ABC South West Victoria

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Regional newsroom staff say AI rollout leading to potential errors

Staff and a union say a generative AI model being tested in Australian Community Media's regional newspapers is misattributing facts and leaving some fearing for their jobs.

An illustration of someone sitting in front of a computer with an AI prompt

Published: FriFri 24 Oct 2025 at 1:42amSource: ABC Central VictoriaTopic: Media Industryby Emile Pavlich and Ethan Seiderman

Parts of NSW and Victoria 'absolutely battered' by howling winds

Howling winds overnight will lead to extensive clean-up work today in NSW's south-east and parts of Victoria, with October heat records also broken in Western Sydney.

Published: ThuThu 23 Oct 2025 at 1:28amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Weather

Two dead after being pulled from water during Victoria's wild weather

Two men have died in rough waters at Frankston as part of the state recorded wind gusts up to 130 kilometres per hour during a severe weather system.

A helicopter hovers in a grey sky as a person hangs from a line above white capped water.

Published: 8h agoMon 27 Oct 2025 at 12:08amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Weather Warningsby Melissa Brown

Border Force cracks down on 3D-printed guns and parts

An Australian Border Force operation leads to the seizure of more than 1,000 firearms and parts, including 281 made via 3D-printing processes.

Blue, pink and grey plastic-looking guns and parts

Published: TueTue 21 Oct 2025 at 6:37amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Crime

Gallery celebrates secret artist hidden in plain sight

A country Victorian art gallery has surprised local artist Hamish Elsmann with an exhibition of work he never knew it was keeping. The community response has changed his life.

Published: 20 Oct 2025Mon 20 Oct 2025 at 7:32pmSource: ABC South West VicTopic: People With Disabilityby Daniel Miles and Emily Bissland

New childcare centres imposing waitlists amid worker shortage

Hundreds of children in a regional Victorian city are on childcare waitlists, but centres say they cannot open to full capacity as they struggle to find qualified staff.

A young child stacks colourful Duplo blocks at a childcare centre. Other children stand next to them.

Published: 19 Oct 2025Sun 19 Oct 2025 at 11:31pmSource: ABC South West VicTopic: Child Careby Jean Bell

One year on, hailstorm victims still waiting to go home

A year since the freak hailstorm that devastated the Victorian town of Casterton, Kim Jeffrey marked the anniversary the same way she has spent most of 2025 — living in a caravan in her driveway.

Published: 15 Oct 2025Wed 15 Oct 2025 at 8:09pmSource: ABC WimmeraTopic: Regional Communitiesby Peter Quattrocelli

Listen back

ABC South West Vic Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:35am.

Duration: 5 minutes

Source: Listen

Meet the legends of boutique beef

Belted Galloway beef producers named, 'legends.'

Black and white steer standing in green grass

Duration: 18 minutes 44 seconds

Source: Vic Country HourTopic: Beef Cattle Farmingby Warwick Long

Livestock truckies talk about driving in Victoria

Retaining staff, attracting the next generation of drivers, making it easier to drive into Melbourne and the impact the poor quality of regional roads was on the agenda at the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association conference at the Move…

Livestock road train parked near the road.

Duration: 13 minutes 13 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultural Workersby Annie Brown

David Jochinke and the future of the National Farmers Federation

The peak farmer representative body in Australia, the National Farmers Federation is at a crossroads.

A tanned man wearing a dark blue work shirt crossing his arms. In the background there are tractors and farm equipment.

Duration: 9 minutes 6 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agribusinessby Warwick Long

ABC Radio SOUTH WEST VICTORIA

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8:00am to11:00am

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Discover more on Facebook. Text us on 0467 842 722 (rates apply) or call us on 1300 001 602.

Watch

The story of Budj Bim has been handed down for thousands of years

Joey Saunders says the story of Budj Bim has been handed down for thousands of years

Joey Saunders stands with dark rocks behind him looking up towards the light

Duration: 2 minutes 13 seconds

Source: ABC News

Four Billion Dollar Barrier: Importer regulations increasing the cost of doing business

Australian agricultural exporters are missing out on $4 billion dollars of annual trade due to non-tariff measures imposed by importing countries.

Duration: 12 minutes 24 seconds

Source: ABC News

Branxholme Wallacedale Saints under 11s celebrate a win

The Branxholme Wallacedale Saints under 11s football team celebrates its first win of the 2025 season.

Duration: 34 seconds

Source: ABC South West Vic

Footage of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir illegally electroshocking horses

The Victorian Racing Tribunal has released footage of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir illegally electroshocking horses in 2018. Supplied: Victorian Racing Tribunal

Duration: 1 minute 46 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Footy club facing population decline changes culture to attract recruits

The Branxholme Wallacedale Saints have worked tirelessly to improve their once-troubled reputation so families and their kids want to play there.

A group of five boys at footy training smile with arms around each other.

Duration: 34 seconds

Source: ABC South West VicTopic: Sports Organisationsby Ted O'Connor and Olivia Sanders

Life after divorce for this man meant moving to Florence in his 70s

Victor Caulfield packed up his Australian home and moved to Italy, where he fell into the art scene as an accidental model.

A well dressed elderly man in brown suit, hat and bowtie holds pipe in mouth with left hand and stares out to a river.

Source: ABC South West VicTopic: Human Interestby Emily Bissland

Domestic violence support services brace for football finals spike

As football teams across Victoria gear up for finals season, a different kind of preparation is underway in the state's domestic violence support services.

The silhouette of a person holding a football.

Source: ABC South West VicTopic: Domestic Violenceby Jean Bell and Olivia Sanders

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

The drought in western Victoria is forcing sheep farmers to the wall, but amid the dirt and dust are green shoots of optimism and ingenuity that will change farming here forever.

A montage of an old two-storey stone mansion, a rolls-royce car, a sheep and a boy wearing a VR eyemask.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Livestock Farmingby Ted O'Connor, Olivia Sanders, Supervising Producer - News Digital Rachel Kelly and Sharon Gordon

What's happening

Voting now open for 2025 ABC Australian Insect of the Year

Will 2025 prove to be the year of the dragonfly? Or is "beetle-mania" set to make a return?

Six different insects cropped together into one image

Published: 3 Oct 2025Fri 3 Oct 2025 at 2:25amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Insects

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

Download our free ABC listen app

The ABC listen app connects you to the best podcasts and live radio from the presenters you know and love. Download it today and hear the world differently.

Published: 27 Aug 2024Tue 27 Aug 2024 at 4:23amSource: ABC BRISBANE

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Want informative, educational and entertaining stories straight to your inbox? Subscribe to a wide range of newsletters from around the ABC including local and national content.

Published: 17 Jun 2024Mon 17 Jun 2024 at 1:53amSource: ABC BRISBANE

Vic Sport

analysis

Why Cam Green staying at No.3 could help get the best out of Steve Smith

With Cam Green and Steve Smith shaping as the mostly likely candidates to be selected as Australia's No.3 for this summer's Ashes, selectors face a choice between pragmatism and tradition.

Two players in cricket whites walk off the field smiling and laughing and holding their bats

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Cricket

"It’s not the car", so what’s wrong for Piastri?

Oscar Piastri has lost his grip on the F1 title race. It's now been four races without a podium finish and six without a win for the Australian, as his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, surged past him.

F1 driver Oscar Piastri in his racing suit, walking in the pit garage

Duration: 14 minutes 54 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

analysis

Piastri's lead is gone, but there is hope in his bid for the F1 title

Oscar Piastri has lost his lead in the Formula 1 drivers' championship. Despite momentum working against the Australian, there are still plenty of reasons to believe he can win the world title.

F1 driver sitting on a stool in the pit lane after winning and F1 race

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Formula 1

Ski patrol sounds alarm over public safety if cuts made at Mt Stirling

A volunteer ski patrol captain raises concerns for public safety as part of measures to cut costs at Victoria's Mount Stirling Alpine Resort, which has operated at a deficit for years.

Source: ABC SheppartonTopic: Snow

Victoria News

Bureau of Meteorology defends unpopular new weather website

In a week of wild weather across the country, the Bureau of Meteorology's new website missed the mark.

A hand holding a phone with the BOM website

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Weather Forecastsby Justine Longmore

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell claims Ballarat rally was political

Photos and videos shown to a Victorian court capture a racially charged speech given by Thomas Sewell before he leads a group of 30 masked men through Ballarat.

A man wearing a dark shirt stands outside a courthouse

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: Courtsby Laura Mayers

Family mourns loss of man missing in waters off Melbourne

The family of a man who was on a small boat that capsized on Friday night say they are mourning the loss of their uncle, brother and friend, as police scale back their search.

Man in the snow wearing beanie and snow goggles around his neck.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents

analysis

Why Cam Green staying at No.3 could help get the best out of Steve Smith

With Cam Green and Steve Smith shaping as the mostly likely candidates to be selected as Australia's No.3 for this summer's Ashes, selectors face a choice between pragmatism and tradition.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Cricketby Henry Hanson

National News

Perth commercial bakery fire sparks sliced bread shortage

A fire at an industrial bread facility in Perth's south causes a shortage of sliced bread on supermarket shelves across Western Australia.

Published: 52m agoMon 27 Oct 2025 at 8:06amSource: ABC Radio PerthTopic: Food and Beverage Processing Industryby Phoebe Pin

Tens of thousands without power as south-east Queensland chokes through smoke

More than 30,000 people are without power after south-east Queensland has been hit by storms, smoke, fires and winds.

Duration: 24 seconds

Published: 9m agoMon 27 Oct 2025 at 8:49amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Heatwavesby Lottie Twyford

Kununurra leaders say night space key to solving youth crime

As juveniles in Kununurra continue to be arrested over car thefts, community leaders and the government are looking for solutions

Published: 1h agoMon 27 Oct 2025 at 7:30amSource: ABC KimberleyTopic: Crimeby Giulia Bertoglio and Nadia Mitsopoulos

Bureau of Meteorology defends unpopular new weather website

In a week of wild weather across the country, the Bureau of Meteorology's new website missed the mark.

Published: 1h agoMon 27 Oct 2025 at 7:26amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Weather Forecastsby Justine Longmore

Other ways to listen

Listen online, on the ABC listen app or On Air in:

Casterton and Hamilton 94.1 FM
Mortlake, Port Fairy and Warrnambool 1602 AM
Portland 96.9 FM

Or ask your smart speaker to "play ABC South West Victoria"

ABC South West Victoria

Regional newsroom staff say AI rollout leading to potential errors

Parts of NSW and Victoria 'absolutely battered' by howling winds

Two dead after being pulled from water during Victoria's wild weather

Border Force cracks down on 3D-printed guns and parts

Gallery celebrates secret artist hidden in plain sight

New childcare centres imposing waitlists amid worker shortage

One year on, hailstorm victims still waiting to go home

ABC South West Vic Local News

Meet the legends of boutique beef

Livestock truckies talk about driving in Victoria

David Jochinke and the future of the National Farmers Federation

ABC Radio SOUTH WEST VICTORIA

Live. Evenings

Connect with ABC South West Victoria

The story of Budj Bim has been handed down for thousands of years

Four Billion Dollar Barrier: Importer regulations increasing the cost of doing business

Branxholme Wallacedale Saints under 11s celebrate a win

Footage of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir illegally electroshocking horses

Footy club facing population decline changes culture to attract recruits

Life after divorce for this man meant moving to Florence in his 70s

Domestic violence support services brace for football finals spike

Farmers innovate to beat drought in former 'wool capital of the world'

Voting now open for 2025 ABC Australian Insect of the Year

Know your ABCs in an emergency

Download our free ABC listen app

Sign up for an ABC newsletter

Why Cam Green staying at No.3 could help get the best out of Steve Smith

"It’s not the car", so what’s wrong for Piastri?

Piastri's lead is gone, but there is hope in his bid for the F1 title

Ski patrol sounds alarm over public safety if cuts made at Mt Stirling

Bureau of Meteorology defends unpopular new weather website

Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell claims Ballarat rally was political

Family mourns loss of man missing in waters off Melbourne

Why Cam Green staying at No.3 could help get the best out of Steve Smith

Perth commercial bakery fire sparks sliced bread shortage

Tens of thousands without power as south-east Queensland chokes through smoke

Kununurra leaders say night space key to solving youth crime

Bureau of Meteorology defends unpopular new weather website

Other ways to listen

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