Victorian budget
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Private schools
The elite schools hardest hit by Victoria’s payroll tax change
Some high-fee schools will pay more in taxes than they get in state funding, according to opposition analysis. Find out which ones here.
- by Rachel Eddie
Latest
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Victorian Parliament
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
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Privatisation
Births, Deaths and Marriages – and more? Victoria’s quiet review of its public assets
Treasury sought advice from investment banks earlier this year as part of a review to see how much money could be raised from privatisation of public assets.
- by Broede Carmody and Sarah Danckert
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Victorian Parliament
Inside the push to steal – and keep – Victoria’s businesses
Outside the public eye, the highest-taxing state in the nation is fending off threats from South Australia and Queensland to steal Victorian businesses.
- by Kieran Rooney
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For subscribers
Victoria poised to privatise births, deaths and marriages agency as Labor eyes debt
With the state’s daily interest bill at $25 million, Treasurer Tim Pallas is in talks with private firms to gauge their interest in running part of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
- by Broede Carmody and Cameron Houston
Independent Kew school to sell part of primary campus to meet new tax bill
Preshil will sell land on its primary school campus ahead of a controversial change to state taxes set to cost the school hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- by Bridie Smith
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For subscribers
Victoria’s $12 billion ‘credit card’ for policies not listed in the budget
Treasurer Tim Pallas has been handed a $12.1 billion “credit card” to spend next financial year without being scrutinised through the budget or parliament.
- by Josh Gordon
Airport Rail brawl coming to a head with mediator on track to deliver report
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll says it’s time to get the $13 billion project done, and has pledged to stay in parliament until a promised train station in his electorate is built.
- by Rachel Eddie
Editorial
Victorian Parliament
Victorians are deserting Labor and its own budget contains the reason
The state’s surging debt and the government’s shelved promises laid out in this month’s budget have sent support for Labor to a fresh, and deep, low.
- The Age's View
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For subscribers
Labor’s secret $75.7b war chest raises budget transparency fears
The Allan government has squirrelled away billions of dollars for future policy announcements while Victoria lags in deficit.
- by Josh Gordon
Editorial
Hospitals
A promise no one asked for and cuts no one wants to see
The state government owes it to Victorians to be up front about its plans for the health system.
- The Age's View