Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 23-year-old male after he assaulted a worker at a business in Alice Springs yesterday.

Around 12:05pm, it is alleged the offender assaulted a 24-year-old male staff member with a wheel spanner at a business on Railway Terrace. The offender had been refused service before he retrieved the spanner from his car, returned to the store and assaulted the victim.

The victim suffered injuries to his head and torso, and was conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital by St John Ambulance for assessment.

Members from Strike Force Viper and general duties responded, and at 12:25pm the offender was located and arrested.

He has since been charged with Assault worker and Going armed in public, and was remanded to appear in Alice Springs local court today.

Police continue to urge anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour to contact police on 131 444. In an emergency dial 000. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

SALLY SARA, HOST: Legislation aimed at stripping funding from child care centres that fail to meet minimum standards will be introduced to the Federal Parliament today here in Canberra. Child care safety has been pushed to the top of the agenda following a string of shocking allegations of child abuse. In the latest development, lawyers for former child care worker Joshua Dale Brown have told a Melbourne court yesterday they expect the alleged child abuser will be hit with further charges on top of the more than 70 he already faces. Jess Walsh is the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Senator for Victoria. She joined me a short time ago.

SENATOR DR JESS WALSH, MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND MINISTER FOR YOUTH: Thanks for having me, Sally.

SARA: Tell me about this legislation that’s going to be introduced today. What’s in it exactly?

WALSH: We’re introducing tough new legislation today, Sally. I think people have been hearing a lot about the safety issues facing children and their families in early childhood education, and this legislation will give us a tough new lever to make sure that children are kept safe in our early learning settings. What it will allow us to do for the first time is withdraw Commonwealth funding from those providers who fail to put child safety ahead of profits.

SARA: And so, what is the threshold there, what sort of incident or systemic incidents would need to happen in a child care centre for the Government to withhold funding?

WALSH: Yes, we are looking at serious repeat offenders here when it comes to breaching our National Quality Standard when it comes to serious incidents and when it comes to complaints. So, services and providers who are failing to meet the standards that children need and the families, that families expect, they’re the services and providers that we’re looking at with this legislation.

SARA: To be clear, are we talking about centres failing to meet expectations or will funding only be withheld if there’s been an actual incident there?

WALSH: So the legislation gives us the ability to put all of that information and for the secretary of my department to make a decision to identify those repeat offenders, those providers, those services that persistently and consistently fail to meet standards and fail to keep our children safe. From there, there are a number of steps that the legislation gives us. We can start by issuing a show-cause notice as to why that provider, that service, should maintain their Commonwealth funding through the Child Care Subsidy. And we can make that show-cause notice public. We think that is a really strong step that will drive change. At that point, we think that those providers who are doing the wrong thing regularly will make the investments that they need to keep our children safe.

SARA: Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that transparency for families who are trying to make decisions about the safety of their infants, of their kids, in the middle of all of this. What kind of information will be available so that parents can make an informed decision?

WALSH: Yeah, that’s right, Sally, and I do want to reassure families that the vast majority of early childhood and education providers are meeting and exceeding our National Quality Standard, over 90 per cent. We are talking here about a minority of repeat offenders, a real minority of providers here. If families are in the services of those repeat offenders, they will be notified when we issue show-cause notices.

SARA: What about the public generally? If I’ve got a child and I’m looking at that centre, will I know that something’s happened there?

WALSH: Yes, those notices will be public. But you’re also raising a bigger issue there, Sally, about the next tranche of work that is underway as well, which is the child safety package that we’re putting together with education ministers who are meeting in just a couple of weeks’ time. So there are measures beyond this legislation as well. When education ministers come together, we want to announce the first-ever nationwide register of early childhood educators. We want to do work on mandatory child safe training, and we also want to provide much more transparent information to parents, so they know what the quality is and whether there are any issues in the services that they’re thinking about or currently sending their children to.

SARA: So, at the moment, can parents see the quality assessments of child care centres?

WALSH: Yes. What they can see is the national quality rating. They can see that.

SARA: Can you see the reports of inspections?

WALSH: You can’t see at the moment, Sally, compliance issues that may have been taken against your provider. And we think that families have the right to know if there are issues in their services. That’s one of the big pieces of work that we’re doing with the states and territories. And I do want to say, Sally, we’re working shoulder to shoulder with the states and territories on what we see as being a really strong and significant package to bring forward on quality and safety in early learning.

SARA: So, we’re talking, I guess, with an assumption here that with information, parents can make an informed choice or decision, but in plenty of parts of the country, particularly in regional areas, there is no other centre. Is this part of the problem – the demand exceeds the supply of child care? What do parents do if there are concerns about their only centre?

WALSH: So, if we get this right, Sally, this is going to drive more investment in quality, safe early learning. We are giving ourselves a big stick to wield here in being able to stop providers from opening more services, and indeed to be able to shut down existing services. We don’t expect that it will get to that because we expect, as soon as those providers get those show cause notices, that they will make the investment that children and families need to provide that quality and safe early learning.

