Month: August 2025

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to establish a mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Not enough has been done in our universities to address sexual assault and sexual harassment and for too long, students haven’t been heard.

The National Code will help to change that and will strengthen the work of the National Student Ombudsman.

For the first time, the National Code will set standards and requirements that all higher education providers must meet to make students and staff safer, including in student accommodation.

Under the National Code, universities will be required to take evidence-based steps to prevent gender-based violence, including providing education and training to students and staff.

It will introduce accountability at the highest level, help drive cultural change, and make sure staff are qualified to support victim-survivors.

It means universities must comply with the recommendations of the Student Ombudsman in relation to gender-based violence.

Universities’ compliance with the obligations in the Code will be monitored and enforced through a range of compliance powers, with serious penalties for non-compliance.

The National Code has been developed in consultation with victim-survivor advocates, students, the higher education sector, gender-based violence experts, states and territories and relevant Australian Government agencies.

Addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment in universities was one of five priority actions from the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report.

The National Code and Student Ombudsman are key measures of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education, agreed by Education Ministers in February 2024.

They contribute to the work to end gender-based violence in one generation as outlined in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Every student deserves to feel safe from sexual violence on campus. This new National Code makes that non-negotiable.

“We’ve listened to students and survivors on what needs to be done to drive long overdue cultural change on our campuses.

“Universities aren’t just places where people work and study, they are also places where people live, and we need to ensure they are safe.

“This Code will make sure universities are taking action to prevent sexual violence from happening in the first place.

“And when the worst does happen, the Code mandates staff and students get the response and support they deserve, every time.

“If universities fail to act on sexual violence, this Code will give the Student Ombudsman real teeth to hold them to account.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek:

“University should be a time of excitement, learning and discovery. A time for making new and lifelong friends. But for too many students, it becomes a nightmare.  

“One in six students have reported sexual harassment and one in 20 have reported being sexually assaulted on campus. One in two felt they weren’t being heard when they made a complaint.

“How a survivor of violence is supported by their university has lifelong consequences. Victim-survivors must be heard and supported and universities must make every effort to stop violence in the first place.

“The National Code will make this a reality. It will hold all higher education providers to consistently high standards to proactively prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

“Students on campus deserve to feel safe and I’m so proud our Government has taken action.”
 

Source: Mental Health Australia

With delivery of Australia’s first new city in 100 years underway, the first road signs pointing to Bradfield have also been installed.

The new signs on Badgerys Creek Road and The Northern Road are the first to show Bradfield City as the major destination it is set to become. 

Bradfield City will deliver 20,000 jobs,10,000 homes, and significant economic benefits for the people of Western Sydney. At 114 hectares and with more than 30% green open space, Bradfield City will be a high quality urban environment with advanced industries at its heart. 

Momentum of delivery at the city is strong, with the First Building now welcoming visitors to Bradfield City after opening in March this year, and other major projects such as an iconic 2 hectare Central Park, an advanced industry focused Second Building, and civil works enabling private sector development well progressed. 

At present there are four new road signs pointing to the city, and as Bradfield grows in the future, road signage will be upgraded further.

Source: Mental Health Australia

From Wednesday 3 September until mid-December 2025, there will be temporary traffic changes on the M5 Motorway between Heathcote Road in Wattle Grove and the Hume Highway in Casula due to pavement and geotechnical investigation work along the M5 corridor.

This work is part of the early phase of the M5 Westbound upgrade, a major infrastructure project aimed at easing congestion and improving safety for motorists and freight operators.

Work will be carried out during the day from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, with night work scheduled from 8pm to 5am Sunday to Friday.

Partial lane closures and traffic control will be in place for the safety of workers and road users. No full road closures will be in place for this work.

Road users are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of signs and traffic control.

Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience during this time. 

For the latest traffic updates across the network, ring 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App. 

Source:

When the Bayindeen-Rocky Road fires tore through the Mount Cole region in February 2024, they left more than a blackened landscape, they left a tapestry of unique stories in need of being told.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

An adult male and two male youths have been arrested in relation to an aggravated burglary and assault police incident that occurred in Palmerston overnight.

Around 10:40pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report of a group of up to five offenders unlawfully entering two businesses at a shopping centre on Mannikan Court in Bakewell.

The offenders fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival.

A short time later, the offenders were sighted on police CCTV on Emery Avenue. Strike Force Trident and general duties members were deployed and a foot pursuit commenced. It is alleged a 14-year-old male challenged a police officer, during which a nearby 23-year-old male, not believed to be involved with the unlawful entries, punched the officer to the head.

The officer deployed OC spray in self-defence and both offenders were arrested. An additional 14-year-old male was also arrested in relation to the unlawful entries.

The offenders remain in police custody with charges expected to follow.

Three offenders remain outstanding, and Strike Force Trident have carriage of the investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500084878. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: New South Wales – News

The June rolling year crime statistics also reveal robbery, theft and fraud related offences have also continued to record notable decreases.

Acting Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) John De Candia said proactive policing strategies had resulted in some significant clear-ups of recent crime sprees.

“In some cases the alleged offenders have been responsible for many incidents that have distressed homeowners or financially impacted multiple businesses that have been targeted,’’ he said.
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“We will continue to identify, target and arrest those we believe are responsible for a significant proportion of crime that impacts the community.’’
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In a significant breakthrough Eastern District CIB last month arrested a man, 42, and a woman, 30, both of Banksia Park, and charged them with multiple counts of serious criminal trespass in connection with break-ins at businesses in the Modbury shopping precinct.
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The businesses targeted included hardware, camping and outdoor stores, with entry gained through the roof. In five break-ins between March 30 and July 13 this year numerous items were stolen from each business. 
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When detectives searched the Banksia Park home stolen goods worth almost $14,000 were located.

In an unrelated case a man, 35, of Goodwood was arrested last month and charged with 33 offences in connection with a crime series that occurred between April 10 and June 29 this year. The charges include serious criminal trespass, theft, illegal use of a motor vehicle, fuel theft, driving offences and drug offences.

The June rolling year figures show house break-ins recorded a 10 per cent decline in the period – from 5,773 to 5,220 offences – or 553 fewer incidents reported. This followed a 10 per cent decrease in the May period, 11 per cent in April, eight per cent in March and seven per cent in February.
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Non-residential break-ins recorded a seven per cent decrease with 258 fewer offences reported – from 3,657 to 3,399. This followed a nine per cent drop in the May period, seven per cent in April and five per cent reductions in March and February.
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Shop theft recorded another decrease in the June rolling year period with a six per cent decline reported – 18,343 to 17,225 offences – which is attributed to ongoing proactive operations. This is the eighth successive decline in reported shoplifting offences.
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Car theft also continued to fall in the period with a six per cent reduction reported – 3,681 to 3,469 offences. Theft from a vehicle recorded a 19 per cent reduction – from 9,364 to 7,553 offences. Similar falls were reported in the previous four reporting periods.

Robbery and related offences recorded an 11 per cent decline in offences reported in the period – 92 offences. Within that category aggravated robbery decreased by 14 per cent – 492 offences to 421 offences. 
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Acts intended to cause injury, which includes serious assault resulting in injury and common assault, increased by three per cent in the rolling year period from 23,632 to 24,285 incidents reported.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

What is a public fund?

A public fund provides money or property to support activities carried out by other entities or people, including its sponsoring organisation.

Public funds for DGR purposes fall under 2 types:

• Funds established and controlled by governmental or quasi-government authority.
• Funds to which the public is invited to contribute and in fact does contribute. These funds must be controlled or administered by persons or institutions having a degree of responsibility to the community as a whole. This could arise, for example, from a person’s occupation or tenure of some public office, or a person’s or institution’s position in the community.

A public fund must have its own rules. A public fund may be established as a separate entity, for example under an instrument of trust, or as part of a sponsoring organisation. The sponsoring organisation must have the power to establish a public fund, for example, in the organisation’s objects.

Public funds that are established as part of a sponsoring organisation can incorporate their rules in the organisation’s governing document, or in a separate document that has been formally adopted by the sponsoring organisation.

Which DGRs must be public funds?

Various DGR categories require organisations to establish a public fund to receive tax deductible gifts and contributions to be applied for the purposes described in the DGR category.

Examples are:

• school building funds
• developing country relief funds
• necessitous circumstances funds
• scholarship funds
• war memorial repair funds
• fire and emergency services funds.

What are the requirements of a public fund?

Objects

For a fund to fall within one of the ‘public fund’ DGR categories, its objects must satisfy the requirements of the category. If there is no documentation providing evidence of your fund’s existence, purpose and operations, you may have difficulty in demonstrating that your fund is maintained for a purpose required by the DGR category.

Sample clause: Objects (suggestion for a school building fund)

The name of the fund is (insert the name of school building fund – a public fund). The purpose of the fund is to solicit and receive gifts towards the carrying out of the objects, which is solely to provide money for the acquisition, construction or maintenance of a building used or to be used as a school.

End of example

Public contributions

It must be the intention of the promoters or founders that the public will contribute to the fund. Public contributions must be invited, and the public must in fact contribute to the fund. If there are no contributions from the public despite invitations, the fund will not be considered a public fund.

Sample clause: Public contributions

The general public will be invited to make gifts to the fund, to be used for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the fund.

End of example

Committee members

For non-government public funds, the fund must be administered or controlled by people or institutions who, because of their tenure of some public office or their position in the community, have a degree of responsibility to the community as a whole. Examples are:

• church authorities and clergy
• school principals
• judges, solicitors, doctors and other professional people
• mayors, councillors, town clerks and members of parliament
• recipients of awards from government for services to the community such as an Order of Australia
• members of a professional body which has a professional code of ethics and rules of conduct.

A public fund must be managed by a committee made up of a majority of ‘responsible people’ and must be set up so that it is not possible for public control to lapse. We refer to this as the responsible person requirement. The daily operations however may be delegated to other persons.

Organisations such as Rotary, Lions and Apex Clubs often sponsor public funds. If an organisation does not have a public character due to, for example, selective membership, the committee controlling the fund may have a public character if it is controlled by people who meet the responsible person requirement.

Sample clause: Committee members

A committee of management of no fewer than 3 persons will administer the fund. The committee will be appointed by the organisation. A majority of the members of the committee must be persons having a degree of responsibility to the general community by reason of their occupation or standing in the community.

End of example

Operate on a non-profit basis

The fund must operate on a non-profit basis. This means that money must not be distributed to members of the managing committee or trustees of the fund except as reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the fund or as proper remuneration for administrative services.

Sample clause: Non-profit basis

The assets and income of the fund shall be applied solely in furtherance of the objects of the fund and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to any individual except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the fund.

End of example

Gifts and deductible contributions

Gifts and deductible contributions made to the fund must be kept separate from any other funds of the sponsoring organisation (if there is one). A separate bank account and clear accounting procedures are required for a public fund.

Sample clause: Gifts and deductible contributions

A bank account will be established to receive all gifts and deductible contributions accepted by the fund. This account must only include any money or property which is a gift or deductible contribution to the fund, or which is received because of such gifts or deductible contributions, including, interest received on any monies in the account. Clear accounting procedures will be maintained.

End of example

If the public fund is also the gift fund, an additional clause is required to the effect that the fund only receives gifts or deductible contributions. Refer to Gift fund requirements.

Receipts

Including a clause covering receipts in your fund’s governing rules is part of providing a framework to ensure that property and money donated to the fund is used for the purpose it was donated.

The tax law also requires that if an endorsed DGR issues receipts for tax deductible gifts or contributions, particular information must be provided on the receipts.

Sample clause: Receipts

All receipts for gifts or deductible contributions must be issued in the name of the fund.

End of example

Dissolution clause on winding-up

The fund must have an acceptable dissolution clause: that is, one which provides that on winding-up, any surplus money or other assets must be transferred to another endorsed DGR.

To be endorsed as a DGR, an organisation must also have acceptable clauses dealing with the transfer of surplus gifts and deductible contributions on winding up or revocation of endorsement.

For funds that are registered charities or operated by registered charities, the transfer must be to another charitable DGR with similar objects.

Advise us of changes

You must notify us in writing of any changes to the fund’s constitution or other founding documents.

Sample clause: Notify ATO

The Board must notify the Australian Taxation Office of any alterations made to the fund rules.

End of example

Can a public fund be a gift fund?

Organisations that are endorsed or seeking to be endorsed as a DGR for the operation of a fund, authority or institution must maintain a gift fund. An exception is where the organisation as a whole is already endorsed as a DGR.

A public fund may itself satisfy the gift fund requirement if it only receives gifts or deductible contributions and has appropriate winding up rules. If it receives other money or property, it will need to maintain a gift fund.

Things to remember:

• If your organisation is endorsed for the operation of several public funds, then money or property belonging to one public fund must not be used to support the purposes of another fund.
• A single gift fund can be maintained for two or more of your public funds.
• Records must be kept evidencing the receipt and use of money and property belonging to each public fund.

Checklist

Consider the following questions, together with the other information we have provided, when working out whether your fund is a public fund.

1. Do the objects clearly set out the purpose of the fund?
2. Do the rules clearly set out that the public will be invited to contribute to the fund?
3. Does the public or a significant part of it, in fact, contribute to the fund?
4. Is the fund set up such that it continues to be controlled by a majority of people who meet the responsible persons requirement?
5. Is the fund operated on a non-profit basis, with suitable non-profit and dissolution clauses in its constituent or governing documents?

For more information see Taxation Ruling TR 95/27Opens in a new window Income tax: public funds.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a stealing with violence incident that occurred in Alice Springs overnight.

At 8:05pm, it is alleged a male offender entered a convenience store on Gap Road and unsuccessfully attempted to climb over the service counter and through the security barrier. He subsequently kicked down a nearby door to the staff area and held a staff member against the wall using a broom, before stealing food and cigarettes from the victim and fleeing the scene.

The victim was uninjured, and investigations are ongoing to locate the offender.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference P25226111. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.