Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Court Services Victoria Annual Report 2022–23 Released

Source: Government of Victoria 3

The Court Services Victoria Annual Report 2022–23 was released on Wednesday 1 November 2023.

Set against a backdrop of progress and change, the 2022–23 Court Services Victoria Annual Report outlines the work undertaken to support Victorian courts and tribunals.

In the opening message of the report, The Honourable Anne Ferguson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and Chair of the Courts Council said:

“Court Services Victoria continues to evolve, in part because of what we have learned in recent years about responding to changing circumstance and also because of our commitment to making positive changes for the future.”

Highlights of 2022–23 include:  

  • Opening of the new multi-jurisdictional Bendigo Law Courts and specialist Children’s Court in Dandenong; expansion works at the Sunshine Law Courts; and the development of Wyndham Law Courts; which all prioritise community focus and cultural safety
  • Release of our Koori Engagement and Consultation Framework, which will guide engagement with Koori stakeholders on programs and initiatives that impact Community
  • Implementation of key initiatives from our Gender Equality Action Plan, demonstrating our commitment to creating psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces
  • Delivery of future focused, people-centric technology and solutions, including digital wayfinding at Bendigo Law Courts, an online caseload dashboard and the first stage of the Case Management System Portal, which improve community access to justice.

Tabled in Parliament on Wednesday 1 November 2023, the Court Services Victoria Annual Report 2022–23 is available to download from this website.

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Changed traffic conditions on M31 Hume Motorway, between Raby and Menangle Park

Source: Mental Health Australia

Road users are advised of changed traffic conditions on the M31 Hume Motorway between St Andrews Road, Raby and Menangle Road, Menangle Park for road surface repairs.

Work will take place on up to 38-night shifts through to Tuesday 23 December 2025, weather permitting.

Work hours are from Sunday to Friday, between 8pm and 5am. There will be no work on Saturday nights.

OSOM vehicles wider than 3.5 metres will be required to pull into the layover area and wait. Vehicle operators will need to communicate via UHF channel 28.

There will be temporary traffic changes while we complete this work. This includes lane closures, and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h.

Please keep to the speed limits and follow the direction of Variable Message Signs (VMS), and traffic controllers.

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.

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Man to face court following family violence assault

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Last update: Tuesday, 21 October 2025 9:49am

Original publication: Tuesday, 21 October 2025 9:49am

A 54-year-old Florey man has been charged after allegedly assaulting and forcibly confining his partner last night following a card game.

About 8:30pm last night (Monday, 20 October 2025), the man, his partner and their son were playing card games when the man allegedly grabbed a wooden stool and cornered his partner in the kitchen area and spat at her.

A short time later police attended the residence and arrested the man.

He has been charged with two counts of aggravated common assault (FV) and forcible confinement. He is expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court today (21 October 2025).

ACT Policing stands ready to assist victims experiencing family violence.

If you are in this situation – when it is safe to do so – please contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or contact a support service who can assist with crisis support, safety planning and advice.

If you require assistance, you can contact:

  • Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
  • Police Assistance on 131 444 if it is a non-emergency, but you require police assistance.
  • The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides a 24-hour crisis line, advice, safety planning and information every day of the year and can be reached on 02 6280 0900.
  • The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre provides a 24-hour crisis line and can be contacted on 02 6247 2525
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Man charged with threatening to kill partner and other offences

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Last update: Saturday, 18 October 2025 10:24am

Original publication: Saturday, 18 October 2025 10:23am

A 33-year-old Richardson man will face court today, charged with multiple family violence offences allegedly committed over four years.

Between 2022 and 2025, police allege the man physically assaulted his partner, including while she was pregnant, strangled her, threatened to kill her, and breached a family violence order.

Police executed a search warrant at the man’s home yesterday morning (Friday 17 October) and located a knife and taser.

He was arrested and charged with five counts of common assault, two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, chokes/suffocates/strangles another person, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and contravening a family violence order. He is due to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday, 18 October 2025).

ACT Policing stands ready to assist victims experiencing family violence.

If you are in this situation – when it is safe to do so – please contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or contact a support service who can assist with crisis support, safety planning and advice.

If you require assistance, you can contact:

  • Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation.
  • Police Assistance on 131 444 if it is a non-emergency, but you require police assistance.
  • The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides a 24-hour crisis line, advice, safety planning and information every day of the year and can be reached on 02 6280 0900.
  • The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre provides a 24-hour crisis line and can be contacted on 02 6247 2525.
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Man charged following serious assault and forcible confinement

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Last update: Saturday, 18 October 2025 9:21am

Original publication: Saturday, 18 October 2025 9:21am

A 28-year-old man has been charged with seriously assaulting and forcibly confining a 78-year-old man at his home over three days.

Police allege the 28-year-old man arranged to stay with the 78-year-old man at his home in Bruce in early October, but between Wednesday and Friday (15-17 October 2025), he repeatedly assaulted the older man, including kicking and choking him.

About 8pm last night, the older man managed to leave the residence and seek medical attention.

The 28-year-old man, who had been arrested earlier that evening for unrelated offences, was charged at the ACT Watch House with three counts of intentionally inflict grievous bodily harm, forcible confinement and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He is due to face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday, 18 October 2025).

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Two drivers lose their licences after speeding

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Last update: Friday, 17 October 2025 2:08pm

Original publication: Friday, 17 October 2025 1:07pm

Two men have lost their licences after being caught speeding by more than 45km/h in separate incidents yesterday.

About 1:10pm (Thursday, 16 October 2025), police conducting patrols on William Hovell Drive in Whitlam detected a beige Volkswagen Passat travelling at 161 km/h in a signposted 90hm/h zone.

Police activated their emergency lights and sirens and pulled over the 20-year-old Evatt man, who was driving on an international driver’s licence.

In a separate incident, at 7:10pm last night, police observed a motorcycle travelling at 156km/h in a signposted 80km/h zone on Horse Park Drive in Kenny.

Police conducted a U-turn and stopped the 23-year-old Queensland man.

Both drivers were issued with immediate suspension notices, suspending their right to drive or ride in the ACT for a period of 180 days. They were also issued with a traffic infringement notice of $1841 and incurred six demerit points.

ACT Policing would like to remind motorists to give way to emergency vehicles that have activated their lights and sirens.

Police vehicles often need to conduct U-turns and oncoming traffic should stop to allow them to proceed.

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Teen charged after assaulting police officer

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Last update: Thursday, 16 October 2025 9:52am

Original publication: Thursday, 16 October 2025 9:52am

A 16-year-old girl will face the ACT Children’s Court today after allegedly assaulting a police officer in Woden yesterday.

About 4:15pm on Wednesday (15 October 2025), police attended a department store in Woden after receiving reports that a female was threatening a staff member with a knife.

A short time later police located the 16-year-old girl in a nearby car park and placed her under arrest.

The girl became aggressive, allegedly spitting in the face of an officer and making verbal threats.

Police searched two bags in the girl’s possession and located numerous stolen items. Officers also found a knife matching the description of the one used to threaten staff in the department store nearby.

The 16-year-old girl has been charged with aggravated robbery, assaulting a frontline community service provider and unlawful possession of stolen property.

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Doors open at new Pyalong Fire Station

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Members of Pyalong Fire Brigade have celebrated the official opening of their new, state-of-the-art, modern fire station with friends and family.

Brigade members gathered on Eades Way at the new station on Wednesday (22 October) alongside CFA dignitaries to mark the special occasion.  

The new station replaces their former base on Power Street and will support volunteers to train and prepare for emergencies and ensure the brigade can expand their response capabilities.   

Incorporating environmentally sustainable design principles, the new station features two motor bays, an external shed, gender neutral toilets, and car parking.  

CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer District 12 Stephen Keating said he was pleased to see the Pyalong Fire Brigade receive an upgrade to their facilities.  

“This new station really future proofs the brigade, and will better accommodate their needs, offering a larger and more modern fit-for-purpose design” Stephen said.  

“It ensures the volunteers can continue to provide the best possible protection to their community as well as those that surround them. 

“The station plays a pivotal role in ensuring CFA’s ongoing commitment to build the best facilities for our volunteers.” 

The brigade can now benefit from operational support areas such as a breathing apparatus maintenance room, separate turn-out spaces for men and women, a communications alcove, and a workshop.  

There is also ample office and storage space with the addition of a new brigade office, multipurpose room, kitchen, chair storeroom, and additional storeroom.      

Designed with sustainability in mind, the station also incorporates an onsite wastewater treatment system and an onsite stormwater detention system.  

Pyalong brigade not only services the town of Pyalong, but their response area also includes the busy Northern Highway and they support the surrounding brigades of Glenaroua, Nulla Vale and Tooborac. 

The brigade has 81 members with 24 operational members.

Submitted by CFA Media
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Changed traffic conditions at Cattai Road, Buckingham Street, Bathurst Street and Glebe Road, Pitt Town

Source: New South Wales Transport

Road users are advised of changed traffic conditions in Pitt Town. 

Traffic barriers are in place with reduced speed limits of 40km/hr on sections of Cattai Road, Buckingham Street, Bathurst Street and Glebe Road.

These changes are necessary as main construction work continues on the Pitt Town bypass project.

Traffic controls are in place day and night. Our work hours will be from 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 1pm Saturdays.  

There will be temporary traffic changes to make sure the work zone is safe including lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/hr. Please drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers. 

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

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Lower speed limits for safer trips on Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road

Source: New South Wales Transport

The speed limit on sections of Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road in the state’s mid-west will be reduced to deliver safer trips for all road users.

Transport for NSW conducted a speed zone review on the 77-kilometre route between Capertee and Rylstone following requests from members of the public who were concerned about the number of crashes on Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road.

Transport also carried out a separate review of speed limits on Glen Davis Road from Glen Alice Road to Glen Davis village.

Transport for NSW Acting Executive Director Partnerships and Integration West Holly Davies said the reviews assessed a number of factors including location, crash history, road environment, the number of access points, road usage, traffic mix and traffic volumes, and recommended the introduction of a number of lower speed limits.

“Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road are local roads managed by Lithgow City Council and Mid-Western Regional Council that link Capertee and Rylstone via Glen Alice village,” Ms Davies said.

“Both roads are winding and undulating with many high-risk curves, yet the speed limit on both roads is 100 km/h.

“There are 76 regularly-used accesses along the 77-kilometre review area, including 16 accesses to public roads.

“Glen Davis Road, as it runs through Glen Davis village, is a local road managed by Lithgow City Council with eight regularly-used accesses along the five-kilometre review area between Glen Davis village and the intersection with Glen Alice Road.”

Ms Davies said a crash history of the roads showed there had been 15 reported crashes in a five-year period from 2019 on Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road, including three fatal crashes and five serious injury crashes, and one serious injury crash reported in Glen Davis village.

“The reviews recommended reduced speed limits on both Glen Davis Road and Glen Alice Road to improve overall safety for all road users,” Ms Davies said.

“The reviews also recommended reducing the existing 100 km/h speed limit on Glen Davis Road between the intersection with Glen Alice Road and Glen Davis village to 80 km/h.

“Lithgow City Council, Mid-Western Regional Council and local police have been consulted and all support the recommended changes.”

As a result of the speed zone reviews, the following changes will come into effect from Thursday 23 October:

  • The 100 km/h speed zone on Glen Davis Road between Capertee and Glen Davis village will be reduced to 80 km/h, a length of 34 kilometres
  • The 100 km/h speed zone on Glen Alice Road between Glen Davis Road and Rylstone (excluding Glen Alice village) will be reduced to 80 km/h, a length of 47 kilometres
  • The speed zone in Glen Alice village will be reduced to 60 km/h on 800 metres of Rylstone Street and 390 metres of Jamison Street and Upper Nile Road
  • The 80 km/h truck and bus speed limit on Glen Alice Road will be removed as the speed limit will be 80 km/h for all vehicles.

New signage will be installed to advise motorists of the changes.

Members of the community can sign up here to receive the latest updates on speed limit changes in their nominated area, to propose a speed zone review in their area, and to have their say on speed limits.