Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Two youths charged with property offences in Kingston and Blackmans Bay

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – 3:40 pm.

Two youths will be proceeded against in relation to a series of property offences allegedly committed at Kingston and Blackmans Bay between 20-23 June.  
A 16-year-old youth was arrested, charged and will appear before the Youth Justice Court at a later date.  
A 15-year-old will be proceeded against pursuant to Youth Justice provisions. 
They have been charged with 2x burglary, 3x aggravated burglary, 4x stealing and 1x attempted motor vehicle stealing. 
Police have recovered several items of allegedly stolen property.  
“Police remind all residents to ensure their homes, external buildings and vehicles are always locked and secured,” said Senior Sergeant Peter Borish.  
Anyone with information relating to suspicious activity in the Kingston and Blackmans Bay area between 20-23 June is asked to contact police on 131 333 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000 – quote Case No 1657.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

KIERAN GILBERT: Let’s turn our attention to education. And the nation’s education ministers will hold their first gathering tomorrow since the Federal Election, that is. I want to go live to Adelaide. The Education Minister, Jason Clare, joins me.

A big part of the lead-up to the election. I know that you and the Prime Minister were focusing on the deals done with the states on education funding arrangements, those Gonski reforms, as they’re known. But you’ve said you want it tied to reform, what sort of thing are you talking about on that?

JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Yeah, it’s important to make the point, this isn’t a blank cheque. The agreement that we’ve struck with every State and Territory over the course of the last 12 months represents the biggest extra investment by the Australian Government in our public schools ever. Something like an extra $16.5 dollars billion invested in our public schools over the next decade to finish the work that David Gonski started. But, I’ve been at pains to make the point that it’s not a blank cheque, that we want to tie this funding to real practical reforms, really to make sure that more kids finish high school. 

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a drop in the number of kids finishing high school, particularly in public schools, from about 83 per cent down to 73 per cent, and we need to turn that around. And that requires reform not just at high school, but at primary school. One of the things we want to do is roll out a phonics check or a literacy check for kids in Year One, and that’s already underway, a lot of states are doing it this year, the others will roll it out from next year and that’s a 10 or a 15 minute check. It’s not a test, it’s not like NAPLAN, but it’s a tool for teachers to help, to make sure that they know where the children in their classroom are at and whether they need more support. And the next cab off the rank is a numeracy check, a similar sort of check, a tool for teachers to make sure that children are up to speed, where they need to be in Year One when it comes to numeracy adding up and counting. 

Now, New South Wales have rolled out a pilot this year for about 169 schools of a check they’ve developed and they’ll roll that out across all public schools next year. We’re going to have a chat tomorrow about whether other states might be willing to pick that up as well next year.

GILBERT: One of the other things I know that’s been out and I’m very interested, I think a lot of parents will be very keenly awaiting this bullying review. Give us an update on where that’s at. Will that be before the ministers tomorrow? Because, as you well know, this is something that everyone’s ultra sensitive about, particularly when you’re talking about social media these days and all the risks inherent with that.

CLARE: I think that’s the big difference between what bullying was like when we were kids at school and what it’s like now. Bullying is cruel. It doesn’t just leave physical scars, it can leave invisible scars that can last a lifetime. And we’re not just talking now about push and shove in the playground or stealing someone else’s lunch money. At its most insidious, we’re talking about people using AI and deepfakes where they might take a photograph of a friend at school or someone at school, cut and paste their face and put it on the naked body of someone else and then splash that across the internet. And the impact of that can be extraordinarily harmful. We’ve seen recent examples of this applied to fellow students, but also to teachers and this review about what we do to tackle bullying in our schools needs to look at that as well as what happens actually in the school grounds. We’re never going to stamp it out entirely, but what this is about is making sure that where we can prevent it, we do. And what are the right responses for schools where there’s evidence of this sort of bullying happening.

