The Labor leader of the state worst-hit by the pandemic on Aug 22 vowed “people who have lost the most will get the support they need”.
National cabinet was told by the Reserve Bank on Friday that states should lift their fiscal investment over the next two years to two percent of GDP, or $40 billion, over the next two years.
“Our share of that would be about 10 (billion dollars),” Andrews said.
“Over a two-year period … I’m very confident we will have significant investment of that and more to save jobs, to grow jobs and make sure we’ve got a strong economy in that medium term.”
Victoria on Saturday reported an additional 182 COVID-19 diagnoses, plus 13 more deaths, taking the national toll to 485.
NSW and Queensland each reported nine new cases on Saturday.
The management of borders remained a top priority at a national level, the federal government urging state and territory leaders to ease their restrictions.
“What we’ve seen from COVID-19 is that some of the arbitrary restrictions that have been placed on regional rural Australia by the states have had serious impacts,” Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud told ABC television.
“I’m asking them to engage with the agricultural sector, with regional communities, to understand the practical solutions that continue to help regional rural Australia put food and fibre on your table, but also look after their wellbeing.”
It comes as Australians stranded aboard plead with state and federal government to increase the cap on the number of people returning from overseas.
Canberra
