Politics
Victoria
Opinion
Political leadership
The more-than-Dan dilemma: Allan has to convince voters and colleagues, quickly
Labor, the Liberal Party and the Nationals are all facing their own set of problems. With half a term left before Victorians return to the polls, the race to clean house is well and truly on.
- by Annika Smethurst
Latest
Opinion
Development
Melbourne’s transformation is so rapid that it’s shocking
Within 30 years, Melbourne will have to house 8 million people. Every Victorian should know that number now, when we need to start planning for it.
- by Shaun Carney
The massive Melbourne waterside park that’s off limits to residents
A dam-wall upgrade for one of the city’s key water sources has left residents locked out of a beloved park for a decade – even though the work was completed years ago.
- by Adam Carey
Bikies to lose access to government worksites under new law
Police will have power to charge bikies and organised crime members who enter government worksites, while anti-association controls will be beefed up.
- by Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Private schools
Labor MPs want payroll tax exemption for private schools in their electorates
Within weeks of voting to impose payroll tax on Victoria’s elite private schools, some MPs privately lobbied the treasurer to give some schools special treatment.
- by Annika Smethurst
Latest Metro Tunnel blowout just part of mega-projects, says Allan
Premier Jacinta Allan says cost escalations on the Metro Tunnel are akin to those on other huge construction projects in Australia.
- by Clay Lucas and Rachel Eddie
Updated
Planning
Primary places of residence exempt from Victoria’s Airbnb levy
The Allan government will also give owners corporations stronger powers to limit or ban short-stay accommodation after negotiations with the crossbench.
- by Broede Carmody and Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Metro Tunnel
Secret $888m sweetener: Leaked letter exposes Labor’s massive Metro payout offer
The state government’s settlement offer would mean the companies building the late and over-budget Metro Tunnel would get additional payments to finish the rail project.
- by Clay Lucas
Exclusive
Greens
The fight for the safest Greens seat in Victoria opens up a party rift
Voting to replace former state leader Samantha Ratnam in her safe upper house seat is about to begin, exposing tensions within the party.
- by Annika Smethurst
Selfies, ‘spacing’ and support: how to de-stress the VCE
From motivational WhatsApp groups to managing sleep routines, students share their tips for making VCE exams a less daunting and stressful experience.
- by Anders Furze
Exclusive
Education
Schools’ success with phonics teaching switch may take years to show
New research says schools have a greater chance of achieving positive results with new programs if they get support from parents and invest in teacher training.
- by Bridie Smith