Our Journalists

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

@lauraplacella

Laura Placella

Latest

UpdatedVictoria

Nicholas Reece to be sworn in as the 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne. He will be presented with the mayoral robes and chains in the council chamber. Picture: David Caird

‘Honour of my life’: Nick Reece wins Melbourne’s lord mayoral race

Nick Reece has retained his position as Melbourne Lord Mayor. Here’s what he promised and what Melbourne will miss out on after his rivals failed to claim the top job from him.

VideoVictoria

Peter Meuleman at the crash site on the corner of Melbourne Road and Ridley Street in Blairgowrie where his son Ryan who was a teenager in 2013, was involved in a collision on his bike with the car of then opposition leader Dan Andrews which was being driven by his wife Cath Andrews. Picture: Ian Currie

‘Be honest’: Father’s plea to Dan after triple-0 bombshell

The father of a cyclist injured in a car crash involving Daniel Andrews has urged the former premier to do the right thing and “be honest” after the release of his “chilling” triple-0 call.

UpdatedVictoria

City of Yarra Deputy mayor Cr Edward Crossland (centre) with former mayor Sophie Wade (right) and Cr Herschel Landes (left). , Pic: Facebook

Greens’ hopes improve in Yarra council election

The Greens may still retain two places on Yarra council with the latest voting showing improved results for the party, which was facing a wipe-out at the ballot box.

UpdatedVictoria

Queens street. City of Melbourne parking inspectors in the CBD. Picture: Jason Edwards

Beware, parking inspectors back on the beat in Melbourne’s CBD

Parking inspectors have returned to work in Melbourne’s CBD and the surrounding suburbs after an eight-day strike that led some lucky motorists to dodge a parking fine.

Victoria

Nick Reece on course to win lord mayor race

Lord Mayor Nick Reece is on course to retain the city’s top job after a rollercoaster four-month campaign, according to fresh analysis.

UpdatedVictoria

Arron Wood and Erin Deering. Pic: Kit Edwards

‘Really devastated’: Wood, Deering bow out of lord mayor race

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has conceded defeat in the race for the city’s top job, as Lord Mayor Nick Reece pulls ahead — but Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides is hot on his heels.

PollVictoria

Flinders Street station underpass, OCTOBER 26 2024. Lord mayoral hopefuls Nick Reece and Arron Wood have reignited calls for the grimy Flinders Street Station underpass to be brought back to its former glory. Picture: Grace Frost

Flinders St Station subway looks like a ‘urinal’. Is it time for an upgrade?

Lord mayor hopefuls are among the many Melburnians calling out the “unacceptable” state of the Flinders Street Station underpass as swathes of brown grime and rust spoil the historic landmark.

ExplainerVictoria

Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Candidate for Deputy Mayor Roshena Campbell on Princess Bridge for part of their campaign to light up the city and its bridges. Picture: David Caird

Anxious wait for candidates vying for city’s top job

The long campaign is finally over but Melbourne’s next lord mayor is not expected to be declared for another two weeks, with the race for the city’s top job set to go down to the wire.

Police & Courts

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos June 1, 2023: Prison van arrivals at the Supreme Court via Laneway: Rebecca Payne, 43, was found guilty of murdering Noel Payne, 68, after a three-week trial in the Victorian Supreme Court. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

‘House of horrors’: Poison biscuit killer launches freedom bid

A Victorian mum who murdered her husband by feeding him a poison-laced biscuit is fighting to be freed from jail early, alleging she had only intended to send him to sleep to escape his abuse.

Victoria

13 twists and turns in the race for Melbourne lord mayor

The race for the city’s top job finally is coming to an end, with voting to close on Friday at 6pm. We take a look back over the biggest — and craziest — lord mayoral race in recent memory.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/laura-placella/page/5