Month: May 2026

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

OLY PETERSON, HOST: Joining me in the studios this afternoon is the Prime Minister. Welcome back to Drive.

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Source: Tasmania Police

Man charged with murder in relation to death of woman at New Town

Monday, 18 May 2026 – 6:16 pm.

A man has been charged with murder in relation to the death of a woman at a New Town residence.
About 4pm on Saturday, a woman was located deceased within a residence on Lissadell Court.
While a formal identification has not yet been completed, the deceased is believed to be a woman aged in her 60s who resided at the address.
Detectives from South East CIB have now charged a 56-year-old man from New Town with murder.
He has been detained to appear before the Hobart Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Source:

Issue date: Monday, 18 May 2026

On Wednesday, 20 May 2026, the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold a public hearing for its inquiry into gender equality as a national security and economic security imperative.

Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said the hearing is a chance to hear from researchers, advocacy bodies and organisations on the front lines of crisis response to understand how gender inequality is impacting regional security.

Examples of witnesses the Subcommittee will hear from include:

• International Women’s Development Agency
• Griffith Asia Institute
• International Planned Parenthood Federation
• Human Rights Watch
• Jobs and Skills Australia

Mr Zappia said, ‘The hearing will provide an opportunity to understand the success of Australia championing gender equality internationally, and to gather ideas on how the Australian Government could better embed gender equality into its foreign policy and national security architecture.’

‘We will also hear about why women’s workforce participation is so important to meet our workforce needs in key industries, and the economic security and prosperity this could secure for Australia.’

Further information, including the full terms of reference, is available on the inquiry webpage.

Public Hearing Details

Date Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 9:00 am–1:45 pm (AEST)
Location: Virtual and Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

The full public hearing program is available on the inquiry website.

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Media enquiries

James Peikert, Office of Mr Tony Zappia MP (Member for Makin, SA; Chair, Human Rights Subcommittee)
Ph: (02) 6277 4147 or (08) 8265 3100

For background information

Committee Secretariat
Ph: 02 6277 2313
jscfadt@aph.gov.au

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is seeking assistance from the public in identifying skeletal remains that were located near the Charlotte River just off Fog Bay Road on 1 April 2012.

With the assistance of the Australian Federal Police using advanced forensic investigational techniques further information is now known that may assist with identifying the remains in the historic case.

Using radiocarbon dating and DNA testing, it has been established that the remains are an Aboriginal male, who died between 1971 and 1982, and is believed to have been in his early 30’s at the time of death.

It is also known that the male’s diet was mostly marine, which is indicative of him residing in the Northern Top End or adjacent islands. 

Detectives from the Cold Case Taskforce and the Missing Person’s Unit are encouraging people to come forward and provide any information, relevant items or records they have at home that may assist in helping to provide a name to the unknown male.

Detective Acting Sergeant Glen Chatto said “The Northern Territory Police Force currently has 64 unidentified human remains (UHR) and strongly encourage families of missing persons to attend their local police station and provide DNA. This DNA will then be compared with UHR from all over Australia and may provide the information needed to solve these cases.

“No one should have their remains sit unidentified and no family should have to suffer the pain of not knowing what happened to their loved ones.”   

“A DNA profile has been obtained from the remains so there is real potential for an identification to be made.

If you have a missing loved one or know someone who fits this profile, please contact the Northern Territory Police Force on 131 444.

Source: Tasmania Police

Call for information after release of truck-motorcycle dashcam footage

Monday, 18 May 2026 – 2:18 pm.

Police have released dashcam footage of a near-collision between a truck and a motorcycle on a rural road in southern Tasmania as part of the investigation to identify the parties involved.
The incident came to light recently after a member of the public submitted dashcam footage of it to police.
You can view the video here.
Police are calling for information to identify the truck and its driver, and the two motorcycle riders in the incident, which occurred on Highland Lakes Road, Apsley, at 11.59am on Saturday, 2 May.
No crash was reported to police.
In the video, the truck is seen to swerve across double lines on multiple occasions and, when taking a bend in the road, narrowly avoids a collision with a motorcycle rider coming in the opposite direction.
Tasmania Police Inspector Vanessa Castle described the footage as ‘frightening’.
“It was a very close call and could have had a tragic outcome,” Inspector Castle said.
“Police are investigating the incident and are eager to identify the vehicles involved and to speak with the driver of the heavy vehicle.
“The footage was supplied to police via the owner of the dashcam in a vehicle following the truck.
“The two motorcycle riders are not known at this stage, and we are looking to have them come forward to assist in the investigation.”
Anyone that has information can contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

STEVE GEORGANAS, MEMBER FOR ADELAIDE: Good morning everyone, and welcome to the federal seat of Adelaide. It’s great to be here with the Prime Minister here today in the electorate of Adelaide, the Premier, Peter Malinauskas, Nick Champion, and my colleague Louise Miller Frost from the neighbouring seat of Boothby. We were here in 2025 in May to have a look at the construction that was just beginning with the Prime Minister and the Premier. It’s great to be here, nearly two years later, just over two years, to see it come to fruition, and to actually speak to people who have had their lives changed because of the policies that we’ve put in place to ensure there’s more housing. Lots is being done in this area, lots was announced the other night, and I know that the things that we’ve announced and the work that we’re putting into housing will ensure that the next generation of Australians, it will be a little bit easier for them to purchase their home and have the same opportunities that people my age had in terms of fulfilling that Australian dream, and that is a roof over your head. It’s so important, whether it be social housing, making it easier for renters, and ensuring that people can purchase their own homes as well. On that note, I’ll hand over to the Prime Minister.

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Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Ingenia Gardens will pay over $1 million after failing to provide safe and functional kitchen facilities in rental units for older, financially vulnerable Victorians. 

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) investigated the company after a report from the Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG). 

