The Victorian budget being delivered by Labor's Jaclyn Symes on Tuesday will offer a record $31 billion for health, including an additional $1.6 billion into the system over the next four years.
Nine new or expanded hospitals, including new builds in Frankston and Footscray, will benefit from an extra $9.3 billion.Â
This will include $634.3 million to open and operationalise these projects.
The state government handed hospitals a $1.5 billion lifeline in 2024 after backing down on plans to force health services to merge.
The funding is the most significant injection that has been invested in the state's health and hospital system, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"It's about making sure that care for a growing, aging population continues to be delivered in local communities as more and more demand comes onto our hospital system," she said.
Other measures in the health boost include an additional $48.2 million for urgent care clinics and making a community pharmacy prescribing trial permanent with no costs to consumers.
"This is about ensuring that working people and families can avoid a trip to the GP. It saves them time and money," Ms Allan said.
Budget papers have been delivered amid the treasurer, delivering her debut budget after replacing Tim Pallas in December, looks to soften the blow of mounting debt with a few "surprises".
Ms Symes has already leaked out several key fiscal details, including a $1 billion reduction to the forecast operating surplus next financial year and no new or increased taxes.
Net debt will stay below $200 billion over the next four years and peak as a share of the economy in 2026/27.
But just how high it grows will remain a mystery until Ms Symes takes her feet to give her maiden budget address.
"We have had to make tough decisions," she told reporters on Monday.
The Allan government has already unveiled $727 million to "operationalise" the Metro Tunnel, $61 million to slash stamp duty for off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses for another 12 months and a $976 million "Better Roads Blitz".
Another $318 million has been earmarked over four years for children under 18 to travel free on public transport, saving families up to $755 a year per child.
Ms Symes signalled more cost-of-living support could be on the way for cash-strapped Victorians.
"There's more surprises still to come," she said.
Her budget speech could be overshadowed by farmers and volunteer firefighters swarming the steps of parliament on Tuesday to protest a recently passed emergency services levy.
The expanded levy was announced in December and originally forecast to raise an extra $2.14 billion over the next three years to cover more emergency and disaster bodies.
It prompted backlash but passed parliament after the government compromised on rebates for emergency volunteers and a slightly decreased levy rate for farmers.
Public servants will also be in the budget firing line on Tuesday, with thousands to lose their jobs as the government tries to rein in its ballooning wages bill.
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