Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
New ACT laws aim to support tenants experiencing domestic or family violence.
In brief:
New ACT rental laws aim to help victim-survivors leave abusive situations.
The laws allow tenants experiencing domestic or family violence to break their lease.
This article explains what the new laws mean for tenants.
New ACT rental laws to help victim-survivors leave abusive situations are now in place.
The new laws allow tenants who have experienced domestic and family violence to break a lease immediately.
To give their landlord a family violence termination notice, tenants need to provide supporting evidence.
This could include a declaration from a specified list of professionals or a relevant legal order.
Relevant professionals include:
social workers
doctors
nurses
community support workers at family violence or child welfare services.
The legislation also seeks to ensure victim-survivors’ confidentiality by preventing landlords or agents from sharing tenants’ sensitive information.
Other reforms include new provisions to protect tenants by:
limiting rent increases
mandating break-lease fee caps
simplifying property condition reports for tenants signing on for a new tenancy at the same rental property.
Further rental reforms to come
From 9 January 2025 landlords will need to provide tenants with:
safety information about any swimming pools or spas at the rental property
a unit title rental certificate, if the property is a unit.
The unit title rental certificate provides tenants with important information about the owner’s corporation and the common property of their unit’s complex.
These reforms progress the ACT’s commitment to the ‘Better Deal for Renters’ agreed by the National Cabinet. It aims to strengthen renters’ rights across Australia.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Ms Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi is the 2024 Young Canberran Citizen of the Year.
In brief:
The 2024 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award recipients have been announced.
The Awards celebrate Canberrans aged 12 to 25 who have made a significant contribution to the community.
There are seven categories in this year’s Awards.
A young African-Australian community leader has won the 2024 Young Canberran Citizen of the Year Award.
Ms Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi is an Executive Youth Leader at the African Australian Council ACT. She uses her lived experience to be a role model for young people.
In 2019, Ms Rabi emigrated from South Sudan, aged 15. She had lost both her parents at a young age.
Today she encourages celebrating African culture in Canberra. She promotes social cohesion and engagement in the broader community.
Her advocacy promotes inclusivity. It also fosters a greater understanding of the experiences and contributions of African Australians.
Winners and commendations
The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards celebrate Canberrans aged 12 to 25 who have made a significant contribution to the ACT community.
The awards celebrate young people for achievements in fields such as sport, education, science, culture, the arts and the environment.
There were seven categories in this year’s Awards.
Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award
Winner: Ms Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi
Ms Rabi is an Executive Youth Leader at the African Australian Council ACT. She is a powerful advocate for African-Australian youth. She celebrates African culture and promotes social cohesion, helping to reduce isolation and the impact of racial abuse, while encouraging broader community engagement.
Commendation: Ms Tahalianna Mahanga
Young Achiever Award
Winner: Mr Seth Burr
Seth Burr is a Leadership group member at his school. He is also a mentor for younger students and a member of ACT Scouts. He participates in ANZAC Day marches, Gang Shows, peer monitoring, school musicals and fundraising events.
Commendation: Ms Emma Booth
Personal Achievement Award
Winner: Miss Jasmine Eldridge
Jasmine Eldridge, a single mother, has overcome many personal challenges. She has gained a diploma in Educational Studies. Through lived experience she advocates for young people with disabilities.
Commendation: Ms Jemma Rule
Individual Community Service Award
Winner: Mx Madison (Casey) Barancewicz
Mx Barancewicz is actively involved in Youth Advocacy Groups, projects. These include the ACT Youth Advisory Council, Disability Youth Reference Group, Unruly Girls Youth Ethics Advisory Group, Member and The ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Alliance, the Youth Mental Health Youth Reference Group (YRG).
Commendation: Miss Sonali Varma
Environment and Sustainability Award
Winner: Ms Anjali Sharma
Ms Sharma is a climate activist. She introduced a Bill with Senator David Pocock, called the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Equity) Bill. She did this to compel the Federal Government to take the health of young people into consideration when approving developments that may release greenhouse gases.
Commendation: Ms Yuna Rougeaux
Commendation: Ms Neve Larsen
Arts and Multimedia Award
Winner: Ms Tahalianna Mahanga
Ms Mahanga is a proud young Wiradjuri and Tongan woman. She performs as a solo vocalist. She is also a youth advocate, including the ACT Student Representative at the National School Reform Agreement Ministerial Reference Group. She was involved with The Mindyigari Centre for Excellence at Erindale College and the Gugan Gulwan Youth Association.
