Fourth youth charged following Launceston burglaries
Thursday, 3 April 2025 – 12:23 pm.
A fourth youth has been charged as part of an investigation into a number of burglaries at residential and commercial properties in the Launceston area.
The 17-year-old boy was charged overnight with 11 burglaries and 7 stealings – alleged to have occurred between February and April.
He was detained to appear in the Youth Justice Division of the Launceston Magistrates Court today.
Three youths – a 14-year-old-boy and two 17-year-old boys – were previously charged with numerous offences as part of the investigation by Northern Criminal Investigation Branch.
Anyone with information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 03/04/2025
A new state-of-the-art system is speeding up the delivery of samples from the Emergency Department to ACT Pathology, allowing clinicians to receive results faster and start patient treatment earlier.
The first of its kind in Australia, the Tempus600 is an automated sample tube delivery system connecting the Emergency Department to ACT Pathology on the Canberra Hospital campus.
Team members in the Emergency Department place a patient sample contained in a test tube in a ‘hole in the wall’, and the sample is delivered directly to laboratory analysers, with no human intervention.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the new sample delivery system eliminates manual processes to prepare, pack and unpack samples, reduces the possibility of error, and frees up time to focus on other important tasks.
“Most clinical sample delivery systems require multiple steps to prepare and send a sample, which can create a bottleneck at certain points in the process of sending a sample to the laboratory,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“The new Tempus system is one touch technology – put the clinical sample in the Tempus machine, and the system does the rest. Samples take approximately 40 seconds to travel from the Emergency Department to the lab in Pathology, which is a big time-saver when processing around 100,000 clinical samples each year.”
“This new technology means samples can be analysed sooner, which leads to faster patient diagnosis, earlier treatment, and a shorter stay in hospital. The system is also directly linked into the Digital Health Record, maintaining accuracy and assurance of the right test results for the right patients.
“In addition to speeding up the delivery of clinical samples, the Tempus system also provides greater consistency in how long it takes for results to be available. When treating a seriously ill patient in Emergency, these factors can make all the difference to their health outcomes.”
Quotes attributable to Greg Brylski, Executive Director of Pathology and Allied Health, Canberra Health Services:
“The implementation of the Tempus Pathology system at Canberra Health Services offers a significant advancement in delivering patient centred care. The Tempus streamlines pathology workflows allowing faster access to patient results, without compromising patient care.
“This Australian first innovation brings pathology services closer to the patient, facilitating quicker diagnoses while efficiently reducing administrative burdens on the healthcare system, when our healthcare professionals are required to focus on patient care.”
A further 14 volunteer firefighters from Wairewa have been honoured with National Emergency Medals for their efforts in the 2019-20 Australian bushfire crisis.
The National Emergency Medal is part of Australia’s Honours and Awards system and recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant Australian emergency.
At a ceremony on Saturday 29 March, firefighters from across the Wairewa region became the latest of more than 5,500 CFA members to receive the honour for the 2019-20 fires.
Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer Aaron Worcester presented the medals and said they were an important recognition of the valiant efforts of CFA members.
“The National Emergency Medal is a formal recognition that Australia appreciates the efforts and contributions of CFA members during the 2019-20 bushfire crisis,” Aaron said.
“It is a great honour to receive this medal, and I hope it goes a small way to thanking our members for their service.”
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan spoke of his pride for the CFA members’ efforts.
“The 2019-20 fires devastated East Gippsland and the North East of Victoria,” Jason said.
“But from that crisis arose the most remarkable human spirit of generosity and ‘lending a hand’.
“Our medal recipients have exemplified that spirit, and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them.
“Whether they joined a firefighting strike team, worked in an Incident Control Centre or provided other assistance to affected communities – every contribution was valuable made a real difference.”
Wairewa Fire Brigade Captain and medal recipient Julian Davies said it was an honour to be formally recognised.
“Volunteer fireys don’t do the job for praise or awards – we do it to help out fellow Australians in need,” Julian said.
“That said, it is nice for the hard work of our volunteers to be formally recognised in this way.”
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC has commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court against Fewstone Pty Ltd, trading as City Beach, for allegedly selling products containing button batteries which did not comply with mandatory product safety and information standards, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
It is alleged that between 22 June 2022 and 24 October 2024, surf, skatewear and accessories retailer City Beach offered for sale 70 product lines containing button batteries which did not comply with Australia’s mandatory button battery standards.
It also allegedly supplied 57,358 individual non-compliant button battery products.
The product lines sold by City Beach include novelty products such as toys, digital notepads, keyrings, lights and light-up Jibbitz accessories for Crocs shoes.
“We are taking this action because, we allege, City Beach exposed consumers to the risks associated with button batteries and failed to inform them of these risks,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“Button batteries are incredibly dangerous for young children, and tragically in some cases have led to serious injuries or death when swallowed, inserted or ingested.”
“Australia’s button battery standards exist to reduce the risk of death or serious injury posed by button batteries,” Ms Lowe said.
“We are concerned that these items are likely to be in homes with young children. Many of these items were brightly coloured or had light-up features or both, meaning young children may be drawn to playing with them. We urge consumers to check the Product Safety Australia website for details of recalled products and return them to the supplier or to dispose of them safely.”
“The ACCC is responsible for enforcing the button battery standards and works in partnership with state-based consumer agencies. This action is a result of that partnership, with concerns about City Beach’s supply of button battery products first identified through surveillance and then progressed to the ACCC for investigation,” Ms Lowe said.
“In 2022 and 2023, City Beach received warnings from NSW Fair Trading and Queensland Office of Fair Trading in relation to the supply of potentially non-compliant button battery products.”
“The standards have been in existence since 2020, in effect since 2022 and have been the subject of escalating compliance and enforcement work by ACL regulators, including the ACCC. There is simply no excuse for non-compliance and we will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action against businesses that do not comply with these important and potentially life-saving standards,” Ms Lowe said.
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 the batteries.
To comply with the safety standard, a representative sample of products containing button batteries must be tested.
The information standard requires safety warnings to be provided with products, including advice to seek medical attention.
The ACCC is seeking penalties, declarations, injunctive relief and costs.
The ACCC has issued a series of infringement notices and accepted a court enforceable undertaking and compliance commitments for alleged breaches of the button battery standards since they became mandatory in mid-2022.
This is the first case to be bought by the ACCC before the Federal Court for an alleged breach of the button battery standards.
Recalled products
City Beach is conducting a voluntary recall. Consumers can return recalled products to City Beach for a full refund.
Examples of recalled product lines supplied to consumers
ACCC advice to consumers
Button batteries are dangerous to children if swallowed or inserted. They can become stuck in your child’s throat and result in serious lifelong injuries or death. Insertion of button batteries into body parts such as the ears or nose can lead to serious injuries.
Children up to 5 years of age are at greatest risk because of their narrower oesophagus and tendency to place small objects into their mouths, ears and noses. Preventing access to button batteries is critical.
If you suspect a child has swallowed or inserted a button battery:
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is having any difficulty breathing.
Call the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26. You can call at any hour for expert advice. The Poisons Information Centre can direct you to an appropriate medical facility. Not every health facility can manage injuries from button batteries. Prompt action is critical.
This document contains the ACCC’s initiating court document in relation to this matter. We will not be uploading further documents in the event this initial document is subsequently amended.
If you haven’t lodged your NFP self-review return yet, take action now. The 31 March 2025 due date for the 2023–24 NFP self-review return has now passed.
While you don’t need to call us to request extra time to lodge, you must get started as soon as possible. We are supporting NFPs who are genuinely trying to get it right, including those who have missed the deadline. This support includes suspending penalties as part of our transitional support arrangements for the first year of NFP self-review return lodgment.
However, from July 2025 we will start to review NFPs who intentionally ignore their obligations. To avoid a review, act now to demonstrate your NFP has taken steps to meet its lodgment obligation.
How to lodge
Lodge your NFP’s self-review return through Online services for business or by phoning our automated self-help phone service on 13 72 26. Alternatively, a registered tax agent can lodge the return on your behalf.
To lodge online, you will need to complete several steps to access to Online services for business. You can follow the NFP self-review return – update, connect and lodge PDF for a written 5 step guide on how to get access to lodge.
Any requests to update your NFP’s ABN details should already be underway – if you still need to update your details, do this without delay.
have available your organisation’s ABN and a reference number from any letter we have posted to it – you will need this if lodging through the self-help phone service.
When your NFP is ready with the required information, the return typically takes around 10 minutes to lodge.
If your NFP needs help, phone our NFP Advice Service on 1300 130 248, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm AEST.
Keep up to date
We have tailored communication channels for the not-for-profit sector to keep you up to date with key tax and super information:
Sadly, a woman in her 80s has died after a single-vehicle crash at Devonport.
Police and emergency services were called to the Bass Highway about 6.30am Thursday after reports a vehicle had rolled.
A woman – who was a passenger in the vehicle – sadly died at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to the North West Regional Hospital for treatment.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Our thoughts are with the woman’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
Anyone with information should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
We’ve reviewed our advice and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Malawi. Demonstrations and protests can be unpredictable and may turn violent quickly. Avoid protests and demonstrations. During periods of unrest, monitor local media for updates, avoid affected areas and follow the advice of local authorities (see ‘Safety’). You don’t need to apply for a visa if you’re visiting Malawi for tourism purposes for up to 90 days (see ‘Travel’ for details).
Did you know that you’re legally required to keep certain records for your not-for-profit (NFP)? All organisations including NFPs are required to keep accurate and complete records of all transactions relating to their tax and superannuation affairs. Generally, for tax purposes, you must keep your records in an accessible form (either printed or electronic) for 5 years.
Records that you are required to keep include:
governing documents
financial reports
tax invoices
documentation relating to grants
registrations and certificates.
A good record keeping system will help you run your NFP successfully and help you manage your tax and super obligations.
If your NFP is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient (DGR), you must keep records that explain all transactions and other acts relevant to your organisation’s status as a DGR. This requirement applies to both endorsed DGRs and listed by name DGRs.
If you want to learn more about effective record keeping to keep your NFP on track, take our online Record keepingExternal Link course. This free course will give you the opportunity to dive deeper into the records you need to maintain and ask questions relevant to your NFP. NFPs share many tax obligations with small businesses, and the Small Business online learning platform is a valuable resource to help you avoid common mistakes and understand the tax and super obligations of your NFP better.
If your NFP needs more information phone our NFP Advice Service on 1300 130 248, Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm AEST.
Keep up to date
Read more articles in the Not-for-profit newsroom and, if you haven’t already, subscribeExternal Link to our free monthly newsletter Not-for-profit news to be alerted when we publish new articles.
For updates throughout the month, Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Moltisanti regularly shares blog posts and updates on her LinkedInExternal Link profile. And you can check out our online platform ATO CommunityExternal Link to find answers to your tax and super questions.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) welcomes the release of the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman’s report into the ATO’s identification and management of financial abuse within the tax system.
Financial abuse is a serious issue which can have significant impacts for victims.
The ATO has an important role in supporting taxpayers impacted by financial abuse, whilst ensuring the continued integrity of the tax system.
We agree with all recommendations provided in the Tax Ombudsman’s report, and value the perspectives of those who contributed to the report, including the lived experience of victim survivors.
The Tax Ombudsman’s findings help us to increase our understanding of community expectations and real-life experiences, so we can better support taxpayers impacted by financial abuse.
Several of the report’s recommendations build on work already underway in the ATO to support vulnerable clients.
The ATO’s Vulnerability Capability is strengthening and coordinating the way we support people experiencing vulnerability. This includes the development of a framework and specific actions and to support people experiencing vulnerability, including financial abuse.
The ATO welcomes insights on how to further strengthen and coordinate support for taxpayers that have experienced financial abuse, including considering improvements to our existing procedures in place to support these taxpayers.
We recognise the Tax Ombudsman’s findings in relation to the ATO’s role ensuring the integrity of the tax system and in holding perpetrators of financial abuse to account within our existing powers.
We commit to further engagement and consultation with other government agencies and community groups and leveraging existing support and programs to address financial abuse within the tax system.