ABC Ballarat

Latest

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

For the first time in 36 years Victorian nurses' union members will vote on a new branch secretary after a failed pay deal led to the resignation of the former boss.

Nurses and supporting trade unionists rally outside Parliament House in Melbourne.

Published: 8h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 2:28amSource: ABC GippslandTopic: Unionsby Emma Field

Mother endures 'cruel' wait to reunite with children after 13 years

Susan Dahal is finally able to apply to reunite with her children, but the Refugee Council of Australia says the process is "cruel" and not designed for refugees.

A woman holds photos of kids looking sad at the camera.

Published: SatSat 6 Sep 2025 at 9:22pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Refugeesby Rochelle Hotchkin

Trains and roads a concern as town north of Melbourne set to expand

More than 1,300 new homes will be built at Riddells Creek, just under an hour north of Melbourne, but residents say the already congested train network and roads will not cope with more people.

A small gaggle of three geese in front of a sign that reads Riddells Creek

Published: SatSat 6 Sep 2025 at 8:15pmSource: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Housing Policyby Emile Pavlich

Migrants and refugees thrive in jobs locals 'not comfortable doing'

Ararat, like most regional towns, has an ageing population and a drift of young people to the cities. But a migrant resettlement program is reinvigorating the town.

A woman with straight, black, long hair smiles. There are plants behind her.

Published: FriFri 5 Sep 2025 at 9:56pmSource: LandlineTopic: Immigrationby Tim Lee

Mildura considers hosting Murray River mardi gras

With few public LGBTQIA+ celebrations in Mildura, a community campaign for a mardi gras is gaining momentum.

A LGBTQIA+ flag blowing in the wind by the Murray River.

Published: WedWed 3 Sep 2025 at 11:31pmSource: ABC Mildura-Swan HillTopic: LGBTQIA+by Sarah Buchecker and Ben Murphy

'Time of trepidation' as bird flu risk increases in Australia in spring

Experts are on edge, fearing this will be the spring that the "catastrophic" H5 strain of bird flu arrives in Australia.

A person in a hazmat suit holds a dead bird on the edge of a lake.

Published: WedWed 3 Sep 2025 at 12:13amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Avian Influenzaby Jane McNaughton

Value of Australian agriculture, fishing and forestry set to top $101b

A federal government forecaster says the value of Australia's agriculture, fisheries and forestry is on track to reach a record value of $101 billion this financial year, a target previously set for 2030.

A ripe wheat crop with a blue sky and white clouds.

Published: TueTue 2 Sep 2025 at 5:16amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Agricultural and Farming Practiceby Justine Longmore and Emma Field

Listen back

ABC Ballarat Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 7:35am.

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Livestock truckies talk about driving in Victoria

Retaining staff, attracting the next generation of drivers, making it easier to drive into Melbourne and the impact the poor quality of regional roads was on the agenda at the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association conference at the Move…

Livestock road train parked near the road.

Duration: 13 minutes 13 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultural Workersby Annie Brown

What if we measured our GDP in 'welbeing' rather than wealth? One country is doing that

Scotland are a founding member of the Wellbeing Economy Governments group, which aim to reshape their economies around the principles of sustainability and equality.

Duration: 10 minutes 44 seconds

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: Economywith Prue Bentley

Anne Webster has retained the seat of Mallee. So, what is her plan for the next three years?

Nationals MP Dr Anne Webster has retained the seat of Mallee at the 2025 federal election.

a woman wearing glasses smiles at the camera, she's wearing a bright printed top and is in front of a lake

Duration: 10 minutes 22 seconds

Source: ABC Wimmerawith Andrew Kelso

ABC Radio BALLARAT

Live. Evenings

with David Astle

9:00am to12:00pm

Play Live Radio Schedule

Listen on the go on ABC listen app

Watch

Willing Workers: Migrant workers embracing opportunities in Ararat

A Victorian town has embraced an effective solution to labour shortages by looking for workers well outside its own region.

Duration: 12 minutes 58 seconds

Source: ABC News

Researchers scour farmland near Ballarat for meteorite after sky sightings

A group of five researchers spoke with the ABC on their hunt for a meteorite that fell to the earth on August 10th.

Duration: 1 minute 57 seconds

Source: ABC News

Hannah McGuire's parents give evidence in Lachlan Young murder trial

Lachlan Young has denied he intentionally caused the death of his former partner, Hannah McGuire.

Duration: 2 minutes 3 seconds

Source: ABC News

Lachlan Young told friend Hannah McGuire 'was suffocated', court hears

Hannah McGuire, 23, was found dead inside a burnt-out vehicle near Scarsdale.

Duration: 2 minutes 1 second

Source: ABC News

Features

Migrants and refugees thrive in jobs locals 'not comfortable doing'

Ararat, like most regional towns, has an ageing population and a drift of young people to the cities. But a migrant resettlement program is reinvigorating the town.

Source: LandlineTopic: Immigrationby Tim Lee

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

The drought in western Victoria is forcing sheep farmers to the wall, but amid the dirt and dust are green shoots of optimism and ingenuity that will change farming here forever.

A montage of an old two-storey stone mansion, a rolls-royce car, a sheep and a boy wearing a VR eyemask.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Livestock Farmingby Ted O'Connor, Olivia Sanders, Supervising Producer - News Digital Rachel Kelly and Sharon Gordon

Online dating may not be the best way to meet a partner, study shows

Online dating offers a bigger pool of potential partners, but a new study shows it can lead to less passionate, satisfying and intimate relationships.

A close up photo of a phone with dating apps like Tinder, Grindr and Bumble on the screen.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Datingby Alice Walker

How zoo keepers care for animals during a bushfire emergency

As bushfires raged in the Grampians/Gariwerd National Park last summer, nearby zookeepers were working to protect their animals.

A keeper sits near a rhinoceres in its enclosure.

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: Zoos

What's happening

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

This election, the ABC is asking you to be part of the conversation.

Text reads: Your Say. Tell us what's on your mind this election. Have your say here.

Published: 27 Feb 2025Thu 27 Feb 2025 at 3:05amSource: Radio

Local news direct to your inbox

ABC Ballarat's newsletter delivers local news and stories from your community every Wednesday. Sign up to stay connected.

Published: 28 Aug 2023Mon 28 Aug 2023 at 11:07pmSource: ABC Ballarat

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Calling all book lovers to vote now for their favourite titles!

Published: 20 Aug 2025Wed 20 Aug 2025 at 7:04amSource: Radio

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

Vic Sport

The storylines to define the NRL finals

In the industry, they call it the 'second season'. Only eight teams remain as the NRL gears up for a finals series rich with storylines. What are the narratives that will define finals time?

Tom Starling jumps on Corey Horsburgh, who is hugging Hudson Young after scoring an NRL try.

Duration: 14 minutes 54 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Chloe Molloy kicks a stunner and Zippy Fish stars as the Swans account for the Dockers in the AFLW.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL Women’s

Coach calls for huge fines to stamp out AFL players staging for free kicks

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir says the AFL should issue fines of up to $10,000 to players for staging.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

Amid booing, sledges and slurs, AFL fans resort to 'swearing spotto'

AFL barracking is again in the spotlight after the recent booing of a player who was the victim of a slur.

A mother smiling and hugging a young boy in Crows top holding a football next to seats at an oval

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL

Victoria News

analysis

The uncomfortable legacy of Erin Patterson, Australia's antihero

The mushroom murder case brought frenzied public attention to deep and private pain. But do we allow Patterson's notoriety to overshadow the memory of those she killed, or can we resist and honour the victim's legacies instead?

A sketch of a woman with brown hair with her hand holding a tissue in front of her face.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Courtsby Kristian Silva

Police officer Neal Thompson farewelled by grieving loved ones

Lisa Thompson says her final weekend with her boyfriend Neal Thompson before he was killed in a shooting at Porepunkah was their best yet.

A police coffin at a funeral with cap and flowers on top of it

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Funerals and Memorial Servicesby Andi Yu Andi Yu

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

For the first time in 36 years Victorian nurses' union members will vote on a new branch secretary after a failed pay deal led to the resignation of the former boss.

Source: ABC GippslandTopic: Unionsby Emma Field

The judge says Erin Patterson's victims were among people who "do good".

Justice Christopher Beale reflects on Ian Wilkinson's remarks that attention is showered on those who do evil, instead of those who do good. Justice Beale says Erin Patterson's victims were among the latter of those two.

Duration: 2 minutes 16 seconds

Source: ABC News

National News

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

A man in his 40s has been critically injured in a workplace incident in Perth's north-east.

Front entrance of a building marked "Hoffman Engineering"

Published: 22m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Accidents and Emergency Incidents

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

The British Airways passenger flight BA16 was on its way to Singapore and made the emergency return to Sydney Airport about an hour after take-off this afternoon.

Published: 21m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:22amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Air Incidentsby Jean Kennedy

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Max King has been living with a mould infestation at home that he is glad to have finally escaped in the lead-up to Friday's qualification final at Melbourne.

Max King of the Bulldogs running with the NRL ball

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:08amSource: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Rick Davies, the co-founder and lead singer for British rock band Supertramp, has died aged 81 after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:04amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Music

Other ways to listen

Listen online, on the ABC listen app, or On Air

107.9FM

Or ask your smart speaker to "play ABC Ballarat"

ABC Ballarat

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

Mother endures 'cruel' wait to reunite with children after 13 years

Trains and roads a concern as town north of Melbourne set to expand

Migrants and refugees thrive in jobs locals 'not comfortable doing'

Mildura considers hosting Murray River mardi gras

'Time of trepidation' as bird flu risk increases in Australia in spring

Value of Australian agriculture, fishing and forestry set to top $101b

ABC Ballarat Local News

Livestock truckies talk about driving in Victoria

What if we measured our GDP in 'welbeing' rather than wealth? One country is doing that

Anne Webster has retained the seat of Mallee. So, what is her plan for the next three years?

ABC Radio BALLARAT

Live. Evenings

Connect with ABC Ballarat

Get the ABC Ballarat newsletter

Willing Workers: Migrant workers embracing opportunities in Ararat

Researchers scour farmland near Ballarat for meteorite after sky sightings

Hannah McGuire's parents give evidence in Lachlan Young murder trial

Lachlan Young told friend Hannah McGuire 'was suffocated', court hears

Migrants and refugees thrive in jobs locals 'not comfortable doing'

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

Online dating may not be the best way to meet a partner, study shows

How zoo keepers care for animals during a bushfire emergency

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

Local news direct to your inbox

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Know your ABCs in an emergency

The storylines to define the NRL finals

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Coach calls for huge fines to stamp out AFL players staging for free kicks

Amid booing, sledges and slurs, AFL fans resort to 'swearing spotto'

The uncomfortable legacy of Erin Patterson, Australia's antihero

Police officer Neal Thompson farewelled by grieving loved ones

Turmoil in powerful nurses union as members vote on Victorian branch boss

The judge says Erin Patterson's victims were among people who "do good".

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Supertramp co-founder Rick Davies dies aged 81

Other ways to listen

Footer