Source: New South Wales – News
Police are at the scene of a serious crash at Hackham West.
About 2.14pm today (Wednesday 18 June), police and emergency services were called to Glynville Drive after reports of a collision involving a car and motorcycle.
The rider suffered serious injuries.
Major Crash officers are attending the scene.
Please avoid the area if possible.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
The Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) relentless pursuit against GST fraud sees 3 more individuals sentenced in June 2025 under Operation Protego.
These latest sentencings bring the total of Operation Protego offenders convicted in May and June to 6, joining the ranks of over 100 individuals sentenced to date.
ATO Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) Chief John Ford said the recent convictions show that the ATO is bringing criminals who commit GST fraud to justice.
‘Our compliance and debt recovery actions demonstrate that we are addressing fraud. Where we see deliberate attempts to cheat the system, there will be severe consequences.’
‘These crooks face long-term consequences. Not only do they need to repay the money, but they now have a criminal record set in stone, which may affect their ability to secure employment, obtain finance or insurance and travel overseas.’
‘GST fraud steals funds that could have been used to support community services such as healthcare, infrastructure and education, instead of funding offenders’ personal luxuries,’ Mr Ford said.
The following sentencings show the ATO is working with cross-agency partners through the SFCT, including law enforcement agencies, to bring criminal consequences, not just financial consequences, for GST fraudsters:
These sentencing outcomes are a direct result of the ATO’s sustained and strategic efforts to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute serious financial crime.
Mr Ford said these results are not just numbers; they represent our strong and ongoing commitment to protecting the integrity of Australia’s tax and super systems.
These matters were prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.
You can confidentially report suspected tax crime or fraud to us by making a tip-off online or calling 1800 060 062.
For more information about Operation Protego including recent sentencings, visit ato.gov.au/protego.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Electricity provider Diamond Energy Pty Ltd has paid $46,950 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for allegedly breaching the Electricity Retail Code (the Code).
Under the Code, electricity retailers must provide certain information about pricing, such as the lowest possible price, to help consumers compare different electricity plans.
The three infringement notices relate to allegations that Diamond Energy failed to communicate mandatory information to three of its customers.
The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Diamond Energy in which it has admitted it contravened the Code.
Diamond Energy admitted that in June 2024 it sent communications to 12,809 customers which failed to include the required pricing information under the Code, when notifying these customers of price changes to their electricity plans.
Diamond Energy also admitted that it failed to include on its website some of the required pricing information under the Code between 1 January and 30 June 2024 in relation to 44 of its electricity plans, and then also between 1 July and 20 September 2024 in relation to a further 44 plans.
“By not disclosing the required pricing information to its customers, Diamond Energy has impacted consumers’ ability to make an informed decision when comparing prices across electricity retailers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
“It is vital that electricity retailers provide consumers with accurate information so they can compare and access the most competitive prices in the market.”
In the court-enforceable undertaking, Diamond Energy has committed to introduce a compliance program to ensure it complies with the Code.
“We will continue to monitor electricity providers to ensure they adequately disclose pricing information to consumers,” Ms Brakey said.
The Code requires retailers to include certain information when it communicates its offered prices to residential and small business customers by advertising or publishing the price, offering to supply electricity at that price, or notifying the customer of a change to the price.
Consumers who believe their retailer has failed to provide the required information should in the first instance contact their retailer, which is obliged to inform them of this information under the Code.
The undertaking is available at Diamond Energy Pty Ltd.
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain provisions of an industry code.
A person or business is not regarded has having contravened the provision of the industry code merely by paying the penalty specified in an infringement notice.
The Code applies to electricity retailers that supply electricity to residential and small business customers in applicable distribution regions in New South Wales, South Australia, and South East Queensland. Diamond Energy is a retail electricity supplier in these regions.
Since the Code was introduced in 2019, the ACCC has issued infringement notices to Locality Planning Energy, CovaU, ReAmped Energy and Dodo Power & Gas for allegedly failing to include certain mandatory information when communicating prices. The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from CovaU and Dodo in response to breaches of the Code.
