Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The Federal Court has found that fashion retailer Fewstone, trading as City Beach, breached the Australian Consumer Law by selling a range of consumer novelty products that did not comply with mandatory button battery safety and information standards.

The Court found that between June 2022 and October 2024 City Beach sold more than 60 product types containing button batteries that did not comply with the button battery safety and/or information standards. The products included toys, digital notepads, keyrings, lights and light-up Jibbitz accessories for Crocs shoes.

The Court also found that, during this period, City Beach supplied the non-compliant button battery products on more than 54,000 occasions.

“We brought this case because we believed the wide array of non-compliant products sold by City Beach exposed consumers to unacceptable safety risks,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“Button batteries are incredibly dangerous for young children, and compliance with Australia’s button battery safety and information standards is critical.”

“This decision by the Court should send a strong warning to retailers and manufacturers that supply of consumer goods powered by button batteries which do not comply with the standards risk enforcement action by the ACCC,” Ms Lowe said.

This was the first proceeding to be brought by the ACCC for an alleged breach of the button battery safety standards.

As well as making declarations, the Court ordered City Beach to implement a consumer law compliance program and undertake advertising as part of its voluntary recall of the products in question.

The Court has reserved its decision on penalty and costs.

To check if a product has been recalled, visit the ACCC product safety website or contact City Beach.

Examples of the recalled products subject to the court proceedings

Background

The ACCC commenced Federal Court proceedings against City Beach in April 2025.

City Beach is a national retailer primarily offering surf and skate consumer goods including clothing, accessories and novelty items.

Button batteries pose a significant risk to young children. If swallowed, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in serious lifelong injuries or death. Insertion into body parts such as the ears or nose can also lead to serious injuries.

In Australia, three children have died from inserting or ingesting button batteries. Children up to 5 years of age are at greatest risk of injury from button batteries.

Australia’s mandatory button battery standards, which came into effect in June 2022, aim to reduce the risk of death or serious injury caused by button batteries.

The safety standard requires products to have secure battery compartments that are designed to be resistant to being opened by children. This is to prevent children from gaining access to button batteries. The information standard requires safety warnings to be provided with products, including seeking urgent medical advice in certain circumstances.

Source: Tasmania Police

Road Safety Operations – Wynyard and Ulverstone

Friday, 12 December 2025 – 10:55 am.

Police conducting road safety operations at Wynyard and Ulverstone yesterday caught three drink drivers, two drug drivers, and eight drivers using their mobile phone.
Officers from Western Road Policing Services conducted the first operation on the Bass Highway at Ulverstone, focusing on mobile phones.
They issued eight infringement notices within one hour.
The second operation was conducted on the Old Bass Highway at Wynyard with a focus on drink and drug drivers.
The operation resulted in 281 random breath tests, one vehicle defect notice, three drivers detected exceeding the 0.05 limit, and two drivers failing roadside drug tests.

The drink drivers included:
• A 58-year-old Wynyard man – 0.113.
• A 35-year-old Somerset man – 0.090.
• A 34-year-old Boat Harbour man – 0.065.

The three men will receive a summons to appear in court.
Acting Inspector Martin Parker said oral fluid samples were collected from the two drivers who failed the roadside drug tests, and those samples will undergo further analysis before any potential charges are determined.
“It is disappointing that some individuals continue to disregard the law and endanger other road users by undertaking risky driving behaviours, such as using mobile phones while driving, drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs,” Acting Inspector Parker said.
“Police will continue to conduct targeted and random patrols on Tasmania’s roads to curb high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink driving, inattention, using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts. These factors overwhelmingly contribute to serious and fatal crashes.”
“We encourage the public to report dangerous driving and traffic offences to police on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Reports can also be made through our website.”

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

12 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

All International airlines and aircraft operators, airline representatives, air crews and their contracted service providers operating international flights to Australia.

What has changed?

​​Since 1 October 2023, the inflight traveller announcement video and audio message available on the department’s website have been the only authorised versions for use on international flights to Australia.

​Any previous…

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

12 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

All Biosecurity Industry Participants subscribed to receive Import Industry Advice Notice notifications from the department.

All Biosecurity Industry Participants who utilise / engage with the departments import-related IT systems for the management of imported cargo, conveyances and inspection booking services, including those who subscribe to receive email notifications for departmental Import Industry Advice Notices.

…

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to authorise the Australasian Performing Right Association’s (APRA) musical works licensing arrangements for five years, subject to stronger conditions aimed at improving the association’s accountability and transparency.

APRA, a collecting society holding performing rights for virtually all musical works played or performed in Australia, has had arrangements authorised in some form for 26 years. APRA’s current authorisation is terminating, and APRA is seeking a further authorisation. As part of the process of considering a new authorisation, the ACCC has consulted widely with relevant stakeholders.

If renewed, the Authorisation would enable APRA to continue to act collectively for its member copyright holders, to issue licences and collect revenue from businesses in Australia that broadcast or utilise music in their businesses, and to distribute those royalties and fees to copyright holders.

