The High Cost of Governing: Taxpayers Footing the Bill for MPs' City Pads It is a basic expectation that politicians representing regional areas need a place to stay when parliament sits in the capital. However, the sheer volume of taxpayer money currently funding secondary residences for 18 regional Victorian MPs is raising eyebrows across the...
Preamble The signatories acknowledge that the conflict has inflicted profound suffering on civilian populations across the region and beyond. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost. Families have been shattered. Communities have been destroyed. No military objective, no strategic gain, no political victory can restore what has been taken from those who bore no...
In the relentless world of Victorian litigation and probate, where "suspicious circumstances" and "testamentary capacity" are the daily bread, it’s easy to let the pressure cook. Chronic stress affects 79% of adults, and in the legal field, the expectation to just "suck it up" often leads to dire consequences. We’ve seen what happens when the...
For apartment buyers in Victoria, understanding the risks associated with external combustible cladding is crucial. While cladding provides insulation and weather resistance, certain types—specifically Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)—are considered combustible and may significantly increase the rate at which fire spreads. It is important to know that a ban is in place...
For decades, private agreements known as restrictive covenants have shaped the character of many Melbourne suburbs, often guaranteeing large blocks and low-density housing. Thousands of these covenants exist, frequently introduced by developers or struck between property owners to prevent subdivisions and second dwellings. However, these agreements—which in some cases can be set 50 or 100...
In an era of rising costs, the path to energy independence lies in combining smart technology with clean energy. Imagine a home where your biggest energy expenses—electricity, hot water, and transport—are powered by the sun. This dream is achievable by integrating a home solar system, a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and a modern electric...
October 27, 2025 It’s the kind of news that sends a chill down the spine of every Australian with a superannuation account. Yesterday, Netwealth, an ASX-listed financial giant with a market cap of nearly $8 billion, formally asked the federal government to use public funds to bail out its members to the tune of $101...
"You can pretend to be happy if you want to," Joey Bishop once told a reporter with characteristic bluntness. "I'm a worrier by nature," he confessed to another. "No worrier is ever good-humored. I don't know if a worrier ever is happy." The comedian, known as the "Frown Prince" of Frank Sinatra's legendary Rat Pack,...
Victoria is in a precarious financial position. Labelled the "nation's debt dunce", the state's gross debt reached a staggering $213 billion as of July this year. This figure represents nearly a third of the total debt owed by all Australian states and territories combined. While new, unpopular taxes on property and payrolls have managed to...
It’s a scenario becoming all too common across Victoria: a landlord and tenant sign what appears to be a standard commercial lease. All seems well for years until a dispute arises, or the tenant, facing rising costs, makes a startling claim: the lease is, in fact, a retail lease governed by the Retail Leases Act...
