Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Fashion retailer Fewstone, trading as City Beach, has been ordered by the Federal Court to pay $14 million in penalties for selling non-compliant button battery products.

City Beach admitted that, between June 2022 and October 2024, it had supplied products that that did not comply with the button battery safety standard on more than 54,000 occasions, and that during the same period it had supplied products that did not comply with the button battery information standard on more than 56,000 occasions.  

The products included toys, digital notepads, keyrings, lights and light-up Jibbitz accessories for Crocs shoes. The Court noted that many of these products were marketed or intended for children.

The Court observed that there were pervasive failures by City Beach to inform itself of its obligations under the Australian Consumer Law and to comply with its obligations as a retailer of products which may cause serious harm, and that City Beach’s unlawful conduct put more than 50,000 young children at risk of severe injury or death.

The Court described City Beach’s “lack of urgency in seeking to recall the non-compliant products” as “condemnable.”

“Today’s penalty sends clear message to businesses and suppliers that failing to meet safety standards for button batteries is unacceptable and can result in serious penalties,” ACCC Commissioner Luke Woodward said.

“Button batteries pose a significant risk to children, and can be fatal. The ACCC will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action against businesses that fail to comply with the button battery standards.”

This was the first court proceeding brought by the ACCC for breaches of the button battery safety standards.

Earlier this month, the Court found City Beach breached the Australian Consumer Law by selling a range of consumer novelty products that did not comply with mandatory button battery safety and information standards.

The Court ordered an injunction restraining City Beach from engaging in future contraventions of the Mandatory Standards.

The Court also ordered City Beach to implement a consumer law compliance program and to undertake advertising as part of its voluntary recall of the products in question.

Following a contested hearing on penalties, today the Court ordered City Beach to pay penalties totalling $14 million. 

To check if a product has been recalled, visit the ACCC product safety website or contact City Beach.

Examples of the recalled products subject to the court proceedings

Background

The ACCC commenced Federal Court proceedings against City Beach in April 2025.

City Beach is a national retailer primarily offering surf and skate consumer goods including clothing, accessories and novelty items.

Button batteries are dangerous and pose a significant risk to young children if swallowed or inserted. If swallowed, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in serious lifelong injuries or death. Insertion into body parts such as the ears or nose can also lead to serious injuries. In Australia, three children have died from inserting or ingesting button batteries. Children up to 5 years of age are at greatest risk of injury from button batteries.

Australia’s mandatory button battery standards, which came into effect in June 2022, aim to reduce the risk of death or serious injury caused by button batteries.

The safety standard requires products to have secure battery compartments that are designed to be resistant to being opened by children. This is to prevent children from gaining access to button batteries. The information standard requires safety warnings to be provided with products, including seeking urgent medical advice in certain circumstances.

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

22 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

What has changed?

Following the identification of biosecurity concerns, we have listed M/s Geo Pest Control (AEI: IN0408MB) as ‘under review’ on the…

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Households that have been on the same electricity plan for more than three years are paying on average $221 per year more than customers on new plans, the ACCC’s latest Electricity Market Inquiry report reveals.

While the report shows that the number of customers on their retailer’s best plan has increased, millions of Australians are still paying more than they need to be.

The ACCC’s analysis shows that a household with average electricity usage that moved from a regulated safety net (default offer) plan to one of the many cheaper plans retailers offer to new and switching customers would save between about $100 and $250 per year, depending on the region they live in.

In New South Wales, an average household not on their retailer’s best plan could save $300 per year simply by asking their existing retailer to move them on to the cheapest available plan.

“Loyalty penalties are alive and well in the retail electricity market, so the very best thing people can do to save money is to switch plans – either moving to a cheaper plan offered by their existing retailer or changing retailers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“Many households could effectively replicate the value of the recently ended government rebates by changing plans.”

“Roughly every three months, retailers have to prominently disclose on the first page of electricity bills the potential savings for customers from changing to their cheapest plan. We would strongly encourage households to, at the very least, look at their electricity bill to see how much they could save,” Ms Brakey said.  

The report shows that 37 per cent or nearly 2.5 million customers are paying prices at or above the default offer. More than 400,000 of these customers are paying more than 10 per cent over the default offer.

Proportion of residential customers paying more, equal to, or less than the default offers

Across all National Electricity Market regions, residential bills increased by 6 per cent from August 2024 to August 2025 (excluding government rebates).

New South Wales customers experienced the largest annual price increase at about 9 per cent. South East Queensland had the next largest price increase at about 4 per cent.

While acknowledging the complexity of electricity pricing structures and the retail electricity market more broadly, the report finds that the ‘Better Bills’ reforms have had a positive impact on consumers.

About 27 per cent of residential customers were on their retailer’s best plan at some point in 2024–25. This was higher than the 19 per cent of customers who were on their retailer’s best plan between January and August 2024. The ACCC also observed an increased proportion of customers on newer plans (those that are less than 1 year old); rising from 29 per cent in August 2024 to 42 per cent in August 2025.

Proportion of customers receiving different types of ‘Better / Best Offer’ messages

The report also identifies that there have recently been small but consequential improvements to the level of competition in the retail electricity market.

Several new retailers entered the market in 2025 while no retailers exited. More retailers for consumers to choose from and continued, gradual declines in market concentration indicate small positive gains to the state of competition.

“A silver lining to the dark cloud of higher electricity prices is that there is a wide array of different offers out there and the prices vary significantly, which indicates that competition is working,” Ms Brakey said.

“Given that savings are only available to those who change plans, we encourage policy makers to continue to focus on reducing barriers to switching and protecting customers who don’t regularly switch plans.”

The ACCC encourages consumers to compare energy plans and identify potential savings on Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare.

Background

The term ‘default offers’ refers to the Default Market Offer (New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland) and Victorian Default Offer, which about 10 per cent of households are on. Default offers serve as both a regulated safety net price to protect people who have never shopped around and a reference price for comparing different market offers, which facilitates retail competition.

Market offers are the electricity plans that about 90 per cent of households are on. They are plans where the retailers set their own price and other conditions.

Price results in this report are calculated based on the usage assumptions under the default offers, and do not include the impact of rebates or solar feed-in tariffs. Prices are presented in nominal values and assume 100 per cent achievement of conditional discounts unless otherwise stated.

The National Electricity Market is comprised of South East Queensland, New South Wales (including the ACT), Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Western Australia and the Northern Territory are not connected to the National Electricity Market.

In 2018, the Australian Government directed the ACCC to hold an inquiry into the prices, profits and margins in relation to the supply of electricity in the National Electricity Market. On 23 March 2025, the Australian Government announced a 12-month extension to the inquiry. The ACCC is required to provide a final report under the Inquiry by 30 June 2026.

This is the 14th time the ACCC has reported as part of this inquiry.

The report is available on the ACCC’s website at Electricity market monitoring 2018-2026.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

22/12/25

Source: Tasmania Police

Eight Tasmanian men are facing a combined total of 67 charges following a police operation targeting vehicle theft and drug trafficking.
Detective Inspector Mark Burke said the operation commenced in late October, after police uncovered an alleged syndicate involved in the theft of high-value vehicles and the trafficking of methylamphetamine between the north and south of Tasmania.
“Following significant investigations, last week police executed multiple search warrants across several locations,” he said.
“Led by Bridgewater CIB with the assistance of other specialist units and uniformed officers, more than 80 police officers played a role in the operation.”
“During the searches, police seized firearms, ammunition, illicit drugs including trafficable quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis, stolen vehicles and car parts, counterfeit currency, and electronic devices relevant to the investigation.”
“This operation demonstrates our commitment to dismantling criminal networks and preventing activities that cause harm in our communities.”
The following people have been charged and will each appear in court at a later date.

27-year-old Bridgewater manCharged with burglary, stealing, motor vehicle offences, possession of counterfeit money, unlawful possession of property, drug possession, attempted motor vehicle stealing, motor vehicle stealing, and firearms offences.
34-year-old Elderslie manCharged with trafficking in a controlled substance, cultivating a controlled plant, possession and use of controlled plant products, and receiving stolen property.
21-year-old Brighton manCharged with recklessly discharging a firearm, stealing, firearms and ammunition offences, breach of a Police Family Violence Order, and motor vehicle stealing.
31-year-old Bridgewater manCharged with burglary, stealing, motor vehicle offences, unlawful possession of property, and firearms offences.
29-year-old Bagdad manCharged with motor vehicle stealing.
22-year-old Old Beach manCharged with motor vehicle stealing, trafficking in a controlled substance, contravening conditions of a notice, driving while suspended, and drug possession.
56-year-old Elderslie manCharged with cultivating a controlled plant and firearms offences.
25-year-old Elderslie manCharged with ammunition storage offences.

Investigations remain ongoing, and anyone with information that may assist police is urged to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is investigating a series of disturbances that occurred in Ramingining over the weekend.

From around 4:45pm on Saturday, police received multiple reports of up to 40 people fighting outside the local clinic. Those involved were allegedly armed with a range of edged and blunt weapons.

Police attended and, with the assistance of local elders and community members, the group dispersed. No injuries were reported at that time.

On Sunday at around 1:30pm, police again responded to reports of multiple people fighting, with weapons involved. Two men were conveyed to the local clinic with non-life-threatening injuries, and a 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Additional police resources have been deployed to the community as part of a surge response to enhance police capability, restore order and support community safety.

Investigations into the incidents remain ongoing.

Superintendent Jody Knobbs said the behaviour was deeply concerning.

“The escalation of violence we saw over the weekend is simply not acceptable,” Superintendent Knobbs said.

“Police are committed to maintaining safety in Ramingining, however lasting change cannot be achieved by enforcement alone.”

“We are calling on community leaders and elders to work alongside police and other stakeholders to help resolve conflict, reinforce cultural authority and support peaceful outcomes.”

“Strong community leadership is critical to preventing further violence and keeping everyone safe.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

22 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

This notice is of interest to all vessel masters and shipping agents who represent international commercial and non-commercial vessels for the purposes of Australian biosecurity clearance.

What has changed?

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will commence its annual heightened vessel surveillance window for managing the risks posed by Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), formally/also known as Asian…

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Overall gas supply on Australia’s east coast is expected to be sufficient in the second quarter of 2026; however, the southern states (Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory) will collectively rely on surplus gas from Queensland and gas stores to meet demand, the ACCC’s latest gas inquiry report reveals.

The latest forecasts from gas producers suggest a range between a 15 petajoule (PJ) surplus and an 8 PJ shortfall for the east coast gas market in the second quarter of 2026, depending on the amount of uncontracted gas exported by the Queensland-based LNG producers.

Queensland is anticipated to have sufficient gas to meet local needs, while the southern states are projected to need an additional 26 PJ of gas through the quarter.

“The gap between gas demand and supply from southern gas sources leading into and through winter has widened in recent years, largely due to reduced production from legacy gas fields and increased demand for gas-powered electricity generation,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“Some of Queensland’s surplus gas will need to be transported to the southern states to help fill the forecast supply gap in the second quarter of 2026.”

As at Monday 22 December, Victoria’s Iona gas storage facility was estimated to require about 12 PJ of gas injections before May 2026 to replenish gas stores ahead of the 2026 winter period.

The quarterly supply-demand outlook for Australia’s southern states (2026)

Recent prices are within expected ranges 

Contracted gas prices have been steady at around $13-15 per gigajoule (GJ) since falling from the very high levels seen during 2022-23. The prices are within expected ranges given expectations of LNG netback prices and domestic supply and demand conditions.

Prices offered by gas producers to retailers for 2026 supply fell 3 per cent to $13.56 per GJ in the first half of 2025. Prices offered by gas retailers to commercial and industrial users fell 5 per cent to $14.43 per GJ.

While prices appear to be relatively stable, more gas is being contracted on a short-term basis than in previous years. The volume of gas sold under short-term contracts increased by 78 per cent to 57 PJ in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.

“We’ve heard from a range of commercial and industrial gas users that, while prices have stabilised, current price levels continue to pose challenges to the viability of their businesses,” Ms Brakey said.

“These challenges are exacerbated by difficulties in obtaining long-term agreements for gas supply. Short-term contracts do not provide the cost predictability and supply certainty that longer-term contracts provide.”

The ACCC has also continued to hear concerns from commercial and industrial gas users about the inflexibility of the expression of interest processes under the Gas Market Code.

Gas users remain concerned about a lack of competition between gas suppliers, though some users told the ACCC they had observed recent improvements.

Gas costs of production

The ACCC has released with today’s report advice from an independent research firm on long-run gas production costs in the east coast gas market. Gas production costs can influence the prices producers are willing to accept for supply as well as longer-term investment decisions. One of its key observations is that, in the absence of new sources of gas supply, production costs are expected to rise over time as lower cost reserves are depleted.

The ACCC welcomes feedback on this accompanying report.

LNG netback price series review

The ACCC has commenced a review of the methodology for calculating LNG netback prices to ensure that this price series remains an accurate resource for market participants on price benchmarks relevant to Australia’s east coast gas market. The ACCC has set out issues relevant to the review in the December 2025 gas inquiry report and invites submissions from stakeholders by 6 February 2026.

Retailer best practice selling guidance

The ACCC has developed draft voluntary best practice retailer selling guidance for comment. The draft guidance follows the ACCC’s Retailer Behaviour Review last year, which found that some retailers’ selling practices persistently fell short of what would be expected in a well-functioning retail market.

The draft guidance is published in the December 2025 gas inquiry report and is open for comment until 27 February 2026.

Background

Australia’s east coast gas market is an interconnected grid joining Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. The Northern Territory and Western Australia are separate gas regions.

In 2025, the Australian Treasurer directed the ACCC to hold an inquiry into the market for the supply of natural gas in Australia. This direction provided that the ACCC would continue its inquiry into the gas market, which first commenced in 2017. The new direction requires the ACCC to conduct the inquiry until 30 June 2030.

The ACCC’s inquiry examines the wholesale gas market, primarily gas sold by producers to large gas buyers, including commercial and industrial gas users and gas retailers.

The ACCC’s next interim gas inquiry report is scheduled for March 2026.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Overall gas supply on Australia’s east coast is expected to be sufficient in the second quarter of 2026; however, the southern states (Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory) will collectively rely on surplus gas from Queensland and gas stores to meet demand, the ACCC’s latest gas inquiry report reveals.

The latest forecasts from gas producers suggest a range between a 15 petajoule (PJ) surplus and an 8 PJ shortfall for the east coast gas market in the second quarter of 2026, depending on the amount of uncontracted gas exported by the Queensland-based LNG producers.

Queensland is anticipated to have sufficient gas to meet local needs, while the southern states are projected to need an additional 26 PJ of gas through the quarter.

“The gap between gas demand and supply from southern gas sources leading into and through winter has widened in recent years, largely due to reduced production from legacy gas fields and increased demand for gas-powered electricity generation,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“Some of Queensland’s surplus gas will need to be transported to the southern states to help fill the forecast supply gap in the second quarter of 2026.”

As at Monday 22 December, Victoria’s Iona gas storage facility was estimated to require about 12 PJ of gas injections before May 2026 to replenish gas stores ahead of the 2026 winter period.

The quarterly supply-demand outlook for Australia’s southern states (2026)

Recent prices are within expected ranges 

Contracted gas prices have been steady at around $13-15 per gigajoule (GJ) since falling from the very high levels seen during 2022-23. The prices are within expected ranges given expectations of LNG netback prices and domestic supply and demand conditions.

Prices offered by gas producers to retailers for 2026 supply fell 3 per cent to $13.56 per GJ in the first half of 2025. Prices offered by gas retailers to commercial and industrial users fell 5 per cent to $14.43 per GJ.

While prices appear to be relatively stable, more gas is being contracted on a short-term basis than in previous years. The volume of gas sold under short-term contracts increased by 78 per cent to 57 PJ in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.

“We’ve heard from a range of commercial and industrial gas users that, while prices have stabilised, current price levels continue to pose challenges to the viability of their businesses,” Ms Brakey said.

“These challenges are exacerbated by difficulties in obtaining long-term agreements for gas supply. Short-term contracts do not provide the cost predictability and supply certainty that longer-term contracts provide.”

The ACCC has also continued to hear concerns from commercial and industrial gas users about the inflexibility of the expression of interest processes under the Gas Market Code.

Gas users remain concerned about a lack of competition between gas suppliers, though some users told the ACCC they had observed recent improvements.

Gas costs of production

The ACCC has released with today’s report advice from an independent research firm on long-run gas production costs in the east coast gas market. Gas production costs can influence the prices producers are willing to accept for supply as well as longer-term investment decisions. One of its key observations is that, in the absence of new sources of gas supply, production costs are expected to rise over time as lower cost reserves are depleted.

The ACCC welcomes feedback on this accompanying report.

LNG netback price series review

The ACCC has commenced a review of the methodology for calculating LNG netback prices to ensure that this price series remains an accurate resource for market participants on price benchmarks relevant to Australia’s east coast gas market. The ACCC has set out issues relevant to the review in the December 2025 gas inquiry report and invites submissions from stakeholders by 6 February 2026.

Retailer best practice selling guidance

The ACCC has developed draft voluntary best practice retailer selling guidance for comment. The draft guidance follows the ACCC’s Retailer Behaviour Review last year, which found that some retailers’ selling practices persistently fell short of what would be expected in a well-functioning retail market.

The draft guidance is published in the December 2025 gas inquiry report and is open for comment until 27 February 2026.

Background

Australia’s east coast gas market is an interconnected grid joining Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT. The Northern Territory and Western Australia are separate gas regions.

In 2025, the Australian Treasurer directed the ACCC to hold an inquiry into the market for the supply of natural gas in Australia. This direction provided that the ACCC would continue its inquiry into the gas market, which first commenced in 2017. The new direction requires the ACCC to conduct the inquiry until 30 June 2030.

The ACCC’s inquiry examines the wholesale gas market, primarily gas sold by producers to large gas buyers, including commercial and industrial gas users and gas retailers.

The ACCC’s next interim gas inquiry report is scheduled for March 2026.

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

22 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

All vessel owners, operators, masters and shipping agents who represent international commercial vessels, including cruise vessels, preparing for arrival into Australian territory.

What has changed?

The Maritime and Aircraft Reporting System (MARS) remotely monitors vessel arrivals and departures within Australian territory using third party data, including onboard Automatic Identification System (AIS) equipment,…