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Three men charged with drug and firearms offences in northern Tasmania

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Three men charged with drug and firearms offences in northern Tasmania

Monday, 14 July 2025 – 11:17 am.

Three men have been charged with drug and firearms offences following a recent police operation in northern Tasmania.
Detective Inspector Nathan Johnston said the operation, led by the Northern Drugs and Firearms Unit, had been running since May.
“The operation, which involved a range of specialist police resources, was brought to a planned resolution on 10 July, when two men were taken into custody at a property in Newnham,” he said.
“Police located $24,000 in cash at the property, as well as a quantity of methylamphetamine and a luxury vehicle believed to have been stolen from Victoria in March.”
“Several other searches were conducted in the Launceston area, with a further $140,000 in cash located alongside more methylamphetamine in a storage container linked to one of the men.”
“A suspected stolen motorcycle was also seized.”
“Police also located two firearms in another container linked to a third man, who was then taken into custody at the scene.”
Charges:

A 32-year-old man was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, motor vehicle stealing and other offences. He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at 2.15pm today.
A 30-year-old man was charged with firearms offences.
A 45-year-old man was charged with minor drug offences.

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North-South Motorway clear after truck rollover at Dry Creek

Source: New South Wales – News

The North-South Motorway has reopened after a semi-trailer rolled at Dry Creek on Sunday evening.

About 5.15pm on Sunday 13 July, police and emergency services were called to the interchange of the Port River expressway and North-South motorway following reports that a truck carrying flour had rolled.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Victoria, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  He has been issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence for dangerous driving.

The ramp for Port River Expressway eastbound traffic to head southbound on the North-South Motorway was closed until about 10am this morning while the truck was towed and the roadway cleaned.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Anyone who was a witness or has dashcam of the crash can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

​

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Professional development round for teachers and educators

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Government is strengthening the early childhood education sector by upskilling workers through a new round of paid prac subsidy and professional development opportunities.

Applications open today for the next round of the Professional Development Subsidy, Paid Practicum Subsidy and the Practicum Exchange Living Allowance grants.

Professional development not only helps early educators build skills and knowledge but also contributes to safe, high-quality education and care.

The Professional Development Subsidy enables positions to be backfilled while early childhood educators, teachers and centre directors undertake professional development opportunities, or allows staff to be paid for undertaking these opportunities outside of work hours.

Professional development opportunities can include highly recommended training, such as additional child safety and quality training, inclusion training and/or leadership training, and mandatory training such as First Aid and/or CPR training.

The Paid Practicum Subsidy helps early learning providers to give existing educators paid leave while they undertake the practicum placements required to complete their early childhood education and care qualifications.

The Paid Practicum Subsidy is available for educators undertaking a Diploma of Early Childhood Education or relevant Early Childhood Teaching qualifications, including post-graduate Early Childhood Teaching qualifications.

To assist with living and travel costs while educators undertake a practicum placement in a rural or remote area organised via the Practicum Exchange Network, applications will also open for the Practicum Exchange Living Allowance.

The subsidies and Practicum Exchange Living Allowance are part of the Government’s $72.4 million Early Childhood Education Workforce Package, introduced in 2023 to support the training and development of the Early Childhood Education and Care workforce.

Over the past two years, the Government has supported approximately 2,850 student educators through the paid practicum subsidy and more than 86,000 educators have benefited from the professional development subsidy.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, Senator Dr Jess Walsh:

“I want to ensure that children have a positive, rewarding and safe early education experience so they get the best possible start in life.

“These grants help to build and retain our existing highly skilled early learning workforce.

“Creating a stable workforce also paves the way for our plans to continue expanding access to quality early education, starting with our 3 Day Guarantee that comes in from January next year.”

 

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Historic day for equality as plasma donation rules change

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 14/07/2025

The ACT Government has today welcomed the lifting of restrictions on plasma donations, with gay and bisexual men and transgender women now eligible to donate plasma under new inclusive rules.

From today, most sexual activity-based deferrals that previously excluded many LGBTIQA+ people from donating plasma will be removed, a milestone moment in the journey toward equity in Australia’s healthcare system.

Lifeblood has also been progressing changes to blood donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules for blood and platelets, expected next year.