GILBERT: And on the issue of childcare centres, there have been reports recently about the mistreatment of children in care. I know that personal phones, for example, have been banned from childcare centres. What other reforms would you look at now off the back of this New South Wales response, led by New South Wales? But are you wanting to make it national and what other things you’re putting in place to ensure kids in childcare are receiving the protection they need as well?

CLARE: Yeah, this is really serious. There’s more than a million families who’ve got their kids in childcare and early education at the moment. And the number one priority is to make sure that their children are safe. This is personal for me. I’m one of those parents who have my children in early education and care.

In response to the arrest of that serial paedophile in Queensland a couple of years ago, we introduced some significant changes, including the banning of personal phones in childcare centres and beefing up, toughening up mandatory reporting, making that a requirement within 24 hours of where a serious event has occurred. But Four Corners had a report earlier this year which exposed some pretty terrifying and horrific examples of abuse in centres. In response to that, we announced that we’ll introduce legislation into the Federal Parliament that’s designed specifically to basically pull the money away from centres that aren’t up to quality standards or stop them from expanding, but also stop some of the bad actors that might be failing kids in childcare from then moving to another part of the care economy like the NDIS.

And when that Four Corners report came out, two more things happened; the national regulator was asked to provide us with advice on what further steps we need to take. And NSW commissioned their own review by a former Deputy Ombudsman of NSW, Chris Wheeler. He delivered his report that was released today that sets out a number of things that we could do better, including more information for parents and beefing up penalties. And Chris Wheeler, as well as the national regulator, Gabrielle Sinclair, will brief ministers on their reports tomorrow so that we can build a roadmap for further steps and more reform to make sure that we keep our kids safe in early education and care.

GILBERT: Yeah, indeed. And I know they’re a minority, but yeah, just ensure the dodgy operators do receive the appropriate penalties. Well, that’s good that that is a focus of that report. 

I do want to conclude though, on tertiary education, there’s been a big focus on the salaries of Vice-Chancellors and suggestions that you might end up putting it in the hands of the remuneration tribunal as opposed to leave it up to university boards. What’s your thinking on that? Are you open to that?

CLARE: This is one of the things I’ve asked an expert council on university governance to look at. They’re going to report to education ministers when we meet in October in a couple of months’ time. On its face, it makes sense to me when you think about it when it comes to politicians or judges or public servants, the remuneration tribunal plays a role in setting salaries there. So, it is the sort of thing that does make sense on its face. But we’ll wait to see what this expert panel recommends. We’ve asked them to look at that, as well as wage theft in our universities and ways to improve governance of our universities, full stop. You know, our universities do terrific work and this is all about setting them up..

GILBERT: But it’s a way to ensure Vice-Chancellors pay doesn’t get out of hand.

CLARE: I think that’s right. It’s about meeting community expectations. But it’s just one part of improving the governance of our universities and to be fair to the leaders of our universities I think they get that, and they’re leaning into this reform to make sure that we’re setting our universities up for the future.

We’ve got data that we released yesterday that showed some good news that there are more Aussie students starting a degree at university this year than ever before when you take out those two COVID years, which are a bit of an anomaly. We think that we’re going to need more people in the years ahead to finish school and go to TAFE or go to university. So, more people going to university means universities are going to be even more important in the years ahead than they are today, and we’ve got to make sure that they’re fit for the future.

GILBERT: Education Minister Jason Clare, thanks for making the time ahead of that important roundtable tomorrow with your colleagues. Appreciate it.

CLARE: No worries. Thank you.
 

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Investigation into stolen plaques at Soldiers Memorial Avenue

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – 3:11 pm.

