Source: New South Wales Government 2
17 April 2025
Biosecurity industry participants and accredited persons operating under Approved Arrangement Class 19, including self-reporting importers, who are interested in attending an information session on the upcoming release of new industry reporting via the Biosecurity Portal.
The department will soon provide two additional reports to industry through the Biosecurity Portal for all accredited persons…
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The Federal Court has today found oil and gas services company Qteq Pty Ltd and its executive chairman Simon Ashton engaged in cartel conduct in relation to the supply of goods and services in the oil and gas industry, following court action by the ACCC.
The Court found that between 2017 and 2019, on five occasions, Qteq and Mr Ashton attempted to induce suppliers in the industry to enter into contracts, arrangements or understandings with them which contained one or more cartel provisions.
Qteq and Mr Ashton were found to have attempted to induce competitors or likely competitors in the upstream phase of production in the oil and gas industry to enter into cartel arrangements or understandings, which included provisions not to supply particular services to large oil and gas companies, to share markets and to rig a multi-million-dollar tender.
“We brought this action because we believed these attempts had the potential to impact competition between Qteq and other current or likely competitors for the supply of goods and services in the oil and gas industry,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Cartels are the most fundamental attack on competition in our economy, and taking actions against them is a high priority for the ACCC.”
“Today’s decision should send a strong warning to all businesses and senior managers that attempting to enter or induce collusive agreements with a competitor is illegal and will be met with strong enforcement action by the ACCC,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
The Court did not find in favour of the ACCC in relation to one additional instance of alleged cartel conduct.
The Court will set a date for a further hearing to consider submissions about penalties and other orders.
Publication of the judgment is pending confidentiality review by the respondents.
Background
Qteq is a Queensland-based company which provides mining equipment and technology services to support the upstream oil and gas industry.
Its primary business is the sale, installation, and servicing of downhole pressure gauges to coal seam gas producers, which is known as ‘gauge works’. At the relevant time, Qteq was the market leader in providing gauge work services.
Gauge works are a form of monitoring and measurement where a downhole gauge system is inserted into a well to monitor the water level so that the rate at which water is pumped out of the coal seam can be controlled.
The ACCC filed civil cartel proceedings against Qteq and Mr Ashton in December 2022.
Notes for editors
A cartel exists when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other. Conduct can include price fixing, sharing markets, rigging bids and controlling the output or limiting the amount of goods and services.
Anyone who thinks they may be involved in alleged cartel conduct is urged to call the ACCC Cartel Immunity Hotline on (02) 9230 3894. More information about the immunity process is available on the ACCC website at Cartels. They can also report alleged cartel conduct by using the anonymous cartel portal.
The ACCC investigates cartel conduct and can take civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court or refer serious cartel conduct to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
For corporations, the maximum penalty for each cartel offence before 9 November 2022 is the greater of:
An individual found to have been involved in civil cartel conduct before 9 November 2022 is subject to a maximum penalty of $500,000 for each act or omission.
The maximum civil penalties for cartel conduct by corporations and individuals were substantially increased with effect from 9 November 2022.
Source: South Australia Police
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The City of Wanneroo acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we are working on, the Whadjuk people. We would like to pay respect to the Elders of the Noongar nation, past, present and future, who have walked and cared for the land and we acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contributions made to the life of this City and this region.
TermsAll content © 2025 City of Wanneroo. 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo WA 6065 | Locked Bag 1, Wanneroo WA 6946
Source:
We’ve reviewed our advice and continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime and the risk of civil unrest. Higher levels apply in some areas. There’s currently a state of emergency for Rivers state (see ‘Safety’).
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC has released a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to allow the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) and industry participants to collaborate on sustainable finance initiatives for five years.
ASFI is seeking authorisation for itself, ASFI members and other industry participants to exchange information to improve the integration of natural capital data into financial decision-making, co-designing investment structures and developing related regulatory reform proposals. Authorisation is also sought for some participants to agree to jointly develop and propose to Government or ASFI the most effective investment structure and/or product features to achieve sustainable investment products.
ASFI aims to facilitate the development of sustainable farming practices, support producers to meet sustainability regulations of export destinations, and contribute to emissions reduction targets. The goal of the proposed collaborative conduct is to enable ASFI to increase the flow of private capital into sustainable investment opportunities.
“We consider that the proposed collaborative conduct would increase the likelihood of greater investment in projects seeking to preserve Australia’s environment as well as cost savings and process efficiencies,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
The ACCC considers this kind of information sharing and collaboration between competitors can reduce competition in the supply of sustainable financial products as well as in broader financial markets through coordinated behaviour enabled by information sharing between competitors.
