Month: May 2025

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is aware of media reporting that the ATO has been ‘hacked’. This is incorrect. The ATO’s systems are secure, resilient and have not been compromised.

The safety of taxpayers’ information is of the utmost importance to us, and the ATO continues to remain vigilant for new and emerging cyber threats.

If an individual sees unusual activity on their ATO account, it may be related to identity theft. Identity information can be compromised in a variety of ways, including requests for information by malicious actors, phishing emails, large-scale data breaches, and individual device or home network hacking.

When the ATO suspects that a taxpayer’s identity may be compromised, the ATO activates stringent security measures to protect the taxpayer.

If an individual is found to be a victim of third-party fraud, we will work with them to fix their client account and remediate it to its true and genuine position. The ATO will then work to recover the monies.

In the past year, the ATO has introduced a range of measures to better protect client identity and accounts. The ATO will soon be deploying additional security features in the ATO app, which will enable taxpayers to better protect themselves. This includes the ability to receive secure messages from the ATO when key information, such as bank account details, are changed.

The ATO continues to encourage individuals to use myID when interacting with the ATO’s online services and to set up to the highest identity strength where possible to make it harder for fraudsters to exploit their identities.

The ATO reminds taxpayers to be wary of scam emails, phone calls and text messages claiming to be from the ATO, particularly at Tax Time. The ATO may use SMS or email to ask taxpayers to contact us, but will never send an unsolicited message containing a hyperlink to log on to online services. Always access ATO services directly by typing ato.gov.au or my.gov.au into your browser.

If taxpayers have divulged personal information, such as your myGov details, or paid a scammer, they should contact the ATO immediately on 1800 008 540 so they can take appropriate steps to protect your information. In addition to calling the ATO, if taxpayers think their identity has been compromised and it has impacted their tax affairs, they should also inform their tax agent.

The ATO encourages the community to engage with them through reportscams@ato.gov.au or refer to ato.gov.au/scams for more information on how to spot and report ATO Impersonation Scams.

Notes to journalists

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 19 May 2025

The Queensland Government will help safeguard populations of purple-necked rock-wallabies through a $364,000 offset program that will improve crucial habitat in the state’s northwest.

The four-year offset project will fund environmental improvements on Chidna Station, which is a 26,000-hectare pastoral lease property around 130 kilometres north of Mount Isa.

Chidna Station features rugged, rough country of breathtaking beauty that provides ideal habitat for the purple-necked rock wallaby along with other threatened species.

The offset project will be a collaboration between the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and environmental management group Conservation Partners.

Conservation Partners have developed a strategic management plan for the purple-necked rock-wallabies, and will focus on the following pivotal actions:

• Fire Break Maintenance – Fire breaks can help contain and reduce the impacts of bushfires.
• Prescribed Burning – Planned burns will foster habitat diversity and promote growth of plant species that purple-necked rock-wallabies browse upon.
• Fire Scar Mapping – High-resolution mapping and analysis of historical data will evaluate the success of fire management strategies for purple-necked rock-wallaby habitat.
• Population monitoring – Surveys will evaluate the effects of fire management strategies on purple-necked rock-wallaby population dynamics.

Acting Deputy Director General Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Kahil Lloyd said the Queensland Government is committed to protecting and conserving our populations of threatened species.

“This collaborative offset project represents a significant step forward in boosting populations of an at-risk species on privately-owned land,” Mr Lloyd said.

“I’d like to thank the landholder at Chidna Station for their dedication to conservation and protecting the natural and cultural values of their property.

“Conservation Partners have vast experience in habitat and species management and through this project will build upon the exceptional work of the department’s threatened species unit.

“Our Offsets Framework is just one of the ways that we are making a difference to our threatened species.”

Conservation Partners Chief Executive Steve Murphy said the organisation works closely with private landholders to conserve Queensland’s threatened species.

“Conservation Partners works on stations in western Queensland, the Gulf and Cape York Peninsula, and many cattle stations have important conservation values,” he said.

“Over the next four years we will work with Indigenous landowner Brussie Spreadborough to improve fire patterns on Chidna Station, mainly using aerial prescribed burning.

“We’ll also closely monitor the impact on Purple-necked Rock-wallabies as well as Chidna’s other endangered wildlife populations, such as Carpentarian Grasswrens and Gouldian Finches.”

