Victoria

Yesterday Victorian Treasurer Kims Wells handed down his and the Baillieu Government’s first budget.
Panorama got the low down on what the budget was all about and what was in it for young people.

Also in the podcast; what was in the budget for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, child services, the environment and legal aid.
 
Panorama's Matt Dawson, Dinushi Weerakone and Samantha Lowcock report.
 

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State Budget podcast 4 May .mp3

Catching a train, tram or bus may be the most boring part of your day – and for many it’s also the most frustrating.  Public transport being late, crowded or just not showing up is something Melbournians have had to deal with for years. Late last year the provider of trams and trains changed and it was meant to help fix the problems – but so far Metro hasn’t met most of its own performance targets. 
Emma Buckley Lennox reports on what the parties are proposing to do about it.

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PUBLIC TRANSPORT FINAL.mp3

Racing season has begun in Warnambool again for 2010. The debate over jumps racing is back in the limelight.

At the same racing carnival last year, only eight of 14 horses finished the annual steeplechase race. Should jumps racing be banned?

Samantha Lowcock and Anthony Polidano report.

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Jumps racing - SYNcast.mp3

You might think politics is as boring as a day spent knitting, but if you're going to pick a time to pay attention to the spin, May is the month.

The most hype is kept for the Federal budget, but what about Victoria's budget? Emma Buckley Lennox asks if it's an election-winner. Phoebe Roth looks at the $4b investment in health and what it's missing.

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State Budget - SYNcast.mp3

Youth Week 2010 runs from April 10-18, and it's all about us - young Australians.

Victorian Minister for Sport, Recreation & Youth Affairs James Merlino and this year's youth rep, Micah Scott, talk to Nick Toscano about mental health awareness, changing cultural problems, having your voice heard, and what's on for Youth Week 2010.

To check out what's coming up, go to youthcentral.vic.gov.au

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Youth Week - SYNcast.mp3

86 per cent of Victoria's energy comes from brown coal power, but it's also one of our highest pollutants. Aluminium company Alcoa - the state's main exporter - has joined with Loy Yang Power, which will provide brown coal power to their smelting plants near Geelong until 2032.

How will this affect efforts to combat climate change? Why coal instead of renewable energy like wind or solar power?

Naomi Black speaks to the managing director of Alcoa Australia, Alan Cransberg, and Victoria McKenzie-McHarg from Environment Victoria.

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ALCOA - SYNcast.mp3