Tasmania Police is calling for public assistance as officers investigate the theft of more than 20 brass plaques from the Soldiers Memorial Avenue at the Queens Domain, Hobart.
The City of Hobart and Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue reported the incident to police on Wednesday afternoon, saying it appears the plaques – which honour fallen World War I Tasmanian soldiers – have been forcibly removed.
Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue President John Wadsley, Tasmania Police Hobart Division Acting Inspector Danny Jackson and City of Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock inspected the avenue on Thursday.
A/Inspector Jackson hoped members of the public might be able to provide information to find the people responsible and locate the plaques.
“Whilst these plaques don’t have significant monetary value, they have significant value to the families of the people who have been memorialised here and we are very keen to locate the people responsible and have those plaques recovered,” he said.
“It’s appalling that someone would come and take those plaques from here.
“We’re hopeful that someone out there knows something about where these plaques are, or who may be responsible.”
Soldiers Memorial Avenue is a significant heritage site, with more than 530 trees planted to honour Tasmanian soldiers who died in World War I. Each tree is marked with a plaque bearing the name of a fallen soldier.
Mr Wadsley said the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue had been working for more than 24 years to restore the walk, which was an important site of remembrance for Tasmanian families.
“These are really important places. These represent not only the service of someone who died, but also the love of a family that lost someone,” he said.
Mr Wadsley said the stolen plaques had little monetary value for their brass content but would take about $600 each to replace.
Anyone with information about the theft of the plaques is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 or crimestopperstas.com.au. Quote OR778508

CAPTION: Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue President John Wadsley, left, with Tasmania Police Acting Inspector Hobart Division Danny Jackson at the site where one of the plaques remembering a fallen soldier is missing. (Picture: Tasmania Police)

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Item

Activity

Responsibility

Purpose

4

Repairs and maintenance (R&M)

Receipts to be retained and maintained (by property) for all R&M expenditure. Where repairs are managed through the property manager, receipts to be furnished, downloaded and stored.

R&M expenditure will be recorded in the Excel spreadsheet entitled ‘Rental property financial accounts” and be referenced to the relevant property, within 3 days of payment of the invoice. Accumulated totals should be maintained within the spreadsheet.

Bill Bookkeeper

Ensure records of Mr Simple’s investments in real property are not lost in the event primary information sources are compromised.

5

Interest expense

Documentation regarding any external financing obtained to acquire or improve real property assets is to be retained. Documentation should include points explaining:

• the date the finance was obtained
• the purpose of obtaining finance
• how the finance was applied, and
• the applicable interest rate or other terms upon which the finance was obtained.

Interest expenses are recorded in the Excel spreadsheet entitled ‘Rental property financial accounts’. Accumulated totals should be maintained within the spreadsheet.

Bill Bookkeeper as informed by Simple groups lawyers or tax agents

Support the John Simple property trust’s claim for interest deductions that are associated with the debt funding of its property portfolio (where and when required).

6a

Depreciation (Division 40)

On initial acquisition of real property, a tax depreciation schedule will be obtained from a qualified valuer or quantity surveyor.

Bill Bookkeeper and Simple group’s tax agents/advisors

To help ensure that the John Simple property trust is using the correct tax cost bases when determining the amount it can claim as capital allowance

6b

The costs of existing and new depreciable assets held by the John Simple Property Trust are to be recorded on an Excel spreadsheet entitled ‘tax fixed asset register’ that includes:

• a description of the asset
• the date asset was ready for use
• a calculation of the assets tax cost
• the method and rate of depreciation applied to the asset
• the capital allowance claim for the year
• the assets closing cost.

For purpose of calculating depreciation, use the Commissioner’s effective lives for depreciating assets guidance as published each year in the ATO’s Taxation Ruling.

For all new depreciable capital assets that are acquired, receipts are to be maintained and referenced against the tax fixed asset register (including low value pools).

Bill Bookkeeper and Simple group’s tax agents/advisors

To support the John Simple property trust’s claim for capital allowance deductions in the year of income in which the claim is made.

6c

Where depreciable assets are disposed of, the tax fixed asset register will record:

• the date of the disposal
• sale price
• the balancing income/loss recognised on disposal.

Bill Bookkeeper and Simple group’s tax agents/advisors

To help ensure that gains or losses on disposal of depreciable capital assets by the John Simple property trust are calculated correctly for tax purposes.

7a

Capital works (Division 43)

Upon acquisition of an existing real property asset that’s not vacant land, a determination will be made about the percentage rate at which capital works deductions can be claimed.

On initial acquisition of an existing real property, a tax depreciation or capital works schedule will be obtained from the property’s previous owners or obtained from a qualified quantity surveyor.

Upon incurring new expenditure on capital works, a determination will be made about the percentage rate at which capital works deductions can be claimed.

Note: Generally, the Simple group acquires assets for which the 2.5% rate is applied.

Bill Bookkeeper and Simple group’s tax agents/advisors

Ensure that the John Simple property trust’s is eligible to claim capital works deductions in respect to a particular property, the cost base by reference to which capital works deductions can be claimed and the percentage to be used when claiming capital works deductions each year.

7b

For new capital works, receipts should be retained and referenced against the tax fixed asset register.

Details of new capital works are recorded on an Excel spreadsheet entitled ‘tax fixed asset register’ that includes a

• description of the capital works
• date the capital works were completed
• cost of the capital works
• percentage deduction rate applied (for example 2.5%)
• deduction claimed for the year
• closing balance of unclaimed construction expenditure at year end.

Any complex issues concerning the application of, or calculations required by Division 43, should be escalated to the Simple group’s tax advisors.

Bill Bookkeeper and Simple group’s tax agents/advisors

Substantiate capital works deductions for the year. Help ensure compliance with the Simple group’s record keeping obligations.

Support the John Simple property trust’s claim for capital works deductions.

Accessing sophisticated levels of advice helps ensure complex issues with capital works claims are treated correctly.

8

Other expenses

A list has been (or should be) prepared and retained that outline and explains typical expenses incurred by the John Simple property trust in the course of its property leasing activities.

Accounting expenses should be recorded (by property) in the Excel spreadsheet entitled ‘Rental property financial accounts for the year ended 30 June 20XX’, within 3 days of the supplier invoice being received. Accumulated totals should be maintained within the spreadsheet.

Bill Bookkeeper

Ensuring typical expenses associated with each property portfolio are understood and explained – for succession planning.

Support John Simple property trust’s claims for allowable deductions.

9

Prepaid expenses

Where eligible expenditure has been prepaid, maintain records of prepayments. Prepare an accompanying note that explains the nature of the prepaid expenditure and relevant time period to which the expenditure relates (more or less than 12 months).

Bill Bookkeeper

Help with preparation of the John Simple property trust’s draft tax reconciliation.

Support John Simple property trust’s claims for allowable deductions.

10

Before forwarding information to the Simple group’s tax agent, review the following spreadsheets and resources against a sample of documentation to sense check that income and expenses have been captured and correctly recorded.

• Real Property Investment Register
• List of typical expenses
• Tax and accounting fixed asset register

Bill Bookkeeper

Helping ensure that Mr Simple’s income and expense disclosures are complete.

11

At least 4 weeks before the due date for lodgment of the John Simple property trust’s tax return, provide the Simple group’s tax agent with:

• a summary narrative about the John Simple property trusts typical and atypical activities during the year
• real property investment register
• the property manager’s end of financial year summary statement for each property investment
• excel rental property financial accounts
• tax and accounting fixed asset registers
• related source documents as required by the tax agent
• notes concerning any prepaid expenses.

Bill Bookkeeper

Ensuring the John Simple property trust’s tax return is lodged on time.

Helping the tax agent with the process of preparing the John Simple property trust’s tax return.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Man charged with sexual abuse of children

Thursday, 26 June 2025 – 12:46 pm.

