The mothers of both men hugged outside court after the verdict was delivered.

Australia's birth rate has plummeted to levels not seen in 17 years.

The nation's fertility rate for 2023 hit a record low of 286,998 births – down 4.6 per cent or around 14,000 births from last year – the worst since 2006.

In 2004, then-Treasurer Peter Costello urged Australians to have more babies, issuing a plea for parents to "have one for Mum, one for dad and one for the country".

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But it seems those calls went unheard as the fertility trajectory continued to take a plunge.

Fresh ABS data found the current birth rate now sits at 1.5 births per woman.

In Australia, a steady birth rate of 2.1 births per woman is needed to keep a natural population balance without counting immigration.

The last time the birth rate sat above 2.0 per woman was in 2008.

The only states where the birth rate increased were Western Australia and Tasmania, with 553 and 69 more babies born than the previous year, respectively.

Meanwhile, the average age for a new mother in 2023 was 31.9, while fathers had a median age of 33.8.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, a father of three, said Labor was keenly aware of the financial challenge having kids posed for Australians.

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"That has been a long-term trend and there are reasons for that, including good reasons for it, as I said before, it can be expensive to have kids," he told media today.

"People make their own decisions for their own reasons, my job is to make sure people can have the choice… of whether to have more kids or not."

Chalmers said the federal government was committed to "making it easier for people to have more kids if they want to".

"But we know affordability is a big part of that challenge," he added.

The Treasurer said the federal government was prioritising issues such as affordable early childhood education to help combat the declining fertility rate.

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Human remains have been found in bushland in the search for an allegedly murdered Victorian man last seen more than 18 months ago.

Jake Bradford, 21, was reported missing by his mother on January 29, 2023.

The remains, which are yet to be formally identified, were found off Dollar-Woorarra West Road in Dollar at 10.30am yesterday.

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Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad, Major Crime Scene Unit and Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine specialists travelled to the site this morning.

Police believe Bradford became involved in an altercation in the Dollar area on or around January 24, 2023.

In March of that year, a 25-year-old Korumburra man was charged with murder.

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He was remanded to appear at the Supreme Court of Victoria on February 24 next year.

"Our heartfelt thoughts are with Jake's family and friends today, on what would have been Jake's 23rd birthday," Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Burnett from Victoria Police said.

"The past 18 months have been an incredibly difficult time for them and their grief remains as raw as ever.

"The investigative efforts by the Missing Persons Squad have been tireless in pursuing every avenue of enquiry so we could provide answers to Jake's family.

"We know this has been an incredibly traumatic time for them.

"We hope that this will bring the closure they need and Jake can finally be laid to rest."

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An "amorous couple in a stairwell" has been blamed for sparking a major flood in Melbourne's city loop last week

Two stations packed with commuters were evacuated after the Olivia Rodrigo concert on Thursday, causing significant delays for weary concertgoers.

CCTV from the incident later revealed the incident was caused by a couple in a stairwell who may have accidentally triggered the sprinkler mechanism.

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"It would appear that an amorous couple in a stairwell dislodged a sprinkler," Minister for Transport Infrastructure of Victoria Danny Pearson told reporters on Wednesday.

"There was extensive flooding. Metro will be investigating these matters further and police are investigating.

"Perhaps a stairwell may not be an appropriate place to find yourself in after dinner."

It was initially believed the flooding at Melbourne Central and Flagstaff stations was caused by an act of vandalism.

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Police released CCTV and images of two people they believed could assist with their investigation.

It's alleged the duo gained access to a stairwell about 10.40pm and damaged a water pipe and sprinkler. 

Victoria Police said the offenders had fled the scene after the extensive flooding.

"The delays affected big crowds trying to get home from the Olivia Rodrigo concert at Rod Laver Arena," police said at the time.

Investigations into the incident continue.

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