This was published 5 years ago
Opinion
Only Labor will keep delivering for all Victorians
By Daniel Andrews
Growing up in Wangaratta, Mum and Dad always taught us, “Say what you do, and do what you say.”
I’ve carried that lesson with me every day since, and now Cath and I are teaching those values to our kids.
Premier Daniel Andrews.Credit: James Ross
It’s also the way I’ve approached the last four years of government – staying true to those values and true to my word.
We promised we’d remove 50 of our most dangerous and congested level crossings by 2022.
Already, 29 are gone ahead of schedule, and if we’re again given that great gift of government, we’ll remove a total of 75 by 2025.
We promised that we would end the war on our paramedics, and back our hardworking ambos and nurses.
And that’s exactly what we did. Four years on, more patients are being treated than ever before and ambulance response times are the best they’ve ever been.
We said we’d rescue our TAFEs, and give our kids the opportunities they deserve.
Now, not only have we saved TAFE – we’re making it stronger than ever and free.
We’re upgrading and rebuilding 1300 schools, so every child has every chance in life.
We’re investing in dozens of hospitals and health services, so families have the care they need close to home.
And we’re building the Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel and North East Link, while upgrading every single regional rail line in the state.
On social reform, our Labor government is leading the nation.
We’re the first state to introduce voluntary assisted-dying laws, giving Victorians at the end of their lives the dignity and choice they deserve.
We’re the first to enter into formal Treaty negotiations with Aboriginal people, finally recognising that a fairer future for our First Peoples means a fairer future for our state.
We’re the first in the nation to write our renewable energy target into law, with 25 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020, and 40 per cent by 2025.
If we’re re-elected, we’ll increase those targets to 50 per cent by 2030.
We've introduced Australian-first laws to give renters more rights, allowing tenants to make small modifications and own a pet, so that every family can make their house a home.
And we banned fracking to preserve our pristine farmland, for good and forever.
But we know there’s more to do.
That’s why if we’re re-elected, we’ll start work on the biggest transformation of public transport in our history.
Our Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from Cheltenham to Werribee, with 12 new underground stations.
And by giving people a real opportunity to leave the car at home, we’ll take 200,000 cars off our roads every day.
We’ll put solar panels on more than 700,000 Victorian homes – including for renters – to save families around $900 a year.
We’ll fund three-year-old kinder and build 100 new schools, so that every child can get the start in life they deserve.
We’ll undertake a royal commission into mental health, shining a light and seeking out the answers that will change and save lives.
And we’ll rebuild our hospitals from Frankston to Footscray, build 10 new community hospitals across Victoria and employ 1100 extra nurses and midwives to give every family quality care, close to home.
Only Labor has a positive plan for our state’s future, and only Labor will keep delivering for all Victorians.
Daniel Andrews is Premier of Victoria.