APRA’s members and licensees told the ACCC that APRA lacks transparency in setting licence fees and in distributing royalties to its songwriter members, while the ACCC considers that the exclusivity of the Association’s arrangements significantly increases its market power.

“The only option for many businesses that rely on playing music, such as bars and broadcasters, is to obtain and pay for a licence from APRA,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

“As APRA is a near monopoly, there is a greater chance its arrangements could adversely impact these businesses, such as through higher licence fees. However, we also understand that it is more efficient for APRA members to collect royalties jointly, rather than having artists independently negotiate and collect royalties directly from each business that plays their music.”

“We also recognise that APRA’s arrangements protect the rights of creators, by ensuring that they are paid for the use of their music,” Mr Keogh said.

The conditions contained in the proposed authorisation aim to improve APRA’s accountability and transparency by requiring consultative reviews for new or amended schemes and arrangements.

“The conditions also seek to ensure that royalty payments reflect the way in which music is used, which supports incentives for future music creation,” Mr Keogh said.

Under the proposed authorisation, APRA will also be required to undertake periodic reviews of its licence schemes and distribution arrangements. The Association must also consider feedback received from stakeholders during the reviews.

“We know that the music industry is changing globally,” Mr Keogh said.

“Now most music is delivered to consumers by international online businesses, such as Spotify and YouTube Music, leading to structural changes in the way that music is licensed.”

“These new licensing models may open the door for more competition to APRA in at least some areas of its business,” Mr Keogh said.

“We are seeking more information on this from market participants, such as affected licensees, and will consider this in future authorisations.”

The ACCC is also seeking to introduce new measures to APRA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme to support the resolution of disputes between groups of members or licensees and APRA. The ACCC also proposes to clarify the range of matters that can be dealt with through the scheme, which will include disputes between APRA’s members.

While the ACCC does not have a role in regulating or approving APRA’s actions generally, it does have a role in authorising its arrangements where APRA acts on behalf of potential competitors and would otherwise risk breaching competition laws.

The ACCC is seeking submissions on its draft decision, including on the proposed conditions, by 16 February 2026.

Further information, including details about how to make a submission, and a copy of APRA’s application for reauthorisation, are available on the ACCC’s Public Register at Australasian Performing Right Association Limited.

Note to editors

Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.

Background

APRA was established in Australia in 1926 and has approximately 124,000 members, consisting of composers, songwriters and music publishers who give their copyrights to APRA.

APRA also has 145,000 licensees; businesses that pay a licence fee to APRA to perform in public or communicate musical works, such as cafes, retailers and broadcasters. APRA then distributes the licence fee revenue to its members, as royalties.

Historically, interested parties have consistently raised concerns about APRA’s conduct in relation to licence fees, the terms on which it distributes royalties, and its level of transparency in its dealing with licensees and members.

In its previous authorisation decisions, the ACCC sought to reduce likely public detriments by imposing conditions to increase APRA’s transparency as well as requiring it to maintain an ADR scheme. The ADR scheme provided a more accessible alternative to the Copyright Tribunal, particularly for small licensees.

On 6 February 2024, APRA lodged an application seeking authorisation of certain aspects of its activities as a collecting society for music copyright royalties. It was granted interim authorisation on 19 June 2024 to allow it to continue its arrangements for the acquisition and licensing of performing rights in musical works while the ACCC considers the current application.

The ACCC received more than 24 submissions on APRA’s current authorisation application, many of which raised concerns with the Association’s level of transparency and accountability, particularly with respect to setting and collecting licence fees and distributing royalties.

Source: Australian Capital Territory – State Government

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Source: Tasmania Police

Man in custody following Newnham house fire

Friday, 12 December 2025 – 9:17 am.

A man has been arrested following a fire at a Newnham property in the early hours of this morning.
Police received multiple calls from the public just after midnight when a man was reportedly seen running from the George Town Road address.
Multiple Tasmania Fire Service crews responded and the fire was contained before a 34 year old Launceston man was arrested by police.
He remains in custody and is assisting police with their inquiries.
Anyone with information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously. Quote ESCAD number 000006-12122025.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Australia’s stevedores are charging record high prices and making historic profits despite having significant spare capacity in ports and with their costs and productivity remaining relatively stable in recent years, the ACCC’s Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report 2024-25 shows.

In 2024-25, stevedoring profits rose for the fifth year in a row, reaching historical highs across most metrics measured by the ACCC.

Stevedores are now charging a higher total price per container, in real terms, than at any time since the ACCC began monitoring the container stevedoring industry 27 years ago.

The report concludes that a Government policy or regulatory response is likely required to address apparent market failures and improve Australia’s container freight supply chain to the benefit of households and businesses.

The ACCC uses total real revenue per container lift as a proxy for the total stevedoring price paid per container. The stevedoring industry’s total real revenue per lift has increased by $21.93 (or 5.5 per cent) in 2024-25 and $68.88 (or 19.4 per cent) since 2019-20, to a historical high of $423.11 per container in 2024-25.

