Allan government explained

Allan government
Term Start:27 September 2023
Term End:present
Governor:Margaret Gardner
Premier:Jacinta Allan
Deputypremier:Ben Carroll
Party:Victorian Labor Party
Predecessor:Andrews Government

The Allan government is the current state executive government of Victoria, Australia, led by Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan of the Victorian Labor Party. It began on 26 September 2023 when Allan took over as premier following the resignation of Daniel Andrews.[1] [2]

Ministry

See also: Allan ministry (2023). On 2 October 2023, the full ministry was sworn in.[3]

Term of government (2023–present)

Economic policy

On 18 October 2023, the High Court of Australia ruled that Victoria must remove an excise it had placed on drivers of electric vehicles.[4] They ruled based on the principle that states do not have the power under the constitution to charge excises for consumption.

On 28 November 2023, the government announced that the tax on vacant homes would be increased. Previously, vacant homes were taxed at 1% of their value annually. The new law would tax them at 1% in the first year of vacancy, 2% in the next and 3% in the third and any after.[5]

Meeting state debt is a significant challenge for Allan's government, which stood at $126 billion by March 2024.[6] S&P believes reports the debt will reach $247.2 billion by 2027.

Environmental policy

On 13 November 2023, the government introduced legislation to amend biosecurity laws to double fines for individuals trespassing on farms.[7]

On 8 January 2024, federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek intervened to prevent the Victorian government constructing a wind turbine assembly plant, over concerns about wetlands at the Port of Hastings.[8]

On 29 January 2024, the government rejected a recommendation from a government inquiry into duck hunting that called for a ban of the practice.[9]

Family violence

On 18 October 2023, the Victorian attorney general Jaclyn Symes announced legislation to make a new offence specifically for non-fatal strangulation.[10]

Foreign policy

On 23 December 2023, the government announced that refugees of the Israel–Hamas war would receive free medical care in Victoria.[11]

Health policy

On 28 November 2023, the government announced that three additional public hospitals (Eastern Health, Peninsula Health and Western Health) would offer abortion services.[12]

On 22 January 2024, Allan announced an inquiry into access to care for women with chronic pain.[13]

On 24 June 2024, Allan announced a trial of pill testing would take place in Summer 2024.[14]

Homelessness

On 11 March 2024, The Age reported that it had obtained government tender documents showing that the "From Homelessness to a Home" program would be cut by 75 percent from July 2024.[15] Participants of the program have a 90 percent success rate in finding a permanent home within 12 months of joining. Prior to the cut, the program supported 2000 participants a year, and will support 500 per year from July 2024.

Infrastructure

On 30 November 2023, the government announced A$245 million of funding via the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, a battery storage facility.[16] When completed, the battery will be capable of 600MW of output, making it the largest battery facility in the world.

On 12 December 2023, the government announced that the first contract for the Suburban Rail Loop had been signed, worth A$3.6 billion.[17] The contract funds 16km of tunnelling between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley.

On 15 December 2023, the government announced an increase to the budget for the North East Link, taking it from A$15.8 billion to A$26.1 billion.[18] A$13.43 billion of the increased cost is due to expansion in the project's scope, and A$3.1 billion is due to the increased cost of construction materials.

Parliamentary affairs

On 18 November 2023, the Victorian parliament achieved gender parity with the victory of Labor candidate Eden Foster at the 2023 Mulgrave state by-election.[19]

On 1 December 2023, Allan announced changes to the ministerial code of conduct.[20] These changes included a requirement for ministers' diaries to be publicly released, a ban on the employment of family members, and declare gifts, benefits and hospitality they receive. The first set of diaries were released in February 2024.[21]

Neo-Nazism

On 17 October 2023, the Victorian parliament passed legislation introduced by the government that banned public display of Nazi symbolism or performing the Nazi salute in public.[22]

