Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The National Anti-Scam Centre is urging Australians to check twice when shopping, gifting or travelling, as scammers know Australians will be caught up in the rush of the holiday season.  

The National Anti-Scam Centre expects criminals to try to capitalise on the holiday season through shopping and delivery scams; scratchie and prize scams; and travel, and gambling scams.

Take care when searching for Christmas gifts and Boxing Day sales bargains online and be on alert for fake retail sites designed to mimic well-known brands and fraudulent sellers on social media and online marketplaces. Knowing Australians will be sending and receiving gifts, scammers issue emails or texts about missed deliveries or unpaid fees, directing people to websites created to harvest card details.

We are seeing the resurgence of ‘hard copy’ scams. Financial losses to scratching scams have increased, with scammers exploiting cost of living pressures by promoting fake travel giveaways, instant prizes and low cost ‘wins’ that promise discounted holidays. Scammers send out fake scratch-off cards that promise a prize, on the condition that the ‘winner’ pays a fee. People have reported to Scamwatch of receiving these scams addressed to them through registered post.

“We strongly encourage people to stop, check and protect before paying for things or providing personal information,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“Scammers know that people are busy, distracted and spending more money at this time of year. They use messages that look routine or urgent because they know people are trying to stay organised.”

_{Example of a scratchie scam sent to people through registered post.}

With many households preparing to drive interstate for the summer holidays, the National Anti-Scam Centre is also bracing for a possible increase in road toll scams. The messages in toll scams often state there is an overdue toll payment and push people to use a link that appears official.

As many Australians enjoy spare time over Christmas and the New Year, the National Anti-Scam Centre urges people to be wary of online gambling scams, known as ‘scambling’. This emerging scam type involves scammers creating unlicensed gambling apps and websites that appear legitimate. They allow people to deposit or transfer money but then refuse to pay out any ‘winnings’. In some cases, people may be unknowingly involved in money laundering.

Australians made 21,255 reports of online shopping scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service between January and October 2025. During the same period, Scamwatch received 5,690 reports of parcel delivery scams, 884 toll scams, 2,514 travel, prizes and lottery scams, including 314 reports of scratchie scams, and 273 reports of gambling scams.

More people lose money to shopping scams than any other scam type with $9.4 million in reported losses between January and October this year. Of the reports to Scamwatch, the shopping products with the most reported losses were vehicles, shipping containers, concert and sporting tickets, pets, and clothes.  

In this same period, there were $88,440 reported losses to parcel delivery scams, $8,392 losses to road toll scams, $842,677 to travel, prize, and lottery scams – including $201,343 to scratchie scams – and $2 million in reported losses to online gambling scams.

“We ask people to please share scam prevention information and warnings with friends and family,” Ms Lowe said. 

“As scammers ramp up their efforts over the holiday season, we also encourage people to report to Scamwatch. Every report, no matter how small, helps us build our intelligence to disrupt criminal networks, track scam activity, and protect the community.”

The Scamwatch website has resources for people to provide support to loved ones who may be targeted by scammers, including red flag signs, conversation starters and the manipulation tactics deployed by scammers.

The National Anti-Scam Centre’s holiday season checklist:

• Treat unexpected messages with caution. Toll operators, courier services and government agencies will not demand urgent payment through a text message link.
• Visit the official website or app directly rather than clicking any link.
• For interstate travel, check your toll account through your provider’s verified app or website to confirm if anything is outstanding.
• For parcel deliveries, use tracking numbers only through the official website of the courier you are expecting a parcel from.
• For online shopping, buy only from trusted retailers and be cautious of products promoted with unusually low prices or limited-time social media ads.
• For scratching promotions, be wary of offers promising holidays, high-value prizes or guaranteed wins. Check whether the promotion is run by a ‘licensed lottery operator’ in your state.
• Don’t pay a fee to collect winnings or a prize. Legitimate lotteries don’t ask you to do this.
• If a friend or family member sends you a message about a prize on social media, check with them outside of social media that they sent it.
• Never share personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited message.
• Use multi-factor authentication on your accounts and ensure your device software is up to date.
• Online gambling providers must be licensed to operate in Australia. If an app or website doesn’t exist on the ACMA’s register of licensed interactive gambling providers, it’s an illegal operation.
• Australians are urged to independently check that an organisation or charity offering financial assistance is real and never provide personal identifying information through social media or email. To confirm you’re dealing with a real charity, check the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission charity register.

Learn how to Stop. Check. Protect. To stay safe from scams:

STOP. Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone. Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Don’t rush to make decisions about money or sharing personal details.

What to do:

• Say no, hang up, or delete suspicious messages
• Take time to think before responding to unexpected requests
• Don’t let anyone pressure you into immediate action
• Trust your instincts if something feels wrong

CHECK. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action.

What to do:

• Contact the person or organisation directly using phone numbers or email addresses you find on their official website or app
• Research investment opportunities or offers through official sources like ASIC
• Get a second opinion from family, friends, or professionals

PROTECT. Act quickly it something feels wrong. The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.

What to do:

• Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve lost money or shared financial details
• Contact IDCARE (www.idcare.org or call 1800 595 160) if you want support to recover – they can help you create a plan to the limit damage of scams
• Report to Scamwatch (www.scamwatch.gov.au)  to help protect others
• Report to police (www.cyber.gov.au)
• Change passwords and security details if you think they’ve been compromised
• Monitor your bank statements and credit reports for unusual activity
• Report the scam to the impersonated organisation and platform where the scam is happening
• Being scammed can feel overwhelming. Support is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The NT Police Force is calling for witnesses in relation to an assault that occurred at the Darwin Bus Interchange last week.

On Wednesday 10 December 2025, CCTV of the Darwin Bus Interchange captured an alleged physical and sexual assault of a female by a male offender. Following the initial report, and over the proceeding days, the victim and offender were identified by police and were found to be known to each other.

On Wednesday 17 December 2025, police from the Northern Domestic Violence Investigation Unit arrested the 56-year-old male. He has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault and gross indecency without consent, and has been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court at a later date.

Detective Senior Sergeant Caragh Hen said, “Investigators from the Northern Domestic Violence Investigation Unit are appalled at the nature of the offending which occurred in daylight hours in an area that was busy with vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

“Anyone who was at the Darwin Bus Interchange on Harry Chan Avenue between 3:15pm and 9:30pm who has information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500122815.

“Any electronic recordings such as CCTV, mobile phone recordings or dash cam footage – can be uploaded here: https://ntpol.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ntp2500122815.

“Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.”

Confidential support is available through services such as 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 and Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two males in relation to an attempted robbery that occurred in Darwin early this morning.

At around 3:50am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 41-year-old male had been the victim of an attempted robbery on Cavanagh Street in Darwin City.

It is alleged five offenders exited a white Ford Ranger and assaulted the victim with a brick and unsuccessfully attempted to steal jewellery from him before fleeing in the Ranger. The victim suffered minor injuries.

A short time later, the offenders were sighted by police CCTV operators approaching a sleeping male on Peel Street and allegedly stealing from him. They subsequently attended a service station in Fanny Bay, before leaving the scene in the Ranger.

Members from Strike Force Trident, the Dog Operations Unit and general duties responded, and a pursuit of the stolen motor vehicle was initiated after it was sighted on Dick Ward Drive.

The vehicle was brought to a stop after the successful deployment of tyre deflation devices and two males aged 15 and 24 were arrested.

The remaining three offenders are outstanding, and investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference P25342026. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Please note: Footage is available upon media request.

Source: Australian Mines and Metals Association – AMMA

In The Australian, AREEA Steve Knott AM says the Federal Court has effectively extended the rights of delegates to communicate with contractors and labour hire employees at the employer’s expense, whether they are union members or not. The decision blurs the long-standing distinction between union officials and workplace delegates and creates serious risks for workplace productivity and stability.

Source: Australian Mines and Metals Association – AMMA

In The West Australian, AREEA Chief Executive Steve Knott AM says today’s Full Federal Court decision has re-enlivened the issue of significantly expanded powers for workplace delegates under the Fair Work Act, creating unprecedented new powers for unions and risks turning employees into de-facto union organisers.

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
18 Dec 2025 14:30

Issued for
East Terrace, near Callington in the Murraylands.

Warning level
Advice – Stay Informed

Action
CFS is responding to a fire in the area of East Terrace and Old Princes Highway in Callington .

If you are in this area, stay informed and monitor local conditions. More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the Wimmera and Mallee tomorrow, Friday 19 December 2025.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Australian Mines and Metals Association – AMMA

Statement by Steve Knott AM, AREEA Chief Executive

Today, a Full Federal Court has re-enlivened the issue of significantly expanded powers for workplace delegates under the Fair Work Act.

The separation between the roles and responsibilities of union officials and workplace delegates has been well established and understood by industrial parties since Federation.

Union officials are paid for by union members, and delegates are employed and paid by businesses – with an obligation to be productive members of the workforce.

That distinction underpins productivity, freedom of association and the effective functioning of workplaces across the resources and energy sector.

Today’s decision materially expands the scope of workplace delegate rights. It extends the right of workplace delegates, paid for by employers, to communicate with contractors and labour hire employees working at an enterprise, regardless of whether those workers are union members.

Those workers will have rights extended to engage with workplace delegates on the employer’s time and resources, provided only that they are eligible to be members of that union.

Today’s decision remits the issue of workplace delegates’ rights back to the Fair Work Commission for further consideration, overturning the Commission’s June 2024 delegates’ rights award term.

This outcome has occurred despite strong concerns raised by peak employer organisations, including AREEA, which was an active party to the proceedings. AREEA emphasised that the Commission’s original award term followed extensive consultation and was widely regarded as a balanced and practical implementation of the Albanese Government’s extraordinarily broad new delegates’ rights laws introduced into the Fair Work Act in 2023.

AREEA has consistently opposed the delegates’ rights provisions in the Fair Work Act in both substance and principle.

The laws create unprecedented new powers for unions, risk turning employees into de-facto union organisers, and apply across all workplaces, including non-union sites with no enterprise agreements.

They blur the long-standing distinction between union officials and workplace delegates and create serious risks for productivity and workplace stability.

AREEA will continue to advocate for a fair, workable and balanced framework that recognises the realities of modern workplaces and protects productivity across Australia’s resources and energy sector.

ENDS

Click here for a full PDF copy of the media release, including media contact details. 

Source: Australian Mines and Metals Association – AMMA

Statement by Steve Knott AM, AREEA Chief Executive

AREEA congratulates Meg O’Neill on her appointment as Global Chief Executive Officer of BP, one of the world’s leading oil and energy companies.

Meg has long been regarded as one of the most capable and credible energy executives in the country. Her appointment is a powerful endorsement of her executive capability on the global stage and recognition of a leader who has consistently demonstrated strategic clarity, operational discipline and a deep understanding of the complexities facing the energy sector.

Some months ago, I remarked publicly that Meg would be ripe for another major appointment and that, in my view, she was the best performing CEO in Australia. Meg has been a strong advocate for the industry, clearly articulating the scale of investment, job creation, and royalty and taxation revenue on offer if new projects are assessed and approved in a timely fashion and an internationally competitive regulatory environment.

AREEA was privileged to work closely with Meg both during her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Woodside and through her service as a Vice President of AREEA. In both roles, she brought exceptional strategic insight, professionalism and a practical understanding of the workforce, safety and productivity challenges facing our industry. Her contribution to policy discussions and industry leadership has been significant and enduring.

Meg leaves Woodside in strong hands, with Liz Westcott stepping into the role of Acting Chief Executive  Officer. Liz is highly regarded across the resources and energy sector as a respected leader with deep operational experience, strong people leadership credentials and a clear understanding of Woodside’s culture and strategic priorities.

AREEA wishes Meg every success in her new role and looks forward to continuing to engage with BP and Woodside under their respective leadership teams.

Click here for a full PDF copy of the release, including media contact details.

Source: Government of Western Australia

Residents in Girrawheen will soon benefit from a suite of road safety upgrades designed to reduce crashes and improve safety on local streets.