- Published:
- Tuesday 20 May 2025
The Allan Labor Government is focused on what matters most: supporting families with real help on their energy bills and delivering more free and low-cost ways for families to get out and explore our great outdoors.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 is investing $715.3 million to help families slash their energy bills, create more places to get active outdoors and support our world-class agricultural industry keep our food and produce fresh and affordable.
Helping drive down energy bills
While energy companies put profits first, we're on the side of Victorians – helping families cut energy costs and take back control of their bills.
We’re providing real and immediate cost of living help by cutting the cost of energy bills with a $100 Power Saving Bonus for some of the state’s most vulnerable families – through a $50 million investment.
Victorian households with an eligible concession card will be able to apply for the Power Saving Bonus later this year through the Victorian Energy Compare website.
All Victorians should visit the free and independent Victorian Energy Compare website to shop around for a better deal on their energy – last year, users typically saved $240 per year on their energy bills by switching.
We’re also investing $600,000 towards the Energy Assistance Program – helping to expand its services in response to increasing demand – making free one-on-one tailored assistance for vulnerable and hard-to-reach customers struggling with their energy bills.
To make it cheaper for families to install an energy efficient hot water heat pump, this Budget invests $29.7 million for Solar Victoria to deliver an additional 27,000 hot water rebates and continue to help more Victorian households lower their energy bills by installing electric appliances in their homes.
An average Victorian household with gas and electric appliances can reduce their annual energy bill by around $1,400 by going all electric. The savings rise to more than $2,700 a year by adding solar.
Well insulated homes keep energy costs down and are more comfortable for families. A further $12 million will support the introduction of discounts on ceiling insulation through the Victorian Energy Upgrades Program – halving the cost of installation and helping families save an average of $400 off their energy bills. This will fund the roll out of safety and training measures for workers installing insulation.
Our nation-leading offshore wind program will deliver more cheap renewable energy to lower Victorians’ power bills. The Budget invests $13.2 million towards delivering the first two gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity in Victoria.
We’re also supporting Victorian manufacturers to have a secure supply of gas into the future through a $2.3 million investment to develop the Industrial Renewable Gas Guarantee.
Investing in our great outdoors
Victorian kids deserve to enjoy the best experiences our state has to offer.
More families will have the chance to explore Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park with a $15.3 million investment to continue free entry for children under 16 years on weekends, school holidays, and public holidays.
We’re also investing $5 million to complete upgrades to Luna Park Melbourne’s Luna Palace building, so that it can be reopened, and Victorians and visitors can explore this iconic piece of Melbourne’s history.
We know Victorians love to get out into the great outdoors. That’s why we’re investing $10.5 million to keep camping fees at half price at Parks Victoria’s 131 bookable campsites for another two years.
An investment of $6 million will support tourism at iconic spots along the Great Ocean Road, including $2.3 million to complete the fit out of the new Twelve Apostles Experience Centre.
Victoria has some of the best parks, forests, beaches and countryside in the world – that’s what Victorians and visitors love about our state. This Budgets invests $21.1 million to protect them.
This includes $17.3 million towards critical Landcare and Coastcare programs that help care for our unique bush and beaches, while also supporting local volunteers to connect with nature and their communities.
A further $3.8 million will create and maintain Liwik Barring – a habitat for critically endangered species that winds through wineries, orchards and farmland in the Yarra Valley and southern Dandenong ranges.
We’re also investing $2.1 million towards koala health programs and to continue the important work of the Wildlife Hotline responding to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife across the state.
We’re also working to protect Victorians from future natural disasters. With $23.5 million, Forest Fire Management Victoria will complete planned burns and other critical fuel management to lower bushfire risk.
Helping to build Victoria’s future
This Budget invests $1.9 million to streamline environmental advice and assessments processes so we can build more homes and more renewable energy projects that drive down energy bills.
Mines and quarries are helping build Victoria’s economy. We’re investing $40.5 million to ensure efficient and more timely approval processes driven by a strong regulator, to protect the environment and ensure the benefits from mines and quarries flow to local communities.
The Budget also invests $1.7 million towards the development of a long-term strategy for the management of historic mines and quarries that are no longer in operation – making sure they are safe and rehabilitated in a way that meets community expectations.
Safeguarding what makes our state special
This Budget is backing Victoria’s $20 billion agriculture sector with an investment of $35.6 million towards protecting our fresh produce and livestock.
This includes $6.1 million to help primary producers adapt and prepare for the changes to our climate.
Our investment includes $16.6 million for extra resourcing and equipment to make sure Agriculture Victoria is ready to respond to future biosecurity emergencies and to support the important work of animal welfare organisations, including the RSCPA Inspectorate.
This builds on $20 million already invested to protect Victoria’s agricultural sector against the Varroa mite and avian influenza biosecurity emergencies.
We’re helping farmers protect their livestock with $2.1 million to manage the impacts of livestock predation, through the continuation of Victoria’s Fox Bounty program. We’re also investing $9.2 million to target a wider range of pests such as deer, feral cats, foxes and pigs.
The Budget invests $1.2 million to encourage more women into leadership in the agriculture sector, along with continued support for the National Centre for Farmer Health.
We are also investing $400,000 in the development of new hemp legislation, following the Government response to the hemp inquiry last year.
We are also securing drinking water supply for Melbourne and Geelong following dry conditions with $3.8 million to support an order of 50 gigalitres of water from the Victorian Desalination Plant.
The Budget also invests $32.6 million to improve and maintain the health of creeks and rivers across Victoria, including the Mallee, Goulburn and Murray Darling Basin.
We’re also investing $3 million towards Foodbank’s GROW program, which will make sure unsold fresh produce can go straight from the farm gate to Foodbank – helping reduce food waste and provide good quality fruit and vegetables to families in need.
We’re also supporting our Environmental Protection Authority with $124.9 million to crack down on illegal dumping, pollutions and contamination of dangerous waste – making sure our suburbs are kept clean and healthy.
This Budget is focused on what matters most – helping families drive down energy bills, making it easier and more affordable to experience our great outdoors and investing in the places and people that make our state special.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources, Climate Action and the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio
"While energy companies put profits ahead of people, we're on the side of Victorians – helping families cut energy costs and take back control of their bills."
“This Budget delivers real help with the cost of living. We’re offering immediate bill relief for vulnerable Victorians with another round of the Power Saving Bonus, cutting the cost of energy efficient hot water heat pumps and supporting families with their energy bills with one-on-one support.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence
“Victorian farmers supply the fresh food and produce that feeds our state and beyond, this Budget protects them from biosecurity threats and diseases – helping them grow and adapt to our changing climate.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Water Gayle Tierney
“Water is a precious resource, that’s why we’re investing in water security for Victorian homes, businesses and agriculture – and making sure our waterways are healthy for the future.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
“We’re taking care of our native wildlife and environment while making sure Victorian families can continue to enjoy our amazing zoos and our incredible great outdoors for less.”