Tuesday, 24 March, 2026
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Doveton school success
Crime ‘stabilises’
Gulls versus chips
Final blow for Springvale Sth
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SPORT
Young and old united St Mary’s Primary School students were arm in arm, alongside aged care residents and families for Harmony Day celebrations in Dandenong last week. Dozens shared cultural foods, flags, dances, songs and migration stories in a rich and packed festival. More photos, turn to page 14
(Gary Sissons: 540634)
Poll positions Change is in the air ahead of November’s state election. Last week, Dandenong Labor MP Gabrielle Williams was spoken of as a possible Premier. Meanwhile, Liberal upper house MP Ann-Marie Hermans suffered a cruelling blow being demoted to No.2 on the party’s upper house ticket for South Eastern Metropolitan Region. Williams denied she was “doing the numbers” after reports surfaced of a potential coup against
Premier Jacinta Allan. Williams and deputy premier Ben Carroll have been touted as possible replacements. In a statement to Star Journal, Williams stated that “the Premier has my support”. “I’m a part of a Labor team that is single mindedly focused on delivering the services, support and opportunities that Victorians care about.” Hermans thanked her party’s leader Jess Wil-
MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
son for her “unwavering support” during last week’s preselection. She was replaced by Mentone public relations professional Phillip Pease as No.1 on the Liberal card. She clung onto No.2 – which puts her chances of re-election in November in jeopardy. “We have an election to win and a state to save – and that’s exactly what we’ll do,” Hermans stated. Political expert Zareh Ghazarian said there
was a feeling of ‘It’s Time’ against the Labor Government – and the “rot” might be setting in against Allan. “It has been a government for 12 years, which has been challenged by big issues in recent times – housing affordability and availability, cost-ofliving, service delivery and law-and-order. “These are bread-and-butter state issues.” More on the stories, turn to page 3
CASEY DEMONS
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