Victoria

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after the body of 13-year-old Layla Jeffery was discovered in Donald, Victoria. The incident has prompted a criminal investigation in the area.

The body of 13-year-old Layla Jeffery was found in bushland near Donald in western Victoria after she went missing on the weekend. Police have classified her death as 'suspicious' following the discovery.

UK carpet maker Victoria Plc and a group of bondholders left behind in an earlier debt deal have agreed to a balance sheet restructuring. The deal addresses financial obligations to bondholders excluded from a prior arrangement.

Telstra's mobile network experienced a major outage, affecting millions of users nationwide and disrupting regional trains in Victoria and emergency triple-zero calls. The telecommunications provider confirmed the issue, impacting 25 million mobile services.

Jacinta Allan acknowledged that criminals operated on some of Victoria’s construction sites during the Big Build projects but rejected calls for a royal commission into corruption involving unions and labor hire companies. She argued in an op-ed that a royal commission would not resolve the issue.

A postman in a small Australian town receives unclaimed eBay return parcels addressed to a non-existent business at the local community hall. The parcels, containing low-value items like fake orchids, are linked to a Victoria-based eBay seller with 22,000 sales over five years, some of which involved automated responses and prior returns.

Nicky Winmar, a former AFL player, was found guilty of dragging a woman by the hair and hitting her head against a door. A Bendigo magistrate found the woman truthful and convicted him of three charges.

An Australian man from Ballarat, Victoria, was arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Thai girl Tunchanok Donhomla, whose naked body was found in a suitcase alongside a railway line in Thailand. He was apprehended as he allegedly attempted to board a plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

LGBTQ+ support service Thorne Harbour Health reports international students from countries where homosexuality is illegal are being targeted via dating apps for assaults and extortion, with threats of being outed in their home countries. A Victorian hate crimes inquiry heard that 95 attacks occurred since June 2024, leading to 42 arrests.

Ebike thefts are increasing in New South Wales while Victoria's overall crime rate decreased by 1.9% for the first time in four years. Both states experienced a rise in theft, with ebike theft being a significant driver in NSW.

William 'Rob' Gilfillan was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for sexual offenses against two schoolgirls at Traralgon high school in Gippsland, Victoria. The sentence is being served concurrently with a prior 48-year sentence for abusing his daughter.

Victoria will require state secondary schools to limit classroom device use to two hours daily starting in 2027, promoting activities like whiteboard work, paper-based tasks, and group debates. An academic noted laptops have replaced traditional note-taking, urging other states to follow Victoria's approach.

Two fires in 12 years destroyed most mature native pines in Wyperfeld National Park, a critical habitat for endangered pink cockatoos. The birds now rely on non-native Aleppo pines for nesting and food, though their long-term survival remains uncertain.

An Indian national convicted of a Bishnoi gang extortion attack at Punjabi singer AP Dhillon's home in the Victoria area claims the gang has threatened to kill him if he returns to India.

The article discusses Harper Beckham's potential new business opportunity, Victoria's undisclosed strategy for her 14-year-old daughter's financial future, and the support network Harper is relying on. It highlights speculation about Harper surpassing her parents' wealth through this venture.

Jacinta Allan faced three major tests this week, with her handling of a parliamentary inquiry into Victoria's integrity laws and other issues prompting speculation about a possible Labor leadership change. The rumors resurfaced as the Victorian election approaches, with some MPs questioning if it's too late for a leadership shift.

Victoria’s child protection system failed to identify risk in 35 cases where children died after interactions with the system, according to the state’s commissioner for children and young people. Advocates highlight systemic issues including ineffective referrals to voluntary services, closed reports, and funding shortfalls.

Australian wheat crop is expected to drop 26% due to weather and war costs, but growers are benefiting from a bumper harvest, global wheat shortages, and near-nine-year-high prices. A stockpile of wheat is stored at a Riordan Grains facility in Balliang, Victoria.

A Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll indicates Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is now Australia’s most popular political party. A house fire in Melbourne resulted in one death and a serious injury. The article notes public despair over government performance.

A major storm with cyclone-strength winds is impacting Western Australia, warning residents of wind gusts exceeding 125km/h. The storm will bring icy weather to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia early next week.

Uber drivers in Victoria secured a union contract, marking a significant development for ride-hailing workers in Canada. The outcome could influence labor conditions and unionization efforts across the country's gig economy.

Uber drivers in Victoria, Canada, have secured the first union contract for rideshare workers in the country. However, advocates caution that this agreement may not lead to broader unionization efforts across Canada.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will announce a plan to offer 2,000 apprenticeships at the revived State Electricity Commission, marking the first government employment of electrical apprentices since the SEC's privatization 30 years ago. The announcement is part of Labor's pre-election campaign and addresses workforce shortages in the electrical industry.

Flash flooding hits Queensland roads and more than $57bn of Victoria's infrastructure is at risk from climate hazards by 2030. The value at risk could increase to over $71bn by 2070. Infrastructure Victoria assessed risks to $318bn in government-owned assets.

Pension BCI shuts two stock funds due to a shrinking public pool, as reported in Victoria, British Columbia. The decision affects investment options. Details on the impact are not provided.

The Victorian Labor government plans to toughen consequences for young offenders after 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl were dropped. The girl had faced charges including reckless conduct and motor vehicle theft. The opposition described the case as proof the justice system is broken.

Victoria's political donation laws were struck down by the high court, leaving the state without caps on donations or disclosure requirements ahead of the November election. The Labor party failed to reach an agreement with the Liberals or Greens on urgent reforms. This means 'dark money' and foreign donations can continue to flood into Victorian politics.

A former Woolworths employee's unfair dismissal case was rejected by Fair Work Commission deputy president Alan Colman due to lack of evidence and no actual dismissal occurring. The employee claimed hurt feelings over being told to cover up his bum crack. The case was deemed a waste of the commission's time.

A Melbourne man, Kyle Hudson, gambled $895,733 through online betting platforms from his 18th birthday to his death at 22. An inquest is examining the circumstances of his death and whether betting companies accurately assessed the risk of gambling-related harm. The inquest into Hudson's death began on Monday.

Australia's battery industry is experiencing a boom, with sites like the Victorian Big Battery operated by Neoen SA in Moorabool, Victoria, Australia, contributing to the growth. The boom is expected to impact the lucrative power trade. The Victorian Big Battery site is a key player in this emerging industry.

The federal budget will include an additional $3.8bn for the Suburban Rail Loop, a 90km public transport project in Melbourne. The funding announcement will be made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan ahead of the state election. The project is controversial and costly.

The Albanese government has scaled back the inland rail project, abandoning plans to connect NSW and Queensland by rail due to a blown-out price tag of over $45bn. The project will now only connect Beveridge in Victoria to Parkes in NSW, covering about half the original distance. The government will reallocate $1.75bn of the funding to other national rail upgrades.

A luxury cruise ship, MV Hondius, has been hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak, killing three people and leaving three more seriously ill, with four Australians among the passengers. Victoria's treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, will hand down a state budget delivering an operating surplus. The state recorded a $700m surplus in 2025-26.

Victoria state has recorded a $700m surplus in the 2025-26 financial year and is forecasting another surplus for the next financial year. This marks the first time the state has been in surplus since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2026-27 budget will be handed down on Tuesday afternoon.

The Australian Liberal Party has claimed victory in the Nepean byelection in Victoria, with candidate Anthony Marsh leading as a significant boost for opposition leader Jess Wilson. The result is seen as a key indicator ahead of the November state election.

Avi Yemini, a rightwing provocateur and former Israeli soldier, plans to register the 'Free Palestine party' in Victoria's state election to funnel votes to conservative parties, raising concerns about the state's group voting ticket system. The move has intensified calls for Labor to reform the voting mechanism.

Angus Taylor, opposition leader, criticizes the overuse of 'welcome to country' ceremonies, calling them devalued. Victoria announces a one-off car registration rebate.

Microscopic fossils in limestone have revealed Victoria's Twelve Apostles are 8.6 to 14 million years old, shaped by tectonic plate movements. The site, a major tourist attraction along the Great Ocean Road near Melbourne, draws 2.8 million visitors annually.

Victoria extends free public transport as a cost of living relief measure, potentially signaling an election strategy. A man has been charged with murder in New South Wales, following a tragic incident near Melbourne's Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the fire at the Geelong (Corio) refinery will not lead to stage 3 fuel restrictions in Australia, despite a 40% reduction in petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel production. The Viva Energy refinery, which supplied half of Victoria’s fuel, was damaged in a 13-hour blaze.