Regardless of who you are, who you love, or who you want to be, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and decency in our state.
The Victorian Government has delivered on its commitment to release Victoria’s first whole of government LGBTIQ+ Strategy.
And this Budget provides expanded funding to create a more inclusive state – where Victorians can be themselves and celebrate their diversity.
In this Budget we are committing $15 million to strengthen the health, wellbeing, and social and economic outcomes of LGBTIQ+ Victorians.
This includes continuing the LGBTIQ+ Grants Program, to help support even more community organisations and LGBTIQ+ groups to grow and expand their work.
We’re proud to once again support the Pride Events and Festivals Fund, and provide funding for four years of the Melbourne Pride festival.
We will trial Safe Spaces for LGBTIQ+ youth in Western Victoria, including referral services and greater access to targeted medical and emotional supports.
And now that the Victorian Pride Centre is fully operational, we’re continuing to invest in the services and programs that it supports, including a specialist LGBTIQ+ legal service and the Trans and Gender Diverse Community Health Program.
These services will better support LGBTIQ+ Victorians with specialist care and advice from workers and professionals who understand their community and their needs.
We are also leading the nation when it comes to gender equality, and we’re drawing on international best practice to make sure this Budget supports the needs of all Victorians.
Gender responsive budgeting will ensure that Government investment helps address and advance women’s needs and aspirations. That means greater investment to support gender equality, more targeted policies that consider the needs of all Victorians, services that are better targeted to the needs of women, and increased transparency and accountability across government.
Following on from the introduction of the Gender Equality Act 2020 we’re prioritising gender equality in this Budget.
This focus will help us identify areas that need extra support so we can achieve our equality goals.
The 2022‑23 Budget invests around $940 million in initiatives primarily focused on improving outcomes for women.
Our Government has always backed equality, and this Budget does exactly that.
Equality is not negotiable in Victoria
Media release
Reviewed 03 May 2022