Month: March 2025

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has seized a quantity of alcohol and cannabis during a traffic and drug detection operation in Adelaide River last week.

On Thursday, 20 March, police received intelligence that a gold Toyota Prado destined for Wadeye Community was trafficking alcohol.

The vehicle was intercepted on Stuart Highway where officers conducted a lawful search and located 38 bottles of liquor and 375 grams of cannabis.

The alcohol and drugs were seized, and the 33-year-old male driver was issued a Notice to Appear in court on 6 May 2025.

Remote Sergeant Colin Schwartz said, “The impact of this seizure will have significant benefits for the community in terms of harm minimisation.

“We will continue to disrupt the flow of prohibited products entering protected areas to prevent anti-social behaviour, domestic violence incidents, and alcohol-fuelled violence, particularly when they are bound for remote communities.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to two stolen motor vehicles that were recovered on Sunday.

About 4:10am, police received reports of two vehicles, a Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, driving erratically in Katherine CBD. Police attempted a traffic apprehension on the Ford Ranger and a pursuit ensued after the vehicle failed to stop. A short time later the vehicle stopped near the Katherine Sports grounds and all occupants fled from the scene on foot.

Police recovered the Toyota Hilux abandoned on Victoria Highway a short time later. It has since been identified that the vehicles were stolen from the yard of a business on Gillard Crescent.

This forms part of a crime series overnight targeting four Katherine commercial premises; it is unknown if the incidents are linked at this time. Strike Force Cerberus has carriage of the investigations.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage in relation to these incidents is urged to contact police on 131 444.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to two ram raids in the Greater Darwin Region overnight.

About 1:55am this morning, police received reports of a burglary at a licensed premises on Winnellie Road. It is alleged two males used a vehicle to ram the front doors of the premises before they entered and attempted to steal multiple items.

A short time later at 2:35am, police received further reports that a ram raid occurred at a licenced premises in Humpty Doo where a quantity of alcohol was stolen.

Strike Force Trident detectives reviewed CCTV and identified that the vehicle used in both ram raids was allegedly stolen from a residence in Roseberry. Police have since recovered the vehicle abandoned in Palmerston.

Investigations remain ongoing to locate the offenders and police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to make contact on 131 444.

You can anonymously report on Crimestoppers via 1800 333 000 or online at https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/. Please quote reference number P25080487.

*This media release has been updated since initial release to clarify that two ram raids occurred*

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 26-year-old male after he escaped NT Corrections custody in Tennant Creek on Saturday evening.

At 7:40pm, police received a report that the male had absconded from an NT Corrections work placement on Peko Road.

All available police units responded, and the male’s electronic monitoring device was located removed at an address on Griggs Street.

The male was sighted nearby by an off-duty police officer who apprehended the offender in Boag Court after a short foot chase. He was subsequently arrested at 8:01pm by responding police.

He has since been charged with Escape custody, Trespass and Damage to property.

Superintendent Katie Hatzismalis said, “I commend the excellent work of responding Tennant Creek police, including the off-duty police member who apprehended the offender, ensuring he was returned into NT Corrections custody swiftly.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 17-year-old male in relation to multiple property offences in Karama on Saturday morning.

About 8:10am, police received reports of a robbery at a service station on the corner of Kalymnos Drive and Koolinda Crescent. It is alleged the male entered the premises armed with an edged weapon and stole food before fleeing. 

A short time later, police received further reports that the alleged offender went on to damage a residence with the edged weapon on Dorrigo Crescent.

General duties located and arrested the male nearby without issue. Strike Force Trident took carriage of the investigation and has since charged him with:

• Going equipped for theft (Weapon)
• Aggravated Robbery
• Theft
• Going armed in Public
• Damage to Property

He was remanded to appear in Court today.

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Albanese Government continues to prioritise safety and resilience measures for natural disaster-prone communities with an additional $14 million to extend critical community Wi-Fi services at evacuation centres across Australia.
 
The Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) program has already installed NBN Co. Sky Muster satellite connections to 1068 locations Australia-wide. Interactive map available here.
 
This includes emergency sites across areas in northern New South Wales and south east Queensland which were impacted during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
The additional $14 million will add community Wi-Fi capability to a further 500 emergency sites, and extend services at existing sites for an additional four years, beyond 2025.
 
The Albanese Government will work closely with states and territories to prioritise disaster-prone areas that do not have emergency connectivity solutions to ensure this investment delivers where it is most needed.
 
Since coming to office, the Albanese Government has committed more than $340 million to improve mobile coverage and the resilience of communications networks against natural disasters.
 
This includes through the Mobile Network Hardening Program, the Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation Program, and the Broadcasting Resilience Program, with more than 900 resilience projects delivered this term, and many more to come. 
 
