The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a stronger building system with better protections for Victorians while unlocking land for housing supply – boosting thousands of jobs right across Victoria.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest almost $40 million in red tape busting building sector reforms and projects to unlock investment across the state – creating jobs and speeding up the delivery of land supply, housing and infrastructure projects where they are needed most.

This investment includes almost $28 million in reforms to provide greater protections for consumers, strengthen building standards, cut red tape and address building workforce shortages.

Delivering stronger protections for Victorians using building sector services, the Labor Government will establish the state’s first Building Monitor to advocate for domestic building consumers and report on emerging issues.

Giving Victorians more confidence in the building system, the Budget will also deliver sector-wide reforms, strengthening building approval standards and establishing Victoria’s first State Building Surveyor.

Harmonised registration standards across the building sector will make it easier for tradies and other building practitioners with qualifications in different states to complete work in Victoria – driving down the cost of home renovations and building projects.

To put downward pressure on house prices, $6 million will speed up precinct planning and approvals for more than 95,000 residential lots in Melbourne’s growth corridors and almost 44,000 lots in regional cities and towns.

At the same time, $1.6 million will help regional councils undertake important growth and activity centre planning to unlock sustainable growth in regional Victoria.

In a boost to heritage protection, $2.2 million will be invested in protection and restoration works for Jacksons Hill in Sunbury. Built between 1892 and 1912, the historic site was once home to the former Sunbury Lunatic Asylum and today shines an important light on past practices and the evolution of mental health care.

The Government will keep investing in critical projects in central Geelong, with $2.3 million to revitalise the city centre, including an expanded laneways program improving access for pedestrians moving between the retail and medical precincts.