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The Guardian - AU

National

Benita Kolovos and Patrick Commins

Victoria state budget 2025 winners and losers: families, health and public transport benefit as net debt climbs

Victoria Jaclyn Symes Jacinta Allan

A new $5 youth Myki card will allow school children to ride fro free. — Children are among the winners in the 2025-26 Victorian state budget, with a new $5 youth Myki card to allow under 18s to ride for free. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The Victorian budget, in the words of the treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, was all about “what matters most”: big spending on free trains, trams and buses for “every kid, everywhere”; billions more for hospitals; and a $5bn “public transport blitz”.

Here are the 2025 budget winners and losers:

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