Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source:

Issue date: Wednesday, 29 April 2026

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will hold a public hearing on Friday, 1 May 2026, as part of its inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES). The inquiry was referred to the Committee on 27 November 2025, by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.

The NES set out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for all national system employees, alongside modern awards. Together, they form the safety net that underpins Australia’s workplace relations system.

At the public hearing in Melbourne, the Committee will examine how effectively the NES protects employees in the modern employment environment, covering many topics from rostering, working hours, redundancy, caring responsibilities, parental leave, long service leave, personal/carer’s leave, enforcement, the NES’ interaction with modern awards and enterprise agreements, and accessibility of legal processes.

Having heard from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Fair Work Ombudsman, at a hearing on 26 March 2026, this hearing will broaden the Committee’s understanding of how the NES operates for different groups.

Committee Chair, Dr Carina Garland MP, said the hearing would grant the Committee an insight into the perspectives of various employee groups and advocates, including trade unions, working women’s organisations, legal and professional associations and advocates for employees with terminal illnesses.

‘The Committee wants to find out how the National Employment Standards (NES) are operating on the ground every day for all kinds of Australian workers. In particular, it aims to understand whether the system is accessible, achieving its policy objectives, and keeping up with the realities of the evolving modern workplace 16 years after its introduction.’

The Committee will hear evidence from:

• The Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association
• Australian Services Union
• Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
• United Workers’ Union
• Victorian Trades Hall Council
• Dr Amanda Selvarajah
• Working Women’s Centre Victoria
• Victorian Women Lawyers
• Centre for Future Work
• Deakin Law Clinic
• McCabe Centre for Law
• Australian Labour and Employment Relations.

Further information is available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday 1 May 2026
Time: 11:00am to 5:30pm
Location: Victorian Trades Hall Council, Carlton, Melbourne. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Media enquiries

Dr Carina Garland MP, Chair 
James Dimas
0432409033

For background information

Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4037
employment.reps@aph.gov.au

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

CFA is conducting its largest emergency stabilisation works in history following the devastating January 2026 bushfires.

These works are taking part across the south-west, west, north-west and north-east of the state and remain a key focus in CFA’s post fire recovery for landholders.

CFA volunteers and staff, FFMVic, VICSES, Coast Guard, FRV and contractors have been, and some continue to be, out on the ground in fire affected areas repairing and replacing private infrastructure that was impacted as a result of suppression activities during fire response – including fencing that was cut, gates that were damaged, and replacing water that was used.

The reinstatement of soil and stabilisation of control lines on private property remains a priority and involves extensive work using dozers and graders to push back soil and apply erosion control measures to protect the land and water quality.

CFA established a dedicated Incident Control Centre (ICC) at Seymour specifically for the emergency stabilisation works for the Longwood-Berrys Lane fire.

CFA’s Vegetation Management Team Leader and Deputy Incident Controller/Stabilisation Manager for the Seymour ICC Daniel Idczak said the Longwood-Berrys Lane fire is the largest fire CFA lead this season, impacting more than 1,800 properties predominantly on private land.

“The perimeter of the fire is 540km and we have mapped around 889km of control lines so it was a very large fire,” Daniel said.

“We’ve assessed all that area aerially and crews are working on all sectors of the fire footprint with around 60 per cent of the control line now stabilised.

“We have a number of CFA volunteers and staff in teams out there, working alongside partner agencies to make this happen. It’s sector-wide and it’s a big job, so we need all the resources we can get.”

CFA is working through properties on a request basis. Daniel says some landowners may not want parts of their property repaired.

“People often ask us to leave the control line in place as they want to maintain it as a permanent asset going forward,” Daniel said.

“We’ve received really positive feedback from residents as a result of these stabilisation works, some have made permanent changes to their properties to allow easier access for emergency services in the future if required.

“We’re moving as quick as we feasibly can to get to properties. There’s a lot happening out there and a lot of people have been impacted but we’re doing our best to get there as quickly as we can.

“We’re working closely with those impacted and traumatised community members so there’s many challenging conversations taking place.”

CFA is also working with the community to repair a football oval used for staging areas, cleaning the halls that were used for community hubs and replacing the water used for aviation purposes.

The emergency stabilisation works have largely been completed for the fire impacted areas of Natimuk, Streatham and Larralea, while works for the Mount Mercer fire is scheduled to be completed by the end of April and in the next couple of months for Harcourt and Longwood.

Landholders who have been impacted by fire can submit a form to request repairs at their property that were a direct result of fire suppression activities from emergency services. All fencing and water replacement work is reactive to requests from landholders.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

OLIVER PETERSON, HOST: This is Drive with Oliver Peterson. And I’m pleased to say that standing opposite me here in the 102.5 ABC Perth Studios is the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. Good afternoon.

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Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
29 Apr 2026 08:56

Warning area
Callington Road, Strathalbyn in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Warning level
Advice – Avoid Smoke

Action
Smoke from the Adelaide Hills Recycling Centre, Dump Fire is in the Langhourne Creek Road, Hillside Road and Willyaroo area.

Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.

Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.

If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.

More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

Source: Tasmania Police

TASK FORCE SCELUS INTERCEPT LEADS TO DRUG AND WEAPON CHARGES

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 – 8:50 am.

A 22-year-old Devonport man has been charged with a number of drug and weapon offences following a vehicle intercept and subsequent searches on Sunday 26 April 2026. Task Force Scelus members intercepted the vehicle in Latrobe.
A search of the vehicle and its occupants was conducted, during which police located a quantity of drugs. As a result of the intercept, police obtained and executed search warrants at two addresses in Latrobe. During the searches police located MDMA, Ketamine, methylamphetamine(ice), speed, heroin, cannabis, three replica firearms, including a replica Glock-style handgun and two assault rifle-style replica firearms.
The 22-year-old man has been charged with: · Trafficking in a controlled substance · Selling a controlled drug, possessing controlled drugs · Possessing a controlled plant product · Possessing items used for the administration of a controlled drug · Unlawfully possessing a dangerous article in a public place · Possessing a firearm when not the holder of a firearm licence.
He has been bailed to appear at the Devonport Magistrates Court at a later date.
People involved in the illicit drug trade should expect to be targeted by police. Task Force Scelus is actively identifying, disrupting and charging offenders who profit from selling drugs in our communities, including those who possess or use illicit firearms, replica firearms or firearm-like weapons.
Our message is clear: if you are trafficking or selling drugs in the Western District, police will continue to target you, your associates, your vehicles and the places you operate from.Replica or not, firearms and firearm-like weapons can cause real fear and real harm in the community, and they have no place in criminal activity.
Anyone with information about illicit substances is urged to 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

The Northern Territory Police Force is investigating a violent disturbance that occurred in Ampilatwatja yesterday.

From around 5pm onwards, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received several reports of a violent disturbance occurring at the local oval. It is alleged a large group, some armed with weapons, was engaged in fighting.

Arlparra police attended and the group dispersed.

A 32-year-old male suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his head and body. He was subsequently conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment.

Investigations into the disturbance is ongoing and anyone who has information is urged to call police on 131 444 or attend their local police station. Please quote reference NTP2600040463. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 14-year-old male who escaped from custody in Katherine yesterday afternoon.

Around 3:50pm, a 14-year-old male deemed fit for custody following an aggravated robbery and vehicle crash on Sunday morning, was being escorted on foot by police to a caged vehicle to be conveyed from hospital to the Katherine Watch House.

He broke free from escorting members and ran from the hospital grounds, towards the Katherine CBD, while remaining handcuffed to his front.

The youth attended a family residence in Kalano Community and police were contacted. Police attended around 8pm and he was returned to custody without incident.

Acting Superintendent Warren Scott said “Police are grateful for the assistance of the community as Katherine General Duties members and members of the Northern Investigations Section worked together to apprehend the youth”.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Thanks for joining us. Today, Australia pauses to remember the 35 people whose lives and futures were stolen from them at Port Arthur 30 years ago. We think of everyone whose world was shattered by the loss of those innocent victims. We think of, and thank again, the first responders, and we think of the broader Tasmanian community as well. We think of Walter Mikac, who channelled his devastating loss into a call for national action on gun law reform. And out of tragedy, it is important to remember that Australia is a better place because the Howard government and the parliament of the day came together to answer Walter’s call. This will be a very difficult day for many people, and our thoughts are with them today.

Can I also announce today that I have made a decision to recommend to the Governor-General that Meghan Quinn be appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Defence. Meghan is a senior leader in the Australian Public Service. She’s currently the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Ms Quinn’s term will commence on the 18 May for a five-year period. Ms Quinn will be the first woman to be the permanent Secretary of the Department of Defence, and is an outstanding public servant who, after an exhaustive process that we went through, was clearly the standout candidate. I do want to take the opportunity once again to thank Greg Moriarty for his service, and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States.

Today, we’ve just come from Cabinet and we can announce today that our Government is taking the next steps to ensure that Australian journalism is sustainable now and into the future by ensuring that large digital platforms cannot avoid their obligations under the News Media Bargaining Code. The News Bargaining Incentive will go to the next stage. We released a discussion paper in November. We had submissions in December. And today we’re releasing an exposure draught of the legislation. That is an exposure draught which will encourage dealmaking between the platforms and news organisations. It will envisage some 2.25 per cent of Australian revenue being paid. That can be offset through deals, by 150 per cent for deals done with traditional media and 170 per cent through deals done through smaller media organisations. We want to see these commercial arrangements occur. If they do occur, then it’s expected that that figure will drop to 1.5 per cent and will produce revenue of between $200 and $250 million dollars, which is the figure that was envisaged to be on the previous regime that has needed to be fixed.

Importantly as well, this is not about government revenue. Every single dollar will go back to journalists to pay for the journalism that you all produce here in the Gallery, but newsrooms right around the country produce as well. This is important for the integrity of the system. We have engaged in extensive consultation. At this point, the three organisations, Meta, Google, and TikTok as well have been consulted with and we’ll continue to engage with. But we want to see these deals done as were previously done under the previous regime. But it is a regime that did need reform, and that is precisely why we are doing it today. We think that investment in journalism is critical to a healthy democracy. It matters. It’s something that defines the way that Australian society operates. And frankly, if the work is being done by the people here at this press conference and in other places right around Australia, then your work needs to have a monetary value attached to it. It shouldn’t just be able to be taken by a large multinational corporation and used to generate profits for that organisation with no compensation appropriate for the people who produce that creative content.

And so, this is a fix that we are putting forward. There’s no substitute for Australian news and stories being told by Australian journalists. We envisage that we’ll introduce this legislation in the winter sittings, and we would ask for broad support right across the Parliament, right across the House and the Senate for this legislation. But the reason for the exposure draft being released is so that people can have full transparency about what we are planning to do here. I’ll ask the ministers to make comments and then we’re happy to take questions.

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As the PM indicated, the incentive is set at a level at 2.25 per cent, such that if digital platforms enter into deals where there’s a 150 per cent offset, they will end up paying an amount equivalent to 1.5 per cent of their revenue, which is our estimate of the deals that they had entered into under previous arrangements. There is a slightly more generous offset of 170 per cent for deals that are entered into with small media organisations, which is a reflection of the importance of diversity in the media. The test for which digital platforms are covered is a two-limb test, which will cover Meta, Google, and TikTok and eligible expenditure under the deals will include amounts of money that are spent to support the production of news. I’ll just conclude by saying that the intention here is that digital platforms will enter into deals, and that’s very much the way this has been designed, and that then is a segue into the work of my colleague, Minister Wells.

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The News Media Bargaining Incentive means if a platform doesn’t do a deal with a news publisher, the money will come to us and we will deliver that funding to news organisations based on how many journalists they employ. The more journalists they have, the more money they will get under this proposal. And we are consulting on this to make sure that we get it right, because local news matters to local communities, and these stories can’t be told without backing Australian journalists. And that’s exactly what the Albanese Government is doing.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

rime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of Japan, Her Excellency Sanae Takaichi, to Australia from Sunday 3 May to Tuesday 5 May 2026.

This will be Prime Minister Takaichi’s first official visit to Australia since taking office.

This year marks 50 years since the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan – the foundation for our relationship of trust and friendship today.

Our Special Strategic Partnership is underpinned by deep trade and investment ties, growing security and defence cooperation and enduring cultural ties between our nations.

Prime Minister Albanese will meet with Prime Minister Takaichi at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 4 May 2026 for the Australia–Japan Annual Leaders’ Meeting.

The visit will be the fourth time the leaders have met, with previous meetings last year on the margins of the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the APEC Summit in Gyeongju and the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I am honoured to welcome Prime Minister Takaichi to Australia for our Annual Leaders’ Meeting where we will continue to work together under our Special Strategic Partnership for the benefit of our people and the region.

“50 years ago, our nations laid the foundation for a partnership based on trust, shared values and mutual respect by signing the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

“Australia and Japan share strong strategic alignment. Our cooperation is essential to maintaining a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

“Our enduring trade and investment ties underpin our relationship, creating jobs, providing opportunity and delivering economic growth to both our nations.”