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Rachael Dexter

Rachael Dexter

Rachael Dexter is a journalist in the City team at The Age. Contact her at rachael.dexter@theage.com.au, rachaeldexter@protonmail.com, or via Signal at @rachaeldexter.58

There has been momentum to ban professional strata managers from receiving commissions on the insurance policies they promote to unit owners.

Strata giant unmasked in secret lobbying to save insurance kickbacks

The Age can reveal that the corporate giant PICA Group privately warned the government’s expert panel that outlawing insurance commissions would cause 70 per cent of strata management companies to collapse.

  • Rachael Dexter

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An attendee holds a placard during an emergency public meeting at Fitzroy Town Hall last year about the cohealth closures.

‘Litany of failures’: Cohealth board threatened with sacking amid soaring deficits

The scathing review recommends drastic action at the inner-city clinics or face a complete government takeover.

  • Rachael Dexter and Henrietta Cook
Apartment owners have criticised the state government’s long-awaited strata reforms.

‘Dog’s breakfast’: Strata overhaul splits flat owners and industry

Apartment owner advocates have lashed Victoria’s new strata overhaul as a failure, while corporate managers have welcomed a reprieve on insurance kickbacks.

  • Rachael Dexter

Crackdown on strata sector will mean new penalties and offences, but Airbnbs slip net

Proposed new laws to be introduced to parliament today are also aimed at giving relief to unit owners suffering hardship.

  • Rachael Dexter
Public housing towers at 150 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park.

State defies inquiry over secrecy of $12 billion public tower knock-down plan

The government has flatly rejected a parliamentary inquiry’s recommendation that it immediately halt a controversial 25-year demolition program for 44 public housing towers until it hands over feasibility plans.

  • Rachael Dexter
Strata kickbacks.

Leaked audio reveals strata giant caught asking contractor for kickbacks

When a strata manager brazenly asked for a kickback to award a contract for work, the contractor was in shock. “I felt like I’d been struck across the face with a fish,” he said.

  • Rachael Dexter
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Gail Innes and her daughter Laura have been offered two houses by Homes Victoria, but neither are viable options.

Public housing, private trap: The tenants facing $4000 rent hikes

A legal loophole and administrative fault left Gayle and Laura severed from public housing and facing a $4000-a-month rent hike and a July eviction.

  • Rachael Dexter
Joe Shin with wife Hwayoung at the Convent Bakery at the Abbotsford Convent on Thursday.

Joe arrived at work for a regular day, but Abbotsford Convent management had already changed the locks on him

Abbotsford Convent is facing unrest as tenants are evicted and the foundation running the historic site insists recent senior staff departures are not out of the ordinary.

  • Clay Lucas and Rachael Dexter
City of Yarra meeting.

Council backpedals from controversial bike path in marathon meeting

The controversial issue, which has sparked fierce public debate within the community, culminated in a marathon five-hour council meeting on Tuesday.

  • Gemma Grant and Rachael Dexter
Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce in downtown Albury after meeting business owners during the campaign for the seat of Farrer in a by-election in NSW.

Australia news as it happened: Polling data shows scale of One Nation’s win in Farrer; Government gears up to deliver federal budget; Iran responds to US’ newest ceasefire proposal

Follow along as we bring you the latest live news updates from Australia and beyond as the government prepares to hand down its federal budget tomorrow.

  • Rachael Dexter and Emily Kaine