As the United States pushes its war with Iran into a fifth day, Donald Trump is promising perseverance.
However, a swift sell off in international markets and an increase in energy prices are intensifying what analysts perceive to be the White House’s most pressing constraint.
While providing little information about how the campaign will conclude, the president has framed it as a decisive effort in support of Israel.
Trump claimed that the US had a “virtually unlimited supply” of weapons in a social media post, claiming that stockpiles could be used to fight wars forever.
He gave an approximate time frame, stating at a White House event that the operation was expected to take four to five weeks and adding, “Whatever it takes.”
Investor concerns about an oil shock are clashing with that open ended stance.
Due to traders reactions to potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz a crucial shipping route for LNG and oil worldwide, Brent crude increased to roughly US $84 per barrel on Wednesday.
As money moved into conventional safe havens like the US dollar and gold, equity markets in Asia and Europe declined once more.
In response to the market reaction, former Goldman Sachs strategist Robin Brooks called financial markets the “ultimate constraint” on Trump, contending that persistent volatility can compel political recalibration.
The concept is gaining momentum as the administration, which is already under fire for tariffs and inflation, faces the possibility that rising fuel and freight prices could soon have a negative impact on household budgets.
Additionally, political boundaries are becoming more stringent. Lawmakers from both parties in Washington are calling for a vote on war powers, which would aim to limit military action without express congressional consent.
The conflict overseas is putting alliances to the test and making logistics more difficult. In the midst of widespread flight cancellations in the region, governments are rushing to manage travel disruption, and European leaders have issued warnings about spillover risks.
Trump is projecting confidence and endurance for the time being.
However, the true test may be whether the economic blowback remains contained or becomes the force that limits the White House’s options more quickly than any development on the battlefield as oil prices rise and markets tremble.
Queenslanders are being encouraged to ready themselves for more wet weather, as a tropical low in the Coral Sea continues to make its way towards the state, potentially brewing into a cyclone later this week.
The tropical low, named 29U is currently situated a little more than 500 kilometers northeast of Cairns and is expected to make landfall around the middle of the day on Friday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Tropical low is expected to bring heavy rainfall, flooding and potentially high winds in the coming days, but there is also a moderate possibility that the low could develop into a tropical cyclone.
The watch area, as designated by the BOM extends from Cooktown to Lucinda and includes areas such as Cairns, Port Douglas, Innisfail, Cardwell and Palm Island.
Roads in the Hinchinbrook Shire were closed following falls of more than 285 mm between Sunday and Monday, while some Far North locations recorded more than 200 mm in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning.
Additionally, the bureau has maintained warnings for a number of river catchments and issued a flood watch for the North Tropical Coast and the York Peninsula in the western Cape.
As the likelihood of a cyclone increased, Bureau forecaster Morgan Pumper told ABC that the system was predicted to move southwest: “We can see it moving over the coast later this week.
Bureau has cautioned that the low may still produce hazardous weather over a large area even if it remains below cyclone strength.
The emerging threat on the coast comes as the slow moving floodwaters continue to impact the west of the state.
Communities such as Bedourie and Birdsville have experienced isolation risks as floodwaters continue to spread across the flat terrain, with Premier David Crisafulli stating that resources are being pre positioned to resupply and assist with the response.
The information service in Queensland encouraged people to follow official advice and avoid driving through floodwaters, reminding people to contact the SES on 132 500 for non urgent storm and flood assistance.
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.
An unofficial end date has been placed on NSW Premier Chris Minns’ tenure, as he has hinted that he will not lead Labor into the 2031 election and stated that he does not anticipate being premier when Sydney Metro West is scheduled to open in 2032.
In an interview with reporters on Monday, Minns was asked about his thoughts on Sydney in 2032 which is the year of the state’s largest rail project, as Metro West aims for that year’s opening.
“Well, I won’t be here at least in this role,” he responded, before shifting his focus to the affordability of housing and the need for more residences close to public transportation.
Minns acknowledged that he “might get beat” at the next state poll and emphasized that there was no assurance he would make it that far.
The government pushed the election forward to avoid an Easter weekend clash and voters in NSW are expected to return to the polls on March 13, 2027.
The remarks provide the strongest indication to date that Minns 46, does not intend to serve as prime minister for the next ten years.
Barring an earlier loss or change of leadership, he would essentially limit his tenure as premier to two terms if he were to win in 2027 and step down before 2031.
The timing also coincides with Metro West receiving more attention now that the NSW Government has confirmed the 24 kilometer line’s tunneling is finished, moving the project into fit out and track laying later this year.
Following Labor’s election victory, Minns was sworn in as the state’s 47th premier on March 28, 2023. Minns has been the Kogarah seat holder since 2015.
Kellie Sloane, the leader of the opposition criticized the comments, saying the premier should outline his plans and accusing him of not offering a long term vision for the state.
We didn’t set out to run one of the biggest grassroots campaigns the Gold Coast has seen in years. But the moment the Trump Organization’s first Australian tower was announced – a 91-storey, 340-metre Trump International Hotel & Tower proposed for Surfers Paradise – we knew we had to act. So we did what ordinary people always do when the powerful move in: we organised.
Between our two Change.org petitions – mine, and the one started by CK – we’ve now pushed beyond 1,13,525 verified signatures, a clear public signal that this project is not a “done deal” in the hearts of Australians.
CK has chosen to remain anonymous, not out of drama or mystery, but out of a real fear of backlash and retaliation from the most aggressive elements of Trump fandom – the sort of intimidation that has become an ugly, familiar soundtrack to Trump-era politics.
When we say “we”, we mean something bigger than two names on a webpage – Craig Hill and CK. We mean the teachers, tradies, hospitality workers, students, parents, small business owners, long-term locals, and visitors who love the Gold Coast for what it is: sun, sand, openness, and a culture that still feels fundamentally Australian.
What’s being proposed and why it matters
The tower is being pitched as a luxury monument: a “six-star resort-hotel”, high-end apartments, retail, a beach club, and a level of branding that’s meant to scream prestige. The Trump Organization says this will be a landmark address and a new flag planted on an iconic beachfront.
But the key detail is this: it’s a hotel management and brand-licensing deal, meaning the Trump Organization profits from the name, the marketing, and the “halo” of association – even if the concrete is poured by others. That’s exactly why we’re fighting it. Because branding is not neutral. Branding is power. The Trump Organization will manage the complex, and profit most from it.
Our central objection: the Trump brand and a global pattern of harm
Our primary objection isn’t the height, the glass, or the architecture. It’s the name, though similar projects throughout the world have had negative impacts. These are in terms of the displacement of local businesses, skyrocketing property prices, and a sharp increase in income inequality. This is not the future we wish for our beloved Gold Coast.
And then there’s the business record – the part that should matter even to people who don’t care about politics. Multiple independent fact-checks and financial reporting describe six Trump-linked corporate bankruptcies (mostly in casinos/hospitality), a pattern of over-leverage, aggressive deal-making, and leaving others to hold the bag.
We laid out the deeper pattern in our own research: ten places around the world where Trump-owned or Trump-branded developments were reported as drivers or symbols of luxury-led upheaval, with communities describing displacement pressures, price escalation, and inequality. That list includes projects and controversies in New York, Atlantic City, Vancouver, Toronto, Pune, Gurgaon, Panama City, Scotland, and Ireland.
This is why “it’s just a building” doesn’t cut it. It’s not just a building. It’s a brand with a track record, and reputational baggage that Australia does not need to import.
Australia has a right to ask: why reward hostility?
The timing makes this worse. Right now, Australia is dealing with a chaotic and openly hostile US tariff regime. Official Australian government guidance confirms the US has imposed a 10% Temporary Import Surcharge on most goods, and also lists much higher “national security” tariffs – including 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium. Reporting in recent days has described the push to lift the temporary global rate to 15% – a move that would hit Australian exporters as well.
So we have to ask: if the Trump administration is actively making life harder for Australian exporters and workers, why on earth should the Gold Coast build a glittering shrine to the Trump name?
Mayor Tom Tate has spoken positively about the proposal in media coverage, and council has confirmed that no development application had yet been lodged at the time of reporting. That means there is still time – and still responsibility – to rethink.
The beach cabanas issue: Schoolies Hub is not a hotel annex
One detail has set off alarm bells for locals who actually understand this city: the talk of beach cabanas and a resort experience that “spills out” onto the sand.
Across the road – and right on that stretch of Surfers Paradise beach – sits the Queensland Government’s Schoolies Hub, a fenced, alcohol- and drug-free entertainment precinct where school leavers gather during Schoolies Week.
This matters. Schoolies is already a complex safety operation involving policing, health, volunteers, and careful planning. The idea that a Trump-branded luxury hotel could effectively exert influence over the same beachfront environment – through cabanas, beach club operations, or sheer brand dominance – is not just culturally grotesque. It’s operationally risky.
We do not want Schoolies Week turned into a “VIP backdrop” for wealthy tourists. We do not want a public beach – especially one that functions as a major youth safety precinct – to be treated like a private forecourt.
Serious questions about the developer and delivery risk
We’re also deeply concerned about the delivery risk – not just the politics.
ABC investigative reporting has documented that the project’s local proponent, Altus CEO David Young, previously ran a business that collapsed owing $28 million to creditors, and that a liquidator’s report described him as largely “uncontactable” and failing to file key financial information after the collapse.
The same reporting notes two previous bankruptcies for Young, both completed. That’s not “cancel culture”. That’s due diligence.
We also can’t pretend this tower exists in a vacuum. Surfers Paradise already struggles with peak-season gridlock, limited on-street space, and an event calendar that pushes roads and public transport to their limits.
A 91-storey hotel-and-residential complex would pour thousands more vehicle trips into an area where road capacity, loading zones, rideshare pick-ups, deliveries, and emergency access are already tight – meaning real, day-to-day impacts on locals, workers, and visitors.
If council is even considering this project, we need transparent answers on the full infrastructure bill: which roads and intersections will be upgraded, how pedestrian and disability access will be improved, what additional public transport or active-transport links will be funded, and how construction traffic will be managed for years.
Just as importantly, we need proof that essential services can cope – electricity supply and substation capacity, potable water, sewerage and stormwater, and resilient internet and mobile coverage for a dense high-rise precinct – without quietly shifting costs onto ratepayers and taxpayers or compromising safety and reliability for the existing community.
What we can do about it
We’ve started speaking up the only way that reliably changes outcomes in big developments: through the organisations that represent workers, builders, and industry standards.
We have written to (and are seeking discussions with) the CFMEU, ETU, Plumbers Union, AWU, AMWU, Master Builders Queensland, and the QMCA. Ideally, we could get the project black banned, but we’ll respect whatever alternative actions the unions may implement.
We’ve written to the elected officials whose job it is to represent the public interest in this part of Queensland, including:
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate
Queensland member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek (LNP)
Federal member for Moncrieff Angie Bell (LNP)
Senator Murray Watt, Labor duty senator for Moncrieff
Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters (QLD)
We have contacted three former independent federal parliament candidates and Gold Coast activists who have expressed a willingness to help organise this: Stewart Brooker, Michelle Faye and Belinda Jones.
In addition, we have been approached by a Victorian law firm offering to help us raise money from law firms around Australia, and a Brisbane barrister who is helping us to find a local lawyer who may be willing to act pro bono if we can’t raise funds.
We also encourage every concerned citizen to contact the above elected officials – politely. We can be firm without becoming the thing we oppose. We don’t need threats. We don’t need abuse. We need pressure, transparency, and democratic accountability.
A final message to council: think again
We’re not saying the Gold Coast should stop developing. We’re saying the Gold Coast should stop selling its skyline, its beach culture, and its civic identity to a brand that brings division, controversy, and a documented history of hard-edged business dealings.
We’re asking Mayor Tom Tate and Gold Coast Council to have another think about this – and to remember who this city is meant to serve: the community that lives here, works here, and raises families here. And we’re asking them to choose something better than a tower that shouts “TRUMP” over the Pacific.
When a global brand moves into a place like the Gold Coast, it is not only about height, glass, or the skyline. It is also about identity. Who gets to shape the story of this coastline, and whose values show up in what gets built here.
