The Block faces falling house prices – and loses a billionaire buyer
This year, the series moved to the popular tourist town of Daylesford – known for its mineral springs, food and art culture, including the award-winning Lake House and artist David Bromley – located 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne. The show airs on Nine, owner of this masthead.
Daylesford's median house price fell 6.3 per cent over the year to June, reaching $820,000, according to Domain data.
The broader Hepburn Shire's median house price fell 11.3 per cent, to $687,500, in the same period.
Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said the contestants will need to make 'strategic decisions' about how they sell their homes in a cooling regional Victorian market.
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This follows double-digit increases in house prices in 2021, she said.
'What the market did was hit into the cooling period which began in 2023, and it has escalated … we are seeing the falls accelerate and that has been consistent in 2024 and 2025,' she says.
'What we have now is the median house price in Daylesford is $820,000 … that is $100,000 lower than the record high which was mid-2022 … definitely it's cooling.
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The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
PM lays out economic path to Indigenous empowerment
While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Working from home could be a legal right for millions of Aussies under new plan
A state government has revealed plans to enshrine the right to work from home for both public and private-sector employees. The premier behind the Australian-first push hails its as the next frontier in worker rights that would benefit working parents. However a legal right to work from home would be divisive and likely send jobs elsewhere, business groups say. The Victorian government has promised to introduce legislation in 2026 for the right to work from home on two days per week, in contrast to other states that want public servants to spend more time in the office. The proposed law would apply to all public and private sector employees in Victoria who can reasonably do their job from home. Details are yet to be worked through and Premier Jacinta Allan signalled the changes could come into effect under Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act, as private workplaces are regulated by federal laws. Allan promoted the plan as beneficial to both the economy and families, likening it to other significant workplace changes in recent decades including more women entering the workforce. 'There's been many, many gains over many, many generations that have supported women's opportunity to increase their workforce participation, this is just another important, big step,' she told reporters. Issues such as the definition of remote work, who can do it, how it would affect part-time workers and the types of businesses to which the law would apply, will be figured out through a consultation process. Allan said the decision had gone through cabinet and brushed off suggestions it could trigger a court challenge. The plan drew sharp criticism from business groups, with Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper describing it as serious government overreach that undermines business autonomy. He described it as 'pure political theatre' designed to wedge the opposition while also running counter to both global trends and business best practice. 'These policies foster an 'us versus them' dynamic, privileging some white-collar workers while leaving blue-collar employees with no choice,' he said. 'It's divisive, disruptive, and dangerous.' Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra claimed businesses would move interstate and jobs would be lost if Victoria moved away from the legislated national system. '(Work from home) certainly works well in some contexts, but that should be determined by the employer in consultation with the employee,' he said. Allan promised to introduce the law in 2026 prior to the state election. Polls indicate Labor is on track to win a fourth term but the November 2026 poll will be the first as premier for Allan, who lags opposition leader Brad Battin as preferred state leader. Battin said working from home was a valuable option for many workers and families. 'We support measures that help Victorians enjoy a better work-life balance, and will review any legislation closely, to ensure it supports flexibility, productivity and personal choice,' he said. The federal coalition's push to end to working-from-home for public servants was partly blamed for its unsuccessful result at the May federal election, despite abandoning the policy before polling day. NSW Premier Chris Minns has described remote-work provisions as a thing of the past but stopped short of seeking an end to working from home, instead ordering public servants to work principally in offices. More than one third of Australian employees usually work from home but that number swells to 60 per cent of managers and people in professional services, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The bureau says 43 per cent who work from home do overtime, compared to one quarter of those who do not.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
On Labor's pitch for working from home, Allan finds her cause
In the nearly two years since she became Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan has never been entirely in sync with the Labor machine. Where Dan Andrews was both a central cog and its chief engineer, it has taken a while for Allan and the other moving parts on Victorian Labor's election-winning assembly line to fully understand each other and how best to roll the finished product into the November 2026 state poll. At Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday, the venue for this year's ALP state conference, we saw the pieces coming together. The premier walked in and left the conference main hall to a standing ovation, the room having been primed by a slick campaign video marrying Allan's voice and image with the 'On your side' slogan the party will use in the lead-up to the election. When the video started playing before Allan's putative rival, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, had finished his speech, it was further evidence that Labor gods are now smiling on a state leader who, only a few months ago, was put in deep freeze by her own party during the federal campaign. The change in Allan and Victorian Labor from the dog days of late summer, when senior party figures were reeling from the results of a Resolve poll published by this masthead showing only one-fifth of voters intended to vote for the party at the next state election, goes beyond the atmospherics on the conference floor. The centrepiece of Allan's speech was a promise to legislate the right of people to work from home two days a week in jobs where this is possible. This is very much Allan's policy, developed by her advisers and approved by a cabinet subcommittee of senior ministers she chairs, rather that going to full cabinet or caucus for debate.
