Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Tasmania Police

Police investigating fire on Gaunt Street at Invermay

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 – 12:30 pm.

Police are investigating a fire on Gaunt Street at Invermay about 2.40am this morning.
Two large sheds, and a number of vehicles and machinery items which were inside the sheds, were destroyed.
Minor damage was also caused to several neighbouring residences.
At this stage it is believed the fire was deliberately lit.
Anyone with information in relation to the fire, or suspicious activity in the area around the time is asked to contact Launceston CIB on 131 444 and quote OR796615.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.

Source: Government of Western Australia

The City of Wanneroo has celebrated some of its most dedicated community champions at the latest City of Wanneroo Citizenship Ceremony, held at Kingsway Christian College.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Emma Rebellato:

The federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, joins us now from Parliament House. Treasurer, good morning. Welcome to News Breakfast.

Jim Chalmers:

Thanks very much, Emma.

Rebellato:

If interest rates do go up today, will you and your government accept responsibility for that?

Chalmers:

Well, first of all, I’m not going to make a prediction about what the Reserve Bank will decide independently today. No doubt they’ll discuss that through the course of today and they’ll make the announcement this afternoon. I take responsibility for all parts of my job, including playing a helpful role in the fight against inflation.

My job and my focus is on rolling out this cost‑of‑living help, rolling out 2 more tax cuts at the same time as we pay down more of the Liberal debt and getting the budget in better condition. At the budget update in December, Katy Gallagher and I found another $20 billion in savings, we improved the budget position in every year of the forward estimates, but we know that there’s always more work to do, particularly when some of these inflationary pressures are more persistent than anyone would like.

Rebellato:

Well, this is the thing that’s affecting people, isn’t it? They’re going, they’re paying their bills, they’re going to the supermarket, they’re seeing fruit and veg go up, coffee going up, meat prices going up. What will you do about those things? How will you try and rein in inflation here?

Chalmers:

There are a couple of important ways that we’re taking action when it comes to this inflation, which is, as we’ve said for a little while now, higher than we would like. We do understand that people are under pressure, but more than acknowledge that we’re taking action, we’re acting on that – so the tax cuts which are rolling out already and then 2 more tax cuts to come this year and next year that will help people with the cost of living, cheaper medicines, more bulk billing, student debt relief.

There are a whole number of ways that we are helping with the cost of living in the most responsible way that we can. And part of that is making sure that we continue to get the budget into better condition. We’ve improved the budget by $233 billion since we came to office, we’ve paid down more than $170 billion in Liberal debt, we’ve delivered a couple of surpluses and some smaller deficits, we’ve got real spending growth down, we’ve got spending as a share of the economy down from almost a third to something which is a bit closer to a quarter.

But we do know and acknowledge there is almost always more work to do to deliver this responsible economic management and to roll out this cost‑of‑living relief because we know that people are still under pressure.

Rebellato:

Well, what are you looking at doing at this May Budget though? Will you look at making further, rein in spending even further by the government? Because obviously that’s contributing to things.

Chalmers:

Well, first of all, the main driver of this inflation that we saw in the most recent data, the tick up was more about things like holiday spending, the withdrawal of the energy bill rebates.

Rebellato:

But government spending is contributing a lot to, to inflation overall.

Chalmers:

I’ll come to that in a minute, Emma. But first of all, the tick up that we saw in the most recent data was not about government spending, it was about holiday spending, the withdrawal of the energy rebates, it was about some persistent pressures in housing. Some of that pressure was temporary, some of it more persistent than anyone would like. Now, when it comes to government spending, really the main story of the economy last year was public demand took a big step back. It was around, I think, less than a third of what it was the year before and private demand really gathered pace.

And so, when we’re seeing this extra demand in our economy and some of these inflationary pressures in our economy, that is primarily because of private demand recovering and that’s not always acknowledged in the commentary. A lot of that commentary is motivated by politics and not grounded in facts. We know that we’ve got a contribution to make to helping get on top of this inflation challenge, but public spending has not been the primary determinant, certainly in that most recent inflation data that we saw last week.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, some other figures that we’ve been looking at, certainly over the past couple of weeks and another one yesterday, was another poll out showing that there’s more support for One Nation, the Coalition or the Liberals and the Nats are obviously looking at that, and they’re worried. Is the government worried about that, too? Because isn’t that saying that voters just aren’t happy with things right now?