That is why Craig Hill’s work matters. His petition is not about stopping progress. It is about protecting the Gold Coast from becoming a billboard for a name tied to strong division and controversy. It is also about making sure locals have a real say before any project is treated as certain.
This is what community leadership looks like
Big developments often arrive with smooth marketing and confident talk. They come with glossy images, big numbers, and promises of prestige. Then the public is expected to accept the story and move on.
Craig and the people who have signed with him have not accepted that. They have done something simple and strong. They have organised, asked questions, gathered support, and called for democratic accountability.
A tower is never just a building when it is built around a brand. Branding is influence. It affects who feels welcome, what the destination is known for, what kind of visitors it attracts, and what the city becomes linked to on the world stage.
The Gold Coast already has its own brand. It is beach culture, family holidays, surf life, local hospitality, small business energy, and a relaxed Australian openness that people recognise right away. A highly politicised global brand risks pulling our local identity into someone else’s culture war.
The public deserves transparency before approvals
If a proposal moves forward, the community has every right to demand clear answers. How will traffic be managed during construction. What will happen to local access and public space. How will essential services cope. What protections will exist for the beachfront and for public safety operations during major events.
These are not ideological questions. They are practical questions. They are the questions that protect locals, workers, visitors, and the long term liveability of the region.
Respectful pressure works
Craig’s approach also sets the right tone. Firm, organised, and polite. That matters. Public conversations can get heated, but intimidation and abuse only help the powerful. A calm, evidence based campaign keeps the focus where it should be, on planning, impacts, values, and accountability.
If you agree with Craig, there are simple ways to help.
A Trump Tower has been announced for Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, promoted as the Trump Organization’s first Australian tower and described as a 91 storey, roughly 340 metre development valued around A$1.5 billion.
What is proposed
Public reporting describes a mixed project that includes a luxury hotel component, residential apartments, retail and food offerings, and a beach club style podium experience.
The Trump Organization has described the project as Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast and says it will include a 285 room hotel, 272 luxury residences and a beach club, alongside commercial and dining space.
Who is behind It?
Reporting identifies local developer Altus Property Group as the proponent, with a deal signed with the Trump Organization. ABC reporting has raised questions about delivery risk, including past business collapse issues linked to the local proponent and statements attributed to a liquidator’s report.
Not yet. Coverage quoting city leadership and council commentary indicates that, at the time of reporting, a formal development application had not yet been lodged, meaning there is no planning assessment decision on record for this proposal.
If a development application is lodged, the City of Gold Coast’s PD Online is the official place to search for the application and view documents and dates for public notification.
If public notification opens, council explains how to lodge a submission and what makes a submission “properly made”, including that submissions are not confidential and will be published with name and address details visible.
Projects of this scale can reshape a precinct for decades. Even before any approval process begins, residents and local businesses are entitled to ask basic questions about traffic and access, construction impacts, public space use, service capacity, and governance and accountability in delivery.
Just as importantly, because the tower is explicitly built around a global brand, public discussion tends to extend beyond architecture into reputation and civic identity.
A solicitor in Sydney has been charged after police alleged he diverted almost $15 million from his clients at a law firm in Bondi Junction to gamble online.
The NSW Police said Strike Force Salbrook, led by the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad was established in September 2025 after a referral from the NSW Law Society about the solicitor’s activities.
The 45 year old solicitor allegedly accessed a number of business and trust accounts between April 2023 and February 2025 and paid the money into his own accounts.
Police will allege the total amount of $14.8 million was used for gambling.
The solicitor, who has been named by the ABC as Benjamin Paul Reid, was arrested at around 10 A.M. on Thursday at Maroubra Police Station and charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Detective Superintendent explained in a police statement: “Solicitors have an extraordinary level of trust within our community and the level of alleged misconduct that has been identified by Salbrook is very concerning.”
The ABC reported that Mr. Reid was released on bail with strict conditions, which included not engaging in any gambling related activity and not engaging in any employment that relates to financial issues.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 12.
Superintendent Arbinja also told the ABC that a large amount of the money was repaid with the assistance of Mr. Reid’s father, but the matter would be taken up with the courts.
Adelaide is preparing for a hit of heavy rain this weekend, with flood watches issued and emergency services warning that conditions could quickly change as a tropical low moves south through the state.
