Callum Godde

Discipline urged as Liberal leader ponders front bench A first-term MP's hopes of leading a languishing state Liberal branch back to power rest on party discipline not sighted in a decade, a former premier says.

Former premier Jeff Kennett urges discipline as new Liberal leader Jess Wilson ponders front bench via AAP News aapnews.aap.com.au/a/qZEWMuyv

'My superhero': touching funeral tributes for slain cop Heartbroken family and friends have farewelled the first of two fallen police officers, with a guard of honour stretching hundreds of metres.

“A smiling protector with an enduring Batman fascination, a fallen officer has been sent off as a real-life superhero.”

Vale, Senior Constable Vadim de-Waart-Hottart aapnews.aap.com.au/a/JlVBWTka

Ten battleground state seats to watch on election night Victoria is one of the major battlegrounds that will decide the election, with 13 of the state's 38 seats considered marginal.

Victoria is one of the major battlegrounds that will decide the election, with 13 of the state’s 38 seats considered marginal #auspol

Federal election fate in hands of 'battleground state' Peter Dutton's narrowing path to victory must travel through Victoria, with the coalition needing to add to its...

Victoria will likely hold the key to Labor and Liberal fortunes on election night #auspol

Kooyong 'antics' turn heads but might not change minds Monique Ryan and Amelia Hamer have waged a bitter head-to-head war in the campaign for Kooyong but has...

Monique Ryan and Amelia Hamer have waged a bitter war in the campaign for Kooyong but has it influenced voters? #auspol

Youth crime crackdown all 'hammer' on troubled kids Spiking youth crime is being used to justify harsher proposed bail laws in a state some argue is neglecting its responsibility as legal guardian to many.

“These young people also need chances and opportunity ... we don't have to have the only tool in our toolkit being the hammer and the nail." aapnews.aap.com.au/a/kRpEkcGv

Aust-first machete ban more 'political optics' than fix A state government has promised to rapidly roll out an Australian-first machete ban but is copping criticism for its past opposition.

“This proposal feels more like a response to political optics (i.e. visible weapons, media-fuelled crime anxiety) than a comprehensive crime prevention strategy” aapnews.aap.com.au/a/WJYaEIYb

State doomed to 'repeat' deaths with harsher bail laws Laws to tighten the granting of bail for children and repeat serious offenders have been criticised as knee-jerk by some legal and Aboriginal groups.

Shots fired.

“It's hard not to think this is a consequence of Z-list celebrities and radio stations going on a drive about a number of horrible offences in Brighton.” aapnews.aap.com.au/a/WJYaEIYb

State at war with watchdog over $11.7b budget blowout The Victorian government is questioning the integrity of the financial watchdog in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in updated major project cost figures.

Major project building costs have blown out by $11.7 billion as the Victorian government tries to sully the integrity of its independent financial auditor aapnews.aap.com.au/a/EXndgtbp

Leaders condemn Islamophobic attacks, PM still silent Alleged assaults of two Muslim women at a shopping centre in separate attacks have been denounced by politicians, as Islamic groups call out double standards.

Australian political leaders are slowly condemning an Islamophobic attack on two women, but the prime minister isn't among them amid accusations of double standards aapnews.aap.com.au/a/JQgzduka

Premier stands by police minister after top cop fiasco Premier Jacinta Allan has backed her police minister after the top cop was forced out after a loss of confidence from the force he led for nearly five years.

Pressure is mounting on Victoria's police minister after the state's top cop was unceremoniously dumped over an "unprecedented" no-confidence vote aapnews.aap.com.au/a/xJGyoFBp

More birds and more shooting in duck hunting season The Victorian government is pushing ahead with a longer duck hunting season which also allows shooters to bag more birds.

The Victorian government is pushing ahead with a longer duck hunting season which also allows shooters to bag more birds aapnews.aap.com.au/a/bVPnbCyz

Labor admits trust damaged after surviving voter revolt The Liberals have fallen short of a by-election upset in a traditional Labor stronghold after voters took a...

Labor has narrowly escaped an embarrassing state by-election loss in Werribee as the long-time Victorian government concedes it must win back voters' trust www.canberratimes.com.au/story/889275...

Invincible no more: by-election puts Labor on notice With a state by-election result hanging on a knife edge, voters have fired a "warning shot" at Labor ahead of the upcoming federal election.

A by-election backlash shows Labor's grip on power is slipping in Victoria but political commentators caution it might not spell federal election doom aapnews.aap.com.au/a/rRpZBUVa

Disastrous dumped bail offences back 'on the table' All reforms are on the table as part of a so-called bail law review, including re-establishing offences found to disproportionately target Aboriginal people.

Disastrous dumped bail offences back 'on the table' aapnews.aap.com.au/a/JQPJNika

Under-pressure government slammed for bail laws review Another overhaul of bail laws is on the cards, as a state government is accused of buckling to scare-mongering amid rising youth crime.

“The chief commissioner and the attorney-general … looked me in my eyes and promised to make bail conditions better, because of what Veronica (Nelson) and my family suffered. Where are those promises now?”

Under-pressure government slammed for bail laws review aapnews.aap.com.au/a/GGlMBUzQ