Month: May 2026

Source: Tasmania Police

Stolen firearms seized in police searches

Friday, 8 May 2026 – 3:09 pm.

A southern Tasmanian man is facing a raft of firearms charges, including possession of stolen firearms, after police searches of properties at Elderslie and New Norfolk.
Detectives from Bridgewater CIB conducted drugs and firearms-related searches of the properties on Thursday.
During the searches, police located several hydroponic drug set-ups and seized 32 cannabis plants, plus a stolen .243 calibre centrefire rifle, a .22 lever action rimfire rifle and a .22 calibre pump action rimfire rifle.
A 48-year-old man from Elderslie was charged with selling cannabis, cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis. He was also charged with firearm offences, including possessing stolen firearms.
A 60-year-old man from New Norfolk was charged with cultivating cannabis and other drug offences.
The men have been bailed to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date.
Identifying and removing illegal firearms from the community is a priority for Tasmania Police.
Anyone with information about the illegal use of firearms or unlawful storage of firearms is urged to contact police on 131 444.
You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperstas.com.au

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Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Brenda and Kim McMahon both volunteer with Wattle Glen Fire Brigade

For mother-daughter duo Brenda and Kim McMahon, both volunteering with CFA for Wattle Glen Fire Brigade has provided a very special common ground and an even deeper bond.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

CARINA GARLAND, MEMBER FOR CHISHOLM: Good morning, everybody. I’m Carina Garland, I’m the Federal Member for Chisholm. And I’m so pleased to see so many people here today, including, of course, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, Ministers and State and Federal colleagues. I’ve lived in the southeastern and eastern suburbs of Victoria almost my entire life, and I know how important infrastructure and connectivity is for this community. I’m a really, really proud Victorian, and I’m so proud to be part of an Australian Government that cares about Victoria. We’ve got some exciting news for Victorians today, and I will hand over to the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, to tell us all more about that.

< ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: 

For so many years, when I became the Infrastructure Minister, way back in 2007, the problem in the three eastern capitals were all very similar. There was a problem of getting through the inner networks and expanding the rail network. Now here in Melbourne, that was about the Melbourne Metro Project that I was very proud to fund. The Abbott Government got elected, they ripped the money out, the $3 billion we had allocated for that, and that meant that it opened later than it would have otherwise. But today, it is transforming Melbourne; new stations, new capacity, more people being able to take public transport. There’s another element of public transport, of course, as well, which is safety. People get around a city in a safer way than they do getting around their cars, as well as saving emissions and making an enormous difference to the functioning of an effective and growing city.

This project is exciting. It will create jobs in construction, but importantly, will make an enormous difference for this growing community. I’ve been coming to Melbourne for a long time now, and what I’ve seen with suburbs that will be impacted around here, around Burwood, a place like Box Hill, has been transformed over recent decades as well. This will also enable increased housing density around public transport as an important element of this as well. Good for people as well, like me, who are visitors to Melbourne to get around when you have more effective and better public transport.

So, this is an exciting project. It’s consistent with our commitment to make sure that we continue to invest in infrastructure. And importantly, under the former Government, at one stage, Victoria was getting about 8 per cent of the national share of infrastructure investment. It was simply ripped off. Previous Prime Ministers have lived in Sydney, saw Kirribilli House as the place where the Prime Minister should live, rather than The Lodge, and they’ve invested not in Victoria. Well, that has changed. We invest in every single state of the country, and this – in just the last week, we’ve had announcements as well, early on the week that I made in Perth about infrastructure investment there. But here in Melbourne, our priority has been – not just here as well, but the North East Road Upgrade that will make an enormous difference as well. So, I’m very proud.

Next Tuesday’s Budget will be a good Budget based upon Labor principles. We have substantial savings in the Budget of some $64 billion of savings and reprioritisations, as has been announced today by the Treasurer and the Finance Minister. We’ll continue to make sure that we build Australia’s future, and part of that is building better public transport networks in our cities.

