State’s financial watchdog slams ‘reactive’ budget with no long-term plan

State’s financial watchdog slams ‘reactive’ budget with no long-term plan

The auditor-general has warned that prolonged operating losses and cash deficits are not financially sustainable following a review of the state’s reports for the past financial year.

  • byKieran Rooney andAnnika Smethurst

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The projects worth billions funded with Victoria’s secretive ‘credit card’ revealed

The projects worth billions funded with Victoria’s secretive ‘credit card’ revealed

The state government spent nearly $10 billion on 161 projects – including the Commonwealth Games dispute – using a secretive fund known as the treasurer’s advance.

  • byBroede Carmody
State pockets $1.7b from TAC amid road safety crisis

State pockets $1.7b from TAC amid road safety crisis

The state government has received $1.73 billion from the Transport Accident Commission over the past six years,bolstering its own coffers with more cash than the state-owned insurer spent on road safety upgrades.

  • byPatrick Hatch
Major Melbourne hospitals left counting cash weekly as budget constraints hit home

Major Melbourne hospitals left counting cash weekly as budget constraints hit home

Alfred and Monash Health run some of the largest hospitals in the state,but an attempt by the government to enforce budgets has had a dire impact on their books.

  • byRachel Eddie andAnnika Smethurst
Your water company is paying the state government’s COVID debts

Your water company is paying the state government’s COVID debts

The budget plan to manage pandemic debts by temporarily expanding taxes has led Treasurer Tim Pallas to pull cash from government agencies. Water authorities were targeted the most.

  • byRachel Eddie
Labor says weapons expo should return to Melbourne,despite disruptive protests

Labor says weapons expo should return to Melbourne,despite disruptive protests

Treasurer Tim Pallas wants Melbourne to host the controversial Land Forces weapons expo again – but maybe not in the inner-city.

  • byAlex Crowe,Lachlan Abbott andCassandra Morgan
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The health minister’s scramble to secure a $422 million hospital bailout
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Hospitals

The health minister’s scramble to secure a $422 million hospital bailout

The dire financial state of health services last year has been exposed in correspondence showing the state government went within days of being unable to pay the bills.

  • byAnnika Smethurst andBroede Carmody
Foreign student cap will ‘devastate’ Victorian economy:Pallas
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University

Foreign student cap will ‘devastate’ Victorian economy:Pallas

The treasurer has slammed the Albanese government’s plan to slash the numbers of international students and warned of unintended consequences.

  • byNoel Towell,Alex Crowe,Natassia Chrysanthos andDaniella White
Primary places of residence exempt from Victoria’s Airbnb levy
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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.

  • byBroede Carmody andRachel Eddie
Victoria warned of cost blowout and skills shortage risks to big ticket projects

Victoria warned of cost blowout and skills shortage risks to big ticket projects

Treasurer Tim Pallas was told the state’s ability to deliver a pipeline of major projects could be cruelled by soaring wages and materials costs.

  • byAnnika Smethurst
‘Economic vandalism’:Labor members decry Victoria’s next privatisation plan
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Privatisation

‘Economic vandalism’:Labor members decry Victoria’s next privatisation plan

Grassroots Labor members say they are “deeply concerned” by the mooted sell-off of the Registry of Births,Deaths and Marriages.

  • byBroede Carmody andRachel Eddie