Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

A former Melbourne estate agent’s representative is facing disciplinary action for allegedly taking nearly $200,000 in client funds for his personal use. 

Daniel Cvetkoski, 33, of Craigieburn, was an agent’s representative at Select Realty Sales Pty Ltd (trading as Barry Plant Craigieburn), working as a rental property manager. 

Cvetkoski was responsible for up to 170 rental properties.  

His employer learned of the potential mishandling of funds and alerted Consumer Affairs Victoria, prompting an investigation.  No wrongdoing is alleged against the company. 

It is alleged that Cvetkoski:  

• failed to pay the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority about $44,000 in bond money, between February 2020 and July 2023. 
• took cash rental payments from more than 40 renters, and put the money into his personal account, between January and August 2023. The amounts ranged from $500 to $20,000.  

The money has since been repaid. 

Disciplinary proceedings can result in reprimands, being barred from working as an estate agent, or a penalty of up to $5,000. 

The matter is listed for a directions hearing on 15 September. 

Source:

11 September 2025

Namrata Nair has been named the winner of the University of South Australia (UniSA) Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)  Grand Final last week, for her powerful research into sanitation access and its impact on community safety in India.

Analysing sample data from over 600 districts, PhD candidate Nair found that in a third of these regions, more than half of the population still lacks access to an indoor toilet. Her research also uncovered a strong relationship between poor sanitation infrastructure and increased crime rates and delivered a framework for intervention.

“When something as basic as a toilet is out of reach, it creates deep feelings of deprivation and resentment,” Nair says. “And when people feel left behind, it threatens the safety and cohesion of society.

“I identified precisely where access is weakest in India and what needs to change. 

“With district level mapping, the government can now take more localised action and also effectively implement community sanitation programs.”

Her district-level mapping could also be adopted by other regions, offering a strategic framework for targeted interventions.

Professor Sandra Orgeig, UniSA Dean of Graduate Studies congratulated Nair on her outstanding presentation.

“The UniSA 3MT Grand Final highlights how our PhD students communicate ambitious ideas with clarity, impact and engagement,” Prof Orgeig says.

“Namrata’s work offers governments practical tools to improve dignity and build safer, fairer societies. This year’s finalists were especially strong across diverse fields – well done to all.”

Competition runner-up Anita Kral presented groundbreaking research on the long-term effects of mould exposure on asthma development. Using lab-grown lung tissue, Kral discovered that a single exposure to mould particles rewires lung stem cells to express asthma-inducing signals, and these effects persist long after the initial exposure.

“I found that mould exposure rewired lung stem cells to produce signals that induced asthma,” Kral says.

“We’re now investigating how this action might be blocked, starting with existing signalling inhibitors.”

People’s Choice award went to Cheryl Chan, whose research is laying the foundation for a new generation of tiny, high-performance satellites capable of identifying intricate detail day or night, and invisible movements such as plant growth and volcanic activity. 

“Building high quality imaging systems comes with a challenge, because when you’re sending cameras into space, every gram and cubic centimetre is expensive,” Chan says.

“I’m tackling this by investigating the use of free form optics rather than the standard round shape found in traditional telescopes.

“These are complex, irregular surface shapes – more like a Pringle or a wave than a perfect bowl. The complex surface shapes allow us to bend, fold and compress light paths into radically compact ways, which means fewer components, lighter systems and smaller satellites.”

To keep production costs low, Chan is also exploring a new fabrication method leveraging 3D printing combined with ultra precise post-processing techniques, that can economically deliver a detailed and smooth surface for use with infrared applications.

The 3MT® competition celebrates the communication skills of PhD candidates, challenging them to present their research in just three minutes using non-technical language and a single slide. The 2025 UniSA Grand Final was presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the Office for the Dean of Graduate Studies, supported by UniSA Academic Units. A video of the event will shortly be available at The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre’s website.

Nair will now represent UniSA at the Asia Pacific Final, hosted by The University of Queensland. 3MT is an academic research communication developed by The University of Queensland.

Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Retail petrol prices were lower in all capital cities and on average across regional locations in the June quarter 2025, according to the ACCC’s latest quarterly petrol monitoring report.

Quarterly average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth) were 175.7 cents per litre (cpl), a decrease of 6.5 cpl from the previous quarter. Among the five largest cities, prices decreased the most in Brisbane (by 14.4 cpl).

Click to enlarge

The decrease in average retail prices mainly reflected lower international prices for refined petrol (largely driven by international crude oil prices). A higher average AUD-USD exchange rate also helped make the cost of international refined petrol relatively less expensive in Australian dollar terms.

Crude oil prices predominantly trended downward in the quarter, as trade tensions impacted financial and commodity markets. Another influence was the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other crude oil producing countries including Russia (together, OPEC+) agreeing to a further unwind of production cuts.

“Crude oil prices jumped in mid-June following impacts from the Israel-Iran conflict, but they settled and decreased toward the end of June,” ACCC Commissioner Brakey said. “The jump in international prices contributed to average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities briefly moving higher in early July, before reducing shortly after.”

The following figure shows the movements in average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities from July 2023 to July 2025.

Seven-day rolling average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities in nominal terms

 

Source: ACCC calculations based on data from Informed Sources.

Notes: The grey shaded area in the figure represents the June quarter 2025. The blue shaded area in the figure represents July 2025 (the month after the June quarter 2025 ended). A 7-day rolling average price is the average of the current day’s price and prices on the 6 previous days.

Across the five largest cities, seven-day rolling average retail petrol prices increased to 180.6 cpl at the end of the quarter. By the end of July average prices decreased to 168.3 cpl.  

Petrol gross indicative retail differences were 16.4 cpl across the five largest cities in the June quarter, an increase of 2.0 cpl from the previous quarter. Gross indicative retail differences are a broad indicator of gross retail margins and include both retail operating costs and retail profits.

Average retail petrol prices were lower in the smaller capital cities and on average across regional locations

In Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, quarterly average retail petrol prices also decreased. Quarterly average retail petrol prices in Canberra decreased the most among the eight capital cities (by 17.0 cpl).

Across more than 190 regional locations that the ACCC monitors, average retail petrol prices (in aggregate) were 179.2 cpl, a decrease of 5.1 cpl from the previous quarter.

“We were pleased to see lower prices across most locations in Australia in the quarter, providing some relief to motorists,” Ms Brakey said.

Retail diesel prices were also lower in all capital cities

Across the five largest cities, quarterly average retail diesel prices were 178.4 cpl, a decrease of 8.5 cpl from the previous quarter.

Quarterly average retail diesel prices decreased in all capital cities. Diesel prices dropped the most in Hobart (by 13.3 cpl), followed by Sydney and Melbourne (by 10.4 cpl).

Retail diesel prices generally follow international diesel benchmark prices, which accounted for the largest component of retail diesel prices.

The ACCC welcomes a fuel price transparency scheme in Victoria

In August 2025, the Victorian Government made new regulations requiring fuel retailers to provide timely fuel price data as soon as practicable, and no more than thirty minutes after a change in price. This follows the government’s announcement of its Fair Fuel Plan earlier in the year. The pricing data is expected to be available to motorists on the Service Victoria app later this year.

“We encourage motorists to shop around for lower fuel prices as there is often a range of prices available,” Ms Brakey said.

“We have long been an advocate of fuel prices transparency schemes. This fuel price reporting and subsequent publishing will give motorists in Victoria access to near real-time fuel price data.”

Victoria is the last jurisdiction in Australia to establish a fuel price transparency scheme.

Annual average retail petrol and diesel prices were lower in the 2024-25 financial year

The ACCC’s latest report also provides results for the 2024-25 financial year. Across the five largest cities, annual average retail petrol prices were 180.1 cpl, a decrease of 15.0 cpl, or around 8 per cent from 2023–24 (195.1 cpl).

Annual average petrol gross indicative retail differences across the five largest cities were 15.9 cpl, which was the same as the 10-year average, in real (inflation adjusted) terms.

Across the five largest cities, annual average retail diesel prices were 181.9 cpl, a decrease of 18.1 cpl, or around 9 per cent from 2023–24 (200.0 cpl).

The decreases in average retail petrol and diesel prices largely reflected lower international prices for refined petrol and refined diesel.

In each capital city, annual average retail petrol prices in cents per litre, and the change from 2023–24 were:

In each capital city, annual average retail diesel prices in cents per litre, and the change from 2023–24 were:

Source: Premier of Victoria

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo with $3.74M funding provided by the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is set to commence work in September on an exciting major project to construct a new protected shared user path along Mundy Street from Back Creek to McCrae Street in the Bendigo city centre.

Work will commence on September 15 in the section of Mundy Street between McCrae Street and Hargreaves Street.  There will be no right or left turns available into Mundy Street from McCrae Street when the work commences on this section.

City of Greater Bendigo Presentation and Assets Director, Brian Westley said the new path will be constructed on the same side of the street as the Law Courts and Salvation Army and is approximately one kilometre in length.

“It will feature a mix of clearly designated shared and separated walking and cycling zones along the various sections of the project,” Mr Westley said.

“It will also include the installation of new pedestrian operated traffic lights where the path meets the arterial road network at Myers Street.

“DTP will also install pedestrian operated signals over McCrae Street near the intersection of Mundy Street. The new traffic lights including the recently installed traffic lights at Chapel and Mundy Streets will provide dedicated, safe crossing points for pedestrians, bike riders and other vulnerable road users and provide access to the Bendigo Creek Trail and the Bendigo Low Line.

“The project will be delivered in stages and while it is anticipated there will be some minor disruption to traffic flows in Mundy Street while the work is underway, access to businesses and properties will remain open at all times.

“City staff will work with any affected businesses and property owners/householders to ensure any disruptions are kept to a minimum.”

The project will:

• Provide opportunities for people to travel safely off-road between the Bendigo city centre and the popular Back Creek Trail
• Connect to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Bendigo Low Line
• Complete a major project identified in six Council strategies
• Improve community access and liveability, and increase community pride and connection to the Bendigo Creek
• Support safe travel to and from local schools and events in the Bendigo city centre
• Enhance other projects being undertaken in the Bendigo city centre such as the Bendigo Low Line that allow people riding bikes to move around safely off-road
• Reduce traffic by providing sustainable active transport options

Works will commence in mid-September for an anticipated completion by the end of 2026.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Spring has arrived and the City of Greater Bendigo is pleased to present a range of free nature-based events as part of the 2025 Spring in the Bendigo Bush program.

City of Greater Bendigo Climate Change and Environment Manager, Michelle Wyatt said the bush around Greater Bendigo comes alive with new growth in spring, making it the perfect time to get out and experience both spring and our wonderful bush surroundings.

“The 2025 Spring in the Bendigo Bush program provides opportunities for participants to learn about Bendigo’s native plants and animals, participate in arts and craft activities, discover the many ways we can all look after our climate and environment, meet people from local environment groups and embark on a nature-themed scavenger hunt through the Hargreaves Mall,” Ms Wyatt said.

“Spring is a wonderful time to discover more about our local environment, its animals and everything our local bushland areas have on offer.”

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC will not oppose the acquisition of BGC Cementitious (BGC) by Cement Australia, Holcim, Heidelberg Materials Australia (HMA) and Adbri Pty Ltd.

BGC Cementitious and Cement Australia both supply aggregates, ready-mix concrete (RMX), asphalt and cement among other related products and services in greater Perth.

The ACCC decided not to oppose the transaction after the merger parties amended their original proposal.

“An initial proposed structure for the acquisition of BGC by Cement Australia, Holcim and HMA raised significant preliminary competition concerns for us, particularly in relation to the competitive overlap in RMX and aggregate quarries in Western Australia,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

After the ACCC expressed concerns about the initial proposal, a new proposed structure was put forward involving the sale of certain assets to Adbri.

Adbri supplies cement in Western Australia but does not supply aggregates, RMX or asphalt in Western Australia.

The amended acquisition involves BGC divesting WA Cementitious, including cement assets and some limited RMX plants to Cement Australia, Holcim and HMA, with Adbri acquiring the majority of BGC’s RMX assets as well as BGC’s aggregates, asphalt, transport and materials technology centre assets.

“We examined the amended acquisition proposal very closely,” Dr Williams said.

“In particular we looked at both the loss of BGC as a competitor in the supply of RMX and the risk that Cement Australia or Adbri would use their position as cement suppliers to hinder the ability of rival RMX suppliers to compete.”

“While we acknowledge strong concerns from some market participants, we found that Cement Australia and Adbri would be likely to compete with each other to supply cement to RMX competitors after the acquisition.” Dr Williams said.

In reaching its view, the ACCC found that Cement Australia and Adbri would have significant excess capacity in the production of cement in Western Australia.

The ACCC also looked closely at the margins the merger parties earn at various levels of the supply chain, and the profit incentives that would likely drive their decisions post-acquisition.

The ACCC also considered the extent to which the acquirers would have market power and be able to increase the price of RMX across Perth as well as in more localised markets.

The ACCC found, based on a detailed data analysis of existing delivery patterns and the marginal cost of servicing customers, that rival suppliers of RMX would continue to constrain HMA and Holcim post-acquisition across Perth.

Ultimately, the ACCC did not find that the amended acquisition would likely substantially lessen competition in any market.

Notes to editors

‘Aggregates’ refer to a particulate material used in construction and includes sand aggregate and crushed hard rock aggregates. Aggregates are quarried and used as an input into RMX and asphalt (as well as for some other mining and construction purposes).

‘Cement’ refers to a fine soft powder made from limestone, clay and other materials. It is used as the binding ingredient in RMX and hardens after contact with water.

‘RMX’ is concrete that is produced in and delivered by truck in a freshly mixed and unhardened state. RMX is manufactured from cement, aggregates, water and other additives.

‘Asphalt’ is a sticky, black, tar-like substance used to pave roads, parking lots, and other surfaces. It’s made from mixing bitumen, aggregates and other filler materials in an asphalt plant.

Background

On 11 February 2025, Cement Australia, Holcim and HMA requested informal merger clearance to acquire BGC’s aggregates, cement, RMX, asphalt, transport and materials technology centre assets in WA.

After the ACCC raised preliminary competition concerns with the Initial Proposed Acquisition, Cement Australia, Holcim, and HMA put forward the Amended Proposed Acquisition in May 2025, with BGC’s support, that incorporates Adbri as a party.

The ACCC’s decision relates to the Amended Proposed Acquisition, pursuant to which:

• Adbri will acquire certain BGC assets including aggregates and asphalt sites, six of BGC’s RMX sites, two mobile RMX plants and the transport assets associated with those assets and the company’s Materials Technology Centre (excluding cement-related assets),
• Cement Australia, Holcim and HMA will acquire BGC’s cement plant and cement transport assets, and three RMX sites.

BGC Cementitious is a division of the BGC Group which supplies cementitious products in WA including cement and slag through BGC Cement, aggregate, hard rock and manufactured sand through BGC Quarries (which operates a hard rock quarry at The Lakes), RMX through BGC Concrete, and asphalt through BGC Asphalt. BGC Transport owns and operates vehicles, operating out of different hubs used in the BGC Cementitious business. BGC’s Materials Technology Centre is a testing laboratory for cement, RMX, asphalt and related products located in Hazelmere.

Cement Australia is a privately held 50:50 joint venture between Holcim and HMA. Cement Australia supplies cementitious products and services, including bulk and packaged cement, fly ash and slag products. Cement Australia has operations in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, ACT, WA and Tasmania. Cement Australia does not have any cement or slag production facilities in WA. The operations of Cement Australia are governed by a Framework Agreement which establishes ring-fencing between Cement Australia, Holcim and HMA, placing restrictions on Holcim and HMA from accessing information about the sale of cementitious products by Cement Australia to each other party to the joint venture or to other customers.

