Vasey RSL Care has submitted an Expression of Interest under the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) Round 3 to deliver additional veteran housing across the state and to help combat veteran homelessness.At a time of growing global conflict, we are hearing more discussion about the potential need to deploy our troops to protect democracy and stability.

“No veteran should come home to homelessness,” says Vasey RSL Care CEO, Janna Voloshin.

“While we understand the process is competitive, we encourage the Federal Government to prioritise projects that will house some of our community’s most vulnerable, our veterans,” says Voloshin.

“At Vasey RSL Care, through initiatives like the V Centre and affordable veteran housing programs, staff see this reality every day.

“Veterans come to us as strong individuals who have faced extraordinary challenges and are simply looking for something many Australians take for granted. the safety of a home and the support to rebuild their lives.”

“Providing safe housing and structured support is the first and most important step in that journey. Without stable housing, recovery becomes significantly more difficult.

“The urgency of supporting veterans is not always reflected in public policy or community priorities. Too often, programs that support veterans compete with other political agendas and funding pressures. This must change.

“If we expect young Australians to stand ready to defend our nation and our democratic values, we must be equally ready to support them when they return home,” says Voloshin. “The Government must expand affordable housing for veterans, in a meaningful way, demonstrating through real action that we value and appreciate their service.

“Supporting those who served should never be an afterthought. It should be a national priority.

“While Australia is geographically distant from many of these conflicts, recent events around the world remind us how quickly peace and security can change. What feels safe today can shift in a matter of hours.

“When that happens, the first people we rely on are the men and women who step forward to serve. They protect our values, our freedoms, and our way of life.

“But when service ends, many of those same men and women return home carrying the invisible scars of what they have experienced. No matter how well trained or prepared they were, some will struggle with the horrors they have seen and the difficult transition back into civilian life.

“History has taught us this lesson repeatedly: from World War I and World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan, many will be affected for life. They return with physical and psychological wounds, searching for safety, stability and a pathway back to rebuilding their lives.

“The reality is that veterans are almost three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population.”

Victoria continues to lead the nation when it comes to out-of-hospital cardiac survival rates. 

Health Minister Mary-AnneThomas has released the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry Annual Report 2024/25. 

The report shows that more bystanders than ever before are stepping in to help save lives.

Paramedics responded to 7,550 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in 2024-25, the highest number on record.

Eighty per cent of recorded cardiac arrests that happened in the community received bystander CPR before treatment by paramedics.

The report also shows 152 cases received a shock from a public AED Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) – the highest number on record.

63 per cent of those patients who received bystander defibrillation survived.

When it comes to cardiac arrest – every second counts. The report shows that when a bystander provides CPR, the likelihood of survival almost doubles.

Victoria is now ranked second in the world for out-of-hospital cardiac survival rates, up from third last year.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively. Around 20 Victorians experience this life-threatening emergency every day, yet historically, only one in ten survives.

Almost 19,000 Victorians have signed up as GoodSAM responders – Ambulance Victoria’s app that alerts nearby bystanders to help until paramedics arrive.

These milestones reflect a growing confidence and willingness among Victorians to act swiftly in an emergency.

With possible increases to the cash-rate front of mind for Victorians, the state government is delivering support here and now.

Minister Staikos visited Mortgage Stress Victoria today – Australia’s only free service exclusively dedicated to supporting people in mortgage stress to maintain secure housing.

The service – which received $4 million in the Victorian Budget 2025/26 – hosts a team of lawyers, social workers and financial counsellors who provide free advice to Victorians experiencing mortgage stress.

The government’s investment will expand Mortgage Stress Victoria’s free services from May 1.

The changes mean households with an income of up to $90,000 will be able to access the free legal and financial support – up from $75,000 currently.

Mortgage Stress Victoria can help at any stage of mortgage stress, from situations in which payments are up to date to those in which there are court orders for repossession of a home.

The service started as a pilot in Melbourne’s western suburbs and before being expanded statewide in 2022.

For more information call 1800 572 292 or visit mortgagestress.org.au.

Well here I am again penning another article for you, the reader, to enjoy…
This time I’ll be showcasing some of the biggest and memorable trees that I have seen during my travels. (Thanks to readers of The Local whose have found some of the biggest trees in Australia…)
There are many registers of Big Trees, Champion Trees and Exceptional Trees that have accumulated masses of data over the years and it’s these registers that define some of the largest examples of tree species around the globe.
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) lists significant trees, often nominating the biggest seen, as does Trust Trees Australia – which includes all states and territories. Often I reduce my selection of featured species to five but on this occasion I have opted for 10, in alphabetical order and with links to my Instagram posts for you to type into your browser, to give you more grist for the mill. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

1. Adansonia digitata (baobab) www.instagram.com/p/CYhuq45BcEx/?img_index=1 An amazing tree (see image below) growing in the Foster Botanical Garden Honolulu, Hawaii.

2. Catalpa bignonioides (Indian bean tree) www.instagram.com/p/CXZtYREBzC_/ A superb specimen that can be seen in its splendour at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens and purported to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. Cedrus atlantica Glauca Group www.instagram.com/p/DQiOCoAkoPc/ This may not be the biggest in Australia but its form and its dominance in the landscape at the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Daylesford makes it a true champion.
4. Eucalyptus viminalis (manna gum) www.instagram.com/p/DVheZ57k3Yg/?img_index=1 Only recently posted after a call from Kyle Barnes at The Local magazine alerted me to the existence of this Trentham tree (see image below) with a huge girth.

5. Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Monterey cypress) www.instagram.com/p/CrCMT-MykRw/ Endangered in its native habitat of coastal California, this truly majestic beast sitting high on the Hopetoun Lawn at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne may be the largest cultivated specimen on the planet.
6. Jubaea chilensis (Chilean wine palm) {www.instagram.com/p/CaicUS0hkR9/} A Kyneton Botanic Gardens gem close to the Mollison Street entrance centres the landscape as you walk though the historic gates.
7. Quillaja saponaria (soap bark tree) www.instagram.com/p/CoQj37ISyGy/?img_index=10 An extraordinary species native to central Chile and registered as a significant tree growing in the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
8. Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant redwood) www.instagram.com/p/CiXAILfL-2m/?img_index=1 Nicknamed the ‘Grizzly Giant’, this Yosemite National Park California behemoth was struck by lightning many years ago, hence its gruesome appearance, and continues to delight tree lovers from around the world.
9. Stenocarpus sinuatus (firewheel tree) www.instagram.com/p/CcbkGpzPIQZ/?img_index=8 Another example of the most incredible collection of trees growing in Australia at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – this commemorative planting dates back to 1920.
10. Tectona grandis (teak) www.instagram.com/p/CijhXg4hFmx/?hl=en&img_index=4 Last but not least is this wow factor tree (see image below) when you enter the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Far North Queensland – given space to grow I’m sure it will thrive well into the future.

I’ve enjoyed going back over these visited trees and hope you share my enthusiasm for being gobsmacked when you come upon a ‘big tree’.

Cheers John Beetham (trading as Trees in Australia)

Next time: Snapshots from Canadian Botanic Gardens.

Got a gardening query for John?
Email news@tlnews.com.au

Hi there, I am Suki, a kitten brimming with energy and a penchant for playful antics.
My days are filled with joyful exploration and making new friends, both human and feline. My silly demeanour and friendly nature make me a delightful companion, always ready to engage in fun and games. I love life and light up rooms with my antics. I am just three months old and a really fun boy. Come and meet me at MAAWs in Castlemaine.
Microchip no. 956000018369143
5472 5277 shelter@maaw.org.au

Duck duck

Is a duck a bird
Is a duck a duck
Do we just fly out
Do we just duck out
Is a duck a duck
Just out for a duck
Do we just duck out
Wriggle like a worm
Just out for a duck
Waddle like a duck
Wriggle like a worm
Love little legends
Waddle like a duck
Do we just fly out
Love little legends
Is a duck a duck

– P Perrett

A Central Highlands resident for over 20 years, P P writes and loves the environment.

In the automotive world, when science and technology overcomplicate things, you can find yourself in a world of pain if you unwittingly break the law.
I mean what happens if you’re busted in a 40-area going 60 in good faith that your car knew the limit? Particularly out here in the country where public transport doesn’t always run past your door, Uber is not yet in our vocabulary and taxis can cost an arm and a leg.
It pays to have your own car around these parts and the speed signage tends to change every five minutes, so if you don’t want to get pinged you have to have your wits about you. The road signage is also mixed up with all the other signage. Large blue trees, events and tradies trying to advertise for business.
The problem that I would like to shine my tiny torch upon is the void in speed limits between actual signed speed and GPS speed. The signed speed can be mixed up because some he/she on a roadworks gang has forgotten to clean up after themselves and left the 40kph sign when the team has long gone – confusing us mere mortals. And this is a big problem because as long as that sign is there we law-abiding citizens slow down and hold up all the tradie utes, which makes it frustrating for them, especially on a Friday.
But the real problem is now we have Teslas and a lot of other brands coming onboard with ‘full self-driving’ (supervised, of course) software. Now, I haven’t downloaded it to my car yet because I don’t think the roads are anywhere near up to scratch. However, I have been for a ride from central Melbourne to Port Melbourne and the tech is nothing short of miraculous. Taking on hook-turns, crossing four lanes of oncoming traffic with no arrow and intuitively negotiating traffic, people and bikes.
But it relies on GPS speed limits and that’s where things come undone. I drove around a couple of towns in our patch and noticed a few discrepancies between the signed speed limit and the GPS speed limit that my Tesla and that of a visitor would adhere to in full self-driving mode and even if you were in full manual mode looking at the number on the screen.
I did a bit of a drive around and spotted big differences between signed and GPS in the back roads around Creswick and other places around our shire, the standout was Daylesford CBD. In particular Vincent and Howe streets’ 40kph area. Howe Street from west to east delivers quite a few surprises and fluctuates from 40-50kph in some weird spots. The other direction goes pretty well until you get to the roundabout at the intersection of Vincent and Howe streets and then you take off doing 60kph, opposite the Coles driveway, where it is important to go slow.
I contacted a few lawyers to ask where one would stand in this predicament if you got busted in a 40-area doing 60 – in good faith that your car knew the limit. But no one returned my call, so I plugged the question into AI, and this is the answer.
“In Australia, speeding offences are generally strict liability offences. This means the prosecution doesn’t need to prove you intended to speed — only that you did. Simply put, ignorance or reliance on a faulty GPS is not a legal defence in most cases.”
I asked the Hepburn Shire Council for a bit more clarification and they came back with: “GPS companies are responsible for compiling and managing their own data which may come from a combination of government datasets, field mapping, and crowd-sourced updates. Discrepancies should be reported to the providers directly.”
But Google says: “Local Council: If the discrepancy is on a local, non-arterial road, contact your local council through their ‘Report a road issue’ portal.”
So, I checked and we do have such an animal at HSC. It’s under their ‘report an issue’ page, so either way it is up to the public to let the map folks know through government portals or via the map companies directly.
This is not too helpful when you have tried to follow the speed limit, got busted, done your arse by losing your licence, a pot full of cash and your job. And because you’ve been hanging around the house too long, like a bad smell, the missus walks out on you all because no one reported a discrepancy in the speed limits.
I have now reported the speed limit discrepancy and I’ll let you know how I go.
The world’s gone mad rant over…

Scan the QR code to check out a drive through Daylesford’s speed zones…

Kids are being helped into sports with the applications for Round 10 of Get Active Kids Vouchers now open, with more than 40,000 vouchers up for grabs.  

Eligible families can apply for up to $200 per child to help with memberships, registration fees, uniforms and equipment.

The program has seen almost 20 per cent of children who received a voucher joining a local sporting club for the first time.

Since launching in 2020, more than 225,000 vouchers have been snapped up.

The state government had officially opened Bundha Sports Centre – giving families in Melbourne’s inner-north access to world-class facilities at Australia’s first publicly accessible vertical sports centre.

The centre has four competition-level courts for netball, basketball and volleyball, as well as a futsal court, gymnasium, cafe and flexible community spaces.

Get Active Kids is open to kids aged 18 and under named on a Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, and named on a Medicare Card. A special consideration stream is also available to support children in care, temporary or provisional visa holders, migrants and international students.

Vouchers can only be redeemed at a registered Get Active Kids Voucher Program activity provider.

For more information and to apply for a voucher visit getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has proposed a range of reforms aimed at making voting more accessible, as part of its submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Electoral Matters Committee inquiry into voting centre accessibility. 

The submission combines existing recommendations and new measures designed to reduce barriers and increase participation. A number of these recommendations require legislative change and could be put in place for the 2030 state election.

The submission also outlines improvements already underway to strengthen accessibility, such as additional low sensory voting options, detailed guides on how to access certain voting centres and better signage to help people find their way at voting centres.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said making voting more accessible was essential to ensure every Victorian can actively participate in their democracy.

‘Accessible voting is key to a fair and inclusive democracy,’ he said. ‘While some improvements will take time to implement, we are continuing work with Parliament, candidates and political parties to reduce barriers and make voting easier and more accessible for all Victorians.’

Key legislative reforms the VEC proposes include:

• allowing publicly funded venues to be used as early voting centres
• increasing the non-campaigner zones at low sensory voting centres to better support neurodivergent voters and their carers
• making sure mobile voting is available before early voting to support priority communities.

The submission also proposes additional ways to make voting more accessible and less confusing for voters. This includes aligning eligibility for general postal voter status with federal criteria for people with disability and their carers, and giving more voters access to electronically assisted voting delivered through the VEC’s telephone voting service.

The expanded eligibility would cover voters who are interstate or overseas, unwell, caring for someone, experiencing homelessness or family violence, or who are neurodivergent. The telephone assisted voting service simply requires eligible voters to have access to a telephone connection, and the process is designed to still ensure the secrecy of each voter’s vote.

‘Our focus is on removing practical barriers so that every eligible voter can participate safely, independently and with confidence,’ Mr Bluemmel said.

The VEC’s submission to the Electoral Matters Committee is available at: vec.vic.gov.au/about-us/publications/submissions

Victoria continues to lead the nation in supporting its livestock producers, offering Australia’s lowest priced National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) ear tags.
Agriculture Victoria Biosecurity Executive Director Charlotte Austin said the outcome of recent competitive tender process means producers can buy tags at prices equal to or lower than last year.
‘Victorian producers continue to access NLIS tags at some of the nation’s lowest prices, keeping on-farm costs down and upholding our world-class traceability reputation,’ Ms Austin said.
‘The cheapest NLIS cattle tag is now available for just 72 cents when ordered online through Agriculture Victoria, down from 75 cents last year.
‘By comparison, cattle producers in other states are paying between $2.50 and $4.00 per NLIS cattle tag,” Ms Austin said.
The range of approved NLIS cattle tags has also expanded, including a one-piece metal tag from Shearwell Australia and NLIS tags manufactured by Enduro Tags and FOFIA.
Sheep producers will also benefit, with the cheapest NLIS sheep tag now available for $1, well below unsubsidised prices in other jurisdictions.
‘The recent tender process secured strong wholesale pricing, supported by subsidies from Victoria’s livestock compensation funds, delivering significant savings producers.
More than two million cattle tags and 10 million sheep tags are expected to be purchased in 2026.
The electronic tags enable livestock movements to be recorded on the NLIS database as animals move between properties, saleyards and abattoirs.
‘This system allows livestock to be traced quickly and efficiently during food safety or disease incidents, helping protect Victoria’s domestic and protect access to export markets.
‘Victoria led the development and introduction of the NLIS (cattle) in the 1990s, and the NLIS (sheep and goats) commencing on a mandatory basis in 2017.
‘Victoria’s livestock industries can be justifiably proud of their long-standing contribution to the development and operation of Australia’s internationally recognised traceability system,’ Ms Austin said.
Producers can order their NLIS tags by visiting Purchase Tags Online Purchase Tags Online
For more information on the operation of the NLIS in Victoria, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock

In the automotive world, when science and technology overcomplicate things, you can find yourself in a world of pain if you unwittingly break the law.
I mean what happens if you’re busted in a 40-area going 60 in good faith that your car knew the limit? Particularly out here in the country where public transport doesn’t always run past your door, Uber is not yet in our vocabulary and taxis can cost an arm and a leg.

It pays to have your own car around these parts and the speed signage tends to change every five minutes, so if you don’t want to get pinged you have to have your wits about you. The road signage is also mixed up with all the other signage. Large blue trees, events and tradies trying to advertise for business.
The problem that I would like to shine my tiny torch upon is the void in speed limits between actual signed speed and GPS speed. The signed speed can be mixed up because some he/she on a roadworks gang has forgotten to clean up after themselves and left the 40kph sign when the team has long gone – confusing us mere mortals. And this is a big problem because as long as that sign is there we law-abiding citizens slow down and hold up all the tradie utes, which makes it frustrating for them, especially on a Friday.
But the real problem is now we have Teslas and a lot of other brands coming onboard with ‘full self-driving’ (supervised, of course) software. Now, I haven’t downloaded it to my car yet because I don’t think the roads are anywhere near up to scratch. However, I have been for a ride from central Melbourne to Port Melbourne and the tech is nothing short of miraculous. Taking on hook-turns, crossing four lanes of oncoming traffic with no arrow and intuitively negotiating traffic, people and bikes.
But it relies on GPS speed limits and that’s where things come undone. I drove around a couple of towns in our patch and noticed a few discrepancies between the signed speed limit and the GPS speed limit that my Tesla and that of a visitor would adhere to in full self-driving mode and even if you were in full manual mode looking at the number on the screen.
I did a bit of a drive around and spotted big differences between signed and GPS in the back roads around Creswick and other places around our shire, the standout was Daylesford CBD. In particular Vincent and Howe streets’ 40kph area. Howe Street from west to east delivers quite a few surprises and fluctuates from 40-50kph in some weird spots. The other direction goes pretty well until you get to the roundabout at the intersection of Vincent and Howe streets and then you take off doing 60kph, opposite the Coles driveway, where it is important to go slow.
I contacted a few lawyers to ask where one would stand in this predicament if you got busted in a 40-area doing 60 – in good faith that your car knew the limit. But no one returned my call, so I plugged the question into AI, and this is the answer.
“In Australia, speeding offences are generally strict liability offences. This means the prosecution doesn’t need to prove you intended to speed — only that you did. Simply put, ignorance or reliance on a faulty GPS is not a legal defence in most cases.”
I asked the Hepburn Shire Council for a bit more clarification and they came back with: “GPS companies are responsible for compiling and managing their own data which may come from a combination of government datasets, field mapping, and crowd-sourced updates. Discrepancies should be reported to the providers directly.”
But Google says: “Local Council: If the discrepancy is on a local, non-arterial road, contact your local council through their ‘Report a road issue’ portal.”
So, I checked and we do have such an animal at HSC. It’s under their ‘report an issue’ page, so either way it is up to the public to let the map folks know through government portals or via the map companies directly.
This is not too helpful when you have tried to follow the speed limit, got busted, done your arse by losing your licence, a pot full of cash and your job. And because you’ve been hanging around the house too long, like a bad smell, the missus walks out on you all because no one reported a discrepancy in the speed limits.
I have now reported the speed limit discrepancy and I’ll let you know how I go.
The world’s gone mad rant over…

Victoria has wrapped up a trial of real‑time road monitoring technology on the Western Freeway to help keep our bridges and roads strong.

The Bridge Weigh‑In‑Motion (BWIM) system, tested between Melton and Ballan last year, uses cutting‑edge sensors to track how heavy vehicles travel – collecting live data of heavy vehicle movements without disrupting traffic.

More importantly the data collected gives engineers an insight into how our bridges are being used day‑to‑day and build a picture of how the network is being used.

With clearer, road specific data, we can better understand how our bridges and roads are coping with heavy vehicle movements.

This technology will complement the existing weigh-in-motion network for a better understanding of a vehicle’s location or onboard mass.

The system is portable, which means a single equipment set can be applied across multiple sites without the need for permanent infrastructure.

The two‑week installation involved attaching sensors under the bridge, along with a roadside camera and a small solar power unit to monitor loads and heavy vehicles using the bridges.

The 12-month trial was a collaboration between the Department of Transport and Planning, Slovenian technology company CESTEL, and local contractor Fulton Hogan.

This trial is the first time this technology has been used in Australia following the successful deployment on key infrastructure throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said:

‘’The new technology is a game changer giving bridge engineers precise information on bridge use – right down to the weight applied by individual axles of individual trucks.’’

“This initiative marks a significant step in data-driven infrastructure management and supports our commitment to maintaining a safe, efficient, and sustainable transport network.’’

Agriculture Victoria is reminding sheep owners of their responsibility to manage wool length, so it doesn’t become excessive.
Agriculture Victoria Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Jeff Cave said sheep with more than 1 year’s wool growth are highly susceptible to heat stress and disease and those with over-long fleeces are also more likely to become cast – lying on their side and unable to rise.
‘A person who allows sheep in their care to grow excessively long fleeces may be exposed to cruelty provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.
‘Under the regulations, a person must not allow the fleece of a sheep to grow to a length greater than twice the average annual growth for the breed of sheep or more than 250mm (whichever is shorter).’
Dr Cave said most sheep producers undertake shearing annually and won’t have issues complying with this requirement.
‘People that keep sheep as pets also need to ensure they plan ahead and arrange for their sheep to be shorn annually.’
Dr Cave said all people who own or manage sheep must take appropriate actions to prevent their sheep’s wool becoming over-long.
‘Sheep with excessive fleece length are at increased risk of heat stress, becoming cast and serious animal health issues such as flystrike.
‘This regulation applies to anyone responsible for sheep, including sheep kept for commercial or hobby reasons. Anybody who owns or is in charge of sheep can be fined for having sheep with excessive wool growth,’ he said.
‘It’s also important anyone responsible for sheep consider the time of year they undertake shearing, particularly during the warmer months when hot conditions can have serious impacts on the welfare of sheep.
‘Freshly shorn sheep should be placed into paddocks that contain proper and sufficient shelter to protect them.’
For further information regarding sheep health and welfare visit the Agriculture Victoria website, call 136 186 or consult with Animal Health and Welfare staff.

The Victorian Government has refused to answer questions on whether companies linked to gangland figure Mick Gatto continue to be contracted on a number of Victoria’s Big Build projects.

It has been revealed M1 Traffic – a labour hire company named as a front for Gatto that has made millions of dollars on the Victorian government’s Big Build – is currently contracted to provide services to Goulburn Murray Water.

Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, questioned Premier Jacinta Allan on the steps she had taken to ensure organised criminals were not still benefitting from public projects, however the Premier dodged answering the question.

The Premier was also asked how many companies linked to Mr Gatto were operating on the North East Link and the Suburban Rail Loop, yet again refused to answer.

“This Labor-CFMEU corruption knows no ends,” Mr McCurdy said.

“This is the biggest corruption scandal in Victoria’s history, and Jacinta Allan remains hell-bent on stopping the truth from coming out. What is she hiding?” Mr McCurdy said.

Mr Gatto has previously told media there was, “No chance,” of a paper trail leading from him to Big Build contractors.

Labor continues to stonewall any efforts to provide IBAC with the powers it needs to adequately investigate the alleged $15 billion corruption on Victoria’s Big Build sites.

This is simply more evidence Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage projects, and it is Victorians who pay the price.

The Liberals and Nationals have ordered an immediate inquiry into how much the Labor Government is funding Victoria’s integrity watchdogs.

The Upper House has directed the Parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee to examine funding for the state’s key integrity agencies: the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), the Ombudsman, and Integrity Oversight Victoria.

The committee must report back to Parliament by 5 May 2026, the same day as the State Budget. Labor has failed to properly fund these agencies, limiting their ability to investigate corruption on government projects.

Evidence from Geoffrey Watson SC to the Queensland inquiry into the CFMEU alleged that up to $15 billion of taxpayer money has been corrupted on Victorian Big Build worksites. That $15 billion – including alleged payments to bikies, the CFMEU and strippers, could have been spent on services Victorians rely on.

The inquiry will assess whether the budgets provided to Victoria’s integrity agencies are sufficient and report its findings to Parliament.

Liberal Shadow Minister David Davis said: “Labor have been shamed into the inquiry into the funding of our integrity agencies, and the report will advise Parliament on the adequacy of the annual budgets for these agencies.”

“Properly funding the integrity agencies is critical, starving the agencies will leave corruption to thrive as it has in Labor’s Victoria.”

Shadow Attorney James Newbury said: “We know that Labor doesn’t want our integrity agencies to have the powers they need, they have voted against that in Parliament this week.”

“We also know that this Government doesn’t want to fund those agencies in the way they need, which will only lead Victorians to assume that Labor doesn’t want independent agencies sniffing around.”