SEC to build solar farm to power more than 50,000 Victorian homes
It will be the first 100 per cent government-owned energy generation project since Victoria’s electricity grid was privatised in the 1990s.
- by Broede Carmody
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Hospitals
Cash-strapped hospitals crunched by soaring workers’ compensation bills
An analysis of more than 70 annual reports shows health services’ overall WorkCover costs in the last financial year rose 51 per cent.
- by Annika Smethurst and Broede Carmody
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Mental health
School students may lose mental health support after funding clampdown
The Victorian government has quietly cut funding for provisional psychologists in state schools, making it even harder for young Victorians to access mental health support.
- by Broede Carmody and Brittany Busch
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Victorian budget
The projects worth billions funded with Victoria’s secretive ‘credit card’ revealed
The state government spent nearly $10 billion on 161 projects – including the Commonwealth Games dispute – using a secretive fund known as the treasurer’s advance.
- by Broede Carmody
‘The risk of an election failure is now real’: Electoral Commissioner’s early warning
The Victorian Electoral Commission’s annual report says it faces budget pressures with difficulty recruiting and retaining staff for events and a continued rise in the cost of services.
- by Cara Waters and Broede Carmody
Updated
Victorian budget
$1b in red and going backwards: Victorian hospital cash-crunch revealed
Analysis of dozens of annual reports dumped in parliament on Thursday found some of Victoria’s busiest hospitals failed to meet their target for available cash.
- by Broede Carmody, Rachel Eddie, Carla Jaeger and Kieran Rooney
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Emergency services
Firefighters locked out of their stations after ‘farcical’ 3G shutdown
Firefighters say they were not warned about the access and vehicle-tracking issues despite Fire Rescue Victoria having years to prepare for the 3G shutdown.
- by Broede Carmody and Brittany Busch
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Workplace safety
More than 700 workers lose compensation despite WorkCover surplus
The workers were thrown off the scheme after Labor struck a deal to restrict access to payments for mental health injuries, such as stress and burnout.
- by Annika Smethurst and Broede Carmody
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Hospitals
Victoria’s secret $50 million hospital top-up revealed
The cost blowout – revealed under freedom of information laws – was blamed on inflation, but it further highlights the precarious state of health funding last year, when the government was within days of being unable to pay the bills.
- by Annika Smethurst and Broede Carmody
Victorians to be slugged thousands of dollars to claim their inheritance
While estate claims worth less than $250,000 will have their probate fees waived, the costs of those with more will surge up to 645 per cent.
- by Carla Jaeger and Broede Carmody
Exclusive
Mental health
Taxpayers hand over $1b a year for a mental health levy. No one knows exactly how it’s spent
A former mental health royal commissioner has called for a breakdown of how the money is being spent, with a lack of transparency fuelling concerns it’s not being used as promised.
- by Broede Carmody and Rachel Eddie
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/by/broede-carmody-gsxnae