In September 2024, the Federal Court ordered Energy Australia pay penalties of $14 million for making false, misleading or deceptive statements to around 566,000 consumers about electricity prices and failing to provide mandatory information required by the Code.
One of the ACCC’s Compliance and Enforcement Priorities for 2025-26 is ‘misleading pricing and claims in relation to essential services, with a particular focus on energy and telecommunications’.
Source: New South Wales Ministerial News
The City of Greater Bendigo will continue to focus on more targeted and meaningful engagement with older residents through its Let’s Talk community engagement website, events and activities but will discontinue its Positive Ageing Advisory Committee (PAAC).
City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environment Acting Director Andie West said in 2024 the City reviewed several advisory committees including the PAAC. The review found that in recent years the City has increased the range of positive ageing initiatives it provides to the community which has resulted in an increase in participation and interest.
“All members of the community can now have their say on a range of engagement opportunities via the City’s Let’s Talk website. This platform has proven an effective alternative to traditional advisory groups to capture the voice of older adults on a range of Council policies, projects and plans,” Ms West said.
“The review of the PAAC coupled with changes to the ways the City engages with community has led to the decision to discontinue the PAAC in its current form and will reinvest funds and resourcing so we have a greater reach and impact into the future.
“Since 2011, through the City’s Positive Ageing Strategy, All Ages All Abilities Action Plan and Positive Ageing Action Plan, the City has worked to support older adults to lead healthy, happy and resilient lives that encourage connection and participation through initiatives, events and programs.
“Recent surveys on the Let’s Talk website have shown that older adults will interact with the City using online channels and this approach will continue along with face-to-face forums to ensure resources are streamlined to deliver purposeful and impactful engagement in line with modern practices.
“In addition, a Positive Ageing Special Interest Group page called Ageing Well in Greater Bendigo has been established on Let’s Talk to enable targeted engagement and allow participants to contribute via a flexible, cost-effective, and relevant platform.
“The aim of this group page is to develop a network of interested community members and provide the opportunity for the voices of older people, advocates and service providers to be heard to help guide the City’s work with older people in the community.
“The page also provides opportunities for the City to invite those who have registered for the page to provide feedback on specific issues related to older adults.
“It is also proposed that an annual Ageing Well in Greater Bendigo Forum with an open invitation be held for older adults. This face-to-face forum would enable engagement on specific, focused topics of importance to them and Councillors could participate in the opportunity.
“In 2024 the City also hosted Be Well Be Connected Expos in Bendigo and Heathcote and this year in Elmore. The expos received extremely positive community and service provider feedback and have directly connected older adults with providers in their local communities.
“The expos have proven a fantastic way for older residents to link to services, provide feedback to the City on current projects and connect with others.
“The City would like to acknowledge and thank all past and current members for their service to the PACC over the past 15 years.”
Source: New South Wales Ministerial News
A new Revenue and Plan 2025-2029 has been adopted which outlines how revenue is calculated and collected.
Adopted at last Monday’s Council meeting, the Revenue and Rating Plan explains how the City of Greater Bendigo will raise funds to provide services, facilities and infrastructure over the next four years.
This includes finding the most appropriate and affordable rates approach for Greater Bendigo’s residents and businesses. It also includes principles for decision-making for other income sources such as fees and charges.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the new Rating and Revenue Plan provided responsible fiscal planning and is informed by the new Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029.
“The City provides around 60 services, maintains facilities and infrastructure and looks after important projects and initiatives. It must collect revenue to cover the costs for these services and assets,” Cr Metcalf said.
“The most significant revenue streams are from rates revenue, user fees and charges and government grants which together make up over 90% of council revenue each year.
“The total revenue raised for the 2025/2026 financial year is expected to be $263M with $160M from rates and charges, $28M from user charges, fees and fines, and $49M from government grants. In-kind contributions valued at $18M for infrastructure assets are expected to be given during the new fiscal year at no cost to the City. Capital works expenditure is estimated at nearly $70M.
“Greater Bendigo currently has different rating types for different properties, known as differential rates, to allow classes of properties to be assessed at different levels to the general rate set for the municipality. This allows for a more equal distribution of the rate burden, depending on the use of the land.
“In May, the community was invited to complete a Revenue and Rating Plan survey on the City’s engagement platform Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo.
“Drawing on community feedback from the survey and engagement throughout the Budget project, there is a change to the rates and charges structure for 2025/2026 across the different classes of land.
“This includes a 10% reduction in the Farm Land differential rate and 5% increase to the commercial and industrial differential rates to ensure there is a fair and equitable distribution of the rating burden across the different classes of land,” Cr Metcalf said.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia
Job ads down 2.8% nationally in May 2025
Linda
Source:
The evening was hosted by Vascular Access Specialist Nurse Consultant Eloise Borello and Novalie Morris, a current RCH patient and rising star who captivated the audience with her warmth and charm.
Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Children’s Hospital Dr Peter Steer addressed attendees to express his heartfelt gratitude to the community and supporters of the Appeal. He outlined how the funds will support life-changing advancements at the hospital, including a $3 million contribution towards regional health services.
Representing CFA was Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic and members from Bulla, Craigieburn, Pomonal, Werribee, and Epping brigades.
CFA has proudly supported the Good Friday Appeal for 74 years, and in 2025, our volunteers — with the support of their generous local communities — raised an impressive $1,888,912. This brings CFA’s total contribution over the years to a remarkable $41 million.
Across the state, CFA volunteers could be seen at traffic lights and in fire trucks collecting donations in their local communities, continuing a long-standing tradition of support for the RCH.
Funds raised through the Good Friday Appeal help ensure the hospital remains at the forefront of paediatric care, offering world-class treatment, the latest medical equipment, and vital research to give sick children the best possible start in life.
To learn more about the extraordinary impact of this support, we encourage you to read the latest Community Report, which highlights the many initiatives made possible through the funds raised and showcases the large number of volunteers, partners and donors who come from across Victoria to support the RCH.
| Submitted by | Georgina Hill |
|---|
Source: New South Wales Ministerial News
A new Financial Plan 2025–2035 has been adopted that sets a clear and responsible path for delivering services and infrastructure to support a growing and diverse community.
The City uses a financial model to forecast and monitor a 10-year projection of how it plans to fund the actions in the newly adopted Council Plan to achieve the Community Vision:
Greater Bendigo celebrates and respects our diverse and growing community. We aim to be welcoming, sustainable and flourishing. Walking hand-in-hand with our First Nations communities. Building on our heritage for a safe and happy future.
Developed through extensive community consultation, including a deliberative panel and annual Budget public engagement, the Financial Plan reflects a shared commitment to a responsible, healthy, thriving Greater Bendigo.
The Financial Plan forms part of the City’s Integrated Strategic Planning Framework, which connects long-term aspirations (Community Vision), medium-term goals (Council Plan), and short-term actions (Annual Budget), with progress tracked through the Annual Report. The plan was adopted at last Monday’s Council meeting.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the plan was essential for ensuring financial sustainability in the face of growing challenges.
“Council is committed to operating in a financially sustainable way for the benefit of the whole community,” Cr Metcalf said.
“With our population forecast to reach around 170,000 by 2046, we must take a disciplined approach to funding existing services and infrastructure, while planning for new initiatives to meet future needs.
“Rate capping by the Victorian Government continues to limit our income, while costs rise and service demands increase. The City currently delivers around 60 services and manages more than $2.9 billion in community assets, including roads, pools, footpaths, bridges, theatres, sports grounds, and playgrounds, with more built infrastructure needed to support population growth and diverse community needs.
“The Financial Plan provides a roadmap for maintaining resilience and delivering high-quality services and infrastructure. Achieving financial sustainability means making tough decisions about the role of local government in delivering services and maintaining assets. It’s important that both Council and the community understand that some services may need to change over the life of this plan.
“This plan ensures we remain financially resilient while continuing to support a vibrant, inclusive and future-ready Greater Bendigo.”
The Financial Plan is underpinned by a set of strategic financial principles to guide decision-making:
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Scam warning: The ACCC is aware that scammers may call, email or text to falsely offer to help get compensation from various businesses. They may use this media release about compensation to convince people their contact is real.
