Employer confidence at record high: report
A new survey has found employer confidence is at a record high, with a large number of businesses planning to hire more staff this year.

Klim calls it quits
Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim has announced his retirement from swimming, ending a 12-year international career.

Gippsland braces for drenching storms
Communities in eastern Victoria are bracing themselves for gale force winds bringing up to 200 millimetres of rain in the next two days.

Man stabbed to death in Melbourne's east
Police investigating the stabbing death of a man in Melbourne's east say the victim had been arguing with a woman just before the attack.

Flood warning issued for Gippsland
Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES) is warning residents in the eastern Gippsland region to prepare for heavy rainfall over the next couple of days.

Man charged over home invasion defence
A Melbourne man has been charged after he allegedly fired a shot through the front door of his Geelong East home to scare off burglars.

SE Aust catchments record promising rainfalls
The upper part of the Murray River has recorded some of the best rainfall for the last 12 months but the drought is yet to break in much of the basin.

Rocca, Eagleton found guilty at tribunal
Collingwood full forward Anthony Rocca will miss two matches after his appeal to the AFL tribunal was thrown out and he was found guilty of rough conduct.

Swans looking forward to Cats challenge
Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos says his team needs to make changes for this weekend's game in Geelong or it faces a heavy defeat.

Judge calls for sentence increase for negligent injury offences
A Victorian victims' group has supported a call for an increase in the maximum sentence of five years for the offence of negligently causing serious injury.

Daniher to know future in five weeks
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher will soon know whether he is wanted next season after the struggling Demons announced a five-week review of operations and strategies for the next five years following their horror start to the AFL season.

Algae biofuel trials 'encouraging'
Trials are under way in Victoria's La Trobe Valley aimed at creating biofuel from algal farms.

HIV infected man released on bail, but will be monitored
A 28-year-old man from Geelong in Victoria, considered a public heath risk for having unprotected sex with women, has been released on bail.

Man to be retried after jury fails to reach verdict
A Victorian jury has been unable to decide whether a Melbourne man murdered his five-year-old stepson.

Koschitzke set to skip Tigers match
St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke is likely to miss Saturday's round 13 AFL clash with Richmond because of a hamstring injury.

Turnbull wants Vic response on national water plan
Federal Water Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on the Victorian Government to declare what it wants in legislation that would formalise a national takeover of the Murray-Darling river system.

Window cleaner dies in hospital after fall
A 35-year-old window cleaner has died in hospital after falling from a Melbourne city building at the weekend.

Illegal weapon horde seized in Customs raid
More than 900 illegal knives, swords and other weapons have been seized by Customs officers in Melbourne.

Walker backs Victoria to keep major events
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker says he is confident Victoria can withstand the New South Wales Government's bid to attract major sporting events to Sydney.

Rail group welcomes level crossing safety moves
Rail operators say new level crossing safety measures announced by the Victorian Government are a step in the right direction.

Judge criticises law-makers over negligence jail terms
A Victorian County Court judge has criticised law-makers over the maximum jail terms for people found guilty of negligently causing serious injury.

Men charged with supporting Tamil Tigers denied bail
Two Melbourne men charged with supporting a Sri Lankan rebel group have been denied bail.

Rocca opts to face tribunal
Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca has chosen to fight a rough conduct charge and will front the AFL tribunal this evening.

Hoddle St murderer seeks early release
Melbourne's Hoddle Street murderer Julian Knight is seeking to write to one of his victims, in an bid to secure his earliest possible release on parole.

Vic police urge Govt to increase pay
The Victorian Police Association has accused the State Government of reneging on a pre-election promise to give officers a pay rise.

Garde-Wilson loses bid to regain certificate
High-profile Melbourne solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson has lost her Supreme Court fight to get her practising certificate back.

Joey comes to Wallabies' aid
The Wallabies have turned to rugby league great Andrew Johns to help with their kicking ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby Test with World Cup favourites New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Melbourne opens upgraded neonatal unit
A new $6.3 million neonatal unit will be officially opened at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne today.

