Police and emergency services in regional Victoria will have access to the state’s digital radio network from 2018, eliminating key black spots and increasing security and audio clarity. Victoria Police, Victoria State Emergency Service, Life Saving Victoria, Corrections Victoria and Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades..

Member for Monbulk, James Merlino MP has today congratulated Leanne Fitzgerald who has been named a finalist in the outstanding practitioner category at this year’s Victorian Learn Local Awards. The awards recognise the contribution of the more than 300 Learn Local organisations and the staff..

Schools across Geelong, the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula will be first in Victoria to receive vital digital upgrades funded by the Andrews Labor Government. The Victorian Budget 2017/18 included $67.9 million for better IT support for schools and students across the state. Minister for..

The Andrews Labor Government will closely consider recommendations made by the inquiry into the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2017. The Inquiry has today released its final report and the Labor Government will respond to its recommendations before returning the..

Construction has begun on the new Tech School in Melbourne’s outer North East, fully funded by the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education James Merlino, Member for Eltham Vicki Ward and Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines  today turned the first sod on the new Banyule-Nillumbik..

Monbulk Rangers Soccer Club and Upwey South Tennis Club are set to take their games up a notch when it comes to dealing with an emergency on and off the park with a new defibrillator and training package from the Andrews Labor Government. State Member..

The Andrews Labor Government will conduct a review of last month’s fire at the SKM Recycling Plant in Coolaroo. Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino announced the review today, which will be conducted by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM, Tony Pearce). The Coolaroo fire..

Construction has begun on a new Tech School in Melbourne’s south east, fully funded by the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education James Merlino, Parliamentary Secretary for Education Judith Graley, Member for Narre Warren Luke Donnellan, Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera and Member for Dandenong..

Construction is underway on the Andrews Labor Government’s massive upgrade of Bentleigh Secondary College. Minister for Education James Merlino joined Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos today to turn the first sod on the  $13.4 million upgrade, which includes a new science, technology, engineering, arts and..

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting all of the recommendations of the Victorian Ombudsman’s report on government school expulsions to help Victorian principals and teachers keep more kids in school and out of trouble. Minister for Education James Merlino today announced a new $5.9 million..

Better mental health support will be the first priority in a plan to improve the health and wellbeing of Victoria’s more than 1,500 government school principals. Minister for Education James Merlino today released a discussion paper to engage Victorian principals on a strategy to boost..

The Andrews Labor Government will establish a fairer schools cleaning contract model that will ensure schools get consistent, high quality services and cleaners are paid properly. It comes after multiple investigations within the past 12 months have found vulnerable staff were being underpaid and mistreated…

Minster for Justice Michael Keenan and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino today announced $10 million in funding to enhance Victoria’s preparedness for natural disasters. Minister Keenan said the funding is part of the joint Commonwealth-State $52 million National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Natural..

The Andrews Labor Government will invest $2.1 million in brand new buildings for Latrobe Valley schools. Minister for Education James Merlino made the announcement today during a visit to Yallourn North Primary School. Yallourn North Primary School will receive $1.5 million and Moe South Street..

Families in Melbourne’s South East will soon enjoy a brand new primary school, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education James Merlino today visited the Sandy Road school site to see how construction is progressing. Gum Scrub Creek’s new $13 million primary school..