VICTORIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Taxpayers on hook for big bill as Commonwealth Games axed

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Annika Smethurst, Rachel Eddie, Broede Carmody, Michael Gleeson
The Age – Page: Online : 19-Jul-23

The Victorian government has not disclosed the likely cost of triggering the cancellation clause in its contract to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. However, legal advice provided to the Queensland government in 2012 about the potential axing of the 2018 Gold Coast Games suggested that the state would be liable to pay for the cost of staging the Commonwealth Games in another city; the state Labor party estimated at the time that this could cost around $1bn. The Victorian government still intends to spend some $2 billion on Games-related infrastructure in regional towns that were to have hosted events. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips has questioned the government’s estimate that the cost of hosting the Games has blown out from just $2.6bn to at least $6.2bn.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH GAMES AUSTRALIA

Andrews’ great wall of silence

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Patrick Carlyon, Mitch Clarke, Carly Douglas
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 7-Jun-23

The Victorian government is under scrutiny over revelations that Premier Daniel Andrews addressed a forum in Melbourne on Monday night to which access was restricted to the Chinese media. Andrews has indicated that he has "no idea" why Australian journalists were banned from attending the Post Pandemic China-Australia Economic Co-operation Forum. Opposition leader John Pesutto says it is unacceptable for any political leader to give speeches in secret. Liberal senator James Paterson recently raised concerns that one of the forum’s sponsors is a "front group" for China’s top spy agency.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Land tax changes won’t drive up rents: Andrews

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Broede Carmody, Rachel Eddie, Jim Malo
The Age – Page: Online : 25-May-23

The Victorian government continues to attract scrutiny over the Covid debt reduction measures in its 23 May budget, which include a land tax on residential investment properties. Premier Daniel Andrews contends that landlords will not seek to recoup the cost of the new tax by increasing their rent charges, although the Centre for Independent Studies’ chief economist Peter Tulip argues that many landlords have relatively thin margins and will need to increase their rents. Treasurer Tim Pallas has indicated that the state government may consider options such as capping rent increases, although he has ruled out a rent freeze. Family homes will be exempt from the land tax.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED

Support for the Andrews Government up since the Victorian Election; Pesutto’s handling of Moira Deeming had a negative impact on his job approval as leader

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-May-23

A Roy Morgan Snap SMS Poll shows that support for the ALP Government in Victoria has increased to 61.5% (up 6.5% points since the 2022 state election) on a two-party preferred basis; support for the Liberal-National Coalition is on 38.5% (down 6.5% points). Primary vote support for the ALP has increased by 5.3% points to 42% since the election, while support for the L-NP Coalition is down 6% points to 28.5%. Support for the Greens is up 1% point to 12.5%, while support for other minor parties and independents attracts 17% of the vote (down 0.3% points). Meanwhile, Premier Daniel Andrews has a large lead over Opposition leader John Pesutto as the preferred Premier in the first head-to-head poll Roy Morgan has conducted between the two leaders. Now 64% of electors say Andrews would make the ‘Better Premier’, compared to only 36% who say Pesutto. Now 52.5% (down 5% points since November) of Victorian electors approve of the way Andrews is handling his job, while 47.5% (up 5% points) disapprove. In contrast, a majority of 53.5% of Victorian electors disapprove of the job Pesutto is doing, and only 46.5% approve. This Roy Morgan Snap SMS Poll was conducted from May 17-22, 2023, with a Victoria-wide cross-section of 2,095 Victorian electors aged 18+.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Heavy price as cash crisis crushes Victoria

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Shannon Deery
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 24-May-23

Victoria’s Treasurer Tim Pallas says the Covid debt levies announced in the state’s 2023 budget are temporary, targeted and responsible. Victorians who own holiday homes and investment properties will pay a new land tax which is expected to raise around $4.7bn over the forward estimates period and will remain in place for a decade. There are fears that the levy will worsen the housing crisis by pushing up rents and deterring investment in the rental market. The government also expects to raise $3.9bn via a new payroll tax levy on businesses with a wages bills of more than $10m. The state’s own wages bill is forecast to rise by $5bn over the next four years, despite plans to shed up to 4,000 public sector jobs. Opposition leader John Pesutto says the budget is mean and nasty, adding that it shows that Victoria is broke.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA

Andrews’ secret Covid polling revealed

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Mar-23

Victoria’s Department of Premier & Cabinet has belatedly released nearly 200 pages of documents and emails pertaining to research on the public’s attitude to COVID-19 lockdowns. The polling was undertaken by QDOS Research, which is owned by Labor strategist John Armitage. The government had frequently reiterated that its pandemic response was shaped by health advice, but the documents also show that it asked QDOS to undertake intensive online surveys and focus groups to gauge Victorians’ reactions to pandemic restrictions, as well as the performance of Premier Daniel Andrews during the state’s marathon 112-day lockdown. The government had sought for two years to block requests for access to the documents via freedom of information laws.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QDOS RESEARCH

Andrews denies sneaky document dump

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Dec-22

The Victorian government has been criticised for tabling 265 reports during the first sitting of state parliament since the election on 26 November. Premier Daniel Andrews has defended the decision to release tens of thousands of pages of government documents just days before Christmas; he stresses that the reports are being tabled in accordance with the law, and notes that many reports had been tabled before his government went into caretaker mode. Opposition Leader John Pesutto has stressed the need for accountability, scrutiny and integrity in government.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Andrews slugged by voters

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Warner
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 24-Nov-22

Ian Cook is among a large field of Victorian election candidates who are contesting the seat of Mulgrave, which has been held by Premier Daniel Andrews since 2002. Independent exit polling at Mulgrave’s only early voting booth suggests that there could be a shock swing against Andrews. Cook’s campaign manager Emily Coltraine says with that preferences factored in, the exit polls show that Cook has 57.2 per cent of the vote compared with 42.8 per cent for Andrews; however, the exit polls comprise a sample of just 159 voters. Coltraine says many electors are telling Cook that they support Labor but will not vote for Andrews. Cook’s catering business was forced to shut down after a local council health inspector allegedly found a slug on the premises.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ALP fears for 10 seats amid late challenges as Victorian polling day nears

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Ferguson, Angelica Snowden
The Australian – Page: 6 : 24-Nov-22

Labor strategists believe that the party could potentially lose 8-10 seats at the Victorian election on Saturday, and these seats are likely to be targeted by both major political parties in the final days of the election campaign. The loss of so many seats could reduce Labor to a minority government, as some of these seats are likely to fall to Greens and independent candidates rather than the Coalition. Meanwhile, the state government’s Suburban Rail Loop dominated the election on Wednesday, with the Opposition pushing Premier Daniel Andrews to release costings for the project.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA

ALP Government of Daniel Andrews set to win with a reduced majority as support for L-NP grows – but will the trend continue?

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Nov-22

A special Roy Morgan Snap SMS Poll shows that the Victorian ALP on 55% (down 2% points since early November) has an election-winning lead over the L-NP Coalition on 45% (up 2% points) on a two-party preferred basis. The Poll shows a swing of 2.3% points away from the ALP since the 2018 Victorian Election in which the ALP on 57.3% defeated the L-NP on 42.7% (a near record margin of 14.6% points). Primary vote support for the two major parties shows the ALP now at 38% (down 4.9% points from the 2018 Election) ahead of the L-NP on 32.5% (down 2.7% points). Support for the Greens is at 12.5% (up 1.8% points) while total support for ‘Other parties and independents’ is now at 17% (up 5.8% points). There are many seats on tight margins that will be closely contested at the election. If the Roy Morgan Poll result of a uniform swing of 2.3% points away from the ALP to the Liberal-National coalition is the outcome this would lead to five or six seats being lost to the Liberal Party. However, even if the Liberal Party does pick up five or six seats from the ALP Government they may lose three or four seats to a ‘Teal Independent’ candidate elsewhere. This special Roy Morgan Snap SMS Poll was conducted with a Victoria-wide cross-section of 1,195 Victorian electors aged 18+ conducted from Tuesday November 22 to Wednesday November 23.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS