Month: June 2026

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

rime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome Prime Minister of Vanuatu the Hon Jotham Napat to Australia on Monday, 29 June 2026.

This will be Prime Minister Napat’s first official visit to Australia since taking office, and the second time the leaders have met.

This visit will reaffirm Australia and Vanuatu’s commitment to elevate our bilateral relationship.

Prime Minister Albanese will host Prime Minister Napat and his delegation at Parliament House to discuss continued economic, security and development cooperation.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Albanese:

“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Napat to Australia to discuss ways to further expand our bilateral relationship.

“Australia and Vanuatu share a deep and enduring partnership based on mutual respect and common values.

“Strengthening our ties with Vanuatu is central to our shared ambition for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific region.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police have arrested a 40-year-old man in relation to the alleged indecent touching of a child under the age of 16.

Police allege that on 24 June 2026, a child under the age of 16 attending a vacation care program at a school in the Greater Darwin Region was indecently touched by a male educator.

The matter was referred to the Child Abuse Taskforce, which commenced an investigation. The man was arrested yesterday and has since been charged with:

• Indecent touching or act – child under 16 years
• Grooming to engage in sexual activity – child under 16 years

He was refused bail to appear before Darwin Local Court on Monday 29 June 2026.

Acting Commander Kirk Pennuto said the Child Abuse Taskforce’s investigation remains ongoing.

“Detectives are continuing to investigate this matter, including whether there is any further alleged offending linked to the man.

“Police have notified SAFE NT regarding the man’s OCHRE Card. It is understood he has been stood down from his employment while the investigation continues.”

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

HSK United Pty Ltd, which operates the websites Pain Free Aussies and Modern Aussies, has paid $79,200 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with four infringement notices for alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law.

The ACCC alleges that on both websites, HSK used misleading strikethrough pricing and made misleading statements in its returns policies.

“Online businesses, like bricks and mortar stores, must comply with the Australian Consumer Law and not mislead consumers,” ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said.

Allegedly misleading strikethrough prices

The ACCC investigated HSK following consumer complaints and later issued two infringement notices for alleged misleading pricing practices.

HSK advertised products on both its websites with strikethrough pricing, where a higher price is crossed out and replaced with a lower price. However, the ACCC’s investigation found that certain products on the websites had not been sold at the higher ‘strikethrough’ price since at least 1 January 2025.

“Consumers who bought products from the websites were likely to have been misled into believing they were receiving a genuine discount, when this wasn’t the case,” Mr Woodward said.

“Sales and claimed savings can tempt consumers to buy products they may not otherwise purchase. These types of misleading claims also disadvantage competitors that are making genuine claims about the prices of their products.”

Image of the “Instant Smooth Hair Eraser Pain Free” product on the Modern Aussies website showing the strikethrough price

Image of the “Aussie Ice Cooling Calming Blanket” product on the Pain Free Aussies website showing the strikethrough price

Allegedly misleading claims consumers could not get a refund for certain sales

The ACCC also issued HSK with two infringement notices over allegedly misleading statements made in its returns policy on each website. The policy stated that clearance items and items purchased with store credits were non-refundable, when in fact the consumer guarantees in the Australian Consumer Law provide for refunds in certain situations where goods are faulty, including when the goods were clearance items or purchased using store credits. 

“The ACCC was concerned that these statements may have led consumers to believe they were not entitled to refunds for clearance items and purchases made with store vouchers in any circumstances, when they may have been entitled to a refund under the consumer guarantees. These statements could have discouraged consumers from seeking a refund that they were entitled to because the product was faulty,” Mr Woodward said.

In response to the ACCC’s concerns, HSK improved its internal compliance processes and made changes to both websites, including by updating its returns policies.

Background

HSK is based in Melbourne and owns Pain Free Aussies, which sells health and therapeutic products online, and Modern Aussies, a website selling personal care and household products.

Note to editors

The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law.

The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC will begin monitoring supermarket pricing from 1 July when the new excessive pricing prohibition comes into force.

The prohibition applies to very large supermarket retailers that have an annual revenue of more than $30 billion, which currently captures only Coles and Woolworths.

