Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Be part of the solution to plastic pollution

Source: South Australia Police

This Plastic Free July, take the pledge to reduce your plastic waste and make a positive impact – small changes really do make all the difference!

Throughout the month, the City is hosting a range of free workshops where you can learn what happens to your waste, discover simple ways to reduce it and find out how to live more sustainably in your everyday life.

Let’s work together for cleaner streets, healthier oceans and thriving, beautiful communities.

Event dates and times

Ditch the gladwrap! Fabric food cover sewing workshop

The Waste Education team are hosting a pop-up workshop where you can stop by and learn to create your own fabric food covers.

10am to 11am, Tuesday 1 July at Yanchep Central Shopping Centre. Register here.

3.30pm to 4.30pm, Tuesday 1 July at Yanchep Central Shopping Centre. Register here.

10.30am to 12.30pm, Saturday 5 July at Yanchep Library. Register here.

Plastic Free It’s All About Play

Join us for a fun filled program packed with multi-sensory toys, craft, dress ups and tactile experiences designed to keep your child engaged and entertained as they learn through play.

9am to 11am, every Monday in July at Yanchep Library.

No registration required, find out more via our website.

Community tour of the Cleanaway Material Recovery Facility and CLAW Environmental

Learn how your recycling is sorted and processed on this interactive tour of these two waste facilities.

8.45am to 3pm, Thursday 17 July, departing Wanneroo Civic Centre.

Register online via the City of Joondalup website.

Earthside Eco Bums modern cloth nappy workshop

Learn what cloth nappies are all about, how they work and what you’ll need to get started at this free workshop.

11am to 12pm, Wednesday 30 July at Yanchep Library

Register here.

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Call for information – Escape custody – Darwin CBD

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force are seeking public assistance to locate two male youths who escaped corrections custody in the Darwin CBD this afternoon.

Around 4:10pm, police were made aware of two male youths that escaped from a corrections vehicle along Bennett Street while being conveyed in corrections custody around 4pm. One of the youths were last seen wearing a grey jumper and grey pants and the other was last seen with a green jacket.

Police are actively searching for the absconders and are urging anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference number P25165835. You can anonymously report crime via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Speech – Heads of Prosecuting Authorities of Commonwealth Countries Conference

Source: Australian Ministers for Education

South Australian café owner sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for GST fraud
Ben.PetersJones

Year
2024

Location
South Australia

Between March 2014 and January 2016, Shaun Both (the offender) was a sole trader of Metro Express Café at Mawson Lakes in South Australia. In that time, he lodged 9 quarterly Business Activity Statements (BAS) with the ATO. As a result of false statements in the BAS, in circumstances where the café had ceased trading, the offender dishonestly obtained $1,001,004 in Goods and Services Tax (GST). In January 2016, the offender used some of the last GST refund to purchase a $530,000 residential property outright. 

Following an investigation by the ATO, the offender was charged with the following offences:

  • nine counts of obtain financial advantage by deception, contrary to section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Counts 1-9); and
  • one count of knowingly dealing with money that is proceeds of crime ($100,000 or more), contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Count 10).

He first appeared in the Magistrates Court of South Australia in 2019 but then absconded to Western Australia after failing to appear in court in April 2020 when he was subject to home detention bail. In December 2023, the offender was arrested on the outstanding warrant in remote Western Australia and extradited back to South Australia where he was remanded in custody. The offender pleaded guilty to all counts at a committal hearing.

Sentencing

On 5 August 2024, the offender was sentenced by his Honour Judge Muscat in the District Court of South Australia to a total effective sentence of six years and six months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.

In sentencing the offender, his Honour Judge Muscat noted:

  • The BAS lodgments “represented a sustained course of conduct which escalated in terms of the amounts dishonestly obtained over an almost two-year period”.
  • Although the offender suffered from poor mental health, alcohol abuse and gambling habits and they were relevant to the background of his offending, they did not significantly reduce his moral capability or the need for personal and general deterrence.
  • The offender had a prior history of dishonesty offending. He had previously received the benefit of suspended sentences and court-ordered medical treatment for his alcohol and mental health issues.
  • It was clear that the offender “wanted to live a certain lifestyle and he certainly did that”. The offender gambled extensively, spent money at shopping centres and online, and “on things he did not really need other than to live the life he wanted”.
  • The loss to the Commonwealth was significant, with only about $350,000 recovered by the ATO by way of garnishee and bankruptcy proceedings, with no realistic prospect of recovering further amounts.

His Honour gave the offence a 20 per cent discount for his guilty pleas. He noted that the case against the offender was “overwhelming” but he did save the time and expense of a trial.

His Honour directed (and the CDPP conceded it was appropriate) that the sentence for Count 10 be served concurrently on the sentence imposed for Counts 1-9 as the offence concerned expenditure of the final BAS refund.

Relevant links

ATO media release published 6 August 2024 Café owner’s bold brew in $1 million GST fraud

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SAPOL to transform firearms services

Source: New South Wales – News

South Australia Police (SAPOL) is transforming firearms services with the introduction of the South Australia Firearms Register (SAFR).

The new system will enhance efficiency, security and accessibility, improving the experience for firearm owners, businesses and law enforcement.

Officer in Charge of Firearms Branch, Superintendent Lauren Leverington said the system is anticipated to be operational mid-2026.

“As we develop the new digital system, SAPOL is asking firearm licensees to provide us with feedback on their current user experience,” Superintendent Leverington said.

Licensees who have registered their email address with SAPOL’s Firearms Branch will receive an email invitation to complete a survey. For those who haven’t registered, a participation link is available on the SAFR page on SAPOL’s website or is available here.

“We encourage all licensees to participate and share their insights to help us improve our services,” Superintendent Leverington said.

Plans for SAFR include offering 24-hour online access for 15 digitised firearm services for dealers and licence holders. This will expediate application processing and reduce wait times. Users will also benefit from improved visibility and tracking of their applications.

“SAPOL recognises the community’s frustration with the current application processing times,” Superintendent Leverington said.

“To address this in the short term, additional staff have been employed to manage the workload more efficiently.”

Key benefits of SAFR include:

  • Faster processing – digital applications will be reviewed and processed more quickly, reducing wait times for both applicants and administrators.
  • Secure online payments – offering a more convenient way to pay.
  • Secure and centralised storage of all digital submissions and enhanced reporting and workload tracking for Firearms Branch
  • Built in validation to reduce errors through the use of mandatory fields to prevent incomplete or incorrect submissions.
  • Environmentally friendly through minimised use of paper, supporting sustainability goals.

The SAFR initiative also forms part of the broader National Firearms Register (NFR) program. SAPOL is partnering with the Commonwealth and other states and territories to deliver unified and efficient firearms information in near real time across Australia.

“SAFR is shaping the future of firearms services in South Australia by delivering a new system. Together with our Commonwealth partners, SAPOL aims to elevate safety standards and improve service across the firearms community,” Superintendent Leverington added.

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UPDATE: Charges – Property damage – Katherine

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Strike Force Cerberus have arrested two male youths in relation to property damage in Katherine Wednesday evening.

Yesterday, police identified one of the alleged offenders walking along Sandalwood Crescent and he was arrested without incident. A short time later, a second offender aged 15 was located and arrested in bushland near De Julia Court.

The 15-year-old was charged with Property damage and Breach of bail, and the 14-year-old charged with Property damage and bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance and continue to urge those who witness a crime or anti-social behaviour to contact 131 444.

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A second of caution can safeguard your future

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Scammers take advantage of tax time by impersonating the ATO through fake emails and messages, hoping you’ll respond quickly without verifying if they are genuine. ATO email impersonation scams alone are up 300% from this time last year.

Scammers know you’re busy, often distracted, and want you to respond quickly without verifying who is contacting you. They are trying to trick you into handing over personal information so they can steal your identity and commit fraud in your name.

