Politics
Victoria
Keffiyeh scarf effectively banned from floor of Victorian parliament
The development comes a week after a Greens MP was asked to leave the chamber for refusing to take off her keffiyeh scarf, commonly worn to show support for Palestine.
- by Broede Carmody
Latest
Victoria’s hospitals are driving up costs by competing against each other
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has flagged the state is considering amalgamating Victoria’s 76 health services because they are spending money competing against each other.
- by Broede Carmody, Kieran Rooney and Aisha Dow
Greenline project’s future in doubt as council funding dries up
The City of Melbourne on Tuesday unveiled its $781 million draft budget, which crept into surplus for the first time in five years.
- by Cara Waters and Sophie Aubrey
Drivers versus cyclists as bike lane plans trigger campaign war in St Kilda
Opposing posters have gone up on a major St Kilda street as locals face off over a $9.3 million plan to build a separate bike lane that would slash more than 100 car parking spaces.
- by Cara Waters
Exclusive
Victorian budget
Hospitals put on notice: No bailouts if budgets blow out
The Allan government’s tough talk has again stoked fears that Victoria’s hospital funding shake-up will lead to amalgamations and erode patient care.
- by Broede Carmody, Aisha Dow, Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
Pokies will close six hours a day, but gambling losses are expected to increase
Victoria’s pokies are due to close six hours a day starting later this year, but the state budget still tips annual gambling losses – and tax revenue – will rise.
- by Rachel Eddie and Annika Smethurst
Exclusive
Public housing
Building unions, Labor branches clash with state on housing towers demolition
Influential construction unions have joined more than 30 Labor branches in contesting the Allan government’s plans to redevelop Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers.
- by Kieran Rooney and Royce Millar
From jail to counselling, Matt is proof men can change their behaviour if they want to
Realising the gravity of what he’d lost helped Matt become a reformed family violence offender. Now back with his daughter and with a new life ahead of them, he wants support for others to change.
- by Wendy Tuohy
The $600 million economic shock buried in the state budget papers
The state government’s budget predictions hinge on a consumer spending splurge that may never materialise.
- by Josh Gordon
Exclusive
Healthcare
Victoria fell short of its lofty elective surgery promise – so it cut the target
The Allan government has walked away from a vow to permanently deliver an extra 40,000 elective surgeries annually by 2024, lowering its targets back to pre-pandemic levels.
- by Kieran Rooney and Henrietta Cook
How (and where) to snag a fish in Melbourne and regional Victoria
Victorians are hooked on fishing. Here are some expert tips to increase your chances of success.
- by Benjamin Preiss