---
title: 2025-04-24-victoria
created: 2025-04-24
updated: 2025-04-24
type: summary
tags: ["local_news", "newsletter"]
external: http://go/ui/posts/590/
---

<think>
Okay, I need to create a concise bulletin summary with 8 items in markdown format for Melbourne local and Australian news. Each item should have a title, link, and a brief description. Also, I have to merge duplicates into one, place the most important ones first, and only include big news or headlines. Let me start by listing all the provided articles to check for duplicates.

Looking through the list, some articles are duplicated. For example, "Melbourne roads to cop tripling of trucks as rail freight plans flounder" appears multiple times. The same applies to others like "The Gift that decided not to keep on giving" and others. I need to ensure each unique article is listed once. 

First, identify the unique articles. There's a mix of The Age and SBS links. I should prioritize the most impactful and recent ones. The key points that stand out as major news are the Melbourne truck increase, IMF's economic forecast, the Indigenous suicides and calls for justice, the Labour vs Coalition on defense spending, the superannuation loophole, the assault and apology, the Stawell Gift issue, and the hospital carjacking. Maybe also the Dutton's comments on Palestinians and Israel.

Wait, but the user wants only 8 items. Let me count the unique entries first. The duplicates are the same titles with same or different links. Let me list each unique one:

1. Melbourne roads to cop tripling of trucks... (The Age link)
2. The Gift... (The Age)
3. Pompey Elliott... (The Age)
4. Man charged after woman struck by car... (The Age)
5. IMF slashes Australia's growth forecast (SBS)
6. Lib MP grilled on women in frontline (SBS)
7. Dutton's stance on Palestinians and Israel (SBS)
8. Superannuation loophole (SBS)
9. Defence spending debate (SBS)
10. Finney's ad and suicide (The Age)
11. Apartments and inclusive suburbs (The Age)
12. Kooyong forum rebuke (The Age)
13. Indigenous suicides and calls for change (The Age)
14. Stabbing family pushes for knife laws (The Age)
15. Balta's assault apology (The Age)

That's 15 unique items. Need to select the top 8. 

Which are the biggest? The first one about trucks in Melbourne seems major as it's infrastructure and traffic issue. The IMF's economic forecast is a big national headline. The Indigenous suicide case is critical, especially for systemic issues. Dutton's stance on security and policy change is political. The superannuation loophole affecting victims is significant. The elevator stabbing family's legal push is a social issue. The Labour vs Coalition on defense spending is a major policy debate. The man charged in the carjacking is a local crime story but might be a top story if it's recent.

Alternatively, maybe the Indigenous suicides and calls for justice is more impactful. The IMF forecast is definitely big. The truck increase is a major local issue. The superannuation case where an abuser can claim funds is a big social issue. Dutton's comments on Palestinians and Israeli capital recognition is political. The Labour's criticism of defense spending is political. The assault and apology might be less critical. The Stawell Gift might be a local event but perhaps less impactful.

Wait, the user specified to select "BIG NEWS and HEADLINES". So maybe prioritize those with broader impact. Let's see:

1. Melbourne roads truck issue (local and infrastructure)
2. IMF forecast (economic, national)
3. Indigenous suicides (social justice)
4. Superannuation loophole (family law issue)
5. Dutton's policy on Palestinians/Israel (foreign policy)
6. Defence spending debate (politics, military policy)
7. Carjacking incident (local crime with hospital victim)
8. Assault victim's statement (local crime but less critical?)

Alternatively, maybe the Stawell Gift or the Pompey Elliott story is less of a headline. The Finney case might tie into military issues but perhaps not top 8. The elevator stabbing and family's plea is strong. Maybe the "shattered lives" one is important for legal reform. The "they took my child" Indigenous families' call for change is crucial. 

Hmm. Let me reorder by impact:

1. Melbourne roads truck issue (appears multiple times, so it's a top story)
2. IMF's economic forecast (national)
3. Indigenous suicides and calls for justice (social issue)
4. Superannuation loophole closure (politics and social)
5. Dutton's policy on Palestinians (foreign policy)
6. Labour vs Coalition on defense spending (politics)
7. Carjacking incident (local crime, life-threatening)
8. Stabbing victim's family pushing for laws (crime and law reform)

Wait, that's 8. Let me count again:

1. Melbourne roads and rail issue
2. IMF forecast
3. Indigenous suicides
4. Superannuation case
5. Dutton's stance
6. Defence spending debate
7. Carjacking
8. Stabbing family demands laws

Alternatively, perhaps the "they took my child" is the Indigenous case, which is item 3. The "shattered lives" is the stabbing case. That works. The superannuation case is about a loophole that Labor is addressing, which is important. The Dutton's comments on Palestinians and recognizing Israeli capital is significant. The IMF and defense spending are big. The carjacking is a local incident but serious. Let me check if all these are unique and non-duplicates. Each of these 8 would be distinct. The rest like the Stawell Gift or the Pompey Elliott might be less critical for the top 8. The assault victim's opinion on Balta might be less impactful. The Gotcha moment forum incident is more local and perhaps less critical. The Finney's ad and suicide might tie into military, but the stab victim family's case is more pressing. 

So compiling the top 8:

1. Melbourne roads to cop tripling of trucks... (The Age)
2. Why the IMF is slashing Australia's economic growth forecast (SBS)
3. ‘They took my child from me’: Families call for change after Indigenous suicides (The Age)
4. After losing her daughter... superannuation reality (SBS)
5. Dutton says Coalition would re-screen Palestinians... (SBS)
6. What does boosting Australia's defence spending to 3% look like? (SBS)
7. Man charged after woman struck by car thief... (The Age)
8. ‘Shattered lives’: Elevator stabbing family plea... (The Age)

That's 8 items. Let me check descriptions:

Wait, the IMF article has two links (The Age and SBS? No, the IMF is only in SBS). The user provided multiple entries, but need to ensure no duplicates. Let me confirm each entry's uniqueness.

The first entry is "Melbourne roads to cop tripling..." which is duplicated several times. But in the final list, it's just one entry. Similarly, the Stawell Gift is a local event but maybe not top 8. 

Yes, the selection above covers major issues affecting the public (economic, infrastructure, social justice, etc.). The defense spending debate between parties is a big political issue. The superannuation case is about legal reform and victim support. The Indigenous suicides call for systemic change, which is important. The carjacking is a serious incident. The IMF's forecast is a major economic story. So, those 8 items seem to be the most critical. The rest can be excluded due to the 8 limit. 

Now I need to format each as a bullet point with title linked, then a concise description. Let me make sure the URLs are correct. Also, check for correct links. For instance, the first article has two different URLs but same title? Let me verify each link in the user's list. The first item's link is correct. The IMF's SBS link is correct. The Dutton's SBS link is right. The superannuation article's SBS link is present. The carjacking has The Age link. The defense spending SBS link exists. The Indigenous suicide article's link is correct. The elevator stabbing's link is correct. 

Final check: 8 items, merged duplicates, ordered with most important first. The initial truck issue is first, then IMF, then Indigenous, then super, Dutton, defense, carjacking, stabbing family. That should be 8. The others like the Pompey Elliott or Stawell Gift are less critical. So the final list is ready.
</think>

# Big news  
- [Melbourne roads to cop tripling of trucks as rail freight plans flounder](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-roads-to-cop-tripling-of-trucks-as-rail-freight-plans-flounder-20250410-p5lqr5.html)  
Melbourne's roads face a surge in truck traffic as rail freight plans falter, worsening congestion and infrastructure strain.  

- [Why the IMF is slashing Australia's economic growth forecast](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/here-is-why-the-imf-is-slashing-the-economic-growth-forecast-for-australia/jxf506qa7)  
The IMF reduced Australia’s economic growth forecast, citing global instability and domestic challenges.  

- [‘They took my child from me’: Families call for change after Indigenous suicides in same hospital](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/they-took-my-child-from-me-families-call-for-change-after-indigenous-suicides-in-same-hospital-20250416-p5lscl.html)  
Families demand systemic reform after two Indigenous women died by suicide in the same Melbourne mental health facility.  

- [After losing her daughter, Julie faced a 'horrendous' superannuation reality](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/an-extension-of-abuse-how-superannuation-laws-fail-dv-victims/70p7pr5la)  
A mother’s tragedy exposed a legal loophole allowing domestic abusers to claim victims’ superannuation; Labor aims to close it.  

- [Dutton says Coalition would re-screen Palestinians and recognise new Israeli capital](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/artical/coalition-would-re-screen-palestinians-and-recognise-new-israeli-capital/8eyd8jgyh)  
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced stricter screening of Palestinians from Gaza and plans to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.  

- [What does boosting Australia's defence spending to 3 per cent look like?](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/what-does-boosting-australia-s-defence-spending-to-3-per-cent-look-like/ja6gsd1l3)  
Labor criticizes the Coalition’s pledge to raise defence spending to 3% as unrealistic and politically motivated.  

- [Man charged after woman struck by car thief outside Melbourne hospital](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/woman-struck-by-carjacker-outside-melbourne-hospital-fights-for-life-20250423-p5ltrv.html)  
A 66-year-old woman fought for life after being hit by a carjacker near a hospital; driver charged with dangerous driving.  

- [‘Shattered lives’: Elevator stabbing victim’s family pleads for harsher knife crime laws](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/shattered-lives-elevator-stabbing-victim-s-familys-plead-for-harsher-laws-20250423-p5lttc.html)  
Victim’s family demand stricter knife crime laws after a man was killed in an elevator stabbing; killer faces up to 25 years.
