Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

Trudy McIntosh, Host: It’s been a big week for the Prime Minister in Asia and it seems he’s managed to become almost Donald Trump’s bestie by the end of it. We saw this toast together at a dinner at the start of APEC before the President’s big meeting with President Xi of China. Donald Trump has flown all the way back to Washington now, leaving our Prime Minister there with other APEC leaders. Joining me live to discuss is the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite. Matt, as we see these pictures on our screen, we’re waiting for the family photo. Our Prime Minister will be there very shortly, we believe. What did you make of the big superpower showdown yesterday? President Trump and President Xi, it appears there’s an apparent thaw now in these relations. I’m sure we’d all welcome that?

Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister For Foreign Minister and Trade: Hi, Trudy. We’re definitely welcoming that news, particularly the thawing in the relationship regarding trade. No one wins from the escalation in trade protectionism. And we saw that the United States and China had put in place measures that restricted trade. So, it’s wonderful to see that these outcomes being reached. And Australia has always had the view that we want free and fair trade not only within our region, throughout the world, and this contributed to that. So, it’s a great outcome.

McIntosh: And what about Beijing has said now there’s a one year pause on that sudden export control they put in place for the rare earths. Does that have any impact on the deal that Australia has done in terms of the US deal here with our critical minerals?

Assistant Minister: Well, it’s welcome news because a lot of the magnets associated with medical technology that Australians rely on every day are produced in China. And there was a concern that that could have an effect on our medical industry. I guess what we’ve entered into with the United States is around building our capacity into the future. Australia’s been very good at extracting the rare earths and critical minerals that we have here in Australia, but we’ve tended to ship them overseas for processing. The Future Made in Australia policy is about ensuring that we’re investing in processing them here, that we increase our sovereign capability and that we get better returns from that. And now we’re partnering with the United States to get those investment funds in so that we can develop that capacity here in Australia.

McIntosh: And Matt, standby, I just want to take our viewers to Dan Tehan, the Shadow Energy Minister. He’s just come out of this meeting where they were discussing net zero. Let’s have a listen.

[throws to Dan Tehan press conference]

McIntosh: That’s the Shadow Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister, Dan Tehan, that meeting of backbench Liberal MPs wrapping up there, but still the big question is what is going to happen with that net zero target? And for now, there is still no formal position on that out of the Liberals or the Nationals. I want to bring back in the Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, who we were speaking to before. Matt, you were listening to Dan Tehan there. I suppose the question for Labor is what are you doing to bring sections of the community who clearly have a real worry about net zero and the impact on the regions in particular, what is Labor doing to bring that cohort with them?

Assistant Minister: Well, it sounded from Dan Tehan there, Trudy, that they’ve agreed they’ve had a meeting this morning to agree to have another meeting. They’re all at sea when it comes to this issue. There’s a significant proportion of their party that are sceptical about climate change and they’re forcing this scepticism on net zero and that’s providing uncertainty. What the Australian people want is certainty and they want a government that’s committed to taking stronger action on climate change. So, we reduce emissions, but at the same time we transition to renewable energy. And what we’ve done to bring the Australian people with us is provide that certainty through a policy that net zero architecture, policies like the safeguard mechanism, our household battery scheme, our large investments in solar and wind and renewables is all providing that certainty for businesses and households to make that important transition.

McIntosh: Matt, there’s certainty in terms of where Labor is going, but I suppose the other big thing we’re seeing highlighted this week is the uncertainty that’s there for these big smelters. For example, Tomago, the one in lights at the moment, this stalemate with the owner, Rio Tinto over, they’re refusing to take the taxpayer lifeline. They want to lock in a cheaper energy deal from 2028. What lengths is the government willing to go to keep Tomago open?

Assistant Minister: Well, firstly, Trudy, my thoughts are with the workers. There’s thousands of workers there who’ve worked very hard for this company and we want to see Tomago survive. That’s why we’re committed to working with the company to put in place a package that sees it survive into the future regarding their energy costs. They had a very good contract with the NSW Government that’s up for renewal. That’s why the NSW Government is involved in these negotiations. So, you’ve got the NSW Government and our government working with Tomago to try to get them the most favourable energy contract, but also to put in place measures from a Commonwealth level to ensure that the company survives. So, we’re willing to work with them and do whatever we can to keep that company open.

McIntosh: Would there be an option of potential new ownership? I saw in the Financial Review this morning the that government’s not ruling anything out, including that?

Assistant Minister: Well, that’s really a matter for Tomago. They’ve got their owning companies and their shareholders. That’s a matter for them. But they should be under no illusion that the Commonwealth Government and indeed the NSW Government are committed to working with them to try and ensure that the company survives. It’s an important employer in the Hunter region. It produces high quality aluminium that’s sold domestically and on international markets. And we want to be a government and an economy that continues to make important products such as that.

McIntosh: Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite, really appreciate your time today. Thank you.

Assistant Minister: Thank you, Trudy.

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

Patricia Karvelas: Anne Aly is the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, International Development and Small Business, and is my guest. Minister, welcome to the program.

Dr Anne Aly: Thank you, Patricia.

Patricia Karvelas: We have to start there, and then we’ll get on to some other issues that we’re focusing on here. The Business Council wants a few elements of the environment laws changed. They are still wanting bipartisanship. Are you prepared as a government at sort of cabinet level where these fights are being had to water down the bill further to meet their demands.

Dr Anne Aly: Well, as you heard there with all of those grabs that you had, pretty much everyone’s got an opinion around this bill. We’re focused on getting the bill passed and getting the balance right between ensuring that our environment is protected but also that there is confidence for industry as well. You know, you’ll be familiar, and perhaps your viewers are also familiar with the Samuel Review that recommended strongly that there be a review of these laws that, frankly, are no longer fit for purpose. They are, you know, laws that were drafted back in the 90s.

And, you know, following on from that review and undertaking the recommendations of that review, one of those recommendations of that review was that the bill not be split, that splitting the bill would water down our environmental protections, but also not give that certainty to business.

Patricia Karvelas: You are a frontbencher but also from WA. We all know WA kind of flexed your muscle, if you like, or the Premier did and clearly believes that that’s a view in the community. So given that, I’m going to ask a very straight question.

Dr Anne Aly: Okay.

Patricia Karvelas: Do you prefer a deal with the Liberals over the Greens?

Dr Anne Aly: I prefer a deal that’s going to get us to that position where we have an EPBC Act that looks after the environment and that gives certainty to –

Patricia Karvelas: Would it be your preference, given the WA point I make, to have that deal with the Liberal Party?

Dr Anne Aly: Well, I’m not the one making the deal, so I’ll –

Patricia Karvelas: No, but you were – and you echoed some of Roger Cook’s concern. You didn’t shy away from that, so.

Dr Anne Aly: No, that’s right, and, you know, given that I am not the one making the deal, what I see is that there are two pathways to making a deal – one with the Greens and one with the Libs. And I believe that Murray Watt, as the minister responsible, has done a fantastic job in negotiating thus far. What we want to do is get a bill that does what the review said it needs to do, and that is to bring our laws up to date. We want to get that passed, and we want to get that passed as soon as possible through either of those avenues, as long as it delivers what Australians want, what Australians need, which is environmental protections and certainty to the industry.

Patricia Karvelas: Minister, you were the former Childcare Minister before you took on your new role and came into cabinet. Four Corners tonight has a pretty explosive story just exposing how deep rooted the infiltration from paedophiles is into this sector. I’ve got a really straight question on that as well: were you aware of the extent of this when you were minister?

Dr Anne Aly: When I was minister, no. When I was minister. I will say, though, that very aware that child safety was top priority and remains top priority in early childhood education and care and that the government has taken a number of steps towards ensuring child safety, among them the early childhood education register, which is something that I put into train very early on in my term as the previous minister. Child safety – and let me also make this very clear: that the revelations that are coming out are absolutely devastating – absolutely devastating.

Patricia Karvelas: Does it worry you, though, that you say you didn’t know the extent, but there are obviously many documents that Four Corners has scoured through and obtained to make this case about how serious it is. Was that because you weren’t given the right information? Look, I’m just wondering how this, at the highest levels and then at a state level, was missed as a critical and crisis issue.