Chris Steel MLA, a long-time advocate for blood donation reform, will mark the occasion by donating plasma at the Lifeblood’s Civic Donor Centre.

“Today we are no longer being treated differently because of who we are or who we love,” Minister Steel said.

“Like thousands of other Australians, the LGBTIQIA+ community have been ready and willing to roll up our sleeves to safely contribute to the blood supply, and now we can.

“This is a win for equality, for evidence-based policy, and for public health.

“I hope these changes encourage everyone who can to consider donating.”

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the change comes at a critical time for Australia’s health system.

“Plasma is the most in-demand blood product in the country, with rising demand for lifesaving treatments across Australia,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“Opening up donation to more Australians not only strengthens the blood and plasma supply, it also sends a strong signal that our donation system is based on safety, science and fairness.”

“This change reflects the ACT Government’s longstanding commitment to inclusion and health equity, and I commend Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the Therapeutic Goods Administration for delivering this important reform.”

Canberra is also leading the way when it comes to plasma donation. On a per capita basis, Canberra’s plasma donors are the most generous in the country, ahead of every other capital city.

Today’s change means people previously excluded from plasma donation, including gay and bisexual men, sex workers, people on PrEP, and more, can now donate, provided they meet standard eligibility criteria.

These changes are expected to allow an additional 24,000 Australians to donate and enable 95,000 more plasma donations every year.

Australians are encouraged to consider donating plasma. To check eligibility or book a donation, visit www.lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.

– Statement ends –

Chris Steel, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

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Tackling a $1.2 billion problem for Australian farmers using dirt-cheap crushed volcanic rock

Source:

14 July 2025

UniSA researcher Dr Binoy Sarkar and a student spreading basalt onto crops.

Cheap volcanic rock that languishes in open cut mines and quarries could transform Australia’s farming sector as a natural fertiliser, boosting crop yields and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

It turns out that crushed basalt – a common rock used to make roads, houses, schools and hospitals – may address two very critical issues of our time: climate change and acidic soils.

University of South Australia (UniSA) environmental researcher Dr Binoy Sarkar is leading an Enhanced Rock Weathering trial that involves applying crushed basalt to agricultural soils, measuring its nutrient release and carbon capture.

Dr Sarkar, from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute,  is collaborating with James Cook University, the Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub, and industry partner Carbonaught Pty Ltd on two projects, funded by the Federal Government and Cascade Climate.

“Australian farmers spend nearly $1.2 billion a year to tackle soil acidification, using expensive liming materials that in themselves contribute to greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr Sarkar says.

“Large volumes of adequately fine rock particles – a byproduct of the mining and construction industry – can be bought for as little as $30 per ton and applied to soils using existing farm equipment, with negligible expense.

“Basalt does not completely replace chemical fertilisers, but it can cut fertiliser amounts needed to grow crops, saving farmers a lot of money and substantially improving their profit margins.”

A truck spreading basalt – crushed rock from quarries – onto crops.

Farming with basalt solves two critical challenges facing Australian agriculture: improving infertile soils and simultaneously removing greenhouse gas emissions from farming practices that include nitrogen fertilisers, deforestation and land clearing.

“As a country, we have committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Almost 18% of our emissions are produced by the agricultural sector, primarily from crop production and emissions from livestock,” Dr Sarkar says.

“Lime is commonly used for correcting soil acidity, but it is expensive and contributes heavily to on-farm carbon dioxide emissions. Basalt naturally reduces acidity, captures carbon, and it also releases nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and silicon into the soil.”   

Dr Sarkar says the research will not only benefit Australia’s agricultural sector, but also the mining sector, where basalt is a byproduct that has to be dug and moved aside before reaching valuable minerals located at depth.

This byproduct is already crushed to make road building and construction materials, but finer fractions are stockpiled, often taking up large amounts of space with negligible commercial use.

Society at large is also a winner, thanks to basalt scrubbing gigatons of carbon dioxide from the air.

Dr Sarkar’s collaborative team is the first in Australia to receive significant R&D federal funding ($5 million) to trial the low-cost carbon cutting technology nationally.

“I hope we can see a lot more trials in the next few years, to build confidence and propel a large-scale adoption of this rock weathering technology.

