Politics
Victoria
‘Bleakest budget’ for mental health didn’t fund promised new agency
Premier Jacinta Allan’s first budget failed to fund an overdue support service to be run by people with first-hand experience of ill-mental health.
- by Rachel Eddie and Broede Carmody
Latest
The three-minute budget: Everything you need to know
Find out what will affect you most in this year’s Victorian budget.
- by Broede Carmody
Editorial
Editorial
Victoria is driving towards a debt cliff. Here’s one way to hit the brakes
Projections that the state’s debt would rise from $135.9 billion this year to $187.8 billion by mid-2028 highlight a need for drastic action.
- The Age's View
More than 100 projects delayed as blowouts hit bottom line
Delays will affect signature projects in education, health and housing as the government shields the budget from rising costs.
- by Kieran Rooney
Victorian budget 2024 as it happened: Cuts, delays, taxes revealed as treasurer hands down state budget
The Victorian treasurer delivered his 10th budget which both he and Premier Jacinta Allan pressed was “sensible and disciplined” amid burgeoning state debt.
- by Alex Crowe
Arden hospitals ditched over Metro Tunnel electromagnetic interference
Interference from the new Metro Tunnel station at Arden has forced the Victorian government to ditch a $5 billion plan to build new hospital campuses there.
- by Aisha Dow and Cara Waters
School bonus divides as rich reap benefits and poorer private areas miss out
Public school students in wealthy suburbs will get $400 each to help with learning costs while their private peers in poorer areas miss out.
- by Rachel Eddie and Robyn Grace
Video: Victorian budget 2024 explained in two minutes
Treasurer Tim Pallas’ 10th budget is full of bad news and a $25 million-a-day interest bill.
- by Kieran Rooney
Cuts, delays and taxes in bad-news budget that fails to rein in debt
Treasurer Tim Pallas’ 10th budget includes payments of $400 per child for the families of children in Victorian public schools. But it’s the only bit of good news in a budget that leaves Victoria with a $25 million-a-day interest bill.
- by Annika Smethurst and Kieran Rooney
Analysis
Victorian budget
The budget is brimming with hairy-chested spin. But the reality is far more nuanced
Treasurer Tim Pallas says the budget aims to tackle two really big problems: high inflation and workforce shortages. But if you take the coming financial year as a benchmark, the reality is far more nuanced.
- by Josh Gordon
Analysis
Victorian budget
The boastful Daniel Andrews tweet that is no longer fit for purpose
Soft tacos or crunchy tacos? We have to choose because Victoria can’t have both - despite promises from now-departed premier Daniel Andrews.
- by Annika Smethurst