Month: February 2026

Source: Airservices Australia

Watch video: Speech delivered by Sarah Hunter, Assistant Governor (Economic), CEDA: In Conversation series, Perth

We meet today on the lands of the Whadjuk peoples of the Noongar nation, who are the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we are gathered. We are very lucky in Australia to have First Nations people who take care of our land, country and culture, and pass this on to future generations. I pay my respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to any First Nations people here today.

Today I want to talk about the labour market – a market that almost all Australians will have firsthand experience in during their lives. I dare say all of us are in this room today because we are on the supply side of this market, and most of you as business professionals also have substantial experience on the demand side too. For macroeconomists like me, understanding the labour market is particularly important as it sits at the heart of the economy; given that every good and service we consume requires some human input to produce it, conditions in the labour market are closely linked to conditions across the whole economy.

Indeed, the labour market is so important it forms part of the RBA’s monetary policy objectives. Under the Statement on the Conduct of Monetary Policy, the RBA’s Monetary Policy Board sets policy to over time achieve sustainable full employment, which is defined as the maximum level of employment that is consistent with low and stable inflation.

This means that our full employment objective is closely linked with our inflation objective; while deviations can occur in the short run, over time if the labour market is in balance (i.e. achieving full employment), then inflation will be at our mandated target (i.e. low and stable). A bit like a double helix – the twisted ladder shape that encodes our DNA – full employment and price stability are separate, yet entwined. Given this relationship, understanding current and future conditions in the labour market and how they are reflected in underlying inflationary pressures defines the core of the Monetary Policy Board’s policy decisions.

So today, I want to expand on how we think about full employment, how it reflects our inflation objective and how we assess whether the labour market is in balance, before I briefly comment on the outlook from here.

To cut to the punch line, our current assessment is that while there has been some easing in the labour market since the pandemic, it remains somewhat tight. Some in the room today might be experiencing the consequences of a tight labour market. For example, strong construction activity and a long pipeline of work in Western Australia – and other states in the country – mean that it can be hard to hire trades and other construction professionals. Conditions are different in other sectors and parts of the country, but the overall picture of persistent tightness is important because, like the entwined double helix, it is consistent with there still being some inflationary pressure in the economy.

An evolving view of full employment through labour market indicators

Given the centrality of the labour market to the economy and to our dual mandate, understanding where full employment is – and how far away from it we currently are – is critical. But pinning it down to something concrete, so we can get a good read on labour market conditions, requires considerable effort. We have to draw on a broad set of information, including price and wages indicators, models and an array of labour market indicators. I want to start with these labour market indicators as this is where our recent thinking has evolved the most.

Changes in the labour market can happen in many ways, and these adjustments are not always fully captured by one measure such as the unemployment rate. For example, the hours someone wants to work can change over time – parents may want to work part time, students typically move into full-time work when they graduate and so on. And if more people wish to switch jobs, that may encourage businesses to increase wages to retain staff.

Evidence from a broad range of labour market indicators has long been a core part of informing monetary policy decisions, but our approach has evolved substantially over recent years as part of our response to the RBA Review. The most recent changes build upon previous work and are outlined in the latest Statement on Monetary Policy. They refine our approach to be more systematic, comprehensive and transparent – and we will continue improving this over time. There are limitations to any approach and expert judgement is needed in the selection and interpretation of indicators. To help to reduce these limitations, we have refined our choice of indicators to ensure that they all contain useful information about future inflation and wages growth. This is important given that the definition of full employment is inextricably tied to the rate of inflation in the economy.

We have also upgraded our benchmarks for judging if a given indicator is tight or loose. Previously, we used a historical range; while this is a reasonable starting point, it doesn’t work well when an indicator trends up or down over time. For example, the proportion of adults with a job or looking for a job has steadily trended up in recent decades, so assessing the current rate against an average from the last 30+ years would be misleading. Our new approach tries to account for underlying trends in each indicator using four different simple statistical detrending methods, providing a range for where we think each indicator might be at balance.

To give us a bird’s eye view of what’s going on, we pull all the indicators and our assessment of whether they’re signalling a loose or tight labour market together into a single chart (Graph 1). The vertical line in the middle, at zero, shows where we think each indicator would be in a balanced labour market. The blue range shows how far the indicator currently is from balance using the four benchmark methods, with the blue dot showing the average of these benchmarks. When the blue bar for an indicator is to the right of the chart it suggests a tight labour market. Currently, most indicators are pointing to a labour market that is at least a little tight, but some series such as job ads and the job-finding rate are suggesting a labour market that is closer to balance or a little loose.

With so many different margins of adjustment, it can be difficult to summarise how labour market conditions are evolving in a single measure. The next graph attempts to do just that (Graph 2).

The bottom panel shows the (normalised) range of indicators that appeared on the earlier abacus graph, and how they have changed over time. Overall, the dark green swathe – which captures the middle 50 per cent of the indicators outlined above – suggests most indicators moved closer to balance over recent years, before stabilising in recent months. The chart also highlights that these indicators don’t always move together, and so the range can widen or narrow over time.

As a point of comparison, the top panel shows our pre-existing estimates, which use the unemployment rate as a single indicator for labour market conditions. These estimates have also gradually moved closer to balance over recent years, but this easing has been less pronounced than the summary indicator. In other words, some of the adjusting in recent years has come through factors like a fall in the vacancy rate, fewer workers looking to change jobs and a slowdown in hiring by firms, rather than by a rise in the unemployment rate.

How have labour market conditions evolved in recent years?

One of the most responsive and rapid forms of adjustment in the post-pandemic years came via job vacancies (Graph 3). When starting from a strong jobs market, the number of vacancies tends to fall quite quickly as demand for labour eases – this is because openings become easier to fill, and some vacancies may be cancelled as hiring plans are put on ice. As the labour market moves closer to balance, this channel of adjustment tends to slow, as we’ve seen in Australia over the last 18 months.

Another important margin of adjustment is changes in the number of hours worked. As the labour market eases, firms also reduce the number of hours worked by their employees, on average, which was particularly apparent through 2023. Indeed, it is common to see the total number hours worked in an economy fluctuate more than the number of people in jobs as economic conditions ebb and flow. In fact, in the current episode, the number of people in jobs has continued to grow (albeit at a slowing) pace, but average hours worked has remained below its pre-pandemic level.

Taken together declining vacancies, slowing growth in the number of people in jobs and relatively low average hours worked confirm that the rise in the unemployment rate has coincided with it becoming a little harder, on average, for those looking for a job to find one.

From a firm’s perspective, it has also become much less difficult to find workers (Graph 4). Nonetheless, the share of firms reporting labour availability as a constraint remains well above average, and we regularly hear in our liaison program that firms in some sectors and states still can’t find the staff they need to meet demand.

The easing I’ve just described can be seen on Graph 2 as the move in the blue and green swathes back towards zero. The most recent data from the last 3–6 months suggests that conditions in the labour market have stabilised; in the graph the swathes have flattened off. Looking through the usual volatility in the monthly data, the unemployment rate and average hours have been flat for some time. Some indicators, such as the job finding rate, have continued to ease but some have actually tightened a little; the hiring rate has increased a bit and at the margin more firms are reporting labour constraints.

Overall, our judgement is that the labour market remains a bit tight; on average, it’s still a bit too difficult for firms to find the workers they need to meet demand. It’s now worth exploring how we think full employment is entwined with the other half of our mandate, inflation. What does having a labour market that’s still a bit tight mean for inflation, and do recent inflation outcomes tell us anything about the labour market?