Chalmers:

Well, it says that we now have 3 divisive parties of the far right in Australia and we’ve got one mainstream government which is focused on the things which really matter to people. So, the parties of the right in Australia are a mess, but they are not our focus. They are divided, they are divisive, they are in disarray. But we won’t be distracted. We’re focused on some of these other things you’ve been asking me about, like the cost of living, like the economy, like housing and other important things.

Rebellato:

But what about the voters who are voting for that? Isn’t this something? Doesn’t it say something that they’re not listening to the government, that they’re upset with the whole status quo?

Chalmers:

I think it says that the right of politics is splintering. You can see that in some of that analysis that others have written. It’s really not for me to analyse the polls. I’m focused on a whole different set of numbers, as people would expect the Treasurer of Australia would be. I think it’s self‑evident that the right of politics can’t sort itself out.

But again, we’re not distracted by that, by the division in our opponents. Frankly, I couldn’t care less where our opponents sit in the parliament and where they’ll be sitting next week when it all changes. My focus is on the cost of living and housing, the economy more broadly, the government’s focus as well, because those are the things which matter to real people in real communities.

Rebellato:

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, thanks for joining us this morning.

Chalmers:

Thanks, Emma.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Matt Shirvington:

Great to have you with us. Look, almost every economist is saying the same thing – government spending is to blame here. Do you disagree with all of them?

Jim Chalmers:

Well, there’s not a unanimous view amongst the economists about what’s driving the most recent tick up in inflation, but if you look at the facts, that tick up in the most recent data was largely about holiday spending, the withdrawal of the energy rebates and some more persistent issues in housing.

And so there are some temporary issues, some permanent or persistent issues when it comes to our inflation challenge, but we acknowledge we’ve got this challenge in our economy. We know that people are under pressure, but more than acknowledge that, we’re rolling out cost‑of‑living help, we’re repairing the budget because we know that even though the budget is not the primary determinant of prices in our economy, governments can play a helpful role, and that’s our focus.

Nat Barr:

But Jim, the rest of the world has had holidays, too. They’ve got issues. We now have the highest inflation in the developed world, don’t we – UK, US, Germany, Japan, Canada, France – all these countries are better than us. What are you doing wrong?

Chalmers:

Well, you’ve got to make the whole comparison, Nat. We’ve got lower unemployment than most of those countries, we’ve got faster economic growth than all of those countries except for the US, we’ve got a much better budget than those countries in the G7, the major advanced economies and so you’ve got to make the whole comparison.

The government is not disputing that we’ve got a challenge with inflation in our economy. The numbers which came in last week came in not that much higher than we expected but higher than we would like. We know that people are still under pressure, that’s why our cheaper medicines policy is so important, more bulk billing, student debt relief, 2 more tax cuts. It’s all about not just acknowledging that people are under pressure but acting on it, and doing that at the same time as we have dramatically improved the budget since we came to office.

The budget is more than $200 billion stronger than when we came to office. We found $114 billion in budget savings. The big story of the economy last year was public demand taking a back seat to private demand and private spending. And so we are managing the budget and the economy in a responsible way. We know that this inflation challenge is more persistent than anyone would like, and that’s why it’s our focus.

Shirvington:

Well, let’s talk about that quickly, because people are making decisions on things that you say obviously. You said this back in June – let’s just have a listen to this.

[Excerpt]

Chalmers:

The worst of the inflation challenge is now well and truly behind us.

[End of excerpt]

Shirvington:

You talk about responsible fiscal policy. That felt a bit irresponsible, didn’t it, saying that the worst is behind us when you look now at what we’re facing?

Chalmers:

Well, what I said then is absolutely and objectively true – the worst of the inflation challenge was in 2022 –

Shirvington:

But it’s trending up again.

Chalmers:

But the worst inflation that we have had in recent years was in 2022. When we came to office, inflation had a 6 in front of it and was absolutely galloping. It peaked at 7.8 that year. This year inflation is higher than we want it to be – it’s got a 3 in front of it. So the worst of the inflation that we’ve seen in recent years is in 2022, and that remains the case.

Now, that’s not to dismiss the very real pressures that people are confronting right now. That’s why our political opponents are tearing themselves apart. We’re not distracted by that. We’re focused on what really matters to people – the cost of living, housing, the economy more broadly because we know that that’s the main game.

Australians have made a heap of progress in our economy the last few years. Inflation is lower than in 2022 but still higher than we would like, unemployment is in the low fours, business investment has been recovering strongly, the budget is in a better position than it was 3 and a half years ago – all of those things can be true at the same time as we recognise as a government and certainly me as Treasurer, we know that we’ve got more work to do, and that’s our focus.

Barr:

Yep, still a long way to go. Thank you very much, Treasurer.

Chalmers:

Thank you.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Romance scam losses rose in 2025, after a welcome decline the year before. Victorians lost significantly more to fake love last year and the emotional toll matches the financial damage. 

The numbers tell the story 

In 2024, reported losses nationally were $23.6 million – down from $34.3 million in 2023. But in 2025, we’d already passed last year’s total by September. Average individual losses also rose, from $8K to more than $8.5K. 

Consumer Affairs Victoria is warning that romance scammers often play the long game – sometimes waiting months before showing their true intent. 

Acting Director, Melissah Broadbent, said “People who meet someone online around Valentine’s Day might not see any red flags until winter”.  

“Scammers build trust over weeks and months,” Broadbent said. “By the time the requests for money begin, you’re emotionally invested.” 

This explains why romance scam reports often peak mid-year, months after relationships begin. 

Men made the most reports of romance scams in 2025 (55.5% vs 37.4% for women), but women reported bigger losses, accounting for 61.6% of the national total (vs 38.2% for men). People aged 65 and over had the highest total losses of any age group, at $8.1 million. 

“Romance scammers target anyone,” Broadbent said. “If you’re seeking a connection, they’ll use predictable manipulation tactics to exploit that.” 

How romance scams work 

Scammers typically use two methods.  

In ‘romance baiting’, they groom people into fake investment opportunities, often involving cryptocurrency.  

In traditional romance scams, they build emotional connections over extended periods – even months or years – before requesting money or pressuring people into making dodgy money transfers. 

Common tactics include: 

• Love bombing – intense early declarations of feeling, constant messaging and calls 
• Changing platforms – switching conversations from dating apps to WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat or Line to avoid detection. 
• Elaborate cover stories – claims of working overseas, on oil rigs, or in military deployment. 
• Financial requests – investment opportunities, family emergencies, or expenses that they claim will benefit both of you. 
• Isolation – encouraging secrecy and discouraging you from talking to friends and family. 
• AI technology – artificial intelligence is taking deception to a whole new level, with fake video calls becoming more common. 

Smart daters know how to protect themselves 

• Be cautious if someone won’t meet in person or can’t video chat at short notice. Real people want to meet you, but scammers usually can’t. 
• Never send money, personal details, bank documents or identity documents to someone you haven’t met face-to-face. 
• Don’t transfer money on behalf of someone else. You could become involved in illegal money laundering. 
• Talk to friends or family about the relationship. If someone is pushing you to keep things secret, that’s a major red flag. 
• Use reverse image searches such as Google or TinEye to verify profile photos. 
• Take time to get to know someone and watch for inconsistencies in their stories 
• Trust your instincts, if anything feels off, it probably is. 

If you’ve been scammed 

Contact your bank or financial institution immediately to stop transactions and discuss recovery options. Be wary of ‘recovery scams’, where scammers pose as trusted third parties offering help to get your money back. 

Report the scam to ScamWatch and to the platform where it happened. 

If you’ve shared personal information, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for identity theft support. 

Romance scams cause deep emotional harm as well as financial loss. If you need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. 

Most of all, we’d love Victorians to avoid the scammers and make genuine connections this Valentine’s Day. 

To learn more about romance scams, visit our Scams section. 

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

The Albanese Government will recommend to the Governor‑General that Sarah Court be appointed as the next Chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Ms Court has been an excellent Deputy and she’ll be an outstanding Chair.

She is an experienced litigator and leader, and will make a positive impact on one of our major regulators.

Ms Court has more than 15 years’ experience in senior statutory positions across various corporate regulators, a strong background in regulation, litigation, and enforcement, and deep expertise in upholding corporate standards and protecting market integrity.

Over the past five years, Sarah has substantially strengthened ASIC’s enforcement and investigation capabilities.

Under her leadership, ASIC has delivered some of its strongest enforcement results on record—reflecting a sharper focus on protecting consumers, lifting standards across the financial system, and reinforcing the integrity of Australia’s markets.

Ms Court will be the first woman to lead ASIC in its 35‑year history.

The Albanese Government has ushered in a wave of female leadership across Australia’s top economic institutions, and this appointment is another milestone.

We appointed Michele Bullock as the first woman to lead the Reserve Bank of Australia, Danielle Wood as the Productivity Commission’s first female chair, Jenny Wilkinson as the first woman to lead the Treasury and we’re proud to appoint Sarah Court to lead ASIC.

ASIC plays a crucial role in ensuring Australia’s economy and corporate sector are strong, stable and well‑regulated. It undertakes vital work in consumer protection and ensuring the integrity of Australia’s financial markets.

On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Joseph Longo, who will finish up as ASIC Chair on 31 May 2026.

Mr Longo has made a significant contribution to ASIC’s work, including through his focus on enforcement and consumer protection initiatives, his work on public and private markets and strengthening the Commission’s organisational capability.

Sarah will start her new job on 1 June for a term of five years.

The Albanese Government’s three big economic priorities this year are addressing inflation, productivity and global uncertainty, and having well‑led financial regulators is an important part of that.

Source: Tasmania Police

Man charged with drink driving in Orford

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 – 9:21 am.

Police have charged a 44-year-old man after he was detected drink driving more than five times the legal limit at Orford yesterday.
The man was intercepted by police about 4pm on the Tasman Highway, and he subsequently returned a breath analysis reading of 0.299 per cent.
Police will allege the man was earlier observed driving in an impaired manner by other road users.
The man was charged with exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit and driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor. He was disqualified from driving for a period of 12 months and will appear before the court at a later date.

Source: New South Wales Health – State Government

NSW Health is warning the public of multiple high-dose MDMA (ecstasy) tablets in circulation in NSW, found to contain a higher dose than is usually expected.
The tablets have been detected by the NSW Government’s Drug Checking service at multiple music festivals across Sydney and the Central Coast throughout the Summer period.
Some tablets have also been found to contain dipentylone, a synthetic cathinone with stimulant effects.
NSW Health has previously warned the community about the circulation of high-dose MDMA tablets however the ongoing detection of these tablets has prompted further warning.

Medical Director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, Dr Darren Roberts said although detection has primarily been in Sydney and on the Central Coast, the tablets could be in circulation anywhere across the state.
“We are concerned about the prolonged detection of these high-dose MDMA tablets and are urging the community to be aware and vigilant, particularly for those people attending major festivals over the next few weeks.”
“MDMA can cause severe agitation, raised body temperature, seizures or fits, irregular heart rhythm and death,” Dr Roberts said.
“The risk of serious harm is increased when MDMA is taken with other stimulants including synthetic cathinones, amphetamines and if high amounts (including multiple doses) are consumed over a short period.”
“The amount of MDMA in a tablet or capsule can vary significantly, even within the same batch.
“Hot environments, such as at music festivals, also increase the risk of harm from MDMA. Taking a break from dancing, seeking shade and drinking water are important measures to reduce the risk of overheating.​
“It’s also very important to remember if you or a friend has taken drugs and feel unwell, you won’t get into trouble for seeking medical care. If you or a friend feel unwell, please seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero (000).”Drug checking services, experienced onsite medical providers and teams of well-trained peer volunteers from programs such as DanceWize NSW and ACON Rovers are available to provide support at many major festivals. Other event staff are also trained to help patrons.
For more information about participating festivals and accessing drug checking services, see NSW drug checking trial.

For support and information with alcohol, MDMA and other drugs, please contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1800 250 015. This is a 24/7 service offering confidential and anonymous telephone counselling and information.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Stawell Champs in 1995

The CFA/VFBV State Firefighter Championships are returning to Stawell in March 2026, bringing CFA’s biggest annual event back to the Northern Grampians for the first time in two decades.

After five fantastic years in Mooroopna, the move has already created a buzz around town as preparations build for one of the most anticipated weekends on the CFA calendar.

Stawell Fire Brigade Captain and Championships Committee Chair Mal Nicholson said seeing the event come home carries real significance.

“It’s been a long time since the Championships were held this side of the state, so to bring them back to Stawell means a lot,” Mal said. “There’s a real sense of pride in being able to host it at North Park again.”

The move back to the region is expected to draw fresh competition from across the west and south-west.

“A lot of brigades out this way haven’t run for a while,” Mal said.

“This is a good opportunity to dust the cobwebs off and have a go.”

With the last iteration of the Championships in Stawell held back in 2006, it means many of the brigade’s younger members won’t have any memory of the event ever being in town.

“For our older members it’ll feel like a homecoming,” Mal said.

“For the younger ones, it’ll be the first time they get to see what a big weekend looks like in their own backyard.

“That goes for the wider region too. We’re really hoping to see some new teams or old teams coming back,” Mal said.

“There’s nothing like seeing the lanes full and that’s exactly what we’re hoping to see.”

The timing also lands at an important moment for western Victoria. The region has endured its share of tough fire seasons in recent years and the Championships are set to provide a significant boost for the broader community.

Northern Grampians Shire Mayor Karen Hyslop said council didn’t hesitate when CFA approached them about hosting.

“Stawell has a proud history of hosting major CFA events, having previously welcomed the State Championships in 1995 2000 and 2006,” Mayor Hyslop said.

“When CFA approached council to host the 2026 and 2027 events, it was a natural fit.

“Hosting the event provides an opportunity to celebrate our community’s spirit, teamwork and resilience, especially following recent bushfires.

“It also aligns directly with our Northern Grampians Event Strategy, which focuses on high-impact events that bring economic and social benefits to the region.”

Mayor Hyslop said the Championships also offer an important morale boost.

“It brings people together and creates a really positive energy around town,” she said. “It shows what Stawell can achieve when we come together as a community.”

Those benefits are expected to be significant, with a projected $2 million injection into the local economy over the two weekends.

“We’re anticipating around 900 competitors and more than 4,000 visitors,” Mayor Hyslop said.

“Local clubs, service groups and suppliers will also benefit through event operations and logistics. Beyond the immediate return, it’s an opportunity to showcase Stawell and the Grampians’ capability, strengthening our reputation for hosting major sporting and community events.”

For local businesses, the Championships represent a meaningful influx of people at a time when every visitor counts.

Stawell retailer Adrienne, who runs a small business on the town’s main street, said weekends like this provide real momentum.

“This kind of weekend brings real benefits straight into the pockets of local businesses,” she said.

“When visitors grab a coffee, browse the shops or book a few nights’ accommodation, that money stays in town, it keeps people employed and keeps our small operators moving.”

Mayor Hyslop hopes visitors will be inspired to return to the region.

“We welcome the opportunity to see people return after experiencing what our region has to offer,” she said.

“Stawell sits at the gateway to the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, and we know visitors can’t fit everything into a single weekend, so we hope they come back.”

Mal hopes the event will draw not just CFA families and competitors, but locals and visitors keen to see something different.

“This isn’t something you get to witness every day,” Mal said.

“It’s fast, it’s skilled, it’s full of tradition and it’s a great chance for people to come and cheer on volunteers from right across Victoria.”

Submitted by	News and Media

Source: Tasmania Police

Two people charged in relation to incident on Delmore Road at Forcett

Monday, 2 February 2026 – 3:15 pm.

Police have charged two people in relation to an incident on Delmore Road at Forcett over the weekend.
Police will allege two men physically assaulted another man who was known to them.
The victim, a 28-year-old man from Forcett, was transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital with what were reported to be serious injuries.
A 46-year-old man from Forcett and a 41-year-old man from Zeehan were each charged with assault. They were both bailed to appear before the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date.
Police investigations into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact South East CIB on 131 444 and quote OR796454.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000.