Month: June 2026

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

The City of Greater Bendigo’s new Affordable Housing Action Plan 2026-2028 outlines a range of actions addressing the need for more affordable and social housing, while also challenging the stigma around homelessness, rough sleeping, and housing stress in the community.

The two-year plan complements the City’s Managed Growth Strategy to support denser and more diverse housing options primarily in urbans areas. The Managed Growth Strategy also identifies additional growth areas for greenfield development.

Adopted at Council last night, the Affordable Housing Action Plan 2026-2028 has been informed by public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. The plan includes three flagship projects together with a range of actions to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

The Plan includes three flagship projects:

• Partnering in a Housing Australia Future Fund bid working with Registered Housing Providers, youth, health, and community wellbeing organisations with a focus on:
  • Delivering higher-density homes on unused Council land
  • Developing housing that achieves platinum rating (wheelchair accessible)
  • People at high risk of homelessness
• Making building small homes easier:
  • Encouraging small secondary dwellings often referred to as granny flats on existing house blocks (including accessibility for small dwellings)
  • Providing practical planning advice and reducing or waiving planning permit fees not already exempted
  • Investigate changes to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme to encourage affordable housing such as encouraging apartment developments in the city centre
  • Trialling more flexible rules for Tiny Houses on Wheels and caravans to provide more low-cost options
• Improving community narratives around homelessness in our community:
  • The City will be one of only eight Victorian councils participating in STAND, an international initiative led in Australia by the Municipal Association of Victoria. The 12-month initiative aims to reduce stigma and change negative narratives about homelessness
  • Advocate to the Victorian and Australian governments for adequate levels of social housing
  • Advocate for ongoing funding for homelessness prevention services and related activities, and crisis housing in Greater Bendigo
  • Partnering with local services to provide wrap-around support, including housing, health and social services and provide guidance on safe refuge areas for homeless people

Greater Bendigo is growing with 40,000 more people expected to live in the region by 2046. Different types of houses are needed to meet community needs including family homes, smaller houses, apartments, and flexible living options.

Demand far exceeds the amount of social housing currently available. As homelessness and housing insecurity increase, a wide range of people are having trouble finding housing, often for the first time.

More than 800 people are homeless or at risk, and over 2,400 people are using homelessness services. Older women are one of the fastest-growing groups experiencing homelessness.

Mayor Cr Thomas Prince said the plan focuses on practical actions.

“Affordability and availability of housing is an issue of national significance and high local importance in the community,” Cr Prince said.

“By working in partnership with government agencies, industry and community services, we can take meaningful steps toward improving housing levels in the region, supporting vulnerable people and building a stronger, more inclusive Greater Bendigo.”

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Australia’s domestic airlines have responded to higher jet fuel prices by increasing airfares and reducing seat capacity on some routes, the ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition report has found.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fuel markets. Jet fuel prices were over 40 per cent higher in early June 2026 compared to mid-February 2026, increasing cost pressures across the aviation sector.

Refining margins, the cost of converting crude oil into jet fuel, also remain significantly elevated. The spread between the price of Brent crude oil and jet fuel was 64 per cent higher in early June than in February.  

The Qantas Group and Virgin Australia both locked in part of their fuel costs ahead of time to reduce the short-term impact of higher prices. Rex reported that due to its smaller scale, it does not hedge against jet fuel prices.

In response to elevated fuel costs, the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia have reduced or suspended several domestic services, increased some airfares, and continued targeted sales to boost demand on more price-sensitive routes.

“Higher jet fuel prices are driving significant changes in how airlines operate, including reducing or suspending services and increasing fares on some routes,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“We’ve seen services paused or withdrawn on routes such as Adelaide to Mount Gambier, Alice Springs to Brisbane and Darwin to the Gold Coast, meaning fewer travel options for some communities.”

Virgin Australia has reportedly implemented a fare increase of around 5 per cent across domestic economy and business services since March 2026. The Qantas Group has not disclosed the size of its fare increase.

As indicated by revised forecasts published in April 2026, both major airline groups are expecting to recover at least some of the additional costs in jet fuel by raising fares and reducing capacity. This has meant higher prices and less choice for some consumers.

Passenger demand remained steady, supported by holidays and major events

Easter school holidays and major events, including AFL Gather Round in Adelaide and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, contributed to the busiest April for domestic travel since 2019.

Domestic airlines carried around 5 million passengers in both March and April 2026, while seat capacity also increased 1.9 per cent in April compared with a year earlier.

“Demand has remained resilient over recent months, supported by holiday travel and major events,” Ms Brakey said.

Average revenue per passenger fell by 3.4 per cent in April, but this largely reflects that tickets were purchased earlier before recent fare increases.

“With many travellers booking well in advance, particularly around holidays and major events, the latest data does not fully show the effect of higher airfares.”

“We expect this to become clearer over coming months and will continue to monitor the impact on consumers and the broader aviation sector,” Ms Brakey said.

Service reliability improves in April

On-time arrival rates were lower and flights were cancelled more frequently in February and March 2026, before improving in April.

In April, the industry average on-time arrival rate was 82.9 per cent, the best result reported since February 2022.

Qantas’ 85.8 per cent on-time performance was also the strongest of any airline since February 2022.

On-time performance improved in April following more favourable operating conditions, including fewer weather disruptions and no ground delays attributed to air traffic control at Australia’s four largest airports.

“It’s encouraging to see on-time performance at its highest levels in recent years, giving travellers more confidence that their flight will arrive at the time they booked,” Ms Brakey said.

The industry cancellation rate in April was 1.9 per cent, below the average of 2.2 per cent.

Virgin Australia continued its consistent performance seen in recent years, the best of all airlines at 0.8 per cent.  

Potential new entrants could strengthen competition

This report also discusses interest from two new potential airline entrants, Zinc Airlines and Koala Airlines.

“Australia’s domestic airline sector remains highly concentrated, with the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia operating 98.5 per cent of passenger flights,” Ms Brakey said.

“We welcome credible interest from potential new entrants and the positive impact this could have for consumers.”

“More competition can deliver better outcomes for passengers through greater choice, new routes and downward pressure on fares. We will continue to track developments in the market closely,” Ms Brakey said.

Consumer guarantees for disrupted flights

The ACCC continues to receive reports from consumers concerned about their rights when flights are disrupted, particularly amid the impact of ongoing conflict in the Middle East on international travel.

Whether consumers are entitled to a refund or other remedy will depend on the specific circumstances of the booking and disruption.

Consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law are unlikely to apply where a flight is delayed or cancelled due to the actions of a third party – for example, a government closing its airspace or imposing flight restrictions. In these cases, a consumer’s entitlement to a refund will generally depend on the terms and conditions of their booking.

If a consumer proactively cancels or changes their booking, the consumer guarantees will also not apply, and the available remedy will depend on the terms and conditions of the booking.

However, consumer guarantees may still apply where the disruption is not caused by a third party. This could include situations where a flight is affected by severe weather or by an airline failing to meet safety requirements.

“We encourage consumers with an upcoming international flight to review the terms and conditions of their booking, as well as contact their airline to best understand their options,” Ms Brakey said.

Background

On 6 November 2023, the Treasurer directed the ACCC to recommence domestic air passenger transport monitoring.

Under this direction the ACCC is to monitor prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of domestic air passenger transport services for a period of three years. The ACCC is required to report on this monitoring at least once every quarter.

As part of the 2026-27 Federal Budget delivered in May 2026, the Government announced its intention to extend the ACCC’s airline monitoring function until December 2029.

The ACCC collects data from Jetstar, Qantas, Rex and Virgin Australia for monitoring purposes.

A full copy of this report is available on the ACCC’s website at Domestic Airline Monitoring.

Source: Government of Western Australia

A new, easy-to-use printed guide and map invites you to discover the stories of the people, places and natural landscapes that shape the region.

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

Council has adopted the Budget 2026-2027 to carefully balance the needs of today with the responsibilities of tomorrow, ensuring the City of Greater Bendigo remains financially sustainable while continuing to invest in the services and infrastructure the community relies on.

Shaped by community feedback and aligned with the Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029, the Budget focuses on managing cost pressures, renewing essential assets and laying the foundations for future growth, liveability and opportunity across Greater Bendigo.

Mayor Cr Thomas Prince said the Budget is focused on continuing to invest in the everyday services residents rely on and value.

“The Budget 2026-2027 reflects what our community has told us is important: affordable services, liveable neighbourhoods, a healthy environment and strong local communities, while also supporting local jobs, business and future growth,” Cr Prince said.

“Maintaining and renewing essential infrastructure remains a clear priority, and we have invested $97M in projects our community needs most, including $47.9M in buildings, $13.3M in roads, $8.5M in pathways and $9.9M in parks and open space.

“The Budget also includes $44M dedicated to renewing and maintaining existing infrastructure people use each day.

“Our planned capital renewal program for 2026-2027 lists projects including the renovation of the Rosalind Park Conservatory, upgrade of the pavilion at Golden Square Recreation Reserve, lighting upgrades at Bendigo Library, renewal of Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve oval and cricket wicket, replacing street furniture and park furniture, a new playspace in Elmore (Michie Street) and more.

“There is funding to continue multi-year projects as well, such as the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, Bendigo Low Line walking and cycling trail and redevelopment of North Bendigo Recreation Reserve.

“We’re also supporting community ideas in small towns, including investment in community-led projects, giving people in small townships the opportunity to bring local ideas to life.

“Budgeting is a continuous, organisation-wide process. Every day, City staff are actively receiving, assessing and responding to community feedback.

“This includes interactions from the community such as requests, community engagement, listening posts and meetings with Councillors, presenting to Council and our Community Grants program.

“As part of the Budget 2026-2027 development process, a survey was held on the City’s online engagement platform, Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo, between September and October 2025.

“We’d like to thank the 261 community members who took the time to rank what is most important to them across 14 service areas.

“The results showed our community’s top priorities for investment continue to be roads, footpaths, tracks and trails, parks, including playspaces and gardens, waste, recycling and resource recovery, growth through town planning, infrastructure and guiding development, and local sport facilities.

“These results, and feedback throughout the year, have directly informed the services and infrastructure prioritised in the Budget 2026-2027.”

The Budget has been developed in line with the State Government’s rate cap of 2.75 per cent. As with previous years, Council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap as it seeks to absorb increasing costs for supplies, goods and services.

To help keep costs down for households, there will be no increase to waste charges for ratepayers in the new financial year.

The Budget 2026-2027 is valued at $280M, with an operating budget of $186M funding services including waste collection, street cleaning, environmental health, statutory planning, road maintenance, early learning, immunisation, tourism and visitor services, and much more.

It also includes a capital works budget of $97M for both new infrastructure projects and maintaining existing assets across the community.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police have arrested six men following an overnight crime spree that saw four vehicles stolen across Darwin.

The incident began shortly before 8pm when police received reports of two stolen vehicles. The owner of a stolen Toyota Hilux was able to track their vehicle to Dinah Beach Boat Ramp, where it had been abandoned. A second stolen vehicle, a white Nissan Navara, was later located at Holmes Jungle by Strike Force Trident officers.

The offenders had continued their offending after abandoning the first vehicles. At Dinah Beach Boat Ramp, they allegedly stole a red Toyota Troop Carrier after disconnecting and leaving behind the attached boat trailer.

The group then drove to Charles Darwin University, where they allegedly rammed through a gate and stole a Toyota 75 Series Landcruiser.

Both stolen vehicles were reported driving dangerously across Darwin, including doing burnouts and reckless manoeuvres in the Yarrawonga.

Strike Force Trident deployed tyre deflation devices at exit points on Batten Road and Amy Johnson Drive. The operation was successful, with both stolen vehicles struck by the devices as they exited the area, without the offenders initially realising.

The stolen Land Cruiser was later abandoned on Boulter Road, with its occupants fleeing on foot. 

The second vehicle, the red Troop Carrier, travelled towards Crocodylus Park before also being abandoned. Strike Force Trident and Dog Operations, established a cordon and a search of the area.

Patrol Dog Cheeko successfully tracked and located three men, aged 20, 27 and 27, who were arrested without incident. One of the men had fallen into the water.

Earlier today, Dog Operations Unit assisted with the arrest of the remaining offenders, two 17-year-old males and one 19-year-old male.

Senior Sergeant Darren Burns praised the coordinated police response.

“This was an outstanding effort by Strike Force Trident, Dog Operations and responding members who worked together to quickly track and arrest those responsible.

“The offenders involved are known to police and have a history of offending. They have no regard for the impact these crimes have on innocent Territorians.

“Stealing people’s vehicles and using them to drive recklessly through our city puts lives at risk, and police will relentlessly pursue you and bring you before the courts.”

Media note: body worn footage is available upon request. 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 39-year-old male in relation to a domestic and family violence incident that occurred in Alice Springs on the weekend.

It is alleged sometime between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday 14 June, the 39-year-old physically assaulted two adult family members at an address in Gillen. Two of the victims left the premises and police were called.

The offender allegedly armed himself with a firearm and prevented a third occupant from leaving the residence. Upon police arrival, he allegedly confronted attending police officers and pointed the firearm at them before retreating inside.

Officers withdrew to a safe distance and secured the safety of those outside while additional resources, including police negotiators, were deployed to safely resolve the incident.

After four hours, the 39-year-old surrendered and was arrested without further incident. A subsequent search of the residence located a firearm and multiple prohibited weapons. Two adult victims were conveyed to hospital for assessment, while a third suffered minor injuries.

The offender was charged with multiple serious offences, including aggravated assault, deprivation of liberty, choking in a domestic violence context, firearms offences, and assault police.

He was remanded to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court today.

The Southern Domestic Violence Unit has carriage of the investigation and enquires are ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference NTP2600057257. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

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: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Grill’d for allegedly making false or misleading representations to customers about the circumstances in which it would make donations to an environmental cause, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

Between January 2021 and April 2024, Grill’d ran a promotional campaign called Tree Day Tuesday, in which the ACCC alleges Grill’d made various representations, including that it would donate $1 from every burger purchased on a Tuesday towards the planting of trees.

“We allege Grill’d misled customers by overstating the extent of the donations it would make and the environmental contributions from its Tree Day Tuesday promotion. We consider this to be a form of greenwashing,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“In fact, only a small percentage of purchases on Tuesdays qualified for a donation by Grill’d because of the detailed conditions of the promotion, which we say were not disclosed or not adequately disclosed to customers.”

For a purchase to qualify for a donation under Grill’d’s Tree Day Tuesday promotion, it had to satisfy the following conditions:

• the purchase had to be made on a Tuesday,
• the purchase had to be of a ‘main item’ (being a burger or a salad),
• the buyer had to be a member of Grill’d’s Relish loyalty program,
• the purchase had to be dine-in only and not takeaway, online order, or delivery,
• dine-in orders had to be placed at the front counter (orders made via QR code at a table did not qualify),
• the buyer had to scan their loyalty program bar code at the counter when ordering, and
• the purchase could not be made in conjunction with any other offer.

Over five million burgers were bought on a Tuesday during the period between January 2021 and April 2024, but only around four per cent of those purchases qualified for a donation by Grill’d under its Tree Day Tuesday promotion.

Of those five million burgers, more than one million burgers were bought by Relish members, but only about 17 per cent of those purchases qualified for a donation under the promotion.

The ACCC’s case includes 26 separate Grill’d advertisements on social media, online and in store. While the extent to which these conditions were disclosed to consumers varied between these ads, the ACCC alleges that the ads all overstated the circumstances in which donations or contributions would be made.

“Grill’d is a large fast-food chain and operates across Australia, meaning that its conduct had the potential to mislead many consumers nationwide about the environmental benefits of their purchase,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“We allege that Grill’d deprived consumers of the ability to make an informed decision by overstating the circumstances in which it would make a donation to an environmental cause, which may also have given Grill’d an unfair competitive advantage.”

“Any business that seeks to appeal to consumers’ environmental concerns must make sure that its claims are accurate and that any conditions or qualifications are adequately disclosed,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“When we see a business seeking to exploit a consumer’s environmental concerns through misleading or deceptive conduct, we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action.”

The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, costs and other orders.

Examples of Grill’d social media advertisements for the Tree Day Tuesday promotion

Screenshot of a post from the Grill’d Instagram page:

Screenshot of a post on the Grill’d Facebook page:

Grill’d advertising statements

The 26 Tree Day Tuesday advertisements contained allegedly misleading statements including:

• GROW-A-GRILL’D FOREST. For every Tuesday Grill’d burg purchase, $1 goes towards planting a tree (a statement on the Grill’d Facebook page and Instagram Page);
• You can help us grow our 100-year protected forest by buying a burger today. A burger for you, a baby tree for the planet (a statement on the Grill’d Facebook page);
• If you don’t have time in that busy schedule of yours to plant a tree today, swing by for a burger instead and we’ll plant one for you. Every burger purchased by our Relish members today helps grow our Grill’d Forests. That’s something for you and something for the planet. (a statement on the Grill’d Facebook page); and
• Thanks to you our Relish members, we’ve raised enough to plant 4 of our 10 forests with Greenfleet. Together we’re donating $1 from every burger ordered by Relish Members on Tuesdays to team with the Traditional Custodians of the land and plant trees that will be protected to grow from root to branch to leaf for a century. (a statement on the Grill’d Instagram page).

Background

Grill’d is a large, well-known fast-food restaurant business with a significant annual turnover.  Grill’d has around 173 stores operating throughout Australia, the majority of which are owned and operated by Grill’d, with a small minority operated by franchisees.

Grill’d markets itself as a business which has a focus on sustainability, the environment and contribution to the community. It has a loyalty membership program called “Relish”, which consumers can join for free. 

The Tree Day Tuesday promotion was a partnership between Grill’d and Greenfleet Trust which describes itself as an environmental not-for-profit organisation.

This issue was brought to the ACCC’s attention by an anonymous report.

Other recent actions in relation to alleged greenwashing include the ACCC’s proceedings against Edgewell and Australian Gas Networks, and the proceedings brought by the ACCC  against Clorox Australia which resulted in an $8.25 million penalty being imposed by the Federal Court.

Concise statement

This document contains the ACCC’s initiating court document in relation to this matter. We will not be uploading further documents in the event this initial document is subsequently amended.

ACCC v Grill’d Concise Statement ( PDF 439.69 KB )

Source: Tasmania Police

12‑Month Memorial – Remembering Constable Keith Smith

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 – 8:49 am.

Today Tasmania Police will honour the memory of fallen officer, Constable Keith Smith.
On the 12-month anniversary of Keith’s tragic death, members of Tasmania Police, his family and loved ones, and the broader community will gather in Ulverstone – his home – for a memorial event.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams said today’s memorial would bring together Keith’s family, friends and colleagues and give them a safe and supportive space to remember a man who gave so much to his community.
“Today marks one year since we lost Constable Keith Smith. And while a year has passed, for many of us, time has not softened the loss,” Commissioner Adams said.
“Over the past 12 months, I have heard countless stories about Keith – from colleagues who worked beside him, from members of the community he supported, and from families who remember a police officer who didn’t just do his job, but who took the extra time to listen, to reassure, and to make people feel seen.
“Over the past year, what has stood out most is something quieter, but deeply significant – the way Keith’s influence continues to shape how we serve, and how we care for our community every day.
“As Commissioner, I am committed to building a lasting legacy that reflects who Keith was and how he served – and one that will make his family proud.”
Commissioner Adams said that the Tasmania Police Keith Smith Community Policing Award is one such example.
“This award recognises an officer who demonstrates the same values Keith embodied – someone who polices with compassion, connection, and care,” she said.
“Recipients of this award, and the purpose behind it, will be proudly displayed at the Tasmania Police Academy – a daily reminder to our officers, including our recruits, of Keith’s service and the sacrifice he made for his community.”
Commissioner Adams said that the Tasmanian community has also come together to support the blood donation initiative – Team 2390 – a simple but powerful way to give back.
“Under Keith’s badge number, emergency services have united with the goal of helping save 2,390 lives – a reminder that even in loss, we can continue to make a difference,” she said.
“Today is not only a time to remember how we lost Keith. It is a time to remember how he lived… a 25-year career built not on recognition, but on reliability, on doing the job properly, and on treating people with dignity, even in the most difficult circumstances.
“For all of us here today, this anniversary is a difficult milestone, but it is also an important one.
“Because remembrance is not only about looking back – it is about what we carry forward.
“His legacy is for all of us to actively make a difference to those around us, and to demonstrate our shared values – of accountability, integrity, respect and support – every day, and in everything that we do.
“Our thoughts remain with Keith’s family and loved ones. With honour he served, and with honour his legacy will live on.”

Source: Tasmania Police

Arrest after Evade Incident in Launceston

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 – 8:39 am.

A man has been arrested and charged with numerous offences after a crash in Launceston overnight, 16 June 2026.
At 1.20am, police observed a green Ford Festiva driving along Bathurst Street and speed through the traffic lights towards Launceston. Due to the driving behaviour, police activated lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over.
The vehicle had immediately turned into Frederick Street, drove through a red light, then hit a roundabout and rolled multiple times. The 29-year-old ran from the scene and was arrested nearby.
He was taken to the Launceston General Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries.
He was later charged with:

Evade Police (Aggravated Circumstances)
Reckless driving
Use vehicle whilst registration suspended
Unlawful possession of property
Possess controlled plant or its products.

As part of this investigation police would like to speak to anyone who saw the green Ford Fiesta in the area at the time, including any dash cam footage. Please call 131 444 or Crimestoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 and quote: OR808255. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

About the reforms

In February 2026, the Victorian Government announced reforms that aim to improve access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care for Victorians.

From September 2026, an initial 150 General Practitioners (GPs) will undertake a training program to enable them to safely diagnose and treat ADHD in both adults and children aged 6 years and over.

In addition, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) will provide short-term access to ADHD prescriptions for people with an existing ADHD diagnosis who require urgent access to medication and cannot access their usual treating clinician. The service is designed to act as a safety net, not a replacement for routine or ongoing ADHD care.

Adults will be able to access the service from September 2026. It is currently available for children under 18 years. Further information about the children’s service is available at the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).

Training program

The GP training program is being developed and delivered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

GPs interested in submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to undertake this training program are encouraged to visit the RACGP website.

EOI applications will open on Monday 15 June at 10 am and close on Sunday 5 July at 11:59 pm. EOI selections will be confirmed by the end of July.