STOP – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure. Scammers will create a sense of urgency. Don’t rush to act. Don’t click on links even if the message appears to come from Optus. Say ‘no’, hang up, delete.
CHECK – Ask yourself could the call, email or text be fake? Scammers pretend to be from organisations and entities you know and trust. Contact the organisation using information you source independently, so that you can verify if it is real or not.
PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong. Contact your bank immediately if you lose money. If you have provided personal information call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. The more we talk the less power they have. Report scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service at scamwatch.gov.au when you see them.
Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) has admitted to engaging in unconscionable conduct when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, after court action brought by the ACCC.
In many instances the consumers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford what they were sold, and in some cases consumers were pursued for debts resulting from these sales.
Many of the affected consumers were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, having limited financial literacy or English not being a first language. Many of the consumers were First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of Australia.
As part of an agreement announced today, the ACCC and Optus will jointly ask the Federal Court to impose a total penalty of $100 million on Optus for breaching the Australian Consumer Law. It is a matter for the Court to decide whether the penalty is appropriate and to make other orders.
Optus has admitted that its sales staff acted unconscionably when selling phones and contracts to over 400 consumers at 16 different stores across Australia between August 2019 and July 2023. Examples of the conduct engaged in by the sales staff included:
Optus has also signed an undertaking, accepted by the ACCC, that it will compensate impacted consumers and improve its internal systems, the commencement of which is subject to the Court making relevant orders.
“The conduct, which included selling inappropriate, unwanted or unaffordable mobiles and phone plans to people who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage is simply unacceptable,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“During our investigation into this case, the ACCC heard many stories of the impact of this conduct on affected consumers.”
“Many of these consumers who were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage also experienced significant financial harm. They accrued thousands of dollars of unexpected debt and some were pursued by debt collectors, in some instances for years,” Ms Lowe said.
“It is not surprising, and indeed could and should have been anticipated, that this conduct caused many of these people significant emotional distress and fear.”
“We are particularly concerned that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue some of these consumers after it had launched internal investigations into the sales conduct,” Ms Lowe said.
“Optus has admitted to this conduct and has appropriately committed to changing its systems. It has begun compensating affected consumers.”
“We are grateful to the many advocates, financial counsellors and carers who assisted the impacted individuals. We also thank the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for their role in drawing these issues to our attention.”
Optus has admitted that the inappropriate sales practices affected many consumers in its two Darwin stores and 24 individuals in stores around Australia.
In respect of the Mount Isa store, which has now closed, Optus pursued debts in circumstances where its senior management knew that those debts related to contracts for goods and services that had been or might have been created without the knowledge of the affected consumers, the majority of whom were First Nations Australians from Mount Isa and the Northern Territory.
Optus’s senior management became increasingly aware that Optus staff were engaging in the inappropriate sales practices and that Optus’s systems and controls could not stop the conduct. Optus acknowledged it failed to promptly take steps to fix deficiencies in its systems, which allowed the conduct to continue.
Commission-based sales arrangements for Optus’s sales staff had the potential to incentivise the inappropriate sales conduct, despite the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code requiring Optus, from 17 June 2022, to have regard to the ACCC’s best practice recommendations, which recommend businesses avoid commission-based selling because of its potential to exacerbate the vulnerability of consumers.
This case follows similar ACCC action against Telstra, which was ordered in May 2021 to pay a $50 million penalty for engaging in unconscionable conduct when it sold mobile contracts to 108 Indigenous consumers between at least 1 January 2016 and about 27 August 2018.
Optus has given an undertaking to provide remediation and has started compensating consumers. It has undertaken to address claims through a clear resolution process.
Optus has undertaken to make a $1 million donation to an organisation facilitating digital literacy of First Nations Australians.
Optus has undertaken to review its complaint handling, improve staff training, change its debt collection systems, and make other changes to systems and procedures.
It has undertaken to change the remuneration structure of sales staff to disincentivise them from engaging in similar conduct.
It has also commenced buying back 34 Optus licensee stores in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.
Consumers who think they may have been impacted by conduct similar to that outlined in the undertaking can call Optus’s specialist customer care team on 1300 082 820 for further information or support.
The undertaking offered by Optus, and accepted by the ACCC, is available at Optus Mobile Pty Ltd. It will come into force once the court makes final orders.
A First Nations consumer, who speaks English as a second language and lives in a remote community with no Optus coverage, was approached by Optus staff outside an Optus store and pressured to enter. They did not want or need a new phone. They thought staff were offering them a free phone and other free products and felt pressured by staff to accept.
They were contracted to two high-end phones, three phone plans, two Device Protect services and one accessories bundle, which had a total minimum cost of $3,808 over 24 months. The following day, the consumer was entered into a second contract for a phone plan and accessories, for a total minimum of $540. The consumer was not informed there was no coverage at their home address, and false information was entered into their credit check. The consumer had their debt referred to debt collectors and was contacted on many occasions by the debt collector. The consumer sought the assistance of a financial counsellor as they did not understand what the debt related to.
Another consumer, who lives with an intellectual disability, attended an Optus store with a support worker to purchase a $20 pre-paid recharge for their phone. The consumer’s main source of income was the disability support pension. They were told by Optus staff that they could get a new phone and a free speaker for $30 a month, and were pressured into the purchase.
Optus staff added a false ABN to their account and manipulated credit checks. The consumer was entered into three separate contracts for a phone, plans and a smart watch and accessories, which they could not afford and would cost over $8,000 over 36 months. The consumer went to a community legal centre who assisted them with cancelling the contracts with Optus.
In 2019 an internal Optus investigation into customer accounts at the Optus store in Mount Isa resulted in a report that identified that the store manager had falsified identification documents and consumer information to create services and had used the identities of First Nations consumers who were not aware that their identities had been used. The report identified 82 contracts that appeared to have been fraudulently completed without consumer knowledge.
After Optus was notified of the conduct the subject of the report, including through its senior management, it referred and sold outstanding debts associated with some of those contracts to third party debt collection and factoring agencies. Some consumers whose identities were associated with the relevant customer accounts were subject to threats of legal proceedings being commenced against them and of reporting defaults to credit reporting bodies. Some customers continued to be pursued by third party collections agencies until as late as July 2024 and Optus had not taken steps to stop that occurring.
Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.
In Australia, Optus’s retail stores are either:
The ACCC commenced court action against Optus on 31 October 2024. The investigation was prompted by a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
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 18/06/2025
The ACT Government is investing over $15 million in practical, targeted justice initiatives to ensure vulnerable Canberrans can continue to access the legal services they need, when they need them.
The 2025–26 ACT Budget is supporting key legal assistance services, justice reform initiatives, and the growing need for responsive support for victims of crime, people on low income, women, First Nations peoples and culturally diverse communities.
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said the Budget would strengthen frontline legal services and improve outcomes for people facing disadvantage, hardship or discrimination.
“We know that early access to the right legal advice can make a huge difference, especially for those facing complex barriers to justice,” Minister Cheyne said.
“This Budget delivers for the community. It supports culturally safe, accessible legal help, expands frontline capacity in our courts, and continues critical programs that put the needs of vulnerable people at the centre of the justice system.”
Key measures in the 2025–26 ACT Budget include:
Treasurer Chris Steel said the Government was investing in long-term justice capability while continuing to target the areas of greatest community need.
“The ACT has a proud record of social justice and legal inclusion. These investments ensure justice is not just a principle, but a lived reality for people who need support the most,” Minister Steel said.
“We’re taking a whole-of-system view, supporting frontline organisations, reforming service delivery, and improving our ability to respond to challenges through programs like the Intermediary Service and increased court capacity.”
This package builds on the ACT Government’s commitment to a fair, inclusive and accessible justice system, especially for people who experience disadvantage or barriers in engaging with legal processes.
“By building legal capability and ensuring services are culturally safe and responsive, we’re not only supporting individuals, we’re reducing the long-term burden on the justice system as a whole,” Minister Cheyne said.
– Statement ends –
Chris Steel, MLA | Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases
