Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Released 08/04/2025

Today the ACT Government has launched the public consultation for the review of the ACT’s Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime.

The Charter is a legislated set of rights for victims of crime in the ACT and commenced on 1 January 2021. The Charter expressly recognises that victims are central to the justice process, and it was introduced to ensure that, in the administration of justice, engagement with victims is governed by victims’ rights.

The Charter is intended to set the foundation for how victims of crime should be treated by justice agencies and provide victims with a clear picture of their rights in the criminal justice system. The Charter also includes an accountability framework intended to ensure that justice agencies meet their obligations when engaging with victims, as well as providing a mechanism for making complaints where a victim’s rights have not been upheld.

The legislation that established the Charter includes a requirement for its operation to be reviewed, recognising the importance of ensuring the Charter is effective in achieving its objectives and remains in step with community expectations, while also providing an opportunity to identify and address implementation issues.

Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne said, “At its introduction, the Charter was recognised as the most comprehensive set of legislated rights for victims of crime in Australia. It is timely to review its operation to ensure it is meeting community expectations, and to hear directly from those it is intended to support.”

A discussion paper has been prepared to facilitate input about the effectiveness of the Charter’s current operation both for victims and the justice agencies that have obligations to uphold victims’ rights under the Charter.

“Justice agencies, community organisations, and victim-survivors are all encouraged to provide feedback as part of the statutory review.

“Hearing from justice agencies that regularly interact with and have obligations under the Charter will provide the Government with valuable operational insights and help identify where and how the Charter can be strengthened.

“Community organisations that work directly with victim-survivors, or that act on their behalf as ‘victim representatives’, are invited to share insights into systemic trends and emerging issues.

“Victim-survivors who have engaged with the Charter are encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives—either individually or as part of a submission from a justice agency or community organisation.

“Victim-survivors who may not have engaged with justice agencies or support organisations are also encouraged to provide feedback and strengthen the victim-survivor voice in this review,” said Minister Cheyne.

The ACT Government welcomes all feedback, which can be submitted through the YourSay Conversations website and will remain open until 20 June 2025.

Feedback can also be provided via voice message on 02 6207 5044, or by email to justicereformbranch@act.gov.au. Email submissions will close on 20 June 2025.

A report will be tabled by the ACT Government within 12 months of commencing the review.

– Statement ends –

Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

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Released 08/04/2025

The ACT Government is taking urgent legislative action to facilitate continuity of education for students of Brindabella Christian College.

This morning the ACT Government intends to introduce the Education Amendment Bill 2025 (the Bill), as an urgent Bill, which would amend the Education Act 2004 to address an identified issue relating to when a non-government school seeks a change to their registration.

While this amendment would be important for all non-government schools, the urgency of this Bill is to ensure Brindabella Christian College can continue to operate.

“As Minister, it is always my preference to keep schools open and operating for students,” Minister for Education and Early Childhood Yvette Berry said.

“Brindabella Christian Education Limited, the proprietor of Brindabella Christian College, is currently under voluntary administration. Deloitte, the Administrators, have advised the school community that the only option to keep the school open is to transfer the school to a new proprietor.

“The financial position of the school is such that an urgent transfer is required and the Administrators are progressing the sale of the school as an urgent priority in order to ensure continuity of education for more than 1,000 students.

“Under the current legislation, the transferring of a school’s registration from one proprietor to another would trigger a 60-day public consultation period.

“However, the current situation with Brindabella Christian College is such that observing this full 60 day period would likely mean that the school’s finances are exhausted, resulting in closure of the school and a significant negative impact on the students, staff and families of this school community.

“I have said many times throughout this process that I don’t want to see this school close – that’s why we are taking this action.

“If passed this amendment would enable me, as Minister, to reduce the 60 day public consultation period when a non-government school requests a change in their registration, when it is reasonably necessary to do so. In the case of Brindabella, this amendment would enable the prompt transfer of the school to a new proprietor with the least impact on school operations.

“Importantly, the public consultation period could not be waived entirely, and the 60 days remains as the default period of consultation. In extreme circumstances such as this though, the amendment would enable a shortened period, for example when time is critical to prevent the closure of a school. To be very clear, the reduction in consultation could only be considered in circumstances where the non-government school has requested a change to their registration.

“Without this urgent legislative intervention the future of Brindabella Christian College would be at significant risk. We must take this action now in order to give the best chance of continuity for students, staff, families and the community.”

– Statement ends –

Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

08 April 2025

New Australian technology is set to transform the way that gastrointestinal cancers are detected and treated with precise, minimally invasive surgery.

Backed by the Federal Government’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite Grant, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) are using quantum technology to develop a first-of-its-kind laparoscopic probe that will allow surgeons to accurately map the spread of tumours.

The technology has the potential to improve cancer survival rates and patient quality of life worldwide.

Led by Dr Nicole Dmochowska from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, the $405,050 project is being undertaken in partnership with precision cancer surgery company Ferronova.

The probe will work alongside Ferronova’s iron-oxide nanoparticle formulation (FerroTrace) to improve the detection of cancerous lymph nodes during surgery, reducing the need for extensive procedures that often lead to life-threatening complications and life-long side-effects for survivors.

Gastrointestinal cancers are among the deadliest, often spreading through the lymphatic system to distant lymph nodes before diagnosis. Traditional surgical methods involve removing large sections of tissue, increasing the risk of infections and long-term digestive issues.

“By integrating state-of-the-art quantum sensors into a minimally invasive laparoscopic probe, we aim to give surgeons a powerful new tool to precisely locate affected lymph nodes,” Dr Dmochowska says.

“This will potentially enable more targeted surgery, reducing the need for extensive tissue removal and improving post-surgical recovery.”

The UniSA research team has already demonstrated the feasibility of the quantum sensor-based magnetometer probes in a successful phase-1 clinical trial for oral cancer.

This new project will take this technology further by miniaturising the probe for use in laparoscopic – or keyhole – surgery, allowing for more precise and less invasive cancer treatments.

Researchers have spent more than eight years developing the magnetometer probes for cancer surgery. The AEA Ignite grant will fund the next crucial step: developing a fully functional, preclinically validated prototype that can be trialled in large animal models before progressing to human clinical trials.

“This research aligns with Australia’s national priority areas in both medical science and quantum technology,” according to UniSA researcher Professor Benjamin Thierry.

“The commercial potential is immense, with an anticipated global market exceeding $2 billion annually,” Prof Thierry says.

Unlike existing lymphatic mapping techniques that rely on radioactive tracers, the quantum probe and FerroTrace combination provide a safer and more effective combination, according to Ferronova senior researcher and development engineer Dr Aidan Cousins.

“This technology is particularly promising for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery, where conventional lymphatic mapping methods have limited effectiveness,” Dr Cousins says.

“This could be a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, enhancing the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.”

Preclinical trials are expected to start within the next year.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
Researcher contact: Dr Nicole Dmochowska E: nicole.dmochowska@unisa.edu.au

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Canberra families will have access to more paediatric health services in both the hospital and the community, as part of the 2024–25 ACT Budget funding.

The investment will expand paediatric inpatient care as well as community-based paediatric services.

Eight inpatient paediatric beds at Canberra Hospital will be funded.

This will ensure Canberra Health Services can continue to support unwell children and young people when they need specialist paediatric care.

A new paediatric critical care team will also be established at Canberra Hospital.

The team will provide leadership and specialty skills in paediatric critical care to treat and care for children and young people.

They will also provide better coordination, support and upskilling of existing staff in this area.

There will be additional resourcing to expand multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for children with complex and chronic conditions – where care is shared between local and interstate hospitals.

This funding will develop a model of care to support children in a more sustainable and integrated way.

Budget funding will also support critically unwell newborns, with additional cots added the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery at Canberra Hospital.

The ACT Government will establish a new location for community-based paediatric services.

This will give families with children with – or at risk of – developmental delays or certain health conditions easier access to services they need, outside of a hospital setting.

These investments will support implementation of actions in the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan 2023–2030 and the opening of dedicated paediatric critical care spaces in Canberra Hospital’s new Critical Services Building.

This Budget builds on the range of Government investments in paediatric services, as well as the expansion of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

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