Dr Anne Aly: Yeah, I believe that we acted swiftly to rectify all of that, though. I believe that, you know, as soon as the first revelations came out, Jason Clare is the Minister for Education and myself, as the minister responsible for early childhood education at the time, were very swift in conducting a review of safety. And we now have a number of programs and policies in place to ensure child safety, but also that very clear message that early childhood education and care is about education, not about the profit. And if providers are doing the wrong thing or are only in it to make a profit and don’t care about child safety, then they need to vacate the space, so to speak. So as soon as we did learn about it, we were very, very swift in undertaking every action that we possibly could to ensure child safety.

Patricia Karvelas: But even Jason Clare’s conceded he should have acted earlier.

Dr Anne Aly: Well, we should have known earlier. That’s the thing. And the thing is, the framework for child quality and child safety, you’ve got the commonwealth framework and the state frameworks, so it’s a kind of two-level framework where the commonwealth kind of sets the quality standards, and then you have the state regulators doing the monitoring and so on and so forth. Obviously, there’s something going wrong there, and that’s what needs to be rectified.

Patricia Karvelas: Just finally on this – because I know it’s not your portfolio anymore, but you are very across it as an issue.

Dr Anne Aly: Of course.

Patricia Karvelas: The Productivity Commission recommended a commission with teeth be established to deal with the sector. Government hasn’t made a final decision on that, but it does it seem to you that the case is very clearly now been made for that?

Dr Anne Aly: Look, I think in terms of child safety, there are practical things that we can do that will have a practical impact that I think are much more effective – low-hanging fruit, so to speak – that will be much more effective than another kind of layer of regulation or bureaucracy.

Patricia Karvelas: So you’re not –

Dr Anne Aly: Well, I will just also clarify as well, Patricia, that the Productivity Commission recommendation about a commission was really about universal early childhood education and care.

Patricia Karvelas: That’s right.

Dr Anne Aly: So that commission would be responsible to oversee the rollout of –

Patricia Karvelas: But you could make alterations to it so it could have that kind of power and influence.

Dr Anne Aly: You could, but I do believe that right now the important thing is to ensure that what we have, the mechanisms that we do have, are working to ensure child safety, and that is what the government is doing.

Patricia Karvelas: The Prime Minister is overseas for a couple of key meetings. He’s not in the parliament this week – it’s a bit weird, actually, question time without him. How did it go for you? Was it a bit odd?

Dr Anne Aly: No, question time was question time, I guess.

Patricia Karvelas: Okay, you’re like another day, another dollar.

Dr Anne Aly: Another question time.

Patricia Karvelas: Okay. But on his raising of the issue in the South China Sea – and clearly what we have said is inappropriate from China – he’s raised that with the Chinese Premier. We don’t know what the Chinese Premier’s response is. But clearly this relationship is much more difficult to execute than, you know, we thought. Should the Prime Minister be telling us exactly where this relationship is at, what the response was?

Dr Anne Aly: Well, I think the relationship is clear. I mean, every minister that you’ve probably ever interviewed has said that we will work with China, but, you know, we will raise concerns where we need to raise concerns. Just on these two meetings with ASEAN and APEC, I just want to stress how important these two forums are, but also the fact that Australia has a seat at the table at these forums and what we’re using this seat at the table for. We’re using this seat at the table, yes, to ensure our regional security and economic prosperity, but also our domestic security and our domestic economic prosperity, too. If you a have a look at ASEAN, for example, 700 million people, fourth largest economy in the world, You know, by 2040 it will be the fourth largest economy in the world. If you have a look at APEC, one in four Australian jobs relies on trade, and 75 per cent of our trade is with APEC. These meetings really are also about ensuring the future and the present of Australian jobs.

Patricia Karvelas: But raising concerns with China and managing that, it seems that China is provoking Australia.

Dr Anne Aly: Well, you know, diplomatic relationships with countries at varying times can be challenging. And I believe that our government has done substantial work within our region to repair the relationship with China, to restore our critical trade with China. That has really helped Australian industries here. But we will speak up when we need to speak up in Australia’s interests.

Patricia Karvelas: I just have to ask on your hat – I know I’ve moved around on a few issues –

Dr Anne Aly: I’ve got a lot of hats today with you.

Patricia Karvelas: And I’ve called them all hats – let’s call it something else – a cap.

Dr Anne Aly: Tiaras?

Patricia Karvelas: Tiara! With your tiara on, just looking at multiculturalism, you know, that’s a pretty key part of how our country operates.

Dr Anne Aly: Absolutely.

Patricia Karvelas: Both of us being products of it. It’s how we operate this country. But you’ve been – we’ve now had a ceasefire in Gaza – it happened while I was away – and I think that’s a welcome thing.

Dr Anne Aly: Absolutely.

Patricia Karvelas: Have you seen some of the tensions lower since that ceasefire in our own community?

Dr Anne Aly: A bit hard to say because it’s really early days yet, and the ceasefire is very fragile and tentative. So I note that, like, there are still some protests going on, although they’ve come down a little bit. I do believe that there is some kind of easing of the tension, and that’s inevitable because when you have tensions flaring whenever there are global events, as those global events pass or progress, then, you know, there may be another global event. But, yeah, I think so. I think also, you know, I was in India recently, and I do have to say that the reception that I got in India was just how grateful the Indian people were for how our government responded to those protests.

Patricia Karvelas: Let me just pick you up on that. So you’re saying that when you were in India, the way that this debate about Indian Australians had been had was raised with you?

Dr Anne Aly: Yes. And people were very grateful for the response that our government had in not tolerating any kind of racism in those protests and in defending our Indian diaspora. Because our diasporas are really important keys to our relations with foreign governments as well. Those people-to-people links are bridges between us and other countries. And it was really heartening to see that that message had gotten through very clearly to the people in India.

Patricia Karvelas: There’s just one more question relating to this. I know it’s Tony Burke’s main role, but you are assisting very much in this. This is the anti-Semitism report, the Islamophobia report.

Dr Anne Aly: Yes.

Patricia Karvelas: When are we going to see a comprehensive government response to those?

Dr Anne Aly: Well, you know, we’re currently undertaking that. And so we’re looking at both reports, looking at what we’ve already done, looking at what we can do. And that’s underway.

Patricia Karvelas: Is this by the end of the year?

Dr Anne Aly: I don’t want to put a time frame on it because it is a big piece of work, and it’s an incredibly important piece of work, and I think it’s important that we get it right. The efforts that Aftab Malik, as the Islamophobia Envoy, and Jillian Segal, as the anti-Semitism Envoy, have put into the reports deserve us to take our time and be thoughtful and comprehensive in our response.

Patricia Karvelas: Minister, thank you for travelling on many different topics with me. I appreciate it.

Dr Anne Aly: Thank you so much.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police are calling for information in relation to an incident that occurred in Wadeye early yesterday morning.

Around 1am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a staff member from the Wadeye clinic had been assaulted and the clinic ambulance damaged while attempting to assist a patient at a residence.

It is alleged that upon the clinic staff’s arrival, an unknown male took the keys from the ignition of the clinic vehicle, and they had to be retrieved by the driver. When the staff attempted to leave, the male struck the ambulance window with a metal pole smashing it, striking the driver and hitting both clinic staff with glass fragments. The male then fled the scene

The staff retreated from the location for their safety, and the driver was later treated for minor injuries at the clinic.

A short time later, police attempted to apprehend a vehicle believed to be occupied by the alleged offender; however, the vehicle failed to stop. A short pursuit was initiated but was terminated for safety reasons.

The offending vehicle later drove past the police station, where an object was thrown at a police vehicle returning to the station. No police members were injured.

Investigations are ongoing.

Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444 quoting reference number P25291286. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via .

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police have arrested a 32-year-old man in relation to the possession and supply of a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Yesterday, police officers from the Drug and Organised Crime Section executed a search warrant at a residence on Wood Street in Darwin City.

During the search, police located approximately one kilogram of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia, and a 32-year-old man was arrested at the location.

The man has since been charged with:

• Possess commercial quantity dangerous drug – Schedule 1
• Supply commercial quantity dangerous drug – Schedule 1

He is due to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said, “The supply of illicit substances has a detrimental impact on our community, fuelling addiction, crime, and family violence.

“We will continue to target those who to bring dangerous drugs into the Territory and bring them before the courts.”

“To those who participate in this offending, if we haven’t knocked on your door yet, it is only a matter of time.”

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

I will travel to Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar to advance Australia’s interests and engage with key partners in the Middle East in pursuit of peace and stability.

In Bahrain, I will attend the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue to discuss the Middle East’s most pressing foreign policy, defence and security challenges.

While in Jordan, I will reaffirm Australia’s support for humanitarian crises in the region including in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.

I will then represent Australia at the United Nations Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar.

The Summit provides an important opportunity to advance Australia’s priorities such as human rights, gender equality, disability-inclusive development.

In all three countries, I will also meet with my respective counterparts to discuss how we can partner to support peace and stability in the region, and around the world.

Source: South Australia Police

Held at the SAPOL Academy, the event helped raise awareness of men’s health issues that impact emergency service workers and the community they help, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and men’s suicide.

SAPOL cadets, police, volunteers, and guests were onsite gaining vital information, sharing experiences, and participating in preparations for a momentous month of moustache growing.

Local barber, The Mad Barber shaved clean several faces, while others enjoyed a big barbecue by sponsor Police Credit Union, emergency service vehicles were on display, as well as the comical antics of emergency service mascots.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Linda Williams encouraged first responders across the state to get involved to help raise awareness of men’s health issues.

“Working in emergency services can be challenging, and Movember presents a great opportunity to talk about men’s health and to break down the barriers around the biggest health issues for men,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.

“Mental health is an especially important topic for police to speak openly about, and it’s encouraging to see such strong support for this year’s campaign.

“Please support this cause by giving generously and remember to check-in on your mates.”

Joining in on this morning’s festivities on the academy lawns were SAPOL the police horses, Encounter and Xennon, along with agency mascots ‘POCU’ from the Police Credit Union, ‘Smokey’ the Koala from CFS, ‘Deefa’ the Dog from the Australian Professional Firefighters Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Senior Sergeant First Class Robert Mowday expressed the importance of SAPOL hosting this year’s Great Emergency Services Shave Down.

“When we are involved in raising money, it always has an impact,” he said.

“One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

“Go out and get yourself checked.”

Throughout November, volunteers and staff from SAPOL, the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS), South Australian State Emergency Service (SES), South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), and the South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS), have once again joined a friendly competition to raise funds for the good cause.

Last year, SAPOL’s Movember team raised over $2,000. Donations for this year are open through the Movember website.

For more information on men’s health, fundraising ideas, and support visit, www.movember.com

Source: Mental Health Australia

Road users are advised of changed traffic conditions on the M7 Motorway in Horsley Park, Middleton Grange and Prestons on Friday 14 November and Friday 21 November 2025, between 9pm and 5am. If work cannot take place during this time, we will work at night on Friday 5 and Friday 12 December 2025. 

During this work, closures will only take place at one location at a time. Traffic will still be able to travel in the opposite direction during each closure.

Please see the table below for work locations and dates:

Location	Closure direction	Date
M7 Motorway between Cowpasture Road and The Horsley Drive	Northbound full closure	Friday 14 November
M7 Motorway between Camden Valley Way and Bernera Road	Northbound full closure	Friday 21 November

Vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in their permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

Please keep to the speed limits and follow the direction of traffic controllers and signs. Transport for NSW thanks road users for their patience during this time.

For the latest traffic updates across the network download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Almost 500 Victorians have put their hands up to join CFA between 3 and 29 October on the back of the Get Fire Ready initiative.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Mental Health Australia

Road users are advised of changed traffic conditions for site investigation on George Street and around the intersections of George Street with Thorley Street and Blacktown Road, South Windsor. 

We will work for up to five night shifts between Sunday 9 November and Thursday 27 November 2025, weather permitting. Working hours are 8pm to 5am, Sunday to Thursday. No work will occur on Friday or Saturday nights.

There will be temporary traffic changes while we complete this work. This includes lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h. Traffic control will be onsite to help road users through the work area. 

Please drive and ride to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers. 

Transport for NSW thanks road users for their patience while this work takes place.

For the latest traffic updates across the network download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

Source: Mental Health Australia

The M4 eastbound entry ramp from Mulgoa Road to the M4 travelling towards the city will be closed between 8pm and 5am on 10, 11 and 13 November. 

A detour will be in place via The Northern Road or use the M4 westbound entry ramp to travel to Russell Street and access the ramp to the M4 travelling towards the city. 

Night work along Mulgoa Road will include lane and road closures. 

Please observe speed limits, follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs, plan ahead and allow extra travel time. 

Traffic control will help road users and pedestrians through the work area if required.

For the latest traffic updates across the network download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.