- Published:
- Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 11:15 am
The Allan Labor Government is making life easier, safer and more affordable in Melbourne’s outer west.
More maternity care
The Victorian Budget 2026/27 is investing $249 million to boost maternity services across the western suburbs.
The funding makes sure families in the west can continue to access world-class care:
- 32 new post-natal beds across the west, including a new 24 bed post-natal ward at Sunshine Hospital, supporting up to 3,300 more women for pregnancy and postnatal care per year
- Delivering an additional 1,500 sonography appointments at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- More special care nursery cots at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s for babies with complex needs
Faster emergency care
The Budget invests $95 million to open the upgraded Werribee Mercy Hospital Emergency Department this year.
The expansion is doubling the ED’s capacity, and features:
- 67 treatment spaces – double the current number
- six spaces for treating issues related to mental health, alcohol and other drugs
- separate but co-located paediatric and acute and short stay zones
It will mean local nurses and doctors can treat an additional 25,000 patients each year once fully operational.
Nine-car trains on the Wyndham Vale line
The Budget invests $14.8 million to boost capacity on the Wyndham Vale Line, with longer, nine-car trains during peak times.
These nine-car trains will have up to 50 per cent more capacity than the current six-car trains.
It benefits passengers along the line, including the new West Tarneit Station set to open later this year.
Faster local courts
The newly opened Wyndham Law Courts is the largest court complex outside of the CBD.
The Budget invests $7 million to fund more police prosecutions, so more cases can be heard and finalised sooner.
Speeding up the justice system keeps locals safer, and it builds on the $114 million investment to operationalise the Courts last year.
Quote attributable to Premier Jacinta Allan
“Only Labor has new solutions to make life easier, safer and more affordable for families in Melbourne’s west.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Harriet Shing
“This massive investment will mean more families in the west can access affordable, world-class care, close to home”
Quote attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
“We’re improving train services across Melbourne’s west – and they’ll pay less to travel all year.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Police Anthony Carbines
“More police on the street, more PSOs on trains, and now more local prosecutions to keep people safe.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne
“We’re improving healthcare across the west, with new and expanded hospitals in Footscray, Melton, Werribee and Point Cook."