One of the Victorian private schools facing a new $322 million (US$214 million) state tax caters to children with language and learning difficulties. Andale School in Kew has been named on a list of 60 independent and religious schools in the state to be stripped of their longstanding payroll tax exemption from July 2024. Education Minister Natalie…

The Victorian government has spent more than $670 million (US$451.7 million) on consultants over the past five years, paying a firm embroiled in a national tax scandal almost $80 million (US$54 million). The state Auditor-General’s Office released the new collated figures as a federal Senate committee investigates the integrity of major consultancy firms after the leaking…

Fewer Victorian private schools will lose their longstanding payroll tax exemption than first thought, with the fee threshold to be increased.  The 2023/24 state budget forecast about 110 non-government schools would lose the exemption from mid-2024, raising $422.2 million (US$280 million) for the state across the next four years. Peak bodies for independent and religious schools…

The Victorian state government will target big business, housing investors and private schools as the main drive to collect tax revenues as outlined in its new budget report released on May 23. But despite the targeted taxes, Treasurer Tim Pallas has denied the state budget is steeped in class warfare. “Nobody’s engaging in a terminology…

Cathy Beacham was heavily pregnant and had escaped family violence when she was confronted by the prospect of becoming homeless. The then-17-year-old reached out for support from her midwife, who instead called child protection not knowing what else to do, making Beacham feel degraded and fear her baby would be taken away.  It wasn’t until…

Paying back the COVID-19 credit card will be a priority for the Victorian government in the upcoming state budget. Premier Daniel Andrews maintains all of Labor’s election commitments will be delivered when the budget is handed down next week. But he said the government needs to address the state’s growing debt, which is predicted to…

A major Melbourne-based property developer is warning it will stop looking for new construction opportunities until the Victorian government releases the details of its plans to raise land and property taxes for the ninth time. Sam Tarascio, managing director at one of Australia’s largest developers, Salta Properties, told The Australian that the company would put the…