Tasmania Police has charged a man from southern Tasmania with child sexual abuse offences, including five counts of rape, as part of an ongoing investigation.The man, aged in his 50s, was previously charged in December 2023 with multiple historical sexual offences against three children under the age of 12.Following further inquiries and interviews by the Southern Sex Crimes Investigation Unit, the man was recently arrested and faces charges of sexual abuse against two more children.The man was bailed with strict conditions and will reappear in the Hobart Magistrates Court in late September.If you suspect child abuse, report it on 131444 or if the child is in immediate danger, call 000.You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.auThe Tasmanian Government’s Keeping Children Safe website is available at https://keepingchildresafe.tas.gov.au/Support for victim survivors, if required, is available through Arch https://arch.tas.gov.au/ or via https://keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/get-support/

Source: Premier of Victoria

Author – Denton Pugh, NAB Executive for Home Lending. Originally published on News.com.au.

We might be deep into the winter months, but there’s definite signs of warmth returning to Australia’s property market.

Home values across the country have nudged higher again, rising 0.5% in May and lifting the national index 1.7% over the first five months of the year. And every capital city recorded growth. A sign that confidence in the market is continuing to grow.

We’re seeing this confidence play out in people like Emily Chalk, a 32-year-old first-home buyer who recently bought a home just outside of Rockhampton, in regional Queensland. She’d spent six months looking for a place to call home.

A conversation with her banker helped her understand how the Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme could help get her into her first home sooner than she thought. Within weeks she’d bought a home in the town she grew up in.

Stories like Emily’s are becoming increasingly more common.

It’s not just upgraders or investors sitting on equity returning to the market. Many first-home buyers have been waiting for banks to reduce home lending rates so they can not only borrow more but also have that confidence to take the leap into homeownership.

New NAB home lending data shows lending to first home buyers is up 16% since February, and up 32% to home buyers more broadly.

While interest rates are still relatively high, recent rate cuts are helping. With these cuts combined with initiatives like the Home Guarantee Scheme, we’re starting to see more people take that first step into homeownership.

Of course, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. While monthly growth is returning, the annual pace of property price increases has slowed. Not great news for investors but good news for those trying to break into the market.

We’re also seeing strong momentum in regional markets; a trend that’s been building since the pandemic years and is not going away.

In fact, Queensland regional hotspots dominated our list of the five hottest regional markets so far in 2025*. Toowoomba, Burnett, Springfield-Redbank, and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland all ranked high for home loan activity. Geelong in Victoria was the only non-Queensland regional hotspot to break into the top five.

1. Toowoomba – QLD
2. Burnett – QLD
3. Springfield – Redbank – QLD
4. Geelong – VIC
5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland – QLD
6. Mandurah – WA
7. Loganlea – QLD
8. Ballarat – VIC
9. Maryborough – QLD
10. Mackay – QLD

It may be the weather, or the lifestyle, but regional markets offer more than just charm and appealing work life balance. They offer affordability and the potential for long-term growth. For buyers like Emily, the appeal of staying close to family, and finding space for a young family was strong.

“I already know most of my neighbours, I definitely didn’t have that when I was living in Brisbane,” first-home buyer, Emily Chalk.

This continued momentum is promising, but it also highlights one of the biggest challenges still facing the market – we need more homes.

Lower rates are helping on the demand side, but affordability and supply remain big hurdles. Addressing those issues will take time, commitment, and smart policy. Particularly when it comes to getting new housing built in the places people want to live.

The winter months are usually quieter for the housing market, however, with most economists expecting further interest rate cuts this year, winter activity is expected to be a little higher than usual, continuing to build for the busier spring period.

More information:

• *NAB proprietary home lending data between January – April 2025 vs the year prior.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police are calling for information in relation to a serious assault that occurred at Dundee Beach around 11:00pm on Friday 20 June 2025.

It is alleged that there had been a minor motor vehicle crash involving a car and buggy on Lepanto Street, Dundee Beach. Following the crash the driver of the car is alleged to have been assaulted by a group of people, and sustained injuries to his face requiring him to be flown via CareFlight helicopter to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Police would like to speak with the occupants of the buggy and urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500063173. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online via http://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.