Politics
Victoria
Exclusive
Victorian budget
‘Find someone to hug’: Museums Victoria to cut 55 jobs, raise ticket prices after funding slashed
New spending on exhibition spaces and IT upgrades will be deferred after big cuts in this year’s state budget.
- by Clay Lucas
Latest
Housing targets falling short in nearly all Victorian council areas
Melbourne is on track to fall well short of its housing aims – a trend that could worsen the state’s housing crisis and prompt the state government to intervene.
- by Angus Delaney
Exclusive
Mental health
Workers’ mental health compo claims being rejected at twice the rate
WorkSafe figures mapping changes to Victoria’s compensation scheme since eligibility was tightened show a significant jump in the number of mental health claims being knocked back.
- by Kieran Rooney
Exclusive
Gambling
Gambling reformers lash out at pokies trial over missing loss limits
Anti-pokies campaigners have dumped their support for a trial of carded-play technology after the government ditched its commitment to include mandatory loss limits.
- by Chip Le Grand
Fiscal restraint or culture wars? Councils winding back climate action
A new wave of conservative councillors are abandoning climate commitments, with critics saying the “back to basics” rhetoric is an ideological smokescreen.
- by Rachael Dexter and Benjamin Preiss
Exclusive
Indigenous
Treaty negotiations complete, a historic agreement is within reach
A new Indigenous body is to have the power to question ministers, call public hearings and advise government.
- by Chip Le Grand
Surge workforce could take over failing childcare centres
The Victorian government committed to going it alone to trial CCTV if necessary. But education ministers around the country are expected to support a national trial at a meeting on Friday.
- by Rachel Eddie
Opinion
Victorian election
For Victoria, Allan’s bounce back is anything but healthy
A looming electoral cataclysm for Victorian Labor has been replaced by the likelihood of a fourth consecutive win. It is remarkable and disturbing.
- by Chip Le Grand
Exclusive
Victorian election
Allan rises from historic low, eyes unprecedented fourth Labor term
The results of the latest Resolve Political Monitor leave Victoria’s Liberal Party teetering towards a seventh defeat from eight elections.
- by Chip Le Grand
Exclusive
Crime
Love Machine forced to close after month of violence
Authorities have ordered the Prahran nightclub to close this weekend in an attempt to stem the violence that has plagued the notorious venue recently.
- by Cameron Houston
SRL to proceed regardless of who wins next state election – but there’s a catch
The Liberal Party has confirmed it would proceed with the Suburban Rail Loop, assuming that tunnelling begins before the election.
- by Daniella White and Rachel Eddie