It is difficult to decide which is more worrying – Victoria’s precarious economic position or the government desperately trying to spin a tale of success.
The Department of Treasury and Finance asked Treasurer Tim Pallas for extra money to cover the interest payments on the state’s debt portfolio,weeks before last year’s budget.
Newly revealed cost overruns are expected to top $100 million across state government agencies.
Treasurer Tim Pallas has given his strongest hint yet that the state government would consider ditching stamp duty and replacing it with a land tax.
Major Victorian transport projects face being delayed as the state government seeks to slow ballooning debt before its budget.
Funding for election commitments is at risk of being held back and departments have been told to cut back their spending requests,as the Allan government warns of another “very,very” tight budget.
Police clashed with pro-Palestine protesters who had blockaded a terminal at the Port of Melbourne for four days to prevent ships reaching the Middle East.
Tim Pallas’ intervention comes as federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke refuses to get involved in stevedore giant DP World’s pay dispute with wharfies.
The Victorian treasurer argues in a letter to the workplace minister that the “no less favourable test” in the new IR bill will lead to protracted disputes.
Melbourne’s publicly owned water authorities have been forced to take loans and pay interest just to prop up Victoria’s state budget,in a move experts say is aimed at improving the appearance of Victoria’s budget.
Victoria’s goal of 80,000 new homes a year won’t be achieved while the state’s Big Build projects are driving up the cost of materials and workers,industry figures warn.