Latest news with #Victorians'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria has had a new IVF watchdog for six months. So far, it has not taken any action
Greens health spokesperson Sarah Mansfield said the Allan government had handed fertility clinic regulation to the Health Department claiming it would have greater enforcement options; however, there was no indication any action was taking place. 'You can have all the penalties available that you want, but unless there's proper regulation happening – like people actually going out and looking into these things and using those enforcement measures – they don't really mean a lot,' Mansfield said. Loading 'The Victorian government has responsibility now for regulation of the IVF industry. It is up to them to restore Victorians' trust in the system and in their ability to provide that regulation. What Victorians want to know is that everything will be done to avoid incidents like [the wrong embryos being implanted] happening again. 'Providing transparency around adverse incidents, and the consequence of those incidents, is a really important part of rebuilding that trust.' A Premier's Department spokesperson said that because the question on notice had been asked at a June 10 hearing of the parliamentary accounts and estimates committee, its response did not take into account Monash IVF's disclosure on the same day that it had mistakenly implanted the wrong embryo into a woman at its Clayton clinic. But the response does cover the April disclosure that a woman had given birth to a stranger's baby following an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic. Following that bungle, Victoria's Health Department requested information from its Queensland counterpart before renewing licences for Monash IVF's Victorian clinics from April 30. Loading The Health Department spokesperson said an investigation had been launched into the Clayton embryo bungle, but neither the department nor Thomas' office would comment about actions being undertaken by the VHR. Australian Fertility Treatment Families founder Michelle Galea said she was extremely concerned, but not surprised, that the new regulator was yet to undertake any enforcement action. She said the government had been too quick to shut down the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. 'They rushed this thing through by shutting VARTA down at the end of the year,' Galea said. 'It takes time to implement new strategies, new employees, new legislation. 'It was winding down and there was no transition period, so I'd be very surprised if there was any actual regulation getting done in the last six months of last year.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Victoria has had a new IVF watchdog for six months. So far, it has not taken any action
Greens health spokesperson Sarah Mansfield said the Allan government had handed fertility clinic regulation to the Health Department claiming it would have greater enforcement options; however, there was no indication any action was taking place. 'You can have all the penalties available that you want, but unless there's proper regulation happening – like people actually going out and looking into these things and using those enforcement measures – they don't really mean a lot,' Mansfield said. Loading 'The Victorian government has responsibility now for regulation of the IVF industry. It is up to them to restore Victorians' trust in the system and in their ability to provide that regulation. What Victorians want to know is that everything will be done to avoid incidents like [the wrong embryos being implanted] happening again. 'Providing transparency around adverse incidents, and the consequence of those incidents, is a really important part of rebuilding that trust.' A Premier's Department spokesperson said that because the question on notice had been asked at a June 10 hearing of the parliamentary accounts and estimates committee, its response did not take into account Monash IVF's disclosure on the same day that it had mistakenly implanted the wrong embryo into a woman at its Clayton clinic. But the response does cover the April disclosure that a woman had given birth to a stranger's baby following an embryo mix-up at Monash IVF's Brisbane clinic. Following that bungle, Victoria's Health Department requested information from its Queensland counterpart before renewing licences for Monash IVF's Victorian clinics from April 30. Loading The Health Department spokesperson said an investigation had been launched into the Clayton embryo bungle, but neither the department nor Thomas' office would comment about actions being undertaken by the VHR. Australian Fertility Treatment Families founder Michelle Galea said she was extremely concerned, but not surprised, that the new regulator was yet to undertake any enforcement action. She said the government had been too quick to shut down the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. 'They rushed this thing through by shutting VARTA down at the end of the year,' Galea said. 'It takes time to implement new strategies, new employees, new legislation. 'It was winding down and there was no transition period, so I'd be very surprised if there was any actual regulation getting done in the last six months of last year.'
