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Depending on who you listen to, you might think Melbourne is in the grip of a spiralling crime wave. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley recently declared Melbourne the “crime capital of Australia”.
It’s easy to see why media and politicans have seized on the story: Victoria has seen an 18.3% rise in criminal incidents compared with last year – the highest figures since reporting started in 2004-05.
But as criminologist Alex Simpson points out, the data shows a much more nuanced picture, particularly when it comes to the most serious crimes.
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Niall Seewang
Sport + Society Editor
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Alex Simpson, Macquarie University
Sussan Ley recently declared Melbourne the ‘crime capital of Australia’. But a closer analysis of the data shows a much more nuanced picture.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The Liberals have faced an existential crisis over climate and energy policy while the government races to get its enviromental laws through.
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Vibhu Arya, University of Technology Sydney
AI-powered shopping is now live in the US and aiming to roll out overseas. So how does it work? And what are companies like Google planning to launch next?
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Blake Lawrence, University of Technology Sydney
Portland’s dancing frogs remind us how powerful it is to challenge tyranny with humour.
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Alistair Evans, Monash University
A new study shows how different snake species have evolved very different strategies to deliver their deadly bites.
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Michelle Ward, Griffith University; James Watson, The University of Queensland; Ruben Venegas Li, The University of Queensland
Queensland’s conservation ledger is in the red. Despite some new national parks, bulldozers are still clearing forests and vegetation across the state.
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Rebecca Rothman, Swinburne University of Technology; Blair Aitken, Swinburne University of Technology
Hangovers trigger higher levels of anxiety, stress, guilt and sadness. Some people easily brush it off, while for others it’s crippling. Here’s why.
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Anna Howe, University of Canterbury; Emma Best, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Rachel Webb, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Only about 82% of two-year-olds are fully immunised against measles, with two doses of the vaccine. This leaves at least one in five unprotected.
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Carol Lefevre, University of Adelaide
Carol Lefevre stumbled on tai chi while recovering from cancer, and after losing her mother and her aunt. It transformed her life.
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Politics + Society
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Sora Park, University of Canberra; Jee Young Lee, University of Canberra; Kieran McGuinness, University of Canberra
Many Australians are concerned about misinformation, and as a result some choose to disengage from the democratic process altogether.
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Dylan A Mordaunt, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
The elite cycling world is debating whether limiting bike speeds will cut crashes. Evidence shows rider tactics and course design create more risk than speed alone.
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Health + Medicine
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Jessica Biesiekierski, The University of Melbourne
A new study shows gluten itself is rarely the cause of gut problems, whatever people think. But symptoms are real. So what’s really going on?
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Business + Economy
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Dale Boccabella, UNSW Sydney
The proposal could reignite debate about the ethics of allowing tax-exempt charities to operate large businesses in competition with taxable, for-profit companies.
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Science + Technology
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Rachelle Kernen, University of Adelaide; Kathryn Amos, University of Adelaide
Ancient microbes built reefs in unusual places.
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Elephant in the room
"I am glad that most people agree that Australia is facing a housing crisis. When there are people living in cars (let alone children) who get up and go to work every day, it would be insane or insensitive to think otherwise. I’m also glad we’re having this debate, but what I don't see is a serious engagement with the idea of tax reform to limit negative gearing on housing investments. Negative gearing favours the wealthy. It drives investment in existing housing mostly, and not new stock. It drives up prices and reduces affordability for first-home buyers. And finally, it reduces Federal tax revenue by billions, some of which could be used for social housing.
It seems to me that the arguments against this reform are weak. I don't want to be cynical, but when senior politicians in all political parties, including the current prime minister, have extensive housing portfolios, I fear it will take significant public pressure to steer reform in this direction. How about eliminating negative gearing on housing and making negative gearing on commercial properties more attractive?"
Graham Cox 
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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24 October 2025
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Melbourne
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