Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
The rapid development of electric vehicle technology is transforming the outlook for both passenger and freight transport, and policies at all levels of government will need to evolve to seize the opportunities and manage the challenges of this new outlook.
Reforms to road user charging arrangements for electric vehicles have the potential to bolster productivity through more efficient use of the road network and vehicle fleet and ensure fair and sustainable funding for road investment and maintenance. Reforms should be designed to not deter the continued take‑up of electric vehicles.
The reforms to the treatment of electric vehicles will ensure more equitable treatment across vehicle types and provide certainty to support investment.
The design of reforms should be as simple as possible and minimise administration and compliance burden.
We will ensure any changes are phased to enable the productivity, climate and consumer benefits of increasing electric vehicle uptake over the coming years.
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Today, I met with state and territory Treasurers to advance key economic reforms following the Albanese Government’s Roundtable last month.
We built a lot of consensus on economic reform through the Roundtable and we made a lot of progress advancing economic reforms today.
Treasurers agreed to progress a Single National Market and expand competition reforms, increase efforts to improve regulation, build more homes and fast‑track approvals and undertake further work on road user charging.
This meeting was all about working together to make our economy more prosperous and productive and our budgets more sustainable.
National competition policy
Today we agreed to progress a Single National Market and bolster National Competition Policy (NCP) to boost productivity across the economy. NCP is supported by the $900 million National Productivity Fund.
Treasurers agreed to expand NCP priorities to include:
Heavy vehicle access reforms – to improve transport productivity and reduce or remove regulations that disadvantage electric heavy vehicles.
Further action on recognising international standards and harmonising state standards – states will identify opportunities to harmonise standards in key sectors like building and construction, electrical products, resource management, transport, renewable energy, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, and consumer goods.
A national licence scheme for electrical tradespeople to remove unnecessary mobility barriers without reducing standards. Treasurers also agreed to work together and with industry and unions to identify other trades where we can expand national occupational licensing, with a particular focus on construction and housing. This is good for workers, good for businesses and will make our economy more productive and competitive.
Better regulation and faster approvals
Treasurers agreed to:
Identify regulatory overlap and barriers to faster approvals, working with the Commonwealth’s Investor Front Door to unlock projects of national significance in priority areas like housing and energy.
Accelerate efforts to reduce duplication in approval processes.
Housing
Treasurers agreed to:
Work with Building Ministers to streamline the National Construction Code and reduce regulatory burden on builders.
Work together to increase uptake of prefabricated housing, including through exploring how Commonwealth and state and territory governments can use procurement to provide a stable source of demand for the industry.
Road user charging
Treasurers agreed to:
A statement to guide further work on a road user charge for electric vehicles.
The statement outlines our approach to this work including fair and sustainable funding for road investment, whilst ensuring any changes are timed to enable the productivity, climate and consumer benefits of increasing electric vehicle uptake.
The Commonwealth will progress work with the states and territories and take the time to get the policy development right.
Health and disability
Negotiations have re‑commenced to finalise the December 2023 National Cabinet deal on hospital funding and NDIS reforms. The Commonwealth has increased the hospitals funding offer. Treasurers discussed more action on the deal, which will be progressed by Minister Butler with his state counterparts next Friday.
The hospitals offer remains linked to NDIS reform and the establishment of Foundational Supports (i.e. Thriving Kids for kids 0–9). Higher living standards are the holy grail, and higher productivity is how we get there together.
Whether it’s national competition reforms, better regulation or building more homes, we have a big and broad productivity agenda, we’re keen to add to it where we can, and the states and territories are a big part of that.
We are grateful for the support for the state and territory Treasurers for their constructive and candid engagement in this meeting.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a man after several burglaries in Parap this morning.
Around 5:50am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received reports that multiple residences and vehicles at a unit complex on Salonika Street had been unlawfully entered and small items stolen.
The offender then allegedly stole a Holden Trax belonging to one of the residents, narrowly missing that resident as he attempted to stop the offender from driving away in his vehicle.
Members from Strikeforce Trident deployed and the stolen motor vehicle was located driving through Ludmilla before stopping at an address on Mawalan Court.
The offender fled on foot and was arrested a short distance away. The 32-year-old male has since been charged with:
Aggravated Burglary – Building x 1
Damage to Property x 2
Trespass – Entering Without Authority x 3
Aggravated Burglary – Dwelling x 1
Theft x 1
Driving, Using/Riding Motor Vehicle Without Consent x 1
Recklessly Endangering Serious Harm – Aggravated x 1
Learner Driver – No Person in Front Seat x 1
Drive Without L Plates When Required x 1
Not Dip Headlamps – Approaching Vehicle x 1
Unlawfully Possess Property x 2
Driver With Prohibited Drug in Body x 1
Breach of Parole x 1
He has been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court 8 September 2025.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25236834. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Motorists travelling through Sutton and Gundaroo will soon experience safer journeys, with new 80 km/h speed limits being introduced this month on Sutton Road, Mulligans Flat Road, East Tallagandra Lane and Back Creek Road.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Police are calling for information after an aggravated robbery occurred in Malak yesterday evening.
Around 5:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre received reports that a male had been robbed while walking along Holzerland Street.
It is alleged that while the 16-year-old victim and his friend were walking, they were approached by three males in a Honda Civic. One of the offenders reached out of the window, ripped a gold necklace from the victim’s neck, and drove away.
Investigations into the incident remain ongoing and police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25236256.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a member of the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang for domestic violence offences that occurred on Wednesday night.
Around 8:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of an incident occurring in Darwin.
It is alleged that a 30-year-old male unlawfully entered a property of a female known to him where he threatened and assaulted her before leaving the property.
A short time later police located and arrested the alleged offender after negotiating his surrender from the Hells Angels Clubhouse.
Around 11:00am on Thursday morning detectives from the Gangs Task Force executed a search warrant of the Hells Angels Clubhouse which resulted in the seizure of a less than trafficable quantity of methamphetamines.
The alleged offender has been charged with:
Aggravated assault
Aggravated burglary
Damage to property
Deprivation of liberty
Use Carriage Service to harass and annoy
Possess schedule 1 dangerous drug
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court on the 12th September 2025.
Detective Acting Superintendent David Richardson said, “I cannot understate the importance of how seriously we take these offences.
“While the victim was not physically injured during the incident the actions of this individual are reprehensible and will not be tolerated.
We would like to remind victims of domestic violence that support services are available. If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.”
The new Mount Ousley interchange has hit another milestone with major work complete on the upgraded pedestrian bridge at Northfields Avenue.
The upgraded bridge includes a new, more accessible, ramp that improves pedestrian access to the bridge by providing a gentler slope rather than a steep spiral ramp.
The improved bridge opened to the community on the evening of Monday 1 September, reinstating access across the M1 between the University of Wollongong and the TAFE at Northfields Avenue.
Cabonne Shire has commenced much needed disaster recovery works to rebuild and strengthen transport infrastructure impacted by the 2022 floods, which caused widespread damage across the Central West LGAs.
Work is now underway to improve the drainage capacity and efficacy of causeways along key roads in the shire, with planning and design being prepared for improvements to a number of bridges across the shire.
These two transport infrastructure upgrade packages are made possible through the Regional Transport Resilience Fund (RTRF) provided jointly by the NSW and Australian governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A 36-year-old male has been arrested and charged following a traffic apprehension in Leanyer yesterday afternoon.
Around 3pm, police observed a black Subaru Impreza driving dangerously along Vanderlin Drive and the vehicle was apprehended.
The driver was subject to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result for drug use. As a result, officers conducted a lawful search of the vehicle, where they located and seized just over 3 grams of methamphetamine.
During the alleged offender’s arrest, he broke free and fled into nearby bushland.
A cordon was established and a short time later, the 36-year-old offender was apprehended by Patrol Dog Drax from the Dog Operations Unit.
He was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment and was later charged with multiple offences including:
Escape from lawful custody
Drive with prohibited drug in body
Possess schedule 1 drug traffickable quantity
Possess thing to administer drug
Drive a motor vehicle while unlicensed
Careless driving
Drive motor vehicle unsafe to drive
He has been remanded to face Darwin Local Court on 8 September 2025.
Police continue to urge anyone who witnesses a crime or anti-social behaviour to make contact on 131 444. Alternatively, you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Murray Bridge’s Senior Constable First Class David Brown has been named the 2025 South Australia Police Officer of the Year for his dedication to crime prevention in the Murray Mallee region.
The annual award is presented by the Rotary Club of Unley, in partnership with South Australia Police (SAPOL), and acknowledges police officers who have made a lasting and profound impact on community service and development.
Fondly referred to as ‘officer everywhere’ by many in the Murray Mallee community, SC1C Brown is a familiar face across several initiatives, including Neighbourhood Watch, the Murray Bridge Blue Light boxing program, and ‘Coffee with a Cop’.
His role as a crime prevention officer also includes the delivery of regular school and community talks on bullying and violence, cybercrime awareness, home security advice, and more.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Watkins congratulated SC1C Brown on the esteemed recognition and acknowledged his instrumental efforts to better the regional community.
“Through his strong desire to make a difference, SC1C Brown has built trust with countless community members, including young people,” he said.
“His work in Murray Mallee crime prevention and commitments outside of policing have made a lasting impression, and he demonstrates the exemplary qualities of a great police officer.”
SC1C Brown felt “gob smacked” when notified about the award. “I am very humbled to be announced Police Officer of the Year,” he said.
“Although this is an individual award, a lot of the achievements I have had would not be possible without the backing of SAPOL and a trusting Sergeant and team members.
“Personally, I would like to acknowledge my wife Christy Brown who has been with me every step of the way during challenging times, offering me the support needed, and my three kids (aged 14 and 11-year-old twins), for keeping me grounded.”
Originally from Liverpool in the United Kingdom, the 49-year-old formerly worked as a Cadbury chocolate sales consultant before making the journey down under in 2006.
“My house was always a hit when it was Halloween, with all the kids wanting to go to ‘the chocolate man’s’ house for trick or treat,” SC1C Brown remembered.
“However, I was a kid of the ’80s and early ’90s and grew up watching the likes of Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of Hazard, CHiPS and Police Academy which sparked my interest in policing as an action-packed and exciting career.
“As I got older and gained a more realistic view of the world, I quickly realised the importance of policing and considered how rewarding it would be to make a difference in peoples’ lives and help them in times of need.”
After visiting family in Sydney and a 1998 trip backpacking around Australia, SC1C Brown and his wife Christy decided to emigrate here in 2006 and haven’t looked back since.
When driving in Adelaide’s city centre, a SAPOL recruitment advert on the back of a bus caught SC1C Brown’s eye and he joined the police academy as a cadet in Course 3 on March 3, 2008.
His 17-year career has so far seen an eight-year stint at Port Pirie as a Probationary Constable, Senior Constable and Acting Sergeant, and periods at smaller Port Germein and Port Broughton stations.
In 2016, SC1C Brown transferred to Grenfell Street for a 6-month period before moving to Murray Bridge.
“In Murray Bridge I was initially on the road and spent a great deal of my time as acting Sergeant or 2IC of the team before being recognised and promoted to Brevet Sergeant,” he said.
“When the opportunity came up to transfer into crime prevention in 2022, I jumped at it and have taken on the role as Vice Chair for Murray Bridge Blue Light and Police Co-ordinator for Murray Bridge Neighbourhood Watch.
“Policing is the best job in the world. You get to work with some strong people and make lifelong friends. You also get to work in a team and have access to a multitude of career opportunities.”
In his spare time, SC1C Brown enjoys exploring outdoors with his family or playing the guitar (badly). He is also a huge fan of English Premier League football, supporting Liverpool Football Club, and also enjoys watching the ‘mighty Reds’, Adelaide United, play at Hindmarsh Stadium.
“I am currently in training to walk the Kokoda trail next year as part of my 50th birthday celebrations,” he added.
“Other future aspirations include leaving a lasting legacy on the community I work in, becoming a Sergeant in a crime prevention section to share my experiences, and to see my children grow up and achieve their full potential.”
The official ceremony was held today at the Royal Adelaide Show where SC1C Brown was presented with the title by the Rotary Club of Unley’s President Rhonda Hoare and District 9510 Governor Rajeev Kamineni, joined by Acting Deputy Commissioner Watkins.
President Hoare commended the 47-year award partnership with SAPOL, and SC1C Brown’s achievements towards safer communities.
“The quality of officers nominated continues to honour and exemplify the contribution South Australia Police makes to our state communities,” she said.
“Rotary is very pleased to make this award to Senior Constable First Class David Brown – a dedicated police officer worthy of such recognition – and hopes to see the collaboration continue with SAPOL well into the future.”
Murray Bridge’s Senior Constable First Class David Brown has been named the 2025 South Australia Police Officer of the Year.
SC1C David Brown working in Port Pirie 2011, pictured with a man walking from Perth to Sydney dressed as a Stormtrooper for a mental health charity. (Right) SC1C Brown pictured at a NAIDOC Family Fun Day after being ambushed by kids during a colour run.
SC1C Brown at Tailem Bend Raceway for a Ronald McDonald House fundraiser. He led a parade lap around the racecourse with some very expensive and fast super cars behind him. (Right) SC1C Brown is the Police Co-ordinator for Murray Bridge Neighbourhood Watch.