Source: New South Wales – News
Police are at the scene of a serious crash in Cudlee Creek.
Just after 2.40pm today (Saturday 18 October), police and emergency services were called to Gorge Road after reports of a crash involving a car and motorcyclist.
Major Crash officers are attending the scene.
Road closures are in place.
Please avoid the area if possible.
Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority
Education Ministers have agreed to a new national plan to address bullying in Australian Schools as recommended by the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review.
The Federal Government will back the plan agreed by Education Ministers on Friday with up to $10 million investment to get the work we have to do started.
The investment supports two of the main recommendations of the Review:
The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review examined current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.
One of the key recommendations is the need for timely and clear action when a complaint or incident takes place. The Review recommended schools should respond within two school days to a complaint or incident.
The Review received over 1,700 submissions from parents, students, teachers and staff, with the majority of submissions being from parents.
The submissions have informed the recommendations and help ensure they are grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences.
The Report highlights we need to:
The plan builds on the success of a national mobile phone ban which has improved learning outcomes in schools.
The Government’s social media ban for Under 16s will also come into effect from 10 December, which will help to reduce online bullying.
This is just the start and the hard work is ahead of us to make our schools safe and protect children.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“Bullying is cruel and it’s dangerous.
“It doesn’t just leave physical scars, it leaves invisible scars that can last a lifetime.
“That’s why we’ve taken action with this national plan to address bullying.
“A lot of parents told us it was taking too long for some schools to act on bullying complaints.
“The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review recommends that schools should respond within two school days to a complaint or incident.
“If we’re going to properly tackle bullying, we need to nip it in the bud and to act early.
“And we need to make sure teachers have the right tools and training so they know how to act and what to do.
“This is just the start and the hard work is ahead of us to make our schools safe and protect children.”
Source: New South Wales – News
Police are investigating a suspicious business fire at Mile End this morning.
Emergency services were called to a shop on Henley Beach Road about 11.30am today (Saturday 18 October) by reports that three men of Asian appearance entered the store and started a fire, possibly using a Molotov cocktail.
MFS were quickly in attendance with the fire causing damage to the business.
The business was open at the time with several people inside suffering non life-threatening injuries.
Police were later called to a house in Blenheim Street at Angle Park after reports that a man had suffered burns in a barbecue fire.
Upon further investigation, police found that the man may have been involved in the Mile End fire.
He was taken to hospital for treatment of serious but non life-threatening injuries.
Police are investigating if this incident is related to Operation Eclipse.
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in either area is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
268819
Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority
The Australian Government and every State and Territory have now signed up to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, which we finalised this year.
The $16.5 billion is the biggest new investment in public schools by the Australian Government ever and is tied to real practical reforms.
Yesterday Education Ministers agreed to the next steps in school education reform.
They include work to:
Australian Teaching and Learning Commission
Ministers agreed in principle to establish a new Australian Teaching and Learning Commission.
The Commission would bring under one roof:
The Commission would allow for greater co-ordination between curriculum, teaching, assessment, research, and reporting, with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
A Working Group will provide advice to Ministers in February on the potential detailed design of the Commission.
Ministers made clear that this will involve consultation with teachers, school leaders and school staff, First Nations people and unions.
Maths Curriculum
Education Ministers agreed to start work on curriculum reform beginning with maths.
On the advice of ACARA, Education Ministers have initiated a targeted review of the maths curriculum in the first three years of school (F-2). These first three years of maths are critical.
This maths curriculum review has been prioritised because:
This is the first targeted review of the curriculum Education Ministers have agreed to as part of a ten-year curriculum review cycle.
This is keyhole surgery to improve the parts of the curriculum that need it most.
These curriculum reforms are about making sure we can prioritise key parts of the curriculum while responding to the feedback teachers have given about workload.
National Teacher Standards Reform
Ministers asked the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to scope a review of Teacher Standards. This was a recommendation of the recent Teacher Workforce Roundtable.
The Teacher Standards have not been updated since they were adopted 15 years ago.
AITSL will present a proposal to Education Ministers in February.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“This is the next big step in school reform.
“A basic grasp of maths is critical.
“The evidence is really clear. If you get maths, it helps to set you up for success. It’s critical for life and work.
“Maths helps us make better decisions and boosts productivity.
“And it’s really important that you get the basics early.
“If you don’t get the basics right at the start, you can’t build on it.
“The first three years of school are crucial for reading and maths. Every moment counts.
“How maths is taught is really important. It is cumulative. You learn it step by step.
“A number of principals and teachers have told us the current maths curriculum is too complex.
“Others have told us teachers need more support to implement the curriculum, with clear advice on what to teach in what order.
“That’s why we’re bringing forward work on the current maths curriculum for the start of school and creating better materials to help teachers.
“This is just one of the things we need to do.
“Explicit teaching is important and States are starting to roll that out.
“We have also got to identify really early the children who are falling behind and need more help.
“That’s what the Year 1 Numeracy Check is all about, and it starts to roll out next year.
“We have also got to provide children who fall behind with more help. That’s why we are funding catch up tutoring.
“It’s time we took a look at the Teacher Standards too.
“We need standards that reflect what’s going on in the classroom today, that back in teachers and support great teaching.”
Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority
The Australian Government will implement a new set of University Governance Principles to strengthen accountability, transparency and public trust in Australian universities.
The Principles respond to serious concerns about the standards of university governance. They will be written into Commonwealth regulation through the Threshold Standards.
Universities will be required to report annually on compliance with the Principles on an ‘if not, why not’ basis to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
The Principles were drafted by the Expert Council on University Governance, which included Chair Melinda Cilento, Sharan Burrow AC and Bruce Cowley.
The Australian Government, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal, states and territories, and stakeholders including the Universities Chancellors Council, will establish a remuneration framework for Vice-Chancellor remuneration.
University governing bodies will also be required to publish:
Skills matrices of universities will be reviewed to ensure they include members with higher education sector expertise and student and staff voices.
Australian universities receive over $22 billion in public funding each year and play a central role in Australia’s civic, economic and social life through education and research.
With this public investment and their public role, universities should exhibit high standards of governance but too many are falling short.
These Principles establish a clear governance framework for universities, similar to the ASX Corporate Governance Principles for listed companies.
The Principles set strong expectations across eight key themes:
TEQSA will be able to take compliance action against universities that repeatedly fail to meet the Principles.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“If you don’t think there are challenges in university governance, you’ve been living under a rock.
“These are important reforms that help make sure our universities meet the standards their students, staff and whole communities expect.”
Quotes attributable to Expert Council on University Governance Chair Melinda Cilento:
“I strongly support the Principles and the ‘if not, why not’ approach to their implementation as the best way to sustainably uplift governance given the diversity of the sector and the rapidly evolving environment in which universities operate.
“I hope that universities and their leadership genuinely, proactively and transparently adopt the Principles, communicate their priorities and outline how they are proposing to respond to the issues raised through our work.
“Greater transparency and reporting, coupled with open and positive stakeholder engagement should accelerate support for and confidence in the Principles and contribute positively to university governance.
“I think this is important not just for the effectiveness of the Principles but more broadly in terms of improving trust in the sector and its leadership.
“I would encourage all stakeholders to use the Principles as the basis to address and advance governance issues important to them.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Seatbelt infringements will be issued from Monday, 3 November 2025.
From 3 November 2025, ACT traffic cameras will detect and issue infringements for:
Existing traffic detection devices – also known as mobile device detection cameras – will enforce these seatbelt offences.
This will play a vital role in ensuring motorists comply with seatbelt laws.
Drivers will receive infringements if anyone in the vehicle is detected committing a seatbelt offence. This includes all passengers.
Infringements will be issued from Monday, 3 November 2025.
Seatbelts are one of the simplest, most effective ways to prevent serious injury or death in a crash.
Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chance of surviving a serious accident. It takes just seconds but can save your life.
If you have a medical exemption from wearing a seatbelt and receive a fine, you can submit documentation directly to Access Canberra.
This enforcement is part of the ACT Government’s commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our road transport network as part of its commitment to Vision Zero.
It complements other camera programs that target:
More information about road safety initiatives can be found on the ACT City Services or Access Canberra websites.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 17/10/2025
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Yvette Berry has today announced the appointment of an Expert Panel to provide independent advice on ACT public school resourcing.
“I look forward to receiving the Expert Panel’s advice on how we make best use of funding across the public school system to ensure our children and young people are receiving a quality education,” Minister Berry said.
“The ACT Public School System Resourcing Review will give recommendations about how to most effectively and efficiently use provided school funding. In addition, the Expert Panel will explore the best model of central support services for schools given our small jurisdiction of soon-to-be 93 schools.”
ACT public schools funding is currently informed by the national Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) based on student enrolments. Our jurisdiction continues to be the only jurisdiction to fund our public schools not just up to, but above, the national School Resourcing Standard.
The review will help us understand how we can achieve equitable resourcing across the ACT public school system to make sure all students are well supported,” Minister Berry said.
“The Government recognises our schools are catering for increasingly diverse cohorts of students with complex needs. Delivering a great education requires a well-resourced system with the right supports for all our students, families and staff.”
Budget planning work carried out with schools in term 3 will help inform this work.
The members of the System Resourcing Review are:
Professor Ken Smith AO (Chair)
A senior public service leader with more than 40 years’ experience, including serving as head Queensland’s Department of Education and as CEO and Dean of ANZSOG. Current Professor of Practice at QUT.
Julie Sonnemann
Economist and former Deputy Program Director and School Education Fellow at the Grattan Institute and Lead Education Policy Expert at Impact Economics & Policy.
Associate Professor Anna Hogan
Former secondary school teacher and now ARC research fellow at QUT’s School of Education, with research interests in education policy and practice. Lead editor of the Journal of Education Policy and an Associate Editor of the Australian Educational Researcher.
Hayley McQuire
Proud Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman, she is a co-founder and CEO of the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition. Hayley is co-chair of Learning Creates Australia, an independent non-profit dedicated to removing structural barriers that compound education inequality.
Dr Bill Maiden PSM OAM
Retired public school principal, former deputy chair of the ACT Non-Government Schools Education Council and former chair of the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Board and Adjunct Professor of Education at University of Canberra.
The Expert Panel will engage with stakeholders through an advisory group comprising representatives from unions, ACT Parents, ACT Principals Association, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Association of School Business Managers ACT and ACT Government directorates.
The Expert Panel’s report and the Government’s response will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly by May 2026.
The Terms of Reference and more information about the Expert Panel’s members can be found at: https://www.act.gov.au/directorates-and-agencies/education-directorate.
– Statement ends –
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 17/10/2025
The ACT Government has today opened the Tidbinbilla Mindjagari Track network, adding 14km of trails to the Tidbinbilla Range between Fishing Gap and Johns Peak.
The new track was designed to improve fire management and emergency response in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve while also providing a challenging and rewarding experience for experienced bushwalkers.
Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne said while the track is challenging to complete, it comes with a reward of some of the best views in the Territory.
“This exciting new hiking track is one of the most difficult tracks in the ACT. It is not for the faint hearted, but experienced hikers who brave the journey will be awed by the landscape,” Minister Cheyne said.
“It also provides improved access for our firefighting teams, improving our ability to respond to bushfires in this remote area.
“Mindjagari means ‘sky, the clouds appear’ in Ngunnawal language. This name was chosen as the steep slopes of this trail will lead you high on top of the Tidbinbilla ridgeline. From these heights you can experience incredible views of the Brindabellas and Kosciusko National Park that few people have ever seen for themselves.
“This new track showcases the government’s commitment to improving visitor experience throughout our parks and reserves. We’re actively restoring, upgrading and building new walking trails across the Territory. From the recently revitalised Yankee Hat Rock Art site track to the upcoming upgrades to Woods Reserve, we’re investing in the places Canberrans love so they remain accessible, protected and ready to be enjoyed for many more years.
“There’s so much to see and do in our parks and reserves, and I encourage anyone to get outdoors this spring and summer to see what’s around you.”
The Mindjagari track is a grade 5 level and one of the most difficult networks of trails in the ACT region. It is in a remote location and is extremely difficult to trek with steep slopes of up to 30 degrees. Only experienced bushwalkers with expert navigational and emergency first aid skills should consider attempting the track.
The new trails link key access routes used by firefighting and land management teams, and connect with existing trails to provide a range of hiking options for visitors, ranging from 9km to a full 27km loop.
Tidbinbilla is home to many threatened or endangered native species that rely on these habitats to thrive. Visitors should stick closely to the trail and be careful not to disturb the local flora and fauna.
For anyone new to hiking or still developing their fitness skills, there is plenty of lower grade walking tracks throughout Tidbinbilla and the ACT to explore.
The Mindjagari Track was funded with the assistance of the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund.
For more information on walking tracks in Tidbinbilla and how to prepare for each grade of walking track at Tidbinbilla, visit the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve website.
– Statement ends –
Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Jim Sciutto:
I sat down with Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier and asked him how the trade war was affecting his country’s economy.
Jim Chalmers:
Australia’s interests are best served by more trade, not more trade barriers. We’ve made that clear. We see tariffs as ultimately self‑defeating. Australians are by nature and by history, by inclination, very pro‑trade. We’ve got a lot to gain from free and open and fair markets for our goods and services.
We’ve done a lot of economic modelling following Liberation Day here in the US on the effect on Australia. We’ve actually got the lowest tariff rate of any country in the world, 10 per cent in the general sphere. And our exposure to the American market is not the biggest part of our trade offering. We’re faring relatively well. But our concerns are about the broader system and as a middle‑sized, trade‑exposed country, we want to see those markets free and open and fair as much as they can be.
Sciutto:
You’ve said before just how the whole system effectively has been transformed in such a short period of time. What does that do to Australia’s relationship with the US? You’re close allies, both in terms of trade, but also national security.
Chalmers:
This is really the fourth big economic shock in the last decade and a half. You know, we’ve sort of become accustomed to going from economic shock to economic shock in that period. Australia has fared relatively well in the context of those economic shocks.
Now, when it comes to the relationship with the United States, this is a relationship of mutual economic benefit, but in security terms as well. We’re very close with the Americans and we work through the issues as they arise. Our Prime Minister will be here meeting with President Trump next week in Washington, D.C. and we deal with all of the uncertainty in the world by working very closely with our partners. And that’ll be the case for the US as well.
Sciutto:
Given that rare earths and specifically China’s restrictions on rare earths exports have become a central front in the US–China trade war. Is there a path forward for Australia to fill some of that gap, perhaps?
Chalmers:
Critical minerals are an enormous opportunity for Australia. We’ve got so much to offer the world when it comes to critical minerals and rare earths. And that relies on there being markets which are reliable and robust for our critical minerals. And so, we will work with our partners around the world, including here in the United States, to make sure that we maximise that opportunity for Australia, that we become a reliable supplier of critical minerals into robust markets.
Now, I think anyone here would understand that the markets for critical minerals have from time to time been distorted, which is the point that the Americans have made. We will work closely with the Americans and with anyone who has an interest in our critical minerals, and in most of all those markets for our critical minerals being the right kind of markets.
Sciutto:
Australia’s relationship with China has been through some tough periods, followed by brief periods of détente almost, and then followed by more rough periods. Where does it stand today? And do you see a path forward, or is the new normal a less friendly trading relationship between the 2?
