Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Australia and New Zealand will work together to improve and modernise regulation and reduce unnecessary compliance burdens, including those that are acting as barriers to achieving net zero targets.

We want to cut red tape where we responsibly can, to ease the burden on businesses, boost trade and make our economies more productive and resilient.

Today we welcome the release of the report the Australian Treasury commissioned from University of Queensland Professor Flavio Menezes to review regulatory standards acting as barriers to achieving net zero.

This is a direct result of work we jointly commissioned at the 2024 Australia–New Zealand Climate and Finance 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The report highlights adoption and recognition of standards for secondary batteries and electric vehicle charging infrastructure as an area where better regulation could help improve EV uptake, but its findings and recommendations extend beyond these specific areas.

It also underscores the importance of adopting best‑practice regulatory approaches to support the transition and our economic performance as we look to deepen the Single Economic Market.

Both Governments’ will use this report to help inform better regulatory settings to improve trade and help lift living standards in Australia and New Zealand.

By ensuring access to higher quality, safer, and more affordable goods and services, we are laying the foundation for a more efficient and resilient Trans‑Tasman marketplace.

Potential opportunities to align standards could include the following areas:

• Building and construction standards
• EV Charging
• Electrical Products
• Product safety standards

The value of closer alignment in key regulatory areas to boost productivity and advance our shared vision of a seamless Single Economic Market couldn’t be more important at a time of global uncertainty.

We look forward to continuing this important work in New Zealand later this year for the 2025 2+2 Dialogue.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has commenced civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court against four mobile crane hire companies – Borger Crane Hire & Rigging Services Pty Ltd, MCR Melrose Pty Ltd, Two Way Cranes Pty Ltd and Ultra-Lift Cranes Pty Ltd – and four senior executives, for allegedly arranging not to supply services to certain customers or sites. Two of the companies also allegedly attempted to fix prices.

The ACCC alleges the four Sydney-based companies breached Australia’s cartel laws and likely impacted customers and sites, including major construction sites, on a number of occasions between 2020 and 2024.

“The allegations in this case involve the conduct of the largest mobile crane companies in Sydney that regularly supply mobile cranes for major infrastructure projects, small business and residential building work,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“When companies collude to limit supply or fix prices, it reduces competition in the market and harms businesses and consumers.”

The ACCC alleges the four companies used WhatsApp to identify certain building sites or customers and make arrangements between themselves that some or all of these companies would not supply cranes to these sites or customers.

Borger Cranes’ General Manager Shawn Borger, Melrose Cranes’ former Managing Director Gregg Melrose and former General Manager Ryan Melrose, and the Managing Director of both Two Way Cranes and Ultra-Lift Cranes Frank Zammit are alleged to be involved in this conduct.

It is alleged that the senior executives coordinated their actions using WhatsApp chat groups named the “Crane Companies” and “Big 3”.

The ACCC alleges that Melrose Cranes and Gregg Melrose made three attempts in 2022 to fix mobile crane hire rates with competing crane companies.

It is also alleged that in 2022 Borger Cranes and Shawn Borger attempted to fix cross-hire rates, which are the rates that apply when a mobile crane company rents a crane from a competitor crane company.

“Mobile cranes are used across a range of critical sectors of the Australian economy, including construction, infrastructure, utilities, and mining, so ensuring businesses compete vigorously to supply services into these sectors is extremely important,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“We will continue to hold companies and individuals accountable for conduct that we consider harms competition and, ultimately, the broader community.”

The ACCC is seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties and costs against the businesses and the four senior executives, disqualification orders against three of the senior executives, and compliance orders against Borger Cranes, Two Way Cranes and Ultra-Lift Cranes.

Background

Mobile cranes are self-powered cranes that can move on their own. They include wheeled or truck-mounted cranes that can drive on roads. They come in various sizes and lifting capacities.

The alleged conduct would have impacted building and infrastructure projects across the Sydney area from 2020 to 2024. Mobile crane hire is important to the Australian economy, including in construction (from large scale government-funded construction projects to small scale residential projects), infrastructure, utilities, and mining.

Some of the alleged conduct arose in the context of ongoing negotiations between the mobile crane hire companies and the CFMEU regarding new Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. Certain alleged arrangements were entered into in circumstances where mobile crane companies had been, or were at risk of being, removed from sites due to the CFMEU. Other alleged arrangements were entered into in circumstances where the affected customers were identified as having unpaid debts for mobile crane hire services. 

Note to editors

A cartel exists when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other. Cartel conduct can include price fixing, sharing markets, rigging bids and controlling output (limiting the amount or type of goods and services available).

More information about cartel conduct can be found on the ACCC’s website.

Anyone who thinks they may have been involved in cartel conduct is urged to call the ACCC Cartel Immunity Hotline on (02) 9230 3894. More information about the immunity process is available on the ACCC’s website. People can also report alleged cartel conduct by using the anonymous cartel portal. 

Public procurement officials who want to know more about detecting cartels are encouraged to contact the ACCC Cartel Outreach team at carteloutreach@accc.gov.au.

The ACCC investigates cartel conduct and can take civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court or refer serious cartel conduct to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

For corporations, the maximum civil penalty which may be ordered by a Court for cartel conduct which occurred before 9 November 2022 is the greater of:

• $10 million,
• if the Court can determine the value of the benefits reasonably attributable to the act or omission – three times that value, or
• if the Court cannot determine the value of the benefits reasonably attributable to the act or omission – 10 per cent of the corporation’s annual turnover in the 12 months preceding the act or omission.

An individual found to have been involved in civil cartel conduct before 9 November 2022 is subject to a maximum penalty of $500,000 for each act or omission. 

The maximum civil penalties for cartel conduct by corporations and individuals were substantially increased with effect from 9 November 2022. The maximum penalty for individuals after 9 November 2022 is $2.5 million for each act or omission. For corporations, the maximum penalty after 9 November 2022 is the greater of:

• $50 million,
• if the Court can determine the value of the benefits reasonably attributable to the act or omission – three times that value, or
• if the court cannot determine the value of the benefits reasonably attributable to the act or omission – 30% of the company’s adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Driver detected 56km/h above limit at Mornington

Wednesday, 3 September 2025 – 10:58 am.

A 40-year-old man from Mornington has had his vehicle clamped and he will receive a fine and licence disqualification after he was detected speeding at high-range at Mornington last night.  
“Road Policing Services detected a vehicle exceeding the speed limit by 56km/h on the Tasman Highway at Mornington at 5.30pm last night,” said Acting Sergeant Mehdi Mohammadi.  
“Police detected the blue hatchback vehicle travelling at 166km/h in the 110km/h zone as the vehicle was approaching Mornington on the Tasman Highway.”  
The driver will receive a fine of $1,146.00 and be disqualified for up to 4 months, and the vehicle has been clamped for 28 days. 
“It’s disappointing that some road users continue to place themselves and others at risk by travelling at such high speeds,” said Acting Sergeant Mohammadi.  
“This is another example of poor driver behaviour and could have easily resulted in serious injury or death for the driver or other road users.” 
If anyone who sees dangerous driving, they are encouraged to report to on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.  
If you can’t report it at the time but you have footage, you can upload it to police.tas.gov.au/report/ 

Source: Mental Health Australia

Owners of alternative fuelled vehicles are set to benefit with the next generation of number plates in NSW to have Australia-first integrated fuel identifiers pressed into their surface.

Transport for NSW Executive Director of Road Safety Regulation Duncan Lucas said up until now fully electric, hybrid or hydrogen vehicles were identified by labels which were attached to number plates with adhesive, with this new innovation improving safety and providing a better customer experience.  

“Electric Vehicles are the fastest growing market in the Australian automotive industry, with 367,000 electric and hybrid vehicles registered in NSW,” Mr Lucas said.

“NSW is the first state in Australia to introduce a safety label plate, which will help emergency services quickly identify an alternative fuel vehicle in a crash or fire.

“Unlike adhesive labels, the safety label is pressed into the plate like the numbers and letters, making it more durable and allowing the fuel type to be identified by its unique shape.

“Having a ‘built-in’ identifier also makes it easier for owners and drivers to stay compliant, with less maintenance and better long-term durability, and ensures correct placement of the safety label on the number plate for easier identification during an emergency.

“Pressing a fuel identifier into a vehicle’s number plate is only a small change, but it will make a big difference to motorists and emergency crews.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Daniel O’Dea said EVs pose different hazards when involved in a crash, and it’s important that firefighters and first responders can quickly and reliably identify a vehicles fuel source.

“Having a safety label number plate ensures our crews know they are dealing with an EV and can implement the right strategy to not only keep themselves safe, but also ensure the safety of the vehicle occupants,” Mr O’Dea said.  

“EVs pose unique risks, including high voltage electricity, unexpected vehicle movement or in some cases fires from the vehicle’s battery pack.

“When the complication of a rescue is also involved, different techniques are required to avoid high voltage cables and to implement a fire protection strategy – and having a visible fuel identifier is a critical focal point for our crews.”

You can find out more about safety labels here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/vehicle-registration/vehicle-number-plates/number-plate-warning-and-safety-labels  

Source:

Mentee Cara Munnings receives her acknowledgement certificate from DCO Gavin Thompson

Thank you on behalf of the Emerging Young Leaders Mentoring Program. We can’t wait to tell you all about our experiences.

Reflecting on the previous six months, the Emerging Young Leaders Mentoring Program participants shared vastly different leadership stories and experiences with highs and lows in their brigades and personal lives.

But one thing they had in common after the experience was the relationships they built along the way and their determination to lead well and let this program be the start of their leadership journey.

A mix of CFA and Life Saving Victoria mentees and mentors gathered at The Views in Port Melbourne last Saturday, 30 August, to acknowledge the completion of the 2025 Emerging Young Leaders Mentoring Program. They were joined by Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, Deputy Chief Officer Gavin Thompson, Life Saving Victoria’s Sam Dwyer and the General Manager of People and Culture Torbjorn Servin, plus some special guests.

Earlier in the day, the group toured the State Control Centre and saw the Intelligence and Public Information teams in action. It was also a great opportunity to discuss leadership in incident management teams with the incident controller on duty and other leading staff members.

During the evening, several participants shared their personal acknowledgements. Using an interview-style presentation, Don Cook and Sam Galvin explored what the future of CFA could be like for young people.

Mentor Don said, “The future is in this room, and if we don’t teach ourselves how to communicate and understand what the important things are to young people, we’re in trouble,” Mentor Don Cook said.

“I think the measure of success will be when the emerging young leaders in this room become mentors themselves.”

Mentee Sam Galvin agreed.

“I get to stand on your shoulders now and be the next generation and I’m so grateful for that. I get to go back to my brigade feeling less isolated because of this community we get to rely on and call upon, confident that this is the start of a leadership journey that will continue to grow,” Sam said.

Presenting her initial goals and current progress, Mentee Cara Munnings showed how she measured success throughout the program.

“I can confidently say I have gained so much. The biggest lessons for me are understanding my own strengths and limitations. Knowing these have made me a more effective leader. It’s also helped me accept it’s OK not to know everything and it’s important to use the knowledge of those around us,” she said.

Mentee Adele Hunter discussed her future development plan.

“I now see a future in CFA that I didn’t know was there before. This program is important because people like me gain a lot from the camaraderie and support this program provides. It inspires people to find their voice and give them the tools to help lead CFA into the future. I have the confidence to call out the behaviour that would have prevented me from succeeding previously, ensuring that we are all welcome and that we are all heard,” she said.

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan left the emerging young leaders with a special message.

“I want to encourage each and every one of you to continue. Continue your leadership journey, it doesn’t stop today, it starts today. Like any other skill, if you don’t practise your leadership, if you don’t put it into action, it’s a skill that you do lose. Go forth. Be leaders. Do good things. Be good people. And your organisations will be so much richer for it,” Jason said.

This and many other key mentoring and leadership development programs are supported by the Volunteer Leadership Development Program that builds and enhances volunteer leadership capability through the delivery of a suite of inter-connected leadership development opportunities.

For more information, CFA members can visit Members Onlime. 

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

Tourism is vital to Australia, supporting over 706,000 jobs and underpinning more than 360,000 businesses across the country.

Building the workforce these businesses need is a priority for the Albanese Labor Government which is why we are pleased to partner with the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) to launch the Quality Tourism eLearning Hub, a new training hub created for Australia’s tourism industry.

Developed with eLearning specialists, etrainu, the eLearning Hub is designed to support tourism operators and their staff to build and improve skills, enhance professionalism and develop stronger business capability.

The eLearning Hub forms part of ATIC’s Quality Tourism Framework (QTF), which offers industry operators a suite of online training and accreditation programs designed to build capability and quality across the industry.

The Albanese Labor Government has provided $8 million in funding to enhance and improve the QTF, reaffirming its support for small and regional tourism businesses to strengthen quality, accessibility, and sustainability in their operations.

A national library of short, practical courses sits at the heart of the eLearning Hub, developed with input from industry and subject matter experts. Topics include sustainability, accessibility, customer service readiness, and other critical areas to help businesses grow and compete.

Accessible on any device, the eLearning Hub supports learning anywhere and at any time through videos, interactive modules, and downloadable resources.

The Quality Tourism eLearning Hub marks a significant step in ensuring Australia’s tourism industry remains vibrant, resilient, and ready to meet the needs of visitors today and into the future.

Access the Quality Tourism eLearning Hub at: Quality Tourism Framework – Quality Tourism Australia.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell:

“The Albanese Labor Government is proud to invest in the future workforce of the tourism and travel industry. By supporting this eLearning Hub we’re ensuring people across the sector have access to the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a fast-changing industry.

“The Quality Tourism eLearning Hub will help people to build great careers in the tourism industry, as well as building the skilled workforce that our world-class tourism operators need.

“People are at the heart of our critical tourism sector. With this hub we are investing not just in training, but in innovation, resilience and the long-term growth of the industry.”

Quotes attributable to Australian Tourism Industry Council CEO, Erin McLeod:

“The Quality Tourism eLearning Hub is a natural progression of the Quality Tourism Framework, providing a practical, industry-led platform to build workforce capability nationwide.”

“By collaborating with eLearning experts etrainu, we’ve created a versatile learning platform designed to serve tourism businesses of all sizes and locations throughout Australia.”

Quotes attributable to etrainu CEO, Paul Hoon:

“Together with ATIC, we’ve created a platform that delivers relevant, accessible learning, particularly for the small and regional operators at the heart of Australia’s tourism industry.”

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

What is a voucher

There are 2 types of vouchers:

You will need to make an increasing adjustment on your business activity statement (BAS) when a face value voucher you’ve sold:

• has expired or has not been fully redeemed; and
• you have written back to current income any reserves for the redemption of the voucher for accounting purposes.

The increasing adjustment is 1/11th of the unredeemed balance. You report it at label 1A on your BAS.

For more information see GSTR 2003/5 Goods and services tax: vouchers.

Non-face value vouchers

A non-face value voucher can only be redeemed for specific goods and services. For example, a $100 voucher for a facial treatment at a day spa.

You need to account for GST at the time you sell a non-face value voucher, but only if it is redeemable for taxable supplies.

You don’t need to account for GST when the voucher is redeemable for input taxed or GST-free supplies.

Reporting voucher sales

For more information see when and how to report and pay GST.

Claiming credits for purchases using vouchers

For a face value voucher, you claim GST credits in your BAS for the reporting period you redeem it, not the reporting period when you buy it.

For a non-face value voucher, you claim GST credits in your BAS for the reporting period when the voucher is bought.

You’re not entitled to claim a GST credit for the purchase if it either:

• relates to making input taxed sales
• is of a private or domestic nature.

Source: Premier of Victoria

Author – Denton Pugh, NAB Executive for Home Lending.

Australia’s housing market is continuing to move as we head into the busy spring selling season. National house prices have now risen six months in a row. That puts values around 3% higher since the start of the year.

Every capital is sharing in the upswing, with smaller cities like Darwin, Brisbane, and Adelaide emerging as standout performers boasting the strongest price growth of all. Regional areas are also pulling in plenty of buyers, offering better bang for your buck than our big cities.

This continued price growth comes despite still relatively high borrowing costs, supported by a noticeable lift in market sentiment. NAB’s Residential Property Index* released this week jumped to +44, its highest level in 12 months, driven by recent rate cuts and growing expectations of further easing. Confidence has turned positive across the country, including in the ACT, which had remained subdued since late 2022.

With lower rates and market sentiment improving, more properties are expected to hit the market over the spring season. There will likely be more homes coming onto the market, but also plenty of eager buyers returning. First-home buyers are already stepping up, with the index showing their share of new housing rising to 40%, the highest since December 2022.

This could be a prime opportunity to make a move. Here are a few things to think about so you’ll be ready to act fast when you find that dream property.

Know your strategy

A home to live in or rent-vest (buy where you can afford, rent where you want to live). This will guide many of your decisions, from the type of property you buy, the location, and how you structure your home loan. Buying to live in may prioritise lifestyle factors, whereas an investment property means focussing on rental yield and growth potential. Be clear on your strategy so you can narrow your search and budget accordingly. And consider all the extra costs, remember the price tag isn’t the only cost involved in buying a home.

Get finance pre-approved

Before you start making offers, talk to a banker about getting home loan pre-approval. This gives you a clear idea of how much you can borrow so you don’t waste time shopping outside your price range. A pre-approval basically means the bank has agreed in principle to lend you a certain amount, pending final checks.

Timing is key here. Pre-approval typically lasts 90 days, so it’s smart to get it when you’re serious about buying. If you’re buying your first home to live in, you might qualify for various federal and state-based assistance, such as the recently expanded Home Guarantee Scheme. New rules from 1 October mean all Australian first-home buyers can buy a home with a 5% deposit and not pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Make an offer and stick to your limit

Avoid getting swept up in FOMO. If you pay well above market value, the bank’s valuation of the property might come in lower than your purchase price, which means you might have to cover the gap in order to go through with the sale. Keeping a cool head and not overextending yourself will ensure that when you do make that winning offer, you’ll sail through the last steps and soon collect the keys to your new home.

This spring should be busy. If you’re ready, speak with a banker. They can help you understand your budget, get pre-approval sorted, and make sure you’re prepared when the home you’ve been waiting for hits the market.

* NAB’s Residential Property Index a quarterly survey by NAB of property professionals (agents, developers, and investors) to gauge their views on the Australian housing market.

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 2 Sep 2025

Some of Queensland’s brightest minds are set to fly overseas to tackle global challenges in science, conservation, and the environment through the prestigious Queensland–Smithsonian Fellowship Program.

The Queensland Government program funds Queensland-based professionals to work within a Smithsonian Institution for up to 12 weeks, giving them an opportunity to access sought-after expertise and facilities, while increasing their knowledge and skills in their chosen field.

The program aims to drive scientific advancement and foster global collaboration and innovation, allowing fellows to not only advance their own fields of research but also bring back invaluable knowledge, skills and global networks to Queensland.

The latest Queensland–Smithsonian Fellows are:

• Dr Leah Barclay, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead – Design, University of Sunshine Coast, receiving $19,800 for the project titled: Sonic Ecologies: Connecting Bocas Del Toro and K’gari Research Stations.
• Dr Elizabeth Smyth, Research Officer, James Cook University, receiving $26,200 for the project titled: Tropical Rainforest in Expedition Journals.
• Dr Catherine Kim, Postdoctoral Researcher, Queensland University of Technology, receiving $23,000 for the project titled: Decoding ocean biodiversity: cryptofauna on the Great Barrier Reef.

Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson said the Queensland Smithsonian Fellowship allows Queensland researchers to tap into the significant resources and expertise available at the world’s largest research and museum complex.

“Queensland’s program with the Smithsonian Institution is the only agreement of its kind in Australia, offering a unique opportunity for researchers to collaborate, connect and share mutually beneficial learnings in their chosen fields,” Prof Wilson said.

“I am eager to see the results of these research projects and how the knowledge and skills gained at the Smithsonian Institution can be brought back to the science ecosystem in Queensland.”

Dr Catherine Kim from the Queensland University of Technology will be travelling to the United States later this year to begin her fellowship, focused on her project – Decoding ocean biodiversity: cryptofauna on the Great Barrier Reef.

“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Queensland to develop a partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History,” Dr Kim said.

“I’m most excited to have access to the world class facilities such as the Laboratories of Analytical Biology and learn the latest genetic techniques and data management processes.

“My research will be analysing legacy samples from Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) deployed in the Great Barrier Reef that were collected as a part of the global Census of Coral Reefs project that started almost 15 years ago.

“There is still so much to learn from these ARMS samples about the diversity of marine life on the Great Barrier Reef.”

Since 2001, the Queensland Government has provided more than $1.1 million through the Smithsonian Fellowship Fund to 64 Fellows from universities, science agencies, museums and art galleries across Queensland.

For more information on the Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship Program and recipients visit: Queensland–Smithsonian Fellowship Program.

Additional information

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services