Source: New South Wales – News
Police have responded to an incident at Lonsdale where a person was struck by a train.
Just before 5.30pm Wednesday 13 August, police and emergency services were called to Lonsdale Train Station after reports a person was struck by a train.
The train station is closed and metro trains are suspended.
For train information please see https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/
Source: New South Wales – News
Police are preparing a report for the coroner following the death of a man at Pompoota, in the Murray Mallee this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to Pompoota Landing Road at 2.20pm ,sadly a contractor, a 41-year-old man from Jervois, was found deceased at the scene.
Safework SA has been advised of the incident.
There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Source: New South Wales – News
A driver has died following a fatal crash at Burrungule in the States South East this afternoon.
About 2pm Wednesday 13 August, police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Carpenter Rocks Road and Dixons Road, about 20 km west of Mount Gambier for reports of a crash between a Holden Sedan and a Toyota Ute
Sadly, the driver of a Holden sedan, a 94-year-old local woman died at the scene.
The driver of a Toyota Ute, a 20-year-old woman from Mount Gambier, sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment.
Major Crash investigators are making their way to the scene.
Road closures are in place on Carpenter Rock Road and road users are asked to avoid the area.
The woman’s death is the 50th life lost on South Australian roads this year.
Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies
1 Commonwealth, State and Territory Trade and Investment Ministers met on the lands of the Larrakia people at Parliament House in Darwin, Northern Territory on 13 August 2025 for the fifth meeting of the Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment.
2 Amid challenges in the global trading landscape, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the open, rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. They acknowledged stable and transparent international trade and foreign investment are critical for delivering economic security and prosperity for Australia and its economic partners. They reaffirmed that safeguarding this required a whole-of-nation effort.
3 Ministers acknowledged the importance of Australia’s leadership in multilateral and regional trade forums in upholding the rules, norms and standards which underpin global trade, including commitment to continuing efforts to strengthen and reform the WTO, and to drive sustainable trade and resilient growth as Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year.
4 In the face of global trade uncertainty, Ministers acknowledged tariffs harm domestic economic competitiveness and are a recipe for slower growth and higher inflation. They reaffirmed their support for implementation of the Australian Government’s five-point plan to drive efforts to expand market reach and enhance resilience:
a) strengthen Australia’s anti-dumping regime;
b) provide $50 million to affected sectors, particularly through peak bodies;
c) establish a new Economic Resilience Program through Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund;
d) prioritise Australian-made products; and
e) establish a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
5 Ministers welcomed progress in developing stronger and more diverse trade partnerships for all Australians, including:
a) entry-into-force later this year of the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA);
b) discussions towards concluding a Australia-European Union free trade agreement including commercially meaningful market access for Australian agriculture;
c) discussions towards concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India;
d) review of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA);
e) entry-into-force in April of the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA);
f) review of Australia’s bilateral FTAs in Southeast Asia to identify priorities for utilisation, modernisation and potential upgrade negotiations and the general review of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA); and
g) review of the CPTPP and progressing Costa Rica’s accession to the Agreement.
6 Ministers also welcomed the new Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India and committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation of Commonwealth, State and Territory trade and economic efforts to promote Australian goods and services in India.
7 Ministers recognised the early outcomes flowing from implementation of key initiatives under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the contribution all States and Territories can make to boosting two-way trade and investment with Southeast Asia.
8 Ministers welcomed participation from all jurisdictions at the World Expo 2025 Osaka.
9 Ministers confirmed the outcomes of coordinated initiatives on national trade and investment including:
a) a calendar of Team Australia events in 2025-26 that align with shared priorities and represent a mix of trade and investment promotion activities;
b) release of the National Statement on First Nations Trade and Investment by endorsing jurisdictions; and
c) continuation of a data project providing States and Territories with new information on businesses engaged in goods exports in their jurisdictions.
10 Ministers’ tour of key sites across Darwin Harbour, including the Ship Lift Project, Marine Industry Park and Middle Arm Precinct, highlighted how government and industry are working together to deliver strategic infrastructure, strengthen sovereign capabilities, and position the Northern Territory as a hub for sustainable growth and investment.