A Flood Watch has been issued for the Torrens and metropolitan rivers and creeks, as well as catchments in large parts of the state.
Warnings issue that river and creek rises and overland inundation could become more widespread as rain extends south from Friday and through Saturday and Sunday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for severe weather, with flash flooding possible in some areas due to heavy rain with totals of 30 to 70mm in six hours and 40 to 80mm in a day and isolated totals of 120mm.
Severe weather warnings are current on Friday for parts of the West Coast, Eyre Peninsula and pastoral districts with the tropical low expected to move further south over the weekend.
SES prepares for flash flooding
SA State Emergency Service crews have been working in the state’s north and a second incident management team has been established to deal with incidents in metropolitan Adelaide, the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Stefanie Zakrzewski, SES state duty officer said: “We’re planning for the worst as best we can.”
Residents are advised to clear gutters and drains before heavier rainfall, avoid gullies and creeks as water levels rise and consider not traveling if roads are affected.
Further north, flooding has already closed many outback roads and rail services, demonstrating how quickly the system can cut off communities.
As for Adelaide, the forecast is for showers on Saturday with heavier totals on Sunday and humid conditions and the possibility of thunderstorms, which can produce a lot of rain in a short time.
The rain follows a very dry summer in Adelaide, with the city’s annual rainfall totals already in record low territory by mid February, making the rapid inundation of hard surfaces and urban drainage systems a concern when heavy rain finally does arrive.
Accused murderer Greg Lynn has applied to the Victorian Supreme Court for bail while he awaits a new trial for the death of camper Carol Clay, claiming he is not an unacceptable risk and could live in strict conditions at his son’s house.
Justice David Beach has reserved his decision until March 5.
Lynn, 59, is accused of murdering Clay, 73 who vanished from a remote camping site in Victoria’s High Country in March 2020.
He was convicted of Clay’s murder at a 2024 trial and received a 32 year jail term, but his conviction was overturned by the Victorian Court of Appeal in December of last year and a retrial was ordered.
On Thursday, Lynn’s lawyer, Dermot Dann KC told the court that the case is exceptional due to the delays prior to any new hearing and the weight of publicity surrounding the case.
He said that Lynn has family support and a fixed address, with his son willing to provide accommodation and support bail with his savings and equity in his home.
The defence also mentioned Lynn’s conditions in prison, including periods of isolation as part of his case for release.
The prosecution did not support the application, emphasizing the seriousness of the charge and that the evidence was still sound.
Senior crown prosecutor Mark Gibson KC said that it was alleged that Clay was shot in the head by a projectile from Lynn’s gun and referred to what he said was the extreme post offence behavior.
Justice Beach reported that a retrial might be scheduled for the second half of 2026, pending the possibility of delays although he added that any application to stay the prosecution would be addressed closer to the trial date.
Greg is currently being held in custody while the court determines whether his application for release meets the high threshold necessary in a murder trial.
Drivers on NSW roads will soon find themselves caught in an even wider enforcement net, with the state’s transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras set to start scanning traffic in both directions on single lane roads from Sunday, 1 March.
The upgrade increases the ability of the current 10 transportable camera units.
Prior to the change, the cameras were only able to scan traffic in two lanes moving in one direction at a time.
With the bi directional option turned on, the same cameras will be able to take photos of traffic moving in and out of selected locations, effectively doubling the coverage area without having to add more cameras to the system.
Murray cited a near 12% increase in the number of registered vehicles since the program started in 2019, from 6.7 million to 7.5 million, making the original target of coverage increasingly difficult to meet.
He reported that the initial data indicates enforcement and awareness are working to change the behavior.
In 2025, one in every 1,200 vehicles screened was found to be using a mobile phone illegally, down from as many as one in every 400 when camera enforcement began.
Seatbelt offenses, added to the camera enforcement program in 2024 were detected at a rate of one in every 1,300 vehicles screened in 2025, Murray said, citing data.
The roll out of the new camera capability is expected to take up to six months, although fixed mobile phone and seatbelt cameras are not affected by the change.
Seatbelt compliance is an important area of focus for road safety authorities, with the NSW Government reporting that each year, 29 people are killed and 76 seriously injured on NSW roads because they were not wearing a seatbelt.
Two additional cases of measles have been confirmed in Sydney, prompting NSW Health to issue a warning of the increased risk of infection as the highly contagious virus remains in circulation.
Health officials said the two individuals were unknowingly infectious while attending various locations throughout western Sydney, the inner west, and the CBD, with new exposure sites added to the NSW Health website.
They emphasized that the listed venues are not a current risk but urged anyone who attended during the nominated times to be vigilant for symptoms in the coming days.
One of the new cases is thought to have acquired the infection locally after attending an exposure venue earlier this month at the same time as another confirmed case.
The second case recently returned from South East Asia, where several countries are experiencing outbreaks of measles.
New cases have pushed the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21 since 1st January 2026, with the overall risk being increased.
It is important to note that the symptoms may take up to 18 days to appear after exposure, hence the need for anyone who may have been exposed to monitor their health for more than two weeks.
These may be followed by a rash of red, blotchy skin usually starting on the head and then spreading to the body.
NSW Health also advised that people with a rash following early symptoms of measles should consider that they have measles, even if they have not been to a listed exposure site.
The department again emphasized the importance of vaccination as the best protection, saying that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective and recommended for children at 12 and 18 months of age.
A Perth obstetrician, Rhys Bellinge has been jailed over a drunken high speed crash that killed Elizabeth Pearce.
The court decision means Bellinge will serve time in prison after the deadly crash which has again put the focus on drink driving and speeding on Australian roads.
Police and emergency crews were called after the crash in which Pearce died. The case later went through the legal system and ended with Bellinge being sentenced to jail.
Specific details of the sentence were not provided in the information available for this report. This includes how long he was jailed for and whether there is a non parole period.
Details such as when and where the crash happened were also not provided. The information also did not say whether other factors played a role.
A woman is dead and a doctor has been jailed after driving while drunk at high speed.
Road safety experts often warn that alcohol and speed are a dangerous mix. Both can cut reaction time and cloud judgement. They can also turn a mistake into a deadly crash in seconds.
Families affected by road deaths often say the impact lasts for life. They describe grief and anger that do not go away.
The jailing of a medical professional also shows that the law applies to everyone, no matter their job or standing in the community.
Elizabeth Pearce’s death has left a hole that cannot be filled. The court outcome closes one part of the case and it does not change what happened.
Anyone planning to drink is urged to make other arrangements. This includes using a designated driver, public transport or rideshare or staying where they are.
Melburnians were struck by strong thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon, with bursts of rain falling at almost a millimetre a minute in some parts of Melbourne as emergency warnings advised people to take shelter indoors and watch for flash flooding.
Bureau of Meteorology reported that some areas had received exceptionally heavy falls in a short space of time, including 32.2mm at Gisborne in one hour and 38.4mm at Spring Hill in about 75 minutes.
Daniel Hayes, a senior forecaster with the bureau told ABC Radio Melbourne, “We have seen a few places come close to that one millimetre per minute.”
Vic Emergency has issued emergency warnings for parts of Melbourne’s north and east and for areas around Warburton, with very dangerous thunderstorms predicted to cause life threatening flash flooding as storm systems moved south and south east.
The State Emergency Service has warned that floodwater can rise quickly in drains, creeks and low lying roads.
SES reported that it had been inundated with calls for assistance, mainly for roof damage and local flooding.
Thousands of homes were also left without power during the height of the storm, with outages reported throughout the inner suburbs and the west and northern areas of the city as restoration work continued.
Commuters reported flooded underpasses and roads as the downpours moved through, while Melbourne Airport was also impacted by heavy rain and low visibility, with some flights delayed and at least one diverted.
Forecasters indicated that the danger was not limited to Melbourne, with severe weather warnings in place for much of central and eastern Victoria.
Six hourly rainfall totals of 30 to 60mm were possible, with isolated totals of 70mm about the ranges before conditions were expected to ease on Wednesday morning.
An effort to prevent more sewage related debris balls from washing up on beaches, the state environment regulator has ordered Sydney Water to remove a significant accumulation of fats, oils and grease from a portion of its Malabar wastewater system.
The Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall bulkhead area has been identified as a likely source of the debris balls that have been appearing intermittently since October 2024.
NSW Environment Protection Authority said it has issued Sydney Water a Pollution Reduction Program requiring significant works at this location.
Through late 2024 and early 2025, closures were implemented along portions of the Sydney coastline and beyond due to the foul smelling lumps.
Although it may be as big as four Sydney buses, Sydney Water has previously stated that it cannot safely reach the main blockage and is unsure of its precise size.
Instead of closing the outfall, the corporation uses remote equipment to inspect and try to remove the area, which is normally underwater and only accessible at low tide.
Sydney Water has warned that beach closures for months may result from the need to divert flows in order to switch off the deep ocean outfall for maintenance.
Nevertheless, in an effort to lower the possibility of additional releases, the company has already eliminated a significant amount of content from areas that are accessible in recent years.
Sydney Water must continue its fat removal efforts and conduct at least 18 inspections over a three year period starting in April 2026 as part of the EPA’s order.
In order to relieve pressure on the aging network, the NSW Government is implementing a $3 billion, ten year upgrade of the entire Malabar system, which includes significant work at the Glenfield and Liverpool facilities.
Darren Cleary, managing director of Sydney Water, stated that while the utility is trying to reduce the risk, it cannot guarantee that debris balls won’t reappear.
A man and a 15 year old boy have been charged in relation to the shooting of former NRL winger Matt Utai outside his Greenacre home in Sydney’s south west.
Police claim Utai was shot several times as he was leaving for work earlier this week.
NSW Police said emergency services were called to Macquarie Street around 6 AM on Tuesday after reports a man had been shot outside a house by people in an SUV, which then drove off.
The 44 year old was treated at the scene for several gunshot wounds before being transported to a hospital in a serious condition.
Shortly after, police were called to Samuel Street in Wiley Park where an SUV was discovered on fire and later seized.
Strike Force Halesowen, headed by the State Crime Command Raptor Squad is investigating the shooting in conjunction with a number of other incidents against the same family.
These include shots fired at a residence in St. Clair about 12:45 AM on Wednesday and a fire at a residence in Guildford West hours later.
A 25 year old man was arrested in Marsden Park and a 15 year old boy in Emerton on Friday night.
NSW Police said both men were charged with shooting with intent to murder and taking part in a criminal group, with the older man also charged with possessing a prohibited drug.
Both were refused bail and are expected to appear in court on Saturday. There are also claims of underworld tensions being linked to the violence.
Police believe that a dispute between a group known as the Coconut Cartel and the crime family may have led to the attack, being considered by investigators.
Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy, of the Raptor Squad said there was also suspected international involvement in the recruitment of young offenders.
He said, “It’s quite disgusting that criminals who are overseas are now recruiting young people in Australia.”
Poet and educator Evelyn Araluen has won a total of $125,000 at the 2026 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. She took out the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature and the $25,000 Indigenous Writing award for her second collection, The Rot.
Judges praised the book as formally bold, emotionally exacting and politically uncompromising. They called it an important contribution to Australia’s cultural conversation.
Araluen, who is also a co-editor of Overland said the collection takes on the political moment directly. “The Rot is … about political urgency and the social climate we’re in,” she said.
In interviews around the awards, Araluen linked the work to her experience reading new poems at Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2024.
She said she was heckled after speaking about Gaza on stage. She later described the writing as a way to sit with grief and anger about events she felt powerless to change.
The Araluen plans to donate part of the prize money which is taxed as income, to Sisters Inside. The Aboriginal led organisation supports incarcerated women and their families. She also plans to donate to groups providing relief in Gaza.
Araluen previously won the 2022 Stella Prize for her debut collection Dropbear. She has been a prominent voice in contemporary poetry and criticism.
Elsewhere on the 2026 honours list, Omar Musa won the fiction prize for Fierceland while Micaela Sahhar took out the nonfiction award for Find Me at the Jaffa Gate, An encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family.
Eunice Andrada won the poetry category with KONTRA. Emilie Collyer won drama for Super and the People’s Choice Award went to Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Discipline.
