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Victorian budget
Where Victoria’s latest IT blowouts are biting the budget hardest
Newly revealed cost overruns are expected to top $100 million across state government agencies.
- by Broede Carmody
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Cost of living
Victorians suffer the biggest jump in financial distress as cost of living soars
More than half of Victorians are experiencing cost-of-living and personal debt distress beyond normal levels.
- by Broede Carmody
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Tobacco
Tobacco scheme will need tough powers to end state’s turf wars
Victoria’s new tobacco licensing laws must have strict character tests, a dedicated task force and massive fines to avoid being a toothless tiger at stopping the state’s underground turf war, the industry has warned.
- by Kieran Rooney, Broede Carmody and Chris Vedelago
Updated
Casinos
Win for Crown Resorts as its Melbourne casino keeps state licence
The Victorian gambling regulator said on Tuesday that it was in the public interest for Crown to keep its Melbourne casino licence.
- by Amelia McGuire and Broede Carmody
Bucket for toilet, mice in bed: Ombudsman urges overhaul of social housing complaint handling
Mismanaged bathroom repairs left public housing tenant Jasmine forced to use a bucket in her backyard as a toilet.
- by Broede Carmody
Pesutto says he won’t be ‘sued out of a job’ as he braces for two more defamation claims
A year to the day after an anti-trans rights rally was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis, the state opposition leader faces further defamation action linked to the rally aftermath.
- by Rachel Eddie, Broede Carmody and Annika Smethurst
Two more defamation cases could sink John Pesutto’s leadership
Two high-profile activists who rallied with Moira Deeming on the steps of state parliament have until Tuesday to file proceedings against the Liberal leader.
- by Annika Smethurst, Broede Carmody and Rachel Eddie
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Housing affordability
Push to release secret documents on public housing demolition
A plan for the Coalition and crossbenchers to force the government to hand over feasibility studies on redeveloping ageing high-rise towers is to go to shadow cabinet.
- by Broede Carmody and Rachael Dexter
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Victorian budget
Renowned homelessness scheme gutted with 1500 fewer people to benefit
The Allan government is set to slash funding for a program with proven success at getting people off the streets, despite a decline in the number of housing spots available for homeless Victorians over six months last year.
- by Broede Carmody
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Public housing
State land ‘fire sale’ as housing crisis worsens
At least 800 social housing homes could have been built on land sold by the state government in the past four years, according to an industry analysis.
- by Broede Carmody
Mother, daughter killed in Lower Plenty tragedy
Two police officers were confronted by a 26-year-old female stabbing a middle-aged woman on Friday night before one of the officers discharged their firearm.
- by Broede Carmody