Surging Rents Put State Top Of Nation

MELBOURNE has topped the nation for the steepest rise in rents for houses and units over the past year. It underlines the city's rental crisis, placing further pressure on governments to increase the supply. And the situation could get worse. About 1500 people a week are expected to move to Melbourne, with experts predicting the population will hit 6.2 million by 2020 - a decade earlier than forecast a few years ago.