July 24th, 2026Janet Dore appointed Acting CEO of Hepburn Shire Council
Janet Dore has been appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of Hepburn Shire Council.
Ms Dore served as Chief Executive Officer of the Transport Accident Commission from 2007 to 2015. She has also held senior local government roles, including General Manager at the City of Newcastle and Interim CEO at the City of Ballarat, along with several council monitor and administrator appointments.
The appointment follows an external recruitment process led by temporary Independent Chair of the CEO Employment and Remuneration Committee, Ms Rebecca McKenzie, with Councillors Tim Drylie and Brian Hood.
The appointment will run from 3 August to 23 August. This short-term arrangement enables Council to continue working with the Victorian Government to establish an appropriate decision-making mechanism, including the potential extension of Ms Dore’s appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer beyond 23 August.
A council spokesperson said, “We are pleased Janet will lead the organisation during this period. She brings extensive local government experience, and her appointment provides a clear way forward while recognising that staff and the community are seeking certainty.”
Ms Dore said, “I am pleased to accept the appointment and look forward to working with staff to focus on what matters to the community, including delivering projects and services and working closely with the Victorian Government to support appropriate governance and the return of elected representation.”
July 23rd, 2026Victorian Landcare Awards
Do you know someone making a difference for our environment?
The 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards shine a spotlight on local champions leading the way in caring for biodiversity.
Nominations are now open.
For more information and to nominate: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/…/state-territory…/
Nominations close at 11:59 pm on Friday 31 July.
July 23rd, 2026Australian plague locust situation update
Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera) are native insects that, if left unmanaged, pose a serious threat to pastures, crops and horticulture. While its native range is in Queensland and New South Wales, outbreaks can intermittently occur in Victoria.
Victoria
The overall outlook for the Mallee region is a moderate to high probability of high numbers of nymphs developing and migrations occurring, whilst the Wimmera region can expect low to moderate probability of high numbers of nymphs developing in spring. Prepare your chemicals and management approaches.
Agriculture Victoria joined forces with the Australian Plague Locust Commission and conducted ground surveys in north-west Victoria in mid-May following reports of high locust activity in late April. Consistent low to medium densities of adult locusts were found.
Most of the sampled adult females were observed with eggs developing or signs of egg-laying occurring, although widespread egg laying could not be confirmed.
Above average rainfall in May in north-west Victoria means that some habitats should remain favourable for locust breeding with adequate soil moisture for eggs to develop. This is despite the BOM forecast for below average rainfall and warmer winter temperatures from a developing El Niño. Eggs are predicted to hatch in spring in Victoria from late September onwards, likely resulting in some high densities of nymphs.
Eastern Australia
The locust population increased substantially in autumn from previously low background levels to medium to high levels in inland eastern Australia. Favourable habitat was established following heavy rainfall in February and March while warm autumn weather encouraged southward and south-eastern migrations. April rainfall was low but above average rainfall in May but contributed to suitable conditions for continued locust breeding.
The overall outlook is for some medium to high densities of nymphs hatching in the southern part of inland eastern Australia and a moderate to high likelihood of widespread infestation developing in spring.
Who is responsible for managing locusts?
In Victoria, the government, private landholders, public land managers and the community all have a role to play in managing locust populations and minimising their impact.
All landholders and land managers are responsible for reporting and managing locusts on their land.
Agriculture Victoria undertakes surveillance and works closely with all stakeholders to provide relevant, timely and accurate information on locust populations and movements throughout the season.
Victoria is a member of the Australian Plague Locust Commission, a joint partnership between the Australian Government and the state governments of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The commission undertakes surveillance throughout south-eastern Australia and provides information on current and future locust activity.
Locust management strategies
Chemical insecticide ground spraying is the most successful way to manage locusts. The best time to control locusts is around 2 weeks after hatching when they are young and cannot fly (at the nymph stage). At this stage the young locusts (nymphs) are between 8 and 12 mm long and start to band together.