Religious affairs

On 27 February 2024, the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) rejected an invitation from the government to attend their annual Iftar dinner over the Australian Labor Party's position on the Israel-Hamas war.[23] The ICV President stated "“Out of respect for the suffering of the Palestinians, it just would not be appropriate to hold such an event". On 29 February 2024, the government cancelled the event.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kolovos . Benita . Ore . Adeshola . 27 September 2023 . Jacinta Allan to become premier of Victoria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927044156/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/27/new-premier-victoria-jacinta-allan-daniel-andrews-resignation-labor . 27 September 2023 . 27 September 2023 . The Guardian.
  2. News: 27 September 2023 . Jacinta Allan fends off late challenge to become 49th premier of Victoria . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927050753/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/jacinta-allan-to-succeed-daniel-andrews-as-victorian-premier/102906268 . 27 September 2023 . 27 September 2023 . ABC News . en-AU.
  3. Ministers of the Crown. 2 October 2023. GG2023 S520. 1–3. 2 October 2023.
  4. News: Karp . Paul . Kolovos . Benita . 2023-10-18 . High court strikes down Victoria's electric vehicle tax in ruling that could threaten other state levies . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103122148/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/18/victoria-electric-vehicle-tax-high-court-ruling-could-impact-nsw-wa-western-australia . live .
  5. News: Press . Australian Associated . 2023-11-28 . Victorian government strikes deal with Greens to pass vacant homes tax reforms . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228072341/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/28/victorian-government-strikes-deal-with-greens-to-pass-vacant-homes-tax-reforms . live .
  6. Web site: 2024-03-08 . Another $12b debt blowout in Victoria sets scene for horror budget . 2024-04-18 . Australian Financial Review . en.
  7. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-11-12 . Fines for trespassing on farms would double to $115,000 under Victorian biosecurity bill . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240208040919/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/13/victorian-biosecurity-bill-could-see-fines-for-trespassing-on-farms-double-to-115000 . live .
  8. News: Readfearn . Graham . 2024-01-08 . Tanya Plibersek blocks Victorian government's plan to build wind turbine plant at Port of Hastings . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227174844/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/08/tanya-plibersek-blocks-victorian-government-port-hastings-wind-turbine-plan . live .
  9. News: Ore . Adeshola . 2024-01-29 . Victorian government under fire from animal rights advocates over rejection of duck hunting ban . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . Australian Associated Press . 2024-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227183726/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/victoria-government-duck-hunting-ban-rejection-criticism . live .
  10. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-10-17 . Victoria to outlaw strangulation and consider making animal cruelty a domestic violence offence . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2023-11-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121234155/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/18/victoria-to-consider-making-animal-cruelty-a-domestic-violence-offence . live .
  11. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-12-22 . Victoria to offer free healthcare to those who have fled Israel-Gaza war . 2024-02-29 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240229040819/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/23/victoria-to-offer-free-healthcare-to-those-who-have-fled-israel-gaza-war . live .
  12. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-11-28 . Victoria expands abortion services to more public hospitals to improve accessibility . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2023-12-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231227052948/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/29/victoria-expands-abortion-services-to-more-public-hospitals-to-improve-accessibility . live .
  13. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2024-01-22 . Australian-first inquiry into women's pain launched as Victoria seeks to tackle 'shame and stigma' . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228065908/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/22/australia-first-womens-pain-inquiry-victoria-chronic-illness . live .
  14. News: Lyons . Kate . Kolovos . Benita . 2024-06-24 . Victoria to trial pill testing as a ‘commonsense way to save lives’, Jacinta Allan says . 2024-06-25 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  15. Web site: Carmody . Broede . 11 March 2024 . Renowned homelessness scheme gutted with 1500 fewer people to benefit . 2024-03-11 . The Age . en-AU.
  16. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-11-30 . 'One of the world's largest': battery farm to be the first project funded by Victoria's resurrected electricity agency . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2023-12-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231214011123/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/30/victoria-battery-farm-project-melton-victoria-premier-jacinta-allan . live .
  17. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-12-12 . Victoria announces first large Suburban Rail Loop contract amid 'excessive secrecy' concerns . 2024-02-29 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2024-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115194343/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/12/victoria-suburban-rail-loop-tunnels-contracts-premier-jacinta-allan . live .
  18. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-12-15 . Jacinta Allan reveals $10bn blow out in cost of Victoria's largest road project . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . Australian Associated Press . 2024-01-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115194017/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/15/north-east-link-victoria-jacinta-allan-cost-blow-out . live .
  19. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-11-29 . 'Reflects the community': Victoria achieves gender parity among MPs for the first time . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2023-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221030148/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/29/victoria-mps-gender-pay-parity-deal-premier-jacinta-allan . live .
  20. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-12-01 . Victorian ministers to be forced to make diaries public and reveal meetings with lobbyists . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228065907/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/01/victoria-ministers-ministerial-diaries-public-reveal-disclose-meetings-lobbyists-code-of-conduct . live .
  21. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2024-02-02 . Victorian ministers' diaries revealed to public for first time in 'significant milestone' for transparency . 2024-02-28 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228065915/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/02/victorian-ministers-diaries-revealed-to-public-for-first-time-in-significant-milestone-for-transparency . live .
  22. News: Kolovos . Benita . 2023-10-17 . Victoria to ban public display of Nazi salute by end of the week . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240123031823/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/18/victoria-to-ban-public-display-of-nazi-salute-by-end-of-the-week . live .
  23. News: Rachwani . Mostafa . Kolovos . Benita . 2024-02-27 . Muslim peak bodies in NSW and Victoria reject invitations to premiers' iftar dinners . 2024-02-29 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228202842/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/28/peak-muslim-bodies-in-nsw-and-victoria-reject-invitations-to-premiers-iftar-dinners . live .
  24. News: Rachwani . Mostafa . Remeikis . Amy . 2024-02-29 . Australia politics live: Alex Turnbull cautions Asio after reports he may have been targeted by espionage attempt . 2024-02-29 . The Guardian . en-AU . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240229000602/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/feb/29/australia-politics-live-jim-chalmers-economy-interest-rates-reserve-bank-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-question-time-dunkley-byelection . live .

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