The Budget at aGlanceSurplus of $1.3 billion

$20 million for Statesecondary school inPrahran

New underground railtunnel connecting SouthYarra and SouthernCross

$4.8 million for St KildaRoad Police Station

Airport rail link

$1.2 billion per year forVET

2014/15 Victorian State Budget

Dear Friend,Yesterday afternoon the Treasurer, Hon. Michael O'Brien MP, delivered the fourth budgetof the Coalition Government.

This is a budget that invests in major infrastructure and high-quality services for allVictorians, while ensuring Victoria’s finances remain the strongest in the nation. It isabout growing the economy, growing employment and connecting Victoria. The Victorian Coalition Government has invested in significant projects in the 2014/15Budget that will help strengthen our local community, including:

$20 million in funding for a new State secondary school for Prahran students;Construction of new underground platforms at South Yarra Railway Station as wellas the construction of a new underground Domain Railway Station as part of theMelbourne Rail Link project; and$4.8 million to replace the St Kilda Road Police Station to service the Prahrancommunity.

The Treasurer has also announced an operating surplus of $1.3 billion in 2014/15, risingto $3.3 billion by 2017/18. I am very pleased that since coming to Government in 2010,the Coalition has been able to turn around the Victorian economy to such a position ofstrength. You can download your copy of the 2014-15 State Budget Factsheets here. In other news, the City of Port Phillip and St Kilda Police and Citizen Youth Club (PCYC),in conjunction with Member for Caulfield David Southwick and I, will be hosting acommunity forum to discuss the drug 'ice.' When: Monday 12th May, 6:45pmWhere: St Kilda Town Hall, 99A Carlisle Street, St Kilda This is your chance to ask questions and learn how we can combat this destructive drug.More information here.

Best wishes,

$20 Million Secured for a State Secondary School in Prahran

The Victorian Coalition Government hascommitted $20 million to build a new Statesecondary school in Prahran.

Premier Napthine has also asked me, inmy role as Parliamentary Secretary forEducation, to lead the newly establishedPrahran Secondary Education Taskforcewhich will be responsible for overseeingthis commitment.

This announcement builds on thesignificant wins already achieved ineducation in Prahran with the new giftededucation academy being granted planning approval and the fantastic Melbourne Polytechnic opening its doors earlier this year.

All children have a right to quality education and I am so proud to be part of the NapthineGovernment which is committed to providing a world class secondary school for our kids.

I will now harness the energies of the local community in the Taskforce to quickly identifya suitable site, build a school and get the first intake of Year 7s enrolled as soon as wecan.

The Melbourne Rail Link - Victoria's Largest Ever Rail Project

The Victorian CoalitionGovernment is investing a record$15 billion in Victoria's publictransport network, delivering anew metropolitan rail tunnel andnew railway stations.

The $8.5-$11 billion MelbourneRail Link will reduce delays,improve reliability and boostcapacity across the network by upto 30 per cent.

The Melbourne Rail Link, which will create 3,700 jobs during construction, will comprise:

Twin 7.5 kilometre tunnels from Southern Cross to South Yarra;New underground stations at Fishermans Bend (Montague) and Domain;New underground platforms at Southern Cross and South Yarra;Train-tram interchanges at Southern Cross, Montague, Domain and South Yarra;andA rail link to Melbourne Airport.

Click here for more information on the Victorian Budget 2014/15 infrastructureinvestment.

Delivering for Prahran

The State Budget delivers majorinvestments for local Prahran families bybuilding the infrastructure to provide betterschool facilities for our students, improvedlocal law and order response and betterpublic transport through the new MelbourneRail Link.

This continues the Coalition Government’sproud record of unprecedentedinvestments in our education and healthsystems.

These new funding initiatives build on the local initiatives already being delivered by theCoalition Government, which include:

$7.4 million investment to replace vital medical equipment at the Alfred Hospital;$1 million invested in bike lanes along Chapel Street;$460,000 road safety investment for road safety improvements at the intersectionof Nepean Highway and Carlisle Street, St Kilda; and$330,000 in funding to install CCTV cameras on Chapel Street.

Delivering for Victoria

A Strong Economy

Operating Surplus of $1.3 billion in 2014-2015Employment growing by 1.25% and rising

State-Shaping Infrastructure

The Coalition Government will fund $8.5-$11 billion to deliver the Melbourne RailLink - including the delivery of the Airport Rail Link - creating 3,700 jobs during thepeak of construction.Building the East West Link - Western Section, in addition to last year'sannouncement of the eastern section, at an estimated cost of $8 to $10 billion.Up to $2.5 billion for the Cranbourne - Pakenham Rail Corridor project that willboost capacity by 30 per cent and remove four level crossings and plan theremoval of a further five.

Reducing Taxes

Reducing Payroll Tax to 4.85 per cent saving businesses more than $234 millionover four years.Abolishing Stamp Duty of life insurance policies saving consumers $4 millionannually.

Boosting Education, Skills & Training

$1.2 billion per year for vocational education and training.$2.8 billion for schools over five years for future initiatives and growth.$500 million to build 12 new schools and upgrade an additional 70 schools.

Strengthening Health Care and Community Services

$1.4 billion over four years to boost health care.$200 million over four years to support Victorians with a serious disability.