The Victorian government has pledged to spend $242 million expanding the Melbourne Exhibition Centre if it is re-elected in the November poll. Victorian Premier John Brumby also committed on Friday $19 million towards a new convention centre in the bushfire ravaged town of Marysville. Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu promised to establish a $160 million fund to help 40 rural councils repair roads and bridges. Mathew Dunckley

Tamara Newing, the daughter of former Genetic Technologies chief executive Mervyn Jacobson, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of market manipulation in the County Court of Victoria on Friday. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission claimed share trades made by Ms Newing between April 18, 2005, and November 2, 2006, created an artificial price.
Hannah Low