SARA: Is there a concern, though, that investors and companies might not want to come into this sector, given there’s going to be more regulation and compliance costs money for child care operators?

WALSH: Well, there needs to be more regulation, Sally. I think we’ve been really open that the current sector settings are not strong enough to keep children safe. We’ve seen that in the really distressing reports that we’ve had. That’s why strong action is needed. And there are really two sets of actions we’re taking. One is the legislation that we’re introducing this week into the Parliament today, and that will allow us to withdraw Commonwealth funding from those providers who don’t do the right thing. And the second part of the action is the big package of reforms we’re working on with the states and territories.

SARA: Labor’s already had control in the previous term of government, three years – why weren’t these measures put in place during the previous term?

WALSH: I think we’ve been really open, Sally, that more needed to be done over a period of time.

SARA: Did the Government fall short in your view?

WALSH: I think we’ve been open that more needed to be done, and we’ve had recommendations for many years, almost a decade, that have sat there, and we are expediting those recommendations. One of the recommendations that’s been there for a while is that we do need to know where our early childhood educators are actually working. That’s why we want to develop the first-ever nationwide register of early childhood educators.

SARA: When will that come into effect?

WALSH: So, we’re having our next meeting, a stand-alone meeting, an urgent meeting of education ministers from around the country. We’ll have more to say about that then. What we’re working towards is getting agreement that all states and territories will participate in that nationwide register. We do need information about where our educators are working. We do need to know whether there are red flags that are being raised.

SARA: But just to bring you back to the question, when will that be in place?

WALSH: So, Sally, we have a meeting in just a couple of weeks’ time. We are working really hard on that register. We’ll have –

SARA: By the end of the year, do you think?

WALSH: We’ll have more to say on that, Sally, in a couple of weeks.  It is an absolutely urgent item that we are all working on.

SARA: Jess Walsh, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Senator for Victoria, thank you very much for your time this morning.

WALSH: Thanks, Sally.
 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The NT Police Force are calling for information in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in the Daly River Region on Tuesday morning.

Around 8am, police received reports that an 84-year-old male had been assaulted and had his vehicle stolen approximately 1 kilometre from the Woolianna Road and Daly River Road intersection.

It is alleged that a group of four youths threw rocks at an 84-year-old and his vehicle after her refused to give them a lift.

The victim exited his Toyota Hilux, and one male youth entered the vehicle and attempted to drive away from the location, but the vehicle stalled. At this time the victim attempted to remove the keys from the Hilux; however, the group allegedly began assaulting him before stealing the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

Daly River Police attended, and the 84-year-old male was transported to the Daly River Clinic for assessment with minor injuries.

The vehicle and the alleged offenders remain outstanding, and investigations are ongoing.

Police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444, quoting reference number NTP2500073955. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source:

Around 50 young women from across the state recently took part in the ‘Girls on Fire’ program at CFA’s training ground at Bangholme, aimed at engaging more women in the emergency services sector.

The program offers women aged 14 to 19 the opportunity to participate in an action-packed day of interactive fire and emergency service simulations.

Guided by experienced emergency personnel, participants build confidence and leadership skills in a safe, inclusive space, by trying new things, and discovering how they can support their communities during a crisis.

Over the course of the action-packed day, CFA ran the teens through the Breathing Apparatus and Thermal Imaging Cameras used for search and rescue, along with live fire demonstrations on the gas pad.

Participants also explored radio communications using the Edithvale Mobile Command Vehicle and its crew, giving them deeper insight into CFA operations.

The event brought together representatives from CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria State Emergency Service, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, and Emergency Management Victoria to support the activities.

Shandelle Ross, a volunteer with Keysborough Fire Brigade and one of the trained CFA mentors, said the event was an incredible opportunity for the participants.

“CFA is grateful for the chance to be part of a program that uplifts young girls from across Victoria,” she said.

“To see the smiles on their faces as they tried new things was heartwarming, and we hope to see them return as the next generation of emergency service volunteers and workers.”

CFA was invited by Girls on Fire to deliver fire-based activities for the day, coordinated by Southeast Region Volunteer Sustainability Team member Olivia Duffy and District 8 Brigade Administration Support Officer Megan Angel, with support from volunteers across the district.

Submitted by	CFA media

Source:

23 July 2025

Researchers at the University of South Australia are calling for a major shift in how cities manage tree root intrusions into household sewer systems that cost millions of dollars in repair bills each year.

A new study by UniSA’s Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM) team reveals that current maintenance strategies are falling short, resulting in repeated pipe blockages, environmental contamination, and mounting damage bills.

Instead, the engineering researchers propose a smarter, preventative approach using predictive analytics to identify high-risk areas before damage occurs.

In a new paper published in Sustainability, the UniSA team reviewed global literature and maintenance practices, concluding that removing tree roots using mechanical and chemical measures is not the best solution. Roots can grow back, and the damage is costly to fix.

