Victorian Parliament
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Floods
Hundreds of homes suddenly deemed flood-prone in inner-city estate
Residents want answers after a Melbourne Water update designated about 900 properties near the Maribyrnong River as at risk of flooding.
- by Sophie Aubrey
Latest
Diaries reveal top end of town, Labor mates have ear of the premier
The first full release of three months of MPs’ diaries reveals familiar names meeting Spring Street figures, including Anthony Pratt, Lindsay Fox’s family and unionists
- by Royce Millar
Developers and business face Suburban Rail Loop levy to fund project
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.
- by Annika Smethurst
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto settles two defamation cases
The opposition leader had three defamation cases brought against him, but now he’s down to just one.
- by Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Road safety
New digital driver’s licences don’t work at some pubs and clubs
More than 100,000 Victorians have downloaded the new licences, but they can’t be used everywhere.
- by Kieran Rooney
Keffiyeh scarf effectively banned from floor of Victorian parliament
The development comes a week after a Greens MP was asked to leave the chamber for refusing to take off her keffiyeh scarf, commonly worn to show support for Palestine.
- by Broede Carmody
Pokies will close six hours a day, but gambling losses are expected to increase
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.
- by Rachel Eddie and Annika Smethurst
Exclusive
Public housing
Building unions, Labor branches clash with state on housing towers demolition
Influential construction unions have joined more than 30 Labor branches in contesting the Allan government’s plans to redevelop Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers.
- by Kieran Rooney and Royce Millar
Exclusive
Healthcare
Arden’s electrical issues were known three years before shock hospital move
Authorities knew in 2021 that electromagnetic waves from Metro Tunnel trains were a risk to Arden’s recently scrapped hospital towers.
- by Henrietta Cook, Rachel Eddie, Kieran Rooney and Aisha Dow
‘Bleakest budget’ for mental health didn’t fund promised new agency
Premier Jacinta Allan’s first budget failed to fund an overdue support service to be run by people with first-hand experience of ill-mental health.
- by Rachel Eddie and Broede Carmody
The three-minute budget: Everything you need to know
Find out what will affect you most in this year’s Victorian budget.
- by Broede Carmody