Latest News Stories
Sorted by number of sources covering the story
Today
Fatal car crash at Melbourne Supanova Comic Con kills one, injures two
A fatal car crash occurred on April 18, 2026, outside the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event at Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale, when a driver mounted the kerb on Langs Road and struck three pedest...
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- A pedestrian died and another was critically injured after a car mounted the kerb on Langs Road, Ascot Vale, outside Melbourne Showgrounds on April 18, 2026, around 5:00 PM.
- The driver, Awer Dau (33, Werribee), was arrested at the scene and charged with dangerous driving causing death and culpable driving while unlicensed (only held a learner permit).
- The car was a grey/blue Toyota Echo (or sedan), described as a rental vehicle, and traveled 120 meters along the footpath after the collision.
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran ceasefire and shifting oil markets
The core story revolves around Iran's announcement on April 17, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz would be 'completely open' for commercial shipping during the ceasefire with Lebanon, leading to a sharp...
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- Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' for commercial vessels on April 17, 2026, for the duration of the ceasefire with Lebanon.
- Oil prices dropped over 10% after Iran's announcement, with Brent crude falling from around $98 to $86.52 per barrel.
- The Strait of Hormuz closure had removed over 500 million barrels of crude and condensate from the global market, per Kpler data.
Elijah Hollands' mental health episode during AFL match sparks investigation
Elijah Hollands, a 23-year-old Carlton AFL player, experienced a mental health episode during a match against Collingwood on April 18, 2026, at the MCG. Despite playing 60% of the game and exhibiting ...
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- Elijah Hollands played 75% of the first three quarters (60% of the match) against Collingwood on 2026-04-18 at the MCG, registering only one possession (a kick) despite erratic behavior.
- Carlton ruled out alcohol or illicit substances as factors in Hollands' episode, confirming it was a mental health issue.
- Hollands was benched for most of the last quarter and did not play in Carlton's next match against Fremantle (2026-04-27).
Victoria’s free/cheap public transport policy amid fuel crisis and its limited impact on driving habits
Victoria introduced free public transport from April 1 to May 31, 2026, followed by half-price fares until December 2026, costing approximately $432 million, as a response to soaring fuel prices trigg...
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- Victoria’s public transport was free from April 1 to May 31, 2026, with half-price fares from June 1 to December 31, 2026, costing about $432 million total.
- Public transport patronage in Victoria increased by 10% in the first two weeks of April 2026 compared to the previous fortnight.
- The conflict in the Middle East (US-Israel war on Iran) led to fuel price spikes, prompting Victoria’s free public transport policy as a cost-of-living measure.
Australian political polling shows One Nation support dip amid cost-of-living pressures
Australian polling in April 2026 shows Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party experiencing a dip in support, with the Resolve Political Monitor recording a 2-point drop to 22% and Newspoll at 24%. Both pol...
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- One Nation’s primary support dropped by 2 points in April, falling to 22% (Resolve Poll) and 24% (Newspoll)
- The Resolve Political Monitor poll (April 13–18) surveyed 1807 people, showing One Nation’s lowest support since January (22%)
- Coalition support rose 1 point to 23% (Resolve Poll), matching its level after Angus Taylor replaced Sussan Ley as Liberal leader in February
Mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, kills eight children in domestic violence attack
On April 19, 2026, a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, left eight children dead and two adult women wounded after a gunman targeted multiple homes in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. The shooter, d...
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- Eight children aged between 18 months and 14 years were killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 19, 2026, early Sunday morning.
- A total of 10 people were shot in the incident, with eight fatalities and two survivors (both adult women shot in the head).
- The shooter was described as an adult male who was shot and killed by police after committing a carjacking to escape.
Australia’s illicit tobacco crisis and state/territory enforcement rankings
Two news articles analyze a new Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) report ranking states and territories on their response to illicit tobacco, with the Northern Territory (NT) consistent...
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- The Northern Territory was ranked last (8th) in Australia for tackling illicit tobacco in the ACOSH report published April 19, 2026.
- Queensland ranked first, followed by South Australia (2nd) and New South Wales (3rd) in the ACOSH Illicit Tobacco Ladder.
