Tag: daniel andrews

Victorian State Election: Problems With Both Major Parties

Commentary A scathing joint report into the activities of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Victoria by that state’s Ombudsman and Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), released on July 20, found a “catalogue of unethical and inappropriate behaviour and concerning practices” inside the party. As far as they affected public office and public funds, the…


Victorian Premier Calls for Urgent Integrity Reform Amid ‘Branch Stacking’ Revelations

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called for widespread reform to the state’s political parties amid a revealing report into “branch stacking” in the Labor Party. The opposition has criticised his pledge for integrity reform as a sleight of hand to distract from the Labor Party’s internal issues. The joint report released by the state’s anti-corruption body,…


No Victorian Labor MPs Face Criminal Charges Despite Misconduct

Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdogs have decided not to pursue prosecution against Victorian Labor MPs engaging in deliberate, extensive and egregious use of taxpayer funds. On July 20, The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and Victorian Ombudsman released a joint report detailing an investigation into branch stacking allegations within the Victorian branch of the Labor Party. While the…


Australian MP Jane Garrett Dies Aged 49

Victorian Labor MP Jane Garrett has died from breast cancer at the age of 49. The former emergency services minister, an MP since 2010, was diagnosed with the disease in 2016 and announced late last year she would not stand for re-election in the 2022 state poll. Garrett, who served as member for Brunswick and…


Skilled Migrants to Solve Hospital Staff Shortages in Australian State

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews is hoping skilled migrants from overseas will be able to help his government tackle the state’s hospital staffing crisis. The premier has pushed for the clearance of a “massive” backlog of skilled migrants saying the stagnation in Australia’s skilled migration in the past two years was contributing to Victoria’s ailing health…


Four Top Victorian Labor Ministers Retire, State Cabinet to Reshuffle

The Victorian Labor government has been forced to organise a cabinet reshuffle after four senior ministers announced their retirement. On June 24, Deputy Premier James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Sports Minister Martin Pakula issued statements confirming their decisions to step down from the cabinet. They also would not recontest…


Survey Finds 50 Percent of Australian Youth Experienced Negative Mental Health, Worse in Lockdown States

A 2021 survey led by Mission Australia and Orygen on Australian youths has found around half, or 50 percent of those surveyed, found their mental health was affected by the pandemic, with high lockdown states such as New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria having the highest reports of adverse mental health. Victorian youths, who experienced…


Victorian Premier Called Out Over His Role in the State Health Emergency

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been questioned over his role in the state’s health crisis that led to the death of a 14-year-old girl waiting for an ambulance as well as 15 other Victorians’ deaths in the recent months. 14-year-old Lydia Anseline died on April 13 from an asthma attack after waiting for over 30…


Victorian Ombudsman Splits Inquiry into Alleged Labor’s Corrupt Conducts

The Victorian Ombudsman has decided to conduct two separate investigations, one into Labor’s “red shirts” scandal and another into the alleged politicisation of the public service, in response to parliament referral. In February, the upper house of the Victorian parliament passed a motion calling for a re-investigation into the red shirts affair to be headed…


Victoria’s Premier Faces Mounting Pressure on Anti-corruption Investigation

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is under increasing pressure to reveal whether the state’s anti-corruption watchdog has interviewed him in relation to an ongoing investigation. The Australian reported that the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) questioned Andrews twice in private as part of Operation Sandon. The operation is a long-running investigation into allegations of favourable planning…