A parliamentary inquiry into the devastating bushfires across Victoria over the summer hears the emotional plea of those impacted. 

A Victorian court has heard allegations former AFL great Nicky Winmar "bashed" a woman's head against a wooden door with such force it cracked during an alleged assault in May 2025.

Regional roadworks and construction projects are being put on hold as Victorian councils tighten their budgets amid the international fuel crisis.

Renewable planning body VicGrid has threatened a high-profile anti-transmission-line campaigner with enforcement action after government surveyors felt "hindered" from accessing his farm.

Weather records fall across the state, as a spell of summer-like conditions tips into May.

Murray cod numbers have bounced back across much of Victoria and NSW, and that's good news for the whole Murray-Darling Basin ecosystem.

Premier vs Nationals: Premier Jacinta Allan has labelled the National Party as weak in response to comments aimed at her in the fight to win her seat of Bendigo East. In Bendigo a fortnight ago National Party leader Danny O'Brien likened their candidate Andrew Lethlean to being an "iceberg" and Ms Allan's government, the Titanic. The National Party, Mr Lethlean and the Premier have previously said they would run campaigns aimed at political issues, and not make personal comments. Allan says the comment by O'Brien shows the National Party isn't focused on the things that matter.

Photos: ABC News and ABC Central Victoria/ Shannon Schubert

Echuca fatal: Police are investigating a fatal car crash just south of Echuca on April 28, which left one person dead and another hospitalised. Police were called to the reports of a collision between a truck and a car at the intersection of the Northern Highway and Spiers Road just before 9am. Emergency Services say they found a driver, who is yet to be identified, dead at the scene. A passenger of the car was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe another truck was involved in the crash but left the scene before police arrived. Police are calling for anyone with more information to come forward.

Historic abuse: A man charged over the sexual assault of a woman in Melbourne over 40 years ago has faced a court for the first time. Brenden Badham, 65, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court on Friday over the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a woman in Belgrave Heights in 1985. Police arrested Mr Badham last week following a renewed police investigation. Mr Badham has been charged with offences including abduction, sexual assault, and theft of a car. The court heard it is Mr Badham's first time in custody. He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to the Melbourne Magistrates Court in August.

Royal Flying Doctor Service expansion: The Royal Flying Doctor Service says it's relying on community fundraising more than ever as some of its federal government funding runs out. Its community transport program was first trialled in Heathcote in 2019 and has done more than 10,000 trips across the region during the past two and a half years. The Royal Flying Doctor Service says the rise of fuel as a result of the war in the Middle East is creating higher costs.

VicGrid: State Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio says she's confident VicGrid officers are behaving respectfully when interacting with landholders affected by the VNI West transmission line project. ABC footage filmed earlier this month shows authorised officers cautioning a farmer with an $800 fine, court action and reading him his legal rights after he denied access to his land. Payments of up to $20,000 are available to those who allow access to their land for ecological surveys. Ms D'Ambrosio says many landholders have already sorted out voluntary agreements with VicGrid.