Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Green Party

As the weather continues to warm up, NSW Health is warning residents of the risk of asthma related to thunderstorms, particularly for people already prone to hay fever and asthma.
Thunderstorm asthma refers to episodes of asthma symptoms which occur when high pollen levels are combined with a thunderstorm.
In NSW, the peak period for a higher risk of thunderstorm asthma is between October and December, when pollen levels are higher and thunderstorms become more common with warmer weather.
Senior Staff Specialist in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Professor Connie Katelaris, explained that thunderstorm asthma requires very specific conditions to occur together.
“We do know that specific thunderstorm conditions related to moisture and airflow can increase people’s exposure to high concentrations of very small fragments of pollen,” Professor Katelaris said.
“This exposure can trigger symptoms wheeze, chest tightness, breathing difficulty and cough. Symptoms can escalate very quickly and may become life threatening”
In NSW, high levels of rye grass pollen appear to be associated with thunderstorm asthma in some areas.
“Anyone with diagnosed asthma should continue to use their preventor and have access to their reliever medication during this high-risk period,” Professor Katelaris said.
“Even if you don’t have asthma, pollen is at its highest throughout spring and may spark problems in people with allergies like hay fever or those who have undiagnosed asthma.”
Thunderstorm asthma events can occur anywhere where there are both high pollen levels and thunderstorms. The greatest risk of thunderstorm asthma is in areas across southern NSW and the Riverina but events have been recorded west of the dividing range from Tamworth to Albury.
Residents in the Riverina area can register for an automated notification system​ which notifies registered residents by SMS or email of high thunderstorm asthma risk in the area.
There are some simple steps people can take now to prepare. These include:

if you have ever been diagnosed with asthma or have hay fever, make sure you have an up-to-date action plan in place, including how you should manage your symptoms if they flare-up.
if your child has asthma, provide any updated asthma action plans to your child’s preschool, childcare centre or school
check that you or your child’s asthma reliever medication and spacer is up-to-date and stored in an easy spot for you to get quickly
know the warning signs of asthma like wheezing, breathlessness, feeling tight in the chest or persistent cough and when to seek advice from your doctor or urgent emergency care
when there is high pollen and a thunderstorm, where possible remain inside and keep windows and doors closed.​

The symptoms of thunderstorm asthma can escalate very quickly and may become life threatening. These include:

difficulty breathing, laboured breathing making it difficult to speak in full sentences, or lips turning blue
asthma reliever medication providing little relief.​

In an emergency dial 000 to call an ambulance.
For more information on thunderstorm asthma, visit the NSW Health website​.​

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The number of Australians starting uni is at record levels, if you take out the two years of COVID. 

Last year 388,890 Australian students commenced an award course degree last year, up 4 per cent on the year before. Even more started a degree this year and more still are expected to commence a degree in 2026.

Growth for 2024 was even stronger for students from low SES backgrounds (5 per cent), First Nations students (7 per cent), students from regional and remote areas (4.5 per cent) and students with disability (11 per cent).

The number of domestic students commencing study in the critical professions of engineering and teaching were also both up by 10 per cent for the year.

More students are sticking with their degrees as well. Attrition rates for domestic undergraduates are at a ten year low at 12 per cent in 2024, down from 15 per cent in 2023.

Expanding access to university education is what the Universities Accord is all about with a goal for 80 per cent of the workforce to have a tertiary qualification by 2050, up from around 60 per cent today.

The only way to do that is to get more people from the suburbs, from the regions and from disadvantaged backgrounds into uni and to succeed when they get there.

This data shows that we are making progress.

The next step is Needs-based Funding which will roll out from next year so students from disadvantaged backgrounds, First Nations students and students on regional campuses get the extra support to succeed at university.

An overview can be found here and the data here.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“I don’t want us to be a country where you can guess where someone grew up based on whether they have a uni degree or not. 

“More jobs are going to require more skills in the years ahead. 

“Opening the doors of our universities wider to more people from the suburbs and the regions and poor families isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s what we have to do. 

“Otherwise, we won’t have the workforce we need and the economy will be stuck in second gear.

“This data shows we’re making progress, but there’s still a lot more work to do.”

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Footy fans urged to celebrate AFL Grand Final Day safely tomorrow

Friday, 26 September 2025 – 10:54 am.

Police are urging football fans to be responsible if they’re celebrating the AFL Grand Final tomorrow.
Acting Inspector Martin Parker said AFL Grand Final Day is typically busy for police and other emergency services, and it’s imperative anyone drinking has a plan to get home safely.
“Police will have officers out across the state tomorrow and we’re encouraging safe and responsible celebrations for AFL Grand Final Day,” he said.
“Over recent years, AFL Grand Final Day has traditionally been a busy time for police, with 18% more incidents logged in the day compared to an average day of 440 incidents.” 
“If you’re planning to enjoy a few drinks while watching the game tomorrow – please remember to act responsibly, look out for one another, and if you’re attending a licensed premises behave in an appropriate manner.”
“Driving under the influence is one of the fatal five causes of fatal and serious crashes on our roads, and it’s imperative that anyone who drinks tomorrow has a plan for how to get home safely.”
“Tragically so far this year we’ve had 35 people die in crashes on our roads, and we don’t want to add to this number.”
“Being involved in a crash that results in serious injury or death is not the way we want anyone to end their Grand Final celebrations.”
“As police, our goal is always for everyone to get to their destination safely.  
“Please celebrate responsible, and if you’re watching the grand final – enjoy your day.”

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Youth charged following alleged crime spree across southern Tas

Friday, 26 September 2025 – 10:53 am.

A 17-year-old girl has been detained to appear in the Hobart Youth Justice Court later today after being arrested and charged by police for:• 1 x Destroy Property• 10 x Stealing• 21 x Breach of Bail• 1 x Injure Property• 1 x Assault Police• 1 x Possess a Dangerous Article in a Public PlaceIt will be alleged that the girl stole over $2,500 in alcohol and cosmetics, across the past fortnight in Hobart, Moonah, Battery Point, Howrah, Sandy Bay, Rosny, and Glebe Hill.“Tasmania Police is committed to protecting the community and local businesses and detecting and preventing anti-social and criminal behaviour with the aim of making our public spaces safer for everyone,” Inspector John Toohey said.“Our community deserves to feel safe at home, out in public and in their workplaces.“We will continue to target anti-social and criminal behaviour and where appropriate, necessary and authorised by law, we will be charging those who offend, and putting them before a Magistrate.”Anyone who witnesses illegal or anti-social behaviour should report it to police on 131 444, or triple-zero (000) in an emergency.Information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au. You can stay anonymous.

Source: New South Wales – News

These areas are now Declared Shopping Precincts under the State Government’s new legislation allowing police to conduct metal detector searches on any person or their property.

The following areas are now included within Declared Shopping Precincts under the Summary Offences Act 1953:

• Marion Shopping Centre
• Elizabeth Shopping Centre
• Arndale Shopping Centre
• Burnside Village
• Hollywood Plaza
• Parabanks Shopping Centre
• West Lakes Shopping Centre
• Munno Para Shopping Centre

The new powers also enable police to order a person or group posing a risk to public safety and order to leave the shopping precinct for 24 hours. If they re-enter or attempt to there is a maximum penalty of $1250.

These shopping precincts are the first to be declared, but other public events and places which may be declared include a place of worship; a public place holding a public event; a public transport hub; and a public transport service.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Narelle Kameniar said South Australia Police is thankful to have additional powers to protect the community as they frequent different areas of South Australia.

“These laws will give police more tools to prevent crime and remove dangerous weapons from circulation by conducting searches on any person or their property,” Assistant Commissioner Kameniar said.

Maps showing the relevant declared areas, which include the above listed shopping centres, can be found on the SAPOL website SAPOL – Declared Public Events and Places. If other areas or events are declared they will also be published on the SAPOL website and in the South Australian Government Gazette.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to elders past and present.

Can I thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

Can I also thank you for the work that you do.

You know how important I think it is, how important you know it is. 

Teaching is the most important job in the world. 

And teachers only become teachers because of you.

And we need more of them. 

The good news is there are more. 

The number of people who enrolled in teaching was up 10% last year on the year before. 

And it’s up again this year. That’s a good sign. 

Pay rises, paid prac, the new Commonwealth Teacher Scholarships all help.They’re all part of it. But we still need more. 

All the forecasts I see tell me that we’re still going to be thousands short of the teachers we need and will need in the years ahead. 

So while things are getting better in schools across the country, the challenge is still there and it’s big. 

It’s why I got the state Departments of Education, teachers, principals, peak bodies and unions together last week to work on what we do next updating the teacher workforce plan that we developed about three years ago. 

And it’s why what you do, and what happens next year, is so important.

Next year the change in the core content of ITE degrees rolls out.

And I know you’ve been at the coal face of all of that and I want to thank you for it. 

What we do here from next year will help not just the next generation of teachers. 

It’ll help the next generation of Australians. 

This, combined with the agreements that I’ve now signed with every state and territory to fix the funding of our schools and the reforms that are tied to it, are two critical parts of building a better and a fairer education system. 

I’m sorry again that I can’t be there in person, but I’m really looking forward to seeing you on campus over the next 12 months to see the changes that we’re making come to life. 

I hope you’re having a great conference, and I’ll see you soon.

Source: Australian National Party

Source: Australian National Party

Skip to content