The ACCC has made some amendments to the conduct to be authorised in its draft decision and is proposing to impose a number of conditions to limit any negative impacts. It will consider further whether additional refinements to the conduct are necessary before making a final decision.
The ACCC is seeking to ensure sufficient oversight and transparency of the arrangements and to appropriately limit the circumstances and contents of any information sharing.
“With the proposed conditions, we are satisfied that the collaborative conduct is likely to result in public benefits that would outweigh any likely harm to competition,” Mr Keogh said.
The ACCC is seeking submissions in response to the draft determination by 2 May 2025 before making its final determination.
Further information about this application including a copy of the decision is available on the ACCC’s public register.
ASFI is a collaboration between representatives of the Australian financial sector, civil society, academia, and financial regulators. Membership is voluntary and open to any corporation in the financial services sector or service provider to financial institutions which is interested in pursuing and supporting ASFI’s objectives.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has provided the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute with a grant to undertake the ‘Institutional Investor Engagement (Indo-Pacific)’ project to draw private investment into development outcomes in the Indo-Pacific region, including through supporting the development of DFAT’s blended finance portfolio.
The ACCC granted interim authorisation to the ASFI and its member banks on 7 March 2025, allowing them to discuss and exchange information for the purpose of developing potential banking capital requirement reforms to remove constraints on sustainable finance and investment in Australia. Interim authorisation will remain in place until the final determination comes into effect.
ACCC authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct by competitors that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act.
Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
In December 2024, the ACCC released its guide on sustainability collaborations and Australia competition law to inform businesses and other entities about the interaction between Australian competition law and sustainability collaborations.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
We have seen individuals be targeted by promoters to create an SMSF for inappropriate and illegal reasons. These promoters often promise high returns or early access to super.
These schemes can be illegal and result in severe penalties. It’s important to recognise these warning signs of unlawful tax and super schemes.
Stop, check and protect:
You should consider how any arrangements may impact your SMSF and whether they contravene the tax and super laws.
If you’ve been approached by a promoter or suspect a unlawful tax or super scheme, you can report it, by completing the tip off form or by contacting us on 1800 060 062.
We work with ASIC to investigate scamsExternal Link and promoters involved in illegal activities in the super environment.
For more information visit SMSF schemes.
Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? – You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
A self-managed super fund (SMSF) must pay a minimum amount each year to a member who is receiving a pension that commenced on or after 20 September 2007. These are mainly account based pensions (also known as a super income stream).
If you haven’t already, then you’ll need to make sure all members receiving an account-based pension are paid their minimum pension amount by 30 June. This is calculated by applying the relevant percentage factor based on the member’s age by the member’s pension account balance calculated as of 1 July 2024 or on a pro-rata basis if the pension commenced part way through the 2024–2025 financial year.
If the minimum payment is not made by 30 June, this could result in adverse taxation consequences for the member.
You can learn more about how to calculate your member’s minimum pension payment by visiting minimum pension standards.
Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? – You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Youths charged in relation to deliberately lit fires in Claremont
Thursday, 17 April 2025 – 11:15 am.
Police have charged a 17-year-old from Bridgewater, and a 16-year-old from Herdsmans Cove, in relation to deliberately lit fires in Claremont on 10 March.
Police will allege the youths deliberately lit fires which damaged recycling facilities at Claremont Plaza, and the door of a Claremont hall.
They were bailed to appear before the Youth Justice Court at a later date.
Police thank members of the community for the witness information provided which assisted the investigations.
Source:
We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Bolivia due to the threat of violent crime and the risk of civil unrest. Political and civil tensions are ongoing, and events can be unpredictable. Large-scale political demonstrations, protests and events can occur with little warning, which may also result in travel disruptions. Protest activity will likely increase in the lead-up to the 17 August election. Avoid demonstrations and protests. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities (see ‘Safety’).
While not compulsory, you may be asked to show proof of your yellow fever vaccination at some ports of entry in Bolivia. Some airlines may want to see it when you leave (see ‘Travel’).
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Man charged with drug-related offences following search in Scottsdale
Thursday, 17 April 2025 – 9:53 am.
A 51-year-old man has been charged with multiple drug-related offences including trafficking in a controlled substance following a search at a residence in Scottsdale on Tuesday afternoon.
During the search, Scottsdale Police allegedly located approximately 1.5 kilograms of cannabis in various forms.
The man will be proceeded against for trafficking in controlled substance, supplying controlled plant products, cultivating controlled plants, possessing controlled plant products and possessing things used for the administration of a controlled drugs.
He will appear in the Scottsdale Magistrates Court at a later date.
Anyone with information about illicit substance is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppers.com.au – information and be provided anonymously.