Over the past five years, using real earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) as an example, the stevedoring industry’s real:

• operating profit has increased by $457.8 million (or 130.5%), to a historical high of $808.6 million in 2024-25
• operating profit margin has increased by 14.5 percentage points, to a historical high of 34.8% in 2024-25
• return on average tangible assets has increased by 29.5 percentage points, to a historical high of 45% in 2024-25.

The report also compares the profitability of the stevedoring industry with other companies in the transportation and industrials sectors. It shows the stevedoring industry’s profitability in 2024 was higher than the transportation sector across all metrics the ACCC used, and higher than the industrials sector across most metrics.  

“These are very high short run returns for an industry with significant spare capacity at ports, stable costs and stable productivity,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“Typically, we would expect to see excess terminal capacity placing downward pressure on the stevedores’ prices and short run profits. The fact that stevedores are performing better than they were prior to entry of Hutchison, a time when the industry was operating as a capacity constrained duopoly, raises serious concern about how this market is operating.”

Landside charges the main driver of rising prices and profits

In recent years, stevedores have significantly increased the fees that transport companies have to pay to collect or drop off containers, known as landside charges.

“Over the years, landside charges have gone from a relatively small part of revenue to a major driver of profit for the industry,” Ms Brakey said.

In 2024-25, the stevedoring industry collected almost half (49.5 per cent or $1.15 billion) of its revenue from landside charges. This is almost equal to the entire investment that the stevedores have made collectively over the past 8 years ($1.25 billion).

More than $642 million of the $1.15 billion in landside charges revenue came from terminal access charges alone, which stevedores previously described as infrastructure levies.  

“The stevedoring industry began to significantly increase terminal access charges in 2017 and since then they’ve collected over $3 billion in terminal access charges,” Ms Brakey said.

“We are concerned that stevedores can increase these charges, and thereby their profitability, independent of the underlying market conditions”.

“These unavoidable costs land first on trucking companies, who then pass them on to importers and exporters, who have no real way to avoid or negotiate them. With similar charges across terminals and lack of ability or incentives for most importers and exporters to switch stevedores, they cannot influence these costs through competition,” Brakey said.

“Targeted reform is likely needed to ensure there are effective competitive constraints on stevedores to support the supply chain. Without it, Australian businesses and households will ultimately pay the price through higher costs.”

Stevedoring industry total revenue per lift

Background

The ACCC has monitored the container stevedoring industry since 1998-99, under a direction from the Australian Government.

Container stevedoring involves lifting containers on and off ships. The ACCC currently monitors the prices, costs and profits of container stevedores at five Australian container ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney.

Stevedores levy fixed charges, including terminal access charges and vehicle booking fees on transport operators for every laden container transport operators collect from, or drop off at, stevedores’ terminals. Stevedores also levy a range of incentive-based and ancillary charges on transport operators.

These fixed and incentive-based charges are collectively known as ‘landside charges’.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has seized multiple prohibited items, including Privately Manufactured Firearms (PMFs), during two search operations in Nhulunbuy as part of an investigation into the illegal manufacture of firearms.

Search warrants were executed on 13 October and 10 December 2025 at a Nhulunbuy property, where several 3D-printed firearms and associated components were seized. Police also located gel blasters, metal and gel ball bearings, a bayonet, a laser sight attachment, suppressors, additional PMF parts, 3D-printed magazines, 3D-printed ammunition, and spent cartridges.

A 22-year-old man has been charged and will appear before Nhulunbuy Local Court on 16 December 2025.

Acting Senior Sergeant Aaron Chapman of the Firearms Policy and Recording Unit said, “Privately Manufactured Firearms pose a real and serious safety risk to all Territorians. FPRU is dedicated to protecting the community.

“Manufacturing firearms without approval is a serious offence carrying penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment. It creates an unacceptable risk to community safety.”

“We will investigate, locate, and prosecute anyone involved in illegal firearms or the manufacture of PMFs.

This complex investigation was led by the Firearms Policy and Recording Unit (FPRU), supported by specialist NT Police units and Australian Border Force (ABF), demonstrating strong collaboration between agencies to disrupt the manufacture and possession of prohibited firearms.

Police urge anyone with information about the manufacture of firearms, including 3D-printed weapons, to contact police on 131 444 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Australian Mines and Metals Association – AMMA

Statement by AREEA Chief Executive, Steve Knott AM 

AREEA welcomes the Queensland Government’s Energy Roadmap as clear recognition that coal, gas and Queensland’s wider resources sector remain absolutely essential to keeping the lights on, industry running and regional communities thriving.  

AREEA also welcomes the Government’s commitment to progressing enabling projects like CopperString. Unlocking the North West Minerals Province and expanding gas supply means more investment, more production and more high-quality Queensland jobs.  

It’s encouraging to see the Government acknowledge what employers and workers already know – reliable, affordable energy still depends on a strong resources industry. 

But the Roadmap will only deliver if governments at all levels work together to address logjams in the approvals system and ensure projects are not stuck in bureaucratic limbo, putting Queensland’s competitive edge at risk. 

AREEA stands ready to work with the Queensland Government to ensure this Roadmap strengthens, not stalls, the resources sector and the communities that depend on it.  

ENDS

Click here for a PDF copy of this media statement, including media contact details.