The Age
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Keeping power in check: The Age as a watchdog
In their feedback and correspondence, subscribers to The Age constantly make clear to me their desire for our journalists to hold society's powerful people and institutions to account. There is nothing new or innovative about the watchdog function of publications such as ours, indeed it is something people expect. But if you will allow me a small boast, I have to say I think we're quite good at it. In recent weeks our reporting has revealed: * The Victorian government is seeking to save $2.4 billion by delaying funding increases promised under the Gonski reforms, embedding the status of the so-called 'Education State' as the nation's poorest funder of public schools. * An outlaw bikie gang has been linked to a spate of firebombings targeting construction businesses across the state, and building industry insiders are concerned that government and law enforcement are not doing enough to stop it. * A dispute in the Victorian Liberal Party following a faux pas about Gina Rinehart has spilled over into a Fair Work matter. * Victorians' lives could be saved by mandating that defibrillators be registered on a public database. * A state government payroll tax touted as a salve for our ailing mental health system is overdelivering financially, but the state hasn't yet met a commitment for 170 new mental health beds. Most of these stories seek to hold our elected officials accountable along with the people they appoint to public roles, but our watchdog role extends beyond government to power in places such as sporting codes, business, schools, hospitals, the courts, society and the media. Of course, watchdog journalism doesn't cover everything we do, but it's at the heart of our purpose.
New European
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New European
Prisoners of circumstance
Superficially, this could hardly be more dispiriting for those like me who believe that the country already jails far too many people. The justice secretary herself went on to admit that 'our prisons too often create better criminals, not better citizens'. But the country's penchant for locking up offenders has landed this government with a massive problem: a constantly growing demand for places in institutions, many of which are unfit for purpose and some of which are unfit for habitation of any kind. Rejoice! The UK government is on track for 'the largest expansion since the Victorians' in one crucial area of infrastructure. Could that be schools for social carers, perhaps, or roads, or maybe, at last, some new reservoirs? No, the proud boast made to parliament last Thursday relates to prison places. It appears Keir Starmer wants to radically reshape prison policy. His appointment of James, now Lord, Timpson as prisons minister indicated a determination to bring real reform. Asking David Gauke to lead a review of sentencing policy was another pragmatic step in that direction: Gauke is a former Tory justice minister who was sacked from the party, and then from parliament, because of his lack of support for Boris Johnson's Brexit strategy. Gauke's report advocating more use of non-custodial sentences and a greater emphasis on dealing with the underlying problems of offenders – a high proportion of whom have addiction issues, poor levels of literacy and multiple difficulties with housing, relationships and general health – accompanied the statement by Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary. The official launch was pre-empted by a flurry of media excitement about 'chemical castration' for sex offenders. This is a gross exaggeration of the use of medication that the report moots as a possibility, and was guaranteed to upset social liberals. Yet some cynics might suggest that the government would have been happy with that outcome. When the then home secretary, Michael Howard, declared in 1993 that 'prison works', heads across the UK nodded in agreement, many adding a wish to 'throw away the key'. Their views have not changed, even though it is now clear that crime can thrive even inside some prisons, where drugs proliferate and those who enter without a habit are at risk of picking one up. Punishment rather than rehabilitation is the demand from many voters. Any liberal thinker who doubts that should take note of the polling on capital punishment. In January this year, More in Common found that 55% of people wanted to bring back the ultimate sanction for crimes such as multiple murder and terrorism, up from 50% a couple of years earlier. Among millennials, (those born between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s) the proportion in favour was 58%. Only 27% were opposed. Even if the government had once been prepared to take a principled stand on issues such as prisons, the local election results, with the massive victories for Reform, will have reminded it that it cannot risk alienating a significant proportion of the electorate. 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime' was the slogan first used by Tony Blair when, as shadow home secretary, he addressed the Labour conference in the year that Howard made his (in)famous remark. Blair was acknowledging the voters' appetite for harsh punishment – Starmer knows he must do the same. But the crisis point that is now being reached in the UK's prisons provides an opportunity to make changes while blaming impossible inherited circumstances. Sentencing guidelines that pander to the public and the more strident media have led to a record number of people being crowded into a limited prison estate. This has had disastrous effects, not least on any hope of rehabilitation, as facilities and staff for training and education are overwhelmed. The government has already had to institute one batch of early releases in order to avoid a potential complete breakdown in the system, when there would simply have been nowhere left to send even the most dangerous criminals. Now, despite another 2,400 places being added, if current trends continue, by early 2028 the country will be short of 9,500 prison places. This is why the government has accepted Gauke's recommendation that most prison sentences should offer the chance of earlier release, on licence and with strict conditions, than is currently the case. There will also be a move towards much greater use of non-custodial sentences for offences that currently put people behind bars for less than a year, often with disastrous long-term effects. These sentences do not work on any level: nearly 60% of those sentenced to 12 months or less reoffend within a year. And, while women make up only a tiny proportion of the prison population, there will be a determined effort to further reduce the number. Achieving a more humane, successful and economic prison system will take time. These may seem like baby steps to prison reform, but they are a start. Crucially, they are enough to unsettle the extreme 'throw away the key' brigade without alienating the bulk of the electorate.
