This Month
- Opinion
- Victorian election
Liberal Party is yet to heed the message sent in Werribee
State and federal oppositions will draw encouragement from the byelection result. But neither has shown voters a coherent and credible budget and economic strategy.
- Updated
- Saul Eslake
Allan concedes safe Labor seat ‘on a knife edge’
Labor was ahead – just – in the Victorian state seat of Werribee which it has held since 1979 with half of votes counted in an important byelection.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing and Patrick Durkin
Allan orders full-court press to stave off historic byelection loss
Jacinta Allan has gone chips in on the Werribee byelection, with defeat potentially spelling the end of the state Labor government, according to pollsters.
- Gus McCubbing and Patrick Durkin
Chapel Street will reveal Dutton’s chances in Victoria
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be watching the Prahran byelection closely as the federal Liberals look to win back key seats in inner Melbourne.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
A growing weight of expectation is not what Dutton needs
A growing public sentiment that the Coalition is a shoo-in to form the next government is in need of a reality check.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
January
Why Jacinta Allan should not take this Melbourne suburb for granted
David Abbey is a life-long Labor voter but he’s ready – almost – to turn against the premier. Peter Dutton will be closely watching two Victorian byelections.
- Gus McCubbing
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