The people heard in marginal seat CASE STUDY 1 NORTH MELBOURNE

IN INNER-CITY North Melbourne €” one of the state government's most marginal seats €” residents have had rare success lobbying the government over plans for a social and private housing development at 210 Chetwynd Street. But they are under no illusions as to why.

No large planned burns in fire area

NO LARGE-SCALE fuel reduction burns had been conducted in areas where the two most deadly Black Saturday bushfires gathered force in the first hours after they ignited, the Bushfires Royal Commission has heard.

Frogs failing to find love amid city din

THEY like to do it froggy-style, but urban noise could be ruining the sex lives of Melbourne's frogs.

A Lesson In Confidence

JOHN BROOKING believes safe driving courses hold the key to a reduced road toll. The manufacturing manager from rural Victoria recently completed a defensive driving course with Murcotts Driving Excellence and says it helped save his life.

Myki Running Late Again

THE controversial myki smartcard has slipped behind schedule again, with the first public outing of the $1.4 billion smartcard next month to be reduced to a launch among selected "customers" only.

Jail Term Reduced

A SINGLETON soldier who was drunk when he crashed into a car, killing a married couple, has had his sentence cut.

Sounds Like James Bond, But Not The Least Bit Funny

A WELL-FOUNDED FEAR 8.30pm, SBS: "We will decide who comes into this country and the circumstances under which they come." Just another brick in the wall really - the wall of fear, loathing and prejudice in which real people with desperate needs are reduced to the status of illegal immigrants and enemies likely to stain the velutinous fabric of Australian society.

Check-up Prescribes Quality Not Quantity For District Cricket

THE Newcastle District Cricket Association competition will be reduced to 10 teams if the advice of a subcommittee formed to look at the future of the game is taken.

Speed Campaigner To Fight On

DESPITE 15 years of unsuccessful campaigning for the speed limit to be reduced on Shellharbour Rd, at Windang, resident Greg Hesse will not give up the fight.

Sreesanth Sings Spinner's Praises

PACEMAN Shantha Sreesanth, infamously reduced to tears by the quick-tempered Harbhajan Singh during the Indian Premier League, believes the Indian spinner is genuinely reformed and will keep his word to resist provocation in the Test series against Australia.

Mcmahon Has Reason To Celebrate

WHILE Illawarra MPs Noreen Hay and Matt Brown returned to NSW Parliament in reduced roles, Member for Shellharbour Lylea McMahon was quietly celebrating after receiving a promotion.

Flare-up In Taxing Times

PETER Costello "nearly lost it" when John Howard suggested the proposed GST rate be reduced from 10% to 8% just before the tax plan was released in 1998.

Manufacturing On The Slippery Slide

IT'S a tale of two sectors. While a surge in the price paid for coal and iron ore exports has reduced Australia's current account deficit, the nation's manufacturing sector has gone backwards for a third straight month.

Ex-coach Avoids Prison For Larceny

A FORMER Paralympic weightlifting coach from Warners Bay had his jail term for stealing an excavator reduced to 250 hours of community service yesterday.

Big Three Have Something To Fear As The Swans Step It Up

ANY given season is supposed to be like a marathon, with a tight-knit pack gradually reduced to a handful of contenders. This one has been more like a conga line.

Petrol Rises Blamed As Peak Traffic Declines

SOARING petrol prices may be easing Melbourne's congestion woes, with VicRoads revealing reduced peak-hour morning congestion in recent weeks.

Oliver Ban Reduced, But Fine Increased

DAMIEN Oliver's quest for further group 1 success this season improved significantly yesterday when the jockey had a careless riding suspension reduced and a fine increased to $20,000 on appeal.

Change To Speed Limit

THE Princes Hwy speed limit through Dapto will be reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h from Wednesday.

League Review Begins

AN independent review panel will begin its assessment this weekend of submissions from 14 clubs for the reduced 2009 Northern NSW Football State League.

Pasfield Rising Above Rivalry

WOLLONGONG FC keeper Justin Pasfield put his personal disappointment to one side when good friend and Beijing selection favourite Danny Vukovic had his nine-month suspension reduced last week.