Month: October 2025

Source:

More than two hundred CFA brigades hosted community-focused fire-readiness events over the weekend 4-5 October as the Get Fire Ready initiative officially kicked off.

Thousands of Victorians turned out to learn more about fire safety, engaging in conversations with their local firefighters at events that stretched from Kadnook in the west to Toongabbie in the east.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan declared the weekend an overwhelming success and a great start to a month of activity encouraging Victorians to prepare for the fire season.

Jason visited events across the state, including Mooroolbark, Kinglake, Beveridge, Trentham, Wendouree and Stonehaven.

“The atmosphere was really positive. People were interested in how they could take practical action ahead of the Fire Danger Period,” Jason said.

“The new local area maps were particularly popular with both brigades and community members. They gave residents a chance to pinpoint their properties and talk about local fire risks.”

Brigades also reported strong interest from members of the public in joining CFA, with volunteer recruitment proving an added bonus to the weekend.

Spring Hill Fire Brigade Captain Scott Selle said the brigade had never run an event of this kind before and was pleased to give his small community, situated near the Wombat State Forest, the opportunity to ask questions about the season ahead.

The day also brought a welcome surprise, with local resident Jamie Clark signing up as a new recruit after stopping by to see the truck and tour the station.

Malmsbury Fire Brigade Captain Linda Krive said her brigade had also attracted a potential new volunteer.

“While we took part in Get Fire Ready to inform locals about their fire risk, gaining a new volunteer was of course an added positive,” Linda said.

Linda encouraged other brigades to get involved in the weeks ahead.

“The more brigades that take part, the more opportunities we have to help communities understand their risk and take simple steps to get ready.”

With another three weekends of events still to come, CFA is urging Victorians to look out for their nearest Get Fire Ready event by visiting the CFA website.

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Over the weekend the Territory Road Policing Division seized several vehicles for hooning in Darwin.

On Saturday two motorcycles were sighted by police allegedly racing on the Stuart Highway from the Lambrick Avenue traffic lights to Coolalinga. The motorcycles were travelling 31-45km over the speed limit and were apprehended in Coolalinga where both motorcycles were seized and impounded.

On Sunday a Holden Commodore utility was allegedly conducting burnouts on Forrest Parade and surrounding streets in Palmerston. The driver was issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice for multiple offences and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

Acting Superintendent Devrim Kanyilmaz said, “The Territory Road Policing Division will continue to focus all efforts on keeping our roads safe. Hooning and dangerous driving will not be tolerated under any circumstances. 

“Although no one was injured during these incidents, it is behaviours like these can lead to serious injury or even death.

“Remember stay alive and avoid the Fatal Five – speeding, drink driving, failing to wear seatbelts and driving tired or distracted.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Greenhill Road and Glynburn Road, Hazelwood Park about 5.15pm on Sunday 5 October after a truck crashed through the roundabout and into a large gum tree.

The truck clipped a car as it entered the roundabout then slammed into the tree, spilling its load and causing damage to shopfronts and four other parked vehicles.

Miraculously, no one was seriously injured during the incident.

The truck driver, a 28-year-old Elizabeth Vale man, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The truck and three cars had to be towed from the scene.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Anyone with information or dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

257056

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo acknowledges the recent media release regarding the closure of the Eaglehawk Recycle Shop (ERS).

The City has long supported ERS through a peppercorn lease arrangement, financial contributions to support their operations and collaborative efforts aimed at reducing landfill waste and promoting sustainability.

We understand this news is disappointing for many in our community, however we want to reassure our residents that the City remains committed to ensuring a similar level of service is provided from this site moving forward.

The City has reached out to the ERS board with an offer of a financial support package to support the continuation of the Eaglehawk Recycle Shop. The City looks forward to discussing this proposal with the Board at their earliest convenience.

We remain committed to working with community organisations that contribute to environmental outcomes and social enterprise.

We appreciate the contribution ERS has made to the community over the past 30 years and acknowledge the efforts of its staff and volunteers.

The Eaglehawk Landfill and other recycling centres across the municipality in Goornong, Heathcote and Strathfieldsaye are Council ran and there will be no changes to their operation.

The City will provide updates as they become available.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Three charged with arson at Ashley Youth Detention Centre

Monday, 6 October 2025 – 12:30 pm.

Three youths are facing charges of arson, and destroy property, following an incident at Ashley Youth Detention Centre on Sunday.
Police and emergency services were called to the centre about 3pm yesterday following a report of a disturbance involving three armed youths.
While police were in attendance, the youths allegedly set fire to a building.
Three youths – two aged 16 and one aged 15 – were arrested at the scene and safely taken into police custody.
No one was injured during the incident.
A Tasmania Fire Service fire investigator, as well as Tasmania Police forensics officers, were on scene at Ashley Youth Detention Centre today as investigations continued.
Significant damage has been caused to an area of the facility.
The youths were taken to Launceston police headquarters on Sunday while investigations took place and, on completion of the charging process, were returned to the centre ahead of their scheduled appearance in youth court today.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Search continues for missing man near Hollybank, north-east Tas

Monday, 6 October 2025 – 11:26 am.

Search efforts are continuing for a missing man in the Hollybank area in north east Tasmania.Peter Willoughby, 76, went missing on a walk in bushland about 2km from Hollybank yesterday afternoon.He was wearing a dark blue jumper, blue jeans and sneakers.Peter is being treated for a medical condition, which may result in him being disoriented.Police and State Emergency Services search and rescue crews, together with an Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedic, are currently searching the Excalibur Road area on foot and on ATVs.The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and drone capability are also being utilised to conduct search aerial searches.If you’ve seen Peter please call Police on 131444.

Source: Australia’s climate in 2024: 2nd warmest and 8th wettest year on record

Anna Henderson, Journalist: Penny Wong thanks for joining SBS World News.

Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.

Henderson: You met the Iranian Foreign Minister while you’ve been here at the UN. What were you trying to achieve by that face-to-face engagement?

Foreign Minister: We’ve had a diplomatic presence in Tehran since 1968 and obviously, as a consequence of the actions of the Iranian state, in particular the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, we made a decision to ask their Ambassador to leave Australia and to suspend our presence there. I thought it was important for me, face to face, to look him in the eye as my counterpart, and tell him why, and tell him very clearly that we believe that these actions crossed a line, and they were utterly unacceptable to Australia and to Australians.

Henderson: Can you demand any evidence from the Australian Government to support what ASIO has alleged?

Foreign Minister: What I made clear to him is that we have faith in the advice of our security agencies, and we act on that.

Henderson: You made a very significant move this week in terms of getting 100 countries on board with that humanitarian declaration. SBS has spoken to some, doctors in Gaza over the course of this week, and they told us they’re seeing the consequences of the F-35s in hospitals as saying they are, quote, “shredding people”. Australia is part of the F-35 program. Do you think that’s something that your government would review?

Foreign Minister: Well, first, can I just respond on the first point, which is the Declaration in Support of for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which, as you know, was one of the things we determined to do after the tragic death of Zomi Frankcom, an Australian who was killed by the Israeli Defense Force, along with her colleagues from the World Central Kitchen, and I said, I made a promise that we will try and do something to ensure that this did not happen again, to work for that world. And I am very pleased that as a result of all of our effort, over 100 countries have joined together to sign the statement and to pledge action to ensure this does not keep happening and countries from as far away as Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Jordan, Indonesia, as well as Australia and beyond, and that really was an example of the power of multilateralism. In relation to the F-35 you’ve heard me talk about this, we are an F-35 country. Why are we an F-35 country? It is for Australian capability. So we are part of that supply chain where we supply to Lockheed Martin so that we can get critical capability for Australia.

Henderson: When you hear that kind of first-person account from the hospitals, though, does it give you pause for thought, perhaps, about petitioning the US about its arms trade with Israel?

Foreign Minister: It affirms my commitment to work as I am, for a ceasefire, to engage with Arab countries and others, Indonesia, Türkiye , other countries on calling for a ceasefire, pressing here for a ceasefire, for the hostages to be released. And importantly, it affirms my commitment, our commitment to recognition of Palestine as a critical aspect, critical part of peace, longer term peace, in the region.

Henderson: The government has spoken about the potential to have a home for the Palestinian people rebuilding Gaza. France has been talking about potentially contributing to peacekeeping forces. Is that something you think Australia is open to?

Foreign Minister: Look, what we’ve learned here in our engagement with France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Jordan, the UAE, the Saudis, all of the engagement here is that we want to work with other countries to maximise the prospect of peace, and I’m really pleased that this week, President Trump not only reaffirmed his commitment to ceasefire and peace in the region, but has also met with Arab countries and other countries such as Indonesia and Türkiye , to try and forge a plan for peace in the region.

Henderson: Could you foresee ever Australian boots on the ground?

