This Month
Allan wants a seat at Chalmers’ roundtable
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the federal government’s capacity to boost productivity without the input of states is limited.
Chalmers’ productivity plan can’t stick without the states
The federal treasurer’s productivity roundtable is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, but a federated approach is the only way to make it work.
Victorian public service paying for advice it ignores, report finds
Government departments, which spent $130 million on consultants and contractors last year, sometimes hired them with no valid reason or failed to track their work.
Allan’s SRL funding plan contradicts housing promise: property industry
The industry says it is not financially viable to build new apartments along Victoria’s controversial Suburban Rail Loop.
Dan Andrews’ hacks revealed in independent Victorian purge
A leaked organisational chart of Helen Silver’s review into the public service shows two former political staffers are involved.
‘Bunch of losers’: What Victorian Liberals think about their party
The chasm inside the Victorian Liberal Party has grown so big, some fear a one-party state will emerge from all the chaos.
Victoria to spend $81m on advisers. Eslake says he’ll do it for free
Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has set aside more than $81 million for economic and policy advice this year. Economist Saul Eslake says she could’ve given him a call.
May
Vic Labor hiked taxes to pay down debt. Instead, it rose by $5b
The government debt pile will be bigger than ex-treasurer Tim Pallas promised when he hit businesses and investors with higher taxes to pay off pandemic borrowing.
Budget reply shows Libs have no plan for Victoria’s debt: economists
In a fiery address to parliament, shadow treasurer James Newbury described Victoria as a “run down state” with the highest taxes and biggest level of debt.
The 65-year-old Victorian too taxed to retire
For business owners including this restaurant owner, the raft of increased levies in this week’s Victorian budget just pile on the pain.
Like the Liberals, Jacinta Allan needs rescuing from her echo chamber
Smart governments learn lessons from victory as well as defeat. There is no sign of that yet in Victoria.
It’s not just taxes hurting Victorian businesses, it’s red tape
Peter Angelico says excessive, “box-ticking” regulation is putting a handbrake on his business.
Victoria warned to fix ‘punitive’ taxes or face worse housing problems
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes confirmed she has been consulting industry about reforms to lift housing supply, and proposed tax setting changes “are on the table”.
Allan says spending on handouts more important than debt right now
The Victorian premier has defended the budget, saying fiscal responsibility is important but so is providing cost-of-living relief for families.
Victoria’s budget black hole alarms ratings agencies
A budget black hole of more than $20 billion to build the first stage of the Victorian government’s $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop is among a string of red flags.
Ratings agencies pan Victorian budget’s lack of restraint
A $2.3 billion cost-of-living package including household energy rebates in Jaclyn Symes’ first budget will send debt to a record within four years.
Labor’s profligacy in Victoria is a problem for all of us
Ratings agencies assume the federal government stands behind the states’ debts, so if Victoria is downgraded because of its ballooning debt that has national implications.
Jaclyn Symes promised to fix the budget. She squibbed it
Jaclyn Symes had the opportunity to embark upon much-needed budget repair. She didn’t.
Victoria’s debt problem has a worrying echo of American crisis
Business leaders are sick of the state being a laggard. This budget will do nothing to change that.
Victorian budget winners and losers
Concession card holders, parents of children at state schools and kids who ride public transport are among those who benefit from the Victorian budget.