John Pesutto
Nationals grassroots members go nuclear over Welcome to Country ceremonies
The Victorian Nationals rank and file want a future Coalition government to back nuclear power and to axe funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies.
- by Annika Smethurst
Latest
Opinion
Political leadership
Jacinta Allan is slowly marching Labor off a cliff of Daniel Andrews’ making
Though the state election is still two years away, a damning poll for Labor doesn’t paint a pretty picture for the Allan government.
- by Annika Smethurst
Exclusive
Political leadership
Labor’s popularity plunges as voters demand government tackle debt
Support for Jacinta Allan’s government has dropped to a primary vote of 28 per cent, sliding from 42 per cent under Daniel Andrews’ leadership about a year ago.
- 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
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
Exclusive
Planning
Councils not the housing villain as developers shelve construction
Property developers and builders opted not to press ahead with a record number of units in the last five years – despite them being approved by councils.
- by Josh Gordon, Royce Millar and Kieran Rooney
Opinion
Greens
How Liberal mistakes are driving the Greens and Nationals’ succession plans
A rare reprieve from leadership chatter among Labor and the Liberals has turned the spotlight to other players among the Victorian Parliament.
- by Annika Smethurst
Analysis
Liberal Party
Victorian voters ready for the Coalition to climb back from the wilderness
The state’s voters are ripe for the picking, but the opposition will need to do more to capitalise on Labor’s problems, not simply rely on their misfortune.
- by Annika Smethurst
Exclusive
Liberal Party
Slip in Labor support pushes Pesutto’s team ahead for first time in years
The latest poll by Resolve shows Labor’s primary vote has shed 9 percentage points in the past year, which has allowed the Coalition to grab a lead despite a period of internal unrest.
- by Annika Smethurst
Exclusive
Nuclear energy
Not in my backyard: Liberals, Nationals go cold on nuclear
Coalition MPs are strongly in favour of nuclear energy – but they’re not so sure about where to put the power plants.
- by James Massola, Mike Foley and Olivia Ireland
Exclusive
Liberal Party
Deputy distances himself from Pesutto comments in Deeming defamation threat
David Southwick sought to fend off a legal threat from exiled MP Moira Deeming by arguing he can’t be held responsible for comments made by his party leader.
- by Rachel Eddie