Commendation: Ms Grace Flanagan
Group Achievement Award
Winner: St Mary MacKillop College
The Year 12 cohort at St Mary MacKillop College designed the ‘Relay Your Way’ event. This local community initiative celebrates cancer survivorship, honours those we’ve lost, and spurs on the fight against cancer. They raised over $75,000 for the Relay for Life this year, the highest fundraising total for Relay for Life across Australia.
Commendation: ACT Child and Youth Mental Health Sector Alliance Youth Reference Group
Nomination and assessment
Anyone can nominate a young person for an award. People can also self-nominate.
The nominations are assessed by representatives from the:
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 17-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Karama overnight.
Around 7:45pm, police received reports that two male youths entered a licenced premises on Kalymnos Drive, one of which allegedly threatened a staff member with an edged weapon and stole a quantity of cash from the register.
Security staff attended and the youths fled the scene on foot in the direction of Robyn Leslie Park on Koolinda Crescent.
Strike Force Trident later located and arrested a 17-year-old male who is expected to be charged later today.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25116385. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Queensland communities will continue to receive critical support to reduce the nuisance impacts of flying-fox roosts, while supporting the conservation of these protected species.
Round 8 of the highly successful Flying-Fox Roost Management – Local Government Grant Program opens on 30 April.
Originally a four-year $2 million initiative scheduled to end in 2024, the program has been extended for a further three years, with an additional $1.5 million funding boost.
Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Acting Deputy Director-General Andrew Buckley said the program ensured councils could continue to take meaningful action to reduce the impacts flying-fox roosts on communities, while enabling these protected species to continue to play their important ecological role.
“Flying-foxes play a crucial role in ecosystems by pollinating native plants and dispersing seeds over vast distances, helping forests regenerate and maintain biodiversity and supporting the health of entire habitats, including those that many other species rely on,” Mr Buckley said.
“But we know that for communities living near flying-fox roosts, they can have profound impacts due to the noise, odour and mess on the ground they generate
“This grant program recognises this and helps local governments manage flying-fox roosts with a focus on long-term planning, roost modification, habitat rehabilitation, and innovative community engagement.
“Since its launch, 29 councils have delivered 76 successful projects, ranging from tree trimming and roost maintenance to covered walkways, education programs and community grants.
“Flying-foxes are a vital part of Queensland’s ecosystems, and this program empowers councils to balance biodiversity conservation with community wellbeing,” Mr Buckley said.
Stream 1: Immediate/High-Priority Actions – for urgent on-ground works near roosts.
Stream 2: Development of Roost Management Plans – to support long-term planning, and
Stream 3: Implementation of Roost Management Plans – to bring management strategies to life.
Applications for funding under Round 8 of the program close on 28 May 2025, with further details available here.
Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).
Information
Due to scheduled system maintenance, AAMP will be unavailable between 20:00 to 23:30 Friday 02 May 2025 (AEST).
Action
Clients are advised to await the completion of this maintenance period before attempting to access this service…
Sadly, police can confirm a 32-year-old man has died in Southern Tasmania.
The man was the passenger in a vehicle involved in a crash on Johnston Road at St Leonards on 17 April.
Following the crash the man was flown to hospital in a serious condition and has since passed away.
Sadly the 27-year-old woman who was the driver of the vehicle died at the scene of the crash.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the crash.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
We’ve reviewed our travel advice for Spain and continue to advise exercise normal safety precautions.
There’s an ongoing threat of terrorism in Spain. The national terrorism alert level for Spain is ‘high’. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur anywhere, at any time and without warning. Take official warnings seriously and follow the advice of local authorities.
The City in collaboration with the Central Victoria Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) and Bendigo Sustainability Group have developed a Home Energy Empowerment Program to help local homeowners and renters to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
City of Greater Bendigo Climate Change and Environment Manager Michelle Wyatt said the Home Energy Empowerment Program has been developed to support local households to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their home, plan for the short and long term, and save on their energy bills.
“Everyone is feeling the impact of rising energy costs and the City and our partners want to empower residents with the information they need to know to make their homes energy efficient and to ultimately save money,” Ms Wyatt said.
The program is free and will commence on Sunday May 4, 2025 with an in-person home energy efficiency planning session at the Old Church on the Hill 36 Russell Street, Quarry Hill from 10.30am to 12pm.
It will then continue through to October with fortnightly short webinars on: