Month: May 2025

Source: Australian National Party

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia

April 2025 REOS shows steady recruitment

Ebony

Tue, 2025-05-20 11:57

Source: New South Wales – News

A 31-year-old woman, a 32 -year-old man from Paralowie and a 34-year-old man from Munno Para West were stopped after they disembarked a flight from Sydney.

Concealed within their luggage police located approximately 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in bath salt containers.

The trio were arrested and have been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

They appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday 19 May where they were remanded in custody to face court at a later date.

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Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Due to an increase in police demand, Katherine police have increased proactive measures in order to drive down crime and antisocial behaviour.

Alcohol remains a primary catalyst for crime an anti-social behaviour across the region, and in response, police have significantly increased Banned Drinkers Orders (BDO) for problem drinkers.

February to April saw a 354% increase in the number of BDO’s issued. For the month of April, 145 people were rejected from purchasing alcohol due to an active BDO.

In addition to these measures, since March 2025, 280 SupportLink referrals have been made by Katherine Police. Support Link delivers targeted referral and diversion services to people who require social services assistance. These referrals can be made to address issues such as domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol dependence, drug and alcohol diversions and homelessness.

Commander Terry Zhang said, “Our members have seen a noticeable increase in the demand for our services due to a sudden surge of people into the Katherine Region.

“In response to this, we have shifted to proactively tackling the drivers of crime and antisocial behaviour through support services and alcohol restrictions. In addition to these changes, we will also welcome a further 15 new constables who will start in Katherine from mid-June to further enhance our targeted operations.

“Police have also continued to work closely with other organisations in Katherine. This includes working with the local council on early morning patrols focused on rough sleepers, and a joint operation with Public Housing Officers targeting problem tenancies.

“Police would like to thank the Katherine Community for their ongoing support and re-iterate our commitment to keeping the Katherine community safe.”

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Australia’s two largest airline groups have both recorded strong financial results for the first half of 2024-25, reflecting a number of factors including strong ongoing demand for flying and limited domestic competition, the ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition report has found.

Qantas Group reported earnings before interest and taxes of $1.5 billion for the first half of 2024-25, with $916 million coming from its domestic operations across both Qantas and Jetstar.

Of the Qantas Group’s total earnings, Qantas Domestic, including Qantaslink, contributed the highest share of the group’s earnings at $647 million. Much of this result can be attributed to the airline’s dominance in the corporate travel market – Qantas Group had an 80 per cent share of the corporate travel market over the reporting period, coinciding with a resurgence in demand.

“The high half-yearly earnings reported by Qantas Group reflect its dominance of the domestic airline sector, with Qantas and Jetstar accounting for over 60 per cent of passengers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

The domestic operations of Jetstar recorded the biggest increase in earnings across the Qantas Group, increasing by 53.7 per cent between the first half 2023-24 and 2024-25, to $269 million. Jetstar Domestic became the sole low-cost carrier in Australia after the exit of Tigerair in 2020, and again when Bonza collapsed in April 2024.

“Jetstar has been able to capitalise on the continued absence of competitive pressure from another low-cost carrier in the domestic market to increase its market share and operating margin,” Ms Brakey said.

While Virgin Australia does not publicly report half-year results, its then CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said in February that the airline group had achieved record profits in the first half of the current financial year, following its post-administration restructure under Bain Capital.

After the withdrawal of Rex from routes connecting capital cities, Virgin Australia has increased its share of passengers to 34.4 per cent in March 2025, up from 31.3 per cent from a year prior. Virgin Australia also secured three of Rex’s Boeing 737 aircraft leases, which has facilitated its ability to add seat capacity and improve network resilience.

Record passenger volumes in April following weather disruptions in March

Although the data was not yet available for this report, airlines and airports were expecting a significant increase in travellers in April with school holidays, Easter and ANZAC day all condensed into a three-week period. Airservices Australia noted that 17 April 2025 (the Thursday before Good Friday) was the busiest day for domestic travel in the past five years.

This follows disruptions to travel in March, when passenger levels declined by 4.9 per cent compared to March 2024, which can be attributed to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and associated severe weather events along the east coast of Australia.

Flights operating between Brisbane-Sydney and Brisbane-Melbourne experienced a 9.9 per cent and 9 per cent reduction in passengers in March 2025 respectively. Meanwhile, Gold Coast and Maroochydore airports experienced the biggest decline in passengers over this period by 30.2 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively.

The weather disruptions also contributed to the average industry flight cancellation rate increasing significantly in March 2025 to 5 per cent, compared to the long-term industry average of 2.2 per cent.

Despite the disruptions caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the on-time arrival rate has improved over the past six months to levels just below the long-term industry average of 80.7 per cent. The average industry on-time arrival rate was 80.2 per cent in March 2025, an improvement from 74.5 per cent in October 2024.

“It is encouraging to see the on-time arrival rate improving as this means travellers can have more confidence that their flight will arrive at the time they booked,” Ms Brakey said.

Seasonal patterns driving recent movements in airfares

Following a peak in October 2024, the average airfare fell by 16.1 per cent in the three months to January 2025, before increasing again by 9.6 per cent by March 2025.

“The trends observed in average airfares since January reflect seasonal factors and are broadly consistent with those observed in previous years,” Ms Brakey said.

“Average airfares have come down from their peak in October 2024.”

Demand for domestic air travel in the first quarter of 2025 was lower than 12 months prior. However, 2024 was a particularly unusual year by comparison due to significant events that led to unprecedented demand for flights to Melbourne and Sydney, such as the Taylor Swift concerts in February 2024, which in turn led to higher airfares as demand outstripped supply. The Easter long weekend also fell in March last year which contributed to the increase in demand for travel during this time.

Background

On 6 November 2023, the Treasurer directed the ACCC to recommence domestic air passenger transport monitoring. Under this direction the ACCC is to monitor prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of domestic air passenger transport services for a period of three years and to report on its monitoring at least once every quarter.

The ACCC collects data from Jetstar, Qantas, Rex and Virgin Australia for monitoring purposes.

Rex entered voluntary administration in July 2024 but continues to operate its regional services. The government is guaranteeing regional flight bookings for Rex customers throughout the voluntary administration process.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Greater Bendigo residents are invited to have their say on the potential sale of a number of City of Greater Bendigo owned properties.

The City manages a portfolio of close to 1,500 property assets valued in excess of $577 million that provide for community, sports and arts infrastructure, public space to serve the community.

The properties that have been identified as potentially surplus are located at:

• Rear 158 Eaglehawk Road, Long Gully (carpark)
• 519 Crusoe Road, Lockwood – Previous Lockwood Tennis Club
• Crown Allotment 10, Huntly-Fosterville Road, Fosterville
• Settlement Road, Elmore
• CA 61C Houliston Road, Leichardt
• Leichardt Hall and Tennis Courts, Cleary Road Leichardt
• 3 Lona Close, Spring Gully
• 6 The Strand, Kennington

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said following a detailed review of City owned property holdings, a number of properties have been identified that are not planned for future use, in line with any City strategies or plans.

“The properties are potentially surplus to the City’s needs and if they are identified as surplus at a future Council meeting, the City may sell them by private treaty, public auction or other arrangement with the proceeds of any sale to be set aside and used for future building or land improvements or strategic land purchases,” Cr Metcalf said.

“As the population grows and demographics of various areas change, there are different building and land needs.  In some areas where there is substantial population growth such as the outer urban areas of Bendigo there may be a requirement for new community or sporting facilities, or open space to meet needs. However, in other areas, due to a shift in demographics, buildings and open space may no longer be used or be fit for purpose, or in some instances are adequately provided elsewhere.

“The City has a commitment to consult with the community in line with its Community Engagement Policy and the Local Government Act 2020 and residents are invited to make any comments on whether the properties should be identified as surplus by Friday June 20, 2025.

“All comments and submissions we receive during the consultation period will be considered and a report will be prepared and presented to Council.

“Council will not make any decision on the identification of the properties as surplus for sale until all community comments have been considered.”

Comments and written submissions can be submitted by Friday June 20.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a 21-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery in Sadadeen on 27 April.

He was arrested yesterday afternoon by members of the Southern Investigations team and was subsequently charged with aggravated robbery. He is remanded to appear in Alice Springs Local Court today.

The 24-year-old male arrested on 2 May 2025 was subsequently charged with Aggravated robbery and was remanded to re-appear in Alice Springs Local Court on 5 June 2025.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

Parents, students and teachers are invited to make a submission to inform the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review which has been launched by the Albanese Labor Government. 

The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review is a key part of the Government’s plans to develop a national approach to addressing bullying in Australian schools. 

The Review, being led by Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM, is examining current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.

The Review will consult broadly with key stakeholders across metropolitan and regional Australia, including parents, teachers, students, parent groups, state education departments and the non-government sector. 

Submissions will help in understanding the different approaches to responding to bullying in schools and the effectiveness of them.

Bullying has no place in our schools. Students, teachers and staff should always feel safe in the classroom.

That’s why we will listen to parents, students, teachers and staff to develop a national strategy that is grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences.

The final report of the Review will be presented to all Australian Education Ministers in coming months. 

Submissions are now open and close on 20 June 2025. 

Visit www.education.gov.au/antibullying-rapid-review to make a submission, which can be made anonymously if preferred.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Bullying is not just something that happens in schools, but schools are places where we can intervene and provide support for students.

“All students and staff should be safe at school, and free from bullying and violence.

“That’s why we’re taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools. 

“Last year we worked together to ban mobile phones in schools. This is another opportunity for us to support students, teachers and parents across the country. 

“We will listen to parents, teachers, students and work with the states and territories to get this right.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Just after 5.20pm on Sunday 18 May police were called to Angle Vale Road with the intersection of Stebonheath Road to reports of a crash between a Ford SUV and a Hyundai sedan.

The occupants of the Hyundai, a 75-year-old woman and her 80-year-old male passenger from Waterloo Corner, together with the driver of the Ford, a 44-year-old Gawler West woman were taken to hospital for the treatment of injuries.

Sadly last night the passenger of the Hyundia, died in hospital.

The driver of the Hyundia remains in hospital in a serious condition.

The driver of the Ford was treated for minor injuries.

Major Crash Investigators will now examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The man’s death is the 33^rd life lost of the roads this year.