Month: October 2025

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

We’re a smaller contingent now after the Casey fly-off, which was executed in perfect −9°C weather about 100 nautical miles from the station. With clear blue skies above and dazzling white ice all around, the helicopters shuttled cargo and 14 people from RSV Nuyina to Casey research station over seven flights, each one a two-hour round trip.

One helicopter took the Wilkins Aerodrome team, then the station’s summer doctor and the chef and Traverse team, and brought one person back. The other helicopter took cargo – including mail for Casey expeditioners. 
It’s surprising how fierce the sun is here when the clouds clear, even when the air is freezing.
By now everyone’s developed their own daily routine. Breakfast starts at seven, lunch at midday and dinner at five. Expeditioners can volunteer to help in the kitchen and many do, peeling vegetables or helping with the dishes. There’s also a cohort assisting with underway science projects like sea ice observations.
To keep active, some hit the gym, others walk laps of the ship when the weather allows it. Even if you’re not one for formal exercise, there’s no avoiding the stairs! You can hear the cursing in the stairwell when people get to the Observation Lounge on Deck 9 and realise they’ve left their book in their cabin, three or four flights down.
Quizzes are a popular pastime, and board games, and penguin spotting. All the lights go out in the Deck 9 Lounge when the light fades to avoid bird strike and it’s mesmerising, watching the ship’s spot light illuminate the ice ahead.
Science talks are held in the theatrette on some evenings and they draw both expeditioners and crew. So far there’s been one on auroras, one on the ship’s hydroacoustic mapping functions and another on Southern Ocean seabirds – useful for those of us still learning our petrels from our albatross. The bird photos below were both taken by an expeditioner on this trip. 
We hit open ocean again a few days after the fly-off and the focus has now turned to the second stage of the voyage – a ten day visit to sub-Antarctic Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Under the guidance of field leadership and the field training officers (FTOs), expeditioners have been practising putting up tents, using fuel stoves and familiarising themselves with radios and satellite phones.
We all sat and watched a video shot from a helicopter that circled Heard Island in 2008 from Australia’s previous icebreaker Aurora Australis, to get a sense of what’s coming.
Our clocks go back another few hours by the time we get there so at Heard Island we’ll be operating at UTC+6. 
This content was last updated 6 minutes ago on 10 October 2025.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Government today introduced legislation to strengthen the integrity of the international education sector, expand access to medical places for Indigenous students and improve information we collect about early education and care.

Integrity in international education

International education brings tens of billions of dollars into the economy each year. 

It builds friendships and long-term connections around the world.

But it is also a target for unscrupulous individuals trying to turn a quick buck.

The Government is determined to strengthen the integrity of the sector and ensure it maintains its social licence. 

This legislation will help to crack down on dodgy practices with a number of changes including:

• strengthening the fit and proper requirement for providers,
• enabling the banning of commissions to education agents for onshore student transfers,
• requiring prospective providers to first deliver courses to domestic students for two years before they can apply to teach overseas students as evidence of their commitment to quality education,
• cancelling the registration of providers that fail to deliver a course to overseas students for 12 consecutive months to help deal with ‘phoenixing’, and
• giving us the power to limit or cancel a providers’ ability to deliver courses where it is in the national interest or there are systemic quality issues.

Under the legislation, education providers will also require authorisation from TEQSA to deliver Australian degrees offshore. 

This means that students who study with an Australian provider overseas will have the same confidence in the quality of an Australian qualification as those who study here.

The TEQSA changes are light-touch, set transitional arrangements and utilise information that providers already hold.

This is about safeguarding our reputation as a world leader in education.

Boosting places for Indigenous medical students

Indigenous Australians are significantly underrepresented in our health workforce. They are 3.8 per cent of the population, but only 1.25 per cent of the health workforce in total and less than 1 per cent of doctors.

In the election the Albanese Government promised to act on the Universities Accord recommendation to uncap Commonwealth Supported Places for Indigenous medical students.

This legislation delivers on that promise.

Under the legislation, every Indigenous student who meets the entry requirements for medicine will receive a Commonwealth Supported Place.

We’ve already uncapped funding for all Indigenous students enrolling in other degrees.
 
Last year the number of Indigenous students enrolled in a university course increased by five per cent. This year it increased by a further three per cent.

Next year we will take the next step and expand this demand driven system to all Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Better information in early education and care

Every year we invest more than $16 billion in the Child Care Subsidy.

The Albanese Government is committed to building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible.

To do that we need a better understanding of the costs of delivering early education and care.

In MYEFO last year we committed $10.4 million over two years for the Early Education Service Delivery Prices project and we are backing that with this legislation.

The legislation will help ensure we have information about delivery prices that is accurate, comprehensive and representative.

Getting a better understanding of the costs to deliver early childhood education and care services around the country will help us to deliver evi
dence-based reforms.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“This legislation gives us more tools to stop unscrupulous individuals in the international education system trying to make a quick buck.

“The legislation will also help more young Indigenous people to become the doctors our communities need.

“And this is another step in building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible.

“These are important and necessary reforms as we build a better and fairer education system.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy:

“More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors will strengthen the health system and help grow its capacity to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

“In creating more opportunities for young Aboriginal people to become doctors, we are working towards Closing the Gap in education and in health.” 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh:

“To build a universal early childhood education and care system, we need the best information on how services are delivered and funded.

“This legislation will give us the evidence we need to make smarter decisions.

“When we understand the real costs, we can build a system that works better to support families.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill:

“International education has delivered profound economic, social, and diplomatic 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.

“Australia’s future success requires a focus on quality, integrity and a great student experience.

“That’s why today we’re introducing amendments to crack down on exploitation, increase transparency, and safeguard the reputation of our sector—after previous reforms were blocked in the Senate by the Liberal and Greens parties.

“These changes will protect genuine students and support our high-quality providers.” 

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Hollybank search marks five days

Thursday, 9 October 2025 – 5:25 pm.

Despite the use of extensive resources, a fifth day of searching for a 76-year-old man missing in rugged bush in Tasmania’s northeast has not been able to locate him.
Peter Willoughby went missing on Sunday afternoon, about 2km from Hollybank, when he walked into heavy bushland and became separated from the people he was with.
Extensive police, ambulance and SES search and rescue resources have been deployed since Sunday to try and locate him.
Tasmania Police will not search the area on Friday due to safety concerns of officers working in heavily forested areas during a severe weather event.
Resources deployed earlier today involved specialist Tasmania Police Search and Rescue officers, Ambulance Tasmania paramedics and SES volunteers.
No helicopter or drone resources could be used due to inclement weather and low visibility.
Tasmania Police Northern District Search and Rescue Inspector Nick Clark said conditions were again very difficult, with search teams working in thick, rugged terrain through periods of rain, hail and extreme wind gusts.
Inspector Clark said teams scoured a new search area, to the south of the Hollybank reserve.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate Mr Willoughby in today’s searching,” Inspector Clark said.
“We do, of course, hope that will be able to find Mr Willoughby, but as each day passes, there are grave concerns for his welfare.”
Mr Willoughby, pictured. was last seen wearing a dark blue jumper, blue jeans and sneakers.
Anyone who has information regarding the incident or who may have seen Mr Willoughby in the area from Sunday is asked to contact police on 131 444.

Source: New South Wales – News

The two-car crash occurred on Onkaparinga Valley Road, Verdun just before 3pm on Thursday 9 October.

Traffic is being diverted around the scene.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.

Source: South Australia Police

The much-loved Boo in Wanneroo returns to the Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre with more thrills, surprises and family entertainment.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has outlined its preliminary competition concerns with Yamaha Motor Australia Pty Ltd’s proposed acquisition of Telwater Pty Ltd in a Statement of Issues published today.

Telwater is the largest manufacturer and supplier of aluminium trailer boats in Australia and has strong brand recognition throughout the recreational marine industry. Market participants have told the ACCC that a Telwater aluminium trailer boat is a very important product for many dealers.

Yamaha is a leading supplier of outboard motors. It faces competition from outboard motor brands such as Mercury and Suzuki.

The ACCC’s preliminary view is that the proposed acquisition is likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in the wholesale supply of outboard motors in Australia.

“We are concerned that, following the acquisition, Yamaha would have the ability and incentive to link the wholesale supply of Yamaha outboard motors to Telwater aluminium trailer boats, for example, by requiring dealers of Telwater boats to also become Yamaha outboard motor dealers,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

“This acquisition could make it much harder for other outboard motor suppliers to compete effectively with Yamaha, ultimately reducing the choice and competitive offerings available to consumers.”

The ACCC is also concerned that the merged entity could seek to reduce the access to dealers and customers by rival suppliers of trailer boats.

“Linking the wholesale supply of Yamaha outboard motors with Telwater aluminium trailer boats could limit how effectively existing and future rival wholesale suppliers of aluminium boats and outboard motors can compete post-merger,” Dr Williams said.

“This could ultimately lead to higher prices and reduced choice or quality for consumers seeking to purchase a new aluminium trailer boat or outboard motor.”

The ACCC invites submissions from interested parties in response to the Statement of Issues by 23 October 2025.

More information, including the Statement of Issues, can be found on the ACCC’s website at Yamaha Motor Australia Pty Ltd – Telwater Pty Ltd.

Notes to editors

‘Outboard motors’ are standalone systems that are installed to the outside hull of the boat, as opposed to inboard motors which are installed inside the boat’s hull and used for larger boats.

Trailer boats are small marine vessels that can be fitted to a trailer for easy transportation and generally range between 2 – 9 metres in length. Trailer boats can be made from various materials, with the most common being aluminium or fibreglass.

Aluminium boats are primarily used for recreational boating in Australia. Aluminium boats are generally lighter, more durable and generally less expensive than fibreglass boats.

Aluminium boats and outboard motors are complementary products, often purchased by consumers together. The complementary nature of these products is highly relevant to the ACCC’s competition assessment.

More information on how the ACCC considers conglomerate effects can be found in section 4 of the ACCC’s Merger Assessment Guidelines.

Background

Yamaha is proposing to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Telwater from Bombardier Recreation Products Inc (BRP), alongside a property in Coomera, Queensland used to manufacture, fit and warehouse aluminium trailer boats.

Trailer boats are generally used for leisure activities, such as fishing and cruising. Recreational trailer boats typically use an outboard motor.

Yamaha Motor Company Ltd (YMC) manufactures outboard motors in Asia, primarily in Japan, and imports them into Australia by its wholly owned subsidiary, Yamaha Motor Australia Pty Ltd (Yamaha). Yamaha supplies the outboard motors to dealers (retailers) Australia wide. Dealers then supply the outboard motors to end-customers.

Yamaha does not manufacture boats in Australia. YMC subsidiaries manufacture trailer boats overseas for various international markets. Yamaha and a related business have supplied a small number of these trailer boats to dealers in Australia, primarily via a third party Australian distributor. Yamaha also owns the trademarks for a small number of aluminium trailer boat and trailer brands, which were previously licensed to a third party manufacturer and are not currently in use. Yamaha does not supply trailers for boats in Australia.

Telwater manufactures aluminium trailer boats and trailers in Australia and supplies them to dealers, who then sell to end customers. Telwater currently supplies three lines of trailer boats: Quintrex, Stacer and Yellowfin branded boats.

Telwater supplies custom-fitted trailers that are sold together with its boats (branded under Telwater), or loose trailers (under the brand name “Move”) that can be used for any trailer boat. Telwater also supplies a limited number of outboard motors to dealers as part of a package with a Telwater boat and also potentially a trailer. Telwater is a non-exclusive distributor of Mercury outboard motors, with Mercury also supplying its outboard motors to dealers itself and via other wholesalers. Telwater also supplies a very small number of Rotax outboard motors (which are manufactured and distributed by BRP), as part of a package with some of its boats.

Source:

Wye River Captain Andrew Hack and Community Safety Coordinator and former Captain Roy Moriarty

Amid drought conditions, nearly 150 fire brigades in Victoria’s southwest will open their doors to community members throughout October, helping to prepare them for fire season.

With record rainfall deficits and an increased risk of fire for much of the southwest region, local CFA volunteers are prompting residents to get fire ready.

From Freshwater Creek, to Beeac, Cobden and right across to Nelson, members will base themselves at the fire station, general store or local market to educate their residents of the upcoming fire risk and ensure they understand how best to protect their families.  

Wye River Fire Brigade is no stranger to fire and will be among those getting involved. Captain Andrew Hack said town preparedness is a key focus for them in the lead up to summer, with their population rapidly rising from 100 people to almost 4000 in the peak season. 

“It’s interesting, you have a significant event like 10 years ago, but the longer the time passes from that event, people forget and can begin to let their guard down,” Andrew said.

“Whether it is cleaning up around their properties, getting their fire bag ready in preparation to evacuate, or simply understanding what their plan will be – it needs to be revisited.

“We just have to keep tapping away each year reminding people not to become complacent.

“CFA’s mantra is to be alert, not alarmed, and we just keep pushing that to people. We don’t want you to be scared, but we want you to plan and be ready.”

Recent winter weather conditions has seen a wrath of large debris needing to be cleaned up, particularly for those that live under the trees.

“Each year in the lead up to Christmas, the Colac Otway Shire Council drop large green skip bins in town and in Kennett River to allow residents to clear their vegetation,” Andrew said.

“It’s been a great way to assist people who would otherwise struggle to burn off themselves.

“Now is also the time to remove your firewood and any highly flammable items such as your doormat away from your home.”

Wye River Brigade 1st Lieutenant Tom Moore said the initiative is a great way to educate residents in understanding what an ember attack is and how they can protect their house.

Brigade members will be based at the Wye River General Store on Saturday, 11 October for their Get Fire Ready event, before opening their doors again on Saturday, 1 November for their annual community awareness forum.

As a thriving summer tourist town, the biggest challenge for the brigade is communicating with holiday goers renting houses, residing in the caravan park, or those driving in for the day.

“While we try to engage with property owners and real estate agents, it’s those who are here for one or two weeks at a time, or even for a day who are oblivious to the risks,” Andrew said.

“We understand people don’t want their holiday to be impacted, but on those stinking hot days with strong winds, this is not the place to be.

“Keep an eye on the simple signposting along the Great Ocean Road on your travels.”

Tom said it is important everyone stays informed via the VicEmergency App and listens to the local ABC. Reaching out to your neighbours is another valuable source of information.  

“For the period of time you’re coming down for a holiday, we ask you check the weather forecast in advance and see where the alerts and concerns are,” Tom said.  

“We have a lot of people moving into town who think the first thing they should do is head to the beach – but that is not where you want to be during a bushfire emergency.”

As a buffer between the firefighters and the community in the event of a big fire, the brigade has also created a community volunteer program, where members help with traffic control, disseminating information, and assisting the elderly, young people and those with pets.

“There’s lot of ways to get people involved other than jumping on the back of a truck, and they’re a really pivotal part of our response and a major help to us out on the fireground,” Andrew said.

To find out more about preparing your property, creating a fire plan or to find an event near you visit: cfa.vic.gov.au/getfireready 

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

Mr Speaker,

This Bill makes a number of changes to improve integrity, improve access and improve the information we collect about the education system.

First, it strengthens the integrity of the international education sector.

Second, it expands access for Indigenous students to study medicine by uncapping Commonwealth Supported Places in medical courses.

And third, it introduces measures in early childhood education and care to improve data collection and strengthen the integrity of subsidy administration.

International education measures

Mr Speaker,

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.

And in the world we live in this is more important than ever.

But it is also a target for unscrupulous individuals trying to make a quick buck.

In September 2022 we announced the Parkinson Review of the Migration System.

And in January 2023 the Nixon Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System.

These reviews identified integrity issues in international education, and we moved quickly on a number of recommendations of those reviews. 

This Bill is the next step. 

The reviews made it clear we have a problem with collusive and unscrupulous practices between some agents and providers.

In response, the Bill inserts a new definition of “education agent” which better captures their activities. 

It strengthens the “fit and proper” test for providers. 

This means that greater scrutiny will apply where there are cross-ownership arrangements between providers and agents, and where providers are under investigation for serious offences.

It also inserts a definition of “education agent commission”. This will allow for complementary amendments to be made to the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 to ban commissions from being paid to education agents for onshore student transfers.

And it gives the Education Department clearer powers to collect and share information on commissions. This will help providers to choose reputable agents and shut out those who put students at risk.

The Minister for Education will also be able to pause new applications for providers or course registration for up to 12 months where needed, so agencies can focus resources on integrity issues.

The Bill also requires prospective providers to first deliver courses to domestic students for two years before they can apply to teach overseas students as evidence of their commitment to quality education.

The registration of providers that fail to deliver a course to overseas students for 12 consecutive months will also be cancelled to help deal with ‘phoenixing’.

The Bill also allows, with agreement from the Minister for Skills and Training, the Minister for Education to suspend or cancel courses with systemic quality issues, limited skills value, or where needed in the public interest. 

Together, these reforms make it harder for dodgy operators to enter or remain in the sector, while supporting the majority of providers who are doing the right thing.

The Bill also amends the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act (TEQSA).

Providers will now require authorisation from TEQSA to deliver Australian degrees offshore. 

This means that students who study with an Australian provider overseas will have the same confidence in the quality of an Australian qualification as those who study here.

Authorised providers will need to notify TEQSA of new or changed offshore delivery arrangements and report annually on their activities. This will give regulators the information they need to monitor quality and address risks early.

The amendments are designed to provide oversight of offshore arrangements while also minimising the regulatory burden on Australian providers.

The amendments are light-touch, set transitional arrangements that take into account existing offshore arrangements, and utilise information that providers already hold.

These changes safeguard our reputation as a world leader in education, here and overseas.

Indigenous medical students measure

Mr Speaker,

Indigenous Australians are significantly underrepresented in our health workforce.

They account for 3.8 per cent of the population, but only 1.25 per cent of the health workforce.

That percentage is even lower amongst doctors. 

Less than 1 per cent of doctors identified as Indigenous.

The Universities Accord recommended that we uncap Commonwealth Supported Places for Indigenous medical students to help address this.

In the election earlier this year we promised to do this.

This Bill delivers on that promise.

It means every Indigenous student who meets the entry requirements for medicine will have a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Evidence shows Indigenous Australians are more likely to have a positive healthcare experience from an Indigenous healthcare worker because of their unique skill sets and cultural knowledge and understanding.

We also know that Indigenous doctors are more likely to work in Indigenous community health services and in regional, rural and remote areas. 

These communities also have some of the highest demand for doctors in the country.

This is an important reform that will help increase the number of Indigenous doctors in Australia.

Last year we uncapped funding for all Indigenous students enrolling in non-medical bachelor degrees at a public university.

It has already had a positive impact.

Last year the number of Indigenous students enrolled in a university course increased by five per cent.

This year it increased by a further three per cent.

Next year we will take the next step and expand this demand driven system to all Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Early childhood education and care measures

Mr Speaker,

The third part of this Bill strengthens integrity and transparency in early childhood education and care.

Every year the Australian Government invests more than $16 billion in the Child Care Subsidy.

We are committed to building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible for every family.

To do that we need a better understanding of the costs of delivering early education and care.

And this Bill will help us do that.

In MYEFO last year we committed $10.4 million over two years for the Early Education Service Delivery Prices project. 

This Bill gives that project the legislative support it needs.

It amends the Family Assistance Administration Act to allow the Secretary of my Department to compel providers that are constitutional corporations – if necessary – to provide cost-related data.

Data will be sought voluntarily in the first instance. But this power is important to help ensure that information is accurate, comprehensive and representative.

Getting a better understanding of the reasonable costs to deliver early childhood education and care services around the country will help us to deliver evidence-based reforms.

The Bill also makes three further changes in early education and care.

It expands the ability to use and disclose protected information, strengthening data governance, supporting transparency and ensuring continuity in reporting.

The Bill also aligns the date of effect of Child Care Subsidy reconciliation decisions with the date they take effect in the Child Care Subsidy system and in line with policy intent. 

This fixes inconsistencies that have been an issue since 2018, leading to over and under-payments.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker,

In conclusion, this Bill:

• Strengthens the integrity of our international education sector
• It helps increase the number of Indigenous doctors, and
• It will improve data collection and the integrity of our early education and care system.

All important and necessary reforms, and I commend them to the House.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Representatives from the Australian and Victorian Governments and the City of Greater Bendigo will gather on Friday to mark the commencement of work on a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Heathcote’s Community Hub.

The project has been supported with $2 million in funding from the Australian Government Growing Regions Program and $1 million funding from the Victorian Government Living Libraries Infrastructure Program with the remaining funds being contributed by the City of Greater Bendigo.

The project includes the development of a greatly expanded Library with tech hub and entry via High Street, multi-purpose community meeting and co-working spaces, outdoor community space, new accessible bathroom and parent and carer facilities, preservation works to maintain the heritage values of the building and landscaping of the rear courtyard.

When completed in the first half of 2027 the Community Hub will be home to the Heathcote Library and the City of Greater Bendigo’s Customer Service and Maternal and Child Health Services.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the project is a major investment in Heathcote that will include refurbishment and expansion of the existing Victorian Heritage Register listed Municipal Office and former Court House buildings.

“The upgrades will help to preserve the heritage values of the buildings, bring them up to contemporary accessibility and multi-purpose standards and make them more energy efficient. It will be an important community hub that can support many different community needs, and uses, now and into the future,” Cr Metcalf said.

“Community hubs are important for healthy, sustainable communities and the City is excited to see this project now underway.”

Goldfields Libraries CEO Mark Hands said the project will effectively double the size of the Heathcote Library and enable Goldfields Libraries to increase their service delivery, programs and community activities.

“When completed Heathcote Library will meet the national library standard for floorspace area to accommodate Heathcote and District’s future population growth,” Mr Hands said.

“The new library will also introduce an expanded community technology hub with free public wifi throughout the building in response to the critical digital gap in Heathcote, where fewer homes have internet access.”

While the works are underway the Heathcote Library is operating at the Heathcote Mechanics Institute, 121 High St, Heathcote, the City’s Heathcote Customer Service Centre is operating from the Heathcote Visitor Centre, 106 High St, Heathcote and the City’s Maternal and Child Health Service are operating from Heathcote Health, 39 Hospital Street.