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Debt piles up as public service faces $3b budget cut
A booming tax take, public service cuts and GST windfall are keeping a state budget afloat but debt keeps rising to historic highs. In her Victorian budget debut on Tuesday, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes projected net debt would hit $194 billion by 2028/29. Interest payments to service the debt will be $10.6 billion at that point, almost $29 million a day. Victoria's debt as a share of the economy is expected to peak at 25.2 per cent in 2026/27 before falling slightly. The budget spruiked a $2.3 billion cost-of-living package, including $50 million for another round of the power saving bonus for concession card holders and record $31 billion in health spending. Ms Symes hailed the state's return to an operating surplus of $600 million next financial year, the first produced since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was forecast to be $1.6 billion in December and could have been reinforced or bettered after Victoria received an extra $3.7 billion in GST revenue for 2025/26. Ms Symes, who described her budget strategy as responsible, decided to instead prioritise cost-of-living measures and funding core services. "This is support you can feel - at the kitchen table, at the school gate, at the train station," she told parliament. "It's a budget ... that is on Victorians' side." The budget does not contain an exact number of job losses stemming from a review, led by Helen Silver, of the Victorian public service. But it banks on $3.3 billion in savings from ceasing and redesigning programs, reducing duplication and cutting about 1200 full-time equivalent positions. More changes will follow after Ms Silver's final report is handed to the government in June, with the treasurer declaring there was more "fat" to trim. "That will identify additional savings," Ms Symes told reporters "There will be further job reductions, we flagged up to 3000." Infrastructure spending is forecast to fall by $8.2 billion over the next four years but the total for new and existing projects has skipped $8.1 billion higher to $213 billion. The cost of the state's infrastructure program has blown out by 1.9 per cent in just 12 months and a public transport ticketing system upgrade is $136.7 million over budget and won't be completed until late 2028. Ms Symes stuck to her word of no new taxes but the total take is slated to balloon from $31 billion in 2022/2023 to $41.7 billion in 2025/26 and Business, property and development groups were all in furious agreement the budget did not deal with the need for tax reform. "A key to improving cost-of-living pressures for families is secure housing and property tax relief," Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Linda Allison said. Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper said it was not a budget for business. "This is a budget which really lines directly up to the next election," he said. The opposition labelled the budget a "shopping list" rather than a real plan to pay down debt. "The amount we pay in interest will soon be 10 per cent of the total budget spend," Shadow Treasurer James Newbury said. Ms Symes will travel to the US in coming weeks to meet with credit rating agencies after S&P called for the state to demonstrate "fiscal discipline". KEY FORECASTS IN THE VICTORIAN BUDGET: * Net operating result: $600 billion surplus in 2025/26 to $1.5 billion surplus in 2028/29 * Net cash result: $15.5 billion deficit in 2025/26 to $11.4 billion deficit in 2028/29 * Tax revenue: $39.2 billion in 2025/26 to $47.9 billion in 2028/29 * Employee expenses: $38 billion in 2025/26 to $42.3 billion in 2028/29 * Infrastructure spending: $23.8 billion in 2025/26 to $15.6 billion in 2028/29 * Net debt: $155.5 billion in 2025/26 to $194 billion in 2028/29 * Interest repayments on debt: $6.8 billion in 2025/26 to $10.6 billion in 2028/29 A booming tax take, public service cuts and GST windfall are keeping a state budget afloat but debt keeps rising to historic highs. In her Victorian budget debut on Tuesday, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes projected net debt would hit $194 billion by 2028/29. Interest payments to service the debt will be $10.6 billion at that point, almost $29 million a day. Victoria's debt as a share of the economy is expected to peak at 25.2 per cent in 2026/27 before falling slightly. The budget spruiked a $2.3 billion cost-of-living package, including $50 million for another round of the power saving bonus for concession card holders and record $31 billion in health spending. Ms Symes hailed the state's return to an operating surplus of $600 million next financial year, the first produced since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was forecast to be $1.6 billion in December and could have been reinforced or bettered after Victoria received an extra $3.7 billion in GST revenue for 2025/26. Ms Symes, who described her budget strategy as responsible, decided to instead prioritise cost-of-living measures and funding core services. "This is support you can feel - at the kitchen table, at the school gate, at the train station," she told parliament. "It's a budget ... that is on Victorians' side." The budget does not contain an exact number of job losses stemming from a review, led by Helen Silver, of the Victorian public service. But it banks on $3.3 billion in savings from ceasing and redesigning programs, reducing duplication and cutting about 1200 full-time equivalent positions. More changes will follow after Ms Silver's final report is handed to the government in June, with the treasurer declaring there was more "fat" to trim. "That will identify additional savings," Ms Symes told reporters "There will be further job reductions, we flagged up to 3000." Infrastructure spending is forecast to fall by $8.2 billion over the next four years but the total for new and existing projects has skipped $8.1 billion higher to $213 billion. The cost of the state's infrastructure program has blown out by 1.9 per cent in just 12 months and a public transport ticketing system upgrade is $136.7 million over budget and won't be completed until late 2028. Ms Symes stuck to her word of no new taxes but the total take is slated to balloon from $31 billion in 2022/2023 to $41.7 billion in 2025/26 and Business, property and development groups were all in furious agreement the budget did not deal with the need for tax reform. "A key to improving cost-of-living pressures for families is secure housing and property tax relief," Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Linda Allison said. Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper said it was not a budget for business. "This is a budget which really lines directly up to the next election," he said. The opposition labelled the budget a "shopping list" rather than a real plan to pay down debt. "The amount we pay in interest will soon be 10 per cent of the total budget spend," Shadow Treasurer James Newbury said. Ms Symes will travel to the US in coming weeks to meet with credit rating agencies after S&P called for the state to demonstrate "fiscal discipline". KEY FORECASTS IN THE VICTORIAN BUDGET: * Net operating result: $600 billion surplus in 2025/26 to $1.5 billion surplus in 2028/29 * Net cash result: $15.5 billion deficit in 2025/26 to $11.4 billion deficit in 2028/29 * Tax revenue: $39.2 billion in 2025/26 to $47.9 billion in 2028/29 * Employee expenses: $38 billion in 2025/26 to $42.3 billion in 2028/29 * Infrastructure spending: $23.8 billion in 2025/26 to $15.6 billion in 2028/29 * Net debt: $155.5 billion in 2025/26 to $194 billion in 2028/29 * Interest repayments on debt: $6.8 billion in 2025/26 to $10.6 billion in 2028/29 A booming tax take, public service cuts and GST windfall are keeping a state budget afloat but debt keeps rising to historic highs. In her Victorian budget debut on Tuesday, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes projected net debt would hit $194 billion by 2028/29. Interest payments to service the debt will be $10.6 billion at that point, almost $29 million a day. Victoria's debt as a share of the economy is expected to peak at 25.2 per cent in 2026/27 before falling slightly. The budget spruiked a $2.3 billion cost-of-living package, including $50 million for another round of the power saving bonus for concession card holders and record $31 billion in health spending. Ms Symes hailed the state's return to an operating surplus of $600 million next financial year, the first produced since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was forecast to be $1.6 billion in December and could have been reinforced or bettered after Victoria received an extra $3.7 billion in GST revenue for 2025/26. Ms Symes, who described her budget strategy as responsible, decided to instead prioritise cost-of-living measures and funding core services. "This is support you can feel - at the kitchen table, at the school gate, at the train station," she told parliament. "It's a budget ... that is on Victorians' side." The budget does not contain an exact number of job losses stemming from a review, led by Helen Silver, of the Victorian public service. But it banks on $3.3 billion in savings from ceasing and redesigning programs, reducing duplication and cutting about 1200 full-time equivalent positions. More changes will follow after Ms Silver's final report is handed to the government in June, with the treasurer declaring there was more "fat" to trim. "That will identify additional savings," Ms Symes told reporters "There will be further job reductions, we flagged up to 3000." Infrastructure spending is forecast to fall by $8.2 billion over the next four years but the total for new and existing projects has skipped $8.1 billion higher to $213 billion. The cost of the state's infrastructure program has blown out by 1.9 per cent in just 12 months and a public transport ticketing system upgrade is $136.7 million over budget and won't be completed until late 2028. Ms Symes stuck to her word of no new taxes but the total take is slated to balloon from $31 billion in 2022/2023 to $41.7 billion in 2025/26 and Business, property and development groups were all in furious agreement the budget did not deal with the need for tax reform. "A key to improving cost-of-living pressures for families is secure housing and property tax relief," Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Linda Allison said. Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper said it was not a budget for business. "This is a budget which really lines directly up to the next election," he said. The opposition labelled the budget a "shopping list" rather than a real plan to pay down debt. "The amount we pay in interest will soon be 10 per cent of the total budget spend," Shadow Treasurer James Newbury said. Ms Symes will travel to the US in coming weeks to meet with credit rating agencies after S&P called for the state to demonstrate "fiscal discipline". KEY FORECASTS IN THE VICTORIAN BUDGET: * Net operating result: $600 billion surplus in 2025/26 to $1.5 billion surplus in 2028/29 * Net cash result: $15.5 billion deficit in 2025/26 to $11.4 billion deficit in 2028/29 * Tax revenue: $39.2 billion in 2025/26 to $47.9 billion in 2028/29 * Employee expenses: $38 billion in 2025/26 to $42.3 billion in 2028/29 * Infrastructure spending: $23.8 billion in 2025/26 to $15.6 billion in 2028/29 * Net debt: $155.5 billion in 2025/26 to $194 billion in 2028/29 * Interest repayments on debt: $6.8 billion in 2025/26 to $10.6 billion in 2028/29 A booming tax take, public service cuts and GST windfall are keeping a state budget afloat but debt keeps rising to historic highs. In her Victorian budget debut on Tuesday, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes projected net debt would hit $194 billion by 2028/29. Interest payments to service the debt will be $10.6 billion at that point, almost $29 million a day. Victoria's debt as a share of the economy is expected to peak at 25.2 per cent in 2026/27 before falling slightly. The budget spruiked a $2.3 billion cost-of-living package, including $50 million for another round of the power saving bonus for concession card holders and record $31 billion in health spending. Ms Symes hailed the state's return to an operating surplus of $600 million next financial year, the first produced since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was forecast to be $1.6 billion in December and could have been reinforced or bettered after Victoria received an extra $3.7 billion in GST revenue for 2025/26. Ms Symes, who described her budget strategy as responsible, decided to instead prioritise cost-of-living measures and funding core services. "This is support you can feel - at the kitchen table, at the school gate, at the train station," she told parliament. "It's a budget ... that is on Victorians' side." The budget does not contain an exact number of job losses stemming from a review, led by Helen Silver, of the Victorian public service. But it banks on $3.3 billion in savings from ceasing and redesigning programs, reducing duplication and cutting about 1200 full-time equivalent positions. More changes will follow after Ms Silver's final report is handed to the government in June, with the treasurer declaring there was more "fat" to trim. "That will identify additional savings," Ms Symes told reporters "There will be further job reductions, we flagged up to 3000." Infrastructure spending is forecast to fall by $8.2 billion over the next four years but the total for new and existing projects has skipped $8.1 billion higher to $213 billion. The cost of the state's infrastructure program has blown out by 1.9 per cent in just 12 months and a public transport ticketing system upgrade is $136.7 million over budget and won't be completed until late 2028. Ms Symes stuck to her word of no new taxes but the total take is slated to balloon from $31 billion in 2022/2023 to $41.7 billion in 2025/26 and Business, property and development groups were all in furious agreement the budget did not deal with the need for tax reform. "A key to improving cost-of-living pressures for families is secure housing and property tax relief," Urban Development Institute of Australia chief executive Linda Allison said. Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper said it was not a budget for business. "This is a budget which really lines directly up to the next election," he said. The opposition labelled the budget a "shopping list" rather than a real plan to pay down debt. "The amount we pay in interest will soon be 10 per cent of the total budget spend," Shadow Treasurer James Newbury said. Ms Symes will travel to the US in coming weeks to meet with credit rating agencies after S&P called for the state to demonstrate "fiscal discipline". KEY FORECASTS IN THE VICTORIAN BUDGET: * Net operating result: $600 billion surplus in 2025/26 to $1.5 billion surplus in 2028/29 * Net cash result: $15.5 billion deficit in 2025/26 to $11.4 billion deficit in 2028/29 * Tax revenue: $39.2 billion in 2025/26 to $47.9 billion in 2028/29 * Employee expenses: $38 billion in 2025/26 to $42.3 billion in 2028/29 * Infrastructure spending: $23.8 billion in 2025/26 to $15.6 billion in 2028/29 * Net debt: $155.5 billion in 2025/26 to $194 billion in 2028/29 * Interest repayments on debt: $6.8 billion in 2025/26 to $10.6 billion in 2028/29