There are 3 simple steps you can take to protect yourself:

  1. Stop: Never share your myGov sign in details, and only share personal information such as your Tax File Number (TFN) or bank account details if you trust the person and they genuinely require them. If in doubt, don’t provide anything.
  2. Check: Take a sec to check. Ask yourself could it be fake? Is it really the ATO? If a link or QR code is directing you to provide information or to log into an online portal Don’t click on it!
  3. Protect: If something doesn’t feel right or you notice unusual activity, act quickly.

Remember:

  • We may send you an SMS or email asking you to contact us but we’ll never send an unsolicited message with a link asking you to return personal information or log into our online services.
  • We do have a Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn accounts, but we’ll never use these platforms to ask you to provide personal information, documentation or payments.

Recovering from identity theft can be a stressful and complicated process. If something feels off, don’t engage with it – visit verify or report a scam on our website or phone us on 1800 008 540 for confirmation.

To learn more visit how to stay scam safe and scam alerts.

Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? – You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

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Police funeral to be held for Constable Keith Anthony Smith in Devonport

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police funeral to be held for Constable Keith Anthony Smith in Devonport

Friday, 20 June 2025 – 3:00 pm.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams has announced a police funeral for Constable Keith Anthony Smith will take place in Devonport on Friday, 27 June.
The funeral will honour Constable Smith’s life and commemorate his 25 years of service with Tasmania Police.
Commissioner Adams said Keith’s death was a traumatic and tragic event that has shocked Tasmania Police, and the broader community.
“This week has been an incredibly difficult time for our Tasmania Police family, with the death of our respected and committed colleague, Constable Keith Smith,” she said.
“Keith served with unwavering dedication and integrity, and his legacy will not be forgotten.”
“For many Tasmania Police officers, Keith was more than a colleague – he was a friend, a mentor, and a true embodiment of what it means to serve.”
The funeral will be held at 1pm on Friday in Devonport.
At the request of Constable Smith’s family, the funeral is only open to family, friends, invited guests and police.
Members of the public are asked to respect the family’s wishes for privacy and are asked not to attend the service itself.
Immediately after the funeral, community members will be welcome to pay their respects by observing the guard of honour and funeral procession.
Details of times and locations will be provided at a later date.
Constable Smith was fatally shot on Monday, 16 June, while attending a rural property at North Motton in Tasmania’s north-west.
A man has been charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault over the devastating incident. He is due to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday, 7 July.
Members of the public are invited to leave a message of condolence or support for Constable Smith’s family and Tasmania Police colleagues on the Tasmania Police website. Public memorials have also been set up at Ulverstone and Launceston police stations.

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Works officially underway on new Serpentine Fire Station

Source:

Construction has officially commenced on a new fire station for Serpentine Fire Brigade, marked by a ceremonial sod turn today (Friday, 20 June).

CFA Deputy Chief Officer (North West) Bill Johnstone AFSM joined Serpentine Fire Brigade Captain Neville Cockerell along with brigade members on-site to launch the project, which represents a significant milestone for the local brigade and wider community. 

Neville, who has served with Serpentine Fire Brigade for more than 30 years, said the new station will be a major boost for both members and the town. 

“This new station will give us the space and facilities we need to modernise and grow,” Neville said. 

“We trained seven new members last year, and having a modern, fit-for-purpose base will help us attract even more people to join. 

“It’ll also give us a place to come together socially, this will help us build an even stronger, more connected brigade.” 

The new station will be located on Treloar Street, Serpentine, and will feature two appliance bays, a new brigade office, a multipurpose training room with an integrated kitchen and separate male and female turnout areas. 

Neville said he hopes the facility can also serve as a staging area for any large-scale incidents in the region. 

“We’re a practical brigade that’s always been here to serve our community, from fires and floods to road accidents,” Neville said.  

“These facilities will help us continue doing that.” 

Bill added that the facility will provide members with a modern, functional space to train and respond from. 

“Projects such as this one demonstrate CFA’s commitment has to our regional and remote communities,” Bill said. 

Serpentine Fire Brigade currently has 46 members (43 male and 3 female), including 22 operational volunteers and 24 non-operational members. 

