December 2024
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Pallas’ disastrous fiscal legacy
Regretting not being able to spend even more money is a fittingly risible sign-off from a treasurer who lost control of Victoria’s finances.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Victorian budget
The five main reasons Victoria is in this financial mess
Victoria has been the lowest-taxing, lowest-spending mainland state over the past 25 years, a new analysis shows. Its bottom line is still a disaster, but it’s not all self-inflicted.
- Ivor Ries
The drama at Anthony Pratt’s New York party
Actor Chris Rock stormed out of the New York shindig, but singer Keith Urban got the joint jumping.
- Myriam Robin
Dan Andrews makes Anthony Pratt’s New York party
Rich Lister Anthony Pratt has wasted no time getting settled into his new home.
- Myriam Robin
November 2024
How Daniel Andrews’ playbook turned sour for Jacinta Allan
The former premier’s strategy was based on massive public spending. But times have changed, Victoria’s finances are a basket case, and voters have noticed.
- Patrick Durkin
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Coalition hopes to win up to five federal seats in Victoria
The federal Liberal Party is planning a major push into Victoria including billboard advertising that plays off the flailing state government under Jacinta Allan.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Victorian budget
Tim Pallas would need to win Oz Lotto for 86 years to pay off Vic debt
Victoria’s treasurer has clearly been overwhelmed by premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan, and these Labor years look set to become bywords for state government dysfunction and failure.
- Alan Stockdale
How Victoria became a poor state (and the 16 charts that prove it)
The state’s parlous finances mean voters are bound to face a combination of cuts in government spending and increases in taxation.
- Saul Eslake
Inside the Birdcage at Flemington’s Derby Day
With Tabcorp focusing on customers and Lexus on models, Crown’s marquee reigned supreme as the best people-spotting location of the day.
- Myriam Robin, Zoe Samios and Patrick Durkin
October 2024
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Without trust, our institutions lose authority. Just ask Trump
In 2016 Donald Trump stormed into office on the back of a widespread voter cynicism and distrust. He is a coin toss away from doing so again.
- Phillip Coorey
Andrews’ appointment to mental health role ‘wrong on many levels’
The ex-Victorian premier has been appointed chairman of a youth mental health research body in a move the state opposition called a travesty.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Victoria’s taxing and spending comes home to roost
Victoria could restore its reputation for financial discipline if it started running its infrastructure ambitions in a more efficient way.
- The AFR View
Just one deal, $1m on consultants, board exodus: Vic SEC report card
Former premier Daniel Andrews set sky-high expectations for Labor’s plan to put taxpayer money into green energy investments that two years later have not been met.
- Gus McCubbing and Patrick Durkin
September 2024
Chris Ellison embraces unbossing at MinRes
The mining billionaire’s latest move to get costs under control is slicing up middle management.
- Updated
- Mark Di Stefano
Neo-Nazis boasted of protecting rally Deeming helped plan, court told
Social media posts made by a neo-Nazi leader have been read out to a court during MP Moira Deeming’s defamation trial against Liberal leader John Pesutto.
- Gus McCubbing and Patrick Durkin
Andrews could ‘rob a 7-Eleven’ and pressure will still be on Liberals
A secret recording of a meeting between Moira Deeming and the Liberal leadership team after she attended a rally gatecrashed by Nazis has been played in court.
- Gus McCubbing
August 2024
Uncover Jewish chat group doxxers or risk violence, Labor elders say
Former Labor MP Mike Kelly says if the people responsible for doxxing Jewish creatives were not held accountable, they would be emboldened to take further action.
- Gus McCubbing
Dan Andrews’ second secret Blackstone meeting
Dan Andrews met the US parent of Crown Resorts twice, part of undisclosed business dealings of the powerful former premier.
- Mark Di Stefano
- Opinion
- Australian economy
RBA returns serve on inflation
The RBA’s take down of government spending is reverberating loudly in Canberra and can only undermine Labor’s key argument that its fiscal policy complements monetary policy.
- Jennifer Hewett
Allan urged to resist foreign student crackdown ahead of India trip
Melbourne University has urged the Victorian premier to push back against the federal government’s crackdown on international students ahead of her trip next month.
- Gus McCubbing