Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

RYK GODDARD, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, good morning. Welcome to Tassie.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

ANDY TAYLOR, HOST: Right now, we are talking to the Prime Minister of Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in the state right now and he joins us live on Triple M. Welcome back to the show, Prime Minister.

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Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Six-year-old Ollie, one of the 2026 Faces of the Good Friday Appeal (GFA), was recently treated to a morning as a firefighter, visiting Diamond Creek Fire Station to bravely learn the ropes.

Ollie jumped eagerly into fire gear and looked comfortable behind the steering wheel of a stationary fire truck, quickly learning how to turn the flashing lights on – and how to use the hose.

Having undergone two open heart surgeries after he was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect called truncus arteriosus, Ollie is hoping to raise awareness of the Appeal to help other kids just like him.

Ollie’s mum Jacinta said getting the opportunity to be a part of it has been a surreal experience.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital has been phenomenal to us. It has been generational and we’re forever indebted for what they’ve done for us and our family,” Jacinta said.

“Ollie has taken to the role so well (Face of the Appeal) and taken it in his stride, it has been amazing. He is just really happy to give back and be involved in this way.

“Victorians do really give deep to the Appeal as we have seen over the last 95 years, everyone always gives so generously, so please give to children like Oliver so they can all thrive.”

Fiona Macken, 3rd Lieutenant of Diamond Creek Fire Brigade said it was fantastic having Ollie down for the day to highlight the importance of the Appeal, in what is CFA’s 75^th year of support.

“He is a lot of fun, and we had a lot of fun too. He has taught us a thing or two about having fun with water and he has a great spirit and great attitude,” Fiona said.

“Keep an eye out for our trucks this Good Friday, we’d love to smash our fundraising goal this year. We really encourage the community to donate whatever they can, big or small.”

The brigade has fundraised over a number of years since the 1950s, however have more recently ramped up their fundraising efforts from 2018, raising more than $43,451 since then.

Firefighter and former Diamond Creek GFA Brigade Coordinator Antoinette Calleja, has a proud history running the collection days and said it is a day out for the entire brigade and their kids.

“We have a lot of fun. We meet at the station in the morning, have hot cross buns for breakfast, and allocate all the vehicles and locations of where everyone will be heading,” Antoinette said.  

“We start at the Tram cafe and Diamond Creek Regional Playspace to hang out with the kids, then make our way out around town. The kids come running out with their money boxes!”

Donned with GFA banners and easter eggs, all vehicles and members return at midday to a fish and chip lunch before four members head to the city to drop off the collections.

The community remains strongly connected to the Appeal, with many local kids requiring the services of the Royal Children’s Hospital, including Antoinette’s children and family friends, and former brigade member, the late Rod Miloschew who was born with spina bifida.

Current GFA Brigade Coordinator Andrew McNamara’s wife is also a nurse at the hospital.

Make this Friday a Good Friday. Give what you can – in person or donate online at https://fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/find-a-fundraiser

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

rime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Australia from Monday, 23 March to Wednesday 25 March 2026.

The Prime Minister will meet with President von der Leyen in Canberra on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.

This will be President von der Leyen’s first visit to Australia as President of the European Commission, and the 7th meeting between the leaders.

President von der Leyen will be accompanied by EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič.

The relationship between Australia and the European Union is built on a shared commitment to democratic values and a likeminded approach to security and trade.

We cooperate on a broad range of international issues, including maintaining the multilateral rules-based trading system, security and defence, climate change, critical minerals and meaningful social media reform for the protection of young people.

Prime Minister Albanese and President von der Leyen will continue discussions on how Australia and the European Union can further strengthen the relationship.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I look forward to welcoming President von der Leyen to Australia and continuing discussions to further expand our cooperation.

“Australia and Europe are friends and partners, working together to advance peace, security and economic prosperity.

“The visit to Australia by President von der Leyen is an important opportunity to continue that work.”

Source: Tasmania Police

Update – Fatal boating incident, Marion Bay

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 – 5:10 pm.

Sadly, a woman has died following a boating incident at Marion Narrows, in Marion Bay, today.
The woman was one of four people on a 4.5m, fibreglass hull recreational vessel, when it struck difficulty about 600m offshore about 11.45am.
Three people were thrown into the water when the boat rocked after it hit the chop’ or wave of another vessel.
The alarm was raised by the one person remaining on board, who called 000 (triple zero).
Two men in the water were helped to safety by a nearby vessel which answered the call for help.
A third person in the water – a Tasmanian woman believed to be aged in her 70s – was unaccounted for and sadly, has since been located deceased.
Tasmania Police Commander Jason Elmer said investigations were continuing, with a report to be prepared for the coroner. 
“This is a tragic outcome for this woman’s family, her friends and her loved ones and our thoughts and condolences go out to them at this time,” Commander Elmer said.
“In acknowledging that this is a terribly difficult time for the family and loved ones of the victim, Police would like to thank those members of the public on nearby vessels who came to the assistance of the group. Their actions have helped prevent potential further tragedy.”
Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment, with their injuries believed to be non life-threatening.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a male in relation to an assault that occurred in Katherine last night.

At around 6:45pm, police conveyed an intoxicated adult male to a temporary sobering up shelter in Katherine and left him in the care of the staff.

The male then became abusive towards staff and allegedly struck a 23-year-old female worker to the right eye.

The male offender subsequently left the shelter and staff locked the door. The male later approached police in the main street, requesting a lift home.

Police liaised with shelter staff and the 38-year-old male was arrested without incident.

He remains in custody and is expected to be charged later today. 

The female victim suffered minor injuries to her face but did not require further treatment.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference number P26079498. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: Tasmania Police

Fatal boating incident, Marion Bay

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 – 3:37 pm.

Police and emergency services remain at Marion Narrows, Marion Bay, following an earlier boating incident involving a single vessel.
Initial investigations indicate four people were on the boat when it struck difficulty, with three of the party entering the water.
Two people were helped to safety by members of another boat in the area who answered the call for help.
A third person remained unaccounted for but sadly, has since been found deceased.
Police investigations are continuing.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two people in relation to two separate incidents in Greater Darwin on Tuesday.

Around 3:40pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received reports of a disturbance involving flood evacuees at a sports stadium in Marrara.

Upon police arrival, fighting had ceased and the incident was confirmed to only have involved up to six people.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

A 35-year-old male was arrested for fighting and was later released pending further investigation.

Later on Tuesday night, police were called to an evacuation centre at a pavilion in Winnellie following reports of a disturbance involving a group of males and females.

Security at the location reported that at around 12:30am one guard had allegedly been spat on by a female offender.

Police arrived to find the fighting had ceased and confirmed the incident involved up to five people.

A 22-year old female who left the scene prior to police arrival was identified as the alleged offender.

She returned to the scene at about 2:25am where she was arrested by police for assault.

Assistant Commissioner James A. O’Brien said “We understand it’s a tough time for people having to leave their communities due to recent weather conditions, but this behaviour is unacceptable”.

“Regardless of the situation people are in, alcohol fuelled violence has no place in our society.”

Investigations are ongoing into both incidents and anyone with information including footage is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference number P26079305 for the Marrara incident or P26079538 for the Winnellie incident. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

ANNE URQUHART, MEMBER FOR BRADDON: Thanks for being here. It’s fantastic to be in Burnie, at Burnie TAFE with the Prime Minister this morning. It’s always a pleasure to have him in Braddon. I love having you here to show off what we’ve got in this beautiful part of the country. We’re here at Burnie TAFE to talk to a number of students and people around the Free TAFE, and I’m really excited that we have a number of Free TAFE students right across the coast at both campuses, both here in Burnie, but also in Devonport, in a number of different learning experiences that they’re doing. And for the 25-26 year, so up to about February, I think it was this year, February, March, we had around 961 students for 25, and the little bit of 26 that we’ve had, enrolled in our Free TAFE courses across the two campuses.

That is an amazing number of people for this part of our beautiful community, but it’s also, I think, very exciting for the young people and sometimes more mature people who are coming to do these courses. And many of them have told me that they would not have been able to do it had it not been for the Free TAFE that Albanese Labor Government has introduced into TAFE. So, I’m very excited. I’m really excited the Prime Minister has come here to talk to some of the students and understand what we’re doing here in this neck of the woods and how we do punch above our weight and really get Braddon moving again. So, I’m really excited. So, welcome Prime Minister.

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So, this is valuable investment in young Australians, but also in people who might be reassessing where they’re going and want a new career in life. There’s over 10,000 Tasmanians have benefited from Free TAFE already. In construction, in electrical, in those areas, they also will get, as apprentices, a $10,000 cash incentive to go into areas of skill shortage so we can build more homes and more infrastructure as we go forward as a nation. In addition to that, I’ve met TAFE students here in Tasmania who are in the care sector, in aged care, in childcare, in all of these areas of service delivery. That is really important as well. Free TAFE is changing lives. Over 750,000 Australians have enrolled in Free TAFE, over 10,000 here in Tasmania. And I want to give a shout out as well to the teachers. In construction, one of the teachers who we met here was talking about how they want to pass on the skills that they have to the next generation. And that is such a worthy objective. Investing in our people is so important as we go forward, and it’s wonderful to be here at the TAFE in Burnie, back here in Tasmania as well.

Can I make comments about a couple of other things as well, one of which will be breaking news. I will convene the National Security — we convene the National Security Committee of Cabinet on a daily basis at this point in time. But tomorrow I will be convening the National Cabinet virtually, I’ll be from Hobart, tomorrow. And that will be about making sure that we deal with the issues that Australia and indeed the world is confronting, with the issue of fuel security, making sure that states and territories coordinate with the Commonwealth, making sure as well that we spread best practise and that we identify any issues which are there. And so, it will be an opportunity as well. I’ll be asking state premiers and chief ministers to appoint someone, a point person, so that the Commonwealth can collaborate in a way to make sure we deal with the challenges which are there. We know that we do have fuel security. All of our ships have arrived at this point in time, but we’ve had a surge in demand, which is leading to some shortages in some areas, particularly of diesel.

We’re very conscious of that, and that’s why we continue to work each and every day to make a difference. That’s why we changed the fuel standards to allow for more fuel that would have been exported to be used here domestically. That’s why we released 20 per cent of our National Reserve. And bear in mind that we have the largest reserves that Australia’s had in 15 years, and they’re kept here onshore, not in Texas, which is what the former government under the now Liberal Party leader wanted to do and did. We’ve been working each and every day as well with industry, but we want to make sure that states and territories, that we have that coordination. Hence the National Cabinet meeting tomorrow morning, which is just the next practical step going forward.

Can I also report that at 9:15 this morning at the Al Minhad base that Australia has in the United Arab Emirates, there was an Iranian projectile that hit near that base. I can confirm that no Australian personnel were injured and everyone is absolutely safe at this point in time. There was minor damage to an accommodation block and a medical facility due to a small fire that was created as a result of that projectile hitting on a road leading up to that base. I have been to that base and spoken to our Australian Defence Force personnel on more than one occasion. They do a great job for Australia, as do every one of the men and women who proudly wear a uniform. And this is important, the first available opportunity, we’re informing the Australian public in a transparent way. But I can assure everyone that every person there is safe. I’ve spoken with the Defence Minister about this and it’s important that we recognise that the Iranian regime is continuing to engage in, frankly, random attacks right across the Gulf region. Australia has, of course, as a result of that, we have an E-7 Wedgetail aircraft providing assistance for defence, particularly in the UAE, as well as our AMRAAMs that we are sending to the region. Happy to take questions.

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Thanks very much.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

15/03/26