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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Aug 14

In this video, I read out the name of Wafa Aludaini, a Palestinian journalist who wrote for several publications including The Guardian. She also mentored young journalists. On 29 September 2024, she was killed alongside her husband and two of her children in an Israeli airstrike.

MEAA @withmeaa.bsky.social · Aug 14

Targeting journalists is a war crime.
As colleagues, we remember them.
meaa.io/45A4vZ5

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Aug 3

They had said it would put lives in danger to block the bridge…

Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Aug 3

I get the Libs are trying to make a pun about their proposed move on laws but this just feels out of touch. People aren’t just going to “move on” from what’s happening in Gaza - if anything, the public outcry has only grown louder. It’s why today’s rallies are expected to be the biggest yet.

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 27

Victorian Labor members will use this weekend’s state conference to demand the federal government “immediately” recognise a Palestinian state and impose sanctions on Israel – in what will be their strongest push to date on the issue www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com

Victorian Labor party members to push for ‘immediate’ federal recognition of a Palestinian state

Exclusive: Labor Friends of Palestine to move three ‘urgency resolutions’ at weekend conference, but PM maintains no immediate plans for the move

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 14

‘Disgusting’ slogan apparently directed at Victorian premier seen at rally attended by Brad Battin and union boss www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com

‘Disgusting’ slogan apparently directed at Victorian premier seen at rally attended by Brad Battin and union boss

‘Ditch the bitch’ was emblazoned on a fire truck at a rally against the state’s new emergency services levy

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 8

Not very often we make the front page of the UK paper:

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 7

Well jury watch escalated quickly. Here’s my yarn: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... with @ninobucci.bsky.social

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 7

And - this applies even if you don't like what people are protesting.

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 7

I'm in Morwell on jury watch, and I'm not sure why it even needs reminding, but the right to protest is fundamental to our democracy. Protest literally achieved so many things we take for granted today. Any attempt to restrict the right to protest needs to be carefully scrutinised #springst

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jul 7

This was a fun day at work. More here: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com

Mike Kalenderian @mikekay.bsky.social · Jul 7

ICYMI on the weekend — Vic correspondent @benitakolovos.bsky.social got a first look inside Melbourne's newest metro stations: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaa...

Eight storeys beneath Melbourne: first look inside the city's new metro stations

YouTube video by Guardian Australia

www.youtube.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 24

Don’t believe the hype: Victorian government deserves credit for not buckling to aggressive pro-gas campaign www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @adammorton.bsky.social

Don’t believe the hype: Victorian government deserves credit for not buckling to aggressive pro-gas campaign

Australia’s most gas-reliant state takes a significant step to move households and businesses away from fossil fuels and cut energy bills

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 9

That’s the language Emma used 😅

Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 9

Victoria's parliament is holding their own Big Freeze next week. If you'd like to donate you can do so here: support.fightmnd.org.au/fundraisers/...

FREEZE Parliament

I'm raising money for a cause close to my heart and would love your support.

support.fightmnd.org.au

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 9

Got to speak to the incredible Victorian MP Emma Vulin about her battle with MND and her push to bring the state's voluntary assisted dying laws in line with other states: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com #springst #fightmnd #vad

‘I’m not done fighting’: diagnosed with MND, Victorian MP Emma Vulin still has a lot to achieve

After seeing the parliament made more accessible, the 45-year-old wants to help usher in changes to the state’s voluntary assisted dying laws

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 2

Why do I feel like this warning from the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee chair, Laverton MP Sarah Connolly, is pointed: "Witnesses should be aware that all microphones are live during the hearings and anything said may be picked up and captioned, even if said quietly". #springst #paec

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 2

Victorian public servants hit back at Labor’s planned job cuts with push to curb ‘executive bloat’ instead www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com #springst

Victorian public servants hit back at Labor’s planned job cuts with push to curb ‘executive bloat’ instead

Report argues large-scale public sector job losses can be avoided in part by ‘culling’ 450 executive-level roles

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 2

Gina Rinehart helped Liberals raise nearly $400,000 at exclusive dinner that led to wrongful dismissal claim www.theguardian.com/business/202... with @henrybelot.bsky.social via @australia.theguardian.com #springst #auspol

Gina Rinehart helped Liberals raise nearly $400,000 at exclusive dinner that led to wrongful dismissal claim

Victorian Liberal party embroiled in dispute as Fair Work Commission accepts submission from sacked event organiser

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 2

Bankruptcy proceedings have been launched against former Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto after he failed to meet a deadline to pay $2.3m in legal costs to Liberal MP Moira Deeming. More via the @australia.theguardian.com live blog: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #springst #breaking

Australia news live: PM again pushes back at US demand for more defence spending; Minns says tobacco tax hike boosted organised crime

Follow live

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 2

Comments are now open on this piece if you're keen to weigh in #springst

Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · Jun 1

Exclusive: in her only post-budget sit down, the Victorian treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, says she is confident cost pressures will have eased by the 2026 election, and that voters won’t be spooked by the state’s debt www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com

Is the cost-of-living crisis over? Victoria’s new treasurer is optimistic, but housing remains a battleground

Exclusive: Jaclyn Symes is confident cost pressures will have eased by the 2026 election, and that voters won’t be spooked by the state’s debt

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · May 31

In my most recent interview with the opposition leader Brad Battin he said he had no plans to change the current abortion laws in Victoria. Didn’t ask about voluntary assisted dying but assume if we end up making changes to Vic laws they’d be allowed a conscience vote like last time.

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · May 30

And a great explainer from @petrastock.bsky.social on the Victorian government’s approval of a new LNG import terminal, despite claiming they’re getting out of gas: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Victoria says it is getting out of gas – so why has it approved a new LNG import terminal?

State government says Viva Energy’s floating terminal near Geelong will not undermine net zero target, while Greens call project ‘polluting [and] unnecessary’

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · May 30

My analysis on the Victorian Liberals’ shocker week and why it’s only going to get worse from here: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

After a week of spectacular self-sabotage, the Victorian Liberal party’s pain is only just beginning

As John Pesutto scrambles to raise funds to pay $2.3m owed to Moira Deeming, the saga threatens to ‘engulf the entire party’, including its new leader

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · May 30

Heaps of Victorian stories up on the @australia.theguardian.com home page this morning, including this piece from @henrybelot.bsky.social and I on the Liberal party’s ageing membership in freefall: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #auspol #springst

Secret figures show Liberal party’s ageing membership in freefall in NSW and Victoria

Exclusive: Sources reveal closely guarded membership numbers as average age hits 68 in Victoria

www.theguardian.com

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Benita Kolovos @benitakolovos.bsky.social · May 28

Exclusive: Victorian Liberals prepare last-minute bid to bail out John Pesutto with loan to help pay $2.3m defamation costs www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... via @australia.theguardian.com

Victorian Liberals prepare last-minute bid to bail out John Pesutto with loan to help pay $2.3m defamation costs

Exclusive: Liberal sources say proposal to help former opposition leader avoid bankruptcy is being finalised

www.theguardian.com

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