BUSINESS AND POLITICS – VICTORIA

‘Worst place to do business’: BCA boss

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Original article by Anthony Galloway, Lily McCaffrey
The Australian – Page: 2 : 28-Oct-26

The Business Council of Australia’s fourth annual Regulation Rumble report has put Victoria under scrutiny ahead of next month’s state election. The report found that Victoria is the worst place to do business across all Australian jurisdictions, a distinction it has retained for a third consecutive year. The BCA’s CEO Bran Black notes amongst other things that Victoria has the nation’s highest unemployment rate in the nation, as well as high taxes and unnecessary regulation that makes it harder for businesses to invest, grow and create jobs. He adds that the same problems that were identified in the 2025 report still exist, citing issues such as payroll taxes, property taxes and business licensing.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Claimants face tough hurdles in virus class action

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 1-Sep-20

Law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is leading a class action against the Victorian government on behalf of businesses that have been affected by the state’s new coronavirus lockdown. The lawsuit will allege that the government was negligent in its handling of the hotel quarantine program. Evidence from the inquiry into the botched program will be crucial in the class action, as will the results of genomic sequencing to trace the initial source of the second wave of infections. However, prominent lawyer Julian Burnside warns that establishing causation may be difficult.

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QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART AND SULLIVAN LP

Premier should go, struggling businesses say

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Original article by James Fernyhough
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 10-Jul-20

Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Chrissie Maus says Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews should resign over the hotel quarantine fiasco that has seen Victoria placed in lockdown again. Chris Lutz, owner of Design a Space, says he cannot understand why the Victorian government did not use the military to manage the hotel quarantining. Kurt Falkenstein, the owner of shared workspace Revolver Lane, says he does not think "it would inappropriate for Daniel Andrews to resign".

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CHAPEL STREET PRECINCT ASSOCIATION, DESIGN A SPACE

Business slams grand final holiday as fans flock on expensive flights

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Sep-17

PwC estimates that Victoria’s Australian Football League grand final eve public holiday costs the state’s businesses around $A1.2bn a year. Business leaders have urged the State Government to abolish the public holiday or at the very least shift it to the Monday after the grand final, to bring Victoria into line with several other states. Meanwhile, airlines have been criticised for increasing their airfares on some routes to Melbourne and Sydney, which will host the AFL and National Rugby League deciders.

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AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, RICHMOND FOOTBALL CLUB, ADELAIDE CROWS FOOTBALL CLUB, MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, VICTORIAN EMPLOYERS’ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AFL FANS ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

‘Footy Friday’ a $1bn hit for firms

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 3 : 27-Sep-16

An Australian Industry Group survey has found that the Victorian Government’s Australian Football League grand final eve public holiday will cost respondents an average of $A16,000 in revenue. PricewaterhouseCoopers has previously estimated that the total cost of the public holiday across the state economy would be between $A717 million and $A898m each year, while the increased wages bill would cost employers up to $A286m a year. Hazeldene’s Chicken estimates that public holiday penalty rates will increase its wages bill by around $A195,000.

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AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, HAZELDENE’S CHICKEN FARM PTY LTD, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Victoria unlikely to lift ban on coal seam gas

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Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 24-May-16

The Victorian Government has announced a ministerial reshuffle, with Wade Noonan replacing Lily D’Ambrosio in the resources portfolio. Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association CEO Malcolm Roberts has urged Noonan to end the state’s moratorium on coal seam gas exploration. D’Ambrosio will take on the energy, environment and climate change portfolios, which has prompted the Opposition to express concern about a potential conflict of interests.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Labor to honour Crown’s new deal

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Original article by Richard Willingham, Jason Dowling
The Age – Page: 1 : 17-Sep-14

The Australian Labor Party will not oppose the Victorian Government’s new deal with Crown Resorts. The deal will extend the casino’s licence to 2050 and bring the government an extra $A910 million in tax. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said that the party would not be able to rewrite the commercial arrangement. It has negotiated a four-year package for the retraining of 500 retrenched workers

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CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE