Victorian bushfires 2015: Raging winds fuel threat at Benloch

Rania Spooner, Robyn Grace 11:34 PM   Three buildings have been lost and residents left furious after an out-of-control burn-off sparked a 4000-hectare bushfire near Lancefield in central Victoria.

Lancefield fire burns out of control

Rachel Wells, Rania Spooner and Marissa Calligeros 11:32 PM    A controlled burn-off that jumped containment lines and became a raging bushfire destroying up to four homes in central Victoria continued to burn out of control on Wednesday.

Teenager killed in Mount Evelyn crash was sitting on friend's lap

Aisha Dow 11:00 PM   A teenage girl who died when a car crammed with nine people smashed into a concrete pole was sitting on the lap of another passenger, police believe.

As another fire season arrives, Black Saturday survivors prepare and endure

Konrad Marshall 10:18 PM   The smoke drifted east from Lancefield this week, wafting on a breeze through Kilmore, climbing above Yan Yean Reservoir, spreading over Whittlesea and headed for Kinglake.

Complaints about treatment of mentally ill people soar in Victoria

Julia Medew Health Editor 9:55 PM   Complaints about mental health services have nearly doubled in Victoria.

An anxious night: woolgrower hits out over Lancefield fire

Darren Gray 9:45 PM   The decision to light the planned burn which developed into an uncontrolled bushfire near Lancefield has been blasted by a local sheep farmer who lives next to the Cobaw State Forest.

Melbourne Express bushfire updates: Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Patrick Hatch 8:27 PM   Melbourne Express is a live blog bringing you what you need to hit the day running - news, weather and transport updates, and compelling content from The Age and beyond.

The dark secret at the heart of a cold-case killing

Tammy Mills 8:27 PM   For almost 30 years Norm Gribble held a dark secret until the day he unfurled a newspaper and was confronted with a black-and-white photo of a teenage girl.

Victorian bushfires 2015: Angry locals blast 'Department of Scorched Earth' over Lancefield fire

Darren Gray 8:27 PM    Angry locals have demanded answers from fire authorities during a tense public meeting at Lancefield over a planned burn which escaped and destroyed at least one house, burnt farmland and a vast area of state forest.

Bureau revises seasonal outlook after 'significant shift' in conditions

Peter Hannam 7:35 PM   The impacts of the monster El Nino in the Pacific are likely to intensify across much of Australia, including worsening drought and an elevated bushfire threat, after conditions that were nullifying its effects suddenly retreated.

Mont Albert man spotted on city CCTV; mother still missing

Carolyn Webb, Marissa Calligeros 7:10 PM   Police have released city CCTV images of Stephen Bailey, who homicide detectives are hunting over the disappearance of his mother, Penny.

Police seek public help over missing man

Carolyn Webb 6:50 PM   A distinctive grey car may help find Keith Foggin, who was last seen in Bacchus Marsh on September 24.

Teachers banned from restraining students with straps

Henrietta Cook 6:31 PM   Teachers have been banned from restraining students with straps, holding them on the ground and locking them in seclusion rooms.

Regional Rail Link too slow: former Nationals leader Tim Fischer

Richard Willingham 6:16 PM   A major flaw in the Regional Rail Link is delaying commuters but could be easily fixed, former deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer says.

One in four of most urgent patients not seen on time by paramedics

Craig Butt 5:23 PM   One in four Victorians in most urgent need of medical attention were not seen by a paramedic on time last year, Ambulance Victoria's annual report shows.

Police officer dies in crash

Cameron Houston 5:20 PM   A police officer has died in Victoria's east after her motorcycle and a four-wheel-drive vehicle collided.

Tell us about the commissions: price comparison websites

Marc Moncrief 5:18 PM    

Police officer charged with murder

Cameron Houston, Chris Vedelago 4:57 PM   A veteran police officer has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a driver during a routine traffic stop in Windsor in 2013.

Infrastructure body looks 30 years into the future

Richard Willingham, Tom Cowie 4:52 PM   The Andrews government is yet to commit the proposed $5.5 billion Western Distributor to scrutiny by its new infrastructure body, saying the authority's priority is for a 30-year blue print of the states infrastructure needs.

Seven new statues at Luna Park unveiled

Neil McMahon 12:15 AM   Luna Park's first newly built structure in decades - a three-level cafe and events centre brings added function.

Victorian bushfires 2015: Lancefield fire timeline

Rachel Wells 4:07 PM   Residents in central Victoria are angry that a controlled burn that was started in the Cobaw State Forest a week ago has twice broken containment lines, threatening hundreds of houses and properties and destroying one home. This is how events unfolded.

Annual reports

Steady as she goes: Victorian screen sector stable, more or less

Karl Quinn 3:52 PM   Minor wobbles, but 2014-15 was mostly a year of stabilisation for Victoria's screen industries.

What do we need the most? Time to talk

Jason Dowling 3:40 PM   What is the most important project for Victoria in the next five years? What about the next 30 years.

Victoria could fire up desal plant to beat the heat

Josh Gordon 7:00 AM   Victoria's $4 billion desalination plant could be switched on for the first time as parts of the state experience the driest conditions on record.

This rain radar image shows how scary the bushfire threat is this year

Tom Cowie 12:48 PM   The rain radar is designed to reflect off rain droplets, but on Tuesday it showed pluming ash clouds.

Man charged with murder after body found on road

Adam Cooper 1:43 PM   A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man whose body was found on a Melbourne road last week.

Burn-off anger: Lancefield residents furious burn-off went ahead

Marissa Calligeros 1:06 PM   Lancefield residents are fuming that the state government went ahead with a burn-off despite forecasts of high fire-danger weather.