Labor’s economic management and reform agenda praised by OECD

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

The OECD’s survey on Australia released today highlights the recovery in our economy and the Government’s responsible economic management in uncertain times.

This report is a powerful endorsement of Labor’s economic management and reform agenda.

The OECD has confirmed that the Albanese Government has been able to achieve a “soft landing” in Australia’s economy in the face of substantial global volatility by getting inflation down while avoiding a recession and keeping unemployment low.

The report says that without Labor’s economic management, including cost of living support to households, Australia might have experienced a recession in 2023–24 – which is what took place in other countries like the UK, New Zealand and Germany.

It commends the Government’s reforms to transform Australia’s energy system, to make Australia’s economy more competitive and to make the Reserve Bank more effective.

The report describes our new mandatory notification merger regime as “a major step forward” which will “bring Australia in line with OECD best practices” and describes the government’s revitalised National Competition Policy as a positive step to boost competition.

More homes, more cleaner and cheaper energy and progress on addressing Australia’s longstanding productivity challenge feature prominently in this report and the report also highlights they are big features of Labor’s economic plan.

Under Labor, economic growth is picking up, business investment is strengthening, unemployment is low, participation is at near record highs, real wages are growing, debt is down, the budget is stronger and interest rates fell three times last year.

We’ve made a lot of progress together on the economy but the job’s not done because people are still under pressure and that’s why we continue to roll out responsible cost‑of‑living relief at the same time as we modernise Australia’s economy and build more homes.

The three big economic priorities for the Albanese Government this year are addressing inflation, productivity and global uncertainty, and the OECD’s report shows why that’s the right approach.

How CFA supports cultural burning

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Cultural burning, sometimes referred to as Traditional Owner burning or Cultural Fire, is performed by First Nations communities as part of their cultural responsibilities and obligations to care for Country.

It is the traditional ecological knowledge of Australia’s first people.

The connection Traditional Owners have to Country and their role in fire and land management in Victoria is recognised and acknowledged by CFA and partner agencies. Many First Nations communities now have dedicated staff delivering cultural burning for cultural purposes including: 

  • caring for Country
  • promoting biodiversity
  • protecting cultural and natural assets
  • fuel reduction
  • regeneration of flora and fauna
  • maintaining spiritual connection to land and Country.

It’s guided by traditional ecological knowledge and is deeply rooted in Aboriginal lore and responsibilities. Acknowledgment of this knowledge and intellectual property rights is practised across Victoria. 

Traditional Owners and Victorian land and fire management agencies are working together to reintroduce cultural burning across Victoria, allowing for healing and caring for Country, and working towards the Victorian Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy.

CFA has supported many cultural burns across Victoria led by Traditional Owner groups to provide operational assistance, build capacity through training and funding, and promote cultural safety and inclusion.

For CFA this means working with three key principles:

  • Cultural burning is a practice performed by Aboriginal people for cultural purposes.
  • Cultural burning knowledge belongs to the Traditional knowledge holders.
  • Cultural burning partnerships with CFA must be led by Aboriginal people.

Cultural burning is carried out on both private and public land with the involvement of the landowner and/or manager. Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and CFA support Traditional Owners develop objectives and outcomes that assist in the planning and delivery of burns on public and private land. FFMVic and CFA tailor support to each Traditional Owner group’s cultural fire aspirations and capacity.

CFA staff and volunteers also attend and support cultural burning workshops to deepen their understanding and respect for Aboriginal fire practices.

Retired CFA Vegetation Officer Ian Morrison has been involved with cultural burning for the past 10 years.

“Aboriginal cultural heritage is the property of the Traditional Owners, and CFA can help preserve and protect it for future generations,” Ian said.

“Cultural burning has a large part to play in restoring and healing Country. By reintroducing their traditional burning practices, they will be able to improve the native fauna and flora and hand down their knowledge to the next generation.

“CFA can still learn from this practice while also helping them improve their burning practices.”

CFA Cultural Heritage Adviser Michael Sherwen oversaw the burn for CFA at Ryans Lagoon.

“The wetland had been degraded with weeds and biomass accumulation over time, so the objective of the burn was to reduce that mass and give opportunities for native species to come through,” Michael said.

“It’s been a great opportunity to work at that grassroots level to enable Traditional Owners apply fire to Country.”

Submitted by News and Media

Police seeking witnesses to Isabella Plains collision

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 12:50pm

Original publication: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 12:50pm

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses or dash-cam footage of a two-car collision in Isabella Plains last week.

About 5:40pm on Thursday (15 January 2026), police and emergency services responded to reports of a collision between a gold Nissan Navara utility and a white Ford Territory SUV at the intersection of Ashley Drive and Johnson Drive in Isabella Plains.

Police are seeking witnesses or dash-cam footage of the gold Nissan Navara utility, bearing ACT registration YRL82X, in the lead up to the collision.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting 8275780. Information can be provided anonymously.

Man charged after allegedly assaulting three neighbours

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 11:15am

Original publication: Wednesday, 21 January 2026 11:15am

A 36-year-old Stirling man will face court today after allegedly assaulting three people during a neighbourhood dispute.

About 1:30pm yesterday (Tuesday, 20 January 2026), a woman approached the man’s residence and asked him to remove rubbish left on her property before he yelled at her.

At the same time, a man and woman who were in a house nearby heard the verbal altercation and witnessed the man grabbing and shoving the other woman.

The pair exited the residence and confronted the man before he allegedly shoved the second woman, striking her in the face, and grabbing the man aggressively.

Officers arrived a short time later and spoke to the man before arresting him.

He has been charged with three counts of common assault and is expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Wednesday, 21 January 2026).

Police seeking witnesses to Eddison Park disturbance

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Tuesday, 20 January 2026 9:20am

Original publication: Tuesday, 20 January 2026 9:20am

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a disturbance in Phillip last week between a man and group of youths.

About 4:30pm on Thursday (15 January 2026), police received reports of a man brandishing an axe and chasing a group of youths in Eddison Park, in the area surrounding the skatepark.

Police believe the group had brandished a knife at two other young people prior to the man becoming involved.

A 45-year-old man has been charged in relation to this incident, with investigations continuing to identify the youths with the knife.

There were multiple witnesses in the area at the time as well as vehicles driving past the park. Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to come forward.

Anyone who can assist police should provide their contact details to Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting 8275737.

Seeking to identify witness following city assault

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Monday, 19 January 2026 9:32am

Original publication: Monday, 19 January 2026 9:32am

ACT Policing is seeking to identify a witness after an alleged assault in a city bar on Halloween last year.

About 12:15am on 31 October (2025), Territory Targeting Team officers were conducting patrols on Alinga Street when they were flagged down by a man who had allegedly been assaulted in the bathroom of a licenced venue.

Following investigations, police are seeking to identify a man who witnessed the incident.

The man is described as Caucasian in appearance with short blonde hair. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black t-shirt with the word “BOSS” written in white.

Anyone who has any information about this incident or who can identify the blonde man is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website or on 1800 333 000. Please quote 8204059. Information can be provided anonymously.

Second ACT road fatality confirmed in Mawson

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Sunday, 18 January 2026 1:56pm

Original publication: Sunday, 18 January 2026 1:56pm

A four-year-old boy has become ACT’s second road fatality of 2026 after a vehicle collided into a shop in Mawson.

About 10:20am today (Sunday 18 January 2026), police and emergency services received reports of a car that had driven into a shopfront at Southlands Shopping Centre in Mawson.

A four-year-old pedestrian was hit by the car and was treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service paramedics before being transported to hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly, he was declared deceased a short time later.

The driver of the car was transported to hospital for observations.

ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is investigating the circumstances of the collision and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not already spoken to police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number P2416705.

Man arrested in connection to Belconnen pipe bombs

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:41am

Original publication: Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:41am

A 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the pipe bombs found in Belconnen earlier this week.

Following investigations, police identified the 41-year-old man as a person of interest.

Police allege that the man purchased and stole items used to create the pipe bombs from a store in Belconnen.

Officers from ACT Policing’s Criminal Investigations team yesterday (Saturday 17 January 2026) conducted a search warrant at the man’s residence in Belconnen, where they located several items consistent with the assembly of pipe bombs. The man was not at the residence at the time.

About 10:30pm last night, police received a report that the man was at a unit in Gungahlin.

Police attended the unit and placed the man under arrest.

He has been charged with unauthorised manufacture of a prohibited dangerous substance, possessing a prohibited weapon and theft.

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (19 January 2026).

Investigations remain ongoing and further charges are expected to be laid.

Police do not believe the incident to be terrorism related.

Police seeking witnesses after multiple altercations in the city

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Sunday, 18 January 2026 8:06am

Original publication: Sunday, 18 January 2026 8:06am

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to multiple disturbances around the city involving young people on Tuesday evening.

About 6:15pm (Tuesday, 13 January 2026), police responded to reports of a large disturbance in Glebe Park. It was reported a firearm was brandished and threats were made to shoot another person during the incident.

The group dispersed and throughout the evening police were called to further disturbances involving young people around the city including on City Walk, Tocumwal Lane, Cooyong Street and Bunda Street

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.  Please quote 8273876. Information can be provided anonymously.

Two men charged with family violence offences overnight

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Saturday, 17 January 2026 8:52am

Original publication: Saturday, 17 January 2026 8:52am

Two men will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday 17 January 2026) after being arrested by police for separate family violence incidents overnight.

About 7:30pm last night (Friday 16 January 2026), police attended a residence in Gungahlin following reports that a 50-year-old man had allegedly assaulted and threatened his partner. Police allege the man also burnt some of his partner’s belongings in a brazier.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated common assault, property damage, aggravated property damage and using carriage service to menace.

In a separate incident, police arrested a 47-year-old man last night in Ainslie after he allegedly contravened a family violence order and breached his bail conditions by contacting a woman.

He was taken to the ACT Watchhouse, where police searched the man’s bags and located an imitation firearm and items suspected to be stolen.

The man has been charged with contravening a family violence order, unauthorised possession of a prohibited firearm and unlawful possession of stolen property.

ACT Policing stands ready to assist victims experiencing family violence.

If you are in this situation – when it is safe to do so – please contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or contact a support service who can assist with crisis support, safety planning and advice.

If you require assistance, you can contact:

  • Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
  • Police Assistance on 131 444 if it is a non-emergency, but you require police assistance.
  • The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides a 24-hour crisis line, advice, safety planning and information every day of the year and can be reached on 02 6280 0900.
  • The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre provides a 24-hour crisis line and can be contacted on 02 6247 2525