South-east Melbourne is in the ‘box seat’ with state budget focus on jobs and manufacturing

GSEM RESPONSE TO THE 2025 VICTORIAN BUDGET

The 2025 Victorian Budget makes a series of a welcome commitments to attract investment and develop manufacturing opportunities across the state.

The budget papers show the government will fully fund the pre-existing Economic Growth Statement ($240 million) and will contribute $150 million to a new Victorian Investment Fund.

This includes $5.3 million to bolster defence supply chains, $3.9 million to unlock industrial land, more than $ 3 million will be used to extend the Digital Jobs program, which aides the uptake of digital literacy construction and advanced manufacturing.

“The government should be applauded for its focus on advanced manufacturing and jobs” GSEM chair Simon McKeon said.

“Greater south-east Melbourne is in the box seat to benefit from these investments, our region is a key economic driver for the

state and it needs further investment to grow”

“We are already Melbourne’s home of modern and advanced manufacturing, and we are well placed to harness the opportunities presented by this budget.”

GSEM notes the budget also invested in more bus and train services alongside local roads maintenance, but said it was disappointing that significant additional funding wasn’t allocated to progress the full upgrade and extension of Thompsons Road or plan for transport links to the future South East Melbourne Airport.

• Media contact: Ryan Sheales, 0402 351 412.