Stranded at sea: the school camp from hell
Henrietta Cook Transport Safety Victoria investigates after students spent almost an hour in rough seas after their kayaks overturned during Tuesday's wild weather.
Latest Victoria news
Woman charged over fatal crash on Western Ring Road
![The crash on the Western Ring Road on Saturday.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/r/u/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooq7x.png/1462633457897.jpg)
Emily Woods 1:04 AM A 27-year-old woman has been charged with dangerous driving over a fatal crash in Melbourne's west on Saturday.
Police called to investigate Melbourne factory fire
![<P>](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/1/4/b/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooz7x.png/1462625411975.jpg)
Emily Woods 10:50 PM Police have been advised about a suspicious factory fire in West Melbourne on Saturday.
Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after Doreen hit and run
![A vehicle similar to the car involved in a hit and run in Hawthorn East on Friday.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/y/7/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goowj4.png/1462616571560.jpg)
Emily Woods 8:20 PM A man aged in his 40s has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after a hit and run in Doreen on Saturday afternoon.
Church loses track of abusive priests
![Bishop Les Tomlinson (fourth from left) with Father Joe Doyle (far right), photographed more than five years after the ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/t/g/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooqym.png/1462607946488.jpg)
Chris Vedelago, Beau Donelly, Cameron Houston 7:00 PM The Catholic Church is allowing paedophile priests to live anonymously in the community with limited supervision and has ignored warnings about their misconduct.
Man sexually assaulted in Melbourne toilet cubicle
![Police released this image of a man that may assist with inquiries into a sexual assault in Melbourne.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/u/3/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goouck.png/1462603696904.jpg)
Emily Woods 4:48 PM A 23-year-old man was almost sexually assaulted twice by the same unknown male, inside a Melbourne city shopping centre toilet cubicle earlier in the year.
Doughnut Time covers tracks on 'boob' uniforms
![The offending Doughnut Time T-shirts now removed from social media after a sprinkle of criticism.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/r/f/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooq48.png/1462607748647.jpg)
Deborah Gough 4:20 PM T-shirts worn by young female staff with doughnuts pictures over their breasts has caused a sprinkle of outrage.
Mantach defrauded Libs of $1.55m in bid to salvage marriage, court hears
![Former Victorian Liberal state director Damien Mantach.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/3/p/n/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo53b.png/1462596311955.jpg)
Adam Cooper 2:45 PM Damien Mantach defrauded the Victorian Liberal Party of $1.55 million while he was state director, and used some of the money to try to salvage a disintegrating marriage, a court has heard.
Heritage bid for St Kilda Road and Fawkner Park to safeguard Metro Rail
![An artist's impression of a new station to be built in the Melbourne Metro project. But South Yarra will not get a new ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/a/3/l/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goooxd.png/1462608184134.jpg)
Farrah Tomazin 2:34 PM One of Melbourne's busiest boulevards and a popular inner city park could end up being heritage listed as part of a state government tactic to stop people thwarting the Metro Rail Project. In a pre-emptive move, the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has applied for St Kilda Road and Fawkner Park to be listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, partly so that objectors can't use the planning process to delay the $10.9 billion project at a later stage.
Sex, drugs and gangs: Child protection system set for a shake-up
![Families Minister Jenny Mikakos hopes to transform the residential care system](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/x/r/d/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goopyq.png/1462594006432.jpg)
Farrah Tomazin 8:00 PM Children in state-run homes are trading sex for drugs and being recruited into street gangs, painting a picture of an under-strain system where vulnerable young people continue to fall through the cracks.
Moscow Circus suspended over St Kilda big top safety concerns
![MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: The Moscow Circus big top at St Kilda beach on May 7, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/q/g/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooqfx.png/1462589993784.jpg)
Liam Mannix 12:59 PM Safety inspectors revoked permit as big top erected is larger and in a different spot than that applied for, Fairfax Media understands.
Royal Women's Hospital celebrates 160 years of caring for mothers and babies
![Eight-month-old James Koops joins 160 mums at Government House who have recently given birth at the Royal Women's Hospital.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/m/z/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooq3z.png/1462589393588.jpg)
Staff reporters 12:49 PM It's not every day that the carpets of Government House are used as a play mat for toddlers. But Friday was no ordinary day.
Car-park fall man still critical
![The Power Street car park in Southbank.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/n/n/y/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goop5l.png/1462584494118.jpg)
Deborah Gough, Allison Worrall, Nino Bucci 11:28 AM A man who evaded police then fell seven storeys from a car park in Southbank has been identified by police.
The Phar Lap 'stuff' worth $150,000, and climbing
![Racehorse Phar Lap, New South Wales, 8 October 1929 [picture]. [nla.pic-vn6342925]](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/p/8/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo6xs.png/1462583863223.jpg)
Chris Johnston 11:30 AM What is being billed as the best collection of Phar Lap material in the world will be auctioned in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Bald tyres and pinged at 193km/h
![A Ford XR6 similar to the one found with four bald tyres, allegedly driven at 193km/h in Campbellfield.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/o/r/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goooqi.png/1462575981537.jpg)
Deborah Gough 9:06 AM A P-plate driver has allegedly been caught driving at 193km/h on four bald tyres.
Pedestrian killed in Williamstown collision
![Police](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/m/l/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gookkq.png/1462575665800.jpg)
Larissa Ham, Deborah Gough 9:01 AM A pedestrian has died - believed struck by a bus - in a collision in Williamstown.
Man's daily dope habit causes rare disease
![St Marys raids. Colyton suburb in western Sydney which were raided this morning for allegedly being used for growing ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/r/4/w/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooom6.png/1462573352617.jpg)
Deborah Gough 8:22 AM First known case of cannabis arteritis diagnosed in Australia described by surgeon.
Cash converter stolen
![The man police want to speak to over the theft of this note changing machine.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/o/c/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goooc8.png/1462569832177.jpg)
Deborah Gough 7:23 AM A machine which provides change in exchange for notes was stolen in the early hours of the morning from a shopping centre in Melbourne west.
Victorian Liberal Party faces branch stacking allegations
![Liberal logo](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/m/i/h/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goon07.png/1462537089128.jpg)
Richard Willingham The Victorian wing of the Liberal Party is facing branch stacking allegations just days before Malcolm Turnbull officially calls the federal election.
Andrews faces challenge from self-styled 'true liberal'
![Melbourne City Councillor, anti-pokie and shareholder advocate Stephen Mayne is challenging Kevin Andrews in the seat of ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/e/y/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooeqr.png/1462530318416.jpg)
Richard Willingham Melbourne councillor Stephen Mayne is challenging former Howard and Abbott minister Kevin Andrews at the ballot box, promising to tackle the "capital C conservative" by running as a "true liberal" at the election.
Minister intervenes to protect 'Little Audrey'
![MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: Photo of Skipping Girl Vinegar neon sign in Richmond on January 4, 2016 in ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/f/2/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooeh9.png/1462548979750.jpg)
Aisha Dow Melbourne's iconic Skipping Girl Vinegar neon sign – which is at risk of being partially obscured by a new apartment tower – has won a powerful new ally in the form of Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
Museum, police find the fun in internet dance-offs
![Museum Victoria staff have reached the semi-finals in a world wide online dance competition.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/k/y/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo3fn.png/1462575500176.jpg)
Alana Schetzer Museum staff are used to being in the background and letting the magnificent fossils and installations do the talking for them.
Chemical reaction
![Could magic mushrooms help treat mental illness?](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/m/p/k/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gol3xr.png/1462519291401.jpg)
Konrad Marshall 12:15 AM What if LSD could treat PTSD, or magic mushrooms could help you quit smoking? Overseas research is promising - but clinical trials on psychedelic drugs can't get approval in Australia. Are we missing out on possible miracle cures?
Victorian policeman charged with sexual assault
![Police badge](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/v/w/j/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooekd.png/1462522341071.jpg)
Larissa Ham A Victorian policeman has been charged after an alleged sexual assault in New South Wales in 2008.
The matchmakers helping parents decide on private schools
![Fiona Flanigan, with her daughter Olivia, used a education matchmaking service to find the ideal school.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/a/w/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo8rk.png/1462572808963.jpg)
Henrietta Cook Fiona Flanigan wanted her daughter to attend a good school, but had no idea what to look for.
Doyle gives thumbs up to CBD mosque
![The Islamic Council of Victoria that it wants to create a mosque for more than 2000 worshippers.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/2/i/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo840.png/1462548417676.jpg)
Alana Schetzer Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has welcomed the prospect of a large mosque being built in the CBD, following claims demand is outstripping supply for prayer space.
Revolutionary changes to how much you get paid for your solar power
![Homeowners could be paid more for the energy generated by their solar panels.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/j/z/v/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo8ah.png/1462516455278.jpg)
Marc Moncrief A draft report from the Essential Services Commission recommends "a monetary value for greenhouse gas emissions" be established in order to calculate the "environmental and social benefits" of changing the way energy is generated and distributed across the state.
Minister orders crack-down on 'rogue' chiropractors
![Some chiropractors are offering treatments to newborn babies.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/c/s/h/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gonptr.png/1462515859647.jpg)
Allison Worrall 'Physically shaken' by video of Melbourne chiropractor manipulating a newborn's spine, Jill Hennessy demands end to 'unproven and potentially unsafe procedures'.
Residents in Melbourne's most sought-after suburbs big tax winners
![Voters in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's electoral seat are the biggest winners from Treasurer Scott Morrison's tax ...](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/n/b/y/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gonwkr.png/1462535719819.jpg)
Richard Willingham and Matt Wade Residents in Melbourne's most sought after inner metropolitan and bayside suburbs are the big beneficiaries of tax cuts detailed in Scott Morrison's first budget.
ARM wrestling
![Better than the Beatles: ARM architecture's Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/n/3/o/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gon5dg.png/1462514939500.jpg)
Ray Edgar Melbourne 'ratbags' win Australia's top architecture gong. How do they get away with it?
Police appeal for witnesses after death of teen in Chinatown
![The man police want to speak with.](/web/20160507151546im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/o/b/0/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gooa83.png/1462514702709.jpg)
Larissa Ham Detectives have released images of a man they want to speak to following the death of a teen after an alleged assault in Melbourne's Chinatown .