Month: March 2025

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, and investing in the transport infrastructure that South Australians need.  

The 2025-2026 Federal Budget delivers funding for three new projects including: 

• $525 million for the High Productivity Vehicle Network (HPVN)
• $125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal
• $40 million for Main South Road upgrade – Myponga to Yankalilla

The HPVN will deliver upgrades between the South Eastern Freeway and Sturt Highway such as the duplication of the Swanport Bridge and Murray Bridge Township Bypass in Monarto. 

The project will provide the necessary infrastructure to enable higher productivity vehicles to bypass Adelaide resulting in fewer trips with reduced vehicle carbon emissions, increased freight efficiency and improved safety for all road users.

Removal of the Curtis Road Level Crossing in Munno Para in northern Adelaide will eliminate the need for road traffic to interact with the Gawler passenger rail line.

The project will improve safety and support the significant housing development in the region, improving residents’ access to employment, education and recreational services by reducing road and rail network conflicts. The project will also improve travel times within the northern growth area of Adelaide.

The Main South Road upgrade – Myponga to Yankalilla will deliver critical safety improvement works along Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla, including:

• two new overtaking lanes
• targeted curve easing and road widening; and 
• widening narrow bridges and culverts

Its completion will create a safer environment for all road users in the area.  

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King: 

“In this Budget, the Albanese Government is investing in infrastructure in South Australia – in the projects that are needed to make our roads safer, our freight networks more resilient and our transport links better serve communities. 

“Our Government is committed to working with the Malinauskas Labor Government are get these projects done.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost:

“I have been advocating for appropriate and safer traffic solutions for years, in fact since before I was elected. The Liberals, including the previous Member for Boothby, made a complete mess of it, cancelling Globelink and proposing an unsafe inadequate alternative. 

“Through the investment in this Budget, and these critical new projects, Labor is building South Australia’s future.”

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Australia is facing enormous pressures on our collective mental health and wellbeing. But the 2025-26 Federal Budget does very little to address this, with mental health left behind in this pre-election budget pitch.

The Budget includes some piecemeal mental health investments, including $46 million to continue digital mental health services, but falls far too short of the systemic reform needed.

As outlined in Mental Health Australia’s Pre-Budget Submission, we need urgent action to address immediate service and workforce gaps, together with longer-term commitments to both prevent mental ill-health and create a world-class system of mental health supports. It is extremely disappointing to see no action in this Budget on these key urgent recommendations.

There are welcome measures in this Budget to improve affordable access to primary health care, however, we need further changes to ensure access to supports beyond the GP office.

Mental Health Australia welcomes measures in this Budget to provide cost of living relief, and continues to call on the Government to work with the mental health sector to introduce specific measures to improve equity and affordability of access to mental health supports.

Further detail can be found in the Summary below.

Read the Media Release here.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information after a stolen motor vehicle and dangerous driving incident in Katherine this morning.

Around 1:40am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a white Toyota Hilux Utility driving dangerously throughout Katherine.

It is alleged that there were seven occupants inside the vehicle and two riding in the tray at the time, with the vehicle swerving toward St John Ambulance on two occasions.

At around 3:30am, police successfully deployed a tyre deflation device along the Stuart Highway and the stolen vehicle came to a stop near the Katherine Bridge.

Two youths aged 11 and 14 respectively were arrested at the scene and several remaining youths were seen jumping off the bridge and into the Katherine River to evade apprehension.

An immediate search was commenced with the assistance of a NT Emergency Services vessel.

A 15-year-old female alleged offender was located nearby on the Victoria Highway with a suspected broken arm.

She was conveyed to Katherine District Hospital for treatment.

The remaining 7 youths, aged between 12 and 16, have now been located and are assisting police with enquiries.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Police urge anyone who has information about this incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25081469.

Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) responded to a vehicle fire on Katherine Terrace in Katherine on Sunday night.

NTFRS received a report of road train on fire in the Katherine CBD at about 12:10am yesterday. The driver of the vehicle alerted authorities after noticing a carriage of his road train was alight.

NTFRS crews immediately attended and worked to bring the fire under control, preventing nearby businesses from sustaining excessive damage.

NT Police, and St John Ambulance also attended the scene. No injuries were reported during the incident.

The fire was brought under control by about 1am and crews remain on the scene until approximately 3am as a precaution. One carriage of the road train sustained significant damage.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Senior Station Officer Daniel Kenna applauded the truck driver and the attending crew for their swift action.

“The quick action of our members also ensured that businesses and nearby structures only had minor damage sustained in the fire.”

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The 2025-26 Federal Budget shows no commitment to improving access to mental health supports for the Australian community. Australia is facing enormous pressures on our collective mental health and wellbeing. 

“Despite the rising need for greater investment in mental health, this budget suggests that mental health is far from the front of this government’s mind” says Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski.

See full media release at the PDF attached below. 

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Albanese Labor Government is Building Australia’s future, investing in the transport infrastructure we need to support a growing nation.

The Government is investing in nationally significant infrastructure that creates jobs and economic opportunity, improves productivity and drives efficiency.

Our Budget investments will make Australia’s road and rail networks stronger, safer and more efficient – which means more convenient commutes, less congestion and faster freight delivery. 

The 2025–26 Budget delivers $17.1 billion for new and existing road and rail infrastructure projects through the Infrastructure Investment Program, supporting critical planning, construction and delivery. This includes:

• $7.2 billion for safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway in Queensland – the single largest investment ever into this nationally significant transport corridor.
• Over $2.3 billion for critical infrastructure upgrades in the growing Western Sydney region, including $1 billion to preserve the corridor for the South West Sydney Rail Extension and $500 million to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue.
• A further $465 million for New South Wales to plan for regional projects and fix notorious choke points, including $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Road and $115 million to reduce travel times on Terrigal Drive.  
• $2 billion to upgrade Sunshine Station in Victoria, a crucial project to deliver Melbourne Airport its first rail link.
• $1.1 billion to support upgrades along the Western Freeway in Victoria.
• $1 billion for the Road Blitz, a new package of works to increase capacity and improve efficiency in Melbourne’s suburbs and surrounds. 
• $350 million for the Westport – Kwinana Freeway Upgrades in Western Australia.
• $200 million to duplicate sections of the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine in the Northern Territory.
• $200 million to upgrade the Arthur Highway in Tasmania.
• $125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal in South Australia.
• $50 million towards upgrading the Monaro Highway in the Australian Capital Territory.
• A further $200 million to ensure the delivery of the Rockhampton Ring Road in Queensland.
• A further $70 million to seal the remaining 11 kilometres of unsealed pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd and Hughenden in Queensland.

The Australian Government is committed to increasing road safety and productivity.

Funding has also increased substantially so that the Roads to Recovery Program will progressively rise to $1 billion per year, and Black Spot Program funding will reach $150 million per year. At least $200 million is also available each year under the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program, to address current and emerging priorities in road infrastructure.

We are investing $16.9 million to support skills and training in the maritime industry. This includes $14.4 million over four years to provide access to training berths at sea, and $2.5 million for the Transport and Logistics Jobs and Skills Council to address training barriers.

As part of the Government’s priorities for transport, we are providing $32.7 million in 2025-26 to support ongoing safety and regulatory services provided by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Our Government is making Australia’s cities and regions even better places to live, building social infrastructure, connecting place and designing healthier, more liveable towns. 

We’re getting on with the job of delivering a better future for all Australians – helping build economic opportunity and thriving communities.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Labor Government is building a stronger and fairer education system from early education to school education and in higher education.
 