A re-elected Albanese Government will also introduce legislation for a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) in 2025. This world-leading reform will provide near continent-wide outdoor mobile coverage, essential during emergencies and natural disasters which disrupt power and land-based networks.
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
 
“The safety of Australians is the number one priority of the Albanese Government – particularly during natural disasters which are becoming more frequent and severe.
 
“Resilient communications and broadcasting networks are vital for keeping communities safe, informed, and connected during emergencies. It can be the difference between life and death.
 
“Hundreds of thousands of people, homes and businesses in southern Queensland and northern NSW were left without power in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
“Sky Muster satellite internet services can operate off a portable generator even when local ground-based communications networks are down – keeping communities connected when they need it most.”
 
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Emergency Services, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister:
 
“Whether it’s to call a loved one or get the latest information from an alert, staying connected during a disaster can be critical.
 
“This $14 million investment to expand STAND will help more communities stay safe and informed at evacuation centres even if the main communications network goes down.
 
“While no network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, the Albanese Government is determined to do what we can to improve the resilience of communications networks against natural disasters.”

Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

The QAR recommended that superannuation fund trustees should be able to provide personal advice to their members about their interests in the fund, taking into account the member’s personal circumstances, including their family situation and social security entitlements if that is relevant to the advice. The review also recommended removing the restrictions on collective charging of fees.

In its response, the Government said it would clarify the topics for which superannuation funds can charge for advice and the circumstances they can consider in providing advice about a member’s interest in the fund, and to allow collective charging for advice on these topics. The Bill amends section 99F of the SIS Act to enable regulations to be made to specify circumstances in which advice will be taken to relate to the member’s interest in the fund.

The ‘Advice through superannuation’ document released with the draft Bill sets out proposed permitted advice topics (superannuation contributions, investment options, insurance held through superannuation, and retirement income), and permitted circumstances that may be taken into account in giving advice (household cashflow and income, household assets outside super, financial position of spouse, household debts and liabilities, and eligibility for government benefits). It also lists proposed ‘disallowed topics’ that are taken not to relate to the member’s interest in the fund (purchase or disposal of assets held outside super, ‘holistic financial planning’ and estate and tax planning).

The proposed rules broadly align with the existing position under the law, although having the topics specified in regulations might give trustees more confidence about giving intra-fund advice.

however, as is the case now, the intra-fund advice rules will continue to be a prohibition, not permission, and they will continue not to provide any relief from other obligations. Therefore, trustees will also need to continue to comply with the other charging rules, the best financial interests duty, the sole purpose test and the requirement to allocate costs in a fair and reasonable manner across members.

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

This transcript has been redacted in accordance with Digital Transformation Agency guidelines.

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Rory McClaren: In a time of growing global uncertainty, my next guest is currently charged with trying to navigate Australia’s international trade relationships. Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism and South Australian Senator Don Farrell. Good morning to you.

Trade Minister: Good morning, Rory.

Rory McClaren: Minister, ABC News is reporting today that a lobby group representing the big tech sector in the US Is encouraging the Trump administration to try and put pressure on Australia to change its policies. And the group has attacked the way that social media, streaming services, and artificial intelligence is being regulated. How do you respond to that criticism?

Trade Minister: Well, every day, Rory, you get reports of things happening in the United States. I don’t panic about them and try and work through all of these issues, in a calm and consistent way. On this particular topic, of course, we are not singling out United States companies. We treat all companies from all countries equally, and that’s how it should be, and that’s how we’ll proceed to deal with these issues. We have been working to try and improve online safety for all Australians and of course, ensure that we’ve got a diverse and sustainable news media sector. So, that’s our objective out of all of this. And we’ll keep working in the interest of Australians on that online safety and that diversification of the media sector.

Rory McClaren: But is this intervention from this lobby group just another example of how volatile this trade relationship is becoming with the United States?

Trade Minister: Look, again, I don’t think we should be overreacting to everything that comes out from the United States. We’ve had a very long standing and good relationship with the United States. Sure, things have started to change in the last few weeks and the last few months. But the goodwill that we have towards the Americans and that they have towards us is still on display. I spoke with my counterpart, the United States Trade Representative, on Tuesday morning. We had a very good discussion. He got to explain what their objectives are. And I explained to them just how important we think we are to the American economy. We have an interesting trade relationship with America. We roughly have $100 billion worth of trade. We buy $70 billion worth of product off them and we sell them $30 billion worth of product. So, we say to them, look, why would you impose a tariff on a country where you have a trade surplus? He pointed out to me that there are only a few other countries in the world where the United States has a trade surplus. One is Hong Kong and the other one is the Netherlands. So, as best we can, we are trying to explain to the highest levels of the United States government just how our trading relationship works. And we’ll continue to do that over the days and the weeks ahead. Obviously, there’s going to be some developments next week. The American government is going to announce what it’s going to do across the board on tariffs on that.

