Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Due to an increase in police demand, Katherine police have increased proactive measures in order to drive down crime and antisocial behaviour.

Alcohol remains a primary catalyst for crime an anti-social behaviour across the region, and in response, police have significantly increased Banned Drinkers Orders (BDO) for problem drinkers.

February to April saw a 354% increase in the number of BDO’s issued. For the month of April, 145 people were rejected from purchasing alcohol due to an active BDO.

In addition to these measures, since March 2025, 280 SupportLink referrals have been made by Katherine Police. Support Link delivers targeted referral and diversion services to people who require social services assistance. These referrals can be made to address issues such as domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol dependence, drug and alcohol diversions and homelessness.

Commander Terry Zhang said, “Our members have seen a noticeable increase in the demand for our services due to a sudden surge of people into the Katherine Region.

“In response to this, we have shifted to proactively tackling the drivers of crime and antisocial behaviour through support services and alcohol restrictions. In addition to these changes, we will also welcome a further 15 new constables who will start in Katherine from mid-June to further enhance our targeted operations.

“Police have also continued to work closely with other organisations in Katherine. This includes working with the local council on early morning patrols focused on rough sleepers, and a joint operation with Public Housing Officers targeting problem tenancies.

“Police would like to thank the Katherine Community for their ongoing support and re-iterate our commitment to keeping the Katherine community safe.”

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Australia’s two largest airline groups have both recorded strong financial results for the first half of 2024-25, reflecting a number of factors including strong ongoing demand for flying and limited domestic competition, the ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition report has found.

Qantas Group reported earnings before interest and taxes of $1.5 billion for the first half of 2024-25, with $916 million coming from its domestic operations across both Qantas and Jetstar.

Of the Qantas Group’s total earnings, Qantas Domestic, including Qantaslink, contributed the highest share of the group’s earnings at $647 million. Much of this result can be attributed to the airline’s dominance in the corporate travel market – Qantas Group had an 80 per cent share of the corporate travel market over the reporting period, coinciding with a resurgence in demand.

“The high half-yearly earnings reported by Qantas Group reflect its dominance of the domestic airline sector, with Qantas and Jetstar accounting for over 60 per cent of passengers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

The domestic operations of Jetstar recorded the biggest increase in earnings across the Qantas Group, increasing by 53.7 per cent between the first half 2023-24 and 2024-25, to $269 million. Jetstar Domestic became the sole low-cost carrier in Australia after the exit of Tigerair in 2020, and again when Bonza collapsed in April 2024.

“Jetstar has been able to capitalise on the continued absence of competitive pressure from another low-cost carrier in the domestic market to increase its market share and operating margin,” Ms Brakey said.

While Virgin Australia does not publicly report half-year results, its then CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said in February that the airline group had achieved record profits in the first half of the current financial year, following its post-administration restructure under Bain Capital.

After the withdrawal of Rex from routes connecting capital cities, Virgin Australia has increased its share of passengers to 34.4 per cent in March 2025, up from 31.3 per cent from a year prior. Virgin Australia also secured three of Rex’s Boeing 737 aircraft leases, which has facilitated its ability to add seat capacity and improve network resilience.

Record passenger volumes in April following weather disruptions in March

Although the data was not yet available for this report, airlines and airports were expecting a significant increase in travellers in April with school holidays, Easter and ANZAC day all condensed into a three-week period. Airservices Australia noted that 17 April 2025 (the Thursday before Good Friday) was the busiest day for domestic travel in the past five years.

This follows disruptions to travel in March, when passenger levels declined by 4.9 per cent compared to March 2024, which can be attributed to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and associated severe weather events along the east coast of Australia.

Flights operating between Brisbane-Sydney and Brisbane-Melbourne experienced a 9.9 per cent and 9 per cent reduction in passengers in March 2025 respectively. Meanwhile, Gold Coast and Maroochydore airports experienced the biggest decline in passengers over this period by 30.2 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively.

The weather disruptions also contributed to the average industry flight cancellation rate increasing significantly in March 2025 to 5 per cent, compared to the long-term industry average of 2.2 per cent.

Despite the disruptions caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the on-time arrival rate has improved over the past six months to levels just below the long-term industry average of 80.7 per cent. The average industry on-time arrival rate was 80.2 per cent in March 2025, an improvement from 74.5 per cent in October 2024.

“It is encouraging to see the on-time arrival rate improving as this means travellers can have more confidence that their flight will arrive at the time they booked,” Ms Brakey said.

Seasonal patterns driving recent movements in airfares

Following a peak in October 2024, the average airfare fell by 16.1 per cent in the three months to January 2025, before increasing again by 9.6 per cent by March 2025.

“The trends observed in average airfares since January reflect seasonal factors and are broadly consistent with those observed in previous years,” Ms Brakey said.

“Average airfares have come down from their peak in October 2024.”

Demand for domestic air travel in the first quarter of 2025 was lower than 12 months prior. However, 2024 was a particularly unusual year by comparison due to significant events that led to unprecedented demand for flights to Melbourne and Sydney, such as the Taylor Swift concerts in February 2024, which in turn led to higher airfares as demand outstripped supply. The Easter long weekend also fell in March last year which contributed to the increase in demand for travel during this time.

Background

On 6 November 2023, the Treasurer directed the ACCC to recommence domestic air passenger transport monitoring. Under this direction the ACCC is to monitor prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of domestic air passenger transport services for a period of three years and to report on its monitoring at least once every quarter.

The ACCC collects data from Jetstar, Qantas, Rex and Virgin Australia for monitoring purposes.

Rex entered voluntary administration in July 2024 but continues to operate its regional services. The government is guaranteeing regional flight bookings for Rex customers throughout the voluntary administration process.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Greater Bendigo residents are invited to have their say on the potential sale of a number of City of Greater Bendigo owned properties.

The City manages a portfolio of close to 1,500 property assets valued in excess of $577 million that provide for community, sports and arts infrastructure, public space to serve the community.

The properties that have been identified as potentially surplus are located at:

• Rear 158 Eaglehawk Road, Long Gully (carpark)
• 519 Crusoe Road, Lockwood – Previous Lockwood Tennis Club
• Crown Allotment 10, Huntly-Fosterville Road, Fosterville
• Settlement Road, Elmore
• CA 61C Houliston Road, Leichardt
• Leichardt Hall and Tennis Courts, Cleary Road Leichardt
• 3 Lona Close, Spring Gully
• 6 The Strand, Kennington

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said following a detailed review of City owned property holdings, a number of properties have been identified that are not planned for future use, in line with any City strategies or plans.

“The properties are potentially surplus to the City’s needs and if they are identified as surplus at a future Council meeting, the City may sell them by private treaty, public auction or other arrangement with the proceeds of any sale to be set aside and used for future building or land improvements or strategic land purchases,” Cr Metcalf said.

“As the population grows and demographics of various areas change, there are different building and land needs.  In some areas where there is substantial population growth such as the outer urban areas of Bendigo there may be a requirement for new community or sporting facilities, or open space to meet needs. However, in other areas, due to a shift in demographics, buildings and open space may no longer be used or be fit for purpose, or in some instances are adequately provided elsewhere.

“The City has a commitment to consult with the community in line with its Community Engagement Policy and the Local Government Act 2020 and residents are invited to make any comments on whether the properties should be identified as surplus by Friday June 20, 2025.

“All comments and submissions we receive during the consultation period will be considered and a report will be prepared and presented to Council.

“Council will not make any decision on the identification of the properties as surplus for sale until all community comments have been considered.”

Comments and written submissions can be submitted by Friday June 20.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a 21-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery in Sadadeen on 27 April.

He was arrested yesterday afternoon by members of the Southern Investigations team and was subsequently charged with aggravated robbery. He is remanded to appear in Alice Springs Local Court today.

The 24-year-old male arrested on 2 May 2025 was subsequently charged with Aggravated robbery and was remanded to re-appear in Alice Springs Local Court on 5 June 2025.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

Parents, students and teachers are invited to make a submission to inform the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review which has been launched by the Albanese Labor Government. 

The Anti-Bullying Rapid Review is a key part of the Government’s plans to develop a national approach to addressing bullying in Australian schools. 

The Review, being led by Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM, is examining current school procedures and best practice methods to address bullying behaviours.

The Review will consult broadly with key stakeholders across metropolitan and regional Australia, including parents, teachers, students, parent groups, state education departments and the non-government sector. 

Submissions will help in understanding the different approaches to responding to bullying in schools and the effectiveness of them.

Bullying has no place in our schools. Students, teachers and staff should always feel safe in the classroom.

That’s why we will listen to parents, students, teachers and staff to develop a national strategy that is grounded in evidence and informed by lived experiences.

The final report of the Review will be presented to all Australian Education Ministers in coming months. 

Submissions are now open and close on 20 June 2025. 

Visit www.education.gov.au/antibullying-rapid-review to make a submission, which can be made anonymously if preferred.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Bullying is not just something that happens in schools, but schools are places where we can intervene and provide support for students.

“All students and staff should be safe at school, and free from bullying and violence.

“That’s why we’re taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools. 

“Last year we worked together to ban mobile phones in schools. This is another opportunity for us to support students, teachers and parents across the country. 

“We will listen to parents, teachers, students and work with the states and territories to get this right.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Just after 5.20pm on Sunday 18 May police were called to Angle Vale Road with the intersection of Stebonheath Road to reports of a crash between a Ford SUV and a Hyundai sedan.

The occupants of the Hyundai, a 75-year-old woman and her 80-year-old male passenger from Waterloo Corner, together with the driver of the Ford, a 44-year-old Gawler West woman were taken to hospital for the treatment of injuries.

Sadly last night the passenger of the Hyundia, died in hospital.

The driver of the Hyundia remains in hospital in a serious condition.

The driver of the Ford was treated for minor injuries.

Major Crash Investigators will now examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The man’s death is the 33^rd life lost of the roads this year.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is aware of media reporting that the ATO has been ‘hacked’. This is incorrect. The ATO’s systems are secure, resilient and have not been compromised.

The safety of taxpayers’ information is of the utmost importance to us, and the ATO continues to remain vigilant for new and emerging cyber threats.

If an individual sees unusual activity on their ATO account, it may be related to identity theft. Identity information can be compromised in a variety of ways, including requests for information by malicious actors, phishing emails, large-scale data breaches, and individual device or home network hacking.

When the ATO suspects that a taxpayer’s identity may be compromised, the ATO activates stringent security measures to protect the taxpayer.

If an individual is found to be a victim of third-party fraud, we will work with them to fix their client account and remediate it to its true and genuine position. The ATO will then work to recover the monies.

In the past year, the ATO has introduced a range of measures to better protect client identity and accounts. The ATO will soon be deploying additional security features in the ATO app, which will enable taxpayers to better protect themselves. This includes the ability to receive secure messages from the ATO when key information, such as bank account details, are changed.

The ATO continues to encourage individuals to use myID when interacting with the ATO’s online services and to set up to the highest identity strength where possible to make it harder for fraudsters to exploit their identities.

The ATO reminds taxpayers to be wary of scam emails, phone calls and text messages claiming to be from the ATO, particularly at Tax Time. The ATO may use SMS or email to ask taxpayers to contact us, but will never send an unsolicited message containing a hyperlink to log on to online services. Always access ATO services directly by typing ato.gov.au or my.gov.au into your browser.

If taxpayers have divulged personal information, such as your myGov details, or paid a scammer, they should contact the ATO immediately on 1800 008 540 so they can take appropriate steps to protect your information. In addition to calling the ATO, if taxpayers think their identity has been compromised and it has impacted their tax affairs, they should also inform their tax agent.

The ATO encourages the community to engage with them through reportscams@ato.gov.au or refer to ato.gov.au/scams for more information on how to spot and report ATO Impersonation Scams.

Notes to journalists

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 19 May 2025

The Queensland Government will help safeguard populations of purple-necked rock-wallabies through a $364,000 offset program that will improve crucial habitat in the state’s northwest.

The four-year offset project will fund environmental improvements on Chidna Station, which is a 26,000-hectare pastoral lease property around 130 kilometres north of Mount Isa.

Chidna Station features rugged, rough country of breathtaking beauty that provides ideal habitat for the purple-necked rock wallaby along with other threatened species.

The offset project will be a collaboration between the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and environmental management group Conservation Partners.

