February 2025 – Page 9

Men’s behaviour change program expanded

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to create a safer New South Wales by taking a whole of community approach to addressing domestic and family violence, with Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) rolled out across an additional seven locations.

$10 million is being invested to increase the availability of these programs across the state as part of the Minns Labor Government’s $245.6 million package to address domestic and family violence in New South Wales, which has included:

Implementing the state’s first ever Primary Prevention Strategy
Working to expand the Staying Home Leaving Violence program state wide
Introducing new offences for repeated and serious breaches of Apprehended Domesticc Violence Orders
Making it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail
Introducing Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders
Modernising the definition of ‘stalking’ to include technology based harassment.

MBCPs are evidence-based group programs and services that focus on working with perpetrators of domestic and family violence to reduce or prevent the recurrence of abusive behaviour by a perpetrator towards a partner or family member. Between 2022 and 2024, 1,800 men participated in MBCPs in NSW.

The Minns Labor Government’s priority remains the safety of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and ensuring they have access to support when they need it.

Following this expansion, the programs will now be available across 35 locations through 15 providers. The new locations are:

Nowra, Shoalhaven LGA – Anglicare
Ulladulla, Shoalhaven LGA – Anglicare
Forster, Mid-Coast LGA – Manning Support Services
Gloucester, Mid-Coast LGA – Manning Support Services
Lithgow, Lithgow LGA – Plus Community
Blacktown, Blacktown LGA – Relationships Australia
Maitland, Maitland LGA – Relationships Australia

Providers must be registered as compliant with the Practice Standards for Men’s Domestic Violence Behaviour Change Programs and deliver evidence-based interventions, as well as additional one-on-one supports.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Government is working hard to build a safer New South Wales.

“These programs are about taking accountability, about breaking the cycle of violence by working with perpetrators to understand their behaviour is never acceptable.

“The fact is to build a safer New South Wales, free from domestic and family violence, we need men who use violence to take responsibility for their actions and change their behaviour.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“Addressing domestic and family violence is a priority in our state and nation.

“The expansion of the Men’s Behaviour Change Program will promote the safety of women and children by holding men accountable for their violent and abusive behaviour and supporting them to change.

“Programs like this can encourage participants to take responsibility for their behaviour and provide them with the skills and tools necessary to stop using violence and maintain respectful relationships.”

MBCP provider Relationships Australia NSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said:

“Promoting the safety of women and children is essential to preventing domestic and family violence in our communities.

“Our Men’s Behaviour Change Program works with men who use violence to take responsibility, guiding them to be accountable for their actions and stop abusive behaviours in their family relationships.

“These men have recognised the need to change and have sought support to become safer partners and fathers. Through the program, they reflect on their behaviour, understand the underlying drivers of violence, and learn practical tools and strategies to manage themselves and de-escalate potentially aggressive situations.

“We also work with the men’s current or former partners and their children to ensure their safety and support recovery. Many have shared with us that they are now living in safe and respectful homes, free from violence.”

Support services:

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN on 13 92 76.

$10 million Good Neighbours Program to tackle pest and weeds across NSW

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to tackle pest and weed infestations between neighbouring public and private lands across the state through its $10 million investment in new or expanded, on the ground, biosecurity projects.

The Good Neighbours Program, led by Local Land Services, will undertake 21 initial projects in priority areas across NSW.

The initiative is part of the Government’s $945 million commitment to addressing biosecurity threats to the state’s $20 billion primary industries sector.

The Good Neighbours projects will target pest animals and problem weeds, including feral deer, feral pigs, tropical soda apple and hudson pear.

Improved on-ground outcomes will be achieved through coordinated pest animal and weed control programs, as well as capacity-building workshops, training and education for landholders and land managers.

The 21 projects will be delivered in partnership with respective public land managers including Forestry Corporation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and local councils.

The Good Neighbours Program highlights the importance of public and private land managers working together to prevent the spread of pests and weeds and protect the NSW economy, environment and community.

Pest animals and weeds impact more than 70 per cent of the state’s threatened species and endangered ecological communities, posing a significant agricultural threat.

The Good Neighbours Program brings together a range of stakeholders and agencies to combat the issue and educate landholders and land managers about their shared general biosecurity duty under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 to control pests and weeds on their properties.

The program will run until mid-2026, with additional projects to be funded. Visit nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours to learn more.

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said:

“Effective pest and weed management are critical to supporting agricultural productivity and biodiversity in NSW, and it’s best achieved by working as a united front.”

“The Good Neighbours program demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to protecting our natural environment and agricultural industry by focusing our resources on areas where we can work together to achieve the best results.

“As the saying goes, everybody needs good neighbours. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and we all have a part to play.”

Local Land Services Project Manager Good Neighbours Program, Dale Kirby said:

“When it comes to coordinated pest animal and weed control programs, many hands make light work.”

“We can achieve far better outcomes when private and public landholders work together, with expert advice and support from Local Land Services, to reduce impacts and limit the spread of pests and weeds across the landscape.”

MEDIA: Michael Salmon | Minister Moriarty | 0417495018

Good Neighbours projects

Cane Toad Program (North Coast) – Joint efforts between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Local Land Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Landcare and private landholders to control cane toads on the North Coast.
Chinese Violet Program (North Coast) – This program is based in the Tweed Shire, where Rous County Council is targeting Chinese violet on the fringes of the Heritage Wollumbin National Park and Jerusalem National Park.
Job’s Tears Eradication Program (North Coast) – Led by Rous County Council, Landcare and landholders, this program aims to eradicate Job’s tears from creek lines in the Kyogle and Lismore shires.
Tropical Soda Apple Eradication (TSA) Program (North Coast) – This program targets Tropical soda apple across the Lismore, Kyogle, Ballina, Byron, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas, led by Rous County Council, community groups and landholders.
Far South Coast Coastal Weeds Program (South East) – Tackling weeds such as coastal bitou bush and sea spurge on the Far South Coast between Tuross and Wonboyn, led by Far South Coast Landcare, local councils, Local Land Services and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Hudson Pear Control Program – Kinchega National Park (Western) – Combating Hudson Pear in the middle reaches of Stephens Creek to the west of Kinchega National Park, led by the managers of Kars and Eureka stations, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council and Local Land Services.
Jumping Cholla Control Program (Western) – Targeting Jumping cholla in the Living Desert State Park and nearby Limestone and Nine Mile stations in the Broken Hill area, with the help of the station owners, Broken Hill City Council, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council and Local Land Services.
Parthenium Weed Eradication (North West) Management and control of Parthenium weed across two Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR) at Croppa Creek, led by North West Local Land Services and supported by local councils, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, TSR users, landholders and Traditional Owners.
Mt Stuart Boxing Glove Control Program (Western) – Tackling the spread of Boxing glove cactus in Tibooburra, south of the Sturt National Park, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mt Stuart Station neighbours, Castlereagh Macquarie County Council, Crown Lands and Local Land Services.
North Coast Branch Pig Control Program (North Coast and Northern Tablelands) – Feral pig control led by the North Coast branch of the National Parks and Wildlife Service across 12 reserves from western Richmond River to the coast, from Ballina in the north to Hat Head in the south.
Orange Hawkweed Eradication Program (South East) – A collaboration between Snowy Monaro Council, Snowy Valleys Council, Local Land Services, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and private landholders targeting Hawkweed in the Kosciuszko National Park and surrounding private land.
Strategic Weed Management and Control – Blackberry and St John’s Wort (Central West) – Coordinated control of priority weeds within Goobang National Park, led by Parkes Shire Council, Macquarie and Lachlan Valley Weeds Committee, Central West and Central Tablelands regional weeds committees and neighbouring landholders.
Wild Horse Cross Tenure Eradication Program (North Coast) – Wild horse control focused on the Barcoongere area, south of Grafton, in conjunction with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, National Parks and Wildlife Service and landholders.
Bathurst Joint Weed Program (Central Tablelands) – Working with the Forestry Corporation of NSW and private landholders to control weeds such as broom, gorse and Chilean needle grass between state forest and private land in Bathurst.
Bathurst Pest Program – Feral Pig Management Program (Central Tablelands) – Support for a feral pig baiting program involving the Forestry Corporation of NSW, Crown Lands and neighbouring land managers.
Feral deer control – Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (Central Tablelands, Hunter, Greater Sydney and South East) – Coordinated efforts between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Land Services, the Invasive Species Council, Crown Lands and public land managers to reduce the impacts of feral deer.
Forestry Pest Management Neighbour’s Program (Western, Central West, Central Tablelands, North West, Riverina and Murray) – Targeting feral pig populations on properties with state forest boundaries in the Western NSW region, led by the Forestry Corporation of NSW and state forest neighbours.
Koala Habitat Restoration (North Coast) – Protecting and restoring koala habitat in the Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie areas in conjunction with private landholders, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Landcare groups, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
North Coast Feral Deer Management Program (North Coast) – An existing feral deer coordinated control program based in the Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie areas involving local councils, Forestry Corporation of NSW, National Parks and Wildlife Service and private landholders.
Red Cestrum Management and Control (North Coast) – This program is focused on controlling Red cestrum infestations on the Dorrigo Plateau, led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation of NSW, Bellingen Shire Council and private landholders.
Tamworth Peri Urban Pest Species Project (North West) – Targeting feral goats, pigs and deer within the Tamworth Local Government Area, supported by Tamworth Regional Council, Crown Lands and private landholders.

Faster water approvals to supercharge housing delivery

The Minns Labor Government is slashing red tape to get more homes built faster across the state, unveiling a clear blueprint to speed up approvals and ensure new properties are connected and ready to turn on the tap sooner.

The Housing Approval Reform Action Plan is a joint initiative between the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Sydney Water, and WaterNSW to streamline approvals and accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure.

After more than a decade of underinvestment and stalled approvals, the NSW Government is taking action, establishing a cross-government team to fast-track water and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring developments stay on track and homes are delivered sooner.

Every new home requires essential infrastructure. From providing drinking water and wastewater management to handling stormwater, a robust water cycle management plan is a key factor in assessing land use and development proposals in NSW.

Government agencies evaluate a wide range of potential impacts on water quality, including stormwater management, erosion and sediment control during construction and wastewater disposal.

Beyond accelerating housing construction, the plan will focus on protecting, enhancing, and restoring waterways and water sources to ensure long-term sustainability.

The Housing Approval Reform Action Plan streamlines housing delivery and eases system pressure through clear actions, including:

Expanding risk-based triaging for all referrals to ensure homes that are ready can be connected without delay.
Streamlining the removal of groundwater process on building sites to ensure construction can commence quickly and safety.
Revising key performance indicators to mitigate inefficiencies.
Support developers and Water Servicing Coordinators in getting their applications right from
the start.
Facilitating early engagement for smoother applications.

Following an industry forum in August 2024, these reforms were shaped with key stakeholders and construction industry leaders, who highlighted real-world obstacles slowing housing development, to break down barriers and get more homes built faster.

This action plan strengthens the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to building a better NSW, including:

$2.2 billion infrastructure investment to fund more housing, critical infrastructure and better planning for housing.
Over $250 million to continue the overhaul of the planning system and planning reforms.
The development of the NSW Pattern Book and accelerated planning pathway for those who use the pre-approved patterns.
$5.1 billion to build 8,400 new public homes, the largest investment in social and affordable housing.
Creation of Housing Delivery Authority that recently announced plans to fast-track the delivery of 6,400 new homes.

To learn more, please visit: https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/plans-and-strategies/housing-approval-reform-action-plan/

Minister for Housing and Water Rose Jackson said:

“Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater might not be front of mind, but they’re make-or-break for getting homes built and ready to live in.

“We’re cutting red tape, speeding up approvals, and pulling every lever we’ve got to get more homes on the ground faster—because NSW can’t afford delays.

“This plan is about fixing the system. The entire NSW water sector has come together with developers to find solutions that actually work and get things moving.

“These are practical changes that will slash approval timeframes and address industry concerns—while still doing the right thing by our water sources and environment.”

NSW Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia Katie Stevenson said:

“When applications for apartment buildings get the stamp of approval from planning, there are often further strings attached where significant excavations need additional sign-off from water authorities and this adds costly further delays to the delivery of new housing.

“Today’s announcement effectively declares 2025 as a year of cultural change for the three water authorities involved in the pre-construction approval of new housing – it is the sort of leadership we need to align all aspects of the government’s activities toward the resolution of the housing crisis.

“We appreciate the priorities outlined in the action plan, along with the specific activities and timelines it includes, which have been created through extensive consultation with the industry.”

Fair Work Commission ruling means certainty for rail passengers

The Fair Work Commission yesterday ruled in favour of a “cooling off period” from 10pm last night (19 February 2025) until 1 July 2025.

This means all industrial action will end to allow Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink to focus on negotiating and finalising a deal with the Combined Rail Unions (CRU).

The Commission found that it was “in the public interest” for industrial action to pause.

This morning, almost all rail services are currently running on time.

Passengers now have certainty that their rail services will not be affected with the types of disruption that industrial action has caused recently.

The Rail Agencies remain committed to continuing to negotiate with the CRU.

Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink thank all passengers for their patience during this period of disruption.

Second teen charged over alleged bus assault – Newcastle

A second teenage boy has been charged after two bus drivers were allegedly assaulted in separate incidents in Newcastle last week.

Police Transport Command officers commenced an investigation after the two drivers were allegedly assaulted on Thursday 13 February 2025.

