Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) has today been ordered by the Federal Court to pay a penalty of $100 million for engaging in unconscionable conduct when selling mobile phones and contracts to hundreds of Australians, and subsequent debt collection in a case brought by the ACCC.

The Court has imposed this penalty after Optus admitted it acted unconscionably, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law, and agreed to make joint submissions with the ACCC to the Court that a total penalty of $100 million was appropriate.

In many instances the affected consumers did not want or need, could not use or could not afford the phones and contracts they were sold and, in some cases, consumers were pursued for debts resulting from these sales.

Many of the affected consumers were vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, having limited financial literacy or English not being a first language. Many of the consumers were First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of Australia.

“Optus’s conduct in this case was truly appalling, and we welcome the substantial penalty imposed by the Court and the deterrence message that it will send,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“During the course of our investigation we heard from many people who had not only experienced significant financial harm, but also emotional distress and fear after being pursued by debt collectors for long periods.”

“A company of Optus’s size should have had better systems and controls in place to identify and stop this sort of behaviour,” Ms Lowe said.

In his decision, Justice O’Sullivan said the consequences of Optus’s conduct were “profound”.

“Numerous individuals experienced severe financial harm, emotional distress, and social shame,” he said.

“Particularly damaging was the heightened risk of losing access to essential telecommunications services when faced with inflated service costs.”

In addition to the financial penalty, Optus has also provided the ACCC with a five-year court-enforceable undertaking that it will compensate impacted consumers and improve its internal systems.

Optus’s conduct impacted over 400 consumers and occurred at 16 Optus stores between August 2019 and July 2023. Any consumer who considers they may have been impacted by similar conduct should contact Optus.

Examples of the misconduct included:

• putting undue pressure on consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, that they did not want or need, could not use or could not afford;
• failing to explain relevant terms and conditions to vulnerable consumers in a manner they could understand, resulting in them not understanding their ongoing payment obligations;
• not having regard to whether consumers had Optus coverage where they lived;
• selling products and services which Optus knew, or ought reasonably to have known, the consumers could not afford; and
• misleading these consumers to believe that goods were free or included as part of a bundle at no additional cost.

Many impacted consumers were supported by local advocates, financial counsellors and carers in trying to seek a resolution with Optus.  

“We commend the dedicated and hardworking people who assisted many of the affected consumers, and we also thank the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for drawing the broader conduct to our attention,” Ms Lowe said. 

In the case of Optus’s Mount Isa store, which has now closed, the telco pursued debts in circumstances where its then senior management knew that those debts related to contracts for goods and services that appeared to have been entered into at the Optus Mount Isa Store fraudulently and without consumer knowledge.

Optus’s then senior management became increasingly aware that Optus staff were engaging in the inappropriate sales practices and that Optus’s systems and controls could not stop the conduct. Optus acknowledged it failed to promptly take steps to fix deficiencies in its systems, which allowed the conduct to continue.

Commission-based sales arrangements for Optus’s sales staff had the clear potential to incentivise the inappropriate sales conduct, despite the Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code requiring Optus, from 17 June 2022, to have regard to the ACCC’s best practice recommendations which recommend businesses avoid commission-based selling because of its potential to exacerbate the vulnerability of consumers.

This case follows similar ACCC action against Telstra, which was ordered in May 2021 to pay a $50 million penalty for engaging in unconscionable conduct when it sold mobile contracts to 108 First Nations Australians consumers between at least 1 January 2016 and about 27 August 2018.

Examples of the alleged conduct

A First Nations consumer visited an Optus store in a metro area. They were sold multiple Optus mobile plans and services, including two mobile phones, as well as accessories. The Optus sales representative manipulated the credit check, which enabled them to sell the consumer Optus services and products that they could not afford. Despite the details of the sale coming to the attention of Optus’s fraud team, the consumer’s debt in excess of $3,000 was referred to an external debt collection agency. The debt continued to be pursued by Optus for over a year.

