Victorian

Some petrol stations may see short-term fuel outages as refinery output slows, but national supplies should not be affectedFull report: Geelong oil refinery fireGeelong oil refinery fire: what we know so farFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian motorists are being warned to brace for a spike in petrol prices of up to 20c a litre due to a huge blaze at Viva Energy’s oil refinery in Geelong, but oil and supply chain experts say the effects should be short-lived.Viva’s Corio facility is one of two domestic refineries that reduce Australia’s heavy reliance on direct imports of ready-to-use oil products from Asia. Continue reading...

Section of state’s electoral act that introduced caps on political donations but carved out an exemption for major parties ruled unconstitutional The high court has ruled Victoria’s political donation laws are unconstitutional, in a move that has been described as “enshrining a level playing field”.The unanimous decision, handed down by Australia’s highest court on Wednesday, struck out an entire section of Victoria’s electoral act that introduced caps on political donations but carved out an exemption for major parties. Continue reading...

Luba Grigorovitch, one of four MPs promoted to Jacinta Allan’s cabinet, says she has ‘no regrets’ over friendship with former CFMEU bossLuba Grigorovitch, one of four Victorian Labor MPs promoted to cabinet, says she has “no regrets” about her past friendship with disgraced construction union leader John Setka, despite the opposition labelling her appointment “appalling”.The Victorian Labor caucus met on Tuesday and voted to elevate Grigorovitch, the member for Kororoit, along with Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, Eureka MP Michaela Settle and Box Hill MP Paul Hamer, to cabinet. Continue reading...

State upper house MP runs unopposed after initially being dropped during a preselection challenge. Follow today’s news liveGood morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Let’s dive in. Continue reading...

Reversal of fortune comes just one week after she was dumped in favour of Dinesh Gourisetty, who then withdrew his nominationGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoira Deeming will secure a top spot on the Victorian Liberal party’s upper house ticket unopposed – less than a week after members voted to dump her – after the withdrawal of candidates from a re-run ballot.Deeming was on Sunday ousted from the number one spot for the western metropolitan region by Dinesh Gourisetty. Continue reading...

Jess Wilson tried to create a united front – and it worked for a minute. But they just couldn’t help themselvesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor months, a plan has been under way by moderates within the Victorian Liberal party to dislodge a group of conservative women from their prized, top positions on the upper house ballot ahead of the November state election.While they failed to move Bev McArthur and Renee Heath, and Ann-Marie Hermans held on in the second spot, they did claim one major victory by ousting Moira Deeming – by far the most high-profile of the group. Continue reading...

Dinesh Gourisetty has been called a ‘pedophile supporter’ for providing court reference for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a childFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, says the man who defeated Moria Deeming for the top spot on the party’s upper house ballot is “not welcome” on her team, after it was revealed he wrote a court character reference for a friend convicted of grooming a 15-year-old girl.Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community, defeated Deeming on Sunday in a preselection vote for the party’s candidates for the western metropolitan region at the upcoming November election. Continue reading...

Party members to determine MP’s political future after Dinesh Gourisetty also nominated for upper house seatGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoira Deeming’s political future in the Victorian Liberals is about to be decided behind closed doors in the final preselection battle for the party’s upper house seats on Sunday.Liberal members were due to gather at party headquarters for the western metropolitan region convention, where Deeming faces a serious challenge from Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community. Continue reading...

Allan government says measure is temporary as energy shock from Middle East conflict sees petrol prices soarGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPublic transport will be free in Victoria for a month, in an effort to encourage people to switch from driving and alleviate the surge in demand for fuel.The Allan government announced on Sunday that it would make all metro and regional V/Line trams, trains and buses free from 31 March until the end of April. Continue reading...

Former Kilmore church being converted into mosque set alight Tuesday amid spate of Islamophobic incidentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIslamic communities have called out a rise in “anti-Muslim hate” after a church that was being converted into a mosque was allegedly set alight in what Victoria police are treating as a “suspicious” fire.In a statement, Victoria police said the abandoned church in Kilmore, north of Melbourne, was set alight at about 1.50pm on Tuesday, causing “significant damage” to the building. No one was inside at the time and the fire was believed to have been started in the rear of the building. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Labor bill recognising all animals as sentient and raising care requirements won’t be introduced before state electionWarning: This article contains graphic contentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA bulldog trapped on a balcony, forced to live among its own faeces. A corgi kept in similarly squalid conditions, surrendered by its owner after community outrage. A Maltese shih tzu beaten with a metal pole – its attacker spared jail.These are the kinds of animal cruelty cases the Victorian government promised to target with new laws almost a decade ago. But Guardian Australia can reveal those reforms have been shelved indefinitely. Continue reading...

Watchdog also fines PhotobookShop for editing a paid review from an influencer who had described process as ‘fiddly’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn online photobook retailer has been fined nearly $40,000 for asking social media influencers to not disclose they had been paid to post a review on Instagram.It marks the first time a penalty has been handed down to an Australian business for an influencer not disclosing paid post. Continue reading...

Dispute between government and US-based contractor caused 18-month delay to project, report findsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMyki cards will still be needed by Victorian public transport users until 2027 due to delays to the full rollout of tap-and-go technology, the state’s auditor general has revealed.A report by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (Vago) found a dispute between the state’s transport department and US-based firm Conduent had delayed the project by 18 months, adding $136.8m to its cost. Continue reading...

Jess Wilson’s party has made a splash on social media but will they work together in the state election race?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJess Wilson doing bombs into a swimming pool. Brad Battin in a muscle shirt curling 20kg, tattoos on show. John Pesutto throwing a discus, clad in blue jeans. Matthew Guy running, clutching a pink baton.The current Victorian Liberal leader and three of her predecessors feature in a social media video to mark what would have been the opening ceremony of the regional Commonwealth Games on Tuesday – if the state government hadn’t cancelled them. Continue reading...

Class action settles after retailers argued state government should pay them for economic loss resulting from pandemic lockdown Businesses affected by one of the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdowns will receive $125m from taxpayers after a state government agreed to settle the matter.A class action was brought in the supreme court on behalf of businesses affected financially by Victoria’s 2020 lockdowns. Continue reading...