New guidelines, published today, outline how the ACCC will monitor compliance with the prohibition and how it will assess whether Coles or Woolworths have engaged in excessive pricing.

Under the prohibition, there is no fixed threshold for what is an excessive price for a grocery product. Instead, the ACCC will monitor supermarket pricing information and consider all relevant circumstances, including the cost to supply the product to consumers and what is a reasonable margin for the supermarket, to determine if a grocery product was excessively priced.  

“We know that grocery prices continue to be a key concern for households. The excessive pricing prohibition provides us with another tool within our broader toolkit to protect consumers and promote competition in the supermarket sector,” ACCC Acting Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“Our initial focus for the prohibition will be on monitoring Coles and Woolworth’s pricing information to ensure they comply with their obligations.”

The ACCC will prioritise its monitoring on a select group of products, which will be chosen based on consumer and supplier reports as well as information obtained from supermarkets, including on prices, margins and sales revenue.

“We will focus our attention on products where excessive pricing is likely to cause the most harm to consumers,” Ms Lowe said.

“We encourage consumers and suppliers to make a report to the ACCC if they have concerns that a supermarket may have excessively priced a grocery product. These reports will help us identify products that may warrant further investigation.”

Over the coming months, the ACCC will select and publish the initial focus products that it will examine more closely.

The ACCC will provide regular updates on its compliance monitoring under the prohibition to help strengthen public transparency around supermarket pricing.

“We recognise that there is significant public interest in the ACCC’s ongoing work to ensure supermarkets act in accordance with the law,” Ms Lowe said.

ACCC’s broader enforcement powers remain integral to addressing supermarket misconduct

The excessive pricing prohibition complements the existing competition and consumer laws that the ACCC is responsible for administering. The ACCC will continue to use a range of tools to ensure supermarkets to comply with these laws.

“In deciding which compliance or enforcement tool to use, our first priority is always to achieve the best possible outcome for the community and to manage risk proportionately.”

“If we observe non-compliance then we would consider the most appropriate enforcement tool to address any misconduct,” Ms Lowe said.

Background

On 14 December 2025, the Australian Government announced a supermarkets excessive pricing prohibition. The prohibition was implemented as an amendment to the Food and Grocery Code.

The prohibition introduces a new purpose to the Food and Grocery Code, which is to promote workably competitive outcomes in grocery product markets and protect the welfare of consumers by prohibiting excessive pricing for grocery products by very large retailers.

The ACCC is responsible for enforcing compliance with the Food and Grocery Code, including the excessive pricing prohibition.

The prohibition includes various elements the ACCC will need to consider in assessing compliance, including:

• whether the corporation is a very large retailer
• whether there has been a supply or an offer to supply of a kind of grocery product to a consumer by way of retail sale
• the kind of grocery product
• the pricing for the supply of the kind of grocery product
• the costs to the very large retailer of the supply of the kind of grocery product
• whether the pricing is ‘significantly excessive’ compared to the cost of supply plus a reasonable margin, with consideration given to relevant circumstances.

The ACCC has information on its website about what’s allowed when setting prices.

The ACCC encourages compliance with the Food and Grocery Code in a range of ways, including business and consumer education, and working closely with stakeholders and other agencies.

Where there are breaches of the Food and Grocery Code, significant penalties may apply, and the ACCC has a range of other enforcement options available to it, including court-based outcomes, infringement notices and court enforceable undertakings.

The ACCC cannot pursue all matters that come to its attention. The ACCC’s role is to focus on those matters that will, or have the potential to, impact consumers experiencing vulnerability, harm the competitive process or result in widespread consumer or small business detriment. 

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

MATT SHIRVINGTON, HOST: The Prime Minister joins us now live in Canberra. Good morning to you, PM. So, do you think you still have the trust –

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Source: Tasmania Police

Statement from the Commissioner of Police

Friday, 26 June 2026 – 12:13 pm.

Today marks another challenging moment for the family, loved ones and colleagues of Constable Keith Smith as the sentence was handed down for his murder. 
While nothing can undo the tragic events, or bring Keith back, today’s outcome is an important step in holding the offender to account.
I’d like to acknowledge and thank Justice Jago for carefully considering all of the facts of the case to inform the sentencing this morning at the Burnie Supreme Court.
The court also heard deeply moving victim impact statements, which reinforced the devastating consequences of this loss. 
No sentence will ever make up for the fact that Keith was so cruelly taken from those who love him.
But Justice Jago’s remarks recognise the seriousness of this crime, and the profound and lasting impact Keith’s death has had on his family, his colleagues, and our wider policing community. 
Today, I want to acknowledge Keith’s family – who have become important members of our blue family. Their loss is immeasurable, and our thoughts remain with them. We continue to stand beside them, just as we stand beside each other.
The period leading up to this sentencing, and the first anniversary of Keith’s death, has been particularly challenging.
Keith’s loss has continued to be felt deeply across our organisation. 
For many, it has changed how we think about our work, our safety, and the impact of policing on those closest to us. For those who were directly involved, or who knew Keith, the grief and trauma remain real and ongoing.
I’d like to recognise the professionalism, care and resilience shown by our people over the past year, and in particular, the first responders and crime scene examiners who worked at the time, and the wellbeing services teams who have provided ongoing care and support to all of us and Keith’s family over the past 12 months. 
I am proud of the way you have all have continued to serve the community with dedication, while also supporting one another through what has been an incredibly difficult time. 
The support from the Tasmanian community – including the many messages of support, respect, and care – has been a powerful reminder that we are not alone.
While we acknowledge today’s outcome, our focus remains on honouring Keith’s legacy and continuing to serve the Tasmanian community with pride and professionalism.
Commissioner Donna Adams

Source: Government of Western Australia

At the City of Wanneroo Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 23 June, Council made the following decisions.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

TOM STEINFORT: Welcome back to today at 8am, after months of debate, Labor’s highly contentious tax package has officially passed Parliament.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: I’m happy to say we are joined now by the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who is of course in Canberra. Prime Minister, welcome back to our program.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

I’d also like to acknowledge Australian Local Government Association President, Mayor Matt Burnett and ALGA Board and Vice Presidents, Councillor Darriea Turley and Mayor Stuart James.

As well as councillors, mayors, shire presidents, delegates and distinguished guests, including guests from remote and Indigenous councils. I know that for some of you it’s been a long journey coming here and I thank you for it.

And, of course, our terrific Minister for Local Government, Kristy McBain.

It’s an honour to be with you as a Prime Minister who has always recognised the vital role that local government plays in the life of our nation, and the fact that a crucial ingredient in the strength of our nation is our two tiers of government working together.

And a crucial ingredient of that is local government having a seat at the table, where it is listened to.

That is why, as Minister for Local Government in 2008, I established the Australian Council of Local Government.

And that is why we reinstated it in 2023 after a decade in which the Coalition government dismissed as surplus to requirements.

I am proud of the role I played both times. 

And I am proud that the spirit that drove those initiatives is a spirit that continues to drive our Government. 

A Federal Government with a track record of backing local government with real funding, a record we have continued in this year’s Budget.

A Government with a long, proud roll call of members and who have had the privilege of serving their communities on their local councils.

As councillors, as mayors, absorbing all that it means to be on the ground and to be the first port of call for their communities.

Exhibit A, of course, is Minister McBain, who is a former mayor – in so many ways the perfect choice as Local Government Minister.

Since we last met, the Government’s ranks of local government alumni have been bolstered by four more members: 

Trish Cook – the new member for Bullwinkel and former Mundaring councillor;

Kara Cook – the new member for Bonner and former Brisbane City councillor;

Claire Clutterham – the new member for Sturt and former Norwood Payneham and St Peters councillor; and

Ash Ambihaipahar – the new member for Barton and former Georges River councillor.

They understand that you are delivering for your communities every day.

They know you are the level of government that Australians most practically interact with every day.

I’m very pleased that we have with us tonight a couple of remarkable individuals who truly embody that spirit.

I want to start with a long-standing elected member of the City of West Torrens in South Australia. 

He is 92 and is the oldest serving councillor currently in local government in the Southern Hemisphere.

Please give a very big hand for Councillor George Demetriou.

Councillor Demetriou has served the City of West Torrens community as Morphett Ward Councillor since 1989.

He exemplifies the very best of local government service – thoughtful leadership, strong community advocacy, and a deep understanding of the needs of the people he represents. 

Tonight, we celebrate his lifetime of dedication to public service and community leadership.

I’d also like to make a special mention of Michael New.

Michael has worked for ALGA for nearly 20 years.

Officially, Michael is ALGA’s Finance Manager, but he is also the organisation’s go-to for everything – a search engine in human form, who remembers every councillor and mayor. And, I am reliably informed, all the good stories. 

If you know ALGA, you know Michael.

Speaking of friends and supporters of local government, many of you know I worked as a young adviser in the office of my friend and mentor, Tom Uren. 

Tom spent time as Minister for Local Government, and it was a mission he truly believed in. Tom’s passion rubbed off on me.

Like Tom, I firmly believe that to serve in local government is a noble calling.

And it is profoundly encouraging to see a new generation answering that call, putting up their hands and devoting their time, energy and talent to their communities. 

Local government is what makes it possible to turn a neighbourhood into a community.

Not just somewhere you live – but somewhere you love living.

Somewhere you have that all important sense of belonging, alongside others who feel the same way.

Somewhere that has everything that adds up to a sense of home.

Local government is at the heart of it all, in the good times and, crucially, the bad. As we have seen so often, when disaster strikes, the role of the local council is vital. 

They are the frontline and they are where I turn to first. I will always try talking with the mayor in the disaster zone first to find out what’s actually going on. What’s working, what isn’t, and what is needed.

Councils have told us that the current disaster funding arrangements are too slow and complex. We will continue to support councils like we always have, in partnership with the states and territories. 

The funding relationship between the Commonwealth and councils will not change. Minister McBain has commenced consultations on disaster funding arrangements to make the process simpler and faster for councils to navigate. 

We want to speed up that process because no council should be out of pocket.

No matter what is happening in the world – no matter what challenges the world keeps throwing at Australia – you are there, keeping your communities ticking.

That is why I am determined that the councils of Australia have a Government that has your back.

Our support for local government is instinctive, and it is meaningful.
After years of stagnation, investment in local government is not merely growing – Commonwealth investment in local government is at record level.

Through the 2026-27 Budget, our Government is providing $3.6 billion in untied Financial Assistance Grants.

Real money that local governments can spend on their own priorities. 

This includes bringing forward payments of $2.9 billion – or 80 per cent of the 2026–27 FA Grant estimate – to assist with immediate cost pressures during this period of unpredictability in the global economy. 

We have been restoring support that councils across Australia can rely on.

In stark contrast to what the Coalition managed in their last five years in power, Labor is delivering more than two-and-a-half times the growth in Financial Assistance Grants.

To back community infrastructure, we are providing $750 million over four years from 2026 for further rounds of the Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs programs, expanding delivery of competitive grants to fund capital works for community infrastructure across our communities.

As part of strengthening your communities, we not only want you to build more housing, we want to help you do it.

That is why we are making $2 billion available for the Local Infrastructure Fund under the Housing Support Program to help local governments and state-owned utilities build the critical ‘last mile’ infrastructure needed to support new housing developments, and to help unlock development-ready land by fast-tracking enabling infrastructure such as water, sewer and electricity connections.

There will also be funding over 4 years from 2026-27 to modernise environmental information, data and digital systems, enabling simpler, faster approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

We also need you building more roads. So, we have doubled funding for the Roads to Recovery Program, committing $4.4 billion nationally over the current five-year funding period. 

Councils have access to new infrastructure funding opportunities including:
     
The 10-year $500 million Active Transport Fund

$750 million under future rounds of Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs

And the existing $200 million per year Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program

Figures show that in 2023-24 alone, almost $6 billion flowed from the Commonwealth to local government, supporting local jobs, local infrastructure and local services.

This partnership is continuing to grow. 

Every dollar invested in local government helps councils deliver the services and infrastructure Australians rely on every day, from every local road and bridge to every community facility, every park and, of course, every example of that great building block of a better, brighter future: the local library.

I am proud to lead a Government that is backing councils to build stronger communities based on local priorities.

A Government that recognises the critical role councils in delivering the services Australians rely on every day.

And together, we’re making the best country on earth even better.