As much as $11 billion will be extracted from commercial operators located along the route of the Suburban Rail Loop’s first stage to help fund the $35 billion project.
Mergers might be a good thing for Victoria’s cash-strapped hospitals,even if Jacinta Allan and the health minister won’t talk about their plans.
While billions of dollars will flow to infrastructure projects and bulk-billing clinics,the state’s GST take remains the same.
The Allan government’s tough talk has again stoked fears that Victoria’s hospital funding shake-up will lead to amalgamations and erode patient care.
Victoria’s pokies are due to close six hours a day starting later this year,but the state budget still tips annual gambling losses – and tax revenue – will rise.
Parents whose children will never attend promised childcare or see promised school upgrades are unlikely to be satisfied by the treasurer’s postponement of election pledges.
Victoria’s 76 health services could be slashed to 12 in an efficiency-driven overhaul revealed as the government dropped a budget notable for soaring debt,higher taxes,stalled projects and abandoned promises.
Treasurer Tim Pallas’ 10th budget includes payments of $400 per child for the families of children in Victorian public schools. But it’s the only bit of good news in a budget that leaves Victoria with a $25 million-a-day interest bill.
Soft tacos or crunchy tacos? We have to choose because Victoria can’t have both - despite promises from now-departed premier Daniel Andrews.
Support for parents of school children and housing affordability will be priorities in a state budget that will show Victoria’s net debt hitting a new peak.
The image of Allan and other Labor MPs leading a march of incensed protesters fed up with inaction and holding signs saying “The system has failed us” felt a bit off.