Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

Karl Stefanovic, host: The despair and heartbreak of the Bondi massacre was laid bare yesterday with the funerals of three slain victims. But at the service it was the absence of the Prime Minister that shed plenty on how the community feels about him. Right now, joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie and Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite. Good morning, guys. Nice to see you. Look, Matt, you first up, the PM wasn’t invited, he’s not welcome. There can be no clearer message that the Jewish community has broken right now.

Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: G’day, Karl. The PM obviously said that he is willing to attend any of the funerals but respects the wishes of the families. Funerals are deeply personal things and will of course respect their wishes. Today the funeral of young Matilda, the 10-year-old student that was unfortunately and needlessly killed and murdered on the weekend, will take place. She was a student at one of the public schools from my electorate and I will attend that funeral. I was at the school on Tuesday consoling the students and the teachers, there will be another memorial service at the school tomorrow. Peter ‘Marzo’ Meagher from the Randwick Rugby Club, deeply beloved in our community, he was killed on Sunday. I attended a vigil with members of the Randwick Rugby Community on Monday at Coogee Oval where we came together to remember him. And there’ll be further funerals, but they’re deeply personal affairs and we’ll respect the wishes of the families.

Stefanovic: There were a bunch of other dignitaries there yesterday and I will say this to you, I’m very sorry for what you’re going through in your local electorate. That is very, very tough. But it is a sign also that the PM is not welcome, that they have had enough, that he hasn’t done enough and they’re over him?

Assistant Minister: Yeah, we certainly respect the wishes of the families. I understand that the Jewish community is hurting at the moment and they’re grieving and I want them to know that we’re here to support them. I grew up in Maroubra, a couple of hundred metres from the local synagogue. Our neighbours were Jewish as kids, I went to a Jewish preschool, I was one of a few non-Jewish students. I’ve been very close to the Jewish community all my life. And I’m working as hard as I possibly can to support that community in our area at the moment, they’re grieving, they’re hurting, and we’re here for them.

Stefanovic: Okay, well said. Bridget, let’s talk about the PM, though. I mean, it’s not a great idea to show up. You just can’t show up to a funeral not invited. So, there are other dignitaries, I think you’re at one yesterday, there is a deep feeling against him right now.

Bridget McKenzie, Senator for Victoria: Well, we’ve seen the Jewish communities have seen an explosion of antisemitism over the last two years under the Prime Minister’s watch. And his lack of action on a range of fronts, despite being warned by the community that this tragic outcome of a terrorist, Islamic terrorist act in our suburbs on iconic Bondi Beach would be an outcome. I attended Rabbi Schlanger’s funeral yesterday. I wasn’t invited. I think it is a sign of respect to show up and stand up. And the Prime Minister’s refusal to do that says more about him as a leader, I think, than anything else. Karl, Matt is demonstrating so much leadership in his own community —

Stefanovic: I get that.

McKenzie: That the Prime Minister as leader of our country is refusing to do. To my knowledge, there’s reports in the papers today that he has not visited victims fighting for their lives in the hospital whilst he’s, you know, visited emergency service responders. He’s visited Ahmed, the hero of the situation. The reports are that he’s failed to visit the victims fighting for their lives. So, that says that this guy —

Stefanovic: I don’t know if that’s entirely true —

McKenzie: Well, that’s one of the reports —

Stefanovic: He has certainly visited Ahmed Al Ahmed. And look, I don’t know who else he’s visited, to be honest with you, but he’s. He certainly visited Ahmed Al Ahmed.

McKenzie: But you know what he hasn’t done, Karl? He hasn’t shut down the factories of hate that are spewing Jew hate now.

Stefanovic: We’ll get onto that now. But Matt, do you, does he accept any responsibility for the rise of antisemitism? I mean, you live it, you breathe it, you see it, you hear it. And they’re blaming him.

Assistant Minister: Karl, I’ve known the Prime Minister for 30 years. He’s a man that’s always stood up against racism, particularly antisemitism. He abhors that sort of thing. He despises it. And he’s worked hard, try and create national unity and to call on all Australians to show respect for each other. In the wake of October 7, the Prime Minister led a moving tribute in the Parliament —

McKenzie: Oh, Matt, everyone is sick of the words —

Assistant Minister: That called out antisemitism and put in place measures to combat antisemitism and we will continue to do that.

Stefanovic: Alright, Matt, the point is the governments can act very quickly in the public interest when they need to. So, quickly, I mean, in the last couple of weeks you’ve stopped under 16s accessing social media. Before you throw everything you possibly can at antisemitism, is it just not politically convenient for you?

Assistant Minister: No, that’s not the case at all. We’ve strengthened laws to combat antisemitism. We’ve got the strongest laws the country has now ever seen to combat anti Semitism, including strengthening hate speech laws. We’ve made sure who’s been prosecuted under arrest behaviours. We’re running through, we’re running through, there’s been a —

Stefanovic: This is the same thing you’ve said, this is the same thing you’ve said now for a couple of days. I do want to get onto these pro-Palestinian groups who are saying that they still have the right to protest no matter how the laws are tightened. So, Matt, is that okay with you, for pro Palestinians to protest now?

Assistant Minister: Well, I agree with the Premier. I think we need a summer of calm. I think that these protests have got to stop and we’ve got to allow the Jewish community in particular to mourn and to heal. So, the leaders of these groups, I think, need to show some respect. And it’s got to stop. We’ve got to give the Jewish community the respect that they deserve.

Stefanovic: Okay, it’s a good start. Bridget, I wanted to talk to you about this hero cop as well, Cesar Barraza, he’s the officer believed to have stopped the shooters this shot with a Glock. There he is right there from 100 metres. I mean, you know how difficult that is. But the courage they showed in lining them up, right?

McKenzie: Yeah, absolutely. Carl, when you pull the Glock out, you want to make sure you get it right. And he was a magnificent shot and downed this shooter. That was, you know, carnage right throughout Bondi Beach. Karl, when we talk about the protests on Sydney Harbour Bridge, the courts let our Jewish community down by allowing that Sydney Harbour Bridge protest to go across the globe. We now know that our most three iconic sites have been used in a global Islamic terrorist PR campaign. We had the Opera House celebrating October 7, the Sydney Harbour Bridge where people were marching with terrorist sympathisers. And then Bondi Beach in a mass terrorist attack. And the Prime Minister has not acted enough to shut down these factories of hate that are in our suburbs to deport the perpetrators. And, Matt, you can use all the weasel words you like, but not just Jewish Australians are angry, Australians are angry at this Prime Minister’s inaction.

Stefanovic: We’ve got to run. Look, we’re calling for the summer of calm. Let’s hope it goes beyond that. Appreciate your time today, guys.

Source: Government of Australia Capital Territory

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Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has written to a number of major retailers ahead of the Boxing Day sales to remind them of their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law when advertising sales and promotions.

These letters follow a Black Friday Sales sweep by the ACCC to identify misleading or deceptive sales advertising by retailers.  

Initial findings from the ACCC’s sweep indicate that retailers are still using a range of potentially misleading strategies during promotions, including misleading time representations (such as the use of countdown timers that may not align with the full duration of the sale), and promotions that may misrepresent the true scope of discounts available to consumers.

The ACCC will continue to assess the results of its sweep and will take next steps as appropriate.

“All retailers must ensure that any sales or discount claims they make during the Boxing Day sales are accurate, clear and not likely to mislead or deceive consumers,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“We are concerned that despite many warnings, some retailers are still using a range of tactics to misrepresent the size or scope of discounts and the duration of sales to consumers.”

“Misleading pricing practices in the retail sector is a compliance and enforcement priority for the ACCC, and we will continue to closely monitor any sales or discount claims made, particularly by large retailers,” Ms Lowe said.

Retailers should review the ACCC’s guidance on advertising and promotions to ensure they are complying with the Australian Consumer Law.

“If a retailer is found to be in breach of the law, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action,” Ms Lowe said.

Sales and discounts are persuasive techniques used by retailers to influence consumer purchasing decisions.

“As sales periods become longer and more frequent, we want to ensure that the discounts being advertised to consumers are genuine,” Ms Lowe said.

The ACCC encourages consumers to be wary of broad claims about discounts or savings during sales periods and to check for any disclaimers or conditions in sales advertisements.

“We encourage consumers to shop around, compare, and keep an eye on prices before big sales events like Boxing Day, particularly if you have been waiting to make a significant purchase. Focus on the final price, not the advertised discount or promotion, to assess whether you are getting a good deal,” Ms Lowe said.

The best way for consumers to report any potentially misleading or deceiving sales representations is by the ACCC website, where images and specific detail can be provided.

Background

The ACCC expects retailers to not make the following representations in any sales promotions:

• Misleading time representations, including, the use of phrases such as ‘3 days only’ and devices such as countdown timers that don’t align with the true duration of the sale.
• Claims of store-wide or site-wide sales, when in fact the sales involve exclusions.
• Fine print or disclaimers that seek to limit headline claims about the sale, including member-only deals or excluding a range of products.
• ‘Up to X% off’, where the ‘up to’ text is not prominently displayed, or where few or very few products are on sale at X% off.
• Misleading ‘was/now’ or ‘strikethrough’ pricing representations.

In 2024, the ACCC conducted a sweep of sales advertising by Australian retailers online and in store to target the Black Friday and Boxing Day sale periods. The 2024 sweep uncovered a range of concerning practices, including those listed above.

Following the sweep, the ACCC launched a number of investigations into specific retailers and wrote to those retailers where the most concerning conduct was identified and asked them to justify their claims.

In June 2025, Michael Hill, My House and Hairhouse online paid penalties for allegedly making false and misleading representations about their Black Friday sales. The ACCC has a number of other investigations relating to misleading and deceptive sales practices underway.

Examples of advertising that may raise concerns

Source: Australian Department of Communications

APRA and AUSTRAC have both announced actions to address weaknesses in Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s (Bendigo Bank) money laundering risk management, non‑financial risk management practices and risk culture.
It follows the findings of an independent review undertaken by Deloitte into suspected money laundering at a Bendigo Bank branch, which the bank reported to AUSTRAC. This independent review found significant deficiencies with Bendigo Bank’s approach to the identification, mitigation and management of money laundering and terrorism financing risk. 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has increased the reward for information in relation to missing woman Angie Fuller to $500,000.

The new reward will now supersede the $250,000 reward that was announced in October of 2023.

Angie Fuller, who would now be 33, was last seen on the evening of Monday 9 January 2023, travelling on Tanami Road, 15kms west of the intersection at Stuart Highway.

She is described as of Asian heritage, around 165cm tall, medium build with long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and a beige skirt.

Multiple search areas were declared and after extensive efforts, Angie has never been located.

Detective Superintendent Drew Slape said “Sadly, Angie’s family have been deprived of answers for almost 3 years.

“The Major Crime Squad have been investigating Angie’s disappearance since 2023, and the circumstances surrounding her movements on 9 January remain suspicious.

“We know people have information about what happened to Angie, and there is now $500,000 available for anyone who provides information that results in our detectives locating her.

“The Northern Territory Police Force will not stop investigating until Angie is found, it is as simple as that.” 

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 1:22pm

Original publication: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 1:07pm

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 11:11am

Original publication: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 11:11am

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 8:45am

Original publication: Wednesday, 17 December 2025 8:29am

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 11:57pm

Original publication: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 9:43pm

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Monday, 15 December 2025 9:21am

Original publication: Sunday, 14 December 2025 11:03pm