Politics
Victoria
Hundreds of hotel quarantine staff paid millions while sitting idle
As the rebooted hotel quarantine program comes under the microscope, the opposition leader also called for the head of Victoria’s quarantine to be stood aside.
- by Michael Fowler and Sumeyya Ilanbey
Latest
Pressure on Andrews government to release secret CFA sexism and bullying report
Labor’s leader in the upper house could be suspended from Parliament if the long-awaited report is not released to the public.
- by Paul Sakkal and Sumeyya Ilanbey
Legal threat looms over Labor preselection ‘volcano waiting to erupt’
Major Victorian unions including the CFMEU and Australian Workers Union may attempt to block the party’s plan to install a candidate into a new federal seat.
- by Paul Sakkal and Sumeyya Ilanbey
Push for telehealth video-link consultations for assisted dying cases
Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley will introduce amendments to remove some of the hurdles faced by people unable to access the scheme.
- by Sumeyya Ilanbey and Annika Smethurst
Albanese demands party fast-tracks preselection for federal seats
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has demanded the party’s top decision-making body fast-track the preselection process for federal seats amid a bitter row over the new seat of Hawke in Victoria’s west.
- by Sumeyya Ilanbey
Emma loves her new job, but as Victoria cuts back its economic lifeline, she could soon lose it
The balancing act of propping up newly employed workers like Emma and transitioning out of eye-watering economic supports will be an acute challenge for the May 20 state budget.
- by Michael Fowler
Tutors vital in Victoria’s COVID catchup
Education Minister James Merlino says small-group tutoring is the “most critical thing” the government is doing in schools this year.
- by Madeleine Heffernan
Opinion
Traffic
Why are you trying to kill me? The woes of two-wheel travel in Melbourne
There’s a disregard on our roads towards motorbike riders, which is often fuelled by anger and impatience. But it is getting more and more dangerous.
- by Jon Faine
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
‘Dramatic decrease in risk’: Air purifiers placed in quarantine hotels
One expert says the modest measure quietly introduced last month could have impressive results.
- by Aisha Dow
Hotels smashed by pandemic, with 62 per cent decline in room revenue
The coronavirus pandemic cost Victoria’s hotels $1.7 billion in lost room revenue – the tourism sector’s single largest peacetime economic contraction, resulting in at least 12,000 jobs being lost.
- by Clay Lucas
Merlino springs $200m demand on Canberra for quarantine facility
Federal government kept in the dark about Victoria’s plans for purpose-built quarantine facility, which is entirely contingent on $200m of Commonwealth funding.
- by Sumeyya Ilanbey