Premier Jacinta Allan, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, said the apology marks “a place of reckoning” for all Victorians and recognises the profound impact of past decisions on generations of First Peoples.
Failed asylum seekers who remain in Australia have passed 100,000 for the first time, reaching 101,976 as of 31 October, with a further 26,298 claims awaiting decisions.
Mosese Soqeta Saresarevata, who arrived in Victoria in June to work in the meat-processing industry, quietly opted into a voluntary life insurance scheme costing just AUD $6 a week — less than the price of a coffee.
Residents in the City of Melton and surrounding areas will share in a $100,000-a-year Community Benefit Fund, with consultations now underway on how the money should be allocated.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said VET remained “the engine room delivering the skilled workforce our communities need and rely on every day”.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also congratulated Basiala in an official letter, acknowledging his longstanding commitment to the community.
Under the plan, free trains, trams and buses — originally due to end in April — will now continue until June 1. From that date, fares will be reduced by 50 per cent through to the end of 2026.
The constitutional amendment fell short of the required two-thirds majority, with 298 MPs voting in favour and 230 against, marking a rare legislative setback for the government.