The Local Jobs First 2025-26 Annual Report was tabled in Parliament on 10 September 2026 by the Hon. Melissa Horne MP; Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Jobs. The report is a requirement under the Local Jobs First Act 2003 (the Act) and focuses on the achievements of Local Jobs First in Victoria over the 2025-26 financial year.
Key highlights in 2025–26 included the commencement of 302 Local Jobs First projects and the completion of 86 Local Jobs First projects. Ministerial requirements were set for 34 Strategic Projects (those worth $50 million or above), with an overall value of $40.9 billion contributing to the Victorian economy. The report also features four case studies illustrating the real-world impact of Local Jobs First in both metropolitan and regional communities.
The Local Jobs First scheme supports Victorian businesses and workers by ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a full and fair opportunity to compete for government contracts of all sizes. This helps create job opportunities for Victorians, including apprentices, trainees and cadets (ATCs). Local Jobs First applies to all Victorian Government departments and agencies for any type of project with a value of $1 million or above in regional Victoria and $3 million or above in metropolitan Melbourne or for statewide projects.
The Local Jobs First Annual Report to Parliament 2025-26 is now available to view here: Local Jobs First - Annual Report