THE Frankston Hospital redevelopment received a $2 million top-up in last week’s state budget. The state government handed down its 2024/2025 budget on 7 May. The budget papers revealed that the state government will spend an extra $2 million to upgrade Frankston Hospital’s reception and triage area during the ongoing redevelopment.
The state government is spending more than $1.1 billion to upgrade the hospital precinct. A new tower featuring 12 levels of clinical services and capacity for 130 more beds is expected to be operational in early 2026.
The budget papers read that the extra $2 million came from “funding being redirected from the ‘Providing additional bed capacity through modular facilities (metropolitan various)’ initiative to improve the existing emergency department reception and triage area at Frankston Hospital.”
Other notable measures taken in the budget include the scrapping of paid casual sick leave, and a $400 payment to parents with children in public schools. Five days of sick pay for casual workers was introduced by the state government in 2022. That program has now been cut – it was identified in the “savings” section of the budget papers.
Parents with children in public schools will enjoy a one-off $400 payment per child, the budget has revealed. The money, due to be handed out during term four, is for spending on school-related costs – it is expected to be distributed via a credit towards school activity costs, or school uniform vouchers.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the measure will help support struggling families. “We won’t let any child miss out on the things that make Victorian education great, so we’re giving families the flexibility to use the school saving bonus on the things they need – from sports to camps, excursions and uniforms,” she said. “We’re delivering a budget that’s helping Victorian families, and the school saving bonus sits at the heart of our plan to ease cost-of-living pressures for families right across the state.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 14th May 2024