Given the government has already indicated this year’s budget will be especially tight due to falling income, reduced GST allocations and increases in the cost of several major inherited projects, the submission focuses on key issues of high significance to local government.

It calls for increased funding for:

• the Maternal and Child Health program
• the development of a long-term, funded Victoria infrastructure plan
• increased investment to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system
• funding for emergency management, kindergartens, school crossings, and home and community care