Source:
His strong connection to the mountain drew him into wanting to give back to the community. The operational environment in the alpine area is incredibly unique. Take a look inside what it means to volunteer at Mt. Hotham.
Keen to join CFA? You can find out more by visiting www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer
| Submitted by | CFA Media |
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Source: Jobs and Skills Australia
Job ads up 0.3% nationally in July 2025
Linda
Source: New South Wales – News
A pedestrian has been injured in a crash at Wynn Vale this morning.
Just after 10am Wednesday 13 August, police and emergency services were called to The Golden Way following reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a car.
The pedestrian has sustained injuries.
The Golden Way is currently closed to south bound traffic from Surrey Farm Drive.
Please avoid the area.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
The purpose of the GAT is to understand the reasons for the differences arising between accounting and GST figures, and to verify them with objective evidence.
Previously, we emailed members of the Top 100 and Top 1000 populations the guide and instructions at the commencement of an initial GST assurance review or combined assurance review. Small modifications have been made to the guide to clarify who it applies to and to provide clarity on the existing methodology.
Businesses that are predominantly input-taxed are excluded from the current GAT process.
For taxpayers who’ve had a GST assurance review, the Supplementary annual GST return (SAGR) includes questions about whether this reconciliation has been undertaken and its outcomes.
To assist you with completing the GAT process we’ve developed frequently asked questions.
We’ll work collaboratively with your organisation if you’ve had difficulties in completing the GAT process, by helping to find solutions using information from existing systems, as well as information we’ve gathered from our income tax assurance reviews.
We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.
Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.
Subscribe to our free:
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Denham Hitchcock:
Jim Chalmers joins us from Canberra tonight. Treasurer, thanks for your time. Gee, you must have been happy when you got that news.
Jim Chalmers:
It was a pretty welcome decision by the Reserve Bank because it means more money in the pockets of millions of Australians who are still under pressure. It also means 3 interest rate cuts in the space of 6 months. The lowest interest rates in more than 2 years now. We know we’ve got more work to do, but it’s a really good bit of recognition of the progress that we’ve made getting inflation down, the progress we’ve made in our economy, and this is the interest rate relief that people really need and deserve.
Hitchcock:
Treasurer, do you concede, though, that for those with a mortgage of around $700,000, as you referenced earlier today, it’s a saving of a little more than $100. That doesn’t go very far, does it?
Chalmers:
It’s about 110 bucks a month if you owe $700,000. But you put that with the other 2 rate cuts as well, about $330, about $4,000 in a year. And so, I think that this will be meaningful help. I think it will be well received. Not because one interest rate cut or even 3 interest rate cuts solves every problem in household budgets or in the national economy, but it will certainly help.
Hitchcock:
Does it make for the 2 years, though, that we’ve just gone backwards? Does it make up for that? A few good months?
Chalmers:
Not on its own, but when you combine it with, we’ve got inflation down, we’ve got real wages growing again, living standards are recovering, interest rates are coming down. We are making progress in our economy, and I think the decision taken by the Reserve Bank is really a demonstration of that progress that Australians have made together. The government doesn’t pretend, no Australian pretends, that all of our challenges are suddenly solved after 3 rate cuts in 6 months. But certainly, very helpful, very welcome development.
Amelia Brace:
Treasurer, you mentioned wages. No worker is actually going to feel better off until we address productivity. And the RBA actually revised down its expectations today from 1 per cent to just 0.7 per cent. That’s shocking.
Chalmers:
We’ve got a productivity challenge in our economy. We’ve been really upfront about that. It’s not a new challenge. It’s actually been in our economy for the last couple of decades. The worst decade for productivity growth was actually the last decade, in the last 50 or 60 years or so. So, we’ve got a big challenge there, and that’s why the government is focused on turning this around over time. It’s a problem that exists around the world. It’s a problem that’s existed in our economy for 2 decades, as I say. So, it’ll take a bit of time to turn it around, but it is increasingly the government’s main focus. And because we’ve made this progress on inflation and interest rates and real wages growing again, it means we can spend a bigger proportion of our time on some of these big persistent structural issues like productivity.
Brace:
Well, speaking of which, next week you will have the Productivity Roundtable, but you’ve already ruled out changes to the GST and pretty much every other form of meaningful tax reform. So, what’s the point of having a roundtable if there’s nothing actually on the table?
Chalmers:
Well, tax is an important part of our considerations, but not the only part. The focus there is on making our economy more productive, making it more resilient in the face of all this global economic uncertainty, and also making the budget more sustainable. And so, I think tax reform will be part of the proposals that people put to us, but it’s not the only focus of the roundtable. The roundtable’s primary focus is on getting productivity up. Because as you rightly said in your question before, Amelia, if we make our economy more productive, we can lift living standards, we can make workers and families better off, and that’s our objective.
Hitchcock:
Treasurer, another important topic at the moment that we want to ask you about is Gaza and the move by Australia to recognise the state of Palestine. For a largely symbolic gesture, was it worth the risk of upsetting both sides, as we now clearly have done?
Chalmers:
Denham, I don’t think I would agree with the way that you’ve characterised all that. There is really welcome progress and momentum behind the recognition of Palestine as part of a really important step towards a two‑state solution in that part of the world. What we’re trying to do here is to ensure that families, whether they’re in Israel or Palestine, can raise their kids in peace. And for too long, that hasn’t been the reality on the ground in Gaza and in the Middle East, in parts of the Middle East more broadly. And so, this is an important part, Australia making its contribution to that global momentum, to that global progress. Obviously, we need to see the hostages released. We need to make sure that Hamas is absolutely no part of a future government of Palestine. We need to keep the Palestinian Authority up to the mark on the commitments that they’ve made. There’s a lot of hard work still to happen. But this is more than symbolic, it’s important progress towards that two‑state solution, which is all about families raising their kids in peace.
Brace:
Treasurer, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley today claimed she would revoke recognition if the Coalition win the next election. We clearly no longer have bipartisanship on this issue, do we?
Chalmers:
It’s disappointing but not especially surprising that our political opponents don’t want to be constructive about this. As I said before, there is global progress, global momentum. A lot of our friends in the world are taking this really important step, and we’re part of it. And it would be better if our political opponents were more constructive. Unfortunately, I think they’ve learned almost nothing from the last few years, and from the last election. It would be better if they’re more constructive. It’s disappointing but not surprising that they’re not prepared to play that constructive role.
Hitchcock:
Well, Treasurer, big day for you today and at least some good news on the interest rates. We appreciate you coming on the program.
Chalmers:
Thanks for having me on.
Source: Mental Health Australia
The NSW Government is inviting public feedback on a proposed temporary ban of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other e-micromobility devices on train and metro services due to increased concerns about the fire safety risk from lithium-ion batteries.
The Have Your Say consultation period is open from today for three weeks and will be run in conjunction with a similar study by the Victorian Government, which is also consulting on new restrictions.
The consultation aims to get a better understanding of how a temporary ban would impact e-micromobility users, and alternative options for safe use on public transport.
Read the full media release here (PDF, 113.02 KB).
Source: Tasmania Police
Issued: 12 Aug 2025
The 1.8m crocodile will be rehomed in a farm or zoo.
A 1.8m estuarine (salt water) crocodile that recently moved into the Nelly Bay Marina on Magnetic Island was captured in a baited trap on 9 August 2025.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) had received several reports about the animal, including expressions of concern for public safety.
Based on its location and continued presence in the marina, it was targeted for removal from the wild. The animal will be rehomed in a farm or zoo.
DETSI would like to thank those people who reported the crocodile sightings to us. People are encouraged to report all crocodile sightings in a timely manner by using the QWildlife app, calling 1300 130 372 or using the DETSI website. We investigate every sighting report received.
Source: Tasmania Police
Issued: 12 Aug 2025
A DETSI compliance officer surveys the illegally dumped tyres.
Up to 500 tyres were dumped in the national park.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is calling for public assistance to identify the person or business responsible for illegally dumping more than 550 tyres in one of the state’s most iconic national parks.
Rangers discovered the tyres at three separate sites in or around Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland on Thursday, 7 August 2025.
It’s believed the tyres were dumped between Tuesday 5 August and Thursday 7 August, 2025 at three locations along Pine Creek Road – on the corner of Pine Creek Road and Murwillumbah Road, at the edge of a dam on Pine Creek Road, and south of the second bridge on Pine Creek Road.
Jackie McKeay, Executive Director of Waste and Enforcement Services at DETSI, said this incident was extremely serious and had the potential to cause serious harm to a highly sensitive environment.
“Illegal dumping pollutes our soil and waterways, threatens native animals, damages fragile ecosystems, and can pose a significant fire risk.
“The fact that this occurred in Springbrook National Park, an area protected for its internationally-important conservation values, makes this incident even more concerning.
“Departmental officers are working hard to clean up the sites and to identify the person responsible.
“We are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious at these locations between August 5 and 7 to call us on 1300 130 372. Callers can remain anonymous.”
Springbrook National Park features spectacular waterfalls, lush rainforests, and is home to a number of endangered or vulnerable plant and animal species. It forms part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest, one of five World Heritage areas in Queensland.
Everyone can play a part in stamping out illegal dumping by reporting it via DETSI’s Litter and Illegal Dumping Online Reporting System.
Source: New South Wales – News
Police are investigating after four suspects broke into a Woodville West home overnight.
About 7.30pm Tuesday 12 August, patrols responded to a home on Lewis Crescent following reports that four armed men had forced their way inside and confronted the occupant. The suspects stole the victim’s wallet and cash before leaving the scene in a vehicle.
Thankfully, the victim was not injured during the altercation.
Crime Scene investigators attended to examine the scene and Western District Detectives are investigating the circumstances of the incident, which at this time does not appear to be random.
Anyone who was a witness, has CCTV or any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. You can anonymously provide information online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.
02272
Source: New South Wales – News
A cyclist has died in a crash at Kenton Valley, near Gumeracha, this afternoon.
About 12pm today Tuesday 12 August, police and emergency crews were called to Kenton Valley Road after reports of a collision between a van and a cyclist.
Sadly, the cyclist, a 59-year-old Crafers man, died at the scene.
The driver of the car, a 66-year-old man from the Adelaide Hills, was not physically injured in the crash.
Later this afternoon, investigators arrested the driver and charged him with causing death by dangerous driving. He was bailed to appear in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court on 25 September and issued with an instant loss of licence until further order.
Kenton Valley Road was closed for several hours while Major Crash investigators examined the scene, however, has since re-opened.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.
The cyclist death is the 49th life lost on South Australian roads this year.
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