Author: Brodie Cowburn

A $300 REBATE on energy bills and tax cuts are the centrepieces of the federal government’s 2024/2025 budget. The federal government handed down its budget on 14 May. The budget included a $300 energy rebate, which is set to take effect from 1 July. The rebate will be applied to power bills quarterly.The budget also cemented the federal government’s changes to stage three tax cuts. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said “our new tax cuts for middle Australia are the biggest part of the cost of living relief in this budget.” “From 1 July, all 13.6 million taxpayers will get a tax…

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LEGAL action is being considered after vegetation was cleared from Green Wedge land in Langwarrin without council permission.Frankston Council alleges that vegetation has been illegally removed from 565 McClelland Drive. The site, next to Peninsula Private Hospital, is designated inside the Green Wedge in Frankston Council’s 2019 Green Wedge Management Plan.At last week’s public council meeting, Frankston Council CEO Phil Cantillion said that council is aware of vegetation removal and is considering its next steps. He said it is the responsibility of landowners to “ensure that they have the appropriate permissions in place before undertaking works to their property. In…

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A STUDENT at McClelland College has been disciplined after a misogynistic list was allegedly found on their computer.The list has been referred to the police for investigation. McClelland College acting principal Laura Spence said that the school will look into how it was created. “We have already taken disciplinary action and will consider any further steps when the full facts of this incident have been established,” she said. “The safety and wellbeing of our students is an absolute top priority for us, and we are supporting the students impacted by this behaviour. I am very grateful to the students who…

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AN 80-year-old banksia tree in Mentone is among a spate of local trees which have been illegally destroyed in the last six months.Kingston Council says it is investigating multiple illegal tree destructions which have occurred in the municipality. It says that since November dozens of newly planted trees in Clayton South and Oakleigh South have been ripped out, an 80-year-old banksia tree in Mentone has been poisoned, and a saw was used to vandalise a mature tree on MacGregor Street in Parkdale. The Mentone banksia tree was declared dead in December. Council will soon remove the tree and plant a…

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FOR eight-year-old Spencer Quinnell, an upcoming rugby league match in Seaford is the most important day on the calendar.Spencer Quinnell and his younger brothers Teddy and Stanley have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder impacting the respiratory system. In a bid to help others going through the same health issues, Spencer and his parents have organised a charity rugby match for later this month.Spencer’s mother Liv Quinnell said that the young rugby fanatic raised the idea of running a charity match last year after getting involved with other fundraising efforts. “When Spencer was diagnosed we thought ‘this sucks…

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