Month: July 2025

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Australian National Party

Source: Australian National Party

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the findings and recommendations handed down today by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.

The inquest, which commenced in 2022, has been one of the most comprehensive and difficult processes in the Territory’s recent history. It has examined not just the tragic events of November 2019, but also the broader systemic and cultural challenges that intersect with frontline policing.

We recognise the enduring grief experienced by Kumanjayi Walker’s family, the Yuendumu community, and many others across the Northern Territory. Today’s findings mark a significant moment in what has been a long and painful journey for all involved.

The Northern Territory Police Force will now carefully consider the Coroner’s recommendations in full. We are committed to taking time to review and reflect on the findings and recommendations to continue our efforts to build a modern police force that serves all Territorians with fairness, respect, and integrity.

“We acknowledge the Coroner’s work and thank her for the careful consideration she has given to such a complex and sensitive matter,” Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said.
“We extend our sympathies to the family of Kumanjayi Walker and acknowledge the courage of those who contributed to this process. This has been a hard road, and we are determined to ensure that what has been learned is not lost.”

As the inquest progressed, the Northern Territory Police Force initiated a number of internal reforms in direct response to the issues that were raised:

• Anti-Racism Strategy: A draft strategy, which has been developed with the assistance of major Aboriginal organisations in the NT, will soon be out for broader consultation.
• On going delivery of Cultural Awareness and Anti-Racism Training: Territory-wide programs continue to be rolled out to enhance cultural competency and eliminate racism in all its forms across the organisation.
• Recruitment and Training Reforms: New entry and training pathways are in place to better prepare and screen recruits for the realities and responsibilities of policing in diverse communities, particularly Aboriginal communities. These reforms stand alongside our commitment to reach 30 per cent Aboriginal representation across our entire organisation.
• Disbanding of the Immediate Response Team (IRT): The unit involved in the incident was disbanded.
• Creation of the Cultural Reform Command: Led by Executive Director Leanne Liddle, this command is focused on strengthening relationships, rebuilding trust with Aboriginal people and communities, and tackling racism.

Reform is not a single act — it is an ongoing responsibility and continuous journey. The NT Police Force will continue to work with government, Aboriginal leadership, and the broader community to ensure the recommendations are considered in the spirit in which they were made: to improve, to heal, and to build a better path forward.

Media Contact:
NT Police Media Unit
Phone: 0417 770 686

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a 26-year-old male with several drug and traffic offences following a traffic apprehension on Friday night.

Around 11:45pm, Darwin Traffic Operations members apprehended a vehicle on Tiger Brennan Drive, after it was detected speeding at 136km/h in a 100km/h speed limit area.

The driver of the vehicle was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result for cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates.

Whilst being taken into custody, the driver was searched and was found to have a less than traffickable quantity of cocaine in his possession.

Darwin Traffic Operations members conducted a further lawful search of the man’s vehicle and located a commercial quantity of MDMA, traffickable quantity of cannabis and a less than traffickable quantity of cocaine. The vehicle was seized by police.

The man was arrested, and the matter was referred to detectives from the Drug & Organised Crime Squad. Detectives executed a search warrant at the male’s residence, where the following was located and seized:

• A less than traffickable quantity of cocaine

• A less than traffickable quantity of MDMA

• A less than traffickable quantity of cannabis

• Items indicative of drug supply

The man has been charged with:

• Supply Dangerous Drug Commercial Quantity – schedule 1

• Possess Dangerous Drug Commercial Quantity – schedule 1

• Possess Dangerous Drug Traffickable Quantity – schedule 2

• Possess Dangerous Drug less than Traffickable Quantity – schedule 1

• Receiving or Possessing Tainted Property

• Driver with Prohibited Drug in Blood

• Exceed Speed – 31-45km/h Over Limit

He is remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

It’s time for self-assessing as income tax exempt not-for-profits (NFPs) with an ABN to lodge the NFP self-review return.

NFPs that have only charitable purposes and meet the legal definition of a charity can register as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and be formally endorsed by the ATO as income tax exempt. Once registered, you don’t have to lodge the NFP self-review return.

But what if your NFP has applied to the ACNC and you’re waiting for the outcome? Or if your NFP may be eligible to register as charitable, but you haven’t yet applied to the ACNC?

Lodge while waiting for the ACNC’s response

Your NFP should continue to lodge annual NFP self-review while you wait to hear the outcome of your charitable registration application to the ACNC. You must lodge the 2024–25 NFP self-review return by 31 October if you have not received the outcome of your application by then.

If you haven’t yet lodged the 2023–24 return, lodge it now. When you lodge, select ‘yes’ or ‘unsure’ to the question ‘Does your organisation have charitable purposes?’.

Use ACNC resources if unsure your NFP is charitable

If your NFP has already lodged the 2023–24 NFP SRR and selected ‘yes’ or ‘unsure’ to the question ‘Does your organisation have charitable purposes?’ take the next step now:

• To see if your NFP is eligible to register as charitable, use the ACNC’s charity registration self-assessment toolExternal Link.
• If your NFP is eligible, apply to register as a charity with the ACNC. Backdate your application to the period your organisation first became a charity so you can access tax exemptions for that period.

If your NFP hasn’t yet lodged the 2023–24 NFP SRR, it is overdue. Lodge it now, select ‘yes’ or ‘unsure’ to the question ‘Does your organisation have charitable purposes?’, and then use the ACNC tool to check if your NFP can register as a charity.

Sporting clubs

Some community sporting clubs have answered ‘unsure’ to the question asking if they have charitable purposes. In most cases, sporting clubs are not charitable, but they are eligible to self-assess as income tax exempt.

You can check if your sporting club is eligible to register as charitable by using the charity registration self-assessment tool on the ACNC websiteExternal Link.

If your sporting club is not charitable, submit your NFP self-review return and select ‘no’ to the question about charitable status. If your NFP self-review return gives an income tax exempt outcome, continue to lodge it annually.

How to lodge

Find out more about lodging your NFP self-review return in this edition of NFP news, or check out the information available at ato.gov.au/NFPtaxexempt.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Welcome and governance

The ATO Co-chair welcomed members and ATO attendees to the first Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) Tax Time 2025 meeting.

ATO updates

Frontline Services

Frontline Services provided the following update:

• Tax time has progressed well on day 1, noting the day is not over yet.
• We’ve received 4,000 calls from tax agents so far, which is similar to this time last year.
• Lodgment numbers are slightly higher from this time last year, but we expect this figure to level out throughout the week.
• We’ve put in place a safety net that may be removed progressively throughout this week.

Member comments

Members queried whether we will investigate and amend tax returns lodged early this year. We stated that this will depend on the circumstances and reiterated the safety net should help prevent this as has been done in previous years.

IT system updates and maintenance

Enterprise Solutions and Technology provided the following update:

• Good system performance throughout the day with notably good response times.
• There is a small issue with the availability of webchat functionality in myTax, which is currently being worked through, but this has had no impact on Online Services for Agents.

ATO Digital services

Digital services are operating as intended and there is nothing to report.

ATO Communications

Marketing and Communications provided the following update:

• Key focus for tax time communications this year is to encourage people to wait until all pre-fill information is available before lodging, with our strategy and messages centered on ‘Back to basics’ themes emphasising record keeping, eligibility to claim, and substantiation.
• The ATO Tax Time Spokesperson has been engaging with a wide range of audiences through media, podcasts, webinars and events, and achieving early reach in partnerships with high-profile consumer brands.
• Our flagship tax time toolkits, including the Investors toolkit, the Individuals tax time toolkit and the Tax time toolkit for small business, have been successfully updated, offering a helpful resource for tax agents to guide conversations with individuals and small business clients.
• A significant focus this tax time is encouraging uptake of the ATO app, with new security features rolling out to keep users safe and their ATO records secure. Recent communication around real time security messaging has been successful in generating uptake, with a number of instances already confirmed of blocking suspected fraud.
• The recent tax time webcast with tax professionals was a success with a total of 2,051 attendees and 132 questions from participants. The recorded version of the webcast will be included in this week’s edition of the Tax professional’s newsletter.

Member comments

Members highlighted that 142,000 early lodged returns last year were adjusted or reviewed for errors is an important message for taxpayers.

Superannuation

Superannuation and Employer Obligations provided the following update:

• Super Guarantee (SG) rate will increase to 12% on 1 July. This rate applies for payments of salary and wages to eligible workers on and after 1 July, even if some or all of the pay period it relates to is before 1 July.
• SG contributions should be made by 28 July in full, on time and to the right fund. For the quarter ending 30 June, apply the 11.5% SG rate for salary and wage payments made before 1 July.
• As of 1 July, some pay as you go (PAYG) withholding schedules and tax tables have been updated. Tax agents should ensure they are using the correct tax tables or the tax withheld calculator to work out how much to withhold from employees’ payments
  • a reminder to update payroll software to withhold, report and pay the correct amount of tax.
• Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting and finalisation declarations are due by 14 July
  • lodge a finalisation declaration for all employees paid and reported through STP so they have the right information to lodge their income tax returns
  • finalise all employees paid in the financial year, even those that haven’t been paid for a while, like terminated employees
  • if an employer changes payroll software providers, they should finalise records before they change. This ensures employers and employees have accurate information during tax time.

Member insights and experience

Member comments

A professional association representative member raised an issue in relation to an ATO LinkedIn poll asking taxpayers what they thought was the fastest and easiest way to lodge this tax time. Members were disappointed that this poll did not acknowledge lodging through a registered tax agent is also a valid, fast and easy option.

Members raised concerns that ATO communications do not acknowledge the role of tax professionals and in the current environment with changes to the Tax Agent Services Act (TASA), this adds to the increasing unease across the tax professional community.

Members encouraged us to continue to engage the Communication Content Working Group (CCWG) and the TSPG to improve messaging that positions tax agents alongside myTax in our communications.

We expressed appreciation for this feedback and noted that the post was intended to be a light-hearted and engaging way to spark conversation around tax time, rather than a comprehensive overview of lodgment options. We stated that registered tax agents were considered as an option in this poll, however thought placing them alongside choices like paper returns or interpretive dance might unintentionally come across as disrespectful to tax agents, and not in keeping with the playful tone of the post.

We absolutely recognise the vital role tax professionals play and regularly highlight the contributions they make across our channels, encouraging the community to seek support from registered agents. We’ve taken this feedback on board and will keep this in mind this for all future communications. We apologised to tax professionals for this post and any offence taken and have since taken the poll down.

A professional association representative member raised an increase in their members commenting on ATO outbound calls, where our officers are requesting the tax agents to go through a POI process, which at tax time is causing an increased level of frustration amongst agents.

Members quired whether there is an easier solution to provide verification through a message in Practice Mail.

Members raised the amendments made by the ATO to 142,000 tax returns lodged within the first 2 weeks of tax time last year and whether shortfall interest charge (SIC) was applied to these taxpayers.

Useful links

Source:

Hazelwood North Primary School has become the first school in District 27 to pilot the Schools in Fire Country program, an exciting new initiative aimed at helping our older students understand fire risk, preparedness, and their role in community resilience.

Situated in one of Victoria’s fire risk areas, Hazelwood North Primary was a fitting choice to launch the program. Over the last term, students in Years 5/6 engaged in a series of interactive learning sessions designed to deepen their knowledge about bushfires and how they impact communities like their own.

Delivered in collaboration with local CFA members and community safety representatives from Hazelwood North Fire Brigade, the program gave students a chance to explore real-life scenarios, learn about fire behaviour, and discover what actions families and communities can take to stay safe.

CFA Community Engagement Coordinator Hayley King said the pilot at Hazelwood North was a standout success.

“The students were incredibly engaged and asked thoughtful questions. It was inspiring to see them thinking critically about the risks in their own environment and how they can be part of the solution,” Hayley said.

A highlight of the program was a student-led presentation day, where learners shared their knowledge and fire safety ideas with parents, staff, and CFA.

From bushfire emergency plans to creative artwork and quizzes, and testing CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer Bryan Russell on his bushfire knowledge, the presentations reflected both the seriousness of the topic and the confidence the students had gained.

Hazelwood North Brigade Community Safety Coordinator Maria Harkins worked hard and supported the program’s practical and empowering approach.

Following its successful rollout, CFA’s District 27 and 9 will evaluate the program’s impact and explore how Schools in Fire Country can be expanded to other schools in the Latrobe Valley and beyond.

By equipping the next generation with knowledge and a sense of shared responsibility, Hazelwood North Primary is helping to build a safer and more fire-aware future for all.

Submitted by	CFA media

Source:

Victoria’s fire services are encouraging families to practice their home fire escape plans these school holidays.

Fires can take hold at any time, and a practised escape plan could save lives.

Last year, 18 people tragically lost their lives in preventable residential fires in Victoria, with research showing that young children, people aged over 65, smokers and people with disabilities are more likely to die in house fires. 

All occupants of the home should know the quickest and safest way to escape from every room, and know of two exits from every room, either through doors or windows.

You can find materials on both FRV and CFA’s respective websites to help create a plan.

FRV Deputy Commissioner Community Safety Joshua Fischer said all family members should know what to do in the event of a fire.

“In an emergency people can often panic and might not know what to do – particularly children,” Deputy Commissioner Fischer said.

“Having a practised home fire escape plan will significantly increase your chances of survival, ensuring that all members of the house know how to safely evacuate as quickly as possible.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said fire escape plans should be tailored to your living environment and the abilities of all members of the household.

“If you live in a high-rise building, know where the fire exits are, always take the stairs, and know the building’s evacuation procedures,” Chief Officer Heffernan said.

“And if you have people in the family who will require assistance to evacuate, such an elderly family member or young child, consider this in your plan.”

“Kids are always looking for things to do during school holidays, so why not practise your home fire escape plan together?”

When making your home fire escape plan, remember:

• Know what to do if a fire occurs. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, you should have a Home Fire Escape Plan in place.
• Practice your plan with everyone in the home.
• If you must keep deadlocks locked, leave your keys in the door.

When there is a fire:

• Get out and stay out by getting down low and staying out of the smoke.
• If it is safe, close the doors to slow down the spread of fire and smoke.
• Alert other people on your way out and meet at a safe place, such as the letterbox or out the front of your home.
• Call 000 from a mobile phone or neighbour’s phone.

For more information, visit frv.vic.gov.au or cfa.vic.gov.au

Submitted by	CFA media