from South Sudan, his work is helping to ensure more Victorians are getting the care they need.

So’s Marie, a midwife in Boronia. For more than 40 years, Marie has been looking after our newest mums and bubs. She’s also just about to complete her training to be a nurse practitioner. Now, because of our commitment to employ an extra 100 nurse practitioners, she’ll be able to use her vast experience to help even more Victorians.

There’s also Liz from Melton, who is caring for young Victorians as one of our state’s incredible early childhood educators. A mum to a young child herself, she understands personally how much Free Kinder and our 50 government-owned and operated childcare centres will mean for working families.

And Jo, a trained social worker who is part of our rebuild of Victoria’s mental health system, providing crisis care to those most in need. She lives in Point Cook with her three children and her partner, who also found work on our level crossing removal project.

Dylan, Hannah, Matt, Chol, Marie, Liz and Jo – each of their contributions is singularly their own. But they also represent the stories of thousands of other Victorian workers.

Thousands of Victorian workers who are building our state sand caring for their communities. And thousands of Victorian workers whose job is on the ballot at this election.

Because if Matthew Guy and the Liberals have their way – all these projects will be “audited”.

Victorians know what “audit” really means. We’ve seen it before.

And they won’t hesitate. Matthew Guy’s Liberals will take a big axe to our Big Build – and with it, the thousands of Victorians working on these projects. They don’t get it – and they don’t care.

Labor will fight for the projects our state needs – and the people who deliver them.

Because Labor is doing what matters.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“Almost 600,000 jobs have been created on Labor’s watch. That's nearly 600,000 Victorians who now have the security and stability of a job.”

“We understand – uniquely – a job is more than a pay slip. It's also pride and purpose. It means being able to support your family and build your life.”

“It's why, every day, we have used every dollar to deliver a double benefit: making our state stronger and fairer – while also creating good jobs for Victorians.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan

“It’s not just Victorian jobs that are on the ballot this Saturday: the Liberals’ plans for cuts and closures would put our state’s entire economic recovery at risk.”

“We can’t afford to cut our way to recovery – shrinking our economy, costing workers their jobs and families their livelihoods.”

“We need a long-term plan to keep making our economy stronger and keep Victorians in work – and we’ll only get that plan under Labor.”