Every day that Labor spends worrying about the Greens is a day that it’s not trying to beat its actual opponents.
John Brumby
The Victorian election comes alive at Sofia’s Pizza Restaurant, Frankston
The Victorian election campaign has finally, sort of, spluttered to life, but the fact that it took ABC Mornings host Jon Faine to do it in front of a hectoring crowd of creek protestors on the patio of Sofia pizza restaurant in Frankston probably says a lot for the disinterest most of the state’s citizens have in this campaign.
Victorian election: week one highlights
In preparation for John Brumby and Ted Baillieu’s leaders debate tonight, WIlliam Bowe recaps the notable happenings from the first week of the Victorian election campaign.
Bowe: Victoria the latest battlefield for new paradigm politics
The Victorian election is living up to its billing as the latest battlefield in new paradigm politics, with the Liberals finding themselves shunted from the front pages by a stoush between Labor and the Greens, writes William Bowe.
Austin: Brumby is the frontrunner, but it’s no walk in the park
The Victorian election remains Labor’s to lose, with the party considered a virtual shoo-in. But Labor strategists are worried that the numbers aren’t as good as they look and Brumby is in trouble on a number of fronts, writes Paul Austin.
Successors scramble to replace departing Brumby MPs
A lion of the Left and a long-term electorate officer have emerged as candidates to replace departing Brumby government ministers Peter Batchelor and Bob Cameron, Crikey can reveal.
The perils of listening tours: always find a friendly face first
It’s easy enough for political tacticians to be clever sitting around in the office planning how to handle a public relations problem. You can always devise a solution. The hard part is to put it into practice.
Brumby moves forward without Gillard on climate change
Victorian Premier John Brumby’s climate change white paper represents an ambitious map for the future, says Adam Morton, and the Premier can now lay claim to leading the country in establishing a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Melbourne Uni backflip won’t save VCA
The University of Melbourne’s humiliating backflip on the Victorian College of the Arts and the resignation of chief Melbourne Model spruiker Sharman Pretty might not be enough to save the icon from further financial strife, activists say.
Brumby’s rail may run through my laundry
Details remain incredibly sketchy, but it looks like my modest weatherboard may be spared from the Brumby Government’s decision to clear between 26 and 50 houses in Footscray to make way for a new rural rail corridor, writes Footscray resident Pat McGrath.
Take your cans to the recycling depot — win free beer!
In case Victoria — where the Brumby government is trying to resist a national drink bottle refund scheme — hasn’t noticed, Adelaide’s curbside recycling program works wonderfully, writes Ben Hagemann.
Brumby’s new fast food menu labelling to sort fat from fiction
The Victorian state government’s fast food menu labelling announcement is a step in the right direction for obesity prevention, writes Jane Martin, senior policy adviser of the Obesity Policy Coalition.
The left, the right and the union heavies: Julia’s rise to the top
The right-wing coup that has made notional left-winger Julia Gillard Prime Minister of Australia fits a pattern starting in her earliest days in student politics — a drive for power that subsumed strict factional loyalty for crafty opportunism.
Austin: Brumby gallops off track
Now into its second decade in power, Victorian Labor faces an uphill slog to win this year’s state election. Ministers are on the defensive and the public is fed up with John Brumby’s excuses, says Paul Austin.
Political snippets: Political advertising or government information?
Shameless cynicism from our leaders is what we’ve come to expect, no questions or answers with VIC ALP, whaling show business and other political snippets.
Six months to go for Brumby vs Baillieu
No Labor government in this cycle has won its fourth-term election without some anxiety. At this stage, the odds must favor Victoria going the same way, but the contest is still open.
Making the best of ‘deeply disappointing’ health reforms
The deal brokered with Victoria not only leaves the states with substantial financial responsibilities, but with exclusive responsibility for managing the funding and oversight of the hospitals, writes Andrew Podger.
How to end homelessness
What if 0.1% of the sale of your home went towards preventing homelessness? Sarah Davies explains Homes for Homes, the novel idea that’s got the Victorian government excited.
Brumby hailed as Mr Responsible as debt triples to $39b
With John Premier promising to triple Victorian state debt from $13 billion to $39 billion in the next six years, the best thing you can say about Victoria’s financial position is that all other states are worse off.
Savva: Kevin, you’re part of the ALP, remember?
Kevin Rudd may be the ALP’s top dog, but that doesn’t mean he gives a crap about being a loyal party member. He acts like he’s above the Labor faithful, but the Labor premiers will bide their time for revenge, writes Nikka Savva.
Newspoll: Brumby faces a late scratching
The latest Victorian Newspoll has Labor’s two-party vote down 52-48 from 54-46, while Premier John Brumby’s disapproval rating is up four and now higher than his approval rating for the first time, reports William Bowe.
Health reforms: all posturing and political theatre
Why couldn’t Victoria — a state with a strong track record of managing hospitals — continue to operate its health care system as normal as a trial? Why didn’t we embrace competitive federalism? asks Graeme Orr.
Carl Williams broke the criminal code — that’s why he’s dead
Putting Carl Williams on the front page of the Herald Sun outraged at “benefits” he was receiving was a mind-blowingly stupid idea and it was no surprise he was killed on the same day, writes Lionel Elmore.
Fighting for the states’ right to exist
Kevin Rudd’s political agenda was wrapped up in a hospital plan. The historic health reform deal was only partly about health and the GST, but more about fighting for the states’ rights and their right to exist.
