Australian leaders condemn pro-Palestine vigils planned for 7 October anniversary amid Jewish commemorations

Peak Jewish bodies organise ceremonies on third anniversary of attacks that triggered conflict in which 74,000 Palestinians have been killed

Jewish Australians will mark the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Wednesday as Labor state governments condemn pro-Palestinian vigils to be held the same day.

Peak Jewish bodies have organised commemorations across the capital cities but avoided publicising locations as community members report ongoing fears for their safety since the Bondi terror attack in December.

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Victorian Labor promises new offences to close domestic and family violence ‘loopholes’

Premier Ben Carroll vows to legislate new form of manslaughter and increase maximum penalty for rape to life imprisonment

A re-elected Victorian Labor government will create two new Australian-first offences aimed at closing “loopholes” it says have allowed perpetrators of family violence to escape punishment.

On Sunday, the premier, Ben Carroll, will announce an election commitment to legislate a new form of manslaughter covering cases in which a person takes their own life as a result of family violence, as well as a new offence covering perpetrators abandoning a victim in need of medical care.

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‘Anywhere, anytime’: Victoria police and PSOs to get random stop and search powers after Labor backflip

Premier Ben Carroll adopts Coalition’s stance on Jack’s Law, which gives police and PSOs power to randomly search people for knives with metal detectors

The Victorian premier has made another policy backflip, announcing a re-elected Labor government would give police and protective services officers the power to stop and search people for knives using handheld metal detectors – despite experts warning of a lack of evidence that the measure reduces violent crime.

Ben Carroll on Wednesday announced he would match a commitment made by the Coalition opposition last year to introduce Queensland’s Jack’s Law, named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise in 2019.

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Labor has had 12 years to fix Victorian roads. Turning to ‘pothole populism’ now may be too late

Potholed roads are ‘devastating political advertising’ for the Victorian government – but Ben Carrol’s made them the focus of his campaign

At a press conference to celebrate the sold-out NFL match played at Melbourne’s MCG on Friday, the Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, was heckled on one issue.

“Fix the potholes,” a punter called out as they walked past the Victorian premier’s press conference.

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Controversial plans for a Daniel Andrews sculpture officially scrapped by Victorian government

The $134,000 cost of the statue of the former Victorian premier has been heavily criticised by the Liberal opposition

The Carroll government in Victoria has cancelled controversial plans for a statue of former Labor premier Daniel Andrews.

Work began in May on the statue commemorating the former premier’s more than 3,000 days in office, as part of a 1999 policy recognising long-serving Victorian premiers.

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Liberals criticise ‘unimpressive and underwhelming’ rail loop plan as Victorian premier pushes ahead after hinting at pause

A day after suggesting other projects were more important to Victorians, Ben Carroll says train line will go ahead but at a slightly reduced cost

The Victorian opposition has described Ben Carroll’s plan to scale back new train stations along the Suburban Rail Loop to shave just over 5% off its total cost as “incredibly unimpressive and underwhelming”.

The premier on Tuesday announced changes to the scope of the first stage of the state’s largest-ever infrastructure project, known as SRL East – a 26km stretch of tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill – estimated to save $1bn. He also ordered an “independent, technical review” to identify a further $1bn in savings.

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Victorian Labor promises free dental care if re-elected in Australia-first move

Premier Ben Carroll says $230m would be earmarked for 10 public dental clinics to operate on a walk-in basis

Victorians would be able to walk into a dental clinic and receive free checkups and treatment under an Australian-first proposal the Labor government will take to the November state election.

The premier, Ben Carroll, will announce the plan – Labor’s first major election commitment – at a rally on Saturday to mark fewer than 100 days until Victorians go to the polls.

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Daniel Andrews says Ben Carroll ‘can win’ Victoria election in rare public statement

Former leader shows support for new Victorian premier while paying tribute to Jacinta Allan

Daniel Andrews has thrown his support behind Victoria’s new premier, Ben Carroll, saying he has what it takes to win November’s state election.

In a rare public statement on Wednesday, the former premier also paid tribute to Jacinta Allan, whom he handpicked to replace him as Labor leader when he resigned in September 2023.

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Royal commission into Victorian construction sector could boost Labor’s chances at state election, expert says

Commission promised by new premier would be an ‘important signal’ for voters that the government was acting on alleged corruption

Victorian voters heading to the polls will probably get a taste of the evidence heard by a royal commission – including how taxpayer funds were used on Big Build projects – but it could actually help Labor’s standing, an integrity expert says.

William Partlett, an associate professor of law and a fellow at the Centre for Public Integrity, said the commission promised by the new premier, Ben Carroll, would be an “important signal” for voters that the government was taking action.

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Ben Carroll announces royal commission into construction sector as first act as new premier of Victoria

Jacinta Allan steps down from top job before expected spill, saying her deputy has her ‘unqualified support’

Ben Carroll has been sworn in as the premier of Victoria after Jacinta Allan resigned, with his first act as leader to announce a royal commission into alleged corruption in the construction sector.

Carroll’s elevation comes just four months before the state election and follows a tumultuous 48 hours for Labor, during which Allan resigned and a surprise challenger emerged in the leadership contest.

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Who is Ben Carroll, the man who has become Victoria’s new premier?

Carroll, who was elected to parliament in 2012 and says he has always been ambitious, has been sworn in as premier after Jacinta Allan resigned

In 2023, when then-public transport minister Ben Carroll failed in his surprising bid to secure the leadership of the Victorian Labor party, he told a press conference: “I was always very keen to rise.”

The premier Daniel Andrews had resigned, believing he had locked in his succession plan: his loyal deputy Jacinta Allan as premier, and treasurer Tim Pallas as deputy.

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