Eliza Hartman

Eliza Hartman is the chief courts reporter for Victoria Crime News. She has spent more than a decade covering County Court trials, Supreme Court appeals and coronial inquests across Melbourne. She holds a Master of Journalism and writes about sentencing trends, criminal procedure, and public-interest litigation in Victoria.

Eliza HartmanOctober 16, 2026
IBAC finds public servants hid $285m Covid grants bungle
IBAC has found senior Victorian public servants withheld information on the scale of losses from Covid grants paid to ineligible…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanOctober 9, 2026
Machinery firm tied to accused trafficker worked on Big Build sites
A company linked to a man facing trafficking and shooting charges has supplied heavy machinery to major state infrastructure projects,…
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Courts
Eliza HartmanOctober 8, 2026
One Nation wants to rewrite sentencing law. First, the basics
One Nation says Victoria's sentencing system is broken and promises an overhaul. We unpack what the law actually says, and…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanOctober 4, 2026
One Nation pitches police boost, funded by axing Rail Loop and Treaty
One Nation has launched its Victorian campaign promising more police and tougher youth sentencing, funded by scrapping the Suburban Rail…
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Courts
Eliza HartmanSeptember 29, 2026
Police apologise as inquest hears man died untreated in cell
Coroner's court told John Makai went untreated for hours in a Broadmeadows cell after a head injury. Victoria Police has…
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Courts
Eliza HartmanSeptember 25, 2026
Former Moonee Valley mayor jailed over sexual assault of teen
Former Moonee Valley mayor Cam Nation has been sentenced to three months' jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanSeptember 24, 2026
Big Build royal commission opens: bikies, corruption on the table
Victoria's Big Build royal commission has held its first public hearing, examining allegations of union links to bikies and corruption…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanSeptember 23, 2026
Big Build corruption inquiry opens: what to expect
A royal commission into alleged corruption on Victoria's Big Build construction sites opens in Melbourne. Here's how the inquiry will…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanSeptember 19, 2026
IBAC charges detective over alleged assault of cuffed teen in Ballarat
A Victoria Police detective senior constable has been charged with common assault after IBAC alleged he punched and kicked a…
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Big Build Watch
Eliza HartmanSeptember 15, 2026
SRL redesign spares parkland, uproots more homes, shops instead
A Suburban Rail Loop construction rethink will protect open parkland but requires the acquisition of more homes and businesses, including…
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