Category Archives: Melbourne

Jacinta Allan’s pitch to young voters on housing affordability snags Liberal Nimbys ‘hook, line and sinker’

Posted on by

In pitting millennials against boomers, the Victorian premier is setting the stage for a 2026 election fought on housing

It’s no coincidence Jacinta Allan chose Brighton – a bayside suburb of Melbourne with a median property price of $3.3m – to unveil her most significant policy to date.

With a reputation as a wealthy, predominately white enclave, and as the centre of a safe Liberal electorate of the same name, it is unlikely the Labor premier had many fans in the area on Sunday, even before she announced her bold plan to seize planning controls around Middle Brighton and North Brighton train stations.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Victorian premier pushes ahead with housing plan to rezone affluent areas despite anger from locals

Posted on by

Brighton residents chant ‘Shame, premier, shame’ as they surround the pub where Jacinta Allan announces policy

Victoria’s premier has taken aim at opponents of government plans for high-rise apartments to soar above Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

Jacinta Allan on Sunday announced a plan to create 50 new “activity zones” to help deliver more than 30,000 additional homes across Melbourne by 2051.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Toddler, 3, dies after allegedly being hit by car in Melbourne’s south-east

Posted on by

Man charged with dangerous driving after girl allegedly struck by a vehicle in Endeavour Hills

A three-year-old girl has died in hospital after being hit by a car on a major thoroughfare in Melbourne’s south-east on Thursday.

Emergency services were called to Heatherton Road, near the intersection of James Cook Drive, in Endeavour Hills about 8.30am on Thursday, following reports a child had been struck by vehicle.

Continue reading...

Melbourne psychologist who had sexual relationship with client barred from practising for five years

Posted on by

Tribunal cancelled Jonathon Walker’s registration after it found ‘evidence of coercion’ towards vulnerable patient

Melbourne psychologist Jonathon Walker, who coerced a young, vulnerable client and moved her into his home after they began an intimate relationship, has had his registration as a health worker cancelled.

The Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat) also disqualified Walker from reapplying for registration as a psychologist or any other health practitioner for five years, and in its decision Vcat said Walker had limited insight into his misconduct.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Do you know more? melissa.davey@theguardian.com

In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

Continue reading...

Rival logos go missing in photos of Nike-sponsored Melbourne Marathon festival

Posted on by

Race organisers apologise after posting edited images of two runners where their Asics and Puma branding was obscured

The Nike-sponsored Melbourne Marathon festival has apologised for posting an edited image of a winning runner with the logo of a sports apparel rival obscured.

The image depicted Leanne Pompeani with her arms outstretched after she won the half-marathon but the Asics logo on her running singlet was rubbed out.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Three dogs shot dead by police after mauling woman in Melbourne back yard

Posted on by

Woman taken to hospital in a critical condition after being attacked by the dogs

Three dogs have been shot dead by police who were trying to save a woman being mauled in a Melbourne back yard.

Police were called to Ross Street at Dandenong in the city’s outer south-east about 10am on Thursday, where the woman was being attacked by the dogs in a back yard.

Continue reading...

Man who lit Melbourne bushfires and embraced ‘depraved ideology’ of Islamic State jailed for eight years

Posted on by

Judge says offending by Aran Sherani, who pledged allegiance to terrorist organisation, ‘must be denounced’

A convicted terrorist has been jailed for eight years after he filmed himself pledging allegiance to Islamic State.

A supreme court jury in 2023 found Aran Sherani, 22, guilty of preparing for a terrorist act over the 2021 video.

Continue reading...

Mikola Bychok: Melbourne bishop’s appointment to College of Cardinals seen as gesture of support for Ukraine

Posted on by

Ukraine-born Mikola Bychok will become the only Australian resident in the powerful Catholic church position and the youngest cardinal overall

At just 44, Ukraine-born Melbourne bishop Mikola Bychok has ascended to one of the most powerful positions in the Catholic church, where he will have a say in who becomes the next pope.

Pope Francis named him as one of 21 new cardinals, making him the only Australian resident who will don the signature red vestments, and the youngest cardinal overall.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Good eggs: fans delighted as new peregrine falcon chicks hatch on Melbourne skyscraper

Posted on by

Social media stars of 367 Collins Street welcome baby birds to the nest

Joy can be hatched in the most unexpected places. On Thursday, it was nestled into the ledge of a skyscraper in Melbourne’s CBD, where two peregrine falcon chicks entered the world for the first time.

The newest members of Melbourne’s favourite family hatched in the morning on top of 367 Collins Street, witnessed by more than 1,000 viewers on the building’s rolling live feed.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Police ‘groomed’ Melbourne lawyer turned informer Nicola Gobbo, court hears

Posted on by

Mounting deaths in Melbourne’s gangland wars heaped pressure on detectives, court told

Nicola Gobbo was a young and vulnerable barrister “looking for a way out” of dealing with gangland clients like Tony Mokbel when police saw an opportunity, her lawyers claim.

At 25 years old, the youngest woman in Victoria to sign the bar roll, suddenly found herself “neck deep” in the underworld and feared for her personal safety and wellbeing.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Melbourne lord mayor ridiculed for ‘AI fail’ images with extra human limbs and lifeless bodies

Posted on by

Nicholas Reece was announcing a post-election pledge to build more than two dozen parks when eagle-eyed viewers spotted the errors

The Melbourne lord mayor, Nicholas Reece, has been pilloried online after posting what appeared to be AI-generated images of proposed parks in the city containing AI-like features like lifeless bodies, extra limbs and floating objects.

On Sunday, Reece, who is running to be re-elected mayor in October’s Victorian council elections, tweeted four images alongside a pledge to build 28 new parks in Melbourne if successful in his bid.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Brother of man arrested over 1977 Easey Street cold case says he is ‘100% sure’ of his innocence

Posted on by

Perry Kouroumblis, 65, was arrested at Rome airport and held for the alleged murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett

The brother of a man accused of the 1977 Easey Street killings in Melbourne says he is “100% sure” that there has been a mistake and his brother is innocent of the double murder.

Perry Kouroumblis, 65, was arrested at Rome airport on Thursday Australian time and held for the murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett. Police plan to apply to Italy for extradition for the man to face charges in Australia.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Man arrested in Italy nearly 50 years after two Melbourne women found dead in their home

Posted on by

Victoria police seeking an extradition order for the 65-year-old over the 1977 deaths known as the Easey Street murders

A man has been arrested in Italy over the 1977 murders of two women, Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett, who were found dead in their Melbourne home on Easey Street, Collingwood.

A 65-year-old man, a Greek-Australian dual citizen, was arrested at a Rome airport on Thursday evening, Australian eastern time.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Federal government approves third runway for Melbourne airport

Posted on by

Approval requires the establishment of a noise amelioration program for nearby communities

The federal government has approved a third runway for Melbourne airport, with conditions set to share and minimise the effects of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.

The transport minister, Catherine King, announced the go-ahead for the runway construction on Friday, saying it would allow the airport to cater for the demand of a growing city and provide better access for freight and passengers.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese may decide who runs in safe Labor seat as deputy PM and union locked in tussle

Posted on by

Richard Marles and Bill Shorten’s old union, the Australian Workers’ Union, in stoush to pick candidate for Gorton

The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is locked in a struggle with Bill Shorten’s old union, the Australian Workers’ Union, to pick the next candidate for the safe Labor seat of Gorton.

Shorten’s seat of Maribyrnong will be contested by the left’s Jo Briskey while Labor’s choice for Gorton is a tussle between the climate crisis and water policy expert Alice Jordan-Baird and the Brimbank mayor, Ranka Rasic.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Injuries and arrests in Melbourne as anti-war protesters and police clash in fiery scenes

Posted on by

Police accuse some protesters of throwing acid and other objects amid criticism of officers’ tactics outside Land Forces weapons expo

Dozens of police and protesters have been injured and 39 people arrested amid a series of confrontations at an anti-war protest in the Melbourne CBD in which pepper spray was deployed and horse faeces was thrown at officers.

Fires broke out while police responded to a rally outside the Land Forces exposition – an international military conference – at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday.

Continue reading...

Man charged after Olympic medals allegedly stolen from ‘Oarsome Foursome’ rower’s car in Melbourne

Posted on by

Victoria police arrest 47-year-old after alleged theft of Drew Ginn’s medals in Docklands last week

A man has been charged after four Olympic medals – including three gold – belonging to one of the members of Australia’s popular “Oarsome Foursome” rowing team were allegedly stolen from a car in Melbourne.

Victoria police said Drew Ginn’s medals from four consecutive Olympics were in the back of a Land Rover that was parked on Cumberland Street in Docklands when they were allegedly stolen last week.

Continue reading...

Thousands of anti-war activists to disrupt weapons expo as Melbourne braces for biggest protest in decades

Posted on by

Victoria police erect ring of steel around event, which is expected to attract up to 25,000 activists

As many as 25,000 protesters are set to cause chaos ahead of a weapons expo to be held in Melbourne on Wednesday, with some already vandalising hotels and blocking traffic.

Interstate police have been called in to bolster law and order ahead of what could be Victoria’s biggest protest since the chaos surrounding the World Economic Forum in 2000.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Labor factions draw battle lines for Maribyrnong seat after Bill Shorten’s retirement from politics

Posted on by

Australian Workers Union says it is a rightwing seat but UWU’s Jo Briskey has backing of Queensland powerbroker

The battle to replace Bill Shorten is likely to pit the United Workers Union’s Jo Briskey against a right-faction candidate, with the Australian Workers Union insisting Maribyrnong is an AWU seat.

Guardian Australia understands that Briskey, the UWU’s national political coordinator, is likely to be the left faction candidate for the north-west Melbourne seat to be vacated when Shorten retires in February.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...

Brisbane e-scooter operator Beam loses licence over alleged breach of daily cap

Posted on by

City council alleges cap on scooter numbers ‘systematically exceeded’ by 500 a day but company ‘disagrees’ with claims, saying it is ‘reviewing options’

Brisbane has become the first Australian city to kick out an e-scooter operator, after the council cancelled the licence for Beam to operate over allegations it regularly breached its caps.

The Brisbane city council said it would now seek a replacement e-scooter operator for the city, after an investigation found Beam had “systematically exceeded” its cap on numbers by about 500 a day. The company has denied “assertions” made by council.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Continue reading...