Month: May 2025

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

I am honoured to be reappointed the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the second term Albanese Labor Government, and I thank the Prime Minister for his continued support. 

In our first three years, we embarked on a transformative agenda to reform commonwealth infrastructure investment and return discipline to investment decisions. 

This included reforming the infrastructure pipeline so Australians can have confidence projects can be delivered when they are promised, and securing new five-year funding agreements with the jurisdictions that require infrastructure investments to be properly planned and costed.

In transport, we embarked on significant reform to Australia’s aviation industry including reforms to the slot system at Sydney Airport for the first time in 25 years, and landed a record number of bilateral air agreements. 

We restored integrity to the federal grants process, increased funding for local roads, and legislated a national fuel efficiency standard. 

With the foundations set in the first term, it is time to harness the opportunity to build a better and stronger future, with infrastructure that connects people and businesses and makes our communities not just liveable, but desirable.

We have a significant agenda for our second term, including: establishing a robust consumer aviation protection regime, preserving regional aviation and driving competition in the sector; driving productivity in construction and across our supply chains; getting on with Melbourne Airport Rail, fixing Queensland’s Bruce Highway, finishing Western Sydney International, and much more. 

I look forward to continuing to work with an impressive team of Ministers to progress this important work.  

The Australian people have put their trust in us and we look forward to delivering on our commitments.  

 

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

CANOWIE BELT

Issued on
14 May 2025 11:01

Canowie Belt Shed Fire

Issued for CANOWIE BELT in the state’s Mid North.

The CFS is responding to a shed fire at Canowie Belt, approximately 18 kilometres east of Jamestown, in the Mid North of South Australia.

CFS volunteers on 8 trucks are on scene working to extinguish the fire and prevent the fire spreading to nearby fields.

Smoke will be visible for some distance.

Roads are currently open around this incident, however, this may change at short notice. Continue to monitor at: traffic.sa.gov.au

Smoke may impact roads in the area, and visibility may be reduced. To ensure your safety and that of firefighters and other emergency personnel who are working in the area, please do not enter the area unless necessary.

Message ID 0008600

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Three of five alleged offenders have been arrested in relation to an aggravated robbery along Bagot Road yesterday.

About 3:30pm, police received reports of a male having his scooter stolen after being physically assaulted and threatened by five offenders allegedly carrying knives.

Dog Operations Unit, Strike Force Trident and Casuarina general duties members attended and arrested three males, aged 15, 17 and 18-year-old, nearby.

The 18 and 17-year-old have since been charged with Aggravated robbery and the 15-year-old has been charged with Breach bail.

Strike Force Trident has carriage of the investigation, and two suspects remain outstanding.

Police would like to thank the member of the public that reported the incident to police after passing in a vehicle.

Anyone who witnesses antisocial or criminal behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444 or in an emergency dial Triple Zero.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

On 7 May 2025, an anonymous report was received via Crime Stoppers detailing a complaint that someone was allegedly distributing and in possession of child abuse material in an East Arnhem Region community.

Following initial investigations, the Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch travelled to the remote community on Monday to execute a search warrant at the alleged offender’s residence. Throughout the search, investigators seized multiple storage devices and a mobile device which contained child abuse material.

The 31-year-old male was arrested and has since been charged with:

• Transmit Child Abuse Material – 474.22(1) Commonwealth Criminal Code Act
• Possess/Produce Child Abuse Material – 125B Criminal Code Act NT x 6

He was remanded to appear in Darwin local Court on Thursday 15 May 2025.

Major Crime Detective, Senior Sergeant Justene Dwyer said “I commend the Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch investigators, local East Arnhem Region police members and Aboriginal Liaison Officers for their diligence and attention to detail to ensure this man is put before the courts.

“This behaviour is not accepted in our community and police will continue to go above and beyond to arrest anyone responsible for harming children in the NT community.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can also submit a report online at https://crimestoppers.com.au/.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Hooning incident at Bruny Island

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – 10:37 am.

A Kingston man responsible for burnouts in the gravel car park of the Bruny Island hotel will be prosecuted for hooning offences and driving without a licence.Tasmania Police used CCTV footage to help identify the driver from the incident on Monday and say they are disappointed in the behaviour shown by the 30-year-old man, who was a visitor to the island.Senior Constable Ashley Hopwood said the man was leaving the Hotel Bruny, at Alonnah on Bruny Island, about 5pm and proceeded to do burnouts in his vehicle in the gravel carpark of the hotel.The incident was reported to local police by members of the community.A review of CCTV footage helped identify the vehicle and the owner.“This sort of driving behaviour is reckless, and it puts innocent people at risk,” Senior Constable Hopwood said.“Police are committed to keeping our roads as safe as possible and hoons should be warned that this type of behaviour can lead to loss of licence, vehicle confiscation, vehicle destruction and significant fines.”“Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving on our roads should contact police on 131 444, or Triple-Zero (000) in an emergency.”“If you can’t call at the time, but you have dash cam or other footage, you can upload it to our evidence portal at police.tas.gov.au/report.”This week, May 12 to 16, is National Road Safety Week.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Trail bike riders intercepted during targeted operation in Launceston

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – 10:31 am.

