Politics
Victoria
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Victorian Parliament
Hunting to continue, with Victoria to duck proposed ban on practice
A blanket ban on duck hunting will fail to win support, but Victoria plans to introduce stiffer penalties for hunters who break the law, and mandatory training on the cards.
- by Kieran Rooney and Broede Carmody
Latest
Pesutto vows to pause and review Suburban Rail Loop
The Victorian Coalition say they may not complete the 90km rail loop if elected in 2026, but they would have to honour billions of dollars in contracts already signed.
- by Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Rail
Rail Loop will expose 1 million cubic metres of contaminated soil. Here’s where
Category A waste, which is the highest reportable level and includes soil that can contain toxic gases and cannot be handled without treatment, will be largely found around the site of a former gasworks.
- by Kieran Rooney
‘Time bomb’: Call for better dam management at Lake Eildon to reduce flooding risk
Central Victorians want more flexible water storage targets at Lake Eildon so there is a buffer zone during wetter-than-usual months. But there’s a catch.
- by Broede Carmody
From Victoria’s troublemaker to India’s hero
The tunnel expert from Monbulk earned instant fame in India when he spearheaded the rescue of 41 workers trapped in a Himalayan mountain.
- by Alex Crowe
Opinion
John Pesutto
Treaty backflip triggers pain for Pesutto as Deeming case looms
John Pesutto has struggled to justify the Coalition’s changed position on a treaty with Indigenous Victorians, and consequently failed to leverage any political capital from the decision.
- by Annika Smethurst
UN envoy takes up Moira Deeming’s cause in letter citing protest protection
The United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls wrote to the federal government and referenced the Victorian MP who is suing state Opposition Leader John Pesutto for defamation.
- by Broede Carmody and Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Education
Educators being kept in the dark about extent of teacher staffing gap
Principals and parents do not have detailed public data about teacher supply and demand after the state government failed to publish the figures for two years.
- by Broede Carmody and Emma Koehn
Exclusive
Victorian budget
‘Bad news’ budget looms: Services slashed, wishlists axed and promises delayed
Funding for election commitments is at risk of being held back and departments have been told to cut back their spending requests, as the Allan government warns of another “very, very” tight budget.
- by Annika Smethurst, Kieran Rooney and Rachel Eddie
State opposition dumped treaty support two months ago, blindsiding Indigenous leaders
The Coalition’s shadow cabinet walked away from a First Nations treaty late last year but kept it quiet, as Indigenous elders accuse them of playing politics with human rights.
- by Jack Latimore and Broede Carmody
Exclusive
Planning
Roadshow or sideshow? Experts sceptical of new Plan Victoria
Plan Victoria, the government’s growth strategy for the state, has had many names – but not much implementation, some experts say.
- by Royce Millar