The State Government has expanded its unique program for asylum seekers and refugees, allowing even more new arrivals to access free and subsidised skills and training to help them build happy and healthy lives in Victoria.

Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced the expanded eligibility criteria for the Asylum Seeker VET and Reconnect programs, allowing Temporary Humanitarian Stay (449) visa holders to access Free TAFE, subsidised training and other support services.
The new program means people who have been forced to flee their home due to war, victims of human trafficking, forced marriage and slavery-like offences, and those from other circumstances can find a meaningful career in industries like hospitality, health and aged care, education and more.
There are about 1,821 people on Temporary Humanitarian Stay (449) visas in Victoria, including recent arrivals from Afghanistan.
Training is key to the settling process, in addition to settling services provided by AMES Australia, including quarantine assistance, housing, healthcare and more.
The Asylum Seeker VET program has helped nearly 5,400 people into training at TAFEs, Registered Training Organisations and Learn Local in Skills First courses and other supported training.
The Reconnect program helps about 1,700 people each year by providing wrap-around supports including foundation skills, employment assistance and career counselling.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 invested $88.8 million to provide subsidised VET access to an extra 12,200 eligible students, including $6 million to expand training opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees.
The Labor Government also implemented a new three-year funding arrangement with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre to continue its support for new arrivals, including a visa and study help desk for new arrivals, a dedicated website with resources for students on campus, staff professional development and more.
Since 2014, the Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said:
“Education changes lives and that’s why we’re making sure more asylum seekers and refugees have the chance to rebuild their lives in Victoria through Free TAFE and training, resettlement programs and wrap-around supports.”
“We’ve already successfully helped thousands of asylum seekers and refugees into training and job pathways – and we’ll continue doing what we can to help new arrivals feel welcome and happy in their new home.”

The long-standing dream of a Dja Dja Wurrung cultural centre is a step closer with the official handover of a key site by the State Government to the Traditional Owners.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes joined Dja Dja Wurrung Elders and community leaders today for a ceremony to celebrate the return of the former Golden Square High School land in Hattam Street, Bendigo to the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.
With a grant of freehold title for the site handed over, work can begin on the Dja Dja Wurrung Corporate and Community Centre.
The establishment of the site was a recommendation made as part of Professor Mick Dodson’s review of the 2013 Recognition and Settlement Agreement. In November 2020 the Labor Government announced funding of almost $11.3 million to assist the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation to build the centre.
The centre will provide a permanent built-for-purpose home for the corporate and business operations of the Dja Dja Wurrung, and help to boost employment and economic development for the Bendigo community.
The centre will be designed for Dja Dja Wurrung members and provide spaces for learning and interaction, and honour the survival, growth and culture of the Dja Dja Wurrung.
It will also provide space for arts and cultural events, and incorporate the use of existing basketball and oval facilities for the wider public in Bendigo.
The Government supports self-determination and land justice for Traditional Owners in Victoria, and is currently in negotiations with the Dja Dja Wurrung on a revised Recognition and Settlement Agreement.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said:
“It’s an honour and the right thing to do to return this land to the Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung people, recognising their tireless fight for land justice.”
“We are working with Traditional Owners across the state to support self-determination and create a strong future for their communities.”
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said:
“The community centre will be a place where all Victorians can honour and celebrate the survival, growth and culture of the Dja Dja Wurrung people.”
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said:
“This centre will celebrate the culture of Bendigo’s Traditional Owners and help more people to understand the lessons of the Dja Dja Wurrung people’s rich history.”

The State Government is delivering a stronger and more sustainable social and affordable housing sector, while creating thousands of jobs and putting a roof over the head of people who need it most.

Building on the landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and delivering a boosted supply of social housing for generations to come – a new Social and Affordable Housing Contribution (SAHC) will be introduced, and social housing properties will be exempt from paying rates, bringing them in line with hospitals and schools.
From July 2024, all newly built developments with three dwellings or more and three or more lot subdivisions will contribute 1.75 per cent of the as-if-complete project value to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The change will affect less than 30 per cent of all residential planning permits.
This is an investment in more new homes, more jobs and more training opportunities for local tradies, with every dollar re-invested in the Victorian construction sector to build more social and affordable homes.
Over the first ten years, the SAHC is expected to raise on average about $800 million a year. This will fund the delivery of an average of up to 1,700 new social and affordable homes each year, boosting construction to create an average of more than 7,200 direct and indirect jobs a year.
Exempting social housing properties from paying rates, recognises the important public value it delivers for our community – stopping it being treated differently to other public assets including our public schools and hospitals.
The rates reform will be phased in over four years from July 2023 and will only apply to social housing properties. The reform will not apply to affordable housing.
The Labor Government will reinvest every dollar of the $54 million currently spent on public housing rates back into public housing maintenance and upgrade works, delivering kitchen and bathroom upgrades and better open spaces. Community housing providers will also reinvest $11 million back into the services they provide.
Both initiatives will apply to all local government areas in metropolitan Melbourne, as well as the regional cities of Greater Geelong, Ballarat, and Greater Bendigo – other regional councils will not see a change. Individual councils will determine how they accommodate the rate reform.
These game-changing initiatives will provide a secure and ongoing funding stream for social and affordable housing.
Minister for Housing Richard Wynne said:
“Our landmark Big Housing Build is changing lives, putting a roof over the head of people in need and creating jobs – but we’ll need to continue building more homes beyond 2024 and these reforms deliver exactly that.”
“We’re establishing a stable funding stream to provide the dignity of housing to thousands more Victorians now and into the future, while locking in social and economic benefits for years to come.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas said:
“Access to safe, affordable and energy efficient social housing benefits all Victorians – these changes will add further momentum to the delivery of social housing across the state.”

Victoria’s unemployment rate is at the lowest level since records began in 1978, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today confirming the state’s unemployment rate had fallen to 4.1 per cent.

The rounded fall in January was 0.2 per cent, which was bettered only by Queensland. The national unemployment rate was steady at 4.2 per cent.
Some 535,000 jobs have been created in Victoria since the Andrews Labor Government was elected in November 2014 – the best performance in that time of all the states. Victoria continues to lead the nation in job creation since the peak of the second COVID-19 wave, with more than 254,000 jobs created since September 2020 – more than 100,000 more than any other state.
Victoria’s participation rate remains near record levels, with the female participation rate reaching a record high in January. The underemployment rate fell further in January – to 6.0 per cent – to be at its lowest level since 2002.
In November 2020, the Labor Government set an ambitious Jobs Plan target to create 400,000 jobs by 2025 – 200,000 of them by 2022. Victoria has already exceeded that target.
The Government’s allocation of $13 billion in business support since the COVID-19 pandemic began, including $3 billion funded by the Commonwealth Government, has been one of the keys to the state‘s demonstrated economic resiliance.
The Victorian Budget 2021-22 continued the heavy focus on growing employment, with more than $26 billion allocated to support an average of 38,000 jobs across the state each year over the next four years.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said:
“The underlying strength of the Victorian economy shines through in these figures and that’s great news for workers and businesses across the state.”
“We’ve backed businesses and the community with significant support and the benefits are clear to see.”

Up to $2 million in funding will be made available for boat ramp managers to undertake significant structural maintenance, making getting out on the water easier for all Victorians.

Set to be delivered as part of the State Government’s $31 million Better Boating Fund, the program will be run as a competitive grants program overseen by Better Boating Victoria (BBV).
The Recreational Structural Maintenance Program will be open to ramp managers required to undertake structural maintenance and asset replacement works at publicly accessible boating facilities.
A review led by BBV into boating infrastructure management found facilities across Port Phillip, and Western Port vary in consistency, and replacing and maintaining boating facilities can be costly for asset managers who do not have direct funding support.
From installing more user-friendly pontoons or to laying down a new boat ramp surface, the grants, worth up to $300,000 each, will help make boating better.
The program is open to committees of management and local waterway authorities able to along with state and local government departments and agencies.
An unprecedented increase from the previous $5 million per year investment, the Better Boating Fund delivers on a promise the Labor Government made to Victorians at the 2018 election to ensure all money from the licence fees and recreational vessel registration of Victorian boaters goes to improving boating infrastructure and programs.
The Department of Transport and Better Boating Victoria manage the fund’s distribution – having already made it free to park and launch at Victorian boat ramps – and has embarked on the most significant boat ramp construction program in the state’s history.
The Recreational Boating Structural Maintenance Program grants applications are now open and close on Wednesday, 23 March. For more information, head to the Better Boating Victoria website.
Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne said:
“It is critical boaters have safe and user-friendly facilities when launching or retrieving their vessels, and this grants program will help ramp managers carry out important structural maintenance.”
“This is just another way we are ensuring boating registration and licencing fees are reinvested into projects that will make recreational boating in Victoria even better.”

Library on the Lawn Festival, an end of summer event program hosted by State Library Victoria, returns bigger and better this month with a huge line-up of free activities and entertainment for Victorians of all ages.

As more Victorians return to the roads, a new road rule education tool has launched online to help everyone brush up on their road safety knowledge.

The State Government’s new interactive Road Rule Education Online platform provides the latest road rule content to help Victorians better understand safe driving and sharing the road.
Users can test their knowledge with interactive videos, graphics and quizzes on road safety issues including safe vehicles and speed, as well as right of way, parking, line marking and road signs.
Quizzes include how to share the road safely with others, such as motorcyclists, cyclists and heavy vehicles, and tips for driving in wet weather. Rules around giving way and slowing down for emergency services and right of way at intersections are also featured.
Road Rule Education Online means Victorians can easily refresh their knowledge and jump in and out of different modules at a time and pace that suits them.
It follows the launch of the popular Learners Permit and Hazard Perception online tests, which have been used by more than 174,000 Victorians and helped new drivers build their knowledge before taking their test.
To road test the new platform visit: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said:
“We’ve come a long way since many Victorians first gained their licence, and this tool is a great way check the latest road rules and ensure everyone’s safety on the roads.”
“We can all be the reason someone makes it home safely to their families and knowing your road rules is a vital part of that.”
Head of Road Safety Victoria Carl Muller said:
“Many Victorians heading out on the roads this year may be feeling out of practice and Road Rule Education Online means you can brush up on your knowledge – great for businesses and employees who regularly use the roads for work as well as families teaching younger drivers about road rules and safety.”

Victorian community sports clubs are being encouraged to register as an activity provider to make it more affordable for families across the state to get into community sport.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced registrations are open for sporting clubs and organisations to become a Get Active Kids Activity Provider ahead of Round 4 of the Get Active Kids Voucher Program opening in March.
Previously through the Andrews Labor Government voucher program, families finding it difficult to afford the costs associated with club fees, registration, equipment and uniforms would pay and then be reimbursed through the program.
This year clubs and sporting organisations can register as a provider, which allows families to sign their kids up by using the voucher up front and reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
Families will be able to apply for a voucher up to $200 through Round 4 of the Get Active Kids Voucher Program next month and will then be required to submit the voucher to their local sporting club.
Clubs and sporting organisations will then be able to redeem the voucher from the Government.
To be eligible for registration as an activity provider, clubs and sporting organisations must be affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Association or equivalent governing body.
Across the first three rounds of the Get Active Kids Voucher Program, more than 33,000 vouchers have been snapped up, opening up more opportunities for kids to get active and healthy while having fun.
The program is open to Victorian children aged up to 18, named on a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and named on a valid Medicare Card at the time of application.
A special consideration stream is also available to support children in care, temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants and international students up to 18 years at the time of application.
Eligible clubs can register now at getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said:
“By applying to be a registered activity provider, clubs will not only gain more members they’ll be helping more families and kids experience the benefits of community sport.”
“We know the vouchers have been highly successful, with almost 30 per-cent of recipients so far joining a sports club for the first time, that’s thousands of young people who wouldn’t have been able to get involved if it weren’t for the program.”
Junior Coordinator of the Barkly Street Uniting Cricket Club in Maribyrnong Marcus Curnow said:
“We can’t wait to register as a provider, this will be beneficial for membership numbers at our club and provide more opportunities for kids to get involved in sport.”

