Residents flee fires and hunker down as winds pick up on Boxing Day scorcher
Residents of a town south of the Grampians have been ordered to take shelter as firefighters battle an out-of-control bushfire threatening their properties.
- by Angus Delaney and Benjamin Preiss
Latest
Festival of Lights much needed for Melbourne’s Jewish community
Jewish leaders say it has been a tough year but the arrival of Hanukkah – on the same day as Christmas – is helping to lift spirits.
- by Benjamin Preiss
‘You never switch off’: What Christmas is like as bushfire rages
For many residents of towns near the Grampians, festive season plans have been tempered by the fire threat.
- by Benjamin Preiss
‘Devastation on the foreshore’: Where coastal erosion has almost reached homes
They bought their slice of coastal paradise and forged lifelong memories in regional Victoria. Now, the water is threatening to engulf their dream homes.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Unbearable: Koala and kangaroo harassment chasing wildlife away
A pin identifying “koala sleeping in a tree” encouraged hordes of tourists to visit the tiny town of Kennett River, where some threw rocks at koalas in search of the perfect Instagram picture.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Opinion
Antisemitism
More than one community, this was an attack on Melbourne’s multicultural fabric
If the attackers hoped to deter us from practising our faith and culture, it simply will not work. On this past Sabbath, I held my Jewish identity closer.
- by Benjamin Preiss
‘Gosh they’re savvy’: It’s no porky, feral pigs are wreaking havoc across Victoria
Feral pigs are on the march in Victoria. The damage they leave in their wake is immense.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Who are the members of the Adass Israel community?
The Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne’s inner south-east, which was firebombed in the early hours of Friday, is a central meeting point for prayer and study for this ultra-orthodox Jewish group.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Updated
Crime
‘An act of hate’: Counter-terrorism police to investigate synagogue firebombing
The attack – widely condemned as an act of antisemitism – caused extensive damage, gutting the building and leaving charred ruins, a tangle of wiring and a collapsed roof.
- by Cameron Houston, Cassandra Morgan, Chip Le Grand and Benjamin Preiss
As it happened: Jim Chalmers plays down PM suggestion; Deepest hit to living standards on record
Stay updated on today’s top stories with the national news blog.
- by Josefine Ganko and Benjamin Preiss
‘Chaos’: Parks Victoria under review as national parks promises broken
Speculation is rife within the sector that, at the end of the review process, Parks Victoria could be folded into the environment department.
- by Bianca Hall and Benjamin Preiss
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/by/benjamin-preiss-hvf88