Politics
Victoria
Airport rail is back on track, but this is why it won’t be built any faster
Building works on the rail line to Melbourne Airport are at least four years away despite the owners agreeing to a station above ground.
- by Broede Carmody and Kieran Rooney
Latest
Melbourne Airport agrees to have overground train station, clearing path for rail link
The announcement ends a stalemate with the state government that had pushed the airport rail link back to 2033.
- by Rachel Eddie and Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Victorian budget
Melbourne Water tapped the state for extra cash – to pay it back for an unexpected tax bill
The water authority borrowed additional money from a Victorian government entity – and paid interest to the government – so it could pay a tax to the same government.
- by Rachel Eddie
Copenhagen, not Docklands: Nick Reece wants to be lord mayor for real – here’s how
The former deputy mayor has confirmed he will run for the city’s top job at the coming elections, saying he’ll insist new growth suburbs are about putting “people first, not developer profit”.
- by Aisha Dow
How Victorian power companies could be forced to pay you for blackouts
A review into storms that cut power to 530,000 homes has called for energy distributors – not governments – to compensate customers who lose power.
- by Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Healthcare
Victoria’s primary care clinics face funding cuts in budget crisis
Priority primary care clinics, promised in 2022 as Daniel Andrews’ solution to the health crisis, are facing cutbacks as the Victorian budget grapples with debt.
- by Rachel Eddie and Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Workplace disputes
‘Thrilled’: Workers claim win after sackings from Black Star Pastry for wearing keffiyehs
The high-end bakery that sacked two baristas for wearing keffiyehs to work has settled the discrimination case under confidential terms. The workers are claiming victory.
- by Charlotte Grieve
Exclusive
Local council
Cash for access: Councillors ask corruption watchdog to investigate scheme
Most Port Phillip councillors want IBAC to investigate a donation scheme set up to fund a community group that financially backs two of their colleagues.
- by Annika Smethurst and Kieran Rooney
Victorian politicians get 3.5 per cent pay rise
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will earn almost half a million dollars a year as MPs in the state received their second 3.5 per cent pay rise in two years.
- by Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Victorian budget
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry makes millions from increasing certificate fees in cost-of-living crisis
The Greens will introduce a bill in the next sitting week in an attempt to block further privatisation of government services.
- by Broede Carmody
Exclusive
Biodiversity
Measures meant to protect our last grasslands are seeing them trashed
Thirty-six conservation areas in Melbourne’s growth corridor contain some of the last intact grasslands in Australia, but just three are in good health.
- by Adam Carey