Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

I am honoured to have been sworn in as Federal Minister for Emergency Management, and to be reappointed as Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.

In my maiden speech to Parliament, I committed to supercharging the response to bushfire recovery, after parts of our community in Eden-Monaro experienced some of the worst fires our country has ever seen.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that is serious about reducing disaster risk, and strengthening our emergency management and disaster recovery capabilities.

Under the leadership of Minster Watt and Minister McAllister, the Albanese Government has launched the National Emergency Management Agency and the Disaster Ready Fund, funded Disaster Relief Australia, established our National Emergency Management Stockpile, and expanded our National Aerial Firefighting capabilities.

We have delivered all 15 Commonwealth-led recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, and we continue to boost the disaster resilience of our telecommunications networks.

I am humbled to continue the critical work of the Emergency Management portfolio alongside Assistant Minister Wilson, including progressing the National Messaging System.

I also look forward to continuing to work with Minister King to strengthen the local government sector, which is not only on the front line of disaster response and recovery, but responsible for many services our communities rely on. 

I am proud to have brought local government back to the table as a trusted delivery partner – including at National Cabinet and through two successful Australian Council of Local Government forums – while increasing local road funding for every council and launching transparent grant programs that every community can apply for.

We remain committed to supporting councils, including through our response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Local Government Sustainability, which we will finalise this term.

I have always lived in our regions and love the quality of life it affords us, which is why I will continue standing up for Eden-Monaro and regional Australia to ensure we get our fair share.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New South Wales – News

The March rolling year crime statistics reveal shop theft has declined for the fifth successive period, recording an eight per cent reduction – 1,511 offences – from 18,783 to 17,272 reported incidents.

The reduction follows the previous eight per cent reduction in the February period, a five per cent decline in January, three per cent in December and two per cent in November.

Acting Assistant Commissioner (metropolitan Operations Service) John de Candia said the reduction in offending corresponded with the continuing efforts of officers involved in Operation Measure across all policing districts.

“We continue targeting the hardcore, recidivist offenders we know are committing large numbers of shoplifting offences and that is having an impact,’’ he said.

“Some of these offenders are committing literally dozens of offences across the metropolitan area, often endangering innocent members of the community.’’

While Operation Measure teams continue to target individual offenders, operations are also held at specific locations that record high levels of offending. One such two-day operation at an eastern suburbs liquor outlet in March resulted in the arrest of four offenders.

Significant arrests in March included a Christie Downs man, 27, who was charged with 19 counts of shop theft committed across multiple districts, a Renown Park man, 22, charged with 22 counts of shop theft mostly committed in the western suburbs and an Elizabeth South man, 37, who was charged with 14 counts of shop theft committed in the northern suburbs.

The March rolling year statistics also reveal house break-ins have dropped for the ninth successive period, while car theft and robbery and related offences have also continued to decrease significantly.

The figures reveal house break-ins declined by eight per cent in the period from 5,873 to 5,378 reported offences. This followed a seven per cent decline in the February period, a five per cent decline in the January period and a six per cent decline in the December period.

The number of non-residential break-ins declined by five per cent from 3,672 to 3,476 reported offences. This followed an identical decline in the February period.

Car theft and theft from a vehicle have again recorded decreases in the March period. Car theft dropped by nine per cent or 340 offences – from 3,814 to 3,474 offences. This followed an 11 per cent decline in the February period, 12 per cent in January and an 11 per cent drop in the December period.

Theft from a motor vehicle declined by 23 per cent – from 10,082 to 7,796 offences. This followed a 22 per cent decline in February, a 20 per cent drop in January and a 19 per cent decrease in the December and November periods.

Robbery and related offences also continued to decrease in the March period with a 13 per cent decline reported. Within that category aggravated robbery declined by 16 per cent or 80 offences – from 503 offences to 423 offences – while non-aggravated robbery declined by six per cent – from 81 offences to 76 offences.

The number of homicides committed in South Australia has continued to decrease with a 52 per cent decline recorded in the March period – from 23 to 11 offences.

While a majority of offence categories showed decreases in the March period, increases were recorded in offences including serious assaults not resulting in injury, common assault, aggravated sexual assault, property damage and graffiti.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

NT Police are calling for information in relation to the theft of a large amount of power tools and inventory stolen from a business in Winnellie on 11 May 2025.

Police received reports of two offenders allegedly damaging a fence and unlawfully entering a business premises between the hours of 3:30am and 5:30am on Sunday. It is alleged the offenders accessed a pallet of items and stole them from the premises.

Strike Force Trident responded to the incident and on Monday arrested a 38-year-old male for the offending.

Investigations remain ongoing to locate the outstanding offender and the items that were stolen.

Anyone with information in relation to the incident, particularly anyone with dashcam footage of suspicious activity along the Stuart Highway between the intersections of Hook Road and Lee Street around the time, is urged to contact police on 131 444. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

I am honoured to be reappointed the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the second term Albanese Labor Government, and I thank the Prime Minister for his continued support. 

In our first three years, we embarked on a transformative agenda to reform commonwealth infrastructure investment and return discipline to investment decisions. 

This included reforming the infrastructure pipeline so Australians can have confidence projects can be delivered when they are promised, and securing new five-year funding agreements with the jurisdictions that require infrastructure investments to be properly planned and costed.

In transport, we embarked on significant reform to Australia’s aviation industry including reforms to the slot system at Sydney Airport for the first time in 25 years, and landed a record number of bilateral air agreements. 

We restored integrity to the federal grants process, increased funding for local roads, and legislated a national fuel efficiency standard. 

With the foundations set in the first term, it is time to harness the opportunity to build a better and stronger future, with infrastructure that connects people and businesses and makes our communities not just liveable, but desirable.

We have a significant agenda for our second term, including: establishing a robust consumer aviation protection regime, preserving regional aviation and driving competition in the sector; driving productivity in construction and across our supply chains; getting on with Melbourne Airport Rail, fixing Queensland’s Bruce Highway, finishing Western Sydney International, and much more. 

I look forward to continuing to work with an impressive team of Ministers to progress this important work.  

The Australian people have put their trust in us and we look forward to delivering on our commitments.  

 

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

CANOWIE BELT

Issued on
14 May 2025 11:01

Canowie Belt Shed Fire

Issued for CANOWIE BELT in the state’s Mid North.

The CFS is responding to a shed fire at Canowie Belt, approximately 18 kilometres east of Jamestown, in the Mid North of South Australia.

CFS volunteers on 8 trucks are on scene working to extinguish the fire and prevent the fire spreading to nearby fields.

Smoke will be visible for some distance.

Roads are currently open around this incident, however, this may change at short notice. Continue to monitor at: traffic.sa.gov.au

Smoke may impact roads in the area, and visibility may be reduced. To ensure your safety and that of firefighters and other emergency personnel who are working in the area, please do not enter the area unless necessary.

Message ID 0008600

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Three of five alleged offenders have been arrested in relation to an aggravated robbery along Bagot Road yesterday.

About 3:30pm, police received reports of a male having his scooter stolen after being physically assaulted and threatened by five offenders allegedly carrying knives.

Dog Operations Unit, Strike Force Trident and Casuarina general duties members attended and arrested three males, aged 15, 17 and 18-year-old, nearby.

The 18 and 17-year-old have since been charged with Aggravated robbery and the 15-year-old has been charged with Breach bail.

Strike Force Trident has carriage of the investigation, and two suspects remain outstanding.

Police would like to thank the member of the public that reported the incident to police after passing in a vehicle.

Anyone who witnesses antisocial or criminal behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444 or in an emergency dial Triple Zero.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

On 7 May 2025, an anonymous report was received via Crime Stoppers detailing a complaint that someone was allegedly distributing and in possession of child abuse material in an East Arnhem Region community.

Following initial investigations, the Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch travelled to the remote community on Monday to execute a search warrant at the alleged offender’s residence. Throughout the search, investigators seized multiple storage devices and a mobile device which contained child abuse material.

The 31-year-old male was arrested and has since been charged with:

• Transmit Child Abuse Material – 474.22(1) Commonwealth Criminal Code Act
• Possess/Produce Child Abuse Material – 125B Criminal Code Act NT x 6

He was remanded to appear in Darwin local Court on Thursday 15 May 2025.

Major Crime Detective, Senior Sergeant Justene Dwyer said “I commend the Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch investigators, local East Arnhem Region police members and Aboriginal Liaison Officers for their diligence and attention to detail to ensure this man is put before the courts.

“This behaviour is not accepted in our community and police will continue to go above and beyond to arrest anyone responsible for harming children in the NT community.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can also submit a report online at https://crimestoppers.com.au/.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Hooning incident at Bruny Island

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – 10:37 am.

A Kingston man responsible for burnouts in the gravel car park of the Bruny Island hotel will be prosecuted for hooning offences and driving without a licence.Tasmania Police used CCTV footage to help identify the driver from the incident on Monday and say they are disappointed in the behaviour shown by the 30-year-old man, who was a visitor to the island.Senior Constable Ashley Hopwood said the man was leaving the Hotel Bruny, at Alonnah on Bruny Island, about 5pm and proceeded to do burnouts in his vehicle in the gravel carpark of the hotel.The incident was reported to local police by members of the community.A review of CCTV footage helped identify the vehicle and the owner.“This sort of driving behaviour is reckless, and it puts innocent people at risk,” Senior Constable Hopwood said.“Police are committed to keeping our roads as safe as possible and hoons should be warned that this type of behaviour can lead to loss of licence, vehicle confiscation, vehicle destruction and significant fines.”“Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving on our roads should contact police on 131 444, or Triple-Zero (000) in an emergency.”“If you can’t call at the time, but you have dash cam or other footage, you can upload it to our evidence portal at police.tas.gov.au/report.”This week, May 12 to 16, is National Road Safety Week.