The brigade played a key role in the response to two major flooding events — in 2011 and again in 2022 — which significantly impacted the Loddon Valley. Members continue to respond to a wide range of incidents including grassfires, road crashes, and vehicle fires, particularly along the Loddon Valley Highway. 

Submitted by CFA Media
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Simon Birmingham appointed as ABA CEO

Source: Premier of Victoria

Former Federal Finance Minister and Senate Leader, The Hon. Simon Birmingham, will join the Australian Banking Association as Chief Executive Officer.

ABA Chair and National Australia Bank CEO Andrew Irvine today announced Mr Birmingham’s appointment, replacing retiring CEO, The Hon. Anna Bligh AC.

“We are delighted to have Simon lead our industry and help ensure Australian banks continue making the right decisions for customers and the broader economy,” Mr Irvine said.

“He is a recognised leader who has had deep involvement in significant and long-lasting policy decisions and actions throughout his career that have helped to shape our country.

“Simon’s ability to navigate difficult and complex environments, bringing together varied interests and perspectives, makes him ideal for this role. He will be a sensible, consistent and respected voice on behalf of the industry.”

Mr Birmingham served in the Australian Parliament as a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 2007 to 2025. His roles included Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Education and Training and Manager of Government Business in the Senate. He was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 until his retirement from the Senate.

Prior to politics, he worked with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia and the Australian Hotels Association. He is currently ANZ’s Head of Asia Pacific Engagement and Chairman, South Australia. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide.

“I thank the ABA board for their vote of confidence in my ability to lead this industry. As the ABA CEO I will always put trust in Australia’s banking system first, pursue a competitive regulatory environment, and work to ensure innovation in banking strengthens Australia’s financial interests. I also want to acknowledge ANZ for their support and encouragement through this process,” Mr Birmingham said.

“Banks are central to our economy, essential to businesses of all sizes and entrusted by Australians with their personal financial wellbeing. From trade and capital flows from large and international banks, to the choice offered by smaller banks, regional banks and customer-owned organisations, a strong, healthy, customer-focused financial services sector is vital for all Australians.”

Mr Birmingham will start on 18 August. Ms Bligh, who announced in February that she would retire after eight years as ABA CEO, will finish on 22 August.

“Anna has had a remarkable and lasting impact on this industry and how we look after our customers,” Mr Irvine said. We are enormously grateful for her time advocating for customers, particularly the disadvantaged, across financial services.”

For more information, visit the ABA’s website here.

Contact:  Mark Alexander, National Australia Bank (as ABA Chair bank), 0412 171 447

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Media Enquiries

For all media enquiries, please contact the NAB Media Line on 03 7035 5015

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SA Police spits the dummy on young driver offending

Source: New South Wales – News

A new campaign targeting young drivers launches today, highlighting the life-changing consequences of committing road safety offences.

The campaign message, ‘Lost your licence? Sucks to be you,’ highlights the lifestyle regression young drivers face if they lose their licence.

Last year 81 per cent of drivers who receive an Immediate Loss of Licence penalties were young drivers (16-24-year-olds).

SA Police State Operations Service Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said becoming a new driver should be a liberating time, but it comes with serious responsibilities.

“If a young driver loses their licence, the excitement of driving themselves to work, sport and social events will go back to relying on parents and public transport again – and that sucks,” he said.

“In addition to losing personal freedoms, young drivers should be aware of the risks of causing a loss of life or serious injuries from unsafe driving.

“Sadly, fatal and serious injury crashes resulting from at-fault young drivers is overrepresented in South Australia.”

In 2024, young drivers found to be at-fault in crashes, caused 11 deaths, making up 12 per cent of all lives lost on the roads and caused 100 serious injuries.

Minister for Police, Stephen Mullighan MP said this campaign will send a clear message to young male drivers.

“Young men are overrepresented in serious and fatal crashes which is why this campaign is deliberately targeting that cohort of drivers.

“Getting your driver’s licence is an exciting time that gives young people more freedom but it also comes with enormous responsibility.

“Losing a driver’s license can have big impacts on a young person’s professional and personal life so I strongly urge drivers to abide by the road rules and take care when driving.”