Original publication:Monday, 27 October 2025 9:28am
Weapons, drugs and cash have been seized following a search warrant in Holder on Saturday.
Recently, ACT Policing received information about a man allegedly in possession of a stolen firearm.
Officers from ACT Policing’s Criminal Investigations Team began an investigation and on Saturday (25 October 2025) a search warrant was conducted at a residence in Holder.
During the search, police located a number of weapons including a gel blaster, an imitation firearm, three extendable batons, two conducted energy weapons and various amounts of ammunition.
Police also located and seized illicit drugs suspected to be cocaine, ecstasy, methylamphetamine, MDMA, cannabis and LSD, as well as cash. A mobile phone was also seized and will be subject to forensic examination.
A 38-year-old Holder man, who was subject to an Intensive Corrections Order at the time of the search warrant, was arrested.
He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Monday 26 October 2025) charged with two counts of drug trafficking, possessing a prohibited weapon and two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the recent passing of counterfeit notes in the Yorke Mid North region.
As part of an ongoing investigation into recent reports of counterfeit notes, Kadina Police, with the assistance of Kadina CIB detectives, searched a North Moonta home on Tuesday 28 October.
It will be alleged police located more than 30 counterfeit notes as well as an imitation firearm and a machete at the property.
A 38-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were both arrested and charged with deception.
The man was also charged with possess firearm without a licence and possess prohibited weapon. He was refused police bail and appeared in the Kadina Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The woman was bailed to appear in the Kadina Magistrates Court on 15 December.
Investigations and forensic examinations are continuing.
CO2500045336
Police urge business owners and retail staff to be vigilant when receiving cash and advise consumers to take a little extra time to check their notes when making purchases and receiving change.
If you suspect you have a counterfeit note, please report it to the Police Assistance Line on 131444. Handle the note as little as possible and store it in an envelope. Please be prepared to tell police the time and place where you believe you were passed the fake bank note and a description of the person or people you believe passed it to you.
If you are a business proprietor and believe the fake bank note was passed by a customer, note the person’s description and details if they leave the premises prior to police arrival. Please also note any other relevant information such as description of the suspect, anyone else they were with, and their vehicle.
If you have CCTV, please check the footage for the suspect to assist police.
Police recommend that anyone accepting money check the texture of the note, other in-built security features and printing.
To determine if a suspect note is counterfeit, it is best to compare it with a note that is known to be genuine.
For more information about how to detect counterfeit notes please see this information from the Reserve Bank of Australia:
The 2025 Digital Originals shortlisted teams. Photo credit: Teniola Komolafe.
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia are excited to unveil the 10 projects shortlisted for the first round of the 2025 Digital Originals initiative. Now in its sixth year, this award-winning program champions bold, innovative scripted storytelling from the next wave of Australian screen talent. Select series will be commissioned and premiere on SBS On Demand and NITV.
A flagship partnership between SBS, NITV and Screen Australia, Digital Originals is central to SBS’s commitment to developing and commissioning bold and risk-taking scripted series from diverse voices both on screen and behind the camera. The initiative supports rising talent from underrepresented communities in the sector, including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), First Nations, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTQIA+ and those based in regional and remote areas.
The 10 shortlisted teams are currently participating in an immersive development workshop in Sydney hosted by SBS, NITV and Screen Australia. The workshop features sessions with industry mentors including Alistair Baldwin (Latecomers, Erotic Stories), Hannah Ngo (Latecomers, Bird Drone), Jub Clerc (Warm Props, Sweet As), Julie Kalceff (First Day, Starting from… Now), Mithila Gupta (Four Years Later, Winners & Losers), Nicole Coventry (Sherbert Rozencrantz, You’re Beautiful, Eaglehawk) and Taofia Pelesasa (Moni, Parramatta).
The workshop gives teams the opportunity to enhance their narrative-writing skillset and develop their projects in line with the SBS Charter and SBS Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines. It will culminate in teams pitching to SBS, NITV and Screen Australia, with up to five projects selected for further development funding. From these, up to three scripted series will advance to receive production funding and premiere on SBS On Demand, SBS VICELAND and NITV.
This year’s initiative received more than 200 applications from across the nation. The strong response is a testament to the enduring relevance and impact of Digital Originals in shaping the future of the Australian screen industry.
SBS Head of Scripted Nakul Legha said, “Digital Originals continues to be one of the most impactful pathways in the world for visionary new voices to break through and tell bold, original scripted stories. It is a cornerstone of SBS’s commitment to developing the next generation of screen creatives. Selected from more than 200 applications, we can’t wait to collaborate with this talented cohort and help bring their stories to life.”
NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production Dena Curtis said, “Digital Originals is a powerful pathway for First Nations creatives to grow, develop and break into the industry. We’re thrilled to see such a broad spectrum of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander projects shortlisted this year, reflecting the strength of new talent coming through. We can’t wait for these bold new voices to continue evolving and share their stories with NITV audiences.”
Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content Louise Gough said, “Digital Originals is an important talent escalation initiative and partnership with SBS and NITV that has created tangible pathways for early career creatives from a range of backgrounds to tell bold and distinctive stories for Australian audiences. We’re excited to support 10 new teams as they develop their projects, learn from industry experts and Digital Originals alumni, and build their industry connections at this year’s workshops. I can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort create.”
Digital Originals continues to build on its legacy as a launchpad for underrepresented creatives to break into the industry and garner local and international recognition. Recent Digital Originals successes include the Series Mania selected series Moonbird (2024); Appetite (2022) which premiered at the Canneseries TV Festival and was also nominated for a Rose d’Or; Night Bloomers (2023) which won the 2024 Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) Award for Best Web Series; Latecomers (2022) which also premiered at Canneseries and went on to win the 2024 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards for Best Online Drama or Comedy and the 2023 Casting Guild Australia Awards for Achievement in Casting; and the AACTA award-winning series A Beginner’s Guide to Grief (2022).
Alumni of Digital Originals have gone on to secure key creative roles across SBS Original drama series and elsewhere in the industry, incluing Mohini Herse (Appetite) who went on to be set-up director for SBS Original Four Years Later; Latecomers producer Liam Heyen and director Madeleine Gottlieb reprised their roles for anthology series Erotic Stories; The Tailings director Stevie Cruz-Martin who later directed award-winning series Safe Home; Homecoming Queens’ Corrie Chen and Michelle Law who have both gone on to create critically acclaimed projects and filmmaker Dylan River who directed Robbie Hood.
The selected Digital Originals projects and the teams for the workshop are:
Bump Into You: When hard of hearing James bumps into Deaf sign-language user Frankie, it sparks an unexpected romance that challenges them both to confront their identities, family expectations and what it means to belong. Team: Nathan Borg, Sam Martin.
Durries: Jason and Vinay are two bumbling wannabe foot soldiers in the Tobacco Wars who are on the run after burning down the wrong building. Team: Kevin Han, Michaela Le, Rohan Ganju.
Good Boy: A lonely motel receptionist falls in love with a man in prison. When she copycats a crime to prove his innocence, her fantasy life tips into a criminal reality. Team: Rebecca Metcalf, Anu Hasbold.
Jellybean: As opening night nears, a Torres Strait Islander choreographer hides a pregnancy and faces the hardest decision of her life – to become a mother, or choose herself. Team: Brooke Collard, Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury.
Loops: Two mismatched brothers must put aside their tangled differences to save their crumbling family rug store. But when a corpse is discovered wrapped in their Signature Rug, their last shot at redemption twists into a knot they may never untangle. Team: Kauthar Abdulalim, Oz Malik, Noor Hoblos.
Musket: When Levi dumps a stolen colonial-era musket into Jack’s ute, two Koori best mates are forced into a tense overnight mission to return it – navigating rowdy classmates, buried memories and the silent weight of a boys’ school in a town that’s never truly seen them as equals. Team: Jack Steele, Bronte Gosper.
Rogue One: Community policing meets chaos in the Top End where justice is murky, youth are smarter than the cops and the local BBQ holds more intel than HQ. Team: Mema Munro, Cian McCue, Rebecca Parker.
SCAMMERS: After retiree Denise Reynolds loses her life savings to a scam caller, she reluctantly teams up with her young aged-care worker Anika Luthra to scam the scammers back. But as Anika and Denise get closer to each other and the truth, they uncover a greater scam much closer to home. Team: Mehhma Malhi, Xavier Hazard, Paige Wharehinga.
The Salt Line (working title): When a Torres Strait Islander detective returns home to investigate bones rising from the tidal mudflats, she’s pulled into a case where the island is being swallowed by the sea, old stories are waking and the truth may slip beneath the tide. Team: John Harvey, Walter Waia, Mariana Babia.
Womb for Improvement: Kaz just wanted to chill – until her baby-crazy girlfriend, a coma-bound Nan and a sassy Aboriginal AI dragged her into the wild ride of queer parenthood. Matriarchy meets motherboard in this offbeat comedy about making a family, Blakfella-style. Team: Tahlee Fereday, Damienne Pradier.
Digital Originals is part of SBS’s broader commitment to improving inclusion in the screen industry. Read more about this work here.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information regarding suspicious behaviour in Alice Springs yesterday afternoon.
Around 3pm, a male student walking home from a primary school in Gillen was approached by an adult male not known to him. The student was walking north along Milner Road, when the unknown male allegedly pulled alongside him in a ute and tried to coax him into the vehicle by offering to give him a lift.
The student immediately ran home and the male drove away from the area. The incident was reported to police by the school after being notified this morning by the student’s family member.
Police commend the quick thinking of the boy for running home and informing a trusted person of the incident.
Anyone with information, including dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area, is urged to contact police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Please quote reference number P22590508.
Motorists travelling through the state’s west in coming months have been reminded to be “truck aware” and remain safe as they share the road with increased heavy vehicle movements this harvest season.
The return of the summer harvest season means increased activity on many rural and regional roads as an increased number of heavy vehicles including trucks and farm machinery travel between farms and grain receival sites.
To raise greater awareness of road safety during this harvest season the Be Truck Aware campaign will be promoted across the region by radio announcements and social media posts, as well as variable messaging signs (VMS) along key routes, reminding drivers to take extra care behind the wheel, to wear their seatbelt and to manage fatigue levels.
This important road safety initiative is supported by Transport for NSW, GrainCorp, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and state farming networks.
Transport for NSW Acting Executive Director Partnerships and Integration West Holly Davies said harvest was an extremely busy time for rural communities but also a time when safety and patience had to be key priorities for all road users.
“All motorists need to be aware that harvest season brings an increase in large and slow-moving vehicles and farm machinery on our roads, and it is every driver’s responsibility to act safely around them,” Ms Davies said.
“Because of their size and length, trucks have larger blinds spots than the average car which means the truck driver might not be able to see you.
“For the sake of everyone in your car – and other road users – always exercise extreme caution when driving next to or behind a truck and be patient if you find yourself travelling behind a slow-moving truck or farm machinery.
“Don’t take unnecessary risks to overtake just for the sake of saving a few minutes. “The reality is, 85 per cent of fatal crashes on country roads involve a country resident. We all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.”
Farmers and heavy vehicle operators are also being reminded to keep safe during this busy time of their year.
“Harvest is often a time where operators need to work around the weather to meet deadlines to get grain to silos, which can also mean long days operating heavy machinery or driving a truck,” Ms Davies said.
“Managing fatigue during harvest season is critical to the safety of all road users.
“Studies have shown that being awake for 17 hours has a similar effect on your performance and reaction time behind the wheel as a blood alcohol content of 0.05, so we ask all drivers to ensure you are well rested before starting your journey and allow plenty of travel time.”
The harvest campaign also aims to raise awareness of increased rail movements across the region.
“The Slow Down. Look And Listen For Trains campaign continues targeting drivers who regularly navigate regional level crossings, including heavy vehicle drivers, residents of regional communities and those who frequently travel through regional NSW,” Ms Davies said.
“Crashes at level crossings can be catastrophic and the impacts devastating for families and local communities, so we’re reminding everyone of the need to be safe every time.”
Variable message signage (VMS) has been installed at key level crossings across the region to enhance safety and awareness during this time, including:
Maxwell Street and Warne Street in Wellington
Bylong Valley Way in Bylong
Saleyards Road in Trangie
Barrier Highway in Nyngan
Bullus Drive in Moree
Muller Street in Dubbo
Old Cemetery Road in Narrabri.
These VMS boards deliver real-time safety messages to drivers, reminding them to slow down, stay alert, and give heavy vehicles the space they need, especially near rail crossings where visibility and reaction time are critical.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Police are calling for witnesses in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred on Tuesday morning.
Around 9:20am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a male youth had allegedly assaulted two men outside a business on Baldwin Drive after stealing items from inside the premises.
The 15-year-old alleged offender was later arrested by police.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to make contact on 131 444, quoting reference number NTP2500107309. 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 is investigating a fatal crash that occurred this afternoon in Knuckey Lagoon.
Around 1:20pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a two-vehicle collision involving a car and a truck on the Stuart Highway at the Angliss Road intersection, travelling inbound.
Emergency services attended and located an adult male unresponsive. CPR was immediately commenced; however, the driver of the car was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the truck was assessed for non-life-threatening injuries and did not require further treatment. He returned a negative test for alcohol and illicit drugs.
The Major Crash Investigation Unit is currently on scene with members of Darwin Traffic Operations and investigations are ongoing.
The inbound lane of the Stuart Highway remains closed between Tivendale Road and McMillans Road, and diversions are in place. Delays can be expected.
Police urge anyone with dash-cam footage or information about the crash to make contact on 131 444 quoting reference number P2520600. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
The number of lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 35.
SA Police have arrested and charged 55 individuals involved in serious and organised crime in the latest phase of Operation Ironside.
In a coordinated operation across metropolitan Adelaide and regional locations, hundreds of officers from SAPOL’s Crime Service, Metropolitan Operations Service, State Operations Service, Security and Emergency Management Service and the Operations Support Service raided 23 properties from 5am and executed search warrants.
Police also arrested six individuals at Correctional Services facilities and they were taken to the city watchhouse.
The 55 individuals are facing 813 serious criminal charges including money laundering, drug trafficking and drug manufacturing and are expected to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
As part of today’s operation police also restrained more than $25.8 million in assets – including 23 properties, 70 vehicles – including two Harley Davidson motorcycles – and bank accounts holding $588,000. Approximately $142,000 in cash was also seized.
The arrests are the third tranche connected to Operation Ironside – a joint initiative between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and state law enforcement agencies – that leveraged intelligence gathered from encrypted ANOM devices that were being used by criminal syndicates.
This morning’s raids follow a review of more than 2.5 million ANOM messages that originated from devices that were being used by the individuals while the platform was live.
The review identified significant additional evidence of high-level drug trafficking, money laundering and other criminal offences.
From the commencement of Operation Ironside in 2021 SAPOL has arrested 109 people for serious criminal offending. The offences included conspiracy to murder, large scale commercial drug trafficking, drug manufacture and money laundering.
Police also restrained more than $40 million in cash and assets following those arrests.
In December 2022 several defendants launched Supreme Court action to exclude all ANOM related data, but its use was upheld in a decision by the SA Court of Appeal.
In November 2024 the High Court granted special leave to appeal the judgment of the SA Court of Appeal.
Independent of the appeal, on 10 December 2024 the Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Act 2024 (Commonwealth) passed into law. The intention of the legislation was to clarify that information obtained under specific warrants issued to the AFP, under either the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 or the Crimes Act 1914, as part of Operation Ironside, was lawfully obtained and not in breach of the TIA Act.
