Month: October 2025

Source: New South Wales – News

The first day of the continuing search for the missing boy has concluded with no evidence being located.

The coordinated search has progressed in zones outside of the original search area and will continue on Wednesday. Extreme heat forecast for Thursday is expected to restrict searching to the cooler morning period.

Resources used today include 18 police officers, 82 ADF members and 33 vehicles and SES resources including seven members, a drone and two utility terrain vehicles.

The search for Gus, who was last seen on Saturday 27 September, is being conducted as part of Task Force Horizon that was announced this morning by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Fatal crash at Lindisfarne

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – 4:59 pm.

Sadly, an 83 year-old man has died following a crash at Avoca St, Lindisfarne today.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene about 2:20pm, with initial inquiries indicating the crash may have been related to a medical episode.
Preliminary investigations indicate the Holden Captiva rolled down a driveway into a fence shortly after the man got into the driver’s seat.
The vehicle then crossed the road and crashed into a fence. A woman, who was not in the vehicle, received what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries in the incident.
Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo is undertaking a flood study in Goornong and waterway studies in Heathcote and Epsom/Huntly and is inviting residents from those areas to attend a community workshop.

City of Greater Bendigo Climate Change and Environment Manager Michelle Wyatt said information gathered at the workshops will inform the studies and will also help to identify local emergency risks and potential community actions.

“We really want to hear about the experiences of residents living in these areas so that we understand the community’s concerns, the studies reflect what actually happens on the ground and we can start to identify solutions together,” Ms Wyatt said.

“The workshops will allow residents to have their voice heard and play a role in creating a safer, more connected future in their communities.”

The workshops will be facilitated by independent external consultants and will take place at:

Heathcote Bowls Club
5.30pm to 8pm – Tuesday October 21

Goornong Memorial Hall
5.30pm to 8pm – Wednesday November 5

Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve
5.30pm to 8pm – Thursday November 6

The workshops are funded by the Australian Government Disaster Ready Fund, Emergency Recovery Victoria Community Recovery Hubs Program, Australian and Victorian Governments State and Regional Priority Projects Grant Program.

To register to attend a workshop, visit:

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Our reforms to the low income superannuation tax offset will help deliver a more secure retirement for more than a million Australians, including hundreds of thousands of young people and women.

We are making the super system fairer from top to bottom.

The majority of people who will benefit from changes to the low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO) are women.

Every dollar we help women save for retirement matters, it’s how we make the economy fairer and ensure women aren’t left behind.

We are boosting the LISTO by $310 to $810 and will raise the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000 from 1 July 2027.

Because of these changes, around 1.3 million Australians will benefit, including around 750,000 women and around 550,000 young people under the age of 30.

More than 750,000 additional Australians with income between $37,000 and $45,000 will now become eligible for LISTO, including more than 450,000 women.

Almost 500,000 Australians with income below $37,000 who were already eligible will also receive a higher LISTO payment, including almost 300,000 women.

Workers will receive a boost of up to $810 per year to their superannuation account depending on their income and contributions, with an average increase in the LISTO payment of $410 for affected workers. Workers could receive a potential benefit at retirement of around $15,000 depending on an individual’s income over their career.

The workers who stand to benefit from this change include over 100,000 sales assistants, over 50,000 administrative workers and over 50,000 aged and disabled carers.

The changes bring the total number of Australians eligible for LISTO to 3.1 million, of which around 60 per cent are women. Across all 3.1 million LISTO recipients, the average annual LISTO payment will increase by around a third, from $280 to $375.

This is all part of our plan to help low‑income workers earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more too.

Labor built our superannuation system and we’re making it even stronger, fairer and more sustainable.

We’re increasing LISTO, better targeting super concessions, paying super on paid parental leave and introducing payday super, and we have increased the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent and legislated the objective for superannuation.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to an attempted burglary at a business in Berrimah early this morning.

Around 3am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a vehicle had allegedly attempted to ram the front doors of a motorcycle dealership along the Stuart Highway.

It is alleged the vehicle became lodged on bollards at the front of the premises before the offenders exited and smashed the front doors using an unknown object, causing significant property damage in the process. Several motorcycles were moved outside before the offenders fled on foot when the business manager arrived.

No motorcycles were stolen.

Strike Force Trident attended the scene and investigations are ongoing.

Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has information, including CCTV or dash cam footage from the area, to contact them on 131 444 and quote reference number P25275233. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police have arrested two youths in relation to an aggravated assault and attempted robbery in Tennant Creek overnight.

Around 11:45pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 44-year-old female had allegedly been assaulted by two youths on Peko Road as she was leaving work and getting into her vehicle.

It is alleged that when the victim opened her vehicle door, she was approached by the youths, who assaulted her with a scooter while attempting to steal her Toyota Camry. The victim sounded the horn, alerting co-workers to the incident, and the youths fled the scene on foot.

The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and did not require further treatment.

Tennant Creek Police arrested the two alleged offenders, a female aged 14 and a male aged 15, after locating them hiding under a nearby vehicle on Griggs Street. They remain in police custody and investigations are ongoing.

Police urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference number P25275145. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Search to return to Hollybank Forest Reserve

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – 3:54 pm.

Tasmania Police and SES volunteers will return to the Hollybank Forest Reserve on Wednesday to resume the search for missing Scottsdale man Peter Willoughby.
Mr Willoughby, 76, was reported missing on the afternoon of Sunday, October 5, after he went walking in thick bushland near Hollybank, in the state’s northeast.
Despite extensive search efforts in the days after Mr Willoughby’s disappearance, sadly, there has been no sign of him or new clues that could lead to his possible location. 
Tasmania Police Northern Search and Rescue (SAR) Inspector Nick Clark said approximately 30 people would be on the ground on Wednesday actively searching for Mr Willoughby.
Also, Sustainable Timber Tasmania staff will be offering logistical assistance.
“This will be a substantial search, and include officers from Northern SAR, Western SAR, general duties police, plus the involvement of SES volunteers,” Inspector Clark said.
“The search will look to review some of the terrain we have previously covered, but we will also look at searching some new areas to the south of Mr Willoughby’s last known location.”
The search effort had been paused since Friday, due in part to inclement weather which posed a risk to searchers in the heavily forested search areas.
Inspector Clark said searchers were determined to find Mr Willoughby, but given it has been several days since his last contact, police hold serious concerns for his welfare.
Anyone who may have seen Mr Willoughby in the Hollybank area, or has information that could lead to his location, can contact police no 131 444.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Government has today advised universities of their 2026 allocations of international student places. These are within the approved National Planning Level for international education to manage growth in a sustainable way.

Consistent with the 2026 National Planning Level announced in August, public universities were invited to express interest in securing a share of the additional 17,500 places made available.

Growth in overall student commencements has moderated strongly, with visa applications down 26% as compared to last year.

Five universities did not ask for any growth, while 32 sought some increase in their international student profile. Allocations have been driven by each institution’s demonstrated delivery against government priorities of new housing, south-east Asian engagement and market diversification.

Regional universities have secured strong growth in their allocations, consistent with the Government’s policies to share the benefits of international education more fairly and evenly. Charles Sturt University, Federation University, the University of Newcastle and Charles Darwin University have secured the largest proportional growth in their allocations.

Universities that are building more accommodation have received increases to their international student allocations.

New student housing is now growing, with more than 11,000 new beds under construction, more than 15,000 with development approvals in place, and more than 12,000 in the planning process (latest Urbis data).

31 of the 32 institutions that sought growth have received at least 50 new student places. We are in further discussions with the remaining university about market diversification, south-east Asian engagement and its investment in new housing.

These steps are all about ensuring Australia’s international education sector operates sustainably in Australia’s national interest.

Final 2026 allocations for public universities

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“International education is an important national asset.

“It brings tens of billions of dollars into the economy each year. It also builds friendships and long-term connections around the world.

“But we need to manage it sustainably and that’s what these allocations for universities do.

“We’re making sure growth in international education happens in a way that supports the national interest and spreads benefits more evenly.

“Regional universities play a vital role in local communities and economies and we’re backing them with more places.

“We also know international education is a target for unscrupulous individuals trying to make a quick buck.

“That’s why we introduced legislation to Parliament last week to crack down on dodgy operators and practices.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill: 

“International education has delivered profound benefits to Australia for decades. It’s a $51 billion sector that Australians can be proud of, educating future global leaders, strengthening international ties, and enriching our communities.

“Australians expect to see growth in student numbers supported by investment in new housing which is what the Government’s policies now incentivise, especially for the larger institutions.

“Engaging with south-east Asia is in Australia’s national interest, and the 2026 international student allocations recognise universities which are demonstrating genuine focus on our region.”

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Two men charged with attempted murder

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 – 1:10 pm.

Police have charged two men with attempted murder following ongoing investigations into an isolated incident in Herdsmans Cove in January.
A man received head and neck injuries after allegedly being shot on Calvert Crescent shortly before 5pm on Saturday, 18 January.
A 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old man were charged with drug and serious firearms offences following a search of a Herdsmans Cove address in February.
Investigations have continued, and the same men were arrested today after detectives and specialist police executed search warrants at addresses in Herdmans Cove.
They have both been charged with attempted murder and firearms offences and are expected to appear in court today.
Police will allege those involved are known to each other, and that the incident was targeted.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services