Foreign Minister: We will work with other countries to try and contribute to peace. That’s what we’re doing here.

Henderson: In saying that, do you mean that other countries would lead that effort?

Foreign Minister: Well, hang on, I think this is entirely hypothetical. What I can say is you have seen Australia being willing to work with others to help contribute to peace. That is what people here are working on. Countries here working on, President Trump is working on, and we should all be focused on.

Henderson: Why don’t you move to broader sanctions, like those on Russia, on Israel, beyond the two ministers currently being targeted?

Foreign Minister: You ask me this quite often, and I would make the point to you that sanctions work when they are done in concert with other countries, and that is why Russia, the sanctions on Russia, have been broad based, and they have been international. You would know that the sanctions we have placed on Israel have been with other countries, and we have sanctioned two Israeli ministers, as well as other entities. Now the reality is, there are, no other country has issued the sorts of sanctions that you refer to. What we need to do is work with others to have impact. We can’t end this war alone, but we can do what we are doing, sanctioning together, recognising Palestine, calling for cease fire and release of hostages.

Henderson: Given what the UN has now found, what we are hearing from human rights groups, academic scholars, is this now a genocide in Gaza?

Foreign Minister: Well, Israel will be accountable to the world and to history, before international courts for its actions. What I would say now is that what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. The deaths of children are unacceptable. The blockading of aid is unacceptable.

Henderson: In terms of the agreements that have yet to be signed in our own region, you’ve been criss-crossing the Pacific trying to get some deal in Vanuatu and PNG, do you have to shoulder some responsibility that we haven’t got there with those two nations?

Foreign Minister: I think the first thing we should be aware of is that we lost the opportunity to be the only partner of choice in the Pacific under a Coalition government which neglected the Pacific and had its position on climate. And the fact is, action on climate is an entry ticket to engagement with the Pacific. That’s the first point. Second, I think I’ve been very honest with the Australian people. I’ve said there is permanent contest in the region, and it is that permanent contest which is ongoing. What we have to do is be a partner that is respectful, that listens, that is patient and keeps engaging and will do.

Henderson: Are we going to see the COP31 in Adelaide?

Foreign Minister: I hope, I hope we can get an outcome with Türkiye that reflects what we want and what we want most is to make sure the Pacific has its voice heard. That was the really, the imprimatur and the impetus behind our commitment was to do what we have been doing internationally, which is to work with the Pacific to elevate their voices. Obviously, it’s a tough negotiation. We’ve made some progress. I hope we can make more.

Henderson: You were in the room for Donald Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly. He spoke about mass migration. He said countries are going to hell. Are you worried about that kind of rhetoric being repeated in Australia and affecting the multicultural nation that we have?

Foreign Minister: There two points. First, as I’ve already said publicly, and these are issues that President Trump has campaigned on. These are issues that President Trump has spoken about, both before his election and since with the American people. In terms of Australia’s position, our multiculturalism is one of our great strengths. The fact that we have one-in-two of us born overseas or have a parent born overseas, that we bring to who we are all of this common ground with so much of the world, that we are able to be a unified and harmonious country is an enormous strength, and we will always hold on to that.

Henderson: What needs to come out of a Trump meeting in Washington, D.C., in terms of assurances?

Foreign Minister: Well, I’m sure that you and your colleagues will talk about this, but we’re looking forward to the meeting. The Prime Minister is looking forward to the meeting. Obviously, he’s had a number of warm conversations with the President. Obviously, it’s very important for us that we have a conversation about what is happening in our region and the world that well, how our alliance can ensure that the sovereignty of our country and the sovereignty of the countries of the region can be assured and will continue to work on our interoperability and our defence capability.

Henderson: The President just had a 180 on Ukraine. Are you worried about that ability for him to really change his mind quite quickly on issues that will affect Australia?

Foreign Minister: I think the President, I welcome the President’s comments on Ukraine, just as I welcome his commitment to trying to bring about peace in the Middle East and we look forward to the meeting.

Henderson: Do you think Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?

Foreign Minister: Well, what I can say is no one has been able to end this war in Gaza, and he is uniquely placed to be able to end the war in Gaza and to set the region on a path to peace and I hope he is able to do that.

Henderson: Foreign Minister, thanks for joining us.

Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Six new automated pollen counters will be part of an expanded and more sophisticated thunderstorm asthma risk forecasting system in 2025, keeping Victorians safer on high-risk days this grass pollen season.

