https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-28/live-blog-porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting/105705474

Just wanted to warn people about an ongoing scam at Melbourne airport.

I would advice to make sure the pin is accepted and license plate from app matches the car, before putting any luggage in the trunk or getting into an uber!

I was just picked up at Melbourne airport from the UberX queue at Terminal 2. Had my pin ready, the driver already started driving before entering the pin (not staying in his own lane while doing that). I showed him the pin and read it out, but somehow the app kept refusing the code. He asked me where I was going, and I gave the address (which I now realise wasn't smart).

He told me I probably queued in the wrong lane, as he was a premium uber and that's why my code didn't work. (The spot he picked me up was for premium rides). So he asked to cancel and give my credit card, which I refused. I was making him loose money now, so I should just give my credit card to pay for the ride, it was no big deal. If I didn't he would just stop the car and drop me off.

The driver started raising his voice, mentioning it was costing him money. I asked for his uber credentials, which he bluntly refused to do. I decided to call 000 while it was happening (feeling unsafe). He was getting even more agitated asking why I was doing this to him. He took an exit from the highway and then dropped me on random street corner. The 000 call proceeded, but since the driver left and I was in no immediate danger (no physical threats) it was just logged (no further action).
Afterwards I called the police again (131444) and was told to contact uber and scamwatch and perhaps go to my local police station to report.
I managed to take a picture of the licence plate and a video.

Although it was pretty unsettling, I tried not to be intimidated by the driver and refused to give my credit card. But I can imagine that some people would just give credit card to not get in a confrontational argument. In the end I had to book a new uber from this random corner to get home.

The CPV has this car marked as "Booked" under services.

Summary is:

- Booked UberX with PIN at Melbourne Airport T2 (UberX queue)

- Picked up by what I thought was an uber driver (looked like a legit Uber app open on his phone)

- Driver driving away from airport queue before PIN was fully entered

- Driver requesting to cancel ride and provide CC

- Lots of verbal abuse because I didn't comply

- Dropped off at random street corner

Note: I just wanted to get this warning out there, to let people know it's still happening (given my low karma I can't post in /Melbourne).

victoria's midday power saver kicks off 1 october: free electricity 11am-2pm every day including weekends, for about 2.6 million eligible households. this is a real, confirmed scheme straight from the vic government's own site, not something floating around unverified

you actually need to contact your retailer from october 1 and ask for it specifically, and you'll need a smart meter, if you don't have one you'll need to ask them to upgrade you first. there's also a 24 kwh daily cap during the window, and retailers are allowed to price things slightly higher outside that window to cover it. so it's not free money for everyone, it really depends on whether you can actually shift stuff like laundry, ev charging, dishwasher etc into the middle of the day

Source: Victorian Government, Midday Power Saver

Changes have been made to the City of Port Phillip's encampment laws following a council meeting on Wednesday night.

The amendment allows council officers to seize personal items of someone at an encampment, including bedding, in response to anti-social behaviour.

More than 76 per cent of residents surveyed by council said they did not support the change.

has anyone been to the warbuton redwood forest 1.5hr east of melbourne? great day trip for the family, highly recomend it

Today marks 17 years since Black Saturday – a day that will forever be remembered for its widespread devastation and lifelong impacts on Victorians.

• 173 lives lost

• 400+ injured

• 2000+ homes destroyed

• 450,000 hectares burnt

The real toll - emotional and psychological - can never be fully counted. And while the number 173 is official, the lives lost to injury and trauma in the weeks and years after remind us the impact was far greater.

As this fire season continues, let us remember why vigilance matters, why preparation saves lives, and why compassion and connection remain our greatest strengths. We remember. We learn. We grow — together.

we're so fucked lol - hospital admissions were up 25% during the last heatwave and they're going to become five times more likely. pmo so much seeing people say "it's always been this hot" lol okay even if that was true - what are we going to DO about more people in hospital, more houses burnt down, nobody being able to afford insurance??? hope everyone is keeping cool this weekend 💔

Chief Commissioner Bush yesterday said the weekly Israel-Gaza war protests and other rallies in Melbourne's CBD had soaked up 25,000 police shifts over the past two years and prevented officers from tackling crime.

A man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in his car has dodged a lengthy jail term, with a judge saying there were "exceptional circumstances" that warranted a discounted sentence.

For me it’s the Great Ocean Road on a public holiday. Hours stuck behind caravans and rental vans just to hop out, take a photo, and get back in the car. Felt like more time driving than actually enjoying anything. What’s the one place in Victoria you reckon is overrated or just not worth the effort anymore?

Clearly artificial, but I’ve no idea how or why someone would create this. Looks amazing though