Jacinta Allan
Seeing red: Has Labor’s economic reckoning finally arrived?
Surrounded by debt, the Allan government finds itself backed into a financial and political corner.
- by Josh Gordon
Latest
Opinion
Victorian budget
Pallas says Labor’s promises have been delayed. Many would say they’ve been broken
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.
- by Annika Smethurst
Blown-out North East Link’s extra $3.25 billion gets Albanese’s thumbs up
Next week’s federal budget will feature extra money for the blown-out road project, bringing the Commonwealth’s contribution to $5 billion.
- by 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
Editorial
Editorial
Victoria is driving towards a debt cliff. Here’s one way to hit the brakes
Projections that the state’s debt would rise from $135.9 billion this year to $187.8 billion by mid-2028 highlight a need for drastic action.
- The Age's View
Exclusive
Victorian budget
Sweeping hospital mergers on table after Victoria’s bad-news budget
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.
- by Aisha Dow, Annika Smethurst and Kieran Rooney
Analysis
Victorian budget
Victoria the ‘basket case’ state: This debt isn’t like a household mortgage
Most home owners understand that if you are serious about getting your mortgage under control, you can’t keep borrowing more money to pay for other things.
- by Chip Le Grand
More than 100 projects delayed as blowouts hit bottom line
Delays will affect signature projects in education, health and housing as the government shields the budget from rising costs.
- by Kieran Rooney
Victorian budget 2024 as it happened: Cuts, delays, taxes revealed as treasurer hands down state budget
The Victorian treasurer delivered his 10th budget which both he and Premier Jacinta Allan pressed was “sensible and disciplined” amid burgeoning state debt.
- by Alex Crowe
Arden hospitals ditched over Metro Tunnel electromagnetic interference
Interference from the new Metro Tunnel station at Arden has forced the Victorian government to ditch a $5 billion plan to build new hospital campuses there.
- by Aisha Dow and Cara Waters
School bonus divides as rich reap benefits and poorer private areas miss out
Public school students in wealthy suburbs will get $400 each to help with learning costs while their private peers in poorer areas miss out.
- by Rachel Eddie and Robyn Grace