Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Kieran Gilbert, Host: Joining me live in the studio is the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell. Thanks for your time. A lot to talk about. I will ask you about that issue that the Deputy Prime Minister finished on there in terms of productivity and the superannuation, but let’s start on trade. Will you get the deal done with the EU? We’re hearing that the talks will resume soon.

Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Yes. In fact, I’m going to be talking to my counterpart tomorrow. So, you might recall in the middle of the election, I had a conversation with Trade Minister Maroš. He’s from Slovakia. We hit it off pretty well, I think, in our first discussion. He sent me a very kind and warm message on election night when it was clear that we had won the election. I’ve subsequently had a meeting with the EU Ambassador and reaffirmed our commitment and heard from him his commitment.

Gilbert: Sounding good?

Trade Minister: Sounding good, yeah, yep. And as I said, I’ve got a conversation with him tomorrow. And of course, in the meantime, the Prime Minister has met President von der Leyen.

Gilbert: The sticking point was on the geographical indicators and also on agriculture. Is that right?

Trade Minister: Yeah.

GILBERT: So, will there be compromise there from the EU?

Trade Minister: Look, what – the politics have changed in two years. I think both Australia and Europe now realise that there’s a priority and an imperative to get a free trade agreement. If other countries don’t want to trade with you, well that’s fine, that’s their decision. But if there are countries such as Europe who do want to do trade with you, well then you’ve got to go that extra mile to get an agreement over the line.

Gilbert: And the things that changed, we know, Donald Trump.

Trade Minister: Yeah, yeah, well look, look. A whole lot of things have changed since we last had a conversation. But I think we share the same values as Europe. So, those geographical indicators are hard issues. On the one hand, the Europeans say, well look, you’re using all of our names. On the other hand, what I say to them is, look, after World War II, a whole lot of Europeans came to Australia. They bought their families, they bought their culture, more importantly, they bought their food and wine.

Gilbert: They sure did.

Trade Minister: Yeah. And for them, the link with Europe is not an economic link, it’s a way that they keep in contact with their European roots.

Gilbert: Would you like to see then, that trade deal, you know, if you are successful in landing that, also expand into a security relationship? Because that’s what von der Leyen has raised with the Prime Minister overnight, that we talk not just in trade terms, but security terms, like Japan and Korea have.

Trade Minister: Yeah, look, look. My space is trade. I’m going to be focused on the trade agenda. We’ve gone a long way down that path. We need to complete that process. What happens with defence and all of those other issues? The Prime Minister has addressed that today. He said, look, we’re happy to look at these things, but our immediate priority with the Europeans is all about trade.

Gilbert: When the PM went to the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, why was it important in your view to be there? Is it something that, you know, a Prime Minister necessarily has to be at, the inauguration of a new Pope?

Trade Minister: Look, I think it was very important that the Prime Minister was there. As you know, he sent me to the funeral a couple of weeks ago. That was obviously, you know, a very solemn event. This was a very joyous event for Australia’s 5 million Catholics, of which the Prime Minister and myself are both adherents to the Catholic faith. I think it was very important that Australia be represented there and represented at the highest level.

Gilbert: Do you think it’s also important in a more secular world that the leadership does show respect to people of faith? Is this something, you know, in simple terms, that people of other faiths will respect?

Trade Minister: Well, look, I think that’s part of it. But this new pope, Pope Leo XIV, has come out very strongly on the issue of peace. That’s very important for Australia. We’ve been calling for peace in Ukraine. We want the Russians to withdraw from Ukraine. And we also want peace in the Middle East. So, I think we’re on board with the agenda for this new Pope to start talking about a more peaceful world. That’s good for Australia and it’s good for the world.

Gilbert: Ok. On some other issues, my colleague Andrew Clennell reported yesterday that state MPs and officials won’t be hit by the government’s super tax on funds upwards of $3 million. Is that viable? You’ve been around politics a long time. Do you think you can still sell that as a policy when people start to realise that some premiers and officials won’t have to pay it?