Managing locusts can be difficult, especially at the adult stage when they are highly mobile and moving in swarms. Spraying eggs is also ineffective, as the eggs are laid well beneath the soil.
July 23rd, 2026National Biosecurity Week 2026 will be held from 24 to 30 August 2026.
National Biosecurity Week serves as an important reminder of the critical role biosecurity plays in protecting our environment, agricultural industries, food supply, communities and overall economy.
By raising awareness and advocating for the adoption of good biosecurity practices, National Biosecurity Week strives to strengthen our biosecurity system for the benefit of all Australians.
While Australia has robust and rigorous biosecurity measures in place to mitigate these biosecurity risks, exotic pests, diseases and harmful weeds can and do occasionally enter the country. This annual event highlights the collaborative efforts of government, industry, peak bodies and the community in protecting the Australian way of life.
Want to know more?
Find out why biosecurity matters and how you can make a difference.
Subscribe to Tendrils, Plant Health Australia’s monthly e-newsletter, to stay up to date on National Biosecurity Week 2026 announcements, resources and events.
July 23rd, 2026Update your PIC for the new financial year
More than 57,000 updates were made to Victoria’s Property Identification Code (PIC) register last year, highlighting the importance of keeping property details current.
With the new financial year now underway, Agriculture Victoria is encouraging livestock owners to check that their PIC details are up to date.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Traceability Manager, Ben Fahy, said a PIC is required for every property where livestock are kept.
‘It’s also a legal requirement to keep the PIC up to date.
‘PICs help us contact livestock owners quickly during emergencies such as bushfires, floods and disease outbreaks and are a key part of Victoria’s livestock traceability system, along with livestock identification tags.’
Mr Fahy said PIC records played an important role in Agriculture Victoria’s response to the 2026 summer bushfires, which affected 1,300 PIC-registered properties across north east and western Victoria.
‘PICs are the number one way we identify who to contact during emergencies.
‘We started contacting people with PICs the next day, to see if their animals were ok and whether they had any urgent animal welfare needs.’
Mr Fahy said the new financial year was a good time for landholders to check if their PIC details were up to date.
‘All PIC holders should make sure their details are correct, however, you should particularly ensure you update whenever your circumstances change.’
This includes when:
- your contact details change, such as phone, email, or postal address.
- you change the type of livestock kept or changing numbers of livestock.
- you have management changes such as hiring a new farm manager or changing business ownership.
- your property details change such as new land, or you have downsized your landholdings.
Agriculture Victoria staff will be available at Sheepvention in Hamilton on August 2 and 3 to help landholders update their PIC details in person.
Otherwise, you can update your PIC online.
July 22nd, 2026GETTING VICTORIAN PATIENTS HOME SOONER
Getting patients home sooner
Emergency departments and paramedics right across Victoria are facing record demand.
State government funding will help them to discharge patients on weekends.
It means more support for doctors, nurses, allied health workers and pharmacists on the weekend, as well as improvements to discharge planning and clinical handover processes.
For patients who are medically ready to leave hospital, they will no longer spend extra time on a ward just because it happens to be the weekend.
They’ll continue to recover at home instead – freeing up beds for patients who need them most.
By discharging patients sooner, patient flow will improve which will reduce pressure on our EDs – so staff can focus on emergencies and get paramedics back on the road.
It will be achieved through practical changes like better coordination between clinical teams, increasing the use of discharge lounges and increased resourcing.
Faster emergency care
The program, which includes Ballarat Base Hospital, has supported 28 public hospitals to deliver care faster.
It has delivered real results including more than 66,000 bed days freed across participating hospitals.
July 22nd, 2026Cutting Emissions And Costs For Freight Operators
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne has announced that Cahill Transport will be the first participant in the Victorian Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial.
The two-year trial will help the sector integrate electric heavy vehicles into their day-to-day operations and collect data on operational data and user feedback.
Whether it be testing charging infrastructure, understanding vehicle maintenance and driver training – this is about making it easier and cheaper for businesses to transition to net zero with practical experience with a zero emission freight vehicle.
The $1.5 million Victorian Electric Heavy Vehicle Trial is being delivered in partnership with the Victorian Transport Association.
Victorian freight operators will get hands-on experience with electric heavy vehicles in real-world conditions.
Victoria’s freight industry employs around 240,000 people.
It moves approximately 440 million tonnes of freight each year and is expected to grow significantly in the decades ahead.
By supporting businesses to invest in cleaner technology now, this will help reduce emissions, improve air quality and cut costs.
July 22nd, 202692 Level Crossings Gone, Boosting Connections In The West
The new Ferris Road bridge opened to traffic in Melton this morning – marking the 92nd level crossing now gone for good.
The level crossing removal means the 16,000 vehicles that use the crossing each day will no longer be waiting 28 minutes at the boom gates in the morning peak.
The new, modern and accessible Melton Station will open on 1 September.
Longer 9-car VLocity trains will be able to stop at Melton Station one year ahead of schedule – boosting capacity by 50 per cent on peak services, from next year.
The new transport hub will improve connections between trains, buses and parking, while a new station underpass will provide a new rail line crossing.
These works are necessary to enable the future electrification of the Melton Line, backed by a $152.7 million investment by the Allan and Albanese Labor Governments.
Finishing works across the transport hub will continue until later this year, including construction of a new bus interchange, station facilities, forecourts, and landscaping.
Melton will soon be boom gate free, with two more level crossings on track for removal this year at Coburns and Exford Roads.
Works to finish building the new elevated station and rail bridges will continue, with buses replacing trains on sections of the Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough lines from 12 to 31 August.
Exford Road will be closed at the level crossing from 11 August until 31 August, with Coburns Road closed from 6 to 24 September.
July 22nd, 2026Backing Students To Study In Victoria
Study with Victoria has been launched – the future of international tertiary education in Victoria.
Victoria is a global leader in tertiary education, giving domestic and international students a world-class experience.
The strategy builds on Victoria’s strengths and competitive edge, while fostering innovation throughout the sector.
When international students choose Victoria, they bring new ideas, skills and perspectives that build up our economy and our communities.
In 2025, 322,000 international students from around 170 countries chose to study in Victoria.
Study with Victoria focuses on improving students’ experience.
The international education sector is a major driver of the state’s economy.
In 2025, it generated $17.9 billion in export revenue and supported around 69,000 jobs.
In 2026, Melbourne was again named Australia’s best student city and ranked fifth in the world.
The strategy builds on existing work to make Victoria the best place to study in Australia.
The Study Melbourne Hub hosts the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program, connecting international students with the broader Victorian community and supporting their health and wellbeing.
The Yes to International Students Fund supports Victorian universities and TAFEs to expand their global footprint and take Victorian education to the world.
To read the strategy, visit studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/about-study-melbourne
July 21st, 2026Strengthening Governance At Cohealth
Chris Altis has been announced as Board Monitor at cohealth for an initial 12-month term.
His appointment follows a recent independent review into the organisation’s general practice service model, governance and finances.
The review was clear in its findings and recommendations that cohealth must rebuild confidence and restore community trust.
It recommended that this would require strengthening senior management and board governance.
Mr Altis has 30 years of experience in the health sector – working in policy and advisory roles in Victoria and nationally.
He is currently a non-executive director at the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre and William Angliss Institute.
Mr Altis will attend all Board and committee meetings as an independent observer.
His role includes decision-making oversight and supporting the Board’s ongoing development and effectiveness.
He will report directly to the Victorian Government to ensure cohealth is improving and meeting the expected standards.
Since the independent review, both the Victorian and Federal Governments have continued to work with cohealth in good faith.
This work has focused on the shared goal of delivering safe, sustainable primary care for vulnerable Victorians.