Conservation Partners have developed a strategic management plan for the purple-necked rock-wallabies, and will focus on the following pivotal actions:

• Fire Break Maintenance – Fire breaks can help contain and reduce the impacts of bushfires.
• Prescribed Burning – Planned burns will foster habitat diversity and promote growth of plant species that purple-necked rock-wallabies browse upon.
• Fire Scar Mapping – High-resolution mapping and analysis of historical data will evaluate the success of fire management strategies for purple-necked rock-wallaby habitat.
• Population monitoring – Surveys will evaluate the effects of fire management strategies on purple-necked rock-wallaby population dynamics.

Acting Deputy Director General Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Kahil Lloyd said the Queensland Government is committed to protecting and conserving our populations of threatened species.

“This collaborative offset project represents a significant step forward in boosting populations of an at-risk species on privately-owned land,” Mr Lloyd said.

“I’d like to thank the landholder at Chidna Station for their dedication to conservation and protecting the natural and cultural values of their property.

“Conservation Partners have vast experience in habitat and species management and through this project will build upon the exceptional work of the department’s threatened species unit.

“Our Offsets Framework is just one of the ways that we are making a difference to our threatened species.”

Conservation Partners Chief Executive Steve Murphy said the organisation works closely with private landholders to conserve Queensland’s threatened species.

“Conservation Partners works on stations in western Queensland, the Gulf and Cape York Peninsula, and many cattle stations have important conservation values,” he said.

“Over the next four years we will work with Indigenous landowner Brussie Spreadborough to improve fire patterns on Chidna Station, mainly using aerial prescribed burning.

“We’ll also closely monitor the impact on Purple-necked Rock-wallabies as well as Chidna’s other endangered wildlife populations, such as Carpentarian Grasswrens and Gouldian Finches.”

Brussie Spreadborough said the partnership with Conservation Partners is a win-win situation.

“Working with Conservation Partners means that I can concentrate on cattle, while also having a hand in good conservation work that looks after the native wildlife that lives on my place,” he said.

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 19 May 2025

Rangers are reminding fishers to be alert on K’gari after a man was bitten by a dingo whilst fishing in knee deep water around 11:30am near Eurong on 16 May 2025.

The man was fishing alone when he was approached from behind by the dingo. It bit him on the back of the leg, resulting in two puncture wounds and a small superficial laceration which required basic first aid treatment.

The man told rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) that the dingo was almost fully submerged in the water at the time of the incident.

He was wearing a fishing bag containing a fish, and rangers believe the dingo may have been attracted by the smell.

After being bitten, the man used his fishing rod to make contact with the dingo.

In addition to this incident, DETSI has received recent reports that dingoes have been loitering around fishers on the island in hope of getting a free feed.

Dingoes are known to steal fish and bait from anywhere they can scavenge, including vehicles, berley bags, shallow waters and straight off a fisher’s line.

To fish responsibly, it’s important to stay close to the water’s edge when reeling in a fish and avoid dragging your catch across the sand.

When removing bait from fishing hooks, it is recommended that a protective cover is placed on the hook, and it is stored out of reach of dingoes.

Ranger Dan Novak would like to remind all visitors including fishers to be alert for dingoes on K’gari.

“Dingoes are opportunistic predators and will strike when they see a chance to do so,” Mr Novak said.

“To avoid a dingo incident, it’s always a good idea to have a mate stand guard, preferably holding a dingo stick.

“It is an offence to hang bait or berley bags on the outside of vehicles, in trees, or have these lying around.

“We have also seen dingoes grabbing bycatch or fish that are undersized as they’re being released.

“To reduce the chance of a negative dingo interaction we remind visitors to be dingo safe at all times.”

Visitors to K’gari are reminded to ‘Be dingo-safe!’ at all times:

• Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
• Always walk in groups and carry a stick.
• Camp in fenced areas where possible
• Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction
• Never feed dingoes
• Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)
• Never store food or food containers in tents, and
• Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.

For more information go to K’gari dingoes

Source: New South Wales – News

Just before 5.30pm on Monday 19 May, police were called to Kavanagh Road at Echunga after reports a car crashed into a tree.

Kavanagh Road will be closed to all traffic between Battunga Road and Shepherd Road.  Please take an alternative route.