Police intercepted six trail bike riders during a targeted operation in Launceston on Saturday.
Members of Launceston Police and Road Policing Services conducted the operation in bushland across several northern suburbs of Launceston, targeting the unlawful use of recreational vehicles and trail bikes.
During the operation, police intercepted the six riders operating trail bikes who were in close proximity to residential houses.
Three riders will face proceedings for offences committed, including unlicensed driving and breaches of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Noise) Regulations 2016.
Tasmania Police remind users of recreational vehicles and trail bikes that they cannot operate within 500 metres of another residence that is not their own, nor within 500 metres of another residence if they are on their own land.
Anyone wishing to report the unlawful use of recreational vehicles or trail bikes near their home is encouraged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Detectives from the Major Crash Unit are currently investigating a fatal crash in Palmerston this morning.

Around 5:10am, police received reports that a Nissan X-trail carrying 3 people had collided with a Toyota Corolla carrying one person on Kirkland Road, Durack.

Emergency services attended the scene and a female occupant of the vehicle carrying 3 people was declared deceased.

Two occupants, one from each vehicle, had to be extracted by emergency services.

Both lanes of Kirkland Road, have been closed between Elrundie Avenue and Wishart Road. It is expected closures will remain in place until midmorning.

Investigations into the cause of the crash remain ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Richard Musgrave said “We are urging Territorians to take the Fatal Five seriously; Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive fatigued or distracted, don’t speed and always wear your seatbelt.

“Anyone with information or dash-cam footage is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference P25131352.”

The lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 12.

Source:

Source:

14 May 2025

Many older LGBTI+ people feel pressure to ‘straighten up’ and ‘blend in’, concealing their identities to feel safe in aged care facilities, say researchers at the University of South Australia.                                                                                          

In the first study of its kind, UniSA researchers found that aged care experiences for older LGBTI+ people are often shaped by prejudice, exclusion, and a lack of respect.

Synthesising findings across 55 studies (comprising the voices of more than 3000 LGBTI+ people aged 50-94 from 11 countries), then cross-referencing these with the lived experience of a consultant group of LGBTI+ older adults living in South Australia, researchers confirmed four commonalities:

1. Aged care assumes heterosexuality: Heterosexism is deeply embedded in aged care, shaping the environment, dress codes, activities, and assumptions about relationships.
2. No one to protect us: LGBTI+ adults feel unsafe and vulnerable in aged care settings, due to historical discrimination and care providers being away from the public eye.
3. Hiding who you are: While being open is ideal, many older LGBTI+ people feel forced back ‘into the closet’ to stay safe in aged care.
4. Good care, not different care: Participants want inclusive, respectful care that affirms their identity, not special treatment that keeps them separate.

With Australia’s ageing population rising (now the third highest in the world), it can be inferred that the LGBTI+ population is also increasing, highlighting an acute need for inclusive, quality aged care services.

Yet with the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identifying systemic issues of neglect, abuse, and substandard care across the age care sector, particularly for LGBTI+ people, it’s clear that more needs to be done.

The findings are timely ahead of the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination! (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.

Lead researcher and PhD candidate, UniSA’s Sarah McMullen-Roach, says LGBTI+ older adults have reservations about aged care.

“From dress codes to daily activities, aged care settings are often assumed to reinforce heterosexual norms, making LGBTI+ residents feel invisible or unwelcome,” McMullen-Roach says.

“LGBTI+ people worry that when the time comes to consider aged care they’ll be met with ostracism and discrimination, with gendered roles and standards forced upon them when they can no longer present themselves as they choose,

“But it’s also about visibility. On one level, LGBTI+ older adults want to be seen and accepted for who they are, yet on another level, many feel that they need to retreat from their identities – ultimately ‘returning to the closet’ in their old age.

“Having to give up their hard-earned rights and identities is unthinkable, particularly when you remember that homosexuality was only fully decriminalised in Australia in 1997*, with same-sex marriage made legal less than 10 years ago.

“Add to this that most aged care institutions are run by faith-based organisations that have histories of rejecting LGBTI+ people, and the already flawed Australian aged care system, and you can see why concerns of safety, vulnerability and homophobia are prevalent.”

McMullen-Roach says while LGBTI+ people deserve to access inclusive good quality aged care services that affirmed and accepted them, multilevel interventions are needed to make this happen.

“Aged care services need to start thinking differently about how they signal inclusivity,” McMullen-Roach says.

“This could be so simple as displaying a rainbow sign at reception, using inclusive language on intake forms, engaging staff in training and development, and adopting advertising materials that showcase the diversity of their residents.

“Education is also a much-needed intervention that will help change the current state of aged care services, helping them reduce the risk of systemic homophobia while increasing the dignity and respect for older LGBTI+ people.

“Care providers need to know that the world’s not exclusively straight, and that LGBTI+ people may have different care needs that should be accommodated.

“Some of this education is happening in Australia, but we don’t know the impact it has on LGBTI+ individuals’ experiences and willingness to access care services.

“This is what we want to understand in the Australian context: is discrimination truly historical and left in the past? Are people being supported to age free from fear? If not, what needs to change to create a better more inclusive future in aged care?”

UniSA is now extending this study through the perspectives and experiences of aged care for LGBTI+ older Australians. The current study is underway with preliminary results expected in the new year.

Notes to editors:

• LGBTI+ is the preferred terminology used by older adults included in this study.
• * Homosexuality was progressively decriminalised from 1975 (South Australia) to 1997 (Tasmania).

Contact for interview:  Sarah McMullen-Roach E: Sarah.Mcmullen-Roach@unisa.edu.au   

Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au