Central Victoria local news briefing: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in Central Victoria today.

A planned Victoria-wide public hospital doctors strike due to begin at midday today has been postponed.

Members of the Australian Medical Association Victoria and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation had planned to walk off the job for 24 hours as part of protracted negotiations over working conditions.

The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association made an application to the Fair Work Commission at the weekend to stop the action, arguing the notice period for the strike was inadequate.

A friend of Ballarat motorcyclist Peter "Tiki" Mason says the Victorian government has "blood on its hands" after he died in a crash on the Western Highway at the weekend.

The 71-year-old died while riding his motorcycle at Trawalla, east of Beaufort, on Sunday.

Police said emergency services responded to reports a motorcycle had struck a pothole and lost control, but officers were still investigating the cause of Mr Mason's death.

Fellow Ballarat motorcyclist Casey Bandy said Mr Mason was "an absolute legend".

The Coroners Court will hold a hearing today into the death of a 56-year-old Bendigo man in October last year.

A court summary shows the man had complex medical needs resulting from a hypoxic brain injury.

The document shows he was admitted to Bendigo Health in a reduced conscious state and he later died.

The Bullengarook Fire Brigade has celebrated the handover of two new tankers to support its firefighting efforts.

The brigade took delivery of a new ultralight and a new light tanker.

The ultralight is a ute with a pump on the rear tray and can carry 550 litres, while the eight-tonne light tanker can carry about 2,000 litres.

Earlier this year, the state government announced $100 million over 10 years to upgrade the Country Fire Authority's tanker and pumper fleet.

The Victorian Electoral Commission says ballot packs for the City of Greater Bendigo Lockwood by-election have been mailed to voters.

The by-election was prompted by the resignation of former councillor John McIlrath in November.

Voting is compulsory for people on the electoral roll, with votes able to be returned by mail or delivered to the commission's electoral hub in Marong.

The ward includes Lockwood, Maiden Gully, Marong, Myers Flat, Shelbourne, Wilsons Hill and parts of Long Gully and Ironbark.