Month: August 2025

Source: New South Wales – News

A stolen red Suzuki Swift, registration S532DHA, was pursued from the Elizabeth Police Station right around the northeastern suburbs and finished up on Tapleys Hill Road at Fulham Gardens.  The incident occurred between 9am and 10.30am on Wednesday 13 August.

The vehicle was followed by PolAir and police are keen to capture any additional footage of the red Suzuki Swift involved in a number of near misses, driving on the wrong side of the road and other driving offences.

Investigators are asking any motorists who captured the red Suzuki on their dashcam as it travelled across the metro area to provide the footage to police to assist the investigation.

Anyone with information or footage can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

A 40-year-old man is currently before the courts charged with serious offences.

Reference 208433

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source:

15 August 2025

Australian researchers have found that households with solar panels could boost their returns by selling surplus power directly to their neighbours, known as peer-to-peer (P2P) energy sharing, helping to stabilise the electricity grid and negotiating a better price than retailers currently offer.

With solar panels installed in almost 40% of Australian houses (4.1 million homes), the electricity grid is now overloaded with excess energy, driving down the feed-in tariff for most households, with some now questioning the economic value of solar.

In a bid to make it more attractive and encourage the uptake of renewable energy, the Federal Government has recently implemented a $2.3 billion scheme to subsidise the installation of home batteries, but a new study shows that adding battery storage doesn’t always deliver extra benefits.

A collaboration between the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Deakin University has compared four different energy models that could help households and energy policymakers design more efficient, community-based solar systems.

The research, published in Renewable Energy, explores the technical and economic benefits of integrating batteries and P2P energy sharing into grid-connected residential photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Using real-world data from a 10kW solar-powered home in Geelong, the study simulated energy generation, consumption and sharing across four models over 12 months, including interactions with three neighbouring consumers.

The models included:

• Peer-to-grid (P2G) – exporting excess energy to the grid
• P2G with batteries – storing surplus energy before selling to the grid
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) – sharing surplus energy with nearby householders at an agreed price
• P2P with batteries – storing energy for self-use, then sharing remaining surplus with neighbours

Lead author UniSA researcher Dr Kevin Wang says the findings show that P2P energy sharing delivers significant benefits compared to traditional grid export arrangements, particularly when feed-in tariffs are low.

“Under current conditions in Victoria, the feed-in tariff is less than 5 cents per kilowatt hour, while the retail price is around 28 cents. Selling surplus PV energy directly to neighbours at a mutually agreed price in between can be more profitable for solar householders and still cheaper for buyers,” Dr Wang says.

Local P2P energy sharing also improves grid stability, balancing supply and demand, because less surplus energy is exported to the grid, which is primarily built to distribute power rather than receive it.

The results showed:

• Batteries boost self-consumption but not profits: Adding a 5kW battery lifted self-consumption to 22% and reduced grid imports but did not help the neighbour. Due to the high initial purchase cost of batteries, the householder did not generate any profits.
• P2P energy sharing reduces grid reliance: Neighbours who participated in peer-to-peer energy sharing saw their grid electricity consumption drop by more than 30%
• No batteries or P2P energy sharing: The householder exported almost 12,800 kWh to the grid annually, with self-consumption rates of just 14.6%
• Batteries plus P2P energy sharing: P2P energy sharing with a 5kWh battery raised self-consumption to nearly 38% but reduced the surplus available to neighbours because battery charging took priority.
• Optimal battery size matters: The shortest payback period – 12 years – was achieved with a 7.5 kWh battery under the P2P model.
• Sensitivity to market: The study’s sensitivity analysis revealed that factors such as equipment costs, discount rates and energy sharing prices significantly influence the financial viability of PV-battery systems.

“Our modelling revealed that under current conditions, P2P energy sharing coupled with a 10kWh battery could deliver the highest return – $4929 – for solar owners over 20 years,” Dr Wang says.

“In contrast, all peer-to-grid scenarios resulted in negative returns over the same period due to low feed-in tariffs and high battery costs.

“Battery size proved critical. Systems with oversized batteries saw returns diminish due to higher capital and maintenance costs and reduced surplus energy.”

Co-author Professor Chunlu Liu from Deakin University says the study highlights a trade-off between battery use and community sharing.

“When batteries are used, they benefit the solar owner by reducing their grid reliance, but this can limit the amount of energy shared with neighbours because they are fully charged before any surplus energy is shared. The challenge is to find a balance that works for everyone,” Prof Liu says.

The researchers suggest that further gains in solar self-consumption could be made by integrating other technologies, such as heat pumps or thermal storage, to absorb excess PV energy that would otherwise be exported.

With Australia’s solar uptake the highest in the world, the authors say that models like P2P energy sharing could help relieve pressure on the grid while improving the economics of home solar.

“Our analysis shows that if P2P energy sharing prices are set between the feed-in tariff and retail rates, both sellers and buyers can come out ahead,” according to co-author Professor Mark Luther. “But market rules and technical systems need to support these transactions at scale.”

The team hopes their work will inform policy and investment decisions as the energy sector transitions to decentralised, low-carbon systems.

‘Technical and economic analyses of grid-connected residential PV considering batteries and peer-to-peer energy sharing’ is published is authored by Kevin Wang, Mark Luther, Peter Horan, Jane Matthews and Chunlu Liu. DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123494

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contacts for interview:

Researcher contact: Dr Kevin Wang E: KevinZheng.Wang@unisa.edu.au

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

Source:

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Rob Heferen, Commissioner of Taxation
Corporate plan 2025–26 launch
Canberra, 11 August 2025
(Check against delivery)

Thanks Bec, and thank you Aunty Violet for your very generous Welcome for us to walk on your Country. And I acknowledge you and other Elders past and present.

Welcome everyone to the launch of our 2025–26 corporate plan.

I’d like to thank the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Dr Daniel Mulino for his kind words, acknowledging the importance of our work and our priorities for this year.

I noted the Assistant Treasurer mentioned that he thoroughly enjoyed his visit to the Docklands office, including the baked goods! I look forward to him being able to meet more of our people over the coming years.

As the Minister emphasised, the work we do is vital to a well-functioning society. In collecting tax and ensuring all obligations are met, we help governments fund the roads we drive on, the hospitals in which we receive care and the schools in which our children are educated.

This is something I’m proud to be a part of, and I hope all of you are as well.

He also used a few specific words that I think bear repeating:

• fairness
• integrity
• professionalism.

These are the qualities I see every day, in so many of our actions. They are what most clearly comes to mind when I think of our people and our culture.

Never more so, than when we come together to work as a team for the Australian community. 

Why this matters

Our corporate plan is our primary planning document, but it’s so much more that.

It outlines how we’ll meet our commitments to government, and the expectation of the community, in the coming year.

Its launch brings us together. It puts us in the same room, it gets us focused on the same things – it’s one of those moments that matter and it sets us up to keep the main thing, the main thing.

Our recent capability reviewExternal Link highlighted some opportunities for improvement. It’s off a high base. The corporate plan launch is the perfect place to do this.

I hope those watching in our sites around the country enjoy the panel discussion and enjoy the opportunity to connect with colleagues and focus on what matters for the year ahead.

Our purpose and vision

Our corporate plan outlines our key focus areas, enterprise priorities and essential organisational capabilities for 2025–26.

These are all designed with our refreshed purpose and vision front of mind.

Through today’s discussion and when you read the plan, you’ll note that it reflects the broad and complex nature of our work, but holds to our clear, core purpose: collecting tax so that government can deliver services for the Australian community.

Combined with our performance evolution – or how we’re responding to the capability review – the plan also outlines what we need to do to continue moving towards our vision: an Australia where every taxpayer meets their obligations because:

• complying is easy
• help is tailored
• deliberate non-compliance has consequences.

Simply put, our primary focus as the nation’s principal tax collector is ensuring that all taxpayers, both large and small, meet their obligations. This is very much what the government and community expects of us, and so it’s appropriate that its where we keep our focus.

We are a strong agency, with a tough job, and we do it with empathy, resilience and deep expertise.

As a large government agency with extensive powers, we will be subject to heightened scrutiny. I’ve talked about this before, but I’ll reiterate – we should welcome that scrutiny no matter it’s source, and always seek out the opportunities that scrutiny unearths for improvement.

But we need to make sure that in responding to public criticism we only make those changes that are needed. Not all criticism of us is warranted.

We do a lot well, but we can always be better and should always be trying to do better. In the words of the great Stan Lee, ‘with great power, comes great responsibility’.

Our refreshed purpose and vision help with this, by sharpening our focus on what matters most. Our corporate plan then provides a roadmap for delivery.

Regardless of role or level, we all have a shared responsibility to take our organisation forward. This is stewardshipExternal Link, the Australian Public Service value that requires we work with one eye on the future and leave things better than we found them.

In this spirit, I encourage you to read the plan, discuss it with your teams, colleagues in your site, managers, and leaders, and come together to do work that has a lasting impact.

It is through these discussions you will be able to see how your work, team and branch can bring our purpose and vision to life, and how you directly serve government and the community.

2025–26 plan

To realise our vision, this year we will focus on 5 priority areas.

We will strengthen payment performance and debt collection to foster on-time payment behaviour, improve compliance and help prevent future debt.

Our enhanced counter fraud measures will be re-focused on identifying and preventing fraud in the first instance, with direct consequences for taxpayers repeatedly or deliberately avoiding their tax or super guarantee obligations.

We will help strengthen a fairer and more efficient superannuation system for businesses and individuals through establishing Payday Super (subject to passage of legislation of course).

The delivery of a digitalised tax experience for small business will streamline and simplify tax operations to better position small business to both meet their obligations and save time in doing so.

Finally, we will implement our response to the Australian Public Service Commission’s Capability Review of the ATO. This will strengthen our ability to respond to our dynamic operating environment and meet future challenges as we deliver a positive workplace culture, improved job satisfaction and increased productivity and efficiency.

Vulnerability capability

Another piece of work I want to call out – which isn’t one of our enterprise priorities but it is highly important – is our Vulnerability Framework.

As part of delivering on our priorities, we must continue to recognise vulnerability comes in many forms and individuals may face it at any point in their lives. It can be temporary, long term or permanent, but it’s almost always complex, dynamic and unique to each person.

While we can’t remove a taxpayer’s obligations or change the taxation outcome under the law, we can listen to their circumstances and better support people to meet their obligations.

Our Vulnerability Framework will help us to do this.

As we implement it, we’ll continue to balance decisions on how to best support people experiencing vulnerability with our other commitments, including our duty to maintain the integrity of the tax system.

Closing

As the Accountable Authority for the ATO, the Tax Practitioners BoardExternal Link and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits CommissionExternal Link, including the ACNC Advisory BoardExternal Link, I have valued working with Peter de Cure and Sue Woodward over the last 12 months to deliver on our collective responsibilities and I look forward to working together over the year ahead.

Lastly, I’d like to thank you all. You are the people who show up each day and make it all possible.

Collecting tax on behalf of the government isn’t an easy job but it’s an important one and I’m honoured to lead an organisation with employees dedicated to delivering for the Australian community.

From our eyes and ears on the front line, to our processing and enabling teams across all corporate and technology functions, to our sharp legal minds and diligent compliance officers – our success is reliant on each and every one of you.

Thank you.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) continues its uncompromising crackdown on GST fraud, securing 4 further convictions under Operation Protego.

These latest convictions push the total number of individuals held accountable under this operation to 130 sentenced to date, sending an unmistakable message that the ATO will not relent in its pursuit of those who defraud the tax system.

ATO Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) Chief John Ford said Operation Protego is about protecting the integrity of GST.

‘While prosecutions may take time, the ATO is consistently pursuing a broad spectrum of compliance actions against those involved.

‘Every avenue is being leveraged to ensure individuals involved in this fraud face real and lasting consequences,’ Mr Ford said.

The following sentencings show the ATO is working with cross-agency partners through the SFCT, including law enforcement agencies, to bring criminal consequences, not just financial consequences, for GST fraudsters:

• Mr Bryce Nutley was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in the Beenleigh District Court after dishonestly obtaining a gain from the ATO, contrary to s135.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). Mr Nutley provided his myGov login details and authentication codes to a third party, and by doing so facilitated the lodgment of false Business Activity Statements (BAS) on his account. As a result of this conduct, he received $50,000 in GST refunds and unsuccessfully claimed a further $24,000 which was stopped by the ATO. Mr Nutley registered an Australian Business Number (ABN) in February 2022, falsely stating he was operating a sole trader business offering lawn mowing or care services. Over a 4-month period, a total of 6 false BAS were lodged in his name. An ATO audit found no evidence of genuine business activity, records, or operational assets. Instead, funds were misused on sports betting, retail purchases, food delivery services, and transfers to family members and friends, including others who have also been sentenced for their involvement in the scheme. Ms Nutley (the accused’s sister), Ms Pakatyilla, and Ms Hoek have previously been sentenced under Operation Protego for their roles in the broader fraud scheme.
• Ms Samantha Olson was sentenced before the Southport District Court to 18 months imprisonment, to be released on a recognisance after serving 6 months in custody, after fraudulently obtaining approximately $140,000 in GST refunds, and attempting to obtain a further $17,000 from the ATO, contrary to sections 11.1 and 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). Between October 2021 and June 2022, Ms Olson lodged 15 false BAS, falsely declaring over $1.8 million in expenses despite reporting little to no income. An ATO audit found no evidence of genuine business operations, and all lodgments were deemed fraudulent. The funds were spent on furniture, food, and general shopping, with no indication of legitimate business-related expenditure.
• Ms Jade Parviainen was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment in the Melbourne County Court after fraudulently obtaining $230,720 in GST refunds and attempting to claim an additional $49,947, contrary to sections 11.1 and 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). In August 2021, Ms Parviainen registered for an ABN, claiming to operate a Dental Laboratory. Over the following months, she submitted 9 false BAS. An ATO audit found she was not operating a legitimate business enterprise, deeming all lodgments fraudulent. Ms Parviainen was released immediately under a recognisance release order, requiring her to be of good behaviour for 24 months. Ms Parviainen was also ordered to make reparation in the sum of $230,720.
• Ms Sharni Lipscombe was sentenced to 3 and a half years imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining $269,393 in GST refunds contrary to section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). Ms Lipscombe was also sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for attempting to obtain a further $86,331 in GST refunds, contrary to sections 11.1 and 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). All sentences were to be served concurrently. A non-parole period of 12 months was fixed and reparation was ordered for $269,393. She had registered for an ABN in February 2015, stating she operated a beauty services or salon operation business. However, between October 2021 and May 2022, she submitted 17 BAS, falsely declaring her business had made over $4.4 million in purchases and over $440,000 in sales. An audit conducted by the ATO revealed that Ms Lipscombe was not operating a business, and the amounts reported on the BAS were false. Ms Lipscombe’s only source of income was government pensions and allowances. Ms Lipscombe pleaded guilty to all charges.

These matters were prosecuted by The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) following a referral from the ATO.

You can confidentially report suspected tax crime or fraud to us by making a tip-off online or calling 1800 060 062.

For more information about Operation Protego including recent sentencings, visit ato.gov.au/protego.

Notes to journalists

As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has applied treatment against more than 57,000 alleged offenders. Those involved in this fraud have already been handed in the order of $300 million in penalties and interest.

As at 31 July 2025, 126 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.

The ATO has finalised 64 investigations and referred 54 briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. The figures do not include investigations into former ATO staff.

A high-resolution headshot of Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce Chief John Ford (JPEG, 12KB)This link will download a file is available from the ATO media centre.

ATO stock footage and images are available for use in news bulletins from our media centre.

Source: New South Wales – News

Through various programs and initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch, SAPOL works to empower residents, protect neighbourhoods, and prevent crime, driven by the mission to create safer communities across South Australia.

Acting Officer in Charge of Communications and Engagement Branch, Chief Inspector Melissa Gilchrist said the initiative aims to have a stronger digital presence, create a sense of engagement and provides a more agile police messaging response to real-time issues being faced in the community.

“The revitalised products are accessible to the community through our digital platforms,” she said.

“We hope this will increase the reach, responsiveness and proactive measures the community can take to protect themselves and their property.”

SAPOL is retaining our key focus areas of:

• Home security
• Personal safety
• Vehicle and bicycle security
• Business security
• Rural security

To access the fact sheets and more information visit SAPOL – Crime prevention and security

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police charge man following fire at hotel in Burnie

Thursday, 14 August 2025 – 2:58 pm.

Police have charged a 26-year-old Devonport man in relation to a deliberately lit fire at a hotel on Wilson Street at Burnie yesterday.  
It is alleged that about 1.30am the man deliberately lit a fire within a hotel room.  
As a result of the fire, the second floor of the hotel was evacuated. No one was injured.  
Tasmania Fire Service attended and extinguished the fire.  
The man has been charged with offences including arson and unlawfully set fire to property. 
He was detained to appear before the Burnie Magistrates Court. 

Source: New South Wales – News

An Eyre Peninsula man has been arrested today for online child sex offences.

On Thursday 14 August, officers from SA JACET, a joint task force between SAPOL and the AFP, attended an Eyre Peninsula home as a result of conversations and images shared by the accused with a covert online police officer.

The man’s home address was searched by investigators and several items were seized for forensic analysis.

The 32-year-old man was arrested and charged for making a child amenable to sexual activity.

He was bailed to appear at Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on 30 October.“An arrest of this nature demonstrates how closely all Australian Policing jurisdictions are working together to disrupt and protect children online from sexual exploitation and abuse, no matter where the child lives or where the offender is located,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Graham Tomkins, JACET Investigations Manager.

“I am extremely proud of our officers, their persistence, unwavering dedication to prevent and take action against those who commit crimes against children.”

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000 or online at  www.accce.gov.au/report. You can remain anonymous.

If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Maningrida police have seized drugs, cash and alcohol during the execution of a search warrant in the community this week.

On Tuesday 12 August 2025, police executed a lawful search at a residence, locating:

• 280 grams of cannabis, packaged for sale
• $50,140 in cash
• One bottle of liquor
• Fireworks
• Deal bags and scales

A 35-year-old male was arrested and later charged with a range of serious drug offences. He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 14 August 2025.

A 42-year-old female was issued a Notice to Appear for drug offences and for being on Aboriginal land without a permit.

Sergeant Timothy Gillahan said, “Remote police continue to target individuals who supply and distribute restricted and illicit substances in remote communities.

“In the past seven days alone, police have seized more than 500 grams of cannabis and several bottles of liquor during targeted operations.

“Maningrida and surrounding communities are sick of the alcohol and drugs that these individuals bring in.

“We thank members of the community who reported information to police and continue to urge anyone with information about the supply of alcohol or drugs to our communities to do the same on 131 444.”