Chalmers:
Australia’s economic relationship with China is full of opportunity, but not short of complexity. It’s a complex relationship and we’re very proud to be able to say that over the course of the last 3 years or so in office, we have been able to stabilise the relationship with China. We’ve seen the removal of tens of billions of dollars worth of trade restrictions, for example, and that’s good for our workers and our businesses and our investors back home. But we understand that that’s a relationship that requires ongoing attention. There is a lot of complexity in that relationship, but it’s a very important one for Australia. It warrants and receives a lot of our time and attention for that reason.
Sciutto:
Is it going to get better over time? I mean, this is a fundamental question for my own country as well, right. I mean, can they reach some sort of truce or is confrontation the new normal?
Chalmers:
Clearly the relationship between the US and China, the tensions have escalated this week because of developments in the trade sphere. And so, the whole world is watching that very carefully. And obviously, Australia is very exposed to the Chinese market, very close to the Americans. For us, that’s something we monitor very closely. But our own relationship with China is better now than it was 3 years ago. There are still issues at play there, there are still areas that we disagree. But overwhelmingly, the economic relationship is a positive one for us, and we’ll continue to tend to it in that light.
Sciutto:
On an issue that is to some degree both a trade and a national security issue, and that is the AUKUS agreement. As you know, the Trump Administration is reviewing that agreement. Do you believe it will survive?
Chalmers:
We haven’t had any indications to the contrary, but we respect the process that the Americans are going through. It’s not unusual for new or newish administrations to review those kinds of arrangements. We saw it in the UK as well, and we’re seeing it in the US now. We’re respectful about that process. We’re not pre‑empting the outcomes of it, but what we are really confident about is we are really confident that the AUKUS agreement is in the national interest of all 3 participants in the AUKUS arrangements.
For Australia, it’s a very big industrial opportunity, as well as it is for the other 2 countries. We’ll wait and see what the review says. But confident it’s in everybody’s interests. And from an Australian point of view, we’re looking forward to moving ahead.
Sciutto:
It might be trade that wins the day, given that’s central to so much of Donald Trump’s decision making.
Finally, before we go, Australia just announced a new tax agreement with Ukraine. Part of the path, I imagine, going forward to help Ukraine to be able to recover economically – to rebuild whenever this war, you know, hopefully comes to an end. What role does Australia hope to play?
Chalmers:
I had another good conversation with my counterpart, Sergii Marchenko – Minister Marchenko from Ukraine. I was able to convey to him Australia’s support for the extraordinary bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of this Russian aggression. But also, the tax treaty, our efforts with the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. We are ready and willing and able to play a helpful role in the reconstruction of Ukraine whenever that is necessary.
But for the time being, the war continues and the Ukrainian people are under extraordinary pressure. And so, we are big supporters, militarily and with this tax treaty that that we signed today. We are also big supporters economically of what needs to happen in Ukraine to rebuild, to do justice to the sacrifices that the Ukrainian people have made.
Sciutto:
No question, continue to make. Jim Chalmers, thanks so much for joining us.
Chalmers:
Thanks so much.
Sciutto:
Appreciate it.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested 16 youths as part of an operation addressing property-related crime in Katherine.
Between Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 October 2025, Katherine Police and partner agencies conducted an operation targeting reports of property offending in the CBD area.
Katherine Police Social Order teams, along with Circuit Breaker and Kalano Community Association, maintained a high-profile presence across the three days, engaging with more than 38 youths, many of whom were reconnected with family or responsible adults, while conducting patrols.
Strike Force Cerberus, investigated several recent burglaries, stolen motor vehicles, breach of bail and associated offences, resulting in 16 youths being arrested and charged with a total of 40 offences, including:
Acting Sergeant Rebekah Styles said, “This operation forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce property crime and enhance community safety in the region.
“Police continue to work closely with the community to identify and apprehend those responsible for offending behaviour.
“When people commit property offences, they undermine the sense of safety for Katherine residents, create unnecessary financial strain for local businesses, and negatively impact the community.
“If you choose to engage in this behaviour, Strike Force Cerberus will be knocking on your door.”