Month: March 2026

Source: Government of Western Australia

At the City’s Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 24 March, Council made the following decisions:

Source: Tasmania Police

Robbins Island boating incident update

Thursday, 26 March 2026 – 1:47 pm.

Investigations into a fatal boating incident off Robbins Island in the state’s north west are ongoing.
Police and emergency services were alerted on Sunday (22 March) after a fishing party had not returned.
Three people were rescued on Sunday afternoon before a fourth person was sadly found deceased on the eastern side of Robbins Island on Monday.
Extensive searches of the area have been conducted and as a result police have since located the fishing vessel. The vessel will be examined as part of the coronial investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact police on 131 444.
Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of those affected.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner, who will determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Today the Federal Court has fined Qteq Pty Ltd and its executive chairman, Simon Ashton, $5 million and $1 million respectively for attempted cartel conduct, in a case brought by the ACCC.

The penalty awarded against Mr Ashton is the highest penalty awarded for a competition law breach by an individual in Australia.

In April 2025, the Federal Court found that, on five occasions between 2017 and 2019, Mr Ashton and Qteq attempted to induce suppliers in the oil and gas services industry to enter into contracts, arrangements, or understandings containing one or more cartel provisions.

“These attempted cartel contracts, arrangements or understandings included provisions not to supply services to large oil and gas companies, to rig a multi-million-dollar tender, and to market share,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Cartels represent a significant threat to competition in the Australian economy, especially in such an important and sizeable industry, and enforcing cartel laws remains an enduring priority for the ACCC.”

“Each of Qteq’s attempts to secure these illegal arrangements was unsuccessful only because the other parties rejected Qteq’s offers,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“As this case demonstrates, if you try to make cartel agreements with competitors, you will be met with strong enforcement action by the ACCC – even if your attempts do not succeed.”

“We invite other businesses who have information about potential cartel conduct or attempted cartel conduct to contact the ACCC anonymously, so we can investigate their concerns,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

In addition to ordering Mr Ashton to pay a penalty of $1 million, the Court also imposed a non-indemnification order which will prevent Mr Ashton from making any insurance claim relating to the pecuniary penalty.

In imposing the non-indemnification order on Mr Ashton, Justice Bromwich said: “The penalties imposed on Mr Ashton would have no real deterrent effect if he did not have to pay them himself.”

“The objective of deterrence is especially important in relation to Mr Ashton given that he was, on the available evidence, the driving force for most of the conduct by Qteq, and stood to benefit from that conduct,” Justice Bromwich said.

“Individuals involved in cartel conduct face serious consequences, which can include imprisonment and substantial fines or penalties,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“We are focused to ensure that senior executives are also held accountable for the conduct of a business, especially for serious misconduct or where there appears to be a poor compliance culture, and welcome the orders made by the Court in this matter.”

Background

Qteq is a Queensland-based company which at the relevant time provided mining equipment and technology services to support the upstream oil and gas industry.

Qteq’s primary business was the sale, installation, and servicing of downhole pressure gauges to coal seam gas producers, which is known as ‘gauge works’. At the relevant time, Qteq was the market leader in providing gauge work services.

Gauge works are a form of monitoring and measurement where a downhole gauge system is inserted into a well to monitor the water level so that the rate at which water is pumped out of the coal seam can be controlled.

The ACCC filed civil cartel proceedings against Qteq and Mr Ashton in December 2022.

In April 2025, the Federal Court found Qteq and Mr Ashton attempted to induce cartel arrangements on three occasions with competitor Pro-Test Pty Ltd and twice with Easternwell Service No 2, a procurement entity for Eastern Well Group Operations, which provides rig and drilling services to oil and gas operators.

The ACCC has a number of other cartel cases before the courts. These cases involve civil cartel proceedings against four mobile crane hire companies and four senior executives, action against four companies supplying fresh vegetables to ALDI and three of their executives, as well as proceedings against two companies and four senior executives over alleged price fixing for maintenance services at Defence bases. In August 2025 the Full Federal Court upheld a record penalty of $57.5 million in the ACCC’s cartel case against BlueScope.

Notes to editors

A cartel exists when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other. Cartel conduct can include price fixing, sharing markets, rigging bids and controlling the output or limiting the amount of goods and services.

Anyone who thinks they may be involved in alleged cartel conduct is urged to call the ACCC Cartel Immunity Hotline on (02) 9230 3894. More information about the immunity process is available on the ACCC website at Cartels. They can also report alleged cartel conduct by using the anonymous cartel portal. 

The ACCC investigates cartel conduct and can take civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court or refer serious cartel conduct to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

For corporations, the maximum penalty for a civil or criminal cartel breach (including an attempt) before 9 November 2022 is the greater of:

• $10 million,
• three times the total benefits that have been obtained and are reasonably attributable to the commission of the breach, or
• if the total value of the benefits cannot be determined,10 per cent of the corporation’s annual turnover connected with Australia.

An individual found to have been involved in civil cartel conduct before 9 November 2022 is subject to a maximum penalty of $500,000 for each act or omission. 

The maximum penalties for cartel conduct by corporations and individuals were substantially increased with effect from 9 November 2022.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

A former agents’ representative has been permanently barred from holding an estate agent licence, after VCAT found he mishandled more than $200,000 in client funds, including rental payments and bonds.

Daniel Cvetkoski, 34, of South Morang, was responsible for up to 170 rental properties while working as an agents’ representative for Select Realty Sales Pty Ltd (trading as Barry Plant Craigieburn), between February 2020 and August 2023. He had been an agents’ representative since 2015.

His employer contacted Consumer Affairs Victoria, prompting an investigation. No wrongdoing was alleged against the company.

VCAT found Cvetkoski had:

• failed to pay around $44,000 in bond money to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority between February 2020 and July 2023.
• deposited about $160,000 in cash rental payments, ranging between $500 and $20,000, into his personal account between January and August 2023.

The money has since been repaid.

Cvetkoski has also been permanently prohibited from working as an agents’ representative.

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s estate agents register provides publicly available information about licensed estate agents, agents’ representatives and others working in the industry.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

When fires tore through their farm and local town in January, Gellibrand resident Rob Murphy and his daughter Veronica quickly jumped into action to help out at the local pub.

Now – together they want to help that little bit more and have put their hand up to join their local fire brigade. 

Living deep in the Great Otway National Park, Rob is keen to understand about how fire behaviour works and how he should be preparing his property more.

Would you like to join too? Head to cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer for information on how you can get involved and give us a hand 

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Tasmania Police

Planned training strengthens preparedness and response

Thursday, 26 March 2026 – 10:42 am.

Tasmania Police conducted a high-intensity exercise at Hobart’s Cat and Fiddle Arcade last night, giving frontline retail operators, police and other emergency services a chance to test their response capabilities to an Active Armed Offender event.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wilkinson said the practical exercise, held after hours to minimise disruption to the public, simulated a fast-moving incident involving an armed attacker in a crowded retail environment.
“The scenario enabled frontline police, specialist units and participating retailers to test their plans and practise how they would act in the critical first moments of an incident,” he said.
“While Tasmania is a safe place to live, exercises like this are essential to ensuring we are well prepared for situations that can unfold with little to no warning.”
“Retail operators are often the first people confronted in the early moments of an incident like this.
“Giving them the opportunity to practise their own emergency procedures alongside police is vital, as their ability to respond quickly, safely and calmly can make an enormous difference in protecting themselves, their staff and the public.”
The exercise forms part of a series funded by the Australia–New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee, supporting specialist counter terrorism capability development across all jurisdictions.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Wilkinson said the event was also a timely reminder for the community to know how to respond if they ever find themselves in a situation involving an armed attacker.
“We want all Tasmanians to remember three simple words: Escape. Hide. Tell.”
“Being prepared and knowing what to do can save your life and the lives of others,” he said.

ESCAPE – Move away from danger quickly and quietly if it is safe to do so.
HIDE – If you cannot escape, hide from view and silence your phone.
TELL – When safe, call Triple Zero (000) and provide as much information as possible.

Tasmania Police continues to work closely with government agencies, emergency services and the retail sector to maintain strong, nationally aligned counter terrorism preparedness.
“We thank the Cat and Fiddle Arcade and all participating retailers for their support and participation in this exercise. Their involvement is critical in helping us protect crowded places and keep our community safe,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Wilkinson said.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400, or to Tasmania Police on 131 444. Always call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Source: Tasmania Police

Youths charged over Kingston burglaries

Thursday, 26 March 2026 – 11:51 am.

Three youths have been charged with multiple burglary and stealing offences in the Blackmans Bay and Kingston areas, including aggravated burglary and motor vehicle theft.
The male youths – aged 14, 15 and 16 – are alleged to have committed the series of offences between 18 March and 25 March, 2026.
Charges include:

Four counts of aggravated burglary
Two counts of burglary
Four counts of attempted aggravated burglary
Four counts of attempted burglary
Six counts of stealing
Three counts of motor vehicle stealing
Three counts of attempted motor vehicle stealing

The youths will be proceeded against under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
Police thank members of the public for their assistance with the investigation, particularly those who provided CCTV footage.
Investigations are continuing.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has further information on these matters or has video footage of suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the Blackmans Bay and Kingston areas.
Contact Kingston Police Criminal Investigation Branch on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force responded to a mental health incident yesterday in Darwin.

Around 11:40am, police received reports of a disturbance at a residence on Noltenius Circuit in Gray.

Multiple police units attended the scene and confirmed it was a mental health incident involving a man in his 30s. The area was subsequently cordoned off.

Around 7:30pm, police entered the house and apprehended the man, who was the sole occupant of the house at the time.

He was conveyed to hospital for assessment.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties due to mental health, support services are available, including, but not limited to, Lifeline on 131 114, Beyond Blue via 1300 224 636, or 13 YARN (13 92 76).

In an emergency always dial 000.

Additional support can be found via https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/mental-health/24-hour-mental-health-hotlines.

Source: Government of Western Australia

A 99-year-old war veteran is among six community members to be formally recognised as one of six Holders of the Keys to the City of Wanneroo. 

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority