Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the Future Victoria Summit at Crown Palladium on Wednesday to outline his government’s vision for Victoria’s economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and social investment, calling for optimism, practical action, and national ambition.
Acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, PM Albanese praised the state’s multicultural communities, hardworking small business owners, skilled workers, and farmers.
“This is a wonderful global city to visit… but it’s also a great place to live, study, make a career, and raise a family.”
Reflecting on a week spent across Victoria, the Prime Minister highlighted visits to the Royal Children’s Hospital, local TAFE campuses, small businesses in Bayswater, and community celebrations of Lunar New Year and Ramadan.
PM Albanese also recognised individuals like Rob Winther, honoured for 60 years of service to veterans.
Central to his speech was the theme of “Smart Growth” – balancing the opportunities of Melbourne’s rapid population growth with infrastructure, housing, and essential services.
PM Albanese promised further investment in new homes, roads, public transport, schools, hospitals, child care, and Medicare, while emphasising the government’s ongoing commitments to cut income tax, reduce student debt, expand Free TAFE, and make medicines more affordable.
The Prime Minister highlighted achievements in health, including the opening of 28 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, the nation’s largest lift in bulk-billing rates in 20 years, and major investments in women’s health.
“Being able to see a doctor for free in your suburb… saves you money and gives you peace of mind.”
On the energy front, he pointed to Australia’s leadership in rooftop solar and household battery installation, including nearly 45,000 households in Victoria.
“This is not some inner-city crusade – it is a success story being written in the outer suburbs and regional Australia.”
Infrastructure and housing were key priorities, with PM Albanese highlighting the $7 billion investment in Melbourne Airport Rail, the Suburban Rail Loop, and Sunshine Station upgrades. He also confirmed plans to release underused Commonwealth land for affordable housing and regional development.
A passionate advocate for high-speed rail, the Prime Minister argued that connecting Sydney and Melbourne with a sub-three-hour rail service would transform regional cities, boost productivity, and reshape Australia’s economic landscape.
“It’s not just a transport policy – it’s an economic development policy, a housing policy, a growth strategy.”
In a wide-ranging Q&A session, PM Albanese addressed concerns over union corruption, labour shortages, wages, and cost-of-living pressures, stressing that practical solutions, like Free TAFE, aged care pay rises, and childcare subsidies, were already underway. He defended large contracts for specialised infrastructure workers, saying skill shortages justified the pay.
He also touched on Victoria’s role in Australia’s critical minerals sector, trade diversification, clean energy, and the growing importance of artificial intelligence and data centres.
“Truly, there is nowhere else you’d rather be than right here in Australia and indeed right here in Victoria.”
The summit ended on a lighter note with a rapid-fire Q&A, where the Prime Minister offered one-word opinions on political figures and public personalities, revealing his wedding date in the process and sharing a few laughs with the audience.
PM Albanese’s address highlighted the government’s focus on combining immediate support for families and workers with long-term economic resilience and nation-building, positioning Victoria as a central hub in Australia’s future growth story.
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