Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Today I have released the Centre for Population’s 2025 Population Statement which provides updated and comprehensive data on Australia’s population.

This statement highlights Australia’s changing demographics and will help inform our approach to building a stronger economy and lifting living standards.

The Statement confirms that net overseas migration has come in lower than previously forecast for 2024–25 and is close to half the post‑COVID peak.

Net overseas migration is expected to moderate to 260,000 in 2025–26 and decline further over the forecast period.

Population growth is expected to slow to 1.3 per cent in 2025–26 and 1.2 per cent from 2026–27 onwards, lower than the average of 1.4 per cent experienced in the 2010s.

Population ageing is a key force reshaping Australia’s economy. The median age is expected to reach 40 years over the next decade and grow to 43.7 years by 2065–66.

While higher than many of our international counterparts, birth rates in Australia are expected to fall to a record low in 2025–26.

The Albanese Government is rolling out policies to ease pressure on families and make it easier for people to have children if they want to, including through the new 3 Day Guarantee for early childhood education and care and expanding and enhancing paid parental leave.

We’ve made a lot of progress in our economy in the past few years, including when it comes to building more homes, strengthening our migration settings, investing in skills and helping to ease the cost of living for Australians, but we recognise the job is far from over.

The Government will draw on the evidence and insights from the 2025 Population Statement to continue to build a better future for Australia.

The Statement and population projections are available on the Centre for Population website.
 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is reminding the public to take extra care when travelling by boat or vehicle during the Wet Season, following a number of recent search and rescue operations across the Territory.

Since 1 December 2025, Police Search and Rescue Section have responded to 11 search and rescue operations, including six marine rescues and five land rescues. One marine operation extended over six days, highlighting the challenging conditions often encountered during the Wet Season.

Recent operations reinforce how quickly conditions can change at this time of year, particularly in coastal and remote areas.

EPIRBs

Police Search and Rescue have welcomed the public’s use of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), which continue to play a critical role in locating people in distress.

Police are also reminding EPIRB owners to ensure their devices are registered and easily accessible, as registration provides coordination teams with important information that can assist in a faster and more effective response.

Police are reminding the community that EPIRBs are designed for genuine emergencies — situations where people have run out of safe options or the ability to self‑recover. Before activating an EPIRB, people are encouraged to take stock of their situation and use any reasonable resources available to them.

Wet Season travel safety

During the Wet Season, weather and environmental conditions can deteriorate rapidly. Police encourage the public to plan conservatively and ensure they are well prepared before heading out, whether travelling on land or at sea.

Safety advice

Marine

• Ensure vessels are fully fuelled
• Carry adequate water and food
• Check the condition of the vessel and safety equipment
• Register EPIRBs and keep them accessible
• Inform someone of your trip plans
• Check tides and weather forecasts
• Carry suitable communication equipment

Land

• Ensure vehicles are in good working order
• Carry sufficient water and food
• Carry suitable communication equipment
• Inform someone of your trip plans
• Stay with your vehicle if you become stuck
• Monitor weather forecasts and avoid floodwaters

Being prepared helps reduce risk and ensures help can reach people quickly if it is needed.

The Northern Territory Police and Police Search and Rescue Section will continue to respond to emergencies across the Territory and encourage all travellers to take simple steps to stay safe during the Wet Season.

Superintendent David Moore said, “We remind Territorians that while EPIRBs continue to save lives, they are not a substitute for careful planning and checking conditions before you leave.

“Letting a family member or friend know your plans adds a simple but important layer of safety, and police are always here to help when things do not go to plan.”

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
09 Jan 2026 13:36

Issued for
Maggea Road, 4km south east of Waikerie in the Riverland.

Warning level
Advice – Stay Informed

Action
CFS is responding to a fire 4km south east of Waikerie in the Riverland, South Australia.

If you are in this area, stay informed and monitor local conditions. More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

STOCKPORT

Issued on
09 Jan 2026 13:33

Stockport Fire

The CFS has responded to a grass fire near Twin Rivers Road in Stockport, approximately 30 km north of Gawler in the Mid North of South Australia.

Approximately 40 CFS volunteers on 10 fire trucks, assisted by multiple farm fire units and 5 aircraft are working to extinguish a grass fire.

The fire has burned approximately 12 hectares after starting at 1pm this afternoon and due to the hard work of firefighters, they have prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby property.

CFS volunteers will remain on scene throughout the afternoon to ensure the fire is completely extinguished in the current conditions.

This fire is causing smoke to drift over the Stockport township, and members of the community are urged to take care, particularly if driving in the area.

Roads are currently open in the area; however, 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 0008941

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for whole state of Victoria tomorrow, Saturday 10 January 2026.

Tomorrow’s conditions will be cooler than today, but still warm with strong winds across the state particularly in the north.

A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban. 

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared because there are several fires in the landscape as a result of today’s catastrophic conditions.

“Firefighters are battling multiple fires across Victoria in difficult conditions today with Extreme heat and strong winds.” Jason said.

“Crews have been working hard this week and today to protect their communities. We’re asking Victorians to follow the strict conditions associated with the Total Fire Ban declaration.”

“Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”

Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.

For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website. 

Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information.

They include:

• ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
• The VicEmergency App
• The VicEmergency website www.emergency.vic.gov.au
• The VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
• CFA or VicEmergency Twitter or Facebook

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The NT Police Force has responded to further unrest in Wadeye yesterday evening.

Around 5:50pm, police received multiple reports of a large disturbance occurring on Kolumboort Street.

Police attended and observed a group of up to 100 people gathered in the area, with some individuals allegedly armed with edged and blunt weapons. Officers also observed three vehicles on fire.

Those in the crowd failed to comply with police directions and OC spray was deployed. The group subsequently dispersed.

No serious injuries have been reported at this stage.

Two males aged 22 and 31 have since been arrested and multiple weapons have been seized.

Following the incident, additional police patrols were conducted throughout the evening to provide reassurance to community members.

A meeting has been scheduled to support ongoing engagement and help ease tensions within the community.

Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

Acting Senior Sergeant Jimmy Yengayenga said, ““Those involved in the hostile conduct will be held to account.”

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

The Australian Antarctic Program has arrived at the World Heritage listed Heard Island and McDonald Islands and has completed the first round of field activities on shore. The marine science program is also underway, and collecting significant data.

After running the gauntlet of 13 m waves on the voyage from Casey to Heard Island, we arrived to good weather – at least by sub-Antarctic standards! This enabled the establishment of four field camps on the island at Atlas Cove, Skua Beach, Paddick Valley and Josephine Beach.
Seal counting began and the seabird team at Paddick Valley did 21 drone flights, conducting bird population surveys, mapping and H5 bird flu assessments.  Targeted surveys of threatened and endemic species are a high priority for the teams doing H5 bird flu assessments, following the confirmed detection of the virus in a southern elephant seal colony during the first visit to the island in October last year.
The seabird and seal teams also took scat samples, installed four acoustic recorders to record the calls of birds (particularly burrowing petrels) and took photos to compare with previous shots taken at the same location in 1926 and 2003.
From a camp at Skua Beach, the team from Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF) surveyed Heard Island vegetation, invertebrates (largely weevils and springtails) and took lake water samples.
They also assessed the spread of the invasive grass Poa annua. Overall, the SAEF drone team did 15 flights, covering 130 km.
The marine debris team worked at Atlas Cove, Josephine Beach and Gauss Beach. They collected half a cage pallet of debris, including long line ropes.
The old Atlas Cove station was documented with geolocated photography as well as with LiDAR (remote sensing technology). Project teams recovered an old nest camera, took soil samples and cleaned up 150 kg of loose surface asbestos.
These terrestrial science teams were supported in camp by field training and aircraft ground support officers. The teams returned via helicopter to the ship where a dedicated group of staff worked to ensure biosecurity cleaning protocols were followed.
Terrestrial science by day, marine science by night 
While terrestrial science teams were at work by day, marine science teams worked through the night. Beam trawls are being done and samples collected to get an insight into marine biodiversity and population distribution through the water column from just beneath the surface to the sea floor. This is vital for the management of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve.
There is an exacting process of mapping, sample collecting, sorting, cataloguing and imaging. Marine scientists are regularly finding creatures that are difficult to precisely identify, and collaboration with colleagues on board and around Australia is required.
After a great start, the weather has turned and the terrestrial science teams have returned to the ship to wait it out.
Marine science continues, though the weather is slowing progress. Even when some of the work is paused, the ship continues to map the sea floor. There is never a moment wasted!
Thursday was a designated rest day (the work is 7-days-per-week otherwise), to manage fatigue levels and give everyone a rest before the weather improves and science work resumes on shore and at sea.
The HIMI Campaign is being delivered in collaboration with our partners including Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), Serco, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the University of Tasmania (UTAS), the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), Department of Defence, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).   
This content was last updated 11 hours ago on 9 January 2026.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is investigating following a disturbance in Yuendumu yesterday evening.

Around 7:20pm, police received reports of a disturbance occurring at a residence with up to 30 people engaged in disorderly behaviour.

A man was allegedly assaulted, suffering injuries to his face and 3 vehicles were damaged. 

Police attended the scene and with the assistance of community elders, the crowd dispersed and no further incidents were reported.

A community meeting is expected to take place today.

Acting Superintendent Conan Robertson said, “Investigations indicate the disturbance overnight was isolated to tensions between two families.

“Police are actively engaging with the community and those involved to ensure there is no further escalation.” 

Source: Australian Capital Territory – State Government

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Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority