Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The number of international visitors is also set to increase with Fiji Airways due to start a direct service from Canberra this month.
Canberra continues to be a destination of choice with the latest national and international visitor survey data showing 5.57 million visitors to Canberra over the year to March 2023.
Canberra experienced the highest growth in domestic overnight visitation, overnight stays and expenditure of all Australian states and territories during the 12-month period.
Not only did visitors come in droves, they also spent up big with Canberra recording its highest ever visitor expenditure of $3.33 billion in a 12-month period, surpassing the record annual high reached for year ending December 2022 by $300 million.
This demonstrates the ACT Government is on track to reach its target of $4 billion in expenditure by 2030 under T2030: ACT Tourism Strategy 2023-2030.
Of the 5.57 million visitors, 5.4 million were domestic and 130,000 were international visitors. The number of international visitors is also set to increase with Fiji Airways due to start a direct service from Canberra this month, which will open up the north American market.
The data shows that compared with December 2019 – before the pandemic began – the domestic leisure and visiting friends and relatives market has fully recovered. While the number of visitors coming for business is lower, they are spending more money.
The government will continue to invest in initiatives that attract visitors and improve the ACT’s destination appeal. This includes continuing investment in the Aviation Stimulus Fund to attract more direct domestic and international flights to and from Canberra, extending the successful Tourism Product Development Fund for another year and supporting year-round destination marketing activities.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Hospital infrastructure and community health are the focus of the ACT Government’s Infrastructure Plan.
The completion of the Canberra Hospital expansion and a new northside hospital headline the Health update of the ACT Government’s Infrastructure Plan.
The plan outlines two areas of focus – hospital infrastructure and community health – with the purpose of improving acute services infrastructure and delivering more health services in the community.
The government will continue to invest in infrastructure across the Canberra Hospital campus through the implementation of the Canberra Hospital Masterplan. The plan provides a long-term framework to guide the redevelopment of the campus over the next 20 years.
At the centre of the Masterplan is the new Canberra Hospital Critical Services Building, opening next year.
The Critical Services Building will provide Canberrans with access to a bigger emergency department, more treatment spaces and more operating theatres.
Funding was provided in the 2023-24 ACT Budget to progress detailed design of the new northside hospital, which will ultimately see an investment of more than $1 billion.
Additional investments in community health services and primary care will help to keep Canberrans healthy and out of hospital.
The government will roll out four new Health Centres to deliver community-based services in South Tuggeranong, North Gungahlin, the Inner South and West Belconnen.
These Health Centres will provide integrated multi-disciplinary care with a focus on preventive care and advice, early intervention, and the management of chronic illness.
Through the 2023-24 ACT Budget, the government has committed funding to design and construct the South Tuggeranong Health Centre and to begin planning and design work for North Gungahlin and the Inner South.
Other projects identified in the plan include:
expanding and upgrading endoscopy suites at the Canberra Hospital to help meet patient demand
a fit-for-purpose Acute Palliative Care Ward at Canberra Hospital. Early planning is already underway with construction anticipated to begin late 2024
the Watson Health Precinct – a new precinct to support youth mental health and alcohol and other drug services as well as a residential rehabilitation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
a strategic review of community health assets across the ACT to develop a long-term plan for the upgrade, renewal and construction of these facilities.
To view the updated Infrastructure plan, including the health sector updates, visit www.builtforcbr.act.gov.au
An artists impression of the Canberra Hospital Expansion.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
New steel, handrailed pedestrian bridges provide safer, more accessible use for recreational activities.
All three replacement bridges in the Umbagong District Park are now open for the community to enjoy.
The timber bridges were constructed in 1986 and closed to the public in April 2021 after a safety audit revealed the bridges needed replacement.
The new steel, handrailed bridges have a rusted finish in contrast to the white timber bridges they once were. This rusted finish complements the natural setting and colours of the Umbagong native grasslands.
Two of the smaller pedestrian bridges were opened in July. The third larger bridge has now been completed. The larger bridge includes a new accessible lookout area and seating which provides enough space for wheelchairs or mobility scooters to turn around safely.
Bollards have also been installed at either end of the three bridges to deter vehicles from driving through the park to protect the area from potential damage.
While engaging with the community the ACT Government heard how valued the park and bridges are. With the project now complete, the new bridges will allow Canberrans to stop and appreciate the nature of the park including birds, grasslands, and lizards.
Additional improvements have also been carried out in the park including formalising the carpark off Florey Drive and recycling healthy timber from the original three bridges to create seating.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Left to right: Dr Ilona DiBella, Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Kieran Dixon, Team Manager of the Adolescent Day Program.
Located on the Canberra Hospital Campus, the new 14 bed adolescent unit includes eight medical beds and six beds for mental health patients. This is the first time the ACT public health system has had dedicated mental health beds available for young people.
Canberra Health Services’ Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) will operate the six dedicated mental health beds – providing care for young people who require treatment for acute mental illness.
The eight medical beds will be used for young people who have been admitted to hospital, with two being designed to be easily adapted to meet demand in the unit.
A safe place for young people
Clinical Director of CAMHS Ilona DiBella said the specialised team was experienced in working with young people and their families.
“The CAMHS Adolescent Mental health Unit is a safe place for young people as staff are conscious of and attentive to adolescent’s vulnerabilities,” she said.
“Having a dedicated inpatient space for young people from 12 up their 18th birthday experiencing mental health problems means that young people who require treatment for moderate to severe mental illness can now access this in a purposefully designed setting that considers their developmental, psychological and physical needs.”
Features of the new Adolescent Unit
The new Adolescent Unit includes:
14 patient beds – eight medical beds and six dedicated mental health beds
a negative pressure room to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases
a bariatric rated room with lifter for the treatment of obese patients
a treatment room
a sensory room within the mental health section of the unit
interview spaces, and
a dedicated place for recreation and therapeutic activities, a family lounge and courtyard.
New adolescent day program
The Adolescent Day Program has also moved into its permanent home at the Centenary Hospital. The new purpose-built facility provides a welcoming space that has been specifically designed for the program.
The program provides a range of mental health programs to support individual and group therapy, parenting sessions, activity-based programs and psycho-education to assist with the continued recovery of young people.
Kieran Dixon, Adolescent Day Program Team Manager said an important element of the program was young people being able to connect with “… others who have similar stories or have been through similar things and being able to have that shared experience and learn how to recover together.”
Healing artwork by local artists
Artwork has been created and curated for both the new adolescent unit and the Adolescent Day Program.
In the adolescent unit, artwork by Canberra based artists Paul Summerfield, byrd and Julie Bradley, as well as Indigenous artist Natalie Bateman helps create a place of healing and inspiration for the young people receiving care.
In the Adolescent Day Program, Canberra based visual artist Jodie Cunningham’s artwork helps to create an uplifting and engaging space.
For more information on the Centenary Hospital Expansion Project, visit the Built for CBR website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Canberra City Farm, a previous Community Garden Grants recipient is a beloved community space for many Canberrans.
Community Gardens are places where Canberrans can grow food, make friends and connect with nature, while also creating great habitats for local animals.
Community Gardens Grants program
The grants program aims to support community garden projects throughout the ACT. Previous projects include traditional and indigenous food gardens, micro-forests, and urban gardens.
Funding can be used to build or enhance community gardens by:
buying tools and materials.
hiring equipment.
or cover the costs of contractors.
Since its development the program has helped both new and existing community gardens operated by a diverse range for community groups including not-for-profit groups, school communities, owner’s corporations and religious groups.
Canberra City Farm
Canberra City Farm located on Diary Road in Fyshwick has received funding across two rounds of the Community Garden Grants. The farm has grown into a beloved community space for many Canberrans.
Grant funding allowed the garden to expand its plots to welcome more members and share gardening knowledge across generations.
“The grant funding received in 2019 allowed us to plant an additional 25 allotments with the main expense being installing irrigation and hiring equipment,” President of the Canberra City Farm John Peters said.
“Many of our older allotments are farmed by retirees, and our newer allotments, which came from our grant funding, are farmed by young families who live in apartments. They travel to the farm by bike or bring their kids, have picnics, and enjoy their time outside.
“The retirees have the practical knowledge of how to grow plants and produce in Canberra, and through working together this knowledge is passed onto the younger groups.
“We recognise we are a community asset and welcome schools and other garden groups to the farm. We give these groups a tour of the farm, which is both educational and social.”
President of the Canberra City Farm John Peters at the garden in Fyshwick.
Apply for the 2023-24 grants program
This year there is $100,000 of grant funding available, split across two categories. Not-for-profit community organisations, schools, churches, and owners’ corporations are eligible to apply .
Category one: $40,000 available Up to $10,000 per project that will fund minor improvements or expansion of existing gardens or establishing small low-impact gardens.
Category two: $60,000 available Up to $20,000 per project to establish new large-scale food production community gardens, or for significant garden infrastructure.
Police are investigating after a body was located on the beach at Carpenter Rocks today.
Police are investigating after a body was located on the beach at Carpenter Rocks (35 km from Mount Gambier) today.
About 1.45pm on Sunday 16 March, police were called to Carpenter Rocks in the State’s south east after reports a person was located deceased on the beach.
It is early in the investigation however police do not believe the death to be suspicious.
Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
Police are investigating the death of a man at North Adelaide this morning.
About 7.45am on Sunday 16 March, police and paramedics responded to reports of a man collapsed on a walking path within Brougham Gardens between Brougham Place and King William Road.
A 54-year-old man from Marden was found unresponsive when police arrived.
Paramedics commenced CPR at the scene before he was rushed to hospital but sadly, the man died.
Eastern District Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death with assistance of Major Crime officers and Forensic Response.
A postmortem is expected to be carried out tomorrow.
Anyone who was in the vicinity of O’Connell Street or Brougham Gardens between 6am and 8am this morning is asked to contact police.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestoppersssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.
Allens secured top rankings in the 2024 syndicated loans and project finance league tables, reflecting a strong year of activity driven by complex cross-border financings, infrastructure investment, and evolving lender dynamics.
The firm maintained its market-leading position in syndicated loans, with standout rankings across multiple league tables:
Bloomberg
First in APAC (ex Japan) – borrower lead counsel by deal count
First in APAC (ex Japan) – lender lead legal adviser by value
Second in APAC (ex Japan) – borrower legal adviser by value
Debtwire
First in APAC (ex Japan) – lead bank legal counsel
First in Australia – lead bank legal counsel
Second in APAC (ex Japan) – borrower legal counsel
Second in Australia – borrower legal counsel
Infralogic
First in APAC – project finance legal adviser by value and deal count
First in Australia and New Zealand – project finance legal adviser by value and deal count
LSEG (formally Refinitiv)
Second in APAC (inc Japan) – borrower legal adviser by value and deal count
Second in Australia – borrower legal adviser by value and deal count
‘These results reflect the trust our clients place in us to advise on their most strategic and high-value financings. We are fortunate to work with market-leading lenders, sponsors, and borrowers across the region, supporting them on complex transactions that drive investment and growth,’ said Partner and Head of Banking & Finance Tim Stewart.
‘The market remains highly active, particularly in project finance and structured lending, and we expect this momentum to continue into 2025 as borrowers and lenders adapt to evolving regulatory and economic conditions.’
In a special leave application filed with the High Court of Australia, a judgment debtor is seeking to avoid being wound up in insolvency on the basis that an order to extend the statutory six-month period was ineffective as it was granted to ‘a date to be fixed’; an indefinite time.
Background
In 2015, the liquidators of Gunns Limited (Liquidators) commenced a proceeding against Badenoch Integrated Logging Pty Ltd (Badenoch) seeking to recover unfair preference payments (Primary Proceeding). The Liquidators were successful in the Primary Proceeding. Badenoch appealed to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia and was successful, in part, in reducing their judgment debt (Appeal Proceeding).
In November 2020, after judgment in the Primary Proceeding but during the conduct of the Appeal Proceeding, the Liquidators commenced a separate proceeding in the Federal Court seeking orders that Badenoch be wound up in insolvency (Winding Up Proceeding).
Given that the Winding Up Proceeding was to be determined within six months (see s459R(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act)) and that the Appeal Proceeding was still ongoing, the parties agreed consent orders in the following terms:
Pursuant to section 459R(2) of the [Act], the period within which the [Liquidators’] application in [the Winding Up Proceeding] be determined (as required by section 459R(1) of the Act) be extended to a date to be fixed, such date to be not prior to six months after the determination of [the Appeal Proceeding]… (Extension Order).
Following the determination of the Appeal Proceeding and the subsequent landmark High Court decision to abolish the peak indebtedness rule, the Liquidators demanded payment of the judgment debt from Badenoch. Badenoch did not pay the amount. Instead, Badenoch filed an interlocutory application seeking a declaration that the Winding Up Proceeding had been dismissed automatically pursuant to s459R(3) of the Act or, alternatively, an order that the proceeding be dismissed as an abuse of process or for want of prosecution.
The decisions
Federal Court decision
In the first instance, the Federal Court found in Badenoch’s favour. The primary judge concluded that an effective exercise of the power under s459R(2) of the Act required that ‘the period’ as extended be one that is ‘definite, measured by a period of time’. The primary judge concluded that the period may be fixed by stipulating a date, or it may be determined by reference to a number of days or months, but it could not be fixed by reference to the occurrence of an event. On this basis, the primary judge found that the Extension Order was not effective in extending the statutory period for determination of the application to wind up in insolvency as required by s459R(2) of the Act and, as a consequence, the application was taken to have been dismissed by operation of s459R(3) upon expiry of the six-month period.
The Full Court decision
On appeal, the Full Court overturned the primary judge’s decision and found that the Extension Order was effective in extending the period in which the application to wind up Badenoch in insolvency was to be determined. When considering the section of the Act, the Full Court noted that the only prerequisites for the exercise of the court’s discretion are that:
the court is satisfied that special circumstances justify the extension; and
the extension order is made within the six-month period, or within the period as last extended.
Noting this, the court’s discretion should not be fettered by requiring that an extension under s459R be made to a specified time or measure of time after an event. In this regard, the Full Court found that the Extension Order was effective because the language of s459R of the Act does not suggest that ‘the period’ means a period ‘of time’ or which must be fixed to a specified date or by reference to time. While the Full Court agreed with the primary judge that ‘the period’ in s459R(2) of the Act must be definite, it noted that ‘the period’ as extended will be definite if it is:
fixed to a specific date;
measured by reference to time (ie a number of weeks); or
an interval that is able to be identified when the extension order is made, such as by reference to an identifiable event.
Given the Extension Order referred to a date to be fixed by the court after the occurrence of an event that was certain and identifiable at that time (ie the Appeal Proceeding), the Full Court held that the Extension Order was effective.
Stay tuned
In January 2025, Badenoch filed an application for special leave which is yet to be heard by the High Court.
In any event, should the High Court determine that this issue should be considered, we don’t expect judgment to be delivered until the second half of this year.
Should you wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts