Category Archives: Melbourne

AFP boss says politicians’ heated rhetoric is fuelling threats against MPs

Posted on by

Commissioner Krissy Barrett says women are more often singled out, often with threats of sexual violence

Australia’s top federal law enforcement official has drawn a direct link between politicians’ rhetoric and threats and abuse being directed at leaders.

The safety of elected representatives at all levels has been thrown into the spotlight after independent MP Helen Haines was allegedly deliberate attacked outside her Wangaratta electoral office.

Continue reading...

Mortgage repayments are now cheaper than rent in some Australian suburbs. Is yours among them?

Posted on by

As house prices plateau, the gap between the cost of buying and renting is narrowing in dozens of suburbs

High rents and falling property prices have opened a rare window for Australian tenants to become homeowners, with mortgage repayments cheaper than rent in dozens of suburbs.

Guardian Australia’s analysis of Cotality data shows that median rents in inner-city Melbourne, suburban Canberra and Darwin are now nearly matching weekly home loan repayments.

In one in 10 suburbs and towns across the country, repayments are less than $200 a week higher than rent, for the typical property. In some suburbs, they are actually cheaper.

Continue reading...

Missing Australian hiker Jordan Yap last seen on remote trail found dead in Peru

Posted on by

Family and friends say Melbourne man should be remembered for ‘immense joy he brought to so many people’s lives’

An Australian trekker who was last seen on a remote South American hiking trail has been found dead, his family have said.

Jordan Yap, 30, last made contact with friends and family on 14 September ahead of a planned 10-day solo trek along Peru’s Huayhuash mountain range, 400km north-east of Lima.

Continue reading...

Two Carlton players treated in hospital after off-season night out

Posted on by

Club issues brief statement about Lachie Cowan and Will Hayward, saying latter suffered minor cut to head after a fall

An off-season night out for Carlton football club teammates ended with two players admitted to hospital for treatment on Sunday morning, in what the club says are “separate circumstances”.

The club released a statement on Sunday confirming that AFL players Lachie Cowan, 21, and Will Hayward, 27, had been treated and discharged, after reports in several media outlets about the aftermath of an off-season night out.

Guardian Australia understands both players were both part of a larger group that had been socialising on Saturday evening.

Continue reading...

‘My body is still peaking’: Eliud Kipchoge wins first marathon in three years

Posted on by

  • Kenyan breaks Melbourne Marathon record by two seconds

  • ‘I’m happy to run with the gen Zs,’ 41-year-old says

Marathon’s greatest competitor, Eliud Kipchoge, has sent a message to the next generation declaring that he’s not done yet.

The 41-year-old Kenyan revelled in his Melbourne Marathon debut on Sunday, breaking the race record and delighting thousands of fans at the MCG finish.

Continue reading...

Free the Strip! Melburnians fight back against outlawing of much-loved picnic spot

Posted on by

A council ban on drinking on the median strip in Canning Street, Carlton, sparks a peaceful protest featuring punch bowls, chips and laughter

It looked like a typical spring evening on Melbourne’s Canning Street when a few dozen picnickers gathered on the grassy median strip on Friday, with drinks in hand.

People in one group who’d come with a full alfresco setting chattered as they ladled punch out of a glass bowl on a wooden table, set with a tablecloth and yellow flowers in a vase. Others sat on picnic blankets, passing around bags of chips.

Continue reading...

The gunzels’ grand final: Melbourne Tramaroos’ campaign derails at European TramDriver Championship

Posted on by

The Warsaw event saw 26 teams compete across a series of demanding tasks, inspired - to varying degrees - by tram drivers’ day-to-day tasks

It’s the grand final for gunzels. But despite having one of the largest tram networks in the world, Melbourne’s Tramaroos finished second last at this year’s European TramDriver Championship, just ahead of London.

The event, held in Warsaw on Saturday, saw 26 teams compete across a series of demanding tasks, inspired – to varying degrees – by tram drivers’ day-to-day work.

Continue reading...

Victorian Labor promises new offences to close domestic and family violence ‘loopholes’

Posted on by

Premier Ben Carroll vows to legislate new form of manslaughter and increase maximum penalty for rape to life imprisonment

A re-elected Victorian Labor government will create two new Australian-first offences aimed at closing “loopholes” it says have allowed perpetrators of family violence to escape punishment.

On Sunday, the premier, Ben Carroll, will announce an election commitment to legislate a new form of manslaughter covering cases in which a person takes their own life as a result of family violence, as well as a new offence covering perpetrators abandoning a victim in need of medical care.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here

Continue reading...

Manhunt after alleged axe attack in Victoria leaves three people with serious injuries

Posted on by

Police search for alleged attacker, in his 50s, after incident in Gippsland town of Tyers

Three people have been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after an alleged axe attack in Victoria, with police still searching for the suspect.

The alleged attacker, who is known to the victims, came to an address in the Gippsland town of Tyers at about 12.30pm on Saturday, according to a spokesperson for Victoria police.

Continue reading...

Liberals criticise ‘unimpressive and underwhelming’ rail loop plan as Victorian premier pushes ahead after hinting at pause

Posted on by

A day after suggesting other projects were more important to Victorians, Ben Carroll says train line will go ahead but at a slightly reduced cost

The Victorian opposition has described Ben Carroll’s plan to scale back new train stations along the Suburban Rail Loop to shave just over 5% off its total cost as “incredibly unimpressive and underwhelming”.

The premier on Tuesday announced changes to the scope of the first stage of the state’s largest-ever infrastructure project, known as SRL East – a 26km stretch of tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill – estimated to save $1bn. He also ordered an “independent, technical review” to identify a further $1bn in savings.

Continue reading...

Two men charged and drugs, guns and cars linked to CFMEU seized as police investigate alleged corruption

Posted on by

Police arrest five men and search six properties including the union’s Victorian headquarters

Two men have been charged and Victorian police have seized drugs, guns and cars linked to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the building industry.

On Monday, detectives from Taskforce Hawk arrested five men and searched six properties including the Victorian headquarters of the union, saying they were investigating secret commissions, fraud and drug trafficking.

Continue reading...

Victorian Liberals promise weekly red bin garbage collections for all, calling fortnightly system ‘disgusting’

Posted on by

If opposition wins November’s state election, leader Jess Wilson vows households will not pay more under the change

The Victorian Liberals have vowed to restore weekly rubbish collections if they win November’s state election, with leader Jess Wilson describing the current fortnightly system in her local area as “disgusting”.

Thirty-three Victorian councils have switched general rubbish collections from weekly to fortnightly, with a similar shift occurring in other states.

Continue reading...

Good Samaritan dies days after being attacked while trying to stop Melbourne shoplifters

Posted on by

Van Viet Truong was critically injured after coming to the aid of a fellow retail worker in Sunshine

Council flags are flying at half-mast in honour of a good Samaritan who died days after he was allegedly attacked by shoplifting youths outside a Melbourne shopping strip.

Van Viet Truong was critically injured after he rushed to the aid of a fellow retail worker trying to stop the group stealing clothes in Sunshine in Melbourne’s west on Saturday, police allege.

Continue reading...

Good Samaritan dies days after being attacked while trying to stop Melbourne shoplifters

Posted on by

Van Viet Truong was critically injured after coming to the aid of a fellow retail worker in Sunshine

Council flags are flying at half-mast in honour of a good Samaritan who died days after he was allegedly attacked by shoplifting youths outside a Melbourne shopping strip.

Van Viet Truong was critically injured after he rushed to the aid of a fellow retail worker trying to stop the group stealing clothes in Sunshine in Melbourne’s west on Saturday, police allege.

Continue reading...

Pianist Jayson Gillham ‘very disappointed’ after losing Melbourne Symphony Orchestra discrimination case

Posted on by

The federal court on Friday threw out the concert pianist’s case against the MSO, finding he was not unfairly dismissed due to Gaza war comments

The concert pianist at the centre of a high-profile unfair dismissal case has revealed his deep disappointment with his courtroom defeat.

Federal court justice Graeme Hill on Friday threw out Jayson Lloyd Gillham’s case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, finding he was not unfairly dismissed.

Continue reading...

‘Like a father to us’: pride and protest as thousands flock to see Narendra Modi in Melbourne

Posted on by

Indian prime minister wows crowd of 25,000 at Marvel Stadium as he praises role of diaspora in the India-Australia success story

The throb of the drum beats intensified as the crowd of 25,000 Indian Australians prepared to welcome India’s prime minister back to Melbourne after more than a decade.

As Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese stepped on to the red carpet at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, twinkling phone lights illuminated the feverish audience as they chanted “Modi, Modi, Modi.”

Continue reading...

Accused double murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon’s mother granted bail – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

Richard Marles said he doubted China tested the long-range weapon yesterday in response to Anthony Albanese being in the Pacific to sign a new defence alliance with Fiji but said Australia remained deeply concerned by the development. He told ABC News:

At the end of the day, what we’re seeing here is a long-range missile test from China, which China itself has said is nuclear-capable … This is China demonstrating a much greater range in terms of being able to deploy a nuclear weapon.

And ultimately what that is, is deeply destabilising.

Our fundamental issue in relation to China is that we have seen a very dramatic military buildup by China without that strategic reassurance [to our neighbours].

There really isn’t an explanation as to why they are building the capabilities that they are and that is fundamentally destabilising.

I think the system is handling the matter as it should … I think it’s appropriate that the legal process takes its course.

Continue reading...

Melbourne teacher dies after head clash during suburban football game

Posted on by

Epping footballer Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, died in hospital after hitting his head during a game in Lalor, club confirms

A suburban Melbourne footballer has died in hospital after a clash of heads saw him fall to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch, his club confirmed on Monday night.

High school teacher Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was taken to Royal Melbourne hospital on Saturday after the incident during an Australian rules football game in Lalor in Melbourne’s north, and was said to be receiving “end of life” care.

Continue reading...

Details of MCG assault against Lidia Thorpe revealed after court lifts suppression order

Posted on by

Ebony Bell convicted and handed community work order following assault on senator and second ‘gratuitous act of violence’ while on bail

A woman has been handed a community work order for punching Lidia Thorpe outside the MCG over claims the independent senator disrespected her mother.

Ebony Bell was initially told to undertake an anger management course after her 2024 attack on Thorpe, but committed a second “gratuitous act of violence” while on bail, the Melbourne magistrates court was told in June.

Continue reading...

Melbourne stabbing: teenagers arrested after boy left outside Craigieburn hospital dies

Posted on by

Fifteen-year-old unable to be saved after being left outside Craigieburn Community hospital

Two teenagers have been arrested after a 15-year-old boy was left for dead with suspected stab wounds outside a hospital in Melbourne.

The boy was found critically injured outside Craigieburn Community hospital on Lygon Drive, in Melbourne’s north, about 7.50pm on Wednesday.

Continue reading...