In a separate example, Optus entered into four contracts with a consumer who lived with deafness and communicated by Australian Sign Language. Optus staff failed to explain the terms of the consumer’s contract in a manner which they could understand. The consumer was on a disability pension, and the cost of the contracts was more than they could afford. In addition, the consumer did not need and could not use the Optus products and services. It was only with significant time and assistance of the consumer’s support worker that the consumer was able to cancel the contracts.

In 2019, an internal Optus investigation into customer accounts at the Optus store in Mount Isa resulted in a report that stated that the store manager had falsified identification documents and consumer information to create contracts for services, and had used the identities of First Nations consumers who were not aware that their identities had been used. Another report identified 82 contracts that appeared to have been fraudulently completed without consumer knowledge.

After Optus was notified of the conduct that was the subject of the reports, including its senior management at the time, it still referred and sold outstanding debts associated with some of those contracts to third party debt collection and factoring agencies. Some consumers whose identities were associated with the relevant customer accounts were subject to threats of legal proceedings being commenced against them and of reporting defaults to credit reporting bodies. Some customers continued to be pursued by third party collections agencies until as late as July 2024 and Optus had not taken steps to stop that occurring.

The ACCC acknowledges Optus’s cooperation in resolving the Court proceedings at an early stage and providing a court-enforceable undertaking. The undertaking includes:

• a 3-year consumer remediation program
• changes to remuneration and incentives for Optus sales staff designed to prevent further conduct from occurring
• a requirement for Optus to ensure that certain Optus Licensee stores in the Northern Territory, regional Queensland and South Australia are directly operated by Optus
• process and system changes, for example improvements to Optus’s complaints handling process for consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, and
• a $1 million donation to an organisation facilitating digital literacy of First Nations Australians.  

The Court also ordered Optus to pay a contribution to the ACCC’s costs, by consent.

Optus customer support

Consumers who think they may have been impacted by conduct similar to that outlined in Optus’s undertaking to the ACCC can call Optus’s specialist customer care team on 1300 082 820 for further information or support.

They can also visit the Sales Misconduct Response page on Optus’s website.

Background

Questions regarding the recent Optus outage affecting triple-0 call services are unrelated to this judgment and should be directed to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACCC does not have a role in regulating or enforcing compliance with emergency call service regulations and other related rules.

Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.

In Australia, Optus’s retail stores are either:

• owned and operated directly by Optus RetailCo Pty Ltd; or
• owned and operated through third party licensees, through Retail License Agreements. For example, prior to Optus buying back certain stores, all Optus stores in the Adelaide region were owned and operated by Mavaya Pty Ltd, and all Optus stores in the Northern Territory, as well as several in regional Queensland, were owned and operated by Suntel Communications Pty Ltd.

On 31 October 2024, the ACCC commenced court action against Optus. The investigation was prompted by a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

On 18 June 2025, the ACCC announced that Optus had admitted to engaging in unconscionable conduct and agreed to a total penalty of $100 million, subject to Court approval.

Source: Mental Health Australia

RAAF Base Richmond celebrates its 100^th anniversary with the RAAF Richmond Airshow this weekend, 27-28 September.

Aviation enthusiasts will be able to witness the amazing Air Force flying shows and explore ground exhibits. Tickets to the air show are sold out and no tickets will be available on site. 

Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins is urging ticketholders to leave the car at home and take public transport to avoid long traffic delays, with up to 40,000 attendees expected each day of the weekend.

“Travel on all modes of public transport is included in event tickets, just show your event ticket to Transport staff when boarding services. 

“There will be extra trains, metro, and shuttle bus services to get people to and from Clarendon. 

“If you must drive, there is very limited parking available nearby, and you must have a pre-purchased parking ticket. Parking sites must be accessed via Blacktown Road only due to road closures. Traffic is expected to be heavy around and on approach to the Airbase so allow plenty of extra travel time. 

The closest station to RAAF Richmond Airbase is Clarendon on the T1 Western Line and T5 Cumberland Line. From the station, it’s a short walk to the airbase via temporary gates along Hawkesbury Valley Way. Staff and signs will be in place to help guide attendees.

Additional trains have been arranged for both days of the airshow to run between Clarendon Station and Central or Macarthur. Buses will replace some trains between Richmond and Clarendon or Blacktown during bump-in and bump-out. 

Event shuttle buses will run between Tallawong metro station and Schofields train station.  Shuttle buses will run every 6 to 10 minutes between 8am and 6pm each day. At Schofields, customers can change for a train to Clarendon.

Shuttle buses will also run between Penrith and Clarendon every half an hour between 7.30am and 5.30pm each day.

Planned trackwork on several rail lines could affect how passengers travel to and from the event. 

To plan your trip on public transport visit RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025 | transportnsw.info or use the Opal Travel app or other trip planning apps.

For real-time updates on traffic conditions, including road closures and special event clearways, visit Live Traffic NSW

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Today we’ve released the terms of reference for the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the 2018 changes to the Goods and Services Tax distribution required under legislation.

This work will ensure we have the best possible system to pay for the schools, hospitals and essential services Australians need and deserve.

It’s about making sure these arrangements are delivering the best value for states and territories, as well as hardworking Australian taxpayers.

In 2018, the Parliament legislated changes to the independent, arms‑length GST revenue distribution process. This was the first significant change made to the GST since it was introduced in 2000.

The 2018 legislation requires that the operation of the changes be reviewed by the Productivity Commission by the end of 2026.

The Productivity Commission Inquiry will look at ways in which the federal financial relations system can best promote fiscal sustainability across the states and territories and the Commonwealth.

The PC will investigate whether the current arrangements are working efficiently, effectively and as intended, while being cognisant of the Commonwealth’s policy commitments in relation to GST distribution, and with Terms of Reference that are deliberately broad enough to enable it to look into issues raised by states and territories.

I have asked the Productivity Commission to invite the public to make submissions on any matter raised by the Terms of Reference.

The Productivity Commission will provide an interim report to Government by 28 August 2026 and a final report before 31 December 2026.

All government budgets are under pressure and that’s why the Commonwealth is kicking in billions more dollars to boost state and territory budgets in the national interest.

Over the next four years, this includes investing $137.3 billion in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, $53 billion in the Land Transport Infrastructure Projects Agreement, $9.8 billion in the National Skills Agreement, and $7.5 billion for the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.

Responsible economic management is a hallmark of the Albanese Government.

At the same time as we’re rolling out tax cuts for every taxpayer, we’ve managed to get the budget in much better nick, delivering the biggest turnaround in a parliamentary term in history by banking revenue and trimming Liberal rorts and waste, but the Commonwealth budget is still under pressure.

We’ll continue to do what we reasonably and responsibly can to ease the burden on states and territories, acknowledging the difficult budgetary position we inherited after a wasted decade under our predecessors.

Source:

Glynn, Liam and Rhys Owen

Recently Liam Owen turned 11 years old and joined Beaconsfield Fire Brigade as a junior member. This was not surprising given that dad Glynn and pop Rhys are both firefighters in the brigade.

Rhys has been a CFA member for 38 years. He first joined Hampton Park Fire Brigade and has been a member of Beaconsfield Fire Brigade for the past 27 years. Rhys is an operational member of the brigade as well as a junior leader in the brigade.

Glynn has been a member of CFA for 24 years at Beaconsfield Fire Brigade having initially joined as a junior member. Glynn is also an operational member and also the junior program coordinator.

“Liam had been counting down the days until he could become a junior member,” Glyn said. 

“Rhys and Glynn have made and continue to make a significant contribution to the brigade,” Beaconsfield Captain Phil Walton said. “If Liam follows in their footsteps, the Owens will play a big part in the brigade for many years to come.

Submitted by	Philip Walton

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Drug and Organised Crime Division (DOCD) has charged four people after a successful operation targeting drug supply in the Darwin region.

On Friday 11 July 2025, DOCD detectives received intelligence that two firearms, being a 7.62mm SKS semi-automatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun, were being couriered from Queensland to the NT with a 22-year-old male the intended recipient. 

Over the course of Operation Werra, DOCD detectives gathered evidence implicating the 22-year-old male in the commercial supply of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis. Through the operation, evidence was obtained that a 64-year-old female, related to the male, was working in partnership with him in the supply of the cannabis.

On Thursday 18 September, a lawful search was executed at an address in Britomart Gardens, Alawa which was allegedly known as the offenders’ ‘safe house’.

 During the search the following was located:

• 560g of methamphetamine
• 1.8kg of cannabis
• $45 000 in cash

A 65-year-old female who resides at this address and is known to the pair was arrested and conveyed to the Palmerston watch house.

Shortly after this arrest, DOCD detectives apprehended the 22-year-old male after he was located driving his Toyota Hilux on Tasman Circuit in Wagaman. Two members attempted to open the driver’s side door when the male reversed his vehicle and then drove forward causing one member to take evasive action to avoid being struck.

The police vehicle was driven forward to avoid endangering police further. The 22-year-old male allegedly struck the police vehicle with his vehicle before he was safely extracted and secured on the ground.

Police executed a lawful search of his vehicle, and the following was located:

• 4g of methamphetamine
• $950 cash

The male was also drug tested and returned a positive result. He was conveyed to the Palmerston watch house where he later tested positive for methamphetamine, cocaine and opioids.

A lawful search was conducted at his residence in Curlew Circuit, Wulagi where the following was located and seized:

• A trafficable quantity of cannabis
• 1 x .22 calibre semi-automatic pistol with suppressor

Whilst DOCD detectives were conducting the search at this address the 64-year-old female family member attended and was arrested for the supply of a commercial quantity of schedule 2 drugs.

On Friday 19 September, police executed a lawful search at an address in Earl Place, Millner where 250 grams of cannabis was located.

The 22-year-old male was charged with:

• Supply schedule 1 drug – Commercial quantity x 2 (56g cocaine and 560g methamphetamine)
• Supply schedule 2 drug – Commercial quantity (13.6 kg of cannabis)
• Possess schedule 1 drug – Commercial quantity
• Possess schedule 2 drug – Commercial quantity
• Recklessly endanger life
• 3 x Possess / use prohibited firearm
• Possess / use silencer
• Fail to meet storage requirements
• Driver drug in blood

He is expected to also be charged with possessing 1.25 kilograms of cocaine seized in July 2025. 

He was remanded to appear at Darwin Local Court on 29 September 2025.

The 65-year-old female has since been charged with:

• Possess Schedule 1 Drug – Commercial quantity
• Supply Schedule 1 Drug – Commercial quantity
• Possess Schedule 2 Drug – Commercial quantity
• Supply Schedule 2 Drug – Commercial quantity
• Receive property in commission of the offence

She was bailed to appear at Darwin Local Court on 19 November 2025.

The 64-year-old female was charged with:

• Supply Schedule 2 Drug – Commercial quantity (11.3 kg)
• Possess Schedule 2 Drug – Commercial Quantity
• Receive property commission of the offence

She was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 26 September 2025.

Detective Senior Constable Mark Bond said, “The Northern Territory Drug and Organised Crime Division will stop at nothing to prevent these offences occurring in the Territory and we will continue to disrupt the supply and distribution of harmful substances and prohibited firearms into our community.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Poor management of trust accounts in the real estate industry is under the spotlight, with Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) taking action to protect consumers’ money.

CAV investigates how estate agents, conveyancers and businesses manage their trust accounts, which hold client funds including rental payments and home deposits.

Estate agencies and conveyancers are legally required to audit their trust accounts every financial year. Failing to lodge an audit report can be a sign of potential deeper problems within the business.

CAV’s recent disciplinary proceedings have resulted in one estate agent having their licence suspended, another being fined, and a third facing a hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Licence suspended over serious audit failures

Earlier this month, Point Cook agent James Anthony Ferris had his licence suspended for 3 months after failing to arrange trust account audits for his company, James Ferris Property Pty Ltd, for 5 years.

VCAT found that Ferris:

• was not a fit and proper person to hold an estate agent’s licence
• engaged in unprofessional conduct damaging to the industry’s reputation
• failed in his duties as the company’s Officer In Effective Control (OIEC) to arrange audits; and
• did not exercise due care, skill and diligence.

Ferris was also reprimanded and ordered to complete additional professional training.

Once he gets his licence back, Ferris will have to appoint a third party to manage his business’ trust account records for 2 years.

VCAT acknowledged that since disciplinary proceedings were brought against him, Ferris and his company had put systems in place to manage its trust accounting requirements and had completed all outstanding audits.

However, the tribunal also noted Ferris’ initial failure to engage with CAV and emphasised the need to protect the public as part of its decision.

Further legal actions

In a separate case, Cranbourne real estate agent Carmelo Sottile was fined $500 after failing to lodge trust account audits for his business, Builders Property Direct, for 4 years.

Sottile, 51, was also ordered to appoint a third party to maintain his trust accounting records for 3 years. The outcome followed an agreement with CAV.

CAV is also taking action against estate agent Stephen Horler, 69, of Cheltenham. He is alleged to have failed to have his trust account audited between 2015 and 2022. Horler is scheduled to appear at VCAT tomorrow.

If you’re an estate agent and have questions about your obligations, go to Trust accounts.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Skills put to test at Search and Rescue exercise

Wednesday, 24 September 2025 – 1:14 pm.

Tasmania’s extensive network of search and rescue personnel has been put through its paces at a two-day exercise at Wayatinah Lagoon, in the rugged Central Highlands.
Led by Tasmania Police Search and Rescue, more than 100 people took part in the weekend training exercise which also involved agencies Ambulance Tasmania and Surf Life Saving Tasmania Swift Water Rescue alongside volunteers from State Emergency Service, Mounted Search and Rescue and bushwalking clubs.
Pictures, video and interviews available here.
Conditions were challenging, with rolling showers and low temperatures adding another level of complexity to the exercise.
Under the scenario presented by co-ordinators, a man and his elderly father on a fishing trip had been forced to swim for their lives after their boat flipped and sank at Wayatinah Lagoon.
Once ashore, they had become separated in thick bush, with the man raising the alarm via mobile phone that he was lost and could not make his way back to his injured father. Contact was lost soon after.
Tasmania Police Search and Rescue Senior Constable Cameron Rennie said the training exercise involved people from across the state and ensured emergency response teams were prepared for complex and potentially high-risk incidents in rugged and remote environments.
“Today is extremely realistic … we often have protracted searches in Tasmania, we can have up to a week-long search. This is very common to have input from so many different agencies to co-ordinate these searches,” he said.
“(This exercise) gives us a chance to test our current understanding of things. To see what’s broken, to see what works well.
“It’s a chance for agencies to test their people, to test their equipment, so that we have those skills finely tuned for when there is an emergency.”
SES Regional Officer North-West Andrew Freeman said more than 40 SES members volunteered their time to take part, undeterred by the challenging weather and rugged terrain.
“The weather today creates its own challenges and as a result of that, it informs how we conduct our searches and helps for the preparation of the members as well, with the types of equipment they carry and use during the day,” he said.
All aspects of a search and rescue were tested, providing teams with a valuable assessment of their co-ordination of resources, their planning and execution of skills.
On Saturday, search and rescue teams on foot scoured bushland along Wayatinah Lagoon for several hours, looking for clues that could locate the ‘missing’ men.
Search teams on horseback were also deployed, a crew in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter executed sweeps of the bush, and police and a Swift Water Rescue team trained for the rescue of a man stranded in a fast-flowing river.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

The Government is looking at new ways to cut red tape in the tax system to ease the compliance burden on businesses and make our economy more productive.

