On labour issues, yesterday Victorian branch Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation members rejected the government's offer of a three per cent a year pay rise plus an annual $1500 payment, vowing to go out on industrial action from Tuesday, May 7 if an improved pay and conditions offer isn't made.

In a piece of good news in the generally grim area of rental accommodation, a new taskforce launched to crack down on dodgy landlords is just what is needed according to the head of a consumer advocacy group.

The Consumer Policy Research Centre's "mystery shopper" study of the rental market in Bendigo last year found that only half of low-cost properties were up to scratch.

Meanwhile a change of guard is taking place in two significant city businesses, with the van Haandel family looking back on 50 years of the food institution it established as it prepares to farewell Clogs.

And the owners of the premises that have housed the Tonic Bar and Hoohaa among others have applied to paint the front white and set up a new Sound Music Bar & Club.

With that, here is the blog - it may take a second to load: