Victorian budget
Opinion
AFL grand final
Why every Victorian should be celebrating a double interstate AFL grand final
When the Brisbane Lions take on the Sydney Swans at the home of football this weekend, it will essentially be a FIFO event. And we could use a bit of their magic.
- by Jason Murphy
Latest
Australia’s Comm Games body splashes millions more on Glasgow 2026 games
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games could receive up to $4.5 million to pay for a shortfall the Scottish and UK governments refuse to cover.
- by Steve Larkin and Ashleigh McMillan
Exclusive
Victoria
Victoria’s Births, Deaths and Marriages plan hatched then dispatched
Treasurer Tim Pallas has ditched Labor’s unpopular idea of giving private investors access to parts of the state’s wholly public births, deaths and marriages registry.
- by Broede Carmody
Exclusive
Vaccination
Councils say new state charges put kids’ vaccine program at risk
Councils say they were promised free use of the state’s immunisation record platform – until the Department of Health sent the bill.
- by Rachel Eddie
Police to get up to $15 million to deal with anti-war protests this week
Hundreds of extra officers have been deployed and police powers have been expanded to respond to protests outside the Land Forces weapons expo in Melbourne this week.
- by Rachel Eddie
‘Something has to change’: Feeling the squeeze of the Big Build’s big bill
Since coming to power in 2014, Labor has launched an unprecedented transport infrastructure blitz, but it has also saddled Victoria with the highest debt of any state and it’s putting pressure on the government.
- by Patrick Hatch and Broede Carmody
Taxpayers cop $10m bill for COVID lockdown court battle
The final bill for the class action – brought on behalf of businesses that experienced financial loss because of restrictions – could be much higher, with mediation due to kick off in November.
- by Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
Pallas vows no new debt despite $1.5b health blowout, but stays coy on fresh taxes
Treasurer Tim Pallas warns a failure to shore up the state’s financial position, including bringing down debt, could have serious consequences for its credit rating.
- by Josh Gordon
Lifting rates won’t save cash-strapped councils. Their residents can’t afford it
Victoria’s councils say they are straining under mounting costs, but higher rates won’t help because residents’ capacity to pay is reaching its limit.
- by Mathew Dunckley
Exclusive
For subscribers
The multibillion-dollar blow primed to hit Victorian taxpayers and the budget
Government agencies will fork out $15 billion a year for insurance claims by 2028, a 36 per cent surge that threatens to rock the state’s already struggling finances.
- by Kieran Rooney
Melbourne in the grip of baby drought as rent becomes ‘a great contraceptive’
A plunge in birth rates in parts of Melbourne is being blamed on a lack of affordable housing and other cost-of-living pressures.
- by Josh Gordon
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/victorian-budget-jop