Trade Minister: Well, look, this tax applies to very, very few people. Less than 0.5 per cent of the population are going to be affected. And of course, it only applies to people on very, very high balances. There are some constitutional issues that relate to how superannuation is dealt with by state governments. But rest assured that the people who are going to be making this decision will themselves be covered by this tax, if they get to that high level of superannuation.

Gilbert: The $3 million fund, I mean, as you touched on, we did go to the election recently, but do you think people, when the details start to emerge about taxing unrealised gains and so on, that that’s going to be a bit complex to try and navigate for the government?

Trade Minister: Look, I hope not. We nailed our colours to the mast in respect to this tax. We tried to get it through the last Parliament, it wasn’t successful. We took it to the last election. So, nobody was in any doubt about what our policy was in respect of this tax. And we’ve received an overwhelming endorsement from the Australian people. So, I think in terms of honesty, if we didn’t proceed with this, then I think people would say, well, what’s going on? You said you were going to do this. We’ve built the savings from this new super tax into our future budgets. So, I think now, we’ve got the endorsement for the Australian people. It’s a very, very minor tax in the scheme of things, and I think the Australian people would now expect us to proceed with it.

Gilbert: And do you think the Treasurer can make it work just with all of those other complications?

Trade Minister: Well, he’s a very, very good Treasurer and I think-

Gilbert: There are those that say it’s just too complex in terms of tax structures and people’s superannuation. You might have an impact on productivity because people will pull out of the workforce before they hit that threshold.

Trade Minister: I think people are barking up the wrong tree. I doubt whether the relatively small impact of this tax is going to result in any of those sorts of things. But we’ve got a very good salesman in Jim Chalmers and of course, now he’s being assisted by Daniel Mulino, who’s a very good friend of mine. He’s got a, I think it’s a Master of Economics from Yale, very smart fellow, and I think that combination will be very successful.

Gilbert: I know you’ve got to go. Just quickly, what else is on your agenda? You’ve got that, the talks tomorrow with the EU.

Trade Minister: Yes, yes, and India.

Gilbert: What’s at the top of your agenda here?

Trade Minister: We were very close to a free trade agreement with India before the election was called. I’m now confident that we’ll get another agreement with them. And of course, in a few weeks’ time, the United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement comes into operation. The United Arab Emirates is like the Woollies warehouse of the Middle East. If you can get your product in there. And all of our products are going into the UAE tariff free. It’s a really good, really good agreement.

Gilbert: 93 seats for Labor, you must have said some pretty strong prayers when you were over in the Vatican. They seem like they’ve worked.

Trade Minister: I did. Look, we were the last people, I think, to touch the Pope’s coffin before we went out for the Mass. And I did say a little prayer for the Prime Minister and the Labor Party.

Gilbert: Certainly strengthened your favour. Don Farrell, thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

Trade Minister: Thanks, Kieran.

Source: New South Wales Government 2

19 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

This change affects importers of mushroom spawn and/or cultures for propagation, brokers, assessment officers and inspection teams.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) will update the import conditions and onshore management of mushroom spawn and/or cultures for propagation on 23 May 2025.

These updates will affect importers, brokers, and department…

Source: New South Wales Government 2

19 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.

All clients submitting the below declarations:

• Full Import Declaration (FID)
• Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
• Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
• Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
• Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)
• Master…

Source: New South Wales Government 2

16 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries including importers, customer brokers, freight forwarders, port authorities, transport operators, and biosecurity industry participants.

Purpose

This Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) is to engage and seek nominations from relevant industry representatives to participate in a co-design workshop to assist in developing the Biosecurity Business Network program.

Key…

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

A smoking ceremony and community planting of native species have today marked the official opening of the $1.5M Strathfieldsaye Town Square.

The Strathfieldsaye Town Square has been named Djayi balak garat, which means ‘tread lightly you lot on Country’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language.

The project is the first to be completed from start to finish under the Yilingga Marna (‘shake hands’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language) agreement between the City of Greater Bendigo and DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation).

