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NDIS cuts protested at Melbourne rally
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
Harrison Caithness
May 15


'Keep Our Doors Open': Neighbourhood Houses Victoria calls for urgent funding support
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
Blake Lee
May 10


Council Workers Across Victoria Walked Off The Job Amid Pay Dispute
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


NDIS reforms raise questions over support for 160,000 Australians
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


RMIT researchers bring fight to super flu with new plastic
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
Louis Harrison
May 2


Students for Palestine demand return of Australian activists in snap rally
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


Lifeblood ending long-standing restrictions on gay and bisexual blood donors
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
Harrison Caithness
Apr 19


Mr Tulk Cafe at State Library to close over tender outcome
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
Nicole Manolitsas
Apr 14


How young Victorians are coping with the cost of living crisis
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
Louis Harrison
Apr 9


What happens to public transport fares when the free period ends?
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
Alice Parry
Apr 4


The Albanese Government Announced Australia Would Recognise the State of Palestine
On Monday morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will recognise a Palestinian state when the UN reconvenes in...
Emma Giles
Aug 13, 2025


Victoria's Machete Crisis
A Victoria-wide machete sale ban was imposed midday on May 28th, prompted by a gang-related youth machete brawl at Northland Shopping...
Evan Fleming
Jul 31, 2025


What’s on at Melbourne’s only student gaming summit
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is hosting the Educates Summit on July 8th with the theme of ‘Skills Compass’....
Patrick Lyne
Jun 7, 2025


Brain Rot Influencing the Ballot Box?: How Political Parties Targeted Young Voters in the Recent Election
If your social media feed is anything like ours, you’ve probably spotted a few wacky videos from Australian political parties that made...
Julia Sicilia and Edie Williamson
May 29, 2025


Dissecting Labor’s federal election win and the Coalition’s collapse
Anthony Albanese retained his position as Prime Minister for another three-year term after a 90-seat win over Peter Dutton and the...
Tammie Anania
May 21, 2025


Labor won the election, but what does their student club do on campus for you?
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...
Vic Bailey and Yvette Campitelli-Slee
May 20, 2025


Commute chaos for Melbourne’s growing outer north
Affordable home and land packages sold in Melbourne’s outer Northern Suburbs have seen a population boom in the midst of a housing...
Louis Harrison
May 16, 2025


The story of the 2025 Federal Election: what happened, why, and what it means
NOTE: This piece involves characterisation and analysis of the election results and Australian voters, and does not necessarily reflect...
Kerry Peter
May 12, 2025


“It’s just what’s done”: The misunderstanding around ‘Welcome to Country’
Welcoming & acknowledging the country has become a prominent part of Australian public life, but after boos rang around Melbourne's...
Dash Spencer-White
May 7, 2025


How they vote: where political parties stand on issues affecting you
With the 2025 federal election just days away, The Swanston Gazette presents a guide on where the parties stand on issues that might...
Vic Bailey
May 1, 2025


What’s up with Student Services and Amenities Fees?
Today, the Student Services and Amenities Fees are due for all RMIT students. You’ve most likely seen mention of these fees pop into your...
Sylvia Erson and Julia Sicilia
Mar 31, 2025


Federal Budget 2025: what's in store for you?
The 2025 Federal Budget was announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, paving the way for Labor’s re-election campaign. The...
Jade Nacionales
Mar 28, 2025


RMIT adopts revised antisemitism definition, banning calls to eliminate Israel
(Credit: iStock) 39 Australian universities including RMIT have adopted a new definition of ‘antisemitism’ to be enforced across campuses...
Archibald McGill
Feb 26, 2025


Pill testing hits the festival scene: How harm reduction could save your life this summer
As the festival season approaches, growing concern over the safety of young people at music events has resurfaced. The rate of drug use...
Charlotte Wilkes
Nov 15, 2024


ACCC’s legal action against supermarket “oligopoly” commences
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) court proceedings against the Woolworths and Coles “oligopoly” commenced in...
Harrison Caithness
Oct 28, 2024


Children's social media ban: justified or not needed?
The young generation is struggling with social media addictions, thus the government will introduce a minimum age for social media.
Anthea Kalathas
Oct 16, 2024


NATO appoints former Dutch Prime Minister as new Secretary General
The Netherlands’ longest-serving Prime Minister Mark Rutte was appointed the new NATO Secretary General on October 1. This new...
Jade Nacionales
Oct 13, 2024


Israel-Hamas War: A year on
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. According to Israeli authorities, 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 were...
Abdulrahman Abdulkader
Oct 7, 2024


Israeli strikes on Lebanon mark ‘the deadliest day of violence’ in years
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Australian citizens and residents in Lebanon to “please leave” and “not to wait for a preferred...
Bennett Davy
Sep 25, 2024


RUSU Election: the majority was picked by the minority
Last week students had to decide RUSU's future in an annual election. Despite having 90,000 students, only 4,200 voted.
Vic Bailey
Sep 15, 2024


Are major roadworks disrupting attendance for RMIT classes?
Travelling to classes has become difficult for students after the Swanston Street and La Trobe Street intersection has been closed for...
Bill Teuma
Sep 10, 2024


K-Pop Star kicked out of group following sexual offence allegations
K-pop singer and songwriter Taeil left the boy group, NCT, on August 28 following his involvement in an unspecified sex crime.
Abdulrahman Abdulkader
Sep 9, 2024


Rising complaints regarding inaction by RMIT security
A third-year RMIT student was studying late at night in Building 10 when they experienced the inaction by security on RMIT’s City Campus.
Jade Nacionales
Sep 4, 2024


Government evades responsibility for specialist schooling in Disability Royal Commission response
Ethan Nash attended both mainstream and specialist schools. The Royal Commission was split on a recommendation to combine the systems,...
Sophia Grant
Sep 3, 2024


“We have to keep the pressure up”: MP Monique Ryan says HECS debt reform doesn’t go far enough
The federal Labor government introduced their student debt relief bill which will cap the rate of indexation on loans.
Amy Brook
Aug 28, 2024


Rain or Shine: Melbourne says ‘No More’ to violence against women
The rain didn’t stop hundreds of Melbournians protesting ongoing violence against women in Australia.
Mackenzie Mitchell
Aug 13, 2024


Revolutionising youth intervention strategies
A new national study led by RMIT University aims to target how Australia addresses intimate violence among young people.
Lucy Muscat
Aug 7, 2024


Safe strides: run clubs provide women with secure spaces for fitness
There is a hot new trend taking over Sydney and Melbourne, Run Clubs. But is there an element of safety we hadn't thought about?
Lucy Donnelly
Aug 7, 2024


“Ceasefire Now”: RUSU stands for a Free Palestine
The RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) have called for an end to the ongoing war in Gaza in a statement issued online.
Yvette Campitelli-Slee
Aug 3, 2024


People like Max need the NDIS to cater to individuality
People, like my brother Max, need the NDIS to cater to their individuality.
Edie Williamson
Aug 2, 2024


Pornography and perpetrators of domestic violence are more closely related than we think.
As rates of gender-based violence continue to climb in Australia, what’s driving this growing violence?
Rani Fletcher
Jul 24, 2024


Swipe, match, repeat; the struggles of modern dating
Over time dating apps have become significantly popular, with people downloading the apps to either try and find ‘the one’.
Mia Cutugno
Jun 20, 2024
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The Swanston Gazette acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land we work, learn and live on, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging.
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