“It will also provide opportunities for farmers and quarry owners to sell carbon credits and earn additional profits. Our farmers will be able to take advantage of this huge market when we have a strong monitoring, reporting and verification program for the technology.”

A video accompanying this media release is available at: https://youtu.be/rivrFCol0g0

Contact for interview: Dr Binoy Sarkar M: +61 433 801 054 E: binoy.sarkar@unisa.edu.au

Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

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Nominations now open for Greater Bendigo Youth Awards

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Awards to celebrate and recognise the everyday contributions, skills, accomplishments and achievements of young people aged between 12 and 25 years of age who work, live and study in Greater Bendigo.

The awards aim to recognize and honour the skills and accomplishments of young individuals across various areas, as reflected in the six award categories which are:

  • Creativity and innovation
  • Contribution to the community
  • Excellence in leadership
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Sustainability and environment
  • Inclusion and equity

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the awards program recognises the everyday contributions of young people in our community that often go unrecognised.  

“By nominating a young person for the Youth Awards, you will help shine a light on their efforts and inspire others. Recognizing these young individuals not only honours their hard work and dedication but also encourages them to continue making positive impacts,” Cr Metcalf said.

“We have exceptional young people in Greater Bendigo who make small and large contributions to the community that have a lasting and positive impact on our lives every day.  Often this goes unrecognised, but they keep quietly working and using their skills and talents to make Greater Bendigo a better place.

“It’s often said that young people are the leaders of tomorrow, but we know that young people are already leaders today. They are kind, creative, innovative, and generous with their time and contribute to improving the lives and experiences of those around them through their actions both big and small.

“If you know a young person who you think should be acknowledged, I encourage you to nominate them for the City’s youth awards.”

Greater Bendigo Youth Mayor Levity Camilleri said the Youth Awards are an incredible way to celebrate and acknowledge the creativity, leadership, and excellence of local young people.

“It’s truly amazing and inspiring to see the diverse skills, contributions, and stories of young people in our community,” Levity Camilleri said.

“It’s important to appreciate young people’s work across the municipality, it helps strengthen our culture, social cohesion, and quality of life. I encourage anyone who knows an exceptional young person who contributes to our community to nominate them for the Youth Awards and to celebrate their contribution.”

Nominations for the Greater Bendigo Youth Awards can be made online until 5pm Tuesday September 30, 2025. 

Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony which will take place on Friday November 21, 2025.

Nominations to the Greater Bendigo Youth Awards may also be considered for the 2026 City of Greater Bendigo Young Citizen Year of the Year award.

The Greater Bendigo Youth Awards were developed with significant input from the City’s Youth Council and are a key action of the Greater Bendigo Youth Action Plan 2023-2024.

To nominate someone, visit:

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Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients

Source:

14 July 2025

UniSA PhD candidate Deepa Nakmode and Professor Sanjay Garg in the lab.

A new weekly injectable drug could transform the lives of more than eight million people living with Parkinson’s disease, potentially replacing the need for multiple daily tablets.

Scientists from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed a long-acting injectable formulation that delivers a steady dose of levodopa and carbidopa – two key medications for Parkinson’s – over an entire week.

Their findings have been reported in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.

The biodegradable formulation is injected under the skin or into muscle tissue, where it gradually releases the medication over seven days.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological disorder, affecting more than 8.5 million people worldwide. Currently there is no cure and the symptoms – tremors, rigidity and slow movement – are managed with oral medications that must be taken several times a day.

The frequent dosing is a burden, especially for elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulties, leading to inconsistent medication levels, more side effects, and reduced effectiveness.

Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Garg, from UniSA’s Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, says the newly developed injectable could significantly improve treatment outcomes and patient adherence.

“Our goal was to create a formulation that simplifies treatment, improves patient compliance, and maintains consistent therapeutic levels of medication. This weekly injection could be a game-changer for Parkinson’s care,” Prof Garg says.

“Levodopa is the gold-standard therapy for Parkinson’s, but its short life span means it must be taken several times a day.”

UniSA PhD student Deepa Nakmode says the in-situ implant is designed to release both levodopa and carbidopa steadily over one week, maintaining consistent plasma levels and reducing the risks associated with fluctuating drug concentrations.

“After years of focused research, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our innovation in long-acting injectables for Parkinson’s disease reach this stage. Our invention has now been filed for an Australian patent,” Nakmode says.

The injectable gel combines an FDA-approved biodegradable polymer PLGA with Eudragit L-100, a pH-sensitive polymer, to achieve a controlled and sustained drug release.

Extensive lab tests confirmed the system’s effectiveness and safety:

  • More than 90% of the levodopa dose and more than 81% of the carbidopa dose was released over seven days.
  • The implant degraded by over 80% within a week and showed no significant toxicity in cell viability tests.
  • The formulation can be easily administered through a fine 22-gauge needle, minimising discomfort and eliminating the need for surgical implant.

“The implications of this research are profound,” Prof Garg says. “By reducing the frequency of dosing from multiple times a day to a weekly injection is a major step forward in Parkinson’s therapy. We’re not just improving how the drug is delivered; we’re improving patients’ lives.”

Prof Garg says the technology could also be adapted for other chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, pain management, and chronic infections that require long-term drug delivery.in

The system can be tuned to release drugs over a period ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on therapeutic needs.

UniSA scientists hope to start clinical trials in the near future and are exploring commercialisation opportunities.

The study, titled “Development of an in-situ forming implant system for levodopa and carbidopa for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease,” is authored by Professor Sanjay Garg,  Deepa Nakmode, Dr Sadik Abdella and Dr Yunmei Song. DOI: 10.1007/s13346-025-01892-y

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Contact for interview: Professor Sanjay Garg E: sanjay.garg@unisa.edu.au

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

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Stolen BMW recovered at Elizabeth East

Source: New South Wales – News

Police are still looking for a driver who stole a car during a break-in at Norwood overnight.

Police were called to a report of a break-in and car theft from a home on Kensington Road, Norwood about 1.45am on Monday 14 July.

An intruder broke into the house and stole a handbag, wallet and car keys to the red BMW hatchback parked in the driveway.

The stolen car’s onboard tracking showed it outside several addresses in Royston Park before it led police across the northern suburbs to Adare Court, Elizabeth East where the car was located, abandoned at 2.45am.

Police searched the area with the assistance of PolAir and Police Dog Enzo, but the suspect was not located.

Police found another set of car keys to a Subaru inside the stolen BMW and ask any residents in the Norwood, Royston Park area to check to see if they have also had keys stolen overnight.

Anyone with information or CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

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Man charged following alleged evade in Hobart’s northern suburbs

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Man charged following alleged evade in Hobart’s northern suburbs

Monday, 14 July 2025 – 6:47 am.

A 27 year old man from Hobart’s northern suburbs has been charged following an alleged evade incident in Hobart’s northern suburbs yesterday.

The man, who was wanted by police in relation to alleged family violence matters, was safely taken into custody at a Glenorchy petrol station about 2.50pm while he was attempting to refuel.

Police allege the man, who was riding a motorcycle, had earlier evaded police in Bridgewater and Berriedale.

No one was injured during the incident.

The man has been charged with:

Evade Police (Aggravated Circumstances) x 3
Drive whilst not the holder of a drivers licence x 3
Dangerous Driving x 1
Assault x 1
Tamper with Monitoring device x 2,
Breach of Interim Family Violence Order x 7,
Breach of Court bail x 20
Contravene Conditions of a notice (Breach of Police Bail) x 13

The man has been detained to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court this morning.

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Man in custody following alleged evade in Hobart’s northern suburbs

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Man in custody following alleged evade in Hobart’s northern suburbs

Sunday, 13 July 2025 – 3:20 pm.

A 27 year old man from Hobart’s northern suburbs is in custody following an alleged evade incident in Hobart’s northern suburbs today.
The man, who was wanted by police in relation to alleged family violence matters, was safely taken into custody at a Glenorchy petrol station about 2.50pm while he was attempting to refuel.
Police allege the man, who was riding a motorcycle, had earlier evaded police in Bridgewater and Berriedale.
Police resources including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were used to safely take the man into custody.
Inspector Ian Mathewson said that no one was injured during the incident, however investigations are ongoing.
“The motorcycle was a blue Suzuki registration A688X, with the rider wearing black clothing with a black and white helmet. Police are urging anyone with information or dash cam footage relating to the blue Suzuki to contact Bridgewater Police on 131444,” Inspector Mathewson said.