Category: daniel andrews

No Payroll Tax Relief for 2022-2023: Victorian Government

The Victoria’s state government will not provide payroll tax relief for businesses in the next financial year as it prioritises health spending and a budget surplus. The latest state budget released on May 3 predicted that land and payroll tax revenue for the state would rise by $4.8 billion (US$3.48 billion) and $6.8 billion, respectively,…


Victoria Labor Announces Payments to Save on Energy Bills

The Victorian Labor Government has announced a new $250 (US$176.4) one-off payment for all Victorian households as part of the new Power Saving Bonus program for energy bills. “This is a great opportunity for Victorians to save money, ease the cost of living, and cut their energy bills,”  the Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said. Under…


Victorian Liberal Slam Labor’s Plans to Build Second Drug Injection Room

The Victorian Liberals have slammed the state government’s plans to build a second drug injection room in metropolitan Melbourne, stating that it “must not go ahead” as the release of the consultation report on the second room gets further delayed. “Labor is focused on further destroying the CBD’s efforts to recover and rebuild by putting…


Over 400 Australian Teachers Stood Down for Not Getting Third COVID Vaccine

Victoria’s state government has suspended around 420 public school teachers for not complying with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. The majority of the teachers were put on leave without pay because they failed to get a booster shot by March 25. Premier Daniel Andrews has continued to maintain the vaccination mandate for school teachers, reasoning…


States Urged to Relax COVID-19 Rules: Australian Business Groups

Peak business bodies are calling for state governments across Australia to abolish the seven-day isolation requirements for close contacts of people with COVID-19. Business (New South Wales (NSW) and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was necessary to remove those rules to mitigate labour shortages. They proposed that those identified as close…


2026 Commonwealth Games Confirmed in Regional Victoria

The Victorian Labor Government has confirmed that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in regional Victoria in March 2026. “It’s a great honour to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games–we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state,” the state premier, Daniel Andrews said. “The Commonwealth…


Victoria Government Alleges Liberals Failing Victorians Amidst Political Campaign

The Victorian Labor Government has criticised the conservative Opposition for failing Victorians after the Victorian Opposition Leader and his colleagues voted against a motion that the federal government did not deliver for the state in the 2022 federal budget. “Today’s vote shows where Liberal and National MPs stand–on the side of cutting funding to Victorians…


Victoria Announces Another 3-Month Extension of Pandemic Declaration

The Victorian government has prolonged the state’s pandemic declaration for three months, from April 12 to July 12. In a statement released on April 6, Premier Daniel Andrews said he was satisfied that the coronavirus disease still remained a severe risk to the state’s public health when making the decision. “This extension enables us to keep…


Victoria to Boost Elective Surgeries With $1.5 Billion Spending

The Victorian government has announced that it will spend $1.5 billion (US$1.12 billion) to reduce the state’s elective surgery waitlist backlog via a catch-up scheme expected to raise surgical capacity by 25 percent. The COVID Catch-Up Plan, which is designed to increase surgical activity across the state to 125 percent of the pre-pandemic level by…


Liberal MPs’ Scandals Spell Trouble for Victoria’s Opposition

Victoria’s Opposition has been hit with two scandals caused by its senior members on the same day, raising concerns about cultural issues within the party. Shadow treasurer David Davis was escorted out of a multicultural gala dinner for getting drunk and misbehaving, while Liberal MP Wendy Lovell has been subject to harsh criticism for her…