Inspections by CAV’s Renting Taskforce found that many units did not have cooktops and that rental agreements prohibited renters from cooking at home.  

Ingenia Gardens instead offered renters paid meal plans at an additional cost. 

Not having cooktops in a rental property is a breach of Victoria’s rental minimum standards – mandatory requirements to make a property safe, functional and secure. Including unfair terms in a contract is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law.  

Under an enforceable undertaking, Ingenia Gardens has agreed to pay $1 million, will compensate affected renters an estimated $400,000, and will pay $100,000 to HAAG. 

Ingenia Gardens operates over 250 units in Victoria and markets its properties to seniors looking for low maintenance and independent living. 

As part of the undertaking, the company must report to CAV every 6 months to demonstrate it’s improving its properties to meet minimum standards. 

It must also remove unfair contract terms stopping people cooking in their own home. The company may also be audited for compliance at any time. 

CAV Director Nicole Rich said minimum standards were not optional.  

‘They exist to ensure all renters have access to a safe and functional home. Failing to provide basic kitchen facilities and prohibiting renters from cooking in their own homes is unacceptable and unlawful. 

‘We will continue to take strong and decisive action against any rental providers – big or small – who fail to meet their legal obligations,’ Rich said.  

Ingenia Gardens is part of the Ingenia Communities Group (ASX:INA), with over 100 communities and development sites across Australia. 

A copy of the undertaking is available at:

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 23-year-old male in relation to a stabbing that occurred in Tennant Creek on Friday evening.

Around 11:35pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 31-year-old male had been stabbed while sleeping at a residence in Tennant Creek.

The victim, who is known to the offender, was conveyed to Tennant Creek Hospital before being further conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

The 23-year-old offender was arrested a short time later by attending police and has since been charged with Aggravated assault and Cause serious harm.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday 20 May.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to family or domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline 131 114.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 29-year-old male after seizing over 600g of cannabis from his vehicle in the vicinity of Curtin Springs yesterday.

At 5:40pm, Kulgera police members were conducting traffic duties on the Lasseter Highway and performed a roadside breath and drug test on the driver of a black Holden Captiva.

The driver, a 29-year-old male, tested positive for cannabis and a subsequent search of the vehicle located 662 grams of the illicit drug.

The offender was arrested and later charged with Possess and Supply Commercial Quantity – Schedule 2 Dangerous Drug, along with traffic related offences.

He was conveyed to Alice Springs and is due to appear in court today.

Senior Sergeant of Southern Desert Division Conan Robertson said, “This was excellent proactive police work by our local members that prevented drugs from entering remote communities.

“Anyone with information about the distribution of illicit substances should contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers.”

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

wo more brand-new apartment buildings including 100 homes ready to be lived in have now been completed at Prospect Corner in Adelaide, as a result of the Albanese Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund program and the Malinauskas State Government.

Today Prime Minister Albanese and Premier Malinauskas marked the milestone by visiting the site and meeting with local residents.

Prospect Corner is an $80 million, 208-home urban renewal project in Prospect, South Australia. Notably, this 2.36-hectare master-planned site was one of the first nationally to receive federal backing from the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) to boost housing supply under the Albanese Government’s $47 billion Homes for Australians plan.

Today’s milestone means that three-quarters of the homes at the Renewal SA precinct are now complete or under construction.

This latest construction milestone at the site builds on the 29‑home, multi-storey apartment completed on the southeastern edge of the development in recent months which is already fully occupied.

Further, an eight-storey building with 71 apartments recently achieved practical completion and residents are expected to begin moving in this week.

Prospect Corner’s original master plan included a single apartment tower with 72 homes.

In 2024, the Malinauskas Government was successful in securing support from the Albanese Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF), enabling a second apartment development to be completed, increasing the total yield.

The tenanted 29-home building is being managed by Community Housing Provider Junction, offering affordable rental opportunities to eligible tenants through a government-led scheme.

Renewal SA is in final stage negotiations with a Community Housing Provider to manage the recently completed 71 home building.

The apartments offer a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom homes.

Both the internal and external spaces feature original First Nations artwork commissioned specifically for the site.

A rolling program of construction will see work on the remaining homes begin throughout this year and into early 2027.

In total, there will be 208 homes built at Prospect Corner – with 108 townhouses being constructed in addition to the 100 apartments.

The first homes and the large central park were completed in spring last year and celebrated with a community welcome event. Thirty additional townhouses are expected to be completed within the next three months.

Renewal SA is targeting construction completion of Prospect Corner in 2028.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Our number one focus continues to be supply and we are throwing everything at it.

“We want to reach our target to build 1.2 million homes. And to do that we must use ever lever available.

“My government has a $47 billion Homes for Australians Plan that we have been rolling out since we were elected four years ago.

“We’d had 10 years of Coalition inaction on housing supply. We are turning things around.”

Quotes attributable to Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas:

“South Australia is in the middle of a housing boom, the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

“That is because our government has a track record of taking vacant, strategic land in key locations and turning it into thriving suburbs.

“The Albanese Government has backed in our ambitious housing agenda. That manifests itself in the significant expansion of our efforts to build more homes, just like at Prospect Corner.

“We are building more homes, faster, for South Australians.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil:

“We’ve got a very simple approach to housing: build more homes. That’s what’s happening here at Prospect Corner and right across South Australia.

“More homes means more affordable housing, and that’s exactly what this project is delivering for South Australians.”

Quotes attributable to SA Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Nick Champion:

“Prospect Corner is a benchmark for smart urban renewal; great location, affordable options and a community that’s coming to life.

“The Albanese Government partners with our government because it knows we can deliver more homes for South Australians at pace.

“A once vacant block of land is now a thriving community – that’s the Albanese and Malinauskas Government’s housing agenda in action.”