Helping to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity system for the future will be the key focus of the inaugural Victorian Biosecurity Reference Group when it meets for the first-time next month.

Eleven members with vast experience, knowledge and skills in biosecurity operations, agriculture policy, citizen expertise, community engagement, biosecurity science and managing biosecurity risks have been appointed to the new group, which has been established as part of a Victorian Government $28 million program to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity system.
Agriculture Victoria’s Biosecurity Services Executive Director Katherine Clift said it was encouraging to see the response to the call for Biosecurity Reference Group nominees.
Dr Clift said it demonstrated how invested industry and community members are in their desire to help contribute to a stronger biosecurity system for Victoria, and to be part of the process.
“Biosecurity is key to not only protecting our agriculture sector, but also our environment, biodiversity, cultural heritage, economy and way of life,” she said.
The Biosecurity Reference Group was established in response to calls from industry and the community to establish stronger partnerships with government on biosecurity and for more formal opportunities for non-government stakeholders to have input into decision-making.
“Reference Group members will play an important role in providing feedback to Agriculture Victoria on proposed investments and activities to help ensure they are practical and relevant to industry and community,” Dr Clift said.
The Biosecurity Reference Group members are:
• Andrew MacLean, Landcare Victoria Chief Executive Officer
• David Reid, Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria Policy and Technical Manager
• Danyel Cucinotta, Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Vice President, Farmers Business and Regional Development Committee Chair and third-generation egg farmer at LT’s Egg Farm
• Gerald Leach, Victorian Rabbit Action Network Chair, VFF Land Management Committee Chair and livestock and cropping farmer
• Dr Hugh Millar, Victorian Division of the Australian Veterinary Association President
• Liz Summerville, Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association Southern Regional Manager
• Lyn Coulston OAM, Victorian Blackberry Taskforce Chair and Upper Murray Landcare Network Secretary
• Jenny Treeby, Australian Table Grape Industry Development Manager
• Dr Jessica Lye, Citrus Australia National Biosecurity Manager
• Dr Ron Glanville, Biosecurity Advisory Service Principal Consultant
• Professor Tom Kompas, Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (University of Melbourne) Chief Investigator
A further two members representing the aquaculture and grains sectors will be added soon.
Dr Clift said the establishment of the Biosecurity Reference Group was an important step towards a stronger biosecurity system that can reduce, respond to and manage increasing biosecurity risks.
“The work of this group will ensure the system is better prepared, more adaptive, and resilient – ultimately protecting Victoria’s economy, environment, and people,” she said.
“Importantly, the Biosecurity Reference Group will also ensure industry and community views continue to shape the future of biosecurity in Victoria.”
The first meeting of the Biosecurity Reference group will be held on March 28.
For more information about the Biosecurity Reference Group visit: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/brg
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Women looking for a career in sports broadcasting will receive professional development and training to elevate their voices in the industry, thanks to the State Government.

After a successful first round last year, Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today opened the second round of the Change Our Game Women in Sports Broadcasting Program to continue championing women behind the microphone.
The previous pilot program supported 36 women from across Victoria to get into sports media roles including Hannah Kuhar who most recently covered the Australian Open tennis, Marnie Vinall who’s currently working on the Winter Olympics coverage for Channel 7 and Brihony Dawson, host of Channel Nine’s Women’s Footy on Sundays.
From TV to radio, play-by-play, broadcasting from the boundary, courtside or commentary box, this program will help participants determine where their interests lie and identify the next steps.
The program connects women with a team of media experts, led by Lucy Race and Emma Race of Making the Call. Previous expert contributors include international cricket commentator Mel Jones, TV executive Dave Barham and sports journalists and broadcasters Kelli Underwood, Andy Maher, Daisy Pearce and Tess Armstrong.
This program is one way the Labor Government and the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation is addressing the gender imbalance in sport and ensuring women are represented on and off the field.
Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, women with a disability, and women from regional and rural communities.
For more information about the program visit changeourgame.vic.gov.au.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said:
“This is an important program to support the next generation of women sports journalists into media jobs – ensuring more coverage from more diverse voices.”
“Women can’t be what they can’t see, and this is about recognising the essential role the media plays in portraying women on and off the field.”
Previous program participant Marnie Vinall said:
“I strongly recommend anyone who’s dreamed of working in sports broadcasting to apply – it’s something I will be forever thankful for doing. It’s been fundamental in empowering me in my career and giving me a significant kickstart.”

Sunshine Station will be expanded to add a new regional platform by 2029, as part of its transformation into a transport superhub and the key connection point for the regions, Melbourne CBD and the airport.

The new regional platform will allow more regional services to stop, including Bendigo services, paving the way for the Western Rail Plan and complementing the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
The announcement adds to previously announced Sunshine Station upgrades, including extending existing regional platforms to accommodate longer nine-car VLocity trains and a new, second concourse to make transfers easier between metro, regional and airport services.
The Sunshine Station project is part of the broader Melbourne Airport Rail Link project, which is being jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Construction is only months away from starting to make trains to Melbourne Airport a reality, with the project team preparing for utility relocations to start mid this year, subject to final approvals.
Melbourne Airport Rail Link will establish new offices at Sunshine Plaza, bringing around 340 team members closer to the project and hundreds of potential customers to local Sunshine businesses.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan said the new platform is an investment in developing Sunshine as the centre of Melbourne’s booming west.
“With most people travelling directly between the airport and their home, Melbourne Airport Rail Link route via Sunshine provides a solution that benefits most Victorians through good connectivity to the existing metropolitan and regional rail network,” Minister Allan said.
“Pre-COVID, over 40 per cent of the 20,000-plus daily regional trips made to and from Melbourne Airport came from Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
“This is why supporting development of Sunshine’s superhub and running airport services through the Metro Tunnel is so beneficial – it provides easy connections to these regions, to key city services and trips into the heart of the CBD in around 30 minutes.”
Once Sunshine’s transformation into a transport superhub is complete, trains will run every two to three minutes at peak times, including airport services every ten minutes and an approximately 11-minute trip to Melbourne Airport.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the Morrison Government had committed $5 billion to Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
“The Melbourne Airport Rail Link will provide fast, reliable train services between the airport and the CBD, and help manage the transport needs of Melbourne’s growing population,” Minister Fletcher said.
“The project will also help better connect regional centres such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo with Melbourne Airport via the Sunshine station.
“This is just one example of the Morrison Government delivering transformational infrastructure in Victoria as part of its record, $110 billion national infrastructure plan.”

The Minister for Health has today appointed a panel of independent experts to provide oversight and advice as part of Australia’s most transparent and accountable pandemic management framework.

The Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) – formally established by the Minister for Health last week – will include members with knowledge and experience in fields such as public health, infectious diseases, primary care, emergency services, critical care, business, law and human rights.
Multiple members will also represent the interests and needs of traditional owners and Aboriginal Victorians as well as other vulnerable communities, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. More than half of the Committee’s inaugural members are women.
The members are:
• Penny Armytage AM (Chair) – former Chair of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system and former Secretary of the Victorian Department of Justice
• Paris Aristotle AO – CEO of Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture
• Pip Carew – health sector professional with 20 years of experience in clinical nursing and union representation
• Assoc. Prof. Joseph Doyle – infectious diseases physician and public health physician
• Belinda Duarte – education and training leader and CEO of Culture Is Life
• Dr Peter Harcourt OAM – sport and exercise physician and Chair of International Cricket Council (ICC) Medical Advisory Committee
• Michael Graham – CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Acting Chair of VACCHO
• Rabea Khan – barrister, previously a lawyer with Office of Public Prosecutions, IBAC and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
• Vivienne Nguyen AM – Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission
• Dr Amanda Rojek – emergency medicine registrar at the Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Mark Stone AM – former CEO of Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Dr Helen Szoke AO – former Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, and member of Advisory Boards for the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Australia and New Zealand Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Committee can review, provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister for Health on the exercise of the Minister’s powers. The Minister must consider any reviews initiated by the Committee and may also request its advice. The Committee’s reports to the Minister must be tabled in Parliament within four sitting days.
The Pandemic Declaration Accountability and Oversight Committee must request and consider the advice of the IPMAC before it can recommend that a pandemic order be disallowed in whole or in part.
Media contact: Kieran Jones 0421 031 900 | kieran.jones@minstaff.vic.gov.au
The establishment of the Committee and the appointment of its members is part of the Victorian Government’s fit-for-purpose pandemic management framework, which also includes the publication of advice provided by the Chief Health Officer to the Minister for Health and the ability of the parliament to disallow pandemic orders.
Minister for Health Martin Foley said:
“We’ve learned a lot over the past two years of this global pandemic, and we’ve applied these lessons to manage pandemics in the future.”
“We’re drawing upon these expert voices to help oversee our ongoing pandemic response, guiding us with their knowledge of areas like public health, law, human rights and business.”
“This is all part of Australia’s most transparent and accountable pandemic management framework.”

The Minister for Health has today appointed a panel of independent experts to provide oversight and advice as part of Australia’s most transparent and accountable pandemic management framework.

The Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) – formally established by the Minister for Health last week – will include members with knowledge and experience in fields such as public health, infectious diseases, primary care, emergency services, critical care, business, law and human rights.
Multiple members will also represent the interests and needs of traditional owners and Aboriginal Victorians as well as other vulnerable communities, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. More than half of the Committee’s inaugural members are women.
The members are:
• Penny Armytage AM (Chair) – former Chair of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system and former Secretary of the Victorian Department of Justice
• Paris Aristotle AO – CEO of Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture
• Pip Carew – health sector professional with 20 years of experience in clinical nursing and union representation
• Assoc. Prof. Joseph Doyle – infectious diseases physician and public health physician
• Belinda Duarte – education and training leader and CEO of Culture Is Life
• Dr Peter Harcourt OAM – sport and exercise physician and Chair of International Cricket Council (ICC) Medical Advisory Committee
• Michael Graham – CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Acting Chair of VACCHO
• Rabea Khan – barrister, previously a lawyer with Office of Public Prosecutions, IBAC and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
• Vivienne Nguyen AM – Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission
• Dr Amanda Rojek – emergency medicine registrar at the Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Mark Stone AM – former CEO of Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Dr Helen Szoke AO – former Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, and member of Advisory Boards for the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Australia and New Zealand Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Committee can review, provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister for Health on the exercise of the Minister’s powers. The Minister must consider any reviews initiated by the Committee and may also request its advice. The Committee’s reports to the Minister must be tabled in Parliament within four sitting days.
The Pandemic Declaration Accountability and Oversight Committee must request and consider the advice of the IPMAC before it can recommend that a pandemic order be disallowed in whole or in part.
Media contact: Kieran Jones 0421 031 900 | kieran.jones@minstaff.vic.gov.au
The establishment of the Committee and the appointment of its members is part of the Victorian Government’s fit-for-purpose pandemic management framework, which also includes the publication of advice provided by the Chief Health Officer to the Minister for Health and the ability of the parliament to disallow pandemic orders.

Minister for Health Martin Foley said:
“We’ve learned a lot over the past two years of this global pandemic, and we’ve applied these lessons to manage pandemics in the future.”
“We’re drawing upon these expert voices to help oversee our ongoing pandemic response, guiding us with their knowledge of areas like public health, law, human rights and business.”
“This is all part of Australia’s most transparent and accountable pandemic management framework.”

The Victorian Government has signed a Heads of Agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia to enter exclusive negotiations to bring the 2026 Commonwealth Games to the state – with a vision to deliver a model of Games unprecedented in the competition’s history.

Premier Daniel Andrews and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today confirmed that, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would return to Victoria. However, this competition would be hosted across the state, unlike the event in Melbourne in 2006.
The Government and Commonwealth Games Australia will now develop Victoria’s 2026 Commonwealth Games Submission – which will assess the viability of hosting the event.
The submission will focus on a new way to host the Games, showing how events could be held in multiple locations across regional Victoria to showcase the best of what the state has to offer and ensure a uniquely Victorian experience for the athletes and spectators.
Victoria will work to deliver a world-class Commonwealth Games across Victoria that leaves a legacy for the state.
A regionally focused Commonwealth Games would expand the capacity of Victorian regional cities for major events, tourism, arts, culture and sport. Not only would the events mean new economic opportunities through event infrastructure – it would deliver the double benefit of creating local jobs and housing. The Games would also drive participation in sports at both a community and professional level, throughout the state.
A major cultural festival would accompany the 2026 Commonwealth Games that celebrates the diversity of competing nations.
Victoria is Australia’s sporting capital, hosting the first Olympic Games in the southern hemisphere in Melbourne in 1956. Our enviable calendar of major events today includes the best of world sport, with the Australian Open followed by the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne Cup Carnival and the Boxing Day Test.
The Commonwealth Games Federation will assess this submission prior to any decision being made to award the Games to Victoria.
Premier Daniel Andrews s
“Victoria is Australia’s sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition.”
“We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities – to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said:
“We’re working hard to bring the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria because it would showcase our state globally, deliver major economic benefits and support jobs.”
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said:
“This will be a game changer for regional communities across Victoria, being able to watch some of the world’s best athletes close to home. It will create lasting benefits for decades to come, with more jobs and support for businesses.”
Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin DBE said:
“We are pleased to have entered into an exclusive dialogue with Victoria and Commonwealth Games Australia to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Victoria is one of the world’s greatest sporting states and there is no doubt it has the venues, infrastructure and people to stage a world class edition of the Games.”
Commonwealth Games Australia President Ben Houston said:
“Hosting great Games is a key pillar in the Commonwealth Games Australia strategic plan and given our window for hosting the Games is 2026, we are thrilled to join the Commonwealth Games Federation in exclusive dialogue with Victoria to host the Commonwealth Games once again.”

More jobs are on the menu for Victorians looking for work in the hospitality sector, as the Andrews Labor Government boosts the number of workers in our pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford today announced Jobs Victoria and the Box Hill Institute are delivering a new program to create 200 ongoing and secure hospitality jobs as the industry faces a workforce shortage.
Social enterprise restaurant Free to Feed, in Fitzroy North, is one of many venues to take on workers through the program, including mother and daughter duo Verena Puello and Zuaad Guerra from South America.
Free to Feed aims to support refugees, those seeking asylum and new migrants with training and employment programs in and out of the kitchen.
After being widowed, Mrs Puello moved to Australia to live with her two daughters. Without speaking a word of English she set out to find work driven by her love of making food. Her daughter Ms Guerra was also inspired to get into the food industry and the pair came across the Labor Government’s employment program.
Both Mrs Puello and Ms Guerra are now part-time employees at Free to Feed and hope to one day open a restaurant of their own.
New recruits looking for work through the program will continue to learn as they earn, studying a Certificate III qualification in commercial cookery, hospitality or patisserie while receiving on-the-job support and skills development.
Women over 45, young people under 25 and long-term jobseekers will be prioritised for recruitment.
The $3.62 million initiative is supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund, which is creating 10,000 steady and secure jobs for those people most impacted by the pandemic.
Jobs Victoria works with employers in sectors with workforce demand to create jobs, then supports people looking for work to secure and train for the new roles. To find out how Jobs Victoria can help employers or people looking for work visit jobs.vic.gov.au or call the Jobs Victoria hotline on 1300 208 575.
Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford said:
“We know staff shortages are impacting Victoria’s hospitality sector and demand for more workers is high – whether it’s in the kitchen or behind the bar.”
“That’s why we’re supporting more people to gain new skills and get secure jobs working in an industry that Victoria is famous for.”
Member for Richmond Richard Wynne said:
“It’s wonderful to see more job opportunities for workers hit hard by the pandemic – and it’s a boost for a local business that has done it just as tough.”
Free to Feed recruit Verena Puello said:
“Studying and working this year has given me the opportunity to grow as person and improve my English – it’s a great chance to learn the skills to start our own family business and one day create jobs for other people.”