'Drought breaking rain' predicted for Gippsland
Weather forecasters are continuing to predict a big rain event this week in Gippsland, in south-east Victoria, and say rain could fall further west.

Vic may use radio signals at rail crossings
The Victorian Government is investigating using radio signalling to warn drivers of upcoming level crossings.

17yo driver high during deadly smash
A Victorian teenager will spend the next three years in a youth justice centre after pleading guilty to culpable driving.

Teen critical after Warneet crash
A 16-year-old girl has been left in a critical condition after an accident at Warneet, south of Melbourne.

Nervous wait for Maroons' Johnson
Queensland lock Dallas Johnson will know later this week if he is fit enough to line up for the Maroons in the final Origin match on July 4 after suffering a knee injury on the weekend.

Police hunt serial train flasher
Police are investigating reports of a serial flasher targeting teenage girls in eastern Victoria.

HIV-infected man charged with unprotected sex
Victorian police have charged a Sudanese man for having unprotected sex while infected with HIV.

Mother of taxi hit-run victim pleads for information
The mother of a New South Wales man who was critically injured when he was hit by a taxi in Melbourne, have pleaded to the driver to go to the police.

Teen driver 'grossly irresponsible' in fatal accident
A 17-year-old boy has been described as grossly irresponsible for driving a car that crashed and killed his best friend near Ballarat in Victoria's west last year.

Govt's IR laws 'delivering biggest IR bureaucracy'
Deputy Labor leader Julia Gillard has accused the Federal Government of creating a bureaucratic monolith with its industrial relations (IR) laws.

Abalone virus spreads toward Melbourne
A herpes-like virus killing abalone in waters off Victoria's south-west coast is now spreading towards Melbourne.

Rocca facing week on sidelines
Collingwood could be without vice-captain Anthony Rocca for next Sunday's round 13 AFL clash against Hawthorn after he was charged with engaging in rough conduct.

Vic Govt announces rail safety funding
The Victorian Government has announced a $33 million package to improve safety at railway level crossings.

Call for law change after journos fined for protecting sources
The Australian Democrats say the case of two journalists convicted and fined for refusing to name a source underlines the need for big changes to freedom of information and whistleblowing laws.

Vic to toughen energy-efficiency laws for new homes
The Victorian Government is planning to toughen building laws so new houses and extensions are more energy efficient.

Funding for baby safety monitoring criticised
Questions have been raised in Victoria about the funding available to authorities monitoring expectant mothers who have been exposed to violence, drugs or alcohol.

Clubs welcome delay in gaming law changes
Community clubs have welcomed a delay in the implementation of changes to Victorian gaming laws.

Vic Govt urged to back country education inquiry
The Victorian Government is being challenged to support a Parliamentary inquiry into poor education outcomes for country students.

$100,000 reward for information on woman's death
A $100,000 reward is being offered as part of the police investigation into the death of a woman from Wangaratta, in north-eastern Victoria.

Journalists fined for refusing to name source
Two News Limited journalists have been convicted and fined $7,000 for contempt of court for refusing to name a source.

ALP pays back ETU donation
The federal Labor Party says it is in the process of paying back about $140,000 donated by the Victorian division of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU).

Commission seeks roadside tests for prescription meds
The Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has called for roadside testing to detect drivers abusing prescription drugs.

Lobby group calls for Vic level crossing safety checks
There is a call for the Victorian Government to put checks in place that will detect any obstructions to the activation of level crossing warning signals.

Bracks joins Melbourne shooting mourners
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has joined mourners at a memorial service in Melbourne to remember last Monday's triple shooting.

Near misses common since Kerang crash: train drivers
New figures show there have been nine near misses between trains and vehicles at rail crossings in Victoria since the Kerang crash earlier this month.

Melbourne police catch man in high-speed pursuit
Police say a man reached speeds of 150 kilometres an hour during a lengthy pursuit across the city overnight.

Victory match marred by crowd violence
Victorian soccer fans were evicted from Albert Park Stadium last night after fights broke out among spectators during the preseason match between A-League champions Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne FC.

Melbourne reflects on deadly shooting
Many of Melbourne's places of worship will open this morning to offer people the chance to reflect on the city shootings a week ago.

Harvey challenges Saints to back it up
St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey has challenged his team-mates to back up yesterday's 23-point upset win over West Coast with a victory over Richmond on Saturday night.

Man charged over Melbourne assault
Police have charged a man over the sexual assault of a woman in north Melbourne on Saturday night.

Storm slay Dragons to stay top
The Storm cruised to a comfortable 28-6 victory over a hapless Dragons outfit in their round 15 clash at Olympic Park in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon to consolidate their position as outright leaders of the competition.

Saints celebrate Harvey milestone in Subiaco thriller
St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey celebrated his 350th appearance for the club with a stunning 23-point victory over reigning premiers West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Sunday evening.

Man arrested over Melbourne sex assault
Police have arrested a man over last night's sexual assault of a woman at North Melbourne, but say he cannot be questioned at this stage for medical reasons.

PM refuses to meet with states over Indigenous plan
Prime Minister John Howard has rejected a call for an urgent Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting to discuss his radical plan for Northern Territory Indigenous communities.

Sex assault suspect 'smelled of paint'
Police say a man believed to have been involved in the sexual assault of a 26-year-old woman at North Melbourne last night had a strong smell of paint about him.

Phoenix and Kestrels win Melbourne double
Melbourne's netball teams, the Phoenix and the Kestrels celebrated a double header on Sunday afternoon in their National Netball League ties at the State Hockey and Netball Centre.

Storm leading the Dragons
The Storm were up 12-6 on the Dragons at half-time in their round 15 NRL match at Olympic Park in Melbourne this afternoon.

Council to trial dog attack DNA kit
A Melbourne council is hoping DNA testing will help it identify the animals involved in dog attacks.

Water authority plans rebate to offset price rises
Relief is in sight for struggling households in Melbourne facing an increase in water bills.

Police seeking man over alleged sexual assault
Police investigating the sexual assault of a woman in north Melbourne have released security footage of a man sought over the attack.

Health report just a 'pre-election stunt'
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed a new states and territories report card on the public health system as a pre-election stunt.

Collingwood shut out Swans to move fourth
Collingwood consolidated their position in the AFL top four with a 19-point win over the Swans in a low-scoring round 12 affair at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday evening.

Veteran Harvey poised for another milestone
Dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey plays his 350th senior game against West Coast at Subiaco this afternoon.

Police investigate taxi hit-run
A New South Wales man remains in a serious condition in hospital after yesterday's hit and run accident in Melbourne's west.

Govt under fire over health funding
State and territory health ministers have criticised the Federal Government in a report card on health funding.

Latham recalled to Wallabies squad
Injured full-back Chris Latham and former rugby league converts Ryan Cross and Berrick Barnes have been included in an expanded 32-man Australia squad for next week's Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand in Melbourne.

Pies leading Swans
Collingwood enjoyed a four-goal buffer to lead the Swans by 34 points at half-time during their round 12 AFL encounter at Telstra Stadium in Sydney this evening.

Police release man questioned over cab incident
Victorian police have released a man who was picked up for questioning over a hit and run accident at Meadow Heights in Melbourne's north this morning.

Memorial suggested for Melbourne shooting victim
The Victorian Government has confirmed it is considering a permanent memorial to the solicitor who was killed in Monday's shooting in Melbourne.

Teen girl dies after highway crash
Police have confirmed a 16-year-old girl died in a fatal collision at Yambuck on Victoria's west coast this morning.

Police still searching for 71yr old man
Victorian police have had no luck in tracking down a 71-year-old Ballarat man who has been missing since Monday.

Police interview taxi driver after apparent hit-and-run
A taxi driver is being questioned by police in Melbourne after a NSW man was critically injured in a hit-and-run this morning.

Revamped Melbourne station wins international award
Melbourne's Southern Cross Station has won an international award for architecture.

Pies prepared for a wet one
Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna says his team is prepared for wet conditions in tonight's clash with the Sydney Swans.

Vic Indigenous communities 'face similar problems' as NT
A peak Indigenous health body says Aboriginal communities in Victoria are facing the same drug, alcohol and child abuse problems as those in the Northern Territory.

Tigers find winning form in cellar battle
Richmond capitalised on a first-half barrage to finally put an end to their 11-match winless streak with a 49-point victory over the Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night.

Swifts get better of Phoenix
The Melbourne Phoenix crashed to their first defeat of the National Netball League season last night, going down 56-47 to the Sydney Swifts in their top-of-the-table clash at Acer Arena in Sydney.

Mokbel's Greek trial postponed
The trial of Australia's most wanted fugitive, Tony Mokbel, charged in Greece with using forged documents, has been postponed for the second time as the court waits for more forensic evidence, his lawyer says.

Smorgon to meet shareholders over merger
Victoria's Supreme Court has granted Smorgon Steel permission to hold meetings with its shareholders over the merger with OneSteel and Bluescope Steel.

Tigers on track for big win
Richmond unleashed a barrage of points in the opening exchanges to lead Melbourne by 64 points at the long change at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this evening.

Vandals risk lives to graffiti trains
Melbourne train operator Connex says people are risking their lives to graffiti trains.

Farmers launch anti-pipeline petition
Farmers angry about the Victorian Government's new water pipeline plan have launched a petition in protest.

Police searching for Melbourne rapist
Police are searching for a man aged in his mid 20s in connection with three sexual assaults in Melbourne's north early last month.

Whitnall to miss Dockers clash
Carlton captain Lance Whitnall has been ruled out of next weekend's round 13 fixture against Fremantle with a knee problem.

Bombers runner cops hefty ban
The AFL has suspended Essendon runner Paul Dimmatina for four matches after he verbally abused an umpire in last Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide.

Condolences extended to shooting victim's family
The parents and brothers of the Dutch backpacker shot during Monday's triple shooting in Melbourne have expressed their condolences to the family of Brendan Keilar, the solicitor who was killed.

Geelong to get fluoridated water
The Victorian Government's $5 billion water plan will supply Geelong with fluoridated water.

Firefighter's death 'a tragic accident'
The Victorian coroner has found the death of a volunteer firefighter in the north-east of the state last year was a tragic accident.

Memorial for Kerang crash victims announced
A state memorial service for those affected by the Kerang train crash will be held next Friday at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral.

Melbourne shooting victim a 'huge loss'
Mourners at the funeral of the 43-year-old solicitor who was shot dead in Melbourne on Monday have been told he was a hero in every sense of the word.

Judd could play forward against Saints
West Coast captain Chris Judd could play further forward to ease his workload against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Talks focus on rail signal failure
Talks were held this morning between train operators V/Line and Pacific National about a signal failure on the Bendigo to Melbourne rail line.

Mokbel charged with second murder
Victorian police have charged fugitive Tony Mokbel with a second murder.

Swan Matthews focused on must-win Pies clash
Sydney defender Ben Matthews says the evenness of this year's competition makes tomorrow night's AFL match against Collingwood a must-win game.

Rape suspect now facing 181 sex charges
Victorian police have laid more charges against suspected mass rapist John Xydias.

Police question Gatto associate over gangland murder
A man has been arrested over the murder of Melbourne underworld figure Victor Peirce.

Debs gets third life sentence for prostitute murder
Convicted murder Bandali Debs has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a teenage prostitute.

V/Line in level crossing signals failure
V/Line and Pacific National are holding talks this morning about a signal failure on the Bendigo line.

Tram drags man along street
A man in his mid 20s suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a tram in Collingwood.

Reservoir dog dies in house blaze
Smoke alarms saved the lives of a family of four during a house fire in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir overnight.

Family to farewell Melbourne shooting victim
A funeral will be held today for the 43-year-old solicitor shot dead in Melbourne's CBD on Monday morning.

Neitz a chance to tackle Tigers
Melbourne skipper David Neitz could line up for the Demons against the Tigers in tonight's bottom of the table clash at the MCG after earlier being ruled out with a broken finger.

Driver 'ran down pedestrians' after nightclub row
Police are questioning a driver after a fight at a Melbourne nightclub escalated to a hit-and-run.

Suspected gunman released from hospital
The man charged over Monday's triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD has been released from hospital and is now in custody at the city's remand centre.

Suspected gunman undergoes surgery
The man charged over the triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD on Monday has undergone surgery.

Aubusson set to join Roosters
Melbourne Storm hooker James Aubusson will join the Sydney Roosters for the 2008 NRL season.

Jones replaces Wooden in Eagles squad
The West Coast Eagles have included Chad Jones in a 25-man squad for Sunday afternoon's match against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval.

Brumby denies abusing official
Victorian Treasurer John Brumby has rejected claims he verbally abused an official from the Moira Shire Council in the state's north-east over the council's opposition to the Government's water plan.

Ex-Opposition leader Doyle to head health board
The Victorian Government has appointed a former political adversary to chair a leading public health board.

We can't afford Riewoldt: Lethal
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews admits he would love to lure St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt back to Queensland, but concedes the full forward is out his price range.

Vic police threaten industrial action
The Police Association says a decision will be made today on possible industrial action after the breakdown of pay talks with the Victorian Government.

Self harm suspected in Hudson injury
It is believed the man charged over Melbourne's CBD triple shooting tried to harm himself before he surrendered yesterday.

Bracks to block MPs' pay hike
The Victorian Government has rejected the Commonwealth's latest pay rise for politicians.

Hall plays down boxing speculation
Sydney Swans full forward Barry Hall says he has no immediate plans to turn his back on the AFL for a career in boxing.

Lyon defends Saints game plan
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says his side's recent goal-scoring woes can be attributed to the team's poor form, not its style of play going forward.

Man and mother to stand trial for murder
A 21-year-old Shepparton man will stand trial alongside his mother for the murder of Patrick Plumbe two years ago.

Irrigators come second in Goulburn Valley water savings
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says water saved in the Goulburn Valley, in north-east Victoria, will go to Melbourne before local irrigators.

Police step up hit-run witness appeal
Police have stepped up their appeal for witnesses to a fatal hit and run in Melbourne's east.

Alleged Melbourne gunman in hospital
The man charged over Melbourne's triple shooting on Monday has failed to appear in court and has been taken to hospital for surgery on his left arm.

Hotel staff interviewed over Melbourne shooting
Police are interviewing the managers of a Melbourne hotel to try to trace the latest movements of the suspected gunman involved in yesterday morning's fatal shooting.

Democrats leader calls for desal rethink
Democrats leader Senator Lyn Allison has called on the Victorian Government to rethink its plans to build a $3.1 billion desalination plant.

Vic govt's fight against obesity failing: report
An Auditor-General's report has found the Victorian government's efforts to combat obesity through a $150 million health program are failing.

Mokbel to seek asylum in Greece
Fugitive Australian drug trafficker Tony Mokbel says he will seek asylum in Greece as Australian police try to extradite him to serve a sentence for drug traficking and face possible murder charges.

Hudson to face court on shooting charges
The man arrested over a triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD will face court today charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of intentionally causing serious injury.

Police examine 2nd car in CBD shooting probe
Victorian police are examining a black Mercedes they believe belongs to the suspect in yesterday's triple shooting in central Melbourne.

Police find suspected gunman's car
Victorian police have found a car belonging to the suspected gunman wanted over yesterday's triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD.

Pickett set to take on Tigers
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher says Byron Pickett is likely to return to the side to take on Richmond in Friday night's round 12 AFL match at the MCG.

Police question CBD shooting suspect
Police are questioning the 29-year-old man arrested over Monday's rush-hour triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD that claimed the life of a solicitor.

Meagre Murray-Darling surplus divided up
The latest update on water contingency planning for the Murray-Darling Basin says there has not been a significant change in dire conditions.

Melbourne shooting suspect turns himself in
A man wanted over Melbourne's triple shooting is in custody.

Probe into chemical spill begins
An investigation has begun into a chemical spill at a factory at Thomastown in Melbourne's north, in which two men were injured and 160 others had to be evacuated.

Melbourne gunman ready to surrender: reports
Victorian detectives say they are investigating reports the man wanted over Monday's triple shooting in Melbourne is planning to hand himself in to police.

Shooting suspect a 'dead man walking'
A Melbourne expert on outlaw bikie gangs doubts murder suspect Christopher Wayne Hudson will be harboured by the Hells Angels.

Worsfold unfazed by Geelong threat
West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold says he is not concerned that Geelong has replaced his club as the favourite to clinch the 2007 AFL premiership.

Family 'eternally grateful' for shooting victim's help
The family of the woman seriously injured in Monday's triple shooting in Melbourne has expressed its gratitude for the efforts of solicitor Brendan Keilar, who was killed when he saved her.

Landowners confront Govt over desal plant
Landowners around Wonthaggi, south-east of Melbourne, have confronted the Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, over plans to build a desalination plant in the area.

Navy unveils $11b warship contract
Five new Royal Australian Navy warships will be built by defence contractors in Adelaide and Melbourne in partnership with the Spanish company Navantia.

Steering committee to oversee $1b water plan
The Victorian Government will set up a steering committee within a month to help with the implementation of its new $1 billion water plan.

Dialogue with bikies 'key to ending turf wars'
A criminologist on south-east Queensland's Gold Coast says Monday's fatal shooting in Melbourne does not represent an escalation in bikie violence.

Fraser primed for Swans challenge
Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser says his team-mates must shut down dangerous Swans duo Peter Everitt and Darren Jolly at all costs when the two sides meet this Saturday afternoon.

EPA tests Yarra oil spill damage
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has confirmed the substance spilt into the Yarra River earlier this week was lube oil.

Desal plant ad campaign vital, says Bracks
The Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, has defended spending $1 million on an advertising campaign to sell the Government's water strategy.

Victory snare Benfica youngster
Melbourne Victory have signed 18-year-old attacking midfielder Kaz Patafta on loan from Portuguese super club Benfica.

Vic hospitals in money trouble
Victoria's auditor-general has found the state's public hospitals have problems with solvency and financial viability.

71yo hit-run victim dies
The 71-year-old victim of yesterday's hit and run in south-east Melbourne has died in hospital, as police continue hunting for the driver.

Vic police worried about missing woman
Victorian police are concerned for the welfare of a woman who has not been since yesterday afternoon.

Newspaper job ad figures declining
New figures indicate that demand for skilled workers is falling.

Contaminated land clean-up could cost $70m: report
An auditor-general report has found it could cost up to $70 million to clean up contaminated land bought by the Victorian Government.

Westpac predicts continued economic growth
Westpac says the Australian economy's momentum is likely to be sustained throughout the first half of 2008.

Hanson struggling to return after suspected electric shock
Australian swimmer Brooke Hanson is struggling to return to training after being hospitalised on Sunday night, throwing her Beijing Olympic preparations into disarray.

Opposition questions desal plan funding
Victorian Opposition leader Ted Baillieu has questioned how the state Government's $3 billion water desalination project will be funded.

Plenty of improvement left in Pies, says Malthouse
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says his team is in a stronger position than at the same stage last year despite having recorded one less win.

Driver plummets 80m off cliff
A driver has been airlifted to hospital after his car plunged more than 80 metres off a cliff at Clifton Springs near Geelong.

Calls for national crackdown on outlaw bikies
Federal Minister for Justice and Customs David Johnston has called for an Australia-wide crackdown on the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Tigers' Brown looking to find winning form
Returning Richmond forward Nathan Brown says the Tigers are close to breaking through for their first win of the AFL season after a horror opening 11 rounds that has yielded just one draw.

Neitz out of Tigers clash
Melbourne captain David Neitz will miss Friday's match with Richmond, after having surgery on his injured finger.

Victory to play China in Asian Cup warm-up
China will finalise their Asian Cup preparations with a warm-up game against A-League champions Melbourne Victory in Hong Kong early next month, the club said on Monday.

