Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has indicated a potential slowdown of the Suburban Rail Loop project as the state government attempts to control Victoria's growing debt. Carroll has not committed to cancelling existing contracts but emphasised extracting savings and spending taxpayer money wisely.

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The AFL finals series begins amid controversy as the Sydney Swans sex assault investigation continues, with five suspended players facing additional penalties including exclusion from the Brownlow Medal. One Nation faces internal confusion over its migration policy after MP David Farley's contradictory statements about net overseas migration targets.

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The Department of Home Affairs is reportedly considering purchasing uncrewed drones to monitor Australia's coastline and detect vessels of all types. Border Force is facing challenges with a shortage of pilots and planes while managing threats from people smugglers and illegal fishers, particularly in northern waters.

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A second long-nosed fur seal has been found dead from bird flu on a small island near Kangaroo Island, South Australia, raising concerns about an "extinction-level" event for endangered sea lions. Wildlife officers at Phillip Island are conducting a world-first mass vaccination program for little penguins, with over 1,000 birds already vaccinated in the first week.

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A 64-year-old man has died in hospital following a pedestrian crash in Lakemba on 28 July, becoming the second fatality from the incident. The man and a 43-year-old mother were struck while crossing the street, with the woman passing away days after the crash. The 82-year-old driver involved has not been charged, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Simon Carman, a 45-year-old Australian truck driver from Ballarat, has spoken from a Thai prison claiming self-defence in the death of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase near railway tracks. Carman alleges the teenager attacked him with a knife during an argument over money, and that he was only trying to restrain her, though an autopsy revealed she died from suffocation. He faces charges of murder, concealing a corpse and abducting a minor, with potential penalties including the death penalty or life imprisonment if found guilty.

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Cabramatta High School in southwest Sydney was evacuated this morning after 8.30am when hundreds of students were moved onto the school lawn during a security lockdown. Emergency services swept the building before determining the threat was a hoax.

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A 30-year-old man from Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina has been arrested and charged with 16 offences after police allegedly found him carrying cocaine and MDMA, then discovered two improvised explosive devices, a homemade gun, ammunition and cannabis seeds at his home.

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An 85-year-old man named John has gone missing after leaving the Harrietville Hotel at approximately 8pm and failing to arrive home. He was driving a 2007 silver Toyota Prado with registration plate WBD 077. Police are seeking public assistance to locate him.

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Anti-corruption police executed six warrants across Melbourne, including a raid on the CFMEU headquarters in Carlton, arresting five people and seizing cars, laptops and iPads.

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