< JACINTA ALLAN, PREMIER OF VICTORIA:

But also too, at the heart of the Suburban Rail Loop, it’s a fairness project, because it’s about giving every Victorian the opportunity, whether you’re a young person and you want to study here at Deakin University, or you want to study at Monash University, two big and important tertiary institutes that are currently not connected by a train line, with the Suburban Rail Loop they will be. And that means opening up so many more opportunities for young people to pursue a tertiary education. It means a nurse can get to their job more easily and more quickly at places like Box Hill Hospital or Monash Medical Centre.

And on that theme of jobs, it is about connecting more people to jobs and services in our suburbs. That’s what the Suburban Rail Loop represents, and that’s why it’s so important that we continue to deliver and push on and deliver this project, because that point of jobs is also an important one. There’s thousands of people already working on this project, and there’ll be many, many more as it really does ramp up in the in the months ahead. And this is, this is about supporting jobs in the construction industry and in the supply chain right now. This means pay packets going home at the end of every week to working people and families who rely on those pay packets going home every single week. And in these uncertain times, the certainty of that is more important than ever before.

So, I really, again, want to finish by thanking the Prime Minister. And the Prime Minister touched on the other projects that are being supported by the Albanese Labor Government. If you look at the works on Airport Rail and Sunshine in the West, the works here on the Suburban Rail Loop, and then in the middle is the North East Link Project – three big road and rail projects that are ringing our city, that are being delivered in partnership by our government, with the Federal Government, and about delivering for the future needs of our city and state, and also supporting those thousands and thousands of jobs right now. We’re pleased to report that the Suburban Rail Loop continues to be delivered on time, on budget, and it’s again great to have that partner in Canberra who understands what Victoria needs and backs it. Thanks, PM.

< CATHERINE KING, MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: 

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

he Albanese Government continues to invest in Victoria’s future with a new investment of $3.8 billion towards the transformational Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project. 

Delivered as part of the 2026 Federal Budget, this investment brings the total Albanese Government spend for the project to $6 billion. 

SRL East will deliver a 26-kilometre underground orbital rail line through Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs.

It will create interchanges with four of Melbourne’s established radial rail lines at Cheltenham, Glen Waverley, Box Hill and Clayton, while connecting rail lines in four directions, including regional V/Line services on the Gippsland Line. 

The project will support economic productivity by improving public transport connectivity between major employment, education and health precincts including Monash, Box Hill, Clayton and Burwood. 

Businesses in Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern middle corridor will benefit from more visitors coming by public transport and by having their staff able to cross suburbs quicker and more easily. 

Precincts to be connected by SRL East will support the delivery of 70,000 additional homes and more housing choice, as well as reducing urban sprawl.

The project will support 3,000 jobs through construction, and will create up to 8,000 local jobs in the long term.

This latest investment builds on the Albanese Government’s previous $2.2 billion toward land acquisition and early works for the project.

Tunnelling for the project will commence by the end of this year, with Tunnel Boring Machines currently being assembled on site. This project is expected to be completed in 2035.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“This project is a game changer for the city of Melbourne and the state of Victoria. 

“Ensuring Victorians can get into Greater Melbourne and across suburbs, rather than having to go into the CBD then back out, helps speed up travel times, get cars off the road and increases opportunities for businesses in Melbourne’s east. 

“My Government is proud to partner with the Allan Government in delivering a better future for commuters across Victoria.”

Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan

“In the Albanese Labor Government we have a partner in Canberra who gets what our growing state needs.

“The Suburban Rail Loop will slash travel times and cut congestion for busy families.” 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King

“This investment by the Albanese Government in nationally significant infrastructure such as SRL boosts productivity and accessibility for Victoria. This is why we are getting on with delivering vital projects such as SRL East, Melbourne Airport Rail and the North East Link.

