This Month
Cost of Victoria’s renewables grid plan understated by at least $16b
The state government has not been upfront about the $20 billion it will likely cost to build its new renewables grid, experts say.
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.
A complacent Wonder Down Under is heading for a productivity fail
Crazy levels of government spending, and Victoria’s status as one of the most indebted states in the world, helps explain Australia’s miserable performance.
Victorian government to increase mining fees by 234pc
Labor argues the revenue is needed to cover regulatory costs, but the industry warns it will drive investment away
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.
Numbers Victoria is relying on to kill debt are at odds with the RBA
Official federal estimates don’t support the population growth that Treasurer Jaclyn Symes says will drag the state out 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.
Breakthrough Victoria’s funding slashed amid cost-cutting review
Start-ups and investors claim they have been left in the dark by apparent funding cuts to the government’s venture capital fund, run by former premier John Brumby.
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.
GST carve-up rewards Victoria’s economic failure
States that are prepared to grow the national pie should not be punished with an ever-dwindling slice.
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.
How Victoria’s property taxes killed 81,000 new homes
The Allan government’s tax-heavy approach discourages the supply of new dwellings at a time when we need them most.
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.
Commuter chaos in Sydney after falling power cable stops trains
Sydney commuters face big delays across the train network; Tim Wilson appears to have won in Goldstein. How the day unfolded.
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.
Almost half Victoria’s tax take comes from property
The rise to 47 per cent of a total tax take is a distorting feature in a sector that is crucial to the state’s overall economy.