Victoria
Employees working like slaves
A COMPANY that unloads containers for Woolworths lost its contract after it was accused of paying workers $3 an hour.
Tollway stoush over market site
![Tollway stoush over market site](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/579429-6127d220-656c-11e3-879d-630c394bcc3d.jpg)
A LENGTHY legal stoush threatens to leave hundreds of Melbourne wholesale market stall holders without a place to do business.
Holden workers call for action
![Holden workers call for action](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/597216-adb6792a-6571-11e3-879d-630c394bcc3d.jpg)
UP to 1000 manufacturing workers will rally outside the Liberal Party headquarters in Melbourne before delivering a formal demand for urgent action to save jobs.
Aussie held over 'arson, assault'
![Aussie held over 'arson, a...](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/556974-e8b180f6-6562-11e3-879d-630c394bcc3d.jpg)
A 47-YEAR-OLD Victorian man has been arrested by Thai police after clashing with the manager of a motorbike rental company in southern Thailand.
Big jump in early bird births
![Big jump in early bird births](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/593998-1c64417a-5e2b-11e3-a193-58736454795b.jpg)
MOTHERS are giving birth in their bedrooms and on the roadside as more babies are born before arriving at hospital.
Toddler finds snake in backyard
![Toddler finds snake in backyard](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/549915-1b6cedbe-655e-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
A CURIOUS toddler has frightened his mother by finding a snake slithering through his backyard.
Teen scuba diver rescued by mate
![Teen scuba diver rescued by mate](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/538753-93948d8a-6557-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
A TEENAGER has saved his mate's life after they struck trouble while scuba diving near Geelong.
Woman struck by garbage truck
![Woman struck by garbage truck](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/547130-713bcc7c-650b-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
A GARBAGE truck driver has been arrested after running into a young woman in the CBD early on Sunday morning.
Wiggles still sharing the love
![Wiggles still sharing the love](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/585785-60f66e54-6456-11e3-bb71-e2c853748ae0.jpg)
IT'S BEEN 22 years since he started, but Anthony Field is showing no signs of running out of Wiggle.
Police blitz on drunken violence
![Police blitz on drunken violence](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/503550-cd4a31be-6526-11e3-b1c2-12026a975936.jpg)
A TOTAL of 76 people have been arrested this weekend by police targeting drunken violence across Victoria.
Living cost shock to family budgets
![Living cost shock to family budgets](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/405326-6cc11776-6464-11e3-bb71-e2c853748ae0.jpg)
SOARING utilities, childcare, health and education costs are bleeding budgets. Find out how much prices have risen
Police sergeant caught drink-driving
![Police sergeant caught drink-driving](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/514931-92a9dfce-6552-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
AN off-duty police sergeant was caught drink-driving after he was pulled over by a booze bus on Saturday night.
Man 'punches police horse in head'
![Man punches police horse in head](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/378558-553eacc6-650e-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
A MAN who allegedly punched a police horse in the head will avoid tough new penalties for intentionally injuring an animal.
Elderly man dies after car accident
![Elderly man dies after car accident](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/429355-4205cf50-652b-11e3-b1c2-12026a975936.jpg)
AN ELDERLY man died in hospital yesterday after his car was rear-ended while making a right hand turn in Ashwood.
Fuel tipped to jump to $1.60 a litre
![Fuel tipped to jump to $1.60 a litre](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/566983-d164798c-6565-11e3-bdad-d26236de09de.jpg)
PETROL prices are expected to soar above $1.60 a litre as a motoring group warned that retailers may be price-gouging in the lead-up to Christmas.
Rich brothel squabble ends in court
![Rich brothel squabble ends in court](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/611201-3bdf42ba-63cc-11e3-bb71-e2c853748ae0.jpg)
EXCLUSIVE: A BROTHEL empire which had its beginnings in Melbourne is at the centre of a multi-million dollar legal spat.
Ex-Dees boss accused over sacking
![Ex-Dees boss accused over sacking](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/574171-e39cb788-5e3d-11e3-8eb9-1c57f26bd260.jpg)
A PROPERTY boss and former AFL club chief is accused of sacking an executive for lodging a stress claim after he allegedly stroked her breasts.
Thousands get refunds in power bungle
![Thousands get refunds in power bungle](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/546533-7149744c-655d-11e3-879d-630c394bcc3d.jpg)
THOUSANDS of Victorians have been refunded cash after they were overcharged in an energy billing system bungle.
Seven hurt in separate road accidents
![Seven hurt in separate road accidents](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/516080-330f1a0e-648d-11e3-bb71-e2c853748ae0.jpg)
SEVEN people - including a child - are being treated for serious injuries in two separate car accidents.
Country Road in racial snub storm
![Country Road in racial snub storm](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113520im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/409785-eb0cd6f4-651f-11e3-b1c2-12026a975936.jpg)
CLOTHING brand Country Road is backpeddling today after it snubbed a customer complaint and sparked a social media storm over the skin colour of its models.
Sunday, 15 December
Missing Qld man found after four days
Sun Dec 15 21:57:18 EST 2013 A MAN who failed to return from checking on bores on his southwest Queensland property has been found after four days.
Police assaulted at NSW soccer game
Sun Dec 15 20:49:15 EST 2013 TWO men have been charged over an assault on police at a rowdy A-League soccer game north of Sydney.
Qld lifts pokies ban on big notes
Sun Dec 15 18:12:45 EST 2013 POKER machines in Queensland's pubs, clubs and casinos will accept notes bigger than $20 now the government has lifted restrictions on note values.
Wind fears for WA bushfire near homes
Sun Dec 15 18:00:49 EST 2013 FIREFIGHTERS are still fighting a bushfire that has been controlled but not contained northeast of Perth.
Police officer stabbed in the neck
Sun Dec 15 16:43:11 EST 2013 A POLICEMAN has been stabbed in the neck during a national blitz on alcohol-related violence which has led to 430 arrests in Queensland alone.
I don't expect marriage bill, says Abbott
Sun Dec 15 16:14:13 EST 2013 THE coalition party room will consider any future gay marriage bill in the "usual way", says Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Woman hit by garbage truck in Melbourne
Sun Dec 15 15:19:44 EST 2013 A YOUNG woman is clinging to life after being hit by a rubbish truck in Melbourne's city centre.
Bali punch victim on the mend
Sun Dec 15 15:18:18 EST 2013 AUSTRALIAN surfing teacher Matt Scarff is continuing to heal from serious head injuries after being punched by a stranger in Bali last month.
Turnbull says Labor wasted $20b on NBN
Sun Dec 15 15:17:20 EST 2013 COMMUNICATIONS Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Labor's rollout of the NBN would have wasted more than $50 billion.
Turnbull happy with cabinet under Abbott
Sun Dec 15 15:16:48 EST 2013 THE cabinet system is working well in the Abbott government, says senior frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, likening it to the Howard years.
Crash kills elderly man in Victoria
Sun Dec 15 15:14:46 EST 2013 AN elderly man has died in hospital after a crash in Melbourne's southeast on Thursday.
NSW govt must act on violence: oppn
Sun Dec 15 15:01:20 EST 2013 AFTER hundreds of arrests for alcohol-related trouble across the country, the NSW opposition is calling for urgent government action - now.