Yilingga Marna recognises each organisation’s priorities and Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples’ rights as the Traditional Owners of this land. It provides an agreed pathway for the City to deliver projects on Country that are also on Crown land.

Under the agreement, Dja Dja Wurrung enterprise DJANDAK created timber furniture with custom artwork by Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist Drew Berick, interpretive signage, and completed contemporary tree scarring and understory planting.

Successfully working with DJANDAK on a paving design, the City completed the paving works on site. The paving in the central space symbolises all people in the community meeting together.

The project also extended to the delivery of a mural on the recently constructed Emu Creek underpass by Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist Troy Firebrace.

The town square also included the construction of flexible, paved gathering spaces, a north-south shared path connecting Apsley Street and Wellington Street/Strathfieldsaye Road, a hardscape commercial break out area, raised garden beds with seating, native planting and shade trees and open lawn space.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said Djayi balak garat forms the future heart of Strathfieldsaye.

“The creation of a town square was a key outcome of the 2017 Strathfieldsaye Urban Development Framework, where the community told us they wanted a gathering place for local events,” Cr Metcalf said.

“This landmark destination provides a place for residents to shop, gather, meet, attend events and enjoy.

“We would like to thank our DJAARA friends and colleagues for walking together with us to deliver this project. Strong, genuine engagement with Traditional Owners has achieved an amazing outcome, revitalising Country and providing our community with a renewed space.

“We are excited to see the community make use of the space and put it at the heart of local celebrations, events and other activities, while remembering to tread lightly and care for Country as we go.”

DJAARA General Manager Cassandra Lewis said it was fitting for the first project under Yilingga Marna to be about community gathering together.

“Community gathering for ceremony and trade is an important aspect of Djaara culture – and, indeed, of many cultures. The town square is a place where people from all cultures can gather and share Country together,” Ms Lewis said.

“Creative elements in the town square remind us of the continued presence of Dja Dja Wurrung People, but there’s a strong emphasis on this being a shared space where all people can meet equally.

“Dja Dja Wurrung People are proud to share our culture and our language with the broader community. We hope the community will come away with a deeper understanding of contemporary Dja Dja Wurrung culture, and to connect over shared values like caring for Country.”

Source: New South Wales Government 2

15 May 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned maintenance period.

All clients required to use the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system during…

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 38-year-old man in relation to a fatal crash on Friday.

The 38-year-old has been charged with:

• Careless Drive Cause Death
• Careless Drive Cause Serious Harm x 2
• Hit & Run Cause Death
• Hit & Run Cause Serious Harm x 2
• Drive Disqualified

He has been remanded to face Darwin Local Court 16 July 2025.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

The Albanese Government welcomes the Productivity Commission’s call for submissions on priority reform areas released today.

We’re determined to make Australia’s economy more prosperous and productive and this work from the PC is an important part of that process.

The Albanese Labor Government inherited the largest quarterly fall in productivity in 45 years, with productivity going backwards by 2.4 per cent in the June quarter 2022 – the largest quarterly fall since June quarter 1979.

Over the decade to 2020, average annual labour productivity growth in Australia was the slowest in 60 years, falling to just 1.1 per cent compared to 1.8 per cent over the 60 years to 2019–20.

Flatlining productivity is one of the biggest challenges facing our nation, and that’s why we need a big national effort to turn it around.

That’s why on 13 December 2024, I tasked the Productivity Commission to provide the government with advice on how to address Australia’s long‑run productivity challenges.

The Productivity Commission has identified 15 priority reform areas for further exploration and will consult on these initiatives from today.

This is only an initial call for submissions from the PC, and we expect their findings will be informed by the information collected through their consultation process.

We’ll consider the PC’s recommendations within the context of the fiscal constraints we inherited and balance these against other government priorities.

We might not be able to run with everything, but we will consider all of it and see what we can progress.

The Albanese Government already has an ambitious productivity agenda and we’re eager to build on it.

In our first term, we abolished nearly 500 nuisance tariffs and streamlined and strengthened approval processes in a number of areas including foreign investment, energy, environment and planning.

We have reformed skills, education and aged care, and we are making it easier for investors to progress transformational projects, including investing in cheaper, cleaner energy.

We’re also revitalising competition through the biggest changes to merger laws in 50 years, the 10‑year Competition Reform Roadmap, and the $900 million National Productivity Fund.

In our second term, we’ll progress further reforms including occupational licensing for electricians, abolishing non‑compete clauses, unlocking opportunities in AI and digital assets, streamlining regulation and standing up the Single Front Door, strengthening the National Energy Market, leveraging health technology more effectively, and enabling construction of prefabricated and modular housing.

It will take longer than two terms to turn around this productivity problem which has been building in our economy for decades, but we know that this work will make a meaningful difference in boosting wages and living standards sustainably into the future.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with a condition for five years to Energy Networks Australia, Synergy, and other specified parties to allow for the procurement and implementation of a national ‘public key infrastructure’ service (PKI).

The PKI service would manage secure communication between consumer energy resources (CER) and parties in the energy grid. Examples of CER include rooftop solar cells, batteries, and electric vehicles.

“This public key infrastructure service will enable distribution network service providers to remotely limit or prevent electricity export into the grid by consumer energy resources in times of significant excess production, known as an ‘emergency backstop’ mechanism,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

Where power exports from CER are high and general energy consumption is low, there are risks to electricity grid stability and the potential for localised or wider blackouts to occur.

“While several state and territory governments have already implemented emergency backstop mechanisms, this service would give effect to a singular national approach to managing CER devices via communication protocols to avoid risks to electricity network system overload,” Dr Williams said.

Currently, each distribution network service provider is responsible for procuring its own PKI solution for emergency backstop. Under the proposed conduct, however, providers could choose to utilise a national PKI delivered by a single provider.

The creation of a national entity to manage PKI for CER for emergency backstop is reflective of a national reform priority agreed to by federal and state/territory governments in 2024.

“We understand that a national regulatory framework for CER to set and enforce technical standards is being established as part of the national CER Roadmap and that whilst this is a more appropriate avenue for regulatory oversight of CER, we understand the current urgency around emergency backstop requirements,” Dr Williams said.

“We are satisfied the proposed conduct is likely to result in a public benefit that would outweigh any potential public detriment to Australian consumers.”

“Prior to making our final determination, however, we will be seeking further views on a number of potential public benefits and detriments,” Dr Williams said.

The ACCC considers that the proposed conduct is likely to result in public benefits in the form of interoperability, cost savings for distribution networks, lower costs and complexity for manufacturers and installers, and increased consumer choice and device mobility.

However, the proposed conduct is likely to reduce competition for the acquisition and supply of public key infrastructure services. As it also has the potential to result in public detriment due to a lack of formal external oversight, the ACCC is proposing a condition requiring regular reporting of NEPKI’s operations.

While there is some benefit in the proposed conduct enabling the public key infrastructure solution to expand to future use cases autonomously, it also has the potential to result in public detriment. To mitigate this, the ACCC is considering whether to limit authorisation to the ‘initial use case’ (i.e. solar cell and battery energy storage system orchestration via CSIP-AUS for emergency backstop and dynamic operating envelopes).

The ACCC has also granted interim authorisation to enable Energy Networks Australia and Synergy to carry out the initial three phases of activity while the ACCC considers the substantive application.

Submissions to the ACCC can be made by 2 June 2025. More information can be found on the ACCC’s public register here.

Background

Energy Networks Australia is a national industry body representing electricity transmission and distribution network providers (DNSPs) and gas distribution network providers in all States and Territories.

Synergy is a Western Australian state-owned corporation that has electricity generation assets in WA and retails electricity and gas in WA. Sythenergy holds responsibilities around connection of CER to the grid.

PKI is a cybersecurity technology that uses digital ‘certificates’ installed in devices (such as solar inverters) to authenticate them and encrypt communications with them and is carried out over the internet. Distribution network service providers will utilise the national PKI to communicate with devices to remotely limit or prevent devices’ electricity export into the grid in times of significant excess production (known as an ‘emergency backstop’ mechanism); rather than each network procuring individual, bespoke solutions for PKI.

The proposed conduct seeks to give effect to a national reform priority that was agreed to in 2024 by the Australian, state and territory governments in their ‘National CER Roadmap’. The Roadmap states that a national reform priority is to establish a secure communication system for CER devices through establishing a national not-for-profit entity to manage PKI to operate and manage authentication of communications with CER for backstops.

The application for authorisation was lodged on 26 November 2024 and the ACCC received 22 submissions in relation to the application.

In the first phase of activity, there will be a collaborative evaluation of the responses to NEPKI’s request for tenders for PKI services. 

In the second phase, NEPKI will enter a service deed with a selected PKI service provider for the design, build and operation of PKI and related services. In the third phase, the PKI service deed will be delivered, beginning with the design and build of the PKI.

Finally, in phase four, the operational delivery of PKI services by NEPKI to PKI consumers will ‘go live’ for a term of up to five years.

A final determination is expected to be made in July 2025, subject to any submissions and requests from interested parties for a pre-decision conference.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police Force, in collaboration with the Australian Border Force (ABF), have seized multiple firearms and other prohibited items following a joint operation in Acacia Hills.

On 13 April 2025, ABF officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility intercepted a prohibited import—a firearms silencer—addressed to a 62-year-old male residing at a rural property in Acacia Hills. The individual is a known person of interest to police, with his firearms licence having been revoked in 2019.

On 16 May 2025, members of the NT Police Firearms Audit and Enforcement team, alongside ABF officers, executed a comprehensive search of the 56-hectare property under section 119AA of the Police Administration Act. The male was apprehended at the scene.

ABF firearms and explosives detection dogs were deployed and indicated several areas of interest within the primary dwelling. During the search, officers located and seized:

• A Mini Ruger 14 .223 semi-automatic rifle with two 30-round magazines (one loaded), concealed under a couch.
• A Ruger M77 .300 Win Mag bolt-action rifle hidden within shed pylons.
• Multiple boxes of live ammunition and spent shell casings.
• A night-vision thermal weapon sight and multiple firearm scopes.
• Firearm cleaning equipment.
• Approximately 3 grams of cannabis.
• Evidence of a makeshift shooting range beneath a veranda.

Following the discovery of cannabis, a section 120B search warrant was executed in addition to the initial 119AA search.

Search and Rescue Section (SRS) and Territory Support Division officers assist in conducting a detailed grid search of the surrounding bushland, confirming no further weapons were present.

The male has been issued a Notice to Appear in the Darwin Local Court on 15 July 2025 for the following offences:

• Possess/use Category D firearm while unlicensed
• Possess/use Category B firearm while unlicensed
• Possess ammunition without a licence
• Possess unregistered firearm
• Possess less than traffickable quantity of a Schedule 2 dangerous drug

Additionally, ABF issued the male with an infringement notice totalling $4,950.

Senior Sergeant Alex Brennan said, “This incident highlights not only the ongoing risks posed by individuals unlawfully possessing firearms and prohibited imports, but also the seamless collaboration between agencies when it comes to investigating firearms offences.”

ABF Commander Tracie Griffin said people should remember that any weapons or parts that are purchased overseas have to come across the border, and warned “that’s where our highly trained officers, detector dogs and cutting-edge x-ray technology are deployed”. 

“In the wrong hands, these weapons could be deadly. If we detect them at the border, we will seize them and where appropriate prosecute those trying to bring them in illegally,” Commander Griffin said. 

“Recreational shooters and firearm enthusiasts importing firearms, firearm parts or other weapons online should be very clear about the regulations in place. 

“Anyone attempting to import prohibited weapons, including firearm parts, runs the risk of losing those goods and facing possible criminal prosecution.”

Importing firearms without a permit is a serious offence with penalties including imprisonment for up to ten years and/or fines of up to $525,000. 

Anyone with information about illegal firearms or related activity is urged to contact police on 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at Crime Stoppers NT.