Holcim is a Swiss multinational company that manufactures and supplies various building materials across Australia, including aggregates, RMX and pre-cast pipes. In WA, Holcim owns and operates several RMX plants and aggregate quarries (hard rock and sand).

HMA is a German multinational company that manufactures and supplies various building materials across Australia, including aggregates, RMX and asphalt. In WA, HMA owns and operates a number of RMX plants and aggregate quarries (hard rock and sand).

Adbri is an Australian company which manufactures, imports and supplies various building materials across Australia, including clinker, cement, quicklime, aggregates, RMX, concrete masonry products and supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag. In WA, Adbri produces and supplies cement, slag and lime through its subsidiary, Cockburn Cement Limited. Adbri does not currently hold any assets or operate in markets for the supply of aggregates, RMX or asphalt in WA.

Source:

Source:

The spring edition of Brigade magazine will soon arrive in CFA members’ letterboxes.

You can also read the latest magazine on our website.

The spring edition includes features about:

• the formation of the new Apostles Group of brigades
• how staging area experts help to keep everything running smoothly
• the crucial role of volunteers at Hamilton Airbase
• Quarterly Operational Update containing information sheets about heart health and the Planned Burn Taskforce, and two case studies.

There are also stories about new fire station openings, seasonal firefighters in Knox Group, how three brigades support each other through training, and an update on CFA projects.

Submitted by	News and Media

Source: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Melbourne’s freight routes will soon have access to a dedicated electric truck charging hub thanks to an Australian first project supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

$12.3 million in funding will go to Mondo Power (Mondo) to develop, construct and operate an electric truck charging hub in Melbourne’s west to demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility for fleets to electrify their operations.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the project underscores ARENA’s commitment to supporting innovation solutions that will accelerate decarbonisation across the heavy transport sector.

“Through Mondo’s project, we’ll be able to highlight to the heavy transport sector how electrification can be integrated into their existing business models and drive down the high emissions from transporting goods on our roads,” Mr Miller said.

“Transport plays a vital role in Australia’s economy and contributes around 22% of emissions. By backing first of kind innovation like this, we can accelerate the sector’s adoption of clean technologies and bring us closer to our net zero goals.”

Located in Laverton North, the hub will consist of 14 dual plug electric vehicle chargers and will be purpose built for heavy battery electric vehicle (BEV) trucks.

The funding will support the installation of fit-for-purpose truck charging infrastructure, as well as partly offset the total cost of ownership for 20 heavy BEV trucks.

Mondo will partner with several truck manufacturers to supply heavy BEV trucks to trucking and transport customers, as well as technical support, trials and long-haul demonstrations.

Mondo will also enter into charging services agreements for charging hub membership to customers to provide site access and high-speed truck charging services. The charging hub membership will include access to the charging hub, set pricing for charging, amenities and driver vehicle parking options.

AusNet Chief Development Officer Jon D’Sylva said this is a first-of-its-kind facility in Australia, providing essential charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles, supporting the transition to zero-emission freight and reducing pollution in Melbourne’s inner west.

“This project marks a major step towards a more sustainable and efficient transport network for Australia,” said Mr D’Sylva.

“Delivering Australia’s clean energy transition is not just about replacing coal-fired power with renewable generation. We need to look holistically across a range of sectors, including transport, at the opportunities to decarbonise and this is just one example of that.”

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of developing this infrastructure in Australia in partnership with ARENA. Our unique expertise and experience make Mondo, and AusNet more broadly, well-placed to continue to support this once in a generation transition in years to come.”

The funding is being delivered by the Driving the Nation Program. For more information including program guidelines, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the funding page.

ARENA media contact:

media@arena.gov.au

Download this media release (PDF 174KB)