The Daily Bendigo Guide

Bendigo Government & Policy 2026

Decisions made in council chambers, state parliament and Canberra shape daily life in Bendigo more than most residents realise — from the rates on your home and the roads you drive to the funding behind local schools, hospitals and community services. This guide brings that decision-making into focus, tracking the policies, budgets and elected representatives that govern the region through 2026. We follow the City of Greater Bendigo council agenda, state government announcements affecting regional Victoria, and the federal programs that direct money and infrastructure to the area. Our aim is to cut through political spin and explain what each decision actually means for Bendigo ratepayers, families and businesses. That includes rate rises and budget priorities, planning and zoning reforms, public transport and health funding, and the election campaigns that will decide who holds power locally and nationally. Below is our continuously updated reporting on government and policy in Bendigo, so you can see how the latest decisions connect to the longer story. If you want to understand who is making the choices that affect your neighbourhood — and hold them to account — this page is the place to start and return to throughout the year.