Democracy requires choice, and a party that gets into the habit of denying the voters a choice is failing in its primary duty, however convenient that might be for its elected representatives.
Politics / Australia / VIC
Canberra says no to grazing — so what are states for?
At least as the federal government sees things, the controversy over cattle grazing in Victoria’s Alpine National Park is now over.
For Big Ted, it’s time to shift gears
The changing of the guard at the top may be a sign that Ted Baillieu feels it is time to shift gears.
Bonanza for big-box retail at the expense of transparency
Planning ministers in Victoria have a habit of trying to cut corners and then coming unstuck, writes Stephen Rowley, an urban planner and former co-editor of Planning News.
Why we need to talk about COAG
The process has been hampered by a breakdown in trust between the Commonwealth and the states, writes Paul Kildea on Inside Story.
Ted Baillieu: does Big Ted have the ticker to govern?
Under normal conditions, the Premier of Victoria should be the most powerful figure in Melbourne. But Ted Baillieu isn’t, writes Andrew Crook.
The battle over alpine cattle grazing heats up
A battle is heating up between the Victorian and federal governments over cattle grazing in Victoria’s heritage-listed Alpine National Park, writes Iona Salter, a freelance journalist.
Melbourne dreams of new airport but Sydney’s still stuck in gridlock
For Premier Barry O’Farrell, the economic consequences of the weekend announcement by Victoria’s peak business body of its enthusiasm for a third Melbourne airport is probably under acute analysis
Melbourne’s most powerful: Rod Eddington
Sir Roderick Ian Eddington’s ideas, now coming to fruition, are quite literally changing the face of the southern metropolis, writes Andrew Crook.
aviation industry 
Little Sydney and Mega-Melbourne: comparing airport ambitions
It speaks much for the centre of growth and vision in this country to compare the political difficulties that arise over plans for a 2nd Sydney Airport, and the general enthusiasm for a 3rd Melbourne Airport, writes Ben Sandilands.
How powerful is Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle?
He carries off the usual city hall duties, like ribbon cutting and sound biting, with aplomb. But is Robert Doyle actually powerful? He certainly doesn’t mind pissing people off, writes Andrew Crook.
Fisherman win more algae testing — but not in time for tourists
The Victorian Department of Health have used a unique “whole fish crush test” to find a toxin and closed the state’s largest fishery at the start of Christmas, writes Crikey naturalist Lionel Elmore.
Fishing industry overhaul to have huge impact on jobs, tourism
The Department of Primary Industries Victoria seems to have nearly got away with very limited consultation before undertaking the most extensive reform of fisheries in Australia’s history, writes Crikey naturalist Lionel Elmore.
The perils of caging Twitter in governments
In a classic case of confusing the medium with the message, the Victorian Parliament last week launched an inquiry into the use of social media within the gallery, writes Charis Palmer of Technology Spectator.
Murdoch, Baillieu and Morgan: a story of old Melbourne families
Melbourne marked an interesting milestone last week.
Strong-arm response from The Oz against claims of ‘being used’
All eyes were trained on how The Australian this morning would react to the extraordinary spray dished out against it by outgoing Office of Police Integrity director Michael Strong on Jon Faine yesterday.
Baillieu govt one year on: a ‘let ‘er rip’ approach to environment
The new Victorian government has systematically dismantled environmental protections and determinedly ignored its stewardship responsibilities to the environment, write Sandi Keane and David Donovan of Independent Australia.
Worlds collide as UK parliamentary committee comes to Oz
I’ll be dining next week with five members of the UK parliamentary committee probing phone hacking.
Nursing dispute’s origins in the savage cuts of the Kennett era
The current nursing dispute has its origins in the savage cuts to the health budget initiated by the first Kennett government in 1993-4, writes Tom Keating, a former senior Victorian health manager.
Occupy crackdowns perfectly illustrate the movement’s claims
The violent reaction to Occupy protests isn’t just generating coverage, but illustrating the claims of the movement.
Liberals exposed as kingmakers in bitter chicken spat
A shadowy astroturf group led by two Liberal Party operatives has emerged to bend public opinion in the bitter Baiada poultry workplace dispute.
AFP to The Oz: ‘you show me your info if we show you ours’
AFP counter-terrorism tsar Steve Lancaster has told a court that he undertook a “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” process with The Australian’s Cameron Stewart to negotiate the terms of an anti-terror drop.
Stewart points finger at Overland for ‘police politics’ that nabbed Artz
The Australian’s Cameron Stewart claims ex-police chief Simon Overland presided over the “police politics” that in his view was behind the OPI’s decision to pursue criminal charges against a junior source.