These new counters will replace manual traps, and use advanced imaging to deliver faster and more accurate data – giving Victoria a nation leading tool to strengthen forecasting and health alerts.

Providing a three-day forecast for all Victoria’s nine weather districts, the system will indicate a low, moderate or high risk – alerting people when they should avoid exposure outdoors to protect themselves and reduce demand on emergency services.

Thunderstorm asthma typically occurs between October and December when certain thunderstorms cause grass pollen grains to burst into tiny particles, which can be inhaled deep into the lungs and trigger asthma symptoms.

People most at risk are those with asthma, springtime hay fever and undiagnosed asthma. So if you’ve ever wheezed or had shortness of breath during the grass pollen season, speak to your GP about a plan.

You are encouraged to take any prescribed medication, follow your asthma action plan and be alert on higher-risk forecast days – closing windows and avoiding outdoor exposure during wind gusts and storms.

It is also recommended that you check the thunderstorm asthma forecast on Vic Emergency daily, and set up a watch zone around where you live and work, to receive up-to-date advice and warnings.

The launch of the forecast system in 2017 followed the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne on 21 November 2016, that tragically resulted in 10 deaths and thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short time.

The new pollen counters are part of a joint investment with the Allan Labor Government investing $2.97 million to deliver the modernised system – supported by a $2.4 million contribution from the Albanese Labor Government through the Disaster Ready Fund, which includes funding for a further three pollen counters in ACT, NSW and SA.

More information on thunderstorm asthma can be found on the Better Health Channel.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Australia’s leading demographer, Bernard Salt AM, will visit Bendigo in November to launch the development of Bendigo 2050 – a bold new vision for the city’s future.

Bendigo 2050 will be a forward-thinking strategy designed to guide long-term development and investment, foster collaborative partnerships, stimulate economic growth, and prioritise key projects that will shape Greater Bendigo over the next 25 years.

To find out more and be part of this exciting project, business and community leaders are invited to a presentation on Thursday November 13 as part of the Be.Bendigo Business Unboxed two-week business festival.

City of Greater Bendigo CEO Andrew Cooney said Bendigo 2050 was the next step in preparing for the city’s projected growth.

“In 2050, Greater Bendigo will be home to 200,000 people. Now is the time to plan for what our city and region will look and feel like, and what we’ll need to remain a leading, thriving regional city in Australia,” Mr Cooney said.

“This is an opportunity to be deliberately aspirational. Bendigo 2050 will not only reflect the City’s priorities but also highlight key projects that align with the long-term goals of our largest employers and institutions.

“Once complete, Bendigo 2050 will serve as a clear and compelling roadmap for investment and collaboration. It will feature a strong narrative and consistent message that local leaders can use when engaging with government, business and other stakeholders.

“Bendigo 2050 will represent a shared vision that sets Greater Bendigo up for continued success.”

Demographer Bernard Salt AM said he was delighted to contribute to the development of Bendigo 2050 and commended the City of Greater Bendigo for its bold and visionary approach.

“A long-term strategy like Bendigo 2050 is exactly what regional communities across Australia should be developing right now. I’ve long been an advocate for the potential of regional Australia to accommodate future population growth and drive national prosperity,” Mr Salt said.

“Strong regions mean a strong Australia and communities like Bendigo are central to that story.

“It takes decades to shape vibrant, resilient communities. Planning with ambition and clarity is how we ensure that regional centres continue to thrive, and the work we do today will uplift the future of regional Australia.

“Bendigo has much to be proud of. Its diverse economy – spanning advanced manufacturing, modern mining and gold production, major health and education facilities, government services, and a thriving arts and cultural scene – provides a solid foundation for future growth and innovation. I’m excited to be part of this journey for Bendigo.”

Bendigo 2050 – Shaping our Future is on Thursday November 13 at 7am, at the La Trobe University Bendigo campus. Tickets cost $20.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police are calling for information in relation to an aggravated burglary that occurred in Leanyer on Saturday morning.

Around 3:40am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a licenced premises on Leanyer Drive had allegedly been broken into, with offenders stealing a quantity of alcohol before fleeing the scene.

CCTV operators identified a white Toyota Prado as a vehicle of interest. Strike Force Trident and general duties officers later observed the vehicle travelling along Applegum Drive, Karama, and initiated a pursuit before terminating it a short time later for safety reasons. The vehicle was last seen travelling in the northern suburbs.

Investigations remain ongoing and the vehicle remains outstanding.

Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25265244. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.