The Government knows that every stage of education is vital, because we need to give the next generation of Australians the best start in life, and the strongest foundation for success. The Budget continues the Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

• Cutting the cost of early education and care for around 1 million families and building a universal early childhood education and care system.
• Delivering full and fair funding for public schools attended by around 2.6 million students.
• Cutting student debt by a further 20 per cent for 3 million Australians and making the repayment system fairer.

The Budget builds on the Government’s significant education reform agenda by making important investments to help families and support students and teachers.
 
Fully Funding Australian Public Schools
 
The Albanese Labor Government is putting all public schools in Australia on a path to full and fair funding.
 
The 10-year Better and Fairer Schools Agreement will see the Commonwealth increase its contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard to put every public school on a path to receive full funding.
 
The Government will provide $407.5 million over four years from 2025–26 (and $7.2 billion from 2029–30 to 2035–36) to jurisdictions that have already signed updated Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (Full and Fair Funding 2025 – 2034) bilateral agreements.
 
The Government is finalising bilateral agreements with other jurisdictions.
 
This isn’t a blank cheque. This funding is tied to reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including:

• Small group tutoring.
• Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks.
• More individualised support for students.
• More mental health support.
• More support to attract and retain teachers.

 Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred – Additional Supports for Families and Providers
 
The Government has activated $2.5 million in additional support for families and early childhood education and child care providers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
A $10,000 Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred Support Payment will be available for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved early childhood education and care services who:

• Are located where a CCS period of emergency has been declared.
• Were closed, or partially closed, for eight days or more due to the cyclone.
• Waived gap fees for families during the closure.

Families who need extra help with the cost of child care may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (Temporary Financial Hardship) which usually covers the full cost of child care for up to 100 hours of care per fortnight, for up to 13 weeks.

Boosting STEM Programs

The Government will invest $7.01 million to expand successful science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, including:

• $1.15 million for the CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools Program.
• $1.46 million for Let’s Count, an early education maths program.
• $0.65 million for Little Scientists, a training program for early learning educators.
• $0.7 million for Curious Minds Program, a STEM summer camp and mentoring program for female students.
• $0.9 million for the National Lending Library, which provides digital technology equipment and lesson plans for schools.
• $2.15 million for three Australian Academy of Science programs (Primary Connections; Science by Doing; and reSolve).

 Closing the Gap Programs for First Nations Students

The Government is continuing to invest in programs that support First Nations students, with a further $35.1 million for two key initiatives:

• $33.6 million for the Clontarf Foundation to support up to 12,500 First Nations boys and young men at school.
• $1.5 million for the MultiLit phonics-based program in 42 regional and remote primary schools until the end of 2026.

 More Medical School Places and Support for First Nations Medical Students
 
The Government is investing $48.2 million over four years to deliver medical training opportunities including:

• 100 new medical places each year from 2026, increasing to 150 CSPs from 2028, with a focus on primary care.
• Demand-driven medical places for First Nations students from 2026.

This Budget builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

• Cheaper Child Care that has cut out-of-pocket costs for families – with the average family using child care $4,400 better off.
• A 15 per cent pay rise for early educators, with eligible providers limiting fee growth for families.
• A $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to build early childhood education and care centres where they’re needed most.
• A Three Day Guarantee, ensuring at least three days of subsidies for early childhood education and care for every family.
• Agreements to fully fund all public schools in Australia.
• $3 billion in student debt wiped by fixing how indexation is calculated and a re-elected Labor Government will cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debt and make the repayment system fairer, subject to the passage of legislation.
• A Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students.
• Doubling the number of University Study Hubs – in the regions and for the first time established them in our outer suburbs to bring university closer to where people live. 
• A new funding system for universities that will deliver more university places and guarantees a place at university for everyone from a disadvantaged background who gets the marks to get in. 
• An independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints about issues such as sexual assault, racism, homophobia, course administration and teaching provision. 
• Establishing the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to guide tertiary education reform over the long-term, subject to the passage of legislation.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will continue to protect and invest in education.