This Month
PM’s $7.2b Qld road pledge has states clamouring for more funding
Anthony Albanese has caved to Queensland’s new premier to pay 80 per cent of a $9 billion upgrade of the Bruce Highway, igniting demands from three states.
- John Kehoe, Gus McCubbing and Tom Rabe
Robbie Williams calls ABC ‘twits’ after movie promotion criticism
The English pop star held a surprise performance in Melbourne, where he lashed the public broadcaster for criticising him for promoting his new biopic.
- Lucy Slade
December 2024
PM responds to ‘devastating fire’ with support for Victorian workers
Anthony Albanese says support is available for those affected by a bushfire that destroyed three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings in western Victoria.
- Samantha Lock and Poppy Johnston
‘I like fixing things’: New treasurer raises business hope in Victoria
Premier Jacinta Allan has made her first cabinet reshuffle, with business welcoming “proven performer” Jaclyn Symes as the successor to Tim Pallas.
- Gus McCubbing
Industry slams ‘whitewash’ Victoria government report into CFMEU
Employer groups say Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s promise to strengthen whistleblower protections and clean up misbehaviour in the building industry ring hollow.
- Gus McCubbing and David Marin-Guzman
‘We do not tolerate antisemitism’: Allan cracks down on Vic protests
Masks, balaclavas, glue and chains could be banned under a crackdown on extreme and radical influences at Victorian protests following the Adass Israel Synagogue attack.
- Gus McCubbing and Andrew Tillett
- 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
Allan antisemitism response condemned as ‘too slow’
The Victorian premier is mulling new police powers, as two events in Sydney on Sunday underlined how the war in Gaza is stirring tension in Australia.
- Euan Black
- Opinion
- Antisemitism
One leads, two lag in the fight against antisemitism
Anthony Albanese, Jacinta Allan and Chris Minns present a study in contrast in how they are dealing with the problem.
- Andrew Tillett
- 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
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Economic statement won’t make Victoria investable again
The government’s plan is mostly window dressing. It does nothing to fix the state’s fundamental business investment problem which is about the budget, stupid.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Victorian budget
Victoria’s economic rescue plan is a joke but no one is laughing
The state’s new strategy resembles a political document drawn up in an episode of Utopia rather than a serious economic blueprint to revive the state.
- John Kehoe
Some help for business, but Labor plan to revive Victoria panned
Premier Jacinta Allan has released her economic statement that includes moves to cut red tape, speed up gas approvals and introduce a business council.
- Gus McCubbing
Victoria urged to adopt NSW-style protest laws after synagogue attack
Premier Jacinta Allan on Sunday declined to call the pre-dawn attack terrorism, saying she did not want to risk compromising the police investigation.
- Ronald Mizen
‘Darn sensible’ Labor states outcompete Victoria, says top Liberal
Shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell has been in Britain looking at how the state might get in on the AUKUS action, and ruing the salesmanship of rivals NSW and SA.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Exclusive
- Government debt
Victoria pays consultants $2m for possible asset sale list
The Allan government is paying speciality consultants Ad Astra more than $2 million, including for a scoping study to help turn the state’s dire finances around.
- Patrick Durkin and Anthony Macdonald
November 2024
Victoria’s four biggest Big Build blowouts
The state’s finances have come under scrutiny this week, and a major chunk of its ballooning debt comes from the government’s expansive infrastructure program.
- Gus McCubbing and Patrick Durkin
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
- Income tax
Victoria lags the country on anti-business payroll tax
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will host a meeting of his state and territory counterparts on Friday, in a bid to boost productivity and drive investment.
- Tom McIlroy and Gus McCubbing
- 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