11 Ministers looked forward to meeting again in six months to review progress and future priorities.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
More Canberrans will soon have a safe, secure place to call home.
Construction has started on 57 new social housing apartments in the Gungahlin area.
Due for completion in early 2027, the development will provide quality housing for some of the community’s most vulnerable.
This project is being developed in partnership between the ACT and Australian Governments.
The new development will offer easy access to facilities and services. These include:
There will be one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.
Communal spaces and landscaping are designed to help residents meet and connect.
Accessibility is key, with 30 apartments easily adaptable to suit the needs of people with a disability.
The ACT Government is committed to building more social housing for Canberrans.
It has taken action to:
The Gungahlin development will be delivered under the Social Housing Accelerator (SHAP) and Housing Australia Future Fund Facility Round 2 (HAFFF).
Of the 57 dwellings in this Gungahlin development, 33 will be attributed to the territory’s commitment to delivering between 55 and 65 dwellings under the SHAP.
The remaining 24 dwellings will contribute towards the HAFFF commitment target of 85 homes.
Hindmarsh Construction Australia was awarded the construction contract through an open tender process.
Read more about increasing housing in the ACT on the ACT Government website.
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Source: Mental Health Australia
The 20th National Rail Safety Week is being marked with a solemn ceremony at the Australian Railway Monument in Werris Creek in northern NSW today.
The ceremony will honour rail workers who have died in service to Australia’s rail network.
More than 100 families, friends, and colleagues of those who have died, as well as representatives from across the rail industry, will hold a minute’s silence and lay wreaths next to the names that will be remembered forever.
Each of the more than 4,500 names on the National Railway Monument at Werris Creek represents the loss of a railway worker since the 1850s.
This year, four new names have been added to the walls of the monument. One of them was Troy Ernst, a freight train driver who died in an accident in December last year.
The others are names of railway workers, one whose death dates back to early this century and two others from the 1920s and 30s. Their names have only just been added to the monument due to recent research by volunteers from the Australian Railway Monument and Rail Journeys Museum.
Hosted by NSW TrainLink and the TrackSAFE Foundation, the event is both a moment of reflection and a time for the rail industry to collectively commit to preventing future tragedies among Australia’s 165,000-strong rail workforce.
Following the memorial event TrackSAFE is hosting a national webinar on mental health fitness in the rail industry. More information here.
Read the full media release here (PDF, 206.82 KB)
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
NT Police have arrested two adult males in relation to an assault police incident that occurred on Monday in Titjikala.
Police investigations have been ongoing since the incident occurred and yesterday two male offenders aged 22 and 46 were located and arrested as they were travelling into Alice Springs.
The 22-year-old has been charged with Assault Police, Escape Custody, and Damage to Property.
The 46-year-old has been charged with Assault Police, Damage to property, and Aiding and Abetting in relation to this incident. He was also charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault in relation to an outstanding matter.
Both were remanded in custody to appear in court today.
Source: South Australia Police
Wanneroo Aquamotion has been recognised for its commitment to safety, innovation and inclusive programs at the WA Aquatic Recreation Industry Awards, presented by the Leisure Institute of WA.
The facility took home two major awards, Swim School of the Year and the Aquatic Facility Safety Award, as well as receiving a High Commendation in the prestigious WA Facility of the Year category.
Aquamotion lifeguard Andre Desveaux was also highly commended in the Pool Lifeguard of the Year award, praised for his outstanding customer service and genuine care for regular visitors.
Wanneroo Mayor Linda Aitken said the awards reflect the dedication and commitment of the Aquamotion team in making a difference in our community.
“As a City, we’re proud to provide safe and inclusive facilities for our community. Our use of AI Lifesaving Technology, non-slip floor coating in high-traffic areas and pool pods for inclusive access are a testament to that,” she said.
Mayor Aitken said she was especially proud to see the swim school recognised, for its programs tailored for all ages and abilities from babies as young as three months to adults, including the renowned Dolphin Program for people living with disability.
“The Dolphin program, along with our annual Dolphin Olympics is an integral part of Aquamotion and our wider community – we’re proud to see it recognised at state level,” she said.
These latest honours follow a successful 2024 for Wanneroo Aquamotion, which was named Platinum Waterwise Aquatic Centre of the Year at the Waterwise Recognition Awards and awarded Best Swim School in Australia at the SWIM Australia Awards.
Source: South Australia Police
The City of Wanneroo has received a grant of up to $380,080 from Lotterywest in support of Dordaak Kepup library and youth innovation hub in Landsdale.
Set to open in late 2025, the facility will be a vibrant and inclusive space designed to inspire creativity, with innovative features such as a recording studio, demonstration kitchen and gaming room.
Mayor Linda Aitken said the City was grateful for Lotterywest’s support to further boost the offerings at the centre.
“State investment has been key to making this project a reality,” she said.
“Dordaak Kepup is a first-of-its-kind space that blends culture, technology and creativity, where young people can express themselves and feel part of something bigger.
The Lotterywest grant will go towards fitting out the Youth Innovation Hub with equipment and technology and supporting the provision of Noongar interpretive signage throughout the facility.
Room naming signage has been developed with guidance from the City’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Reference Group, Ni Kadadjiny Koort, and endorsed by the Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation and Elder Vivienne Hansen.
Nineteen rooms and areas within the hub have been given Noongar names that reflect their purpose and atmosphere, tying into the name Dordaak Kepup, which means “place of living waters.”
Internal signage will help build cultural understanding of the land, forming part of the City’s broader commitment to reconciliation and cultural learning.
The total project cost is estimated at $18.38 million. In addition to the Lotterywest grant, the City has received support from the State Government’s WA Recovery Plan ($6 million) to enable the Youth Innovation Hub and an EV Charge Up Grant of $12,046 from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. The City is investing the remaining funds of the project.
For more information, visit wanneroo.wa.gov.au/dordaakkepup
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that annual real wages have now grown for seven consecutive quarters under the Albanese Labor Government.
We’ve recorded the strongest annual real wages growth in five years and the longest run of real wages growth above 0.7 per cent in a decade, according to today’s figures.
Real wages were falling sharpy under the Liberals, but today’s figures confirm they are growing strongly again under Labor.
Growth in real wages helps workers with the cost of living and helps them get ahead.
The wage price index grew 0.8 per cent in the June quarter 2025, to be 3.4 per cent higher through the year.
Real wages grew 1.3 per cent through the year to the June quarter 2025.
This is the strongest annual real wages growth since June 2020.
Annual real wages have now been growing by 0.7 per cent or more for four consecutive quarters, which is the longest run of real wage growth above that rate since 2015.
Since we came to Government, average annualised nominal wages have been growing at 3.7 per cent, much higher than the 2.2 per cent under our predecessors.
These numbers are a really positive sign that wages are growing strongly and sustainably as a result of our efforts.
Australians voted for higher wages at the election, and that’s what we’re delivering.
Our economic plan is designed to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn with tax cuts and higher wages and today’s figures show we’re making meaningful progress.
We’re acting to boost wages, close the gender pay gap, deliver workplace relations reforms and secure pay rises for some of the lowest‑paid workers in our community. Our support for the lowest paid workers means minimum wage earners are now earning more than $175 per week more than when we came to government.
At the same time, we’ve overseen the creation of more than 1.1 million jobs and stronger employment growth than any major advanced economy.
Under Labor, real wages are up, unemployment is low, inflation is down, interest rates are falling, every taxpayer is getting a tax cut and living standards are growing again in our economy.
We know there’s more to do because Australians are still under pressure and the global economy is uncertain and unpredictable.
The best defence against global volatility and the best way to lift wages and living standards over the long term is with a more productive economy, a stronger budget, and more resilience.
That’s why we’re building consensus on long term economic reform around these three priorities at the Economic Reform Roundtable next week.