Victorian election promises
Cost of living policies and promises at the 2026 Victorian election
What each side says on bills, fares, concessions and household costs: first from their own policy pages and releases, then as quoted in the ads they've paid for. Labor 3, Greens 2.
From the parties' own policies
Summaries of each party's policy pages and releases, in their words, with what they commit to. Follow the link for the full policy.
Not here yet: One Nation. We can't read their policy pages automatically, so read them on their own sites; what they say in their ads is below.
Victorian Greens
Publicly-owned supermarkets with 30% cheaper essentials
The Victorian Greens say they will open 10 publicly-owned supermarkets, five in metropolitan Melbourne and five in regional Victoria, as a nation-first trial. They say essentials such as milk, bread, eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables would be 30% cheaper than at major supermarkets. The page also proposes minimum farm-gate prices and monthly maximum prices for essentials set by the Essential Services Commission.
- Open 10 publicly-owned supermarkets: five in metropolitan Melbourne, five in regional Victoria
- Price essentials like milk, bread, eggs, meat and produce 30% cheaper than major supermarkets
- Stock 100% locally-sourced food and drink, and seasonal produce
- Empower the Essential Services Commission to set minimum farm-gate prices on essentials
- Empower the Essential Services Commission to set maximum prices for key grocery items, reviewed monthly
Affordable $50 tickets for major events through lottery
The Victorian Greens say they would require major events receiving state government funding or using state-funded venues to make a portion of tickets available for $50 through a lottery open to Victorian residents. They say the scheme would start with an initial $2 million commitment.
- Require major events using state funding or venues to offer tickets for $50
- Offer a portion of tickets through a lottery open to Victorian residents
- Cover events such as the Australian Open, international concerts and NFL games
Redirect racing industry funding to artists and arts organisations
The Victorian Greens say they would end the state government's $90 million funding deal with the racing industry and wind back its Funding Deed. The savings would be redirected to music, theatre, visual arts, screen and other creative industries, more than doubling grants and screen funding for artists and small-to-medium arts organisations.
- End the Victorian Government's $90 million racing industry funding deal
- Wind back the Funding Deed with horse and greyhound racing industry
- Redirect savings to music, theatre, visual arts, screen and creative industries
- More than double grants and screen funding for artists and small-to-medium arts organisations
Tax the big banks to fund cost-of-living relief
The Victorian Greens say they want a levy on the big banks to raise billions for cost-of-living measures, including free public transport and free dental care. The release links the call to RBA data showing high mortgage stress in Victoria and a recent interest rate rise.
- Introduce a levy on the big banks
- Use the revenue to fund free public transport
- Use the revenue to fund free dental care
Rent freezes and rent controls for Victorian renters
The Victorian Greens say they would freeze rents for two years and at the start of every new tenancy, then permanently cap rent increases below wage growth and inflation. They also say they would stop public housing demolition and privatisation and build 88,000 new public homes.
- Freeze rents for two years
- Freeze rents at the start of every new tenancy
- Permanently cap rent increases below wage growth and inflation
- Stop demolition and privatisation of public housing
- Build 88,000 new public homes
Victorian Labor
Cap public transport fares at $30 a week
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Labor Government will cap public transport fares at $30 a week from 1 January 2027, when half-price fares are scheduled to end, for two years. It says concession fares would be capped at $15 a week, and that under-18s would keep travelling free and seniors would keep free weekend travel.
- Cap public transport fares at $30 a week from 1 January 2027
- Cap concession fares at $15 a week
- Run the fare cap for two years
- Under-18s to continue travelling free
- Seniors to keep free weekend travel
Cap tolls at $30 a week
Victorian Labor says a re-elected government will introduce a $30 weekly toll cap from 1 January 2027, covering CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel. It says the cap could save drivers up to $5,000 per vehicle in 2027, with rebates capped at $350 a week and $5,000 per vehicle over the year.
- Introduce toll cap from 1 January 2027, running throughout the year
- Cap rebates at $350 a week and $5,000 per vehicle yearly
- Cover CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel
- Eligible vehicles include cars, motorbikes and utes or vans under 4.5 tonnes
- Small businesses can claim rebates for up to five vehicles
$100,000 for Hampton Park Uniting Church food relief
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will invest $100,000 to support food relief and community support programs run by the Hampton Park Uniting Church. The party says the church's services include food relief, free legal services, a community garden and playgroups.
- Invest $100,000 in Hampton Park Uniting Church food relief and community support programs
Cap public transport fares at $30 a week
Victorian Labor says it will cap public transport fares at $30 a week from 1 January, when half-price fares are scheduled to end, for two years. The party says full-time commuters would save $27 a week and concession holders' fares would be capped at $15 a week.
- Cap public transport fares at $30 a week for two years
- Start the fare cap on 1 January when half-price fares end
- Cap concession holders' fares at $15 a week
- Cap tolls at $30 a week for 2027
Cap tolls at $30 a week
Victorian Labor says a re-elected Carroll Labor Government will cap tolls at $30 a week from 1 January 2027 for people and small businesses, with quarterly rebates for amounts above the cap. It also says it will change the law so unpaid eTag tolls can be notified electronically instead of by paper bill.
- Cap tolls at $30 a week from 1 January 2027
- Quarterly rebates for toll payments above $30 a week
- Maximum rebate of $350 per week or $5,000 per year
- Applications through Service Victoria
- Small businesses can claim on up to five vehicles
Victorian Government
Free entry for children under 16 at zoos and museums during school holidays
The Victorian Labor Government says children under 16 can visit zoos, museums and galleries for free during school holidays, public holidays and weekends, and promotes free and low-cost holiday activities for families. The page also says free public transport for kids and teens will start on 1 January next year.
- Free entry for kids under 16 at Victorian zoos during school holidays, public holidays and weekends
- Free entry for kids under 16 to Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and the Immigration Museum
- Free public transport for kids and teens from 1 January next year
Community Food Relief Program grants for food relief services
The Victorian Government says it has opened applications for $9 million in 2025-26 Community Food Relief Program grants to support food relief services and ease cost-of-living pressures. Applications close 5 August 2025 for Coordination Grants and 19 August 2025 for Local Grants.
- Coordination Grants of up to $300,000 for large-scale food relief organisations
- Local Grants of up to $100,000 for grassroots food relief organisations
- Program funding doubled from last year to $9 million in 2025-26
- Coordination Grant applications close 5 August 2025
- Local Grant applications close 19 August 2025
Expanded free financial counselling for rental and mortgage stress
The Victorian Labor Government says it is expanding free financial counselling for Victorians facing rental and mortgage stress through a $15 million round funding 16 providers. Child and Family Services Ballarat received $900,000 over three years to establish a Financial Wellness Hub for the Central Highlands region.
- Fund 16 providers under the latest $15 million Financial Counselling Funding Round
- Provide $900,000 over three years to Child and Family Services Ballarat
- Establish a Financial Wellness Hub in Ballarat for Central Highlands residents
- Invest over $45 million in family violence financial counselling over three years
Funding boost for regional food relief
The Victorian Labor Government says it is providing $6 million in the 2025/26 Budget to the Regional Food Security Alliance and six regional foodshares to help more regional Victorians access food relief closer to home. The government also says the Budget includes $18 million to expand food relief across Victoria.
- Provide $6 million to the Regional Food Security Alliance and six regional foodshares
- Provide $18 million to expand food relief across Victoria
- Provide $9 million for a second round of the Community Food Relief Program
- Provide $500,000 to Foodbank Victoria for fresh and chilled food in regional communities
- Provide $3 million to Foodbank Victoria's GROW program
The Nationals
Scrap Emergency Services Tax and abolish first home stamp duty
The Nationals say they will scrap Labor's unfair taxes, including the Emergency Services Tax, and abolish stamp duty for first home buyers on properties up to $1 million, established or off-the-plan. The page also says they will review the entire tax system to make it simpler and fairer, and promises no new taxes or charges.
- No new taxes or charges, guaranteed
- Scrap the Emergency Services Tax
- Abolish stamp duty for first home buyers on properties up to $1 million
- Review the entire tax system to make it simpler and fairer
- Cut payroll tax and the GP tax
$2 million emergency food relief package
The Nationals and Liberals say a Victorian Nationals and Liberals government would deliver a $2 million Urgent Food Security Grant Program within its first 100 days. The funding would go to established food relief organisations, including Foodbank, to meet growing demand.
- Deliver $2 million food relief package within first 100 days
- Make $2 million available to established food relief organisations, including Foodbank
- Fund Urgent Food Security Grant Program
Liberal Party
Lower costs through tax cuts and road toll cap
The Liberal Party says it will scrap the Emergency Services Tax, abolish stamp duty for first home buyers on homes up to $1 million, restore a $300,000 land tax threshold over five years, and cap road tolls at $50 a week from 1 July 2027. It also says it will scrap the Schools Tax and GP Tax and promise no new or increased taxes.
- Scrap the Emergency Services Tax
- No stamp duty for first home buyers on homes up to $1 million
- Restore land tax-free threshold to $300,000 over five years
- Cap road tolls at $50 a week for two years from 1 July 2027
- Scrap the Schools Tax and the GP Tax
Victorian Socialists
Increase funding for Neighbourhood Houses
The Victorian Socialists are backing a statewide campaign demanding an extra $11.7 million in annual funding for Victoria's Neighbourhood Houses to stop closures and keep services running. The page says around half of the 400 houses are at risk of closure.
- Seek an extra $11.7 million in annual funding for Neighbourhood Houses
- Stop closures of Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria
- Hold a rally at Parliament House, Melbourne on 18 February 2026
In their ads
Labor 3 promises
Public transport fares
Capping public transport fares & tolls at $30.
Transport fares
Cap tolls at $30 a week in 2027 and PT fares at $30 for two years.
Transport fare cap
We will cap toll roads and public transport fares at $30 a week.
Greens 2 promises
Free dental and public transport
We’ll make public transport and dental care free.
Free public services
Make the essentials like public transport and dental care free.
No cost of living promises in ads from Liberal or Nationals or Minor parties or Independents yet. That's what they've advertised, not necessarily their policy.
Recent votes in parliament on cost of living
What MPs actually voted for, from Hansard.
Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported adding amendment 1 from Ms Bath's sheet MB45C to the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 during committee, which would also test the remaining amendments on that sheet. The amendment was defeated.
Defeated 11 to 18
Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026: committee
Voting yes supported adding amendment 1 to the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 during committee stage, which would also test amendments 5 and 6; the amendment was defeated.
Defeated 14 to 19
Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025: second reading
Voting yes supported the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 being read a second time, which agrees with the bill's main idea.
Passed 38 to 1
Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2023: instruction to committee
Voting yes supported instructing the committee to consider amendments that would give the Essential Services Commission a new function relating to the operation of supermarkets, within the Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2023.
Passed 22 to 13
Supermarket prices: motions
Voting yes supported a motion noting that Victorians are struggling with supermarket prices and calling on the Victorian government to declare groceries a regulated industry under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001.
Defeated 5 to 32
Other topics
- Health
- Housing
- Crime and safety
- Education
- Transport and infrastructure
- Economy and tax
- Energy
- All victorian election promises
Policy summaries are written by AI from each party's own page and checked against it; every commitment listed appears on the page. Ad quotes are taken from the ads' text and video by AI and grouped by subject; "See the ad" opens the original. How this works.