The constitutional validity of the new confirmatory law was brought into question by defence lawyers and subsequently joined to the existing High Court challenge.
On 8 October 2025 the High Court delivered its judgement and found the Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Act 2024 to be valid. It followed that the appeal was moot and the grant of special leave to appeal the judgement from the SA Court of Appeal was revoked.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Linda Williams said Operation Ironside continued to cause major disruption to serious and organised crime networks in South Australia.
“Since the commencement of Operation Ironside in 2021 SAPOL investigations have resulted in 109 individuals allegedly involved in serious criminal offending in South Australia being apprehended and more than $40 million worth of their assets being restrained,’’ she said.
“This morning, another 55 individuals we allege are also involved in serious criminal activity ranging from drug trafficking to money laundering were arrested and more than $25 million in assets restrained.
“SAPOL is committed to making South Australia a hostile environment for serious organised crime and will continue work to deter, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks as they are identified.
“We thank our law enforcement and criminal justice colleagues who have helped us reach this resolution today.
“And we also want to acknowledge the support and hard work of prosecutors within the South Australian Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to advance these prosecutions.’’
Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade has been serving their community for 100 years and this weekend they came together to celebrate the milestone.
The main event was held on Sunday 26 October with brigade members welcoming the community to their station for a day of festivities.
This included the long-awaited unveiling of the new mural that has been lovingly painted on the side of the station by artist Keira Sloetjes.
The brigade has been operating since 1925, when a group of residents formed the initial Beaconsfield Upper Bush Fire Brigade. Local resident Ulick A’Beckett was the first captain.
At this time there was no specialised firefighting equipment. Brigade members relied on horses to get to the fire and used gum boughs to beat out the flames.
In 1949, the brigade became one of the first to use radio communication to coordinate firefighting activities, and in the early 1980s they continued to make history when they welcomed women to the brigade.
Brigade Captain Ian Pinney said it was fabulous to be able to celebrate the brigade’s history and everything they have achieved in the last 100 years.
“We have a long history and we have had many milestones and many challenges,” Ian said.
“It has been great to be able to celebrate everything we have done for the community over that time, and everything they have done for us.”
One such challenge was when the town was completely destroyed by the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires that swept across Victoria.
The Upper Beaconsfield blaze took the lives of 21 people, including 12 firefighters.
“It certainly was a challenging time, but we try to focus on the good where we can, whilst remembering those we lost,” Ian said.
Now the brigade is stronger than ever with 54 members, and 31 of them as operational firefighters. The brigade also has a non-operational auxiliary that turns 50 this year.
Ian said the mural was a celebration of the brigade’s entire history, from the first truck, a 1920s T model Ford, all the way through to their most recent one.
“It is honouring our membership past and present, and it is something to be really proud of,” Ian said.
“We are hoping that people will actually come to visit the mural like they visit the silo art in the area, and it can become something really special for the whole town.”
“We would like to thank everyone who helped us put this together, our sponsors, and of course Keira, we are really so grateful.”
Alongside the mural unveiling on Sunday, they hosted their Get Fire Ready event, helping to inform the community about the upcoming season and what they can do to be best prepared.
“With everything that has changed in the past hundred years, we are still here to help the community, that will never change,” Ian said.
Issued for Renmark North and Murtho in the Riverland, north-east of Renmark, South Australia.
The CFS are monitoring a fire burning along the Murray River corridor between Murray Marker 583 and 582, in Murtho, approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Renmark, South Australia.
The fire is burning in leaves and grass on an embankment in the middle of the river. CFS Firefighters have been monitoring this fire over the last few days as it continues to reignite. Crews worked on the fire ground yesterday to contain the fire, with Department for Environment and Water firefighters re-attending today and monitoring over the coming days.
This fire will likely continue to burn but is not posing a threat to the community, however some flames and smoke may be visible to those along the river.