- ACOSH CEO Laura Hunter stated the NT has made 'no legislative changes' to address illicit tobacco.
Australia’s EV fringe benefit tax disproportionately benefits high earners amid fuel crisis
Two identical articles from SMH and The Age highlight how Australia’s fringe benefit tax (FBT) exemption for electric vehicles (EVs) under $91,387 has disproportionately benefited high-income earners,...
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- EV sales in Australia made up 14.6% of all car sales in March 2026, a 42% rise from February 2026.
- Sales of the MG4 model grew by 329.8% (from 114 to 490 units) between February and March 2026.
- The fringe benefit tax (FBT) exemption for EVs under $91,387 was introduced in 2022 to incentivize EV uptake.
Chinese firm shortlisted for Hobart’s $1.13B Macquarie Point Stadium tender
Two firms—Constructure Joint Venture (led by China Construction Oceania, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation) and BESIX Watpac—have been shortlisted to...
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- Two firms—Constructure Joint Venture (including China Construction Oceania) and BESIX Watpac—are shortlisted for the $1.13 billion Macquarie Point Stadium tender.
- China Construction Oceania, an Australian subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (a Chinese government-owned firm), is part of the Constructure Joint Venture bid.
- The stadium is expected to be completed by the end of 2030 but will not host AFL fixtures until the 2031 season.
Tate brothers sue Australian YouTuber Nathan Pope and others for defamation in Florida court
The Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, have renewed their defamation lawsuit in Florida, this time naming Australian YouTuber Nathan Pope (known online as 'Gadget') alongside five other defendants. Th...
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- Andrew and Tristan Tate filed an amended defamation complaint in Florida on April 11, 2026, naming Adelaide YouTuber Nathan Pope (known online as 'Gadget') as a defendant.
- The Tate brothers previously lost a motion to dismiss their defamation case in December 2025 due to lack of jurisdiction over anonymous defendants, many of whom were not Florida residents.
- Nathan Pope and other defendants are crowdfunding legal fees to fight the Tate brothers' defamation claims, which they describe as an attempt to financially drain them.
Meghan Markle’s talk at Sydney’s $3000 Her Best Life retreat gala
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, delivered a two-hour talk at the Her Best Life retreat gala dinner in Sydney on April 19, 2026, at the Coogee Beach InterContinental hotel, as part of her Australian tour wi...
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- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, spoke at the Her Best Life retreat gala dinner in Sydney on April 19, 2026, at the Coogee Beach InterContinental hotel.
- The event was the penultimate stop on Meghan and Prince Harry’s Australian tour.
- Meghan wore a cream two-piece from Australian label Scanlan Theodore during her appearance.
Travis Lovett’s 500km Walk for Truth to Canberra demands national truth-telling commission
Travis Lovett, a Gunditjmara man and former Yoorrook Justice Commissioner, is leading a 500km Walk for Truth from Melbourne to Canberra to pressure Prime Minister Anthony Albanese into establishing a ...
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- Travis Lovett, a Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man, is leading a 500km walk from Melbourne to Canberra (departing April 20, 2026) to advocate for a national truth-telling commission.
- Lovett previously walked 486km from Portland to Melbourne in May 2025 as part of the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s work.
- The walk is scheduled to arrive in Canberra by May 27, 2026, with a 38-day duration.
Yesterday
Queensland arrests protesters for banned pro-Palestine slogans at Brisbane rally
On April 18, 2026, Queensland police arrested 20 protesters at a pro-Palestine rally in Brisbane after they chanted or displayed banned slogans 'from the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada'...
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- 20 protesters were arrested at a pro-Palestine rally in Brisbane on April 18, 2026, for chanting or displaying 'from the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada'
- Police laid 14 charges of displaying prohibited expression and 7 charges of reciting prohibited expression
- The rally was held at Emma Miller Pl (Roma St) in Brisbane on April 18, 2026, with about 300 protesters
Machete attack at Melbourne's Eaton Mall involving masked assailants and teen victims
On April 17, 2026, around 7:30–7:45 PM, a group of 8–12 masked men armed with machetes attacked an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy at Eaton Mall in Oakleigh, Melbourne. The victim suffered non-l...