In Adelaide alone, SA Water reported more than 30,000 cases of tree root intrusion in 2020, accounting for nearly 60% of all sewer failures. Each year, the utility spends approximately $5 million on repair works and maintenance caused by blocked sewer pipes.

Tree root intrusions are a global headache, costing countries millions of dollars each year. Worldwide, remediation options include mechanical and chemical techniques to clear pipe systems and control root growth, as well as proactive approaches such as planting trees well clear of pipes.

But the traditional responses are only temporary fixes, according to UniSA Water Science and Engineering Professor Chris Chow, a senior author on the paper.

“Tree roots are the most common cause of pipe failures in many cities around the world,” Prof Chow says.

“The challenge is that cutting roots or applying chemicals are not permanent solutions. The chemicals can contaminate the soil, and the roots often grow back more aggressively.”

Instead, his team is advocating for a predictive approach, analysing key risk factors – such as pipe age, material, diameter, soil type, tree species and climate conditions – so that water utilities can model where tree root problems are most likely to occur.

“It’s essentially an early warning system,” says lead author Oliver Yang, a Master of Research graduate at UniSA.

“We can map out high-risk zones and guide smarter planting choices, better pipe materials and targeted maintenance,” Yang says.

While predictive models already exist for pipe failures based on material or age, few incorporate environmental or vegetation factors. This gap is significant, the researchers say, given the complex interactions between roots, soil, moisture and infrastructure.

Fast growing species such as eucalyptus, poplars, willows, jacarandas and desert ash are particularly aggressive, with root systems that can spread many metres in search of water – especially in dry or compacted soils.

Trees such as hackberry, varnish or lacquer species, brush box, willow myrtle and kurrajong trees are less intrusive and better choices for street planting.

“Globally, cities are spending millions each year fixing the same problems over and over,” says Yang. “With the right data and modelling, we can address this, saving money, protecting infrastructure and still enjoying the benefits of urban greenery.”

The researchers are calling for more region-specific studies and the development of locally-calibrated predictive tools that incorporate tree, pipe, soil and environmental factors.

‘Review of Root Intrusions by Street Trees and Utilising Predictive Analytics to Improve Water Utility Maintenance Strategies’ is published in Sustainability. DOI: 10.3390/su17125263

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Researcher contact: Oliver Yang M: +61 401 857 790 E: chizhengping.yang@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

3 steps to secure

We encourage you to be proactive and secure your ATO online services access (through myGov) to protect against fraud. Read the following steps to check you have the strongest security possible for your circumstances.

Step 1: make your myID as strong as possible

We recommend using myID, the Australian Government’s Digital ID app, as your sign in option to access ATO online services (through myGov).

myID requires you to verify your ID in the app making it harder for fraudsters to impersonate you.

Download the myID app from the App Store or Google Play. Set up your myID to a Strong or Standard identity strengthExternal Link. For the highest security, set up your myID to Strong if you can.

 

Step 2: use your myID to access or link to ATO online services

Using your myID to link to or access ATO online services through myGov:

• helps protect you from fraudsters trying to impersonate you or access your account
• gives you a flexible sign in option – your myID isn’t locked to a specific mobile number or device, and can be set up again using only an internet connection if you get a new phone
• sets your ‘online access strength’ – this means you must always use your myID to access ATO online services through myGov because it’s the most secure access method.

If you’re already linked to ATO online services, use your myID to sign in to myGovExternal Link and access ATO online services to secure your account.

If you don’t have a myGov account or aren’t linked to ATO online services, find out how to get started. To secure your access, use your myID to create or sign in to your myGov account and then link to the ATO.

Step 3: get the ATO app and allow push notifications

The ATO app is a simple and easy way you can access and manage your tax and super on the go. The ATO app is free to download and use.

The ATO app’s year-round security benefits include:

• real time security messages alerting you when key changes are made to your ATO account
• the ability to lock your account to help keep you safe.

Even if you don’t use the app to manage your tax, it provides an additional level of security.

Download the ATO app from the App Store or Google Play. Once installed, make sure to enable push notifications so you’re instantly alerted to changes in your account.

 

More information

For more information about protecting your identity, see How to stay scam safe.

Source: South Australia Police

The City of Wanneroo has adopted its 2025/26 budget, prioritising a range of services and facilities to keep our community connected, safe and sustainable.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police seek public assistance for investigation into online prescriptions

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – 3:00 pm.

Investigators from Tasmania Police are appealing for public assistance as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent online prescriptions.
Detective Inspector Michelle Elmer said police are seeking to speak with anyone who has sought or obtained prescriptions through the website athleteswarehouse.com.au.
“We believe members of the community may have interacted with this website in good faith,” she said.
“Now is the time to come forward and assist police with critical information that may support the investigation.”
“Those people who have used the website, or who may have knowledge of its operations, are urged to contact us.”
Anyone with information should call Tasmania Police’s Western Criminal Investigation Branch on 131 444 and quote OR774910.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

Source: New South Wales – News

The woman appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today and was granted conditional bail to appear again on 29 September.

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