Hundreds gathered in Melbourne over the weekend to protest Labor’s proposed cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Rallies in every state and territory were organised by the Protect Our NDIS Alliance for a national day of action on Saturday, May 9. Andrew Bretherton, convenor for the Accessible Victorian Greens and a person with ME/CFS, said the NDIS produced "a net benefit for the community". Think tank Per Capita reported that every dollar spent on the NDI

Carlton Neighbourhood learning Centre. (Credit: Blake Lee) Neighbourhood Houses Victoria is calling on the State Government to provide an extra $11.7 million in annual funding, warning some centres may close without urgent support. Rising costs and increased community demand have forced the sector to advocate for the past six months through their “Keep Our Doors Open” campaign. Around 185,000 Victorians use neighbourhood houses each week, despite half of the state’s 400 c

Crowd in protest, outside of Parliament House. (Credit: Hudson Farr) More than 1,000 local council workers staged a 24-hour strike last week, escalating an ongoing dispute over wages and working conditions. The industrial action, coordinated by the Australian Services Union (ASU), saw workers from eight jurisdictions march from Victorian Trades Hall to Parliament House. The strike followed earlier disruptions in April, when workers in Hume, Darebin, and Merri-bek left more t

Image credit: Benjamin Crone - stock.adobe.com About 160,000 will be removed from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by 2030 under reforms aimed at curbing rising costs. Health Minister Mark Butler said the reforms would save Australian taxpayers $35 billion over the next four years, bringing the projected $70 billion price tag down to $55 billion. “Unless we take action to make it sustainable, it simply will not be there in the future for the Australians who nee

From left to right, Associate Professor Natalie Borg, Dr Denver Linklater, Distinguished Professor Elena Ivanova and study lead author Samson Mah. Image credit: RMIT University Media Centre A fast-moving strain of influenza called ‘Super K flu’ has been spreading in Australia since late 2025. Every year, there are new seasonal influenza strains and subtypes that spread through the community and contribute to the respiratory illness season. To stop the spread of diseases like

Participants of the snap rally helped to 'set sail' paper boats in honour of the Global Sumud Flotilla. (Credit: Harrison Caithness) Students for Palestine organised a snap rally on Thursday afternoon at Bowen St, RMIT University, demanding universities to cut ties with weapons companies and for the return of Australian activists. The snap rally, part of Palestine Solidarity Week, was held in light of the Global Sumud Flotilla being intercepted off the coast of Crete by the I

Credit: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Lifeblood will stop asking male blood donors if they have had sex with a man from April 20. Gay and bisexual men and transwomen who have sex with men were required to wait three months after their last sexual encounter before being allowed to donate blood under old rules. Spokesperson for the Let Us Give campaign, Rodney Croome AM, welcomed the change. Croome said the previous rules were “unfair, discriminatory and inaccurate”. The new d

Mr Tulk Cafe at the State Library. (Credit: Nicole Manolitsas) After nine successful years of operating, Mr Tulk Cafe will be forced to close in mid-May after losing a tender process. Located on Swanston Street and adjoined to Melbourne’s iconic State Library, the indie cafe is a celebrated community hub for academics, students and tourists. Mr Tulk is owned by a married couple, Michael and Maria Togias, who bought the business in 2017. Michael Togias explained that library s

Credit: Adobe Stock Images Young Victorians are feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis amid increasing fuel costs and daily living expenses as a result of the war in the Middle East. Bowser prices sit at about $2.23 per litre for unleaded petrol and $3.29 per litre for diesel in Melbourne’s northern suburbs at the time of reporting. Monash University research fellow Dr Lauren Pearson said household budgets were being impacted by the petrol supply and global disruption

Credit: Adobe Stock Images Victorian public transport is free during April, with experts saying that most public transport is protected from fuel related price spikes when full fares return. Transport Victoria announced last week that public transport will be free for all passengers across the state from March 31 to April 30, excluding airport buses, ferries and private services. The initiative aims to reduce the pressure on Australian fuel reserves and help Victorians stru

On Monday morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will recognise a Palestinian state when the UN reconvenes in...

A Victoria-wide machete sale ban was imposed midday on May 28th, prompted by a gang-related youth machete brawl at Northland Shopping...

The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is hosting the Educates Summit on July 8th with the theme of ‘Skills Compass’....

If your social media feed is anything like ours, you’ve probably spotted a few wacky videos from Australian political parties that made...

Anthony Albanese retained his position as Prime Minister for another three-year term after a 90-seat win over Peter Dutton and the...

On May 3, Australia went to the polls and kept the Labor Party in the top job for the next three years. But when it comes to your life...

Affordable home and land packages sold in Melbourne’s outer Northern Suburbs have seen a population boom in the midst of a housing...

NOTE: This piece involves characterisation and analysis of the election results and Australian voters, and does not necessarily reflect...

Welcoming & acknowledging the country has become a prominent part of Australian public life, but after boos rang around Melbourne's...

With the 2025 federal election just days away, The Swanston Gazette presents a guide on where the parties stand on issues that might...