Victorian taxpayers will bear a $125 million cost after the Allan government agreed to pay out a class action lawsuit brought by businesses that alleged they were financially devastated by the state’s second-wave shutdowns in 2020.

The settlement was revealed in the Supreme Court on Monday, after a trial scheduled to begin on 10 March was adjourned and replaced with a directions hearing.

The case, titled 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd v State of Victoria, was brought on behalf of business owners who alleged they suffered economic loss as a result of the imposition of Stage 3 and Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria due to the second wave of COVID 19.

Court documents state that the claim was about losses associated with the restrictions, but also alleged that the state’s hotel quarantine system was flawed, allowing the virus to get out into the community.

Former health minister Jenny Mikakos, former jobs minister Martin Pakula, and public servants were among those named in the lawsuit.

One of the most controversial parts of Victoria’s pandemic response served as the foundation for that legal battle.

According to the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry, outbreaks started in the Rydges and Stamford Plaza hotels and had “disastrous consequences” for Victoria as they spread from returning travelers to employees and then into the community.

Those shortcomings contributed to the lockdowns that affected physical businesses and retailers between July and October of 2020.

The settlement amount was $125 million, including costs and interest, according to barrister Adam Hochroth SC, although the deeds themselves are not public yet.

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However, the settlement amount still requires approval from the court before any payment is made.

Approximately 16,000 businesses have filed for the class action lawsuit, although not all claimants are guaranteed compensation yet.

The Victorian government claimed that the settlement will spare the state from a costly court fight, although it still insisted that it had done the right thing to protect the public interest in the face of an unprecedented global health crisis.

Victoria is poised for a reduction in default electricity prices across the state in the coming months, with the Essential Services Commission recommending cuts across all five of the state’s electricity distribution zones.

According to the draft decision released by the commission on 12 March, households will benefit from a saving of $46 per year or 3%while small businesses will benefit from a saving of $172 per year or 5%, if the new prices are applied from 1 July.

The reduction will be felt across the state, rather than just in one of the electricity network areas.

Households will see a reduction of between $43 and $48 per year, depending on the zone while small businesses will see a reduction of between $165 and $179 per year, depending on the zone.

Customers who continue to use the default tariff are not the only ones affected by the change.

In addition to serving as the benchmark that retailers must use when promoting market offers, the Victorian Default Offer serves as a safety net price for consumers who don’t shop around or find it difficult to switch plans.

Approximately 510,000 households, or 17% of the total and 61,000 small businesses or 21% are presently on the default offer, according to the commission.

Additionally, it establishes the maximum price for about 190,000 people who reside in embedded networks, such as apartment complexes, retirement communities and caravan parks where locals frequently are unable to select their own electricity supplier.

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However, Gerard Brody, who is the chairperson and commissioner at the Essential Services Commission, stated in a statement, “The default offer provides people with the assurance that they will continue to get a fair deal without having to test the market each year.”

The draft is currently out for consultation until 10 April, and a decision is to be made in May.

If the decision is confirmed, the new prices will come into effect on 1 July 2026, providing Victorian households and small businesses.

Four young males are in custody after a 22 year old male died in a violent confrontation outside Mernda Railway Station in the outer north of Melbourne.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Bridge Inn Road around 5:50 pm on Friday night after reports of a fight.

The 22 year old Mernda resident was found with critical injuries and died at the scene. The four males arrested over the death are 16, 17, 17 and 18 years old, according to the Victoria Police.

Police say the confrontation started when a 14 year old boy was allegedly targeted near the station.

The police told that several people tried to intervene in the fight, but the 22 year old intervened to remove the 14 year old from the scene.

The police claim the group followed the adult and his friends to assault him again outside the station precinct.

According to Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L’Estrange, the detectives have reasons to believe that the assailants used an edged weapon during the attack.

Parts of the station and surrounding stores were cordoned off while forensic investigators investigated the scene of the killing.

As detectives piece together the last movements of those involved, police have asked anyone who saw the fight or who has dashcam or phone footage to get in touch with Crime Stoppers.

One of the arrested males is in hospital under police custody, while the other three are in custody and being questioned by the authorities.

Media reported that at least two females who were at the scene of the attack are helping the detectives, but they have not been arrested.

The charges have not been disclosed by the authorities, and the full circumstances of the attack are still being investigated.

An emergency evacuation warning was issued on Tuesday afternoon due to a series of explosions at an industrial site in the north of Geelong, while firefighters battled a rapidly spreading fire and a dense smoke plume that spread throughout surrounding suburbs.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 3:28 p.m. crews were called after Triple Zero callers reported a car fire, followed by explosions and thick smoke.

Within minutes, firefighters arrived and discovered a car on the back of a truck on fire with flames spreading to nearby gas bottles and causing several explosions.

At the intersection of Thompson Road and Armstrong Street in North Geelong, VicEmergency issued an Emergency Warning advising anyone within the warning area to evacuate right away.

Emergency services might not be able to assist those who stayed, according to the alert which cautioned people not to enter the area and described the conditions as extremely dangerous.

People were advised to stay away from windows and glass, keep an eye out for hot or sharp objects, close windows and vents and turn off the air conditioner before leaving the area if they were driving.

While workers were on the scene, Thompson Road, Armstrong Street and Pashley Avenue were closed.

According to ABC News, the emergency warning area, which is primarily an industrial pocket included portions of Thompson Road and Armstrong Street as well as neighboring streets like Pashley Avenue and Sharon Court.

While firefighters worked around the perimeter to put out the fire, aerial footage showed smoke rising from what appeared to be tires and wrecked vehicles.

Additionally, health officials cautioned that smoke from the fire had spread throughout Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, North Geelong and the surrounding suburbs, potentially aggravating lung and heart conditions as well as causing eye irritation, coughing and wheezing.

Although crews were expected to stay on the scene to ensure the area was safe, Fire Rescue Victoria stated that the incident was deemed under control at 5:24 p.m.