How we think about full employment in relation to inflation

As I’ve outlined, developments in the labour market tell us a lot about how close we are to full employment, and this reflects conditions in the economy more broadly. But what’s the relationship between low and stable inflation and full employment; how are they entwined? To help answer this question we use economic models to put a framework around the relationship. Inherently models simplify reality; we do this to make the models tractable, but we know we’re not capturing all of the nuance in reality and this is why we don’t rely on models alone.

A key framework that links inflation and the labour market is the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, or NAIRU. The NAIRU is a complex idea with a somewhat unhelpful name, so I’d like to unpack it a bit. The RBA, like other central banks, has long used NAIRU models to assess labour market tightness. And like all models, our NAIRU estimate is subject to considerable uncertainty and judgement, which means we can’t be definitive about its level at any given point in time. The way the NAIRU is modelled and interpreted has also evolved over time, which is the subject of a recent paper by RBA staff.

The NAIRU models were developed in the 1970s, at a time when people’s inflation expectations were unanchored and quite responsive to recent inflation outcomes. What that meant is that a temporary increase could lead people to change their views to expect higher inflation going forward, even several years into the future (Graph 5). According to the NAIRU framework, if demand in the economy outstrips supply and the unemployment rate is consistently below the NAIRU, then inflation expectations could rise to a level that is not consistent with low and stable inflation and create a feedback loop between inflation outcomes and expectations, resulting in continually rising, or ‘accelerating’, inflation.

Conditions are quite different today. The RBA is now mandated to target a specific inflation rate and expectations for inflation in the future are anchored, in our case to around 2.5 per cent (the midpoint of our target). In line with this, our interpretation of the NAIRU has evolved and we think of our NAIRU models as estimating the unemployment rate at which current inflation would converge to expected inflation.

This framework means that when the labour market is sustainably at full employment, inflation is expected to move from its current rate towards 2.5 per cent and then remain stable. This also means that when the labour market is tighter or looser than full employment on an ongoing basis, underlying inflation will hold above or below target but not necessarily accelerate away from it. In other words, we have an anchor, because the feedback loop has been substantially dampened and the old inflation accelerating/decelerating knife-edge doesn’t fit with today’s economy. This means the ‘non-accelerating’ part of the NAIRU name is a bit out of date.

Why is this evolved understanding important? Well, we saw this play out during the pandemic inflation surge. Even with the tightest labour market seen in 50 years, inflation did not create a strong feedback loop with expectations. Long-term inflation expectations remained anchored to the RBA’s target, which meant we did not need to push back against an unhelpful feedback loop between higher expected and realised inflation. This made the disinflation seen in 2022–2025 easier than it otherwise would have been. Our evolved understanding also changes how we read and interpret inflation data to gauge full employment. When the labour market is tight and operating beyond full employment, we expect to see inflationary pressures across the economy and an elevated rate of inflation. But the rate of inflation doesn’t have to be continually increasing.

What do the inflation data tell us about current conditions in the labour market relative to full employment?

Earlier on I outlined that our models and analysis of just the labour market data indicate that it’s still a bit tight. Given the intertwined nature of labour market outcomes and inflation outcomes that I’ve discussed, what do the recent inflation and labour costs data tell us about labour market conditions?

Underlying inflation has picked up recently and is currently around 3¼ per cent (Graph 6). This increase was seen in the quarterly trimmed mean, our preferred measure of underlying inflation, but also for measures of underlying inflation based on the monthly data.

The increase in consumer price inflation in the second half of 2025 also brought it more into line with other measures of inflationary pressures throughout the economy (Graph 7). Output prices throughout the economy – as distinct from prices faced only by consumers as measured in the CPI – have been increasing by nearly 4 per cent a year for the past couple of years. This suggests businesses along supply chains are increasing prices by more than the CPI, and it may be that these costs are now being passed on to consumers. Similarly, unit labour costs – or the labour cost of producing a unit of output – have been growing by around 5 per cent for several years; before the pandemic, unit labour costs had grown by about the same rate as consumer prices, or 2½ per cent, on average.

While much of the rise in inflation likely reflects temporary factors that are expected to fade, including the unwinding of discounting by residential builders and durable goods, the data also indicate continued capacity pressures in the economy. Circling back to the labour market, these observations are consistent with and further reinforce the assessment that conditions are still a bit tight; like the DNA double helix, a labour market that has been a bit tight for a period of time is linked to and entwined with above-target inflationary pressure in the economy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our assessment of full employment, or the maximum level of employment the economy can sustain with low and stable inflation, draws on a broad set of indicators, models and price dynamics. While the unemployment rate is a very important variable to monitor when assessing how tight or loose the labour market is, it does not tell the full story. Labour market conditions evolve across a number of dimensions, including changes in vacancies and average hours worked, and monitoring a range of indicators provides useful information about how easy it is for workers to find jobs and businesses to find workers.

Dynamics in the economy have evolved somewhat in recent months, and our full employment framework and NAIRU framework indicate that the labour market has stabilised recently and remains a bit tight. Recent outcomes for inflation and other labour costs are still sitting above our inflation target, and although we think much of this reflects temporary factors, some of it reflects elevated inflationary pressures in the economy. As we have seen, our full employment and inflation objectives are entwined, and the data is painting a complementary picture with a bit too much pressure on both sides.

The recent acceleration of demand growth beyond our estimate of trend, at a time when the economy is already showing signs of being capacity constrained, means we expect the labour market will remain tight and inflation will remain above target for some time, as outlined in our recent Statement. In response to these developments and to help move the economy and the labour market back towards balance, the Board chose to increase the cash rate at its recent meeting. Moving forward, we’ll be closely assessing capacity pressures in the economy and conditions in the labour market, and this will help us assess the extent to which the recent rise in inflation is temporary; and, in turn, inform our advice to the Monetary Policy Board about the outlook in inflation. The outlook for inflation and the labour market is core to the Monetary Policy Board’s decisions given its commitment to adjust policy settings as needed to achieve both low and stable inflation and full employment.

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

Australian scientists have drilled 400 metres into the Antarctic ice sheet, to retrieve ice that formed at the end of the last ice age, over 13,100 years ago, when woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed cats roamed the Earth.
The milestone marks the end of the second drilling season for the Million Year Ice Core (MYIC) project at Dome C North, about 1200 km from Casey research station and high on the Antarctic plateau.
As temperatures at the drilling site plummet below -45°C, scientists and a supporting traverse team have winterised the inland station that was home for nine weeks.
They’ve now departed with their treasure – ice cores containing a record of past climate.

MYIC Science Lead, Dr Joel Pedro, said the team had achieved everything they hoped for this year, in their multi-year quest to retrieve ice cores with a 1–2 million year climate archive, contained in air bubbles and impurities trapped in the ice.
This timeframe overlaps a period in Earth’s history when there was a change in the timing and intensity of ice age cycles, with accompanying long-term changes in temperature and greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
“We ticked off our big things this season, which were to set up our new deep drill system that we designed and built at the Australian Antarctic Division, and drill to 400.68 metres,” Dr Pedro said.
“We also did a geophysical survey of the ice properties right down to bedrock, 3000 metres below, which will help us refine estimates of the age of the ice as we drill deeper into the climate record.”
After a month of setting up the deep drilling system – which included the eight metre drill ‘sonde’ that descends into the ice sheet to drill cores, a four tonne winch, and the drill’s electrical power, control and communication systems – the team broke ice with the new drill on Boxing Day.
“It was the first time we’d drilled ice cores with the new system, after seven years of preparation, and we managed to drill quite a nice core, so it was a very happy moment,” Dr Pedro said.
“You can put a huge amount of planning into these sorts of things and still be astounded when it actually happens.”
Two teams of four people – two drillers and two core processors – worked in eight-hour shifts to extract the cores, and then clean, cut and package them into one-metre lengths for storage and transport back to Australia.
They were assisted by traverse members in drilling, processing, and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues.
“We drilled from 7am through to 11pm, but we chose not to drill through the night because people get tired and little mistakes can make big problems,” Dr Pedro said.
“It was -15 to -25°C in the drill tent, but if we had to go into the six-metre-deep drill trench it was -55°C, so we needed to work quickly and get out.”
Setting up for success
The successful season was made possible in part by an early start to the traverse, on 1 November, thanks to the pre-positioning of equipment via a C-17 airdrop, and deployment of the 10-person traverse team to Casey on RSV Nuyina in October.  
This early start, and the delivery of the large winch by French traverse, maximised the time the scientific team had available to drill, before the weather-window closed.
Traverse Leader, Damien Beloin, said the traverse took 17 days to travel between Casey and Dome C North, at about 80 km/day, carrying 47 tonnes of fuel and 67 tonnes of cargo.
“The total weight of the traverse was 640 tonnes, which is the heaviest to date, with two snow groomers and six tractors carrying kitchen and amenities vans, a new generator van to power the whole inland station, a water service container, and water,” Mr Beloin said.
“The conditions were quite challenging to start with because we had four days of blizzard and poor visibility. After then it cleared up and the drive was very enjoyable.”
He said one of the highlights of the whole experience was the group dynamics at the inland station.
This was enhanced by weekly games of volleyball, birthday celebrations, and visits to and from the French/Italian Concordia station, 10 km away.
“Some of us did not know each other before we go there, but within a few weeks we’d formed a very solid and experienced group in the middle of Antarctica,” Mr Beloin said.
“Its impressive to be living in such a comfortable and enjoyable camp in the middle of nowhere with 18 others.”
The ice cores will be flown back to Hobart for further research, while Dr Pedro and his team prepare for a third drilling season later this year.
“Our target next year is to drill down to over 1000 metres, which will take us deep into the Pleistocene epoch and the last ice age,” Dr Pedro said.
Drilling through time
The MYIC team study the internal layers of ice as they drill down into the Antarctic ice sheet, to understand how the ice flows. This information is used in models to determine the age of the ice at different depths. Ice between 1-2 million years old is expected close to bedrock, at about 3000 metres.
So far the team have drilled through human history:

90 m (~2,000 years ago): The global human population stands at ~170 million
150 m (~4,000 years ago): The Bronze Age (ca. 3300–1200 BC)
200 m (~6,000 years ago): Cunieform writing (ca. 2900 BC); development of the potters’ wheel; end of the Stone Age; Australian indigenous knowledge recalls sea levels rising to their current position from at least 6000 ya.
300 m (~9000 years ago): Early agriculture and farming
364 m: Drilling out of the current geological epoch (Holocene) into the preceding epoch (Pleistocene); rising seas flood Bass Strait, making Tasmania an island (12,000-10,000 ya)
400 m (13,100 years ago): end of the last ice age

This content was last updated 3 weeks ago on 12 February 2026.

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
12 Feb 2026 10:20

Warning area
Flinders highway, 40km south east of Elliston at Sheringa, on the Eyre peninsula.

Warning level
Advice – Avoid Smoke

Action
Smoke from SHERINGA is present in the Sheringa township and Flinders highway area.

Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.

Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.

If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.

More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

A striking new Artists on View exhibition, featuring expressive landscapes, birds and nature, has opened today at Dudley House on View Street. 

Artist Lorraine McCarthy finds meaning in life through nature and her strong faith in God. Her art reflects hope, purpose and passion inspired by scripture. Everyday wanderings are captured in her creative works, revealing secrets of life and faith through colour and form.

The exhibition, Imperial Oracles of My Everyday Wanderings, presents a rich array of oil and acrylic paintings, watercolours, charcoal and ink drawings, as well as photography that invites audiences into a world of expressive landscapes, birds, floral pieces and imaginative interpretations of nature.

Lorraine describes herself as a colourist expressionist with a distinctive artistic style defined by vivid, bright colour and thick lashings of paint. Her approach gives each piece a unique presence and conveys not only what is seen, but what is felt.

Lorraine said the exhibition explored themes of renewal, connection and the underlying constancy found in the ever-changing landscape.

“Nature is my constant sounding board. Each work is unique, some realistic, others imaginative, soft and moody, or vibrant. I aim to project more than what I see, but what I feel and experience on a deeper level,” Lorraine said.

“The natural rejuvenation of nature underlies that which is dependable. I want my art to reflect the secrets of life and faith through thoughtful discovery and connection.”

The free exhibition at Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo, is open 10am to 5pm until Monday February 23.

The community is invited to the exhibition’s official opening event from 1.30pm to 4pm on Saturday February 14.

This exhibition is supported by the City of Greater Bendigo’s 2026 Artists on View program.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the North East fire district tomorrow, Tuesday 10 February 2026.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for most of Victoria tomorrow, Wednesday 11 February 2026, due to forecast extreme fire weather.

The TFB applies to the following fire districts:

• Central
• Mallee
• North Central
• North East
• Northern Country
• West and South Gippsland
• Wimmera

Conditions across these districts will be hot, with low humidity and moderate north-westerly winds ahead of a gusty south-westerly change. Showers will develop later in the day.

While a TFB has not been declared in East Gippsland and South West districts, fire danger ratings remain High and elevated.

A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12:01am to 11:59pm on the day of the declaration in affected districts.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the combination of heat, wind and low humidity tomorrow could create dangerous fire conditions.

“Humidity will be low and conditions will be very dry across the state, meaning new fire starts could occur earlier in the day,” Jason said.

“These conditions will make it very difficult for firefighters to control a fire if one starts.

“We’re asking people in affected districts to strictly follow the conditions of the Total Fire Ban and think carefully about how the increased fire risk could affect them.

“Make sure your fire plan is up to date and covers all possible scenarios.”

Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban in their district on the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where information is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.

For more information on what you can and can’t do on a Total Fire Ban day, visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.

Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information, including:

• ABC local radio, commercial and designated Sky News radio stations
• The VicEmergency App and website at www.emergency.vic.gov.au
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
• CFA or VicEmergency social media channels

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

The City of Greater Bendigo is preparing a Huntly Structure Plan to guide the township’s sustainable growth and development over the next 30 years and is seeking five new members to join the established Huntly Community Reference Group.

The Community Reference Group brings the community, landowners, businesses, and other key stakeholders together to develop an achievable plan which will ultimately help guide and transform Huntly over time.

In 2022, 11 members were appointed to the reference group. The City is now seeking expressions of interest to fill five of these positions that have become vacant, increasing the group to 12 members in total. These positions are open to people who are passionate about Huntly and its long-term development.

Members of the reference group take part in meetings, share community perspectives, and collaborate with City officers to inform and shape the structure plan.

The Huntly Structure Plan will provide a framework for the future expansion of the town, explore opportunities for additional commercial and retail offerings, and consider the infrastructure needs of the community.

Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge thanked those who were stepping down from the group for their valued contribution and encouraged new community members interested in Huntly to get involved.

“Expressions of interest have opened for five positions on the Community Reference Group and people from a broad cross-section of the community, reflecting diverse interests and backgrounds, are encouraged to apply and get in involved in the planning for Huntly’s future growth.

“It is also open to representatives from community and sporting groups, and local businesses,” Mr Petherbridge.

“Huntly has experienced strong residential growth over the past few years, and the City’s adopted Managed Growth Strategy identifies further growth for Huntly.

“A structure plan is the best way to plan for this future growth in a sustainable way and based on Huntly’s community vision. It consists of plans, policies, maps, and guidelines that identify areas for new development, redevelopment, and infrastructure improvements.”

The Community Reference Group will run for about 18 months while the structure plan continues to be developed. Meetings are held quarterly on weekday evenings (6-8pm) in Huntly.

Expressions of interest close on Friday February 27. To apply, visit the City’s online engagement platform, Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo:

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Residents in the south west of the state are being urged to check burn-off piles and bonfires as old as six months, following response from CFA volunteers to recent flare-ups.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

The Bendigo Easter Fair Society Inc. will celebrate its 100th anniversary at the 2026 Bendigo Easter Festival with the return of a six-metre fibreglass Kewpie Doll and a special exhibition at the Living Arts Space.

The Bendigo Easter Fair began in 1871 and was initially run by annual committees, often chaired by the Mayor. In 1926, a permanent Bendigo Easter Fair Society was established to oversee the event, bringing together representatives from the City of Greater Bendigo, Borough of Eaglehawk, Bendigo Hospital, Bendigo Aged Care Asylum and nine community-spirited members.

The society evolved with the times, becoming an Incorporated Association in 1983. In 2003, the City of Greater Bendigo took over event operations, with the Society continuing in an important advisory role.

Bendigo Easter Fair Society Inc. President Simon Mulqueen said the society had provided steady guidance for a century for one of Australia’s longest running community events.

“The society has been a dedicated custodian of the festival, helping it to adapt while preserving its charitable foundations and cultural traditions,” Mr Mulqueen said.

“I am very proud of what the society has achieved. What has never changed is the heart of the festival – generations of volunteers, supporters and sponsors have made Easter in Bendigo something truly special.”

Mayor Cr Thomas Prince thanked the Bendigo Easter Fair members past and present for their dedication.

“Congratulations to the Bendigo Easter Fair Society on a remarkable centenary. For 100 years, the society’s passion, dedication, and community spirit have helped shape the Bendigo Easter Festival.

“Thank you for enriching our region’s story and for continuing a tradition that brings joy to generations, a much‑loved celebration of culture, creativity, and local pride. Cr Prince said.

The centenary will be marked by the return of Violet, a six metre Kewpie Doll, one of 12 created for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony which appeared in the Strictly Ballroom segment for a theatrical finale. The Society acquired Violet at the Remains of the Games auction in 2000. Her name was aptly aligned with Bendigo Fair Society member Violee Myers Davey OAM, whose 80 years of volunteer service made the object especially meaningful in the local community at the time.

The Violet Kewpie Doll made her first appearance at the 131st Bendigo Easter Fair and featured in the 2001 and 2002 parades.

Although purchased by the Society at the Olympic Auction, the Violet Kewpie Doll has been owned and in the care of President Simon Mulqueen since the sale of all society assets in the wake of the City taking over operations in 2003.

Following restoration, Violet will be displayed in the piazza at Rosalind Park for all to see during the 2026 festival from April 3-6.

“Violet’s story demonstrates how internationally recognisable cultural artefacts, such as those created for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, can be meaningfully integrated into regional heritage and identity. Violet is a tribute to the volunteer commitment that has sustained the Bendigo Easter Fair for more than a century,” Mr Mulqueen said.

A special centenary exhibition, 100 Years of the Bendigo Easter Fair Society – Custodians of the Grand Fair, will be held at the Living Arts Space at the Bendigo Visitor Centre from Thursday April 2 to Saturday May 2, 2026. The free exhibition features a digital version of Violet the Kewpie Doll, film, costume, memorabilia, and archival images celebrating the society’s legacy.

As part of the centenary celebrations at the festival, the Bendigo Easter Fair Society is also proud to present Queen Rhapsody’s iconic energy of Queen’s greatest hits with a powerful Freddie-inspired frontman and authentic sounds on Easter Saturday on the main stage in Rosalind Park from 5pm to 7pm before the La Trobe University Torchlight Parade.

