Judge wants to prevent myki machine break-in copycats

Steve Butcher 2:06 PM   A judge has upheld the fears of Public Transport Victoria and police that publishing how thieves broke into Myki ticketing machines to steal cash could unleash copycat criminals.

Victorian government to sell $9.3 million in seized bitcoins

Lucy Battersby 2:03 PM   The Victorian government will sell millions of dollars worth of BitCoins on the open market in coming months after recently taking possession of assets confiscated from a Warrandyte drug dealer.

Police case against ex-officer Tanner dropped

Tammy Mills 1:37 PM   The latest police case against divisive former detective Denis Tanner has been dropped after senior police decided that criminal charges stemming from a raid a year ago will not be laid.

These shoes are made for walking

Rania Spooner 1:17 PM   These boots are made for walking/that's just what they'll do...

Aboriginal children's commissioner reviews 1000 cases in out-of-home care

Benjamin Preiss 12:55 PM   Victoria's commissioner for Aboriginal children is reviewing at least 1000 individual cases of children in out-of-home care amid a steep increase in those living away from their parents.

Grandmother, 91, unchains herself from tree in Victoria's west

Patrick Hatch 12:51 PM   A 91-year-old woman has spent 4½ hours locked to a gum tree in Victoria's west in an attempt to save it from being knocked down.

IBAC sets date for investigation into alleged Victorian education department corruption

Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie 12:44 PM   Victoria's anti-corruption agency will call some of the state's most senior past and present public servants to appear before public hearings into alleged serious corruption within the education department.

Musos and actors give Diggers voice

12:21 PM   Musos and actors give Diggers voice

Wet wipes causing havoc in Australia's sewage and water systems

Patrick Hatch 11:46 AM   Australians are flushing thousands of kilograms of incorrectly labeled wet wipes down their toilets every year, causing havoc in the country's water and sewage systems.

Man who killed his partner was on a mission to murder her, court hears

Mark Russell 11:15 AM   A man who drank 15 beers before being woken up and killing his partner with a steel chair had been on a mission to murder her, a court has heard

Woman stabbed during robbery at Rowville shopping centre

Patrick Hatch 10:42 AM   A woman was stabbed during an alleged robbery at an eastern suburbs shopping centre on Monday morning, police say.

Man charged with murdering mother pleads not guilty

Adam Cooper 10:20 AM   A man charged with murdering his mother on the Mornington Peninsula has pleaded not guilty by way of mental impairment.

Buddhist prayer room accidentally set alight by worshippers

Andi Yu 9:34 AM   The prayer room of a Victorian Buddhist monstery was accidentally burned down by worshippers who forgot to put out their candles. 

Punters pay to sleep in Pentridge

Carolyn Webb 7:06 AM   Tickets are on sale for $95 a head for a public sleepover tour at Pentridge Prison's notorious D Division.

Melbourne Express: Monday March 16, 2015

Angus Holland 6:08 AM  

Grand Prix: 'It's Arnold Schwarzenegger, man!'

Scott Spits 5:23 AM   You know a marquee and heavily-promoted sporting event has meandered to a predictable and tedious finish when fans are left remembering the post-race interviews as their highlight of the day.

Comments 4

'I was bitten by a snake'

Allison Worrall and Lily Partland 3:20 AM   Melbourne man Dane Kowalski left behind a note saying he had been bitten by a snake, his family has said.

Bikies' big business

John Silvester 10:57 PM   International outlaw motorcycle gangs are targeting Australia because of wildly inflated illicit drug prices and Victoria is the destination of choice because of a black hole in the criminal law, a high level crime conference has been told.

Bikies: It's boom or bust

John Silvester 10:57 PM   The bikie boss was furious when he learned 650 police had conducted 59 simultaneous raids on Hells Angels targest around the state. So much so he wanted crisis talks with senior Echo taskforce investigator Wayne Cheesman.

Alleged sex abuse victim Norman Latham fears dropped Turana case will hamper royal commission efforts

Nino Bucci 10:41 PM   A worker at a youth training centre charged with the serious sexual abuse of two boys had his case dropped by the Office of Public Prosecutions only days before trial, leaving an alleged victim fearful that others who may have been preyed on will never come forward.

Mal Peet: Boredom inspired children’s fiction

5:41 PM   MAL PEET

Melbourne Grand Prix No.20 passes the reliability test

Andrew Tate 5:25 PM   Race day for Daniel Ricciardo started with a gentle trundle of the Albert Park circuit in the back of a 1920s Bentley. Not his fastest lap, but, by the end of the Australian Grand Prix, perhaps the more reliable ride.   

Labor government fails to meet its own freedom of information test

Josh Gordon 3:50 PM   The Andrews Government is refusing to release the public service’s incoming government policy brief, despite Labor railing against a similar move when in opposition.

Community sector struggles in crisis

Allison Worrall 3:04 PM   The community sector in Victoria is largely not equipped to handle natural disasters and emergencies, leaving vulnerable people at risk if disaster strikes.