Brussie Spreadborough said the partnership with Conservation Partners is a win-win situation.

“Working with Conservation Partners means that I can concentrate on cattle, while also having a hand in good conservation work that looks after the native wildlife that lives on my place,” he said.

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 19 May 2025

Rangers are reminding fishers to be alert on K’gari after a man was bitten by a dingo whilst fishing in knee deep water around 11:30am near Eurong on 16 May 2025.

The man was fishing alone when he was approached from behind by the dingo. It bit him on the back of the leg, resulting in two puncture wounds and a small superficial laceration which required basic first aid treatment.

The man told rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) that the dingo was almost fully submerged in the water at the time of the incident.

He was wearing a fishing bag containing a fish, and rangers believe the dingo may have been attracted by the smell.

After being bitten, the man used his fishing rod to make contact with the dingo.

In addition to this incident, DETSI has received recent reports that dingoes have been loitering around fishers on the island in hope of getting a free feed.

Dingoes are known to steal fish and bait from anywhere they can scavenge, including vehicles, berley bags, shallow waters and straight off a fisher’s line.

To fish responsibly, it’s important to stay close to the water’s edge when reeling in a fish and avoid dragging your catch across the sand.

When removing bait from fishing hooks, it is recommended that a protective cover is placed on the hook, and it is stored out of reach of dingoes.

Ranger Dan Novak would like to remind all visitors including fishers to be alert for dingoes on K’gari.

“Dingoes are opportunistic predators and will strike when they see a chance to do so,” Mr Novak said.

“To avoid a dingo incident, it’s always a good idea to have a mate stand guard, preferably holding a dingo stick.

“It is an offence to hang bait or berley bags on the outside of vehicles, in trees, or have these lying around.

“We have also seen dingoes grabbing bycatch or fish that are undersized as they’re being released.

“To reduce the chance of a negative dingo interaction we remind visitors to be dingo safe at all times.”

Visitors to K’gari are reminded to ‘Be dingo-safe!’ at all times:

• Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
• Always walk in groups and carry a stick.
• Camp in fenced areas where possible
• Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction
• Never feed dingoes
• Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)
• Never store food or food containers in tents, and
• Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.

For more information go to K’gari dingoes

Source: New South Wales – News

Just before 5.30pm on Monday 19 May, police were called to Kavanagh Road at Echunga after reports a car crashed into a tree.

Kavanagh Road will be closed to all traffic between Battunga Road and Shepherd Road.  Please take an alternative route.

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Kieran Gilbert, Host: Joining me live in the studio is the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell. Thanks for your time. A lot to talk about. I will ask you about that issue that the Deputy Prime Minister finished on there in terms of productivity and the superannuation, but let’s start on trade. Will you get the deal done with the EU? We’re hearing that the talks will resume soon.

Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Yes. In fact, I’m going to be talking to my counterpart tomorrow. So, you might recall in the middle of the election, I had a conversation with Trade Minister Maroš. He’s from Slovakia. We hit it off pretty well, I think, in our first discussion. He sent me a very kind and warm message on election night when it was clear that we had won the election. I’ve subsequently had a meeting with the EU Ambassador and reaffirmed our commitment and heard from him his commitment.

Gilbert: Sounding good?

Trade Minister: Sounding good, yeah, yep. And as I said, I’ve got a conversation with him tomorrow. And of course, in the meantime, the Prime Minister has met President von der Leyen.

Gilbert: The sticking point was on the geographical indicators and also on agriculture. Is that right?

Trade Minister: Yeah.

GILBERT: So, will there be compromise there from the EU?

Trade Minister: Look, what – the politics have changed in two years. I think both Australia and Europe now realise that there’s a priority and an imperative to get a free trade agreement. If other countries don’t want to trade with you, well that’s fine, that’s their decision. But if there are countries such as Europe who do want to do trade with you, well then you’ve got to go that extra mile to get an agreement over the line.

Gilbert: And the things that changed, we know, Donald Trump.

Trade Minister: Yeah, yeah, well look, look. A whole lot of things have changed since we last had a conversation. But I think we share the same values as Europe. So, those geographical indicators are hard issues. On the one hand, the Europeans say, well look, you’re using all of our names. On the other hand, what I say to them is, look, after World War II, a whole lot of Europeans came to Australia. They bought their families, they bought their culture, more importantly, they bought their food and wine.

Gilbert: They sure did.

Trade Minister: Yeah. And for them, the link with Europe is not an economic link, it’s a way that they keep in contact with their European roots.

Gilbert: Would you like to see then, that trade deal, you know, if you are successful in landing that, also expand into a security relationship? Because that’s what von der Leyen has raised with the Prime Minister overnight, that we talk not just in trade terms, but security terms, like Japan and Korea have.

Trade Minister: Yeah, look, look. My space is trade. I’m going to be focused on the trade agenda. We’ve gone a long way down that path. We need to complete that process. What happens with defence and all of those other issues? The Prime Minister has addressed that today. He said, look, we’re happy to look at these things, but our immediate priority with the Europeans is all about trade.

Gilbert: When the PM went to the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, why was it important in your view to be there? Is it something that, you know, a Prime Minister necessarily has to be at, the inauguration of a new Pope?

Trade Minister: Look, I think it was very important that the Prime Minister was there. As you know, he sent me to the funeral a couple of weeks ago. That was obviously, you know, a very solemn event. This was a very joyous event for Australia’s 5 million Catholics, of which the Prime Minister and myself are both adherents to the Catholic faith. I think it was very important that Australia be represented there and represented at the highest level.

Gilbert: Do you think it’s also important in a more secular world that the leadership does show respect to people of faith? Is this something, you know, in simple terms, that people of other faiths will respect?

Trade Minister: Well, look, I think that’s part of it. But this new pope, Pope Leo XIV, has come out very strongly on the issue of peace. That’s very important for Australia. We’ve been calling for peace in Ukraine. We want the Russians to withdraw from Ukraine. And we also want peace in the Middle East. So, I think we’re on board with the agenda for this new Pope to start talking about a more peaceful world. That’s good for Australia and it’s good for the world.

Gilbert: Ok. On some other issues, my colleague Andrew Clennell reported yesterday that state MPs and officials won’t be hit by the government’s super tax on funds upwards of $3 million. Is that viable? You’ve been around politics a long time. Do you think you can still sell that as a policy when people start to realise that some premiers and officials won’t have to pay it?

Trade Minister: Well, look, this tax applies to very, very few people. Less than 0.5 per cent of the population are going to be affected. And of course, it only applies to people on very, very high balances. There are some constitutional issues that relate to how superannuation is dealt with by state governments. But rest assured that the people who are going to be making this decision will themselves be covered by this tax, if they get to that high level of superannuation.

Gilbert: The $3 million fund, I mean, as you touched on, we did go to the election recently, but do you think people, when the details start to emerge about taxing unrealised gains and so on, that that’s going to be a bit complex to try and navigate for the government?

Trade Minister: Look, I hope not. We nailed our colours to the mast in respect to this tax. We tried to get it through the last Parliament, it wasn’t successful. We took it to the last election. So, nobody was in any doubt about what our policy was in respect of this tax. And we’ve received an overwhelming endorsement from the Australian people. So, I think in terms of honesty, if we didn’t proceed with this, then I think people would say, well, what’s going on? You said you were going to do this. We’ve built the savings from this new super tax into our future budgets. So, I think now, we’ve got the endorsement for the Australian people. It’s a very, very minor tax in the scheme of things, and I think the Australian people would now expect us to proceed with it.

Gilbert: And do you think the Treasurer can make it work just with all of those other complications?

Trade Minister: Well, he’s a very, very good Treasurer and I think-

Gilbert: There are those that say it’s just too complex in terms of tax structures and people’s superannuation. You might have an impact on productivity because people will pull out of the workforce before they hit that threshold.

Trade Minister: I think people are barking up the wrong tree. I doubt whether the relatively small impact of this tax is going to result in any of those sorts of things. But we’ve got a very good salesman in Jim Chalmers and of course, now he’s being assisted by Daniel Mulino, who’s a very good friend of mine. He’s got a, I think it’s a Master of Economics from Yale, very smart fellow, and I think that combination will be very successful.

Gilbert: I know you’ve got to go. Just quickly, what else is on your agenda? You’ve got that, the talks tomorrow with the EU.

Trade Minister: Yes, yes, and India.

Gilbert: What’s at the top of your agenda here?

Trade Minister: We were very close to a free trade agreement with India before the election was called. I’m now confident that we’ll get another agreement with them. And of course, in a few weeks’ time, the United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement comes into operation. The United Arab Emirates is like the Woollies warehouse of the Middle East. If you can get your product in there. And all of our products are going into the UAE tariff free. It’s a really good, really good agreement.

Gilbert: 93 seats for Labor, you must have said some pretty strong prayers when you were over in the Vatican. They seem like they’ve worked.

Trade Minister: I did. Look, we were the last people, I think, to touch the Pope’s coffin before we went out for the Mass. And I did say a little prayer for the Prime Minister and the Labor Party.

Gilbert: Certainly strengthened your favour. Don Farrell, thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

Trade Minister: Thanks, Kieran.

Source: New South Wales Government 2

19 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

This change affects importers of mushroom spawn and/or cultures for propagation, brokers, assessment officers and inspection teams.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) will update the import conditions and onshore management of mushroom spawn and/or cultures for propagation on 23 May 2025.

These updates will affect importers, brokers, and department…

Source: New South Wales Government 2

19 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.

All clients submitting the below declarations:

• Full Import Declaration (FID)
• Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
• Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
• Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
• Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)
• Master…

Source: New South Wales Government 2

16 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries including importers, customer brokers, freight forwarders, port authorities, transport operators, and biosecurity industry participants.

Purpose

This Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) is to engage and seek nominations from relevant industry representatives to participate in a co-design workshop to assist in developing the Biosecurity Business Network program.

Key…

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

A smoking ceremony and community planting of native species have today marked the official opening of the $1.5M Strathfieldsaye Town Square.

The Strathfieldsaye Town Square has been named Djayi balak garat, which means ‘tread lightly you lot on Country’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language.

The project is the first to be completed from start to finish under the Yilingga Marna (‘shake hands’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language) agreement between the City of Greater Bendigo and DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation).

Yilingga Marna recognises each organisation’s priorities and Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples’ rights as the Traditional Owners of this land. It provides an agreed pathway for the City to deliver projects on Country that are also on Crown land.

Under the agreement, Dja Dja Wurrung enterprise DJANDAK created timber furniture with custom artwork by Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist Drew Berick, interpretive signage, and completed contemporary tree scarring and understory planting.

Successfully working with DJANDAK on a paving design, the City completed the paving works on site. The paving in the central space symbolises all people in the community meeting together.

The project also extended to the delivery of a mural on the recently constructed Emu Creek underpass by Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist Troy Firebrace.

The town square also included the construction of flexible, paved gathering spaces, a north-south shared path connecting Apsley Street and Wellington Street/Strathfieldsaye Road, a hardscape commercial break out area, raised garden beds with seating, native planting and shade trees and open lawn space.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said Djayi balak garat forms the future heart of Strathfieldsaye.

“The creation of a town square was a key outcome of the 2017 Strathfieldsaye Urban Development Framework, where the community told us they wanted a gathering place for local events,” Cr Metcalf said.

“This landmark destination provides a place for residents to shop, gather, meet, attend events and enjoy.

“We would like to thank our DJAARA friends and colleagues for walking together with us to deliver this project. Strong, genuine engagement with Traditional Owners has achieved an amazing outcome, revitalising Country and providing our community with a renewed space.

“We are excited to see the community make use of the space and put it at the heart of local celebrations, events and other activities, while remembering to tread lightly and care for Country as we go.”

DJAARA General Manager Cassandra Lewis said it was fitting for the first project under Yilingga Marna to be about community gathering together.

“Community gathering for ceremony and trade is an important aspect of Djaara culture – and, indeed, of many cultures. The town square is a place where people from all cultures can gather and share Country together,” Ms Lewis said.

“Creative elements in the town square remind us of the continued presence of Dja Dja Wurrung People, but there’s a strong emphasis on this being a shared space where all people can meet equally.

“Dja Dja Wurrung People are proud to share our culture and our language with the broader community. We hope the community will come away with a deeper understanding of contemporary Dja Dja Wurrung culture, and to connect over shared values like caring for Country.”

Source: New South Wales Government 2

15 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned maintenance period.

All clients required to use the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system during…