Victorian budget
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Victorian Parliament
Victoria set up an offset account to save money. Then it went into the red
An account meant to help drive down Victoria’s borrowing costs was instead put into overdraft, forcing the government to find hundreds of millions of dollars to repay it by the end of this financial year – and possibly billions in the next.
- by Annika Smethurst
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Privatisation
Births, Deaths and Marriages – and more? Victoria’s quiet review of its public assets
Treasury sought advice from investment banks earlier this year as part of a review to see how much money could be raised from privatisation of public assets.
- by Broede Carmody and Sarah Danckert
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Victorian Parliament
Inside the push to steal – and keep – Victoria’s businesses
Outside the public eye, the highest-taxing state in the nation is fending off threats from South Australia and Queensland to steal Victorian businesses.
- by Kieran Rooney
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Victoria poised to privatise births, deaths and marriages agency as Labor eyes debt
With the state’s daily interest bill at $25 million, Treasurer Tim Pallas is in talks with private firms to gauge their interest in running part of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
- by Broede Carmody and Cameron Houston
Independent Kew school to sell part of primary campus to meet new tax bill
Preshil will sell land on its primary school campus ahead of a controversial change to state taxes set to cost the school hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- by Bridie Smith
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Victoria’s $12 billion ‘credit card’ for policies not listed in the budget
Treasurer Tim Pallas has been handed a $12.1 billion “credit card” to spend next financial year without being scrutinised through the budget or parliament.
- by Josh Gordon
Airport Rail brawl coming to a head with mediator on track to deliver report
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll says it’s time to get the $13 billion project done, and has pledged to stay in parliament until a promised train station in his electorate is built.
- by Rachel Eddie
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Labor’s secret $75.7b war chest raises budget transparency fears
The Allan government has squirrelled away billions of dollars for future policy announcements while Victoria lags in deficit.
- by Josh Gordon
Victoria’s hospitals are driving up costs by competing against each other
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has flagged the state is considering amalgamating Victoria’s 76 health services because they are spending money competing against each other.
- by Broede Carmody, Kieran Rooney and Aisha Dow
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Healthcare
Hospitals put on notice: No bailouts if budgets blow out
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.
- by Broede Carmody, Aisha Dow, Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
The $600 million economic shock buried in the state budget papers
The state government’s budget predictions hinge on a consumer spending splurge that may never materialise.
- by Josh Gordon