What’s trending today in Victoria?
New details emerge of mushroom cook’s family tragedy, the Premier’s ‘jobs for mates’ culture slammed and Gabi Grecko like you’ve never seen her. It’s the Herald Sun’s top stories today.
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Need a quick primer on the news you missed? Here’s a quick rundown of the top news stories in Melbourne and across Victoria today.
NEWS
Dan’s ‘jobs for mates’ culture slammed
A former key minister and Daniel Andrews factional ally has landed another plum role, sparking criticism from the opposition over a “jobs for mates” culture within the Victorian government.
Former health minister Martin Foley has secured a new role at Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co), scoring the retired MP up to $150,000 per year.
The cushy new role comes less than two months after Mr Foley began in another board position, chair of Alfred Health, with a salary understood to be up to $133,000.
Opposition leader John Pesutto slammed the decision on Thursday, calling it another example of the Premier having “one rule for his mates and one rule for his foes”.
Read Carly Douglas’ full report
Matildas on high alert amid USA coach cull
The Matildas could pay a heavy price for their dream World Cup run, with Team USA expected to come calling after sensationally splitting with their high-profile coach.
United States women’s team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned following the team’s poor showing in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Wednesday
And that could spell bad news for the Matildas if they hope to retain coach Tony Gustavsson long-term.
The Athletic reported that Twila Kilgore, assistant coach of the team, was expected to take over as interim head coach.
However, Team USA legend Jill Ellis believes Gustavsson should be atop any list of potential replacements.
Follow our World Cup live blog for the full story and rolling updates.
‘We’ve got the receipts’: Albo roasted online
A tribute to the Matildas “incredible” World Cup run has been met with calls for a major injection of funding into the women’s game.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was one of the 75,000 fans who packed out to Sydney’s Olympic Park on Wednesday night to watch the Tillies go down 3-1 in the semi-final.
After the game, Mr Albanese was quick to jump on social media to lead the praise of the Matildas stars.
“You’ve given us all moments and memories that will last a lifetime,” he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
But some fans weren’t too pleased with Mr Albanese’s tribute, calling for him to put his money where his mouth is.
“Fund the game bro, we’ve got the receipts of you and the other politicians going ham over how well our Matildas have gone,” a fan wrote.
“Give the game the support it needs and deserves”.
Read Courtney Gould’s full report
New details emerge of mushroom cook’s family tragedy
The woman who cooked a deadly beef Wellington lunch that killed three people has an extensive property portfolio that she partly inherited from her mother.
Erin Patterson, 48, currently owns two properties, a townhouse in Mount Waverley and a two-storey home in Leongatha where cooked the fatal mushroom meal on July 29.
Ms Patterson also once owned an oceanfront property at Eden, in New South Wales.
She inherited the home from her parents, Eitan and Heather Scutter, following their deaths, but sold it in 2019 for $900,000.
Former neighbours of Ms Patterson’s parents told the Herald Sun the couple had retired to the remote seaside getaway and spent their last years there before their deaths.
Read our full report by Brooke Grebert-Craig and Olivia Jenkins
Scotch College caught up in string of horrific alleged attacks
A prestigious inner-east Melbourne private school has issued a chilling warning to parents after a number of students were allegedly assaulted and robbed by youth thugs, just streets away from their school.
Families of private all-boys school Scotch College were sent a letter this week informing them about a string of incidents where students were victims.
Two of the alleged attacks are understood to have occurred over the weekend and on Monday, where students were approached and allegedly robbed while walking along Glenferrie Road.
Follow the link for the full story
Edelsten’s ‘hot’ ex Gabi Grecko as you’ve never seen her
A buxom, Barbie-obsessed Gabi Grecko is steaming up social media with bizarre, sexy content as she prepares for a court battle to snare a slice of her late, ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten’s estate.
The Herald Sun can reveal a private mediation for Grecko’s Supreme Court Edelsten estate action will be held on September 5 and a Melbourne directions hearing in the matter is listed for November 28 this year.
Meanwhile, the colourful ex-wife of the late, controversial Melbourne businessman has amassed nearly 74,000 followers on Instagram with flirtatious videos and photo posts.
Read Mandy Squires’ full report
COURTS
Man facing life sentence says he’s too depressed to be in jail
An accused mass drug importer who faces the prospect of life behind bars is so depressed at being arrested that he’s asked a magistrate to release him from jail.
Liam Thomas Moody, 37, was allegedly seen unloading 80kg of ketamine from a Budget truck at a Lara property last month, where eskies with a further 80kg of the drug were found buried in the backyard.
AFP labelled the haul the “largest seizure of ketamine” that Australia had ever seen, with a street value of more than $6m.
The Altona man, facing six charges that carry life imprisonment, applied for bail arguing that his “situational” depression was so bad he couldn’t give instructions to his lawyers.
Read Ashley Argoon’s full report.
INTEREST RATES
‘Australia facing financial disaster’ - Mark Bouris
If you thought the pain of the Reserve Bank’s recent rate hike spree was over, think again, writes finance expert Mark Bouris.
Here’s a sample of his column today for news.com.au
“Before the end of the year, hundreds of thousands of households on cheap fixed-rate home loans will move to high variable rates.
“This means that families right across the country will see the rate on their mortgage go from around 1.9 to 2.5 per cent to between 6 and 7 per cent.
To put that in monetary terms, the repayment on a $750,000 mortgage set at 2 per cent would balloon from $3180 a month to $4830 a month – an increase of more than 50 per cent overnight, assuming a new rate of 6 per cent.
“That means that even if the Reserve Bank doesn’t hike for the rest of the year, people will still be in trouble.
As a result, expect families to be forced to sell their homes, many to property investors and foreign buyers, and end up in the already-crowded rental market that is driving up inflation.”
Read Mark Bouris’ column in full
AFL NEWS
It’s a case of elimination finals in August this year.
Three games this weekend look like being do-or-die for the teams taking part as 12 sides continue the fight for eight spots in September.
AFL analyst Mick McGuane has taken a look at how each of the six teams can win these crucial matches to keep their finals dreams alive.
Read Mick McGuane’s analysis on how the Giants, Bombers, Saints, Geelong, Crows, Swans can get over their rivals this weekend.
ENTERTAINMENT
Star’s son ripped after huge transformation
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Christopher Schwarzenegger, the youngest son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, is putting in the work to maintain a muscular physique like his bodybuilding legend dad.
The 25-year-old was spotted leaving a gym in Los Angeles on Tuesday – and appeared much slimmer than he did just a few years ago, reports Page Six.
Christopher looked nearly unrecognisable in a white T-shirt, navy sweatpants and New Balance sneakers. His dark blonde hair was styled in a mullet and he also sported a beard.
First Flinders St, now Cheese Stick: Vandal ticks off another landmark
“Pam the Bird” vandals are working their way through a roll call of Melbourne landmarks, with CityLink’s Cheese Stick the latest target.
Why Test cricketer went from bowling to building
Former fast bowler James Pattinson picked up the tools after he retired from cricket in late-2021 and has built a plethora of properties. And he has even more in store.