THE jury in the Falconio murder trial has been told to consider the possibility that the accused, Bradley John Murdoch, lied to the court because of a "consciousness of guilt"...

The Sydney suburbs have erupted in a second night of racially-charged violence which has exposed ugly tensions beneath Australia's good-humoured exterior...

NEW text messages, including one declaring war between Sydney's Middle Eastern youths and Australians, are being circulated, after another night of violence at some beachside suburbs...

A JURY is today expected to retire to consider its verdict in the trial of Bradley John Murdoch accused of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio...

SIMMERING racial tensions exploded in Sydney again last night as police traced chilling new text messages inciting further violence...

NEWS Ltd chief general counsel Ian Philip told the Federal Court yesterday he had lied to Telstra, "possibly" defrauded it, and destroyed documents he feared could be used against himself or News in a court case...

THE first extensive system of marine sanctuaries in waters of Australia's south-east is set to be announced, ending long delays to a key plank of the Federal Government's oceans policy...

Study in happiness: students from Donald High School were all smiles after receiving their VCE results...

NINE children were injured when a derailed miniature train rolled on its side at a Christmas party. The incident happened at 9.30pm on Sunday at Tongala in the state's north...

Phillip Trutman, 44, will be sentenced today after the County Court yesterday heard details of his repeated sexual assaults on students between 1985 and 1995...

A SECOND Victorian MP -- Cabinet Minister Peter McGauran -- has had his office trashed by students angry at the Government's decision to ban compulsory student union fees...

NEWS Ltd's chief counsel yesterday said he always deleted important emails because "you never know in years to come what can be made of those records"...

A judge says the fact that Bradley John Murdoch carried guns and ran drugs across Australia doesn't make him guilty of murdering British tourist Peter Falconio...

PATIENTS would be fast-tracked through hospital emergency departments and waiting lists cut in a $13.8 million boost to health services, the State Government said yesterday...

MELBOURNE Zoo's majestic lions will now have to live behind an electric fence after a woman leaned close enough for one to bite one of her fingers...