Today, we’ve tasked the Board of Taxation (the Board) to identify ways to responsibly reduce unnecessary compliance burdens and red tape in the tax system.

This is all about reducing the regulatory and compliance burden across the economy to support productivity growth.

As part of the review, the Board will consult with businesses and the broader community to identify areas of business tax law and administration where there are opportunities for red tape reduction.

The Board will look for substantial, material and measurable areas of red tape reduction that directly support productivity.

Today, we are also announcing we have appointed Mr Andrew Mills as acting Chair of the Board for a 3‑month period effective from 1 October 2025. The Board is a non‑statutory advisory body that provides the Government with advice on tax policy.

Mr Mills has been a member of the Board since 8 December 2023 and brings more than 40 years’ experience in senior commercial, accounting and legal practice, government and academic roles.

He is currently Chair of the Financial Reporting Council, Chair of the NSW Independent Planning Commission, and a Principal Fellow of the University of Melbourne Law School.

The Government thanks outgoing acting Chair Dr Julianne Jaques KC for her service and substantial contribution to the Board since her appointment as a member on 1 July 2017.

She has been acting Chair since 1 April 2025 and her term as acting Chair, and as a member, ends on 30 September 2025.

She brought significant tax and legal expertise to the Board’s work, including leading the Board’s review of Digital Assets and Transactions in Australia and the Review of GST on low value imported goods, as well as contributing to many other reviews and providing real‑time advice to the Government.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Underlying inflation fell in August according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Today’s figures show the substantial and sustained progress we’ve made together on underlying inflation.

Despite increased volatility in the global economy, underlying inflation is within the RBA’s target and that’s a promising result in uncertain times.

While headline inflation fell slightly in the month, the annual rate increased slightly to 3.0 per cent due to base effects and the ending of state energy rebates. This outcome was within the range the market expected.

Headline inflation has been at or below three per cent for more than a year and underlying inflation has been within the Reserve Bank’s target range for nine months in a row.

Monthly inflation figures can be volatile and are less reliable than the quarterly figures because they don’t compare the same basket of goods and services from month to month.

The official quarterly numbers show that both underlying and headline inflation are at their lowest rates in almost four years.

This progress on inflation has given the RBA confidence to cut rates three times in six months.

Inflation has more than halved since we came to office.

Headline inflation was 3.0 per cent through the year to August 2025, much lower than the 6.1 per cent we inherited.

Annual trimmed mean inflation was 2.6 per cent through the year to August 2025, down from 2.7 per cent in July and much lower than what we inherited.

These results come at a time where inflation has ticked up in parts of the world including the United States, Canada and New Zealand and remains stubbornly high in places like the United Kingdom.

Since Labor was elected, inflation is down, debt is down, real wages are growing, unemployment is low, and interest rates have fallen.

Today’s figures show the Albanese Government’s responsible cost of living relief measures are making a meaningful difference in easing pressure on Australians.

Rents rose 3.7 per cent through the year but would have risen 4.8 per cent without the recent increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Our policies including energy rebates, the childcare subsidies and rent assistance have helped to directly reduce inflation when it was at its peak, to allow time for the structural drivers of inflation to settle and for underlying inflation to return to the RBA’s target band.

Labor’s economic plan is all about helping with the cost of living at the same time as we modernise Australia’s economy to boost living standards.

We know the best way to improve living standards is to make our economy more productive and resilient and our budget more sustainable and that’s our focus.

Source: South Australia Police

The City of Wanneroo’s Halesworth Park has been recognised by WA Football as Football Facility of the Year, just one season after opening.