The ABC has spoken to a dozen families who say their sons have been subjected to, or groomed to inflict, violent punishments in an alleged decades-old cycle of torment at the Victorian boarding school.

A former Australian Army reservist who murdered his neighbour by throwing petrol on him and lighting him on fire will be in his 90s by the time he is eligible for parole.

A Victorian poultry farmer details the emotional toll of an avian influenza outbreak on his properties. The business is expected to return to full production this year, but biosecurity concerns remain.

While a growing number of Australians are moving away from organised religion, some people like Samantha Raabe are bucking the trend and finding a new faith later in life.

Parts of south-west and western Victoria have been experiencing their lowest rainfall since 1900 and climatologists say recent downpours won't be enough to end the drought.

The country town of Penshurst once had six pubs. Now, locals are scrambling to save their last remaining watering hole.

A court has ruled that the head of ratepayer organisation Council Watch had stalked and harassed an inner-city Melbourne mayor under the guise of legitimate political discourse.