Rory McClaren: Have you received any reassurances from the Trump administration about Australia and how Australia will be impacted?

Trade Minister: We’re continuing to talk with them, Rory. I think that’s the most appropriate thing I can say at this stage. We want to engage with the Americans. We want to understand what it is that they want out there, out of the relationship. We’ve had 20 years of our free trade agreement. We think it’s been beneficial to both countries. We want that relationship to continue. Obviously, we have a very important relationship, particularly in South Australia with the AUKUS arrangement. We continue to talk to them about that and we have good, strong, friendly relationships with the United States and we want to keep it that way.

Rory McClaren: Just on that, we’ve had a text with a question for you, Senator Don Farrell. Do we have a free trade agreement with the U.S. and if so, have they broken it? Do these free trade agreements really mean anything?

Trade Minister: Well, answering that final question, yes, yes, they are important. You might recall three years ago when I first came into this job, we had $20 billion worth of tariffs and impediments imposed on us by the Chinese government. Despite the fact that we had a free trade agreement with the Chinese. Over that three year period, we – one by one – managed to remove all of those tariffs and all of those trade impediments. The last of them, interestingly, was crayfish just before Christmas last year. And already in that first month we’ve sold $33 million worth of crayfish back into the Chinese market. A record amount. But what did we use? We used our free trade agreement to take issues to, for instance, the World Trade Organization. And we were able to, by combination of diplomacy and other remedies, we were able to resolve each and every one of those issues. So, yes, we do have a free trade agreement with the United States and yes, we are able to use those free trade agreements to progress issues if there is a dispute. Now, obviously first point is we’re trying to resolve issues with the United States by discussion. That’s the first starting point. What we might do subsequently to that. Well, let’s, let’s see what happens. But my ambition is to do what we did in the China situation, that is sit down, open the dialogue, start talking, try and understand what their issues are, but also explain to the Americans what our issues are.

Rory McClaren: Minister, could that also see you travel to the United States ahead of that decision?

Trade Minister: Well, I’ve been taking video conferences in the post Covid world. That’s a pretty good way to talk to people and to communicate with people. I don’t want to predict just how we’ll conduct those negotiations, but the listeners should be, should rest assured that we’re open to dialogue and we are having dialogue with the Americans as we speak. And we’ll continue to do that because I think that’s the way you resolve issues. That’s how you resolve issues. Between other people. And that’s how you resolve issues between countries. And that’s what I’d like to do.

Rory McClaren: Don Farrell, Federal Trade Tourism Minister, thank you for your time.

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

“We’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government.

“This will be transformative project for Melbourne’s north, better connecting these growing suburbs with the city and the region.

“We are committed to delivering critical projects across Victoria that will help keep people moving, which is why we’re investing in Kalkallo.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams

“As Melbourne’s population continues to grow, we are investing in critical projects that will create better journeys for motorists – just like this upgrade.

“After ten years of neglect from the Federal Liberal Government, it’s great to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and help deliver critical projects that people rely on every day.”

Quotes attributable to Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell:

“Our community deserves the infrastructure that will provide safer and faster travel and the Albanese Labor Government is investing in projects that build our future.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Operation Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025 was held from 21 February to 23 March and saw the deployment of foot and bicycle patrols, along with police horses, dogs and Public Transport Safety Branch members to focus on behaviour, liquor licensing compliance, and public safety.

The ‘Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025’ Declared Public Precinct (DPP) was also in place for a 12-hour period from 6pm to 6am every night during the Fringe period, in addition to the city-west DPP already in place.

“The event appears to have been extremely well attended, and I am pleased, as the Police Commander, to report that despite a few minor behavioural matters, most people in attendance were extremely well behaved,” Superintendent Scott Denny said.

“A combination of additional police, the Declared Public Precinct, the extremely well organised event and great behaviour by the public saw a very successful and entertaining Fringe event yet again.

“Police reported that the interactions with the public were friendly which again highlights how wonderful this event is. Pleasingly there were no significant incidents of note.”

Fringe DPP results included:

• Number of people removed from Fringe DPP- 50
• Number of people issued with Licensed Premises Barring Orders within DPP- 0
• Number of expiation notices issued for Offensive/Disorderly in Fringe DPP- 8
• Number of people searched with a metal detector in the Fringe DPP- 83
• Number of weapons located from a metal detector search in Fringe DPP- 0
• Number of people arrested for breaching of Fringe DPP- 1
• Number of people arrested/reported in Fringe DPP- 6

Anecdotally, police reported large numbers of the public in the CBD each night, swelling extensively in the East End on Friday and Saturday nights being the peak times for the demand of police resources. Festival organisers announced the sale of one million tickets for the 2025 event.

“Thank you to all involved in keeping festival goers safe for another year,” Superintendent Denny added.

“It’s great to see the city come alive with many locals and visitors, and we look forward to being part of next year’s event.”