Opinion
Nuclear energy
Dutton’s nuclear play is delighting his Victorian opponents
There remains a broad level of interest in nuclear technology in Victoria, but the evidence is that many voters remain undecided.
- by Annika Smethurst
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Hospitals
Renamed hospital might be moved rather than rebuilt where it was promised
Labor had pledged rebuilding the Maroondah Hospital on its existing site. But the costs involved mean it could be rebuilt near a shopping centre or on land once used as a drive-in.
- by Annika Smethurst and Kieran Rooney
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Tobacco
Smoke taxes driving people towards black market – and smoking rates up
Analysis shows high cigarette prices will continue pushing people towards the illicit tobacco trade, amid surging rates of vaping.
- by Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
Pokies clubs are meant to use a tax break for good. But this is what they spent $242m on
Hundreds of millions of dollars is meant to go back to the communities that host Victorian pokies clubs, in return for a lucrative tax break.
- by Annika Smethurst
Housing plan ‘pressures inner city and fringe, spares middle Melbourne’
Infrastructure targets and plans for green space and community buildings are also needed, say experts.
- by Annika Smethurst
Pill-testing plan to stop ‘horror’ of teenagers overdosing: Premier
A proposal for a year-long pill-testing trial in Victoria will be considered by cabinet after Premier Jacinta Allan called overdoses of teens at festivals an “unimaginable” horror.
- by Annika Smethurst and Ashleigh McMillan
Victoria needs millions of new homes. Here’s where they will be built
Councils will be told to find room for thousands of new homes as the government releases fresh targets to boost housing stock by more than 2 million.
- by Annika Smethurst
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Healthcare
‘Hands off our hospital’: Victorian towns fighting to keep health services
Victoria’s auditor-general has been asked to investigate the true financial state of the health system as the government prepares for amalgamations.
- by Annika Smethurst
Opinion
Political leadership
Dutton could help Pesutto, if only the two weren’t drowning in bad blood
Pollsters say the Queenslander is not as unpopular in Victoria as many think. But the Liberal leaders continue to blame each other for their troubles when they could be working together.
- by Annika Smethurst
Opinion
Political leadership
A Labor diehard wants them to lose the next election. I can see why
Budget cuts, wars with unions and now a flirtation with privatisation have set off alarms about whether Labor can hold on to its heartland.
- by Annika Smethurst
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Victorian budget
Victoria set up an offset account to save money. Then it went into the red
An account meant to help drive down Victoria’s borrowing costs was instead put into overdraft, forcing the government to find hundreds of millions of dollars to repay it by the end of this financial year – and possibly billions in the next.
- by Annika Smethurst