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Laura Placella is the city reporter for the Herald Sun. She was previously a court reporter for the masthead. She graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts.

@lauraplacella

Laura Placella

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ExclusiveVictoria

Rishabh and Neha Sharma with their daughter Yashvi, 3yrs outside their Berwick home.Indian people are migrating to Victoria in droves. Picture: Ian Currie

Victoria’s population hits 7 million on the back of migration surge

Population projections have revealed that Victoria has hit the seven-million milestone for the first time, with a huge number of overseas migrants moving to the state.

InteractiveVictoria

Victoria Holman with her new baby, Blair, 10 weeks, for a story about how Blair could be Victoria's seven millionth person, according to population statistics photographed in Taylors Lakes. Picture: Jason Edwards

The suburbs where our population is booming

Victoria has gained an extra million people since 2016, with parts of the state recording enormous growth. Search our interactive graphic to see how your area’s population has changed in the past eight years.

ExclusiveEducation

Trung Nguyen has been convicted over child sex offences

Former Lara secondary teacher convicted over child sex offences

A former state secondary educator, who taught at Lara Secondary College and Staughton College, has been banned from teaching after committing a series of child sex offences.

ExclusiveVictoria

Lord mayoral candidate Anthony Koutoufides with one of his running mates, triathlon champion Emma Carney, has a plan for a Melbourne fitness army. If elected as lord mayor, he will personally run fitness classes for ratepayers across the City of Melbournes parks and gardens. Picture: David Caird

Kouta takes lord mayor ‘run’ to next level with new fitness pledge

Lord mayoral candidate Anthony Koutoufides has pledged to personally run free outdoor fitness classes for residents, if he is elected to the city’s top job.

ExclusiveVictoria

Lord mayoral candidate Roxane Ingleton, for the Greens. Picture: David Caird

‘Make this city better’: Greens lord mayor candidate reveals plans for Melbourne

Greens lord mayoral candidate Roxane Ingleton has laid out her plans for Melbourne in the race for the city’s top job, pledging to deliver an “equitable” waste charge and more affordable housing — but not a rate freeze.

ExclusiveVictoria

Floating club Atet operating in Victoria Harbour in Docklands. Supplied. ,

‘Exposing the injustice’: Inside the daring plan to relaunch floating nightclub

The team behind controversial floating nightclub ATET has been locked in a multimillion-dollar legal battle with Melbourne City Council since it was shut down last year. Now, it has launched a bid to revive the venue.

Victoria

Lord mayoral candidate and Roy Morgan executive chairman Gary Morgan and his running mate Liz Ge. Picture: Supplied

Yarra council could be abolished under radical plan

Yarra City Council has had its fair share of controversies this council term but under a radical plan by a lord mayoral candidate, it may be abolished for good.

Victoria

Police Minister says violent protesters will be hunted down, accuses Greens of inciting violence

Police Minister Anthony Carbines has accused the Greens of inciting Wednesday’s shocking protest violence, suggesting there will be more arrests as bodycam footage is analysed.

Victoria

Moulin Rouge at the Regent Theatre. Picture: Steven Grace

Councillors reject Lord Mayor’s plan to sell off Regent Theatre

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has been criticised for being “out of touch” as the majority of his fellow councillors publicly declared the council has no intention to sell off the asset.

ExclusiveVictoria

Melbourne's new Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece. The City of Melbourne will soon be cracking down and cleaning up nearly 10,000 square metres of graffiti on assets and buildings in the city which are not owned or managed by council. Picture: Jason Edwards

Reece’s plan to make graffiti vandals pay clean-up bill

Vandals caught tagging in the city could be forced to pay for the damage they have caused under a plan by Lord Mayor Nick Reece, who has pledged to personally attend court to call out their behaviour.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/laura-placella/page/2