Police were told three males were fighting on a bus when the driver stopped at New Lambton Heights and asked them to get off. When leaving the bus, the driver was allegedly assaulted by one of the males.

A short time later, the males boarded another bus and allegedly began causing a disturbance to passengers. The bus stopped in Glendale where all passengers got off; however, the three males allegedly forced open the rear door and assaulted the driver.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries but were not taken to hospital.

Police were notified and inquiries into both incidents commenced by the Police Transport Command’s Northern Satellite team.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 14-year-old boy yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 18 February 2025).

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with two counts of common assault, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.

The boy was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Wednesday 19 February 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday 24 February 2025.

Following further inquiries, police arrested a second 14-year-old boy earlier today (Wednesday 19 February 2025).

He was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with common assault, and affray.

He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children’s court on Monday 24 March 2025.

Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Teen charged over alleged bus assault – Newcastle

A teenage boy has been charged after two bus drivers were allegedly assaulted in separate incidents in Newcastle last week.

Police Transport Command officers commenced an investigation after the two drivers were allegedly assaulted on Thursday 13 February 2025.

Police were told three males were fighting on a bus when the driver stopped at New Lambton Heights and asked them to get off.

When leaving the bus, the driver was allegedly assaulted by one of the males.

A short time later, the males boarded another bus and allegedly began causing a disturbance to passengers.

The bus stopped in Glendale where all passengers got off; however, the three males allegedly forced open the rear door and assaulted the driver.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were not taken to hospital.

Police were notified and inquiries into both incidents commenced by the Police Transport Command’s Northern Satellite team.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 14-year-old boy yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 18 February 2025).

The boy allegedly resisted the arrest; however, the arrest was effected a short time later and he was taken to Belmont Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of common assault, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.

The boy was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Wednesday 19 February 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday 24 February 2025.

Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

RANSW Expands Critical Men’s Behaviour Program to Maitland and Blacktown

Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) is expanding its Men’s Behaviour Change Program (MBCP) to two new locations, thanks to an additional $1.6 million investment from the NSW Government.

RANSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said RANSW will be bringing its extensive experience in delivering MBCPs to the Blacktown and Maitland communities from February 2025.

“Relationship Australia NSW’s program supports men in taking responsibility for their abusive behaviour, while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of victim survivors,” Ms Shaw said.

“Our MBCP provides men with a unique opportunity, outside of the criminal justice system, to interrupt destructive patterns of behaviour through intensive casework and an 18-week group program.

“For those who engage and commit to the process, considerable change is possible, especially when they continue addressing their issues through our counselling and group work programs.”

“Through the program, women and children also separately receive vital education and support to strengthen their capacity to manage safety and wellbeing, ensuring a more holistic approach to addressing domestic and family violence.”

The funding will provide support to approximately 280 people per year.

“On behalf of RANSW, I’d like to thank the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Jodie Harrison and the NSW Government for this investment in the safety of women and children across our state,” Ms Shaw said.

Steven* joined RANSW’s Taking Responsibility Men’s Behaviour Change Program after his children stopped living with him due to safety concerns.

“I see how my partner’s face has changed and when she looks at me, I see love instead of fear,” Steven said.

“My children can now express themselves and I can help them with their big emotions instead of screaming at them and scaring them. I appreciate these relationships so much, and I was so close to losing all of them.”

Steven’s participation in the program brought significant changes. His children were reunited with him and his partner, and both Steven and his partner joined parenting support programs. Steven’s partner also attended RANSW’s Women’s Choice and Change workshop.

RANSW’s MBCP is also available in the Sydney CBD, Illawarra, Hunter and online, with more than 400 people taking part in the program in 2024.

*Name changed for privacy reasons.

Australia-Indonesia Institute board appointments

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Lydia Santoso as Chair of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute has long championed initiatives that strengthen personal, institutional and cultural ties between Australia and Indonesia. Our relationship with Indonesia is grounded in a history of friendship and cooperation between our people and governments.

The Board sets the strategic direction for the Institute’s programs and activities, which support partnerships in business, the arts, education, health, science, technology and sport.

Ms Santoso has been a Board Member since 2015 and long been an advocate for forging cultural connections and deepening Australia’s economic engagement with Indonesia. She is currently Chair of the Australia Indonesia Business Council (NSW) and serves on the board of the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies.

I am also pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members, who each bring a wealth of experience to support the goals of the Institute, including the broadening and deepening of Australian-Indonesian relations:

Dr Jemma Purdey is an Adjunct Fellow at the Australia Indonesia Centre, Monash University, the editor of Inside Indonesia magazine and a founding Director of the ReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Festival.
Mr Robert Law is a Director at Asialink Business, advising businesses on engagement with Asia.
Mr Robbie Gaspar was the first Australian to play professional soccer in Indonesia and is President of the Indonesia Institute.

Ms Amanda Hodge, Southeast Asia correspondent for The Australian newspaper, and Ms Armina Rosenberg, portfolio manager at Minotour, an AI-powered hedge fund, have also been reappointed for a second three-year term.

I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy AM, and fellow Board Member, Franchesca Cubillo, for their contributions to the work of the Institute.

To find out more, see Australia-Indonesia Institute.

Dutton plan to cut public service won’t save money

Dutton clueless on APS cuts

Peter Dutton’s determination to undo efforts to rebuild the Australian Public Service (APS) by slashing jobs will end up costing the nation more according to the Greens spokesperson on Finance and the Public Service, Senator Barbara Pocock.

New analysis commissioned by the Greens suggests that money spent on outsourcing work to the private sector costs more than three times as much as having the work done in-house.

Senator Barbara Pocock:

“Our analysis shows the government could have hired 179,832 public servants with the $20.8 billion that was spent on external labour in the last year of the Morrison Government. That massive spend only created 54,000 jobs in the private sector. You don’t need an economics degree to work out where to get the best value for money. It’s clearly in the public sector.

“These figures demonstrate that outsourcing public sector work has cost Australian taxpayers more than three times as much doing that work in-house. If Dutton is on an efficiency drive, he should be hiring more public servants.

“Peter Dutton is peddling a myth about a bloated public service. If you look at the APS headcount as a percentage of the labour force it has actually gone down over the past decade from 1.53% in 2012 to 1.36% in June last year.

“The public service has been hollowed out over the Coalition years. What we need now is not further denigration of the APS by a Musk-like razor gang, but to rebuild capacity to allow all of that core work, outsourced at great expense under Morrison, to be done more cheaply, more reliably and with more accountability by a well-resourced public service.

“Dutton has gone out of his way to characterise commonwealth public servants as Canberra-based and also claimed all of the positions added in the past 3 years have been in Canberra. This defies reality as only a third of the current headcount are in the ACT. There are over 60,000 federal public servants in NSW and Victoria alone; 24,000 in Queensland; nearly 13,000 in South Australia and more than 22,000 in regional Australia.

“The APS is far from Canberra centric. However, the Coalition strategy hinges on casting a well-staffed Canberra based bureaucracy as somehow being bad for the business of government. The opposite is actually true. All those dedicated APS workers in the state and territory capitals and out in the regions, rely on a strong and responsive back-of-house workforce in Canberra.

“This demonisation of the Canberra bureaucrats by Dutton, shows a failure to understand how the public service actually works. This is dangerous stuff coming from an alternative Prime Minister. What’s at stake is the quality of service that all Australians rely on in their dealings with government.

“If the leader of the opposition is not willing to name which jobs will go under a Coalition government, which state capitals will lose their workforce, which regional centres will lose more staff, perhaps it’s because he hasn’t got a clue.”

GREENS CALL ON NEW TREASURER TO BACK BIG BANK LEVY BILL AS RECORD PROFITS RECORDED

The Victorian Greens will first read a new Bill that would introduce a 0.05% levy on the big banks to generate $16.5 billion in revenue over the next decade which the Greens say could be invested into direct cost of living measures for Victorians.

It comes as households anxiously await today’s RBA announcement on interest rates, just days after Commonwealth Bank recorded a mammoth $5.1 billion profit in just six months.

The policy has been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office to raise $16.5 billion over the next decade, and approximately $4.8 billion over forward estimates, or around $1.5 billion annually.

The Victorian Greens say the Bill is aimed at putting pressure on the Victorian Labor Government ahead of the fast approaching 2025 Budget, and that this is an opportunity for the new Treasurer to rein in the big banks while generating billions in revenue that could be invested into real cost of living relief for Victorians.

the Victorian Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli:

“Do you think it’s reasonable that the big banks can rake in over $5 billion in profits in just six months while we can’t even properly fund our public schools and hospitals?

“We’re told that Victoria is broke, that we can’t afford to upgrade our schools or build more public housing, or fix our health system, but the big banks are getting away scott free with cashing in on everyday Victorians.

“Banking lobbyists will come out swinging but the reality is that the banks can afford this when they’re recording multi billion dollar record profits, paying their CEOs millions and we can’t even properly fund our public services.

“With a budget around the corner, this levy is just one thing that we can do right now at the state level to hand a small amount of the big banks’ super profits back to Victorians.”