JANE AGIRTAN INDEPENDENT

Last week saw violent protests on the streets of Melbourne which should have no place in Victoria. The protests put Victoria Police officers at great risk of harm and also put members of the public at risk of harm.

Some police have been spat at by protesters, whilst other officers have been sprayed with a liquid irritant, some of which has been identified as acid.” Police said protesters had also lit fires on the streets, disrupted road networks and public transport.

I have inquired with one of state MP’s regarding cost of policing of these weekly violent, disruptive and ugly, un-Australian scenes in the CBD and was told it costs south of $300,000 weekly for the last 11 months.

“There are fresh claims the major police operation in response to the three-day anti-Israel protests in Melbourne has blown out from $15 million to $30 million but the government said its still calculating the bill.“

In light of these events, opposition again had called for the reintroduction of move-on powers for police and an expansion of existing powers concerning face coverings.  

Meanwhile, the Allan Labor Government’s chaotic approach to gas policy continued, The Allan Labor Government’s war on gas continues to cause chaos for Victorian households as it announced that gas cooktops will be excluded from its energy road map, meaning they can continue to be installed or upgraded in existing dwellings.

However, the road map will continue the ban on gas connections to new developments requiring a planning permit and proposed regulations will still ban all gas appliances in rental properties.

By carving out only gas cooktops from its proposed bans, Victorians with gas space heating or gas hot water will be required to undertake expensive and disruptive replacements of electric appliances at the end of the life of their gas appliances.

Many Victorians oppose Labor’s Holiday and Tourism Tax – the 55th new or increased tax since Labor came to office. 

Scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2025, Labor’s new tax will add a 7.5 per cent charge to bookings, increasing the cost of every short-stay accommodation booking.

However, new survey data released shows the tax will not achieve its aim of shifting short-stay accommodation onto the long-term rental market.