Wilson accepts reprimand for striking
Port Adelaide vice-captain Michael Wilson has accepted a reprimand after being charged for striking Essendon's Henry Slattery, the club announced on Monday evening.

Cronk to miss three weeks
Melbourne half-back Cooper Cronk will miss three weeks of NRL action after suffering an ankle sprain in the Storm's big win over North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.

Everything being done to find CBD shooting suspect: police
Victorian police say they are still confident of finding the man suspected of shooting three people in Melbourne's CBD on Monday.

Tambling stays on at Richmond
Tigers youngster Richard Tambling will remain at Richmond until the end of the 2010 season after signing a three-year contract extension, the club announced on Tuesday.

71yo critically injured in Melbourne hit-run
Police are looking for the driver of a car that hit a 71-year-old woman and dragged her along the road at Mulgrave in south-east Melbourne.

Burst main causes traffic chaos in Richmond
A burst water main in Richmond in Melbourne's inner east is causing major traffic headaches for motorists this evening.

Desal plant, pipeline set to double Vic water bills
Water bills in Melbourne will double over the next five years with the decision by the Victorian Government to build a desalination plant and a pipeline over the Great Dividing Range.

Tribunal delay Eagleton hearing
The AFL tribunal have agreed to postpone Nathan Eagleton's hearing of a striking charge until next Tuesday after the completion of this weekend's split round.

Priest faces more sex charges
A Victorian court has been told that a Catholic priest charged with the rape and assault of a girl 30 years ago will now face three additional charges.

Banks, miners boost market
The Australian sharemarket has been lifted by gains in the mining and banking sectors.

Irrigation cutbacks prompt fruit, veg shortage warning
The horticulture industry is warning of a fruit and vegetable shortage if the Federal Government does not provide support for farmers to deal with the water crisis.

WWF condemns desal plants
The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has condemned as environmentally dangerous the global trend of building desalination plants.

Brown looks forward to injury-free return
Richmond Tigers star Nathan Brown says he expects to return to top form during the second half of this season.

Malthouse tight-lipped on Tarrant investigation
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has refused to comment on the latest alleged indiscretion by former Magpie forward Chris Tarrant, who was released by the club to Fremantle at the end of last season.

ACCC rues petrol price-fixing dismissal
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says the dismissal of an alleged petrol price-fixing case in regional Victoria will make it harder to successfully prosecute alleged offenders.

Woman spared jail for trying to burn down house and husband
A woman has been spared jail for trying to burn down her home at Ballarat, west of Melbourne, while her husband was inside.

Flooding closes Vic schools
Heavy rain and flooding has shut down a number of schools in eastern Victoria.

Vic Govt announces $3b South Gippsland desal plant
A water desalination plant will be built near Wonthaggi, in South Gippsland, to boost Melbourne's water supplies.

Hille outed for one match
Essendon's David Hille will miss one week of AFL football after being charged with engaging in rough conduct against Port Adelaide midfielder Chad Cornes.

ACCC dumps petrol price-fixing appeal
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided not to appeal against a Federal Court decision on alleged petrol price-fixing in regional Victoria.

Study flags diabetes heart risk
A new Australian study has found that people with early signs of diabetes face a high risk of heart disease even before the condition is full blown.

Worksafe investigates shopping centre fall
Worksafe is investigating an accident at a Taylors Lakes shopping centre, north-west of Melbourne, where a man was seriously injured after more than six metres.

Nightclub owners want more security
Melbourne's Nightclub Owners Association wants the State Government to help increase security in the city's nightclub precinct.

Gun laws need enforcing, not tightening: Vaile
Federal Liberal MP Bruce Baird is calling for urging stricter gun laws after yesterday's fatal shooting in Melbourne.

Bracks expects easy ride on pipeline plans
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks is set to announce the State Government's plans for meeting Melbourne's future water needs, including plans for a desalination plant.

Conference to put GM crops under the spotlight
Two-hunded Victorian dairy farmers will discuss genetically modified (GM) crops at their state conference in Melbourne today.

Police release gunman regos
Victorian police say a massive search is under way across Australia for the gunman suspected of being responsible for a fatal triple shooting in Melbourne yesterday.

Truckie has lucky escape in level crossing mishap
Police say a truck driver escaped injury when his rig ran off the road near a level crossing in northern Victoria yesterday afternoon.

Bikie sought over Melbourne fatal shooting
Police are searching for a suspected member of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club over this morning's fatal shooting in Melbourne's CBD.

Gun found as police hunt Melbourne killer
Police say they have recovered a gun near the scene of fatal triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD this morning.

Serial sex assault suspect on the run
Police are searching for a man believed to have committed three sexual assaults in Melbourne's north.

Country Vic won't stand for pipeline: Nationals
The Victorian Nationals are warning the State Government it faces a backlash from country voters if a plan to pipe water over the Great Dividing Range to Melbourne goes ahead.

Ziegler smashes 1500m world record
Teenage swimming prodigy Kate Ziegler broke the 19-year-old world record in the women's 1500 metres freestyle by almost 10 seconds at the TYR Meet of Champions in California this afternoon (Australian time).

Gun crackdown up to states, says Howard
Prime Minister John Howard has left up to the states the decision about whether or not gun laws should be tightened after this morning's fatal rush-hour shooting in Melbourne's CBD.

Police hunt Melbourne shooting suspect
Victorian police say they have a suspect in this morning's fatal triple shooting in Melbourne's CBD.

Melbourne shooter 'cool as a cucumber'
A witness says the perpetrator of this morning's fatal shooting in Melbourne's CBD was calm as he fired at his victims.

Inquiry starts into Port Phillip dredging
An inquiry considering the environmental impacts of channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay has begun in Melbourne.

Ex-employee challenges Priceline ruling
An appeal before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission is challenging the right of businesses to cut staff and re-hire cheaper labour.

Alleged serial rapist to face more charges
Victorian Police will lay more charges against accused rapist John Xydias after three more alleged victims came forward over the weekend.

Alleged Mokbel associate refused bail
An alleged associate of convicted Melbourne drug trafficker Tony Mokbel has been refused bail.

One dead as police hunt Melbourne gunman
Victorian police say a gunman is on the loose after killing one person and critically wounding two others in a rush hour shooting in the middle of Melbourne.

Gang attacks teen with wooden stakes
Victorian police are investigating a gang attack on a teenager in a Melbourne suburb on Sunday night.

Brisbane predicted to lead residential property growth
A report by economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel shows Australia's eastern states will lead a modest recovery in residential property prices over the next three years, but price growth in Perth and Darwin will pull back.

Hanson out of hospital after mystery shock
Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson has left hospital after she suffered an apparent electric shock at a pool and spa show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Hanson out of hospital after mystery shock
Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson has left hospital after she suffered an apparent electric shock at a pool and spa show at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Hanson hospitalised after 'electric shock'
Australian Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson is in a stable condition in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after receiving what is believed to have been an electric shock on Sunday afternoon.

Port regain winning touch
Port Adelaide arrested a four-match losing streak with a 31-point victory over Essendon in their round 12 AFL fixture at AAMI Stadium on Sunday evening.

Cats prevail against Lions
Geelong stay on top of the AFL ladder following a 50-point victory over Brisbane in their round 12 AFL fixture at Skilled Stadium this afternoon.

Geelong task not impossible, says Lethal
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews says his side is well-prepared and up to the challenge of taking on AFL competition leaders Geelong at Kardinia Park this afternoon.

Men rescued as boat sinks at Corio Bay
Two men have been rescued after their boat started taking on water on Corio Bay at East Geelong in Victoria this morning.

2,000 cars impounded under Vic anti-hoon laws
Two thousand cars have been impounded in the 12 months since Victoria's anti-hoon legislation was introduced.

Melbourne freeway lights go solar
In an Australian first, solar panels will soon provide lighting along a stretch of Melbourner's Tullamarine and Calder freeways.