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- An 18-year-old man from Malvern East was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries after being attacked with machetes at Eaton Mall, Oakleigh, on April 17, 2026, around 7:45 PM.
- A group of approximately 8–12 masked men wearing balaclavas assaulted the victim and fled on foot; at least two assailants used machetes.
- A 16-year-old boy was also assaulted but sustained no injuries.
Australia's economic and defence resilience amid global instability and rising populism
Australia faces heightened concerns over economic and defence resilience amid global instability, highlighted by the April 18, 2026 fire at Geelong’s oil refinery, which supplies half of domestically ...
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- Geelong’s oil refinery fire occurred on April 18, 2026, and supplies half of Australia’s domestically refined fuel (80-90% of total fuel is imported).
- The Geelong refinery has been kept operational only by government subsidies and is 72 years old.
- Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, announced plans to produce missiles in South Australia (assembly) and Newcastle (manufacturing starting 2027), with a third facility for hypersonic missiles planned in a few years.
Australia's oil refinery crisis after fire at Viva Energy's Corio refinery and decline to two refineries
Australia’s fuel security is under scrutiny after a fire at Viva Energy’s Corio refinery in Geelong, which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of the nation’s. The incident highlights the country...
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- Australia had eight oil refineries in 2000, now only two remain: Ampol’s Lytton Refinery in Brisbane and Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery in Corio.
- Viva Energy’s Corio refinery in Geelong, Victoria, suffered an explosive fire on Wednesday night (2026-04-16), raising concerns about fuel security.
- Six oil refineries closed in Australia since 2000, including ExxonMobil’s Port Stanvac (2003–2009), Shell’s Clyde (2009), Caltex’s Kurnell (2010), BP’s Bulwer Island (2015), and BP’s Kwinana (2021, converted to import terminal).
Simon Patterson’s memoir on Erin Patterson’s triple murder case and appeals
Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson, is writing a memoir about the case, which involved the poisoning deaths of his parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and ...
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- Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Heather Wilkinson’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, in July 2023.
- The murders occurred after Erin Patterson served a lunch laced with death cap mushrooms to her in-laws on July 2023.
- Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years, which is being appealed by the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions.
Australia signs $10B+ deal with Japan for 11 Mogami-class frigates
Australia and Japan formally signed a multi-billion-dollar contract on April 18, 2026, for the production of 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to replace Australia’s ageing Anzac-class vessels. The fi...
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- Australia signed a contract with Japan for the first three Mogami-class frigates on 2026-04-18, formalized by the Mogami Memorandum.
- The first three frigates will be built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with delivery scheduled from 2029.
- The remaining eight frigates will be built at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia.
Coroner rules toddler’s leukaemia death at Perth hospital was preventable due to missed blood tests
A coronial inquest into the death of 21-month-old Sandipan Dhar at Joondalup Health Campus in Perth ruled his death from undiagnosed acute leukaemia was preventable due to missed opportunities for a b...
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- Sandipan Dhar was 21 months old when he died at Joondalup Health Campus, Perth, on March 24, 2024, from undiagnosed acute leukaemia
- Sandipan’s parents took him to Joondalup Health Campus on March 22, 2024, and requested a blood test, which was ignored by hospital staff
- Acting State Coroner Sarah Linton ruled Sandipan’s death was ‘highly preventable’ (NEWSCOMAU) or ‘probably preventable’ (ABC) if a blood test had been performed on March 22, 2024
Roberts-Smith family supports son amid war crime allegations and legal battles
The Roberts-Smith family, particularly Len and Sue, have remained steadfast in their support for their eldest son Ben, a former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, despite his current legal trou...
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- Len and Sue Roberts-Smith gifted their eldest son Ben an ornate sword presented to Len when he was promoted to major-general, which Ben initially declined due to its sentimental value.
- Ben Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross and later charged with five counts of war crimes (including murder) in 2026.
- Roberts-Smith senior (Len) offered $250,000 as surety to secure Ben’s bail after he spent 10 days in Silverwater Correctional Complex.