Community health organisations play an important role in Victoria’s health system.
July 21st, 2026Australia Post accelerates shift to electric fleet
Australia Post will expand the country’s largest electric delivery fleet, adding electric trucks and vans to its network and reducing future reliance on diesel fuel.
Supported by a one-off $40.5 million investment from the Federal Government, the rollout will include a broad range of vehicles, from vans to light and heavy rigid trucks, as well as prime movers. It also includes depot charging infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities, including switchboard enhancements, new distribution boards and load management controls, representing a significant step in the electrification of Australia Post’s heavier vehicle fleet beyond last-mile delivery.
Funding will be delivered in the 2026–27 financial year, with work now underway to bring the additional electric vehicles into operation as quickly as possible.
Australia Post already operates over 5,000 electric vehicles nationally, covering more than 29 million kilometres each year. The new funding will accelerate existing plans to decarbonise operations, with the additional vehicles expected to save around one million litres of diesel annually, freeing up fuel for sectors that cannot as easily transition to electric alternatives.
Australia Post Group CEO and Managing Director Paul Graham said the investment builds on years of work to lead fleet electrification in Australia.
“Australia Post has been at the forefront of electric vehicle adoption for over a decade, and this investment allows us to go further faster.
“We’ve seen promising results from our early electric truck trials and existing electric van fleet, and this next phase allows us to scale that across heavier vehicle types.
“It means less reliance on diesel, lower exposure to fuel supply disruptions, and a stronger, more sustainable delivery network for Australian businesses and communities,” said Mr Graham.
Minister for Communications, the Hon Anika Wells MP said, “Australia Post is a vital national service that keeps our economy moving.
“The Albanese Government’s $40.5 million investment to accelerate Australia Post’s rollout of EVs will support the future of the national delivery network, reducing reliance on diesel and increasing resilience in the event of external shocks.
“With Australians ordering more online than ever before, this investment means Australia Post can keep pace with growing demand while working towards a lower-emissions future.
“It’s another way the Albanese Government is working to modernise Australia Post to ensure this important service delivers for Australians.”
Work will now begin to source additional electric vehicles available for the Australian market, alongside electrification upgrades at relevant sites ahead of the expanded fleet entering service.
Electrification of its fleet is a core part of Australia Post’s sustainability strategy, with the organisation targeting net zero emissions by 2050.
July 21st, 2026Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) review of the Housing Australia Future Fund
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the release of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) review of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and Treasury’s acceptance of all five recommendations – aimed at strengthening the program’s governance, performance measurement and public reporting.
HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin, said the audit provided a constructive roadmap for improving transparency and ensuring the fund remains focused on delivering more homes.
“The ANAO has identified several practical improvements that will strengthen the Housing Australia Future Fund, and we welcome Treasury’s decision to accept all five recommendations,” Ms Martin said.
“The first three recommendations focus on governance, risk management and administrative oversight. Strong governance is important for any major government program and these recommendations will help ensure the fund is managed effectively.
“Of particular importance are the recommendations relating to performance measurement and public reporting.
“Australians deserve to know not only how much funding is being committed, but whether the program is delivering homes efficiently, on time and in the locations where they are most needed.”
The audit found Treasury’s design of the HAFF had been largely effective, but highlighted shortcomings in performance monitoring, public reporting and transparency around delivery outcomes. Ms Martin said stronger reporting would improve accountability and help identify barriers preventing projects from progressing.
“Clear and transparent reporting on dwelling delivery, project timelines and funding outcomes will provide greater confidence that the program is achieving its objectives,” she said.
“It will also help government, industry and community housing providers better understand where improvements are required and what is working well.
“At a time when housing supply remains one of the nation’s biggest challenges, it is essential that public investment programs are focused on outcomes and continuous improvement.
While welcoming the recommendations, Ms Martin said broader concerns raised by industry about the operation of the HAFF should not be overlooked.
“The audit should not mark the end of the conversation about how the HAFF can be improved,” Ms Martin said.
July 21st, 2026Update your PIC for the new financial year
More than 57,000 updates were made to Victoria’s Property Identification Code (PIC) register last year, highlighting the importance of keeping property details current.
With the new financial year now underway, Agriculture Victoria is encouraging livestock owners to check that their PIC details are up to date.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Traceability Manager, Ben Fahy, said a PIC is required for every property where livestock are kept.
‘It’s also a legal requirement to keep the PIC up to date.
‘PICs help us contact livestock owners quickly during emergencies such as bushfires, floods and disease outbreaks and are a key part of Victoria’s livestock traceability system, along with livestock identification tags.’
Mr Fahy said PIC records played an important role in Agriculture Victoria’s response to the 2026 summer bushfires, which affected 1,300 PIC-registered properties across north east and western Victoria.
‘PICs are the number one way we identify who to contact during emergencies.
‘We started contacting people with PICs the next day, to see if their animals were ok and whether they had any urgent animal welfare needs.’
Mr Fahy said the new financial year was a good time for landholders to check if their PIC details were up to date.
‘All PIC holders should make sure their details are correct, however, you should particularly ensure you update whenever your circumstances change.’
This includes when: your contact details change, such as phone, email, or postal address; you change the type of livestock kept or changing numbers of livestock; you have management changes such as hiring a new farm manager or changing business ownership; and
your property details change such as new land, or you have downsized your landholdings.
Agriculture Victoria staff will be available at Sheepvention in Hamilton on August 2 and 3 to help landholders update their PIC details in person.
Otherwise, you can update your PIC online at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/PIC
July 20th, 2026MORE POLICE ON THE BEAT IN OUR REGIONS
Victoria Police’s new Gippsland Regional Training Program will mean locals will be able to train there – without having to relocate to Melbourne.
Recruiting and training locally will fill vacancies faster, strengthen the regional workforce and improve retention.
Recruits will undergo the same 25-week world-class training, entry standards and assessments as everyone else.
Graduates will be deployed directly to regional stations – delivering an immediate frontline boost.
The Gippsland program builds on the new Mildura Regional Training Program.
It’s all part of Victoria Police’s plan to deliver more officers out on the streets. This plan is working.
Today, 47 new officers were inducted today as part of a double squad graduation — strengthening the frontline to keep Victorians safe.
July 20th, 2026Big Tech Must Stop Spying On Workers At Work
Every Victorian worker deserves to know when they’re being watched on the job.
Right now, workers can be watched, tracked and assessed by technology – often without ever being told.
No weird, invasive spying on workers
New state laws will:
- Ensure Biometric data can only be collected when there’s no less intrusive option
- Prevent the use of biometric data to read your emotions, unless there’s a legitimate reason to do so — like fatigue monitoring for truck drivers
- Prevent using AI to track things like bathroom breaks, a limp, or pregnancy, without a specific, legitimate purpose
- Increase protections to prevent use of workplace surveillance and AI to discriminate by race, gender, sexuality, religion or other personal characteristics
No AI bias in recruitment
AI bias in hiring, promotion and pay is one of the most consequential and least visible harms of the AI transition.
AI resume-ranking tools can systematically disadvantage women and people from diverse backgrounds.
These systems must be used appropriately.
Workers have the right to know
Employers will have to tell workers if they’re being monitored.
Bosses will also have to consult staff before bringing in new surveillance or changing how it’s used.
And they will only be able to undertake surveillance at work for a legitimate purpose.
Covert surveillance will only be allowed where unlawful activity is suspected and will be strictly controlled.
Humans must have the final say
A human will be required to review any significant automated decision made using surveillance data that affects a worker’s rights.
That means an algorithm won’t ever get the final say over a worker’s job.
Workers will get the right to access their own surveillance data when it’s used to impact their job.