On Good Friday, the society will also present Wadaiko Rindo Japanese Drummers who will be performing in Rosalind Park at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are being targeted by NDIS providers’ deceptive advertising practices and other behaviours banned by consumer law, a new report has found. Whilst these practices are not universal, the scale and types of complaints we’re hearing about is concerning.

Working in a taskforce with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the ACCC has identified trends of problematic conduct that may breach the Australian Consumer Law, including instances of providers wrongly charging for essential disability support products that were not supplied as agreed and falsely claiming services or products are ‘NDIS-approved or eligible for NDIS funding’, when this is not the case.

The ACCC is particularly concerned about several key issues in NDIS markets:

• False and misleading advertising by providers
• Providers not honouring consumer guarantees protections
• Issues with contracts, such as providers failing to provide clear written contracts or including unfair terms
• Providers charging for products or services not supplied or delayed
• Concerns about misleading claims in relation to Specialist Disability Accommodation
• Impacts on First Nations NDIS participants
• Scams affecting NDIS participants.

“Conduct can be particularly harmful given products and services sought or acquired may be essential for Australians who experience a disability to participate in everyday life,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“Harm can range from financial loss and life-limiting impacts, to compromising the safety and physical wellbeing of NDIS participants. Such conduct is completely unacceptable and the ACCC will continue to work with taskforce agencies to protect NDIS participants, educate and hold providers that continue to do the wrong thing accountable.”

Since 2024 the ACCC has prioritised improving compliance with the Australian Consumer Law by businesses that provide NDIS-funded supports, and, alongside the NDIA and NDIS Commission, has expanded its efforts to address misconduct and increase awareness of the laws relating to NDIS provider conduct.

ACCC enforcement action

The ACCC has taken proactive enforcement action in this period, instituting legal proceedings against a provider for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law in 2024. In addition, Bedshed and Thermomix paid infringement notices issued by the ACCC for allegedly making misleading claims about NDIS endorsements.

Support provider Mable Technologies provided a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC after admitting using unfair contract terms, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

“We have achieved positive outcomes to improve protections for NDIS participants and continue to investigate other potential misconduct,” Ms Lowe said.

“NDIS providers should be aware that we are closely monitoring and responding to how they advertise and supply their products and services to consumers,” Ms Lowe said.

The ACCC is also working closely with state and territory consumer protection agencies, sharing intelligence and coordinating work and jointly enforcing the Australian Consumer Law.

“We are also working closely with other taskforce agencies in ensuring information is referred to the responsible agency to act on at an early stage,” Ms Lowe said.

To assist in raising awareness, we will also be publishing a summary of the Report on our website with printable factsheets for both participants and providers.

If an NDIS participant thinks a business has made false or misleading statements about products or services, including whether they are funded by the NDIS, or if they consider their consumer rights have not been met, they can make a report to the ACCC.

Further information for NDIS participants and providers is available on the ACCC website.

Background

The NDIS provides funding to eligible people with disability. Since 2024, the ACCC has prioritised improved compliance with the Australian Consumer Law by businesses that supply NDIS-funded supports, known as providers.

The two main regulators responsible for delivering the NDIS are:

• The NDIA which sets participants with plans and funding, provides price guidance for supports, processes claims, and investigates alleged fraud within the scheme.
• The NDIS Commission which registers and regulates NDIS providers.  It also monitors providers’ compliance with the NDIS Code of Conduct and practice standards, and receives and responds to concerns, complaints and reportable incidents about providers.

The Australian Consumer Law applies to all transactions between NDIS participants and providers. The ACCC and other Australian Consumer Law regulators can investigate NDIS related dealings where there is a potential breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

On 17 December 2023, the government established the Fair Pricing and Australian Consumer Law Taskforce consisting of the ACCC, the NDIA, and the NDIS Commission. The Taskforce was established to address harms affecting participants, including potentially paying higher prices for goods or services compared to non-NDIS consumers, and conduct by providers that may breach the Australian Consumer Law.