“SRL East will better integrate different transport modes, delivering a seamless and future-ready transit network for the fastest-growing areas of Melbourne.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop Nick Staikos

“By the 2050s, Melbourne will be the size of London – Melbourne needs an orbital rail connection that will cater for this growth and better connect people to jobs, education and healthcare.

“Only Labor will deliver the Suburban Rail Loop. Jess Wilson’s Liberals will cut it – sacking thousands of workers and leaving tunnel boring machines sunk in the ground.” 

Source: Tasmania Police

Two men charged with drug, firearms offences

Friday, 8 May 2026 – 12:08 pm.

Drugs, stolen property and an illegal homemade firearm were seized by police during a targeted search of a Kings Meadows property on Thursday.
Two men, aged 34 and 33, from Kings Meadows, were arrested and detained for court.
The search on Thursday afternoon was conducted by officers from Taskforce Raven and Launceston CIB, with drugs (cannabis, liquid GHB, liquid MDMA, methamphetamine), ammunition and a loaded, homemade .22 calibre firearm seized at the property.
The 34-year-old man faces charges including firearms offences, drugs possession, possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of property.
The 33-year-old man faces firearms offences and drugs possession charges.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

HOST: I’ve organised today’s mystery guest.

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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Four people have been taken to hospital following a serious crash near Acacia Hills overnight.

Around 12:55am this morning, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report of a crash between a road train and a Toyota Prado on the Stuart Highway. 

The crash was reported to have occurred about 2km north of a service station in Acacia Hills.

The vehicle is believed to have been travelling south when it collided with the rear trailer of a road train turning north out of Acacia Quarry.

Four adults, two men and two women were found injured at the scene.

All four were conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital via St John Ambulance with one female passenger in a critical condition.

The road train initially stopped before continuing to a truck yard in Humpty Doo.

Police located the road train at a business in Humpty Doo where the driver returned a positive drug test and was arrested.

Emergency service workers are still at the scene of the crash. There are diversions around the crash scene. The Stuart Hwy is expected to be open by 11:00am.

The Major Crash Unit is investigating and anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and reference P26132382.

Source: Tasmania Police

Call for information on Bridgewater firearms incident

Friday, 8 May 2026 – 10:35 am.

Police are investigating a firearms incident in Bridgewater last night in which multiple shots were fired into a house and a parked car.
The incident happened just before 8.30pm in McShane Road, Bridgewater, with police calling for information about the actions of two people seen on a motorcycle in the areas of McShane Road, Eddington Street, and Gunn Street, around that time.
Two people were inside the house when the shots were fired and no one was injured.
Initial investigations indicate two people, believed to be men, arrived near the property on a motorcycle.
One person, wearing a motorcycle helmet, then approached the house on foot and fired at least three shots with a small calibre rifle at the front of the building.
A further two shots were fired into the rear window of a vehicle parked in the driveway.
The person then ran from the scene and got on the rear of the waiting motorcycle, with the two people riding away towards Gunn Street.
Police investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage from McShane Road last night, is asked to contact police on 131 444.
You can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au

Source: Tasmania Police

75-year-old Norwood man charged with possession of child exploitation material

Friday, 8 May 2026 – 10:08 am.

*** Content Warning ***A 75-year-old Norwood man has been charged with possession of child exploitation material.
Tasmania Police commenced an investigation after child exploitation material was detected being uploaded to the internet, and the man was identified as a suspect.
The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprised of Tasmania Police’s High-Risk Child Exploitation Unit and the Australian Federal Police, executed a search warrant at Norwood on Wednesday.
During the search, police located and examined numerous digital devices, and the man was arrested and charged with possession of child exploitation material.
He was remanded in custody and is due to reappear in court later this month.
Online child abuse is a serious crime type. Tasmania Police, with the support of its partners, is committed to stopping these crimes and keeping our children safe. If you have seen inappropriate behaviour online that you suspect is child abuse, report it:
• If the child is in immediate danger, call 000.
• Call 131 444
• Report online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) https://www.accce.gov.au/report