Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Equifax Australasia Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd in which Equifax has agreed not to enter into any new agreements preventing Equifax’s competitors from being able to access electronic payroll and superannuation data.

Equifax is part of a corporate group which operates a large and well-established credit bureau in Australia. It has operated a verification exchange service in Australia since 2020.

Payroll and superannuation data is used to provide automated income verification services across Australia, as many lenders are transitioning their income verification practices towards automated solutions.

The undertaking offered by Equifax follows a detailed investigation by the ACCC into whether Equifax’s contracts amounted to unlawful exclusive dealing that had the purpose or likely effect of substantially lessening competition.

The ACCC was particularly concerned about terms in the agreement Equifax entered into in 2021 with SuperChoice Services, one of the largest holders of payroll and superannuation  data willing to supply data to third parties for income verification purposes.

“Equifax’s contract prevented SuperChoice from supplying data to other Australian suppliers of income verification services and included a clause requiring SuperChoice to phase out sharing data with one of Equifax’s competitors,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Whether it’s for home loans, car loans or a new credit card, consumers across Australia apply for financing every day. Their lenders, mortgage brokers and aggregators use income verification services to check their income to facilitate their financing needs.”

“Harm to competition in a crucial part of the lending process, such as income verification, can have flow on effects to consumers in terms of choice, quality and price,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

The agreement also incentivised SuperChoice’s exclusive supply of data to Equifax through a revenue sharing arrangement.

“We considered Equifax’s contract with one of its key suppliers to be a case of anti-competitive exclusive dealing by Equifax that needed to be stopped to protect the competitive process. In evolving markets, exclusive agreements, particularly by large established firms, can deter entry and innovation,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Competition in the digital economy is a key priority for the ACCC and we will continue to take enforcement action against businesses that engage in unlawful anti-competitive conduct.”

As a result of the ACCC’s investigation, Equifax stopped relying on the exclusivity and revenue sharing provisions in its agreement with SuperChoice in May 2025. It amended the agreement to remove these clauses in September 2025.

Equifax has also informed other data holders that they are not prevented from supplying data to Equifax’s competitors or any other party.

Companies who access data for income verification purposes must comply with Australia’s privacy laws.

More information and details of the undertaking can be found at Equifax Australasia Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd.

Background

Equifax

Equifax is part of a corporate group which operates a large and well-established credit bureau in Australia (formerly known as Veda Advantage). Equifax has verification exchange services in other jurisdictions including the US, the UK and Canada, and launched the Australian service in May 2020.

SuperChoice

SuperChoice is a superannuation clearing house, as well as a Sending Service Provider, which is a business accredited to submit payroll information to the Australian Taxation Office in a mandated electronic form.

Income verification

Banks and other lenders, mortgage brokers and aggregators use income verification services to check income when consumers apply for finance including loans or credit cards. This is to comply with their responsible lending obligations and to assess the likelihood of the borrower being able to repay the loan. Most Australians will need to have their income verified at some point, with some lenders passing on costs of conducting income verification.

The industry has been moving towards automated verification methods because it is a quicker and smoother option for customers. Providing more automated forms of verification, rather than asking a customer to provide payslips or other documents, can reduce customer dropouts and increase efficiencies.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Products and services incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have continued to rapidly develop in 2025, with competition and consumer implications for Australian consumers and businesses, an ACCC industry snapshot on AI has found.

“AI-enabled products and services are growing more and more important to consumers and businesses across Australia,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“New developments have the potential to transform how Australians work, communicate, and engage with digital services. However, they also come with risks of potential harms to consumers and competition.”

“The continued rapid pace of developments in AI, and growing variety of AI applications, underscores the need for continued monitoring by regulators and governments,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

The snapshot, which updates on recent trends and significant developments in generative AI since the March 2025 Final Report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry, has reiterated the ACCC’s support for a monitoring function for emerging digital technologies under the Government’s proposed digital competition regime.

AI technologies and markets are developing rapidly, raising potential competition implications

The ACCC’s AI snapshot examined recent trends and developments in AI technology, noting several advances in foundation models and AI applications, including advancements in AI agents, since the ACCC’s March 2025 report.

“Our snapshot has outlined increasing interconnections between AI offerings and existing digital platform services, often supplied by tech giants, as AI technology matures,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“While these integrations can improve user experience, they may also have negative implications by raising barriers to entry or expansion, and consumers’ ability and willingness to switch service providers.”

The ACCC’s snapshot also reviews the developments in agentic AI, including AI agents.

“Use of agentic AI has the potential to impact how users deal with businesses online, or use digital platform services such as searching the internet,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Their use may also give rise to new risks, such as the possibility of AI agents colluding, even where this is not expressly intended or programmed by human creators.”

The ACCC’s snapshot also explores the significant activity in terms of investments, acquisitions and partnerships in the AI sector globally and in Australia.

“Major digital platforms and AI firms are making substantial investments at all levels of the AI supply chain to support the development of more advanced AI models and to meet future demand,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“These include direct investment in AI infrastructure, partnerships between key firms, and competition to attract a limited pool of technical expertise including through ‘acquihires’. The ACCC will continue to closely monitor deals and conduct in Australia.”

Increasing consumer and business uptake of AI may amplify risks of consumer harms

The AI snapshot identified several emerging risks to consumers related to increasing use of AI services.

Potential consumer issues include the widespread use and collection of consumers’ data, use of AI to facilitate false representations or generate large volumes of fake reviews and facilitate and enhance online scams.

“The integration of AI into various digital products and services is already delivering benefits to Australian consumers, including by enabling new app functionalities and simplifying some tasks,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“However, AI also has the potential to amplify existing consumer risks relating to how businesses communicate with consumers, whether consumers are well-informed about businesses’ use of their data, and risks posed by scammers.”

For example, research commissioned by the ACCC for its March 2025 Final Report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry indicates 83 per cent of surveyed Australian consumers  believe companies should get consent before using personal data to train AI models.

However, the ACCC’s snapshot reveals that vast amounts of consumer data is currently already collected and used to train AI models, often without consumers’ knowledge or informed consent. This is in part because of the length, complexity and ambiguity of online terms of service and privacy policies.

“We are already seeing instances where generative AI is being used to facilitate false representations about the performance or characteristics of a product or service, ” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Ghost websites, which misrepresent themselves as local businesses, often use generative AI images to build a sense of credibility.”

“Online product listings may use generative AI to make products appear more sophisticated, or of a higher quality, than they actually are,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

“AI may also be used to generate and disseminate large volumes of fake reviews. These reviews may be seen as more credible and persuasive by consumers, and be increasingly more difficult to detect.”

“Similarly, AI is increasingly being used by scammers to facilitate and enhance online scam activity, often making online scams appear more credible, and harder for victims to identify,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

Emerging AI technologies need continued scrutiny from governments and regulators

“The pace of continued changes since the ACCC provided the Australian Government with the Final Report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry in March this year underscores the importance of regulators and governments continuing to monitor changing digital technologies,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

The ACCC continues to strongly support the Government’s commitment to implement a new digital competition regime in response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Services Inquiry recommendations.

Background:

The ACCC’s Digital Markets Branch conducted a five-year inquiry into markets for the supply of digital platform services in Australia and their impacts on competition and consumers, following a direction from the Treasurer in 2020.

In the fifth DPSI interim report on regulatory reform, the ACCC made a range of recommendations to bolster competition in the digital economy, level the playing field between big tech companies and Australian businesses, and reduce prices for consumers. The recommendations include new service-specific mandatory codes of conduct for particular ‘designated digital platforms,’ based on principles set out in legislation.

In December 2023, the Government accepted the ACCC’s findings that existing competition provisions by themselves are not sufficient to address current or potential future competition harms and supported-in-principle the development of a new digital competition regime. In December 2024, the Government began consultation on the implementation of a new digital competition regime in Australia.

The March 2025 Final Report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry reiterated the ACCC’s support for a new digital competition regime, and also made two new recommendations to Government, that:

• the ACCC should continue to have a monitoring function for emerging digital technologies under the proposed digital competition regime, and
• that the Australian Government should prioritise a whole-of-government approach to digital platform regulation and endorse the Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) as a permanent forum with adequate resources to undertake information-sharing and collaboration between Australian digital platform regulators.

Notes to editors

‘Acquihires’ refer to acquisitions, partnerships or other arrangements between firms where the primary goal is acquiring access to employees’ talent and expertise.

‘AI agents’ are software systems that can autonomously perform tasks with minimal input from human users.

‘Artificial intelligence (AI)’ refer to the ability of computer software to perform tasks that are complex enough to simulate a level of capability or understanding usually associated with human intelligence.

‘Foundation models’ are general purpose AI models which are trained on large datasets, and allow developers to build AI applications.

‘Generative AI’ refer to a specific type of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms trained to learn the patterns and structure of their training data, and generate new content in response to prompts.

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

COOMANDOOK

Issued on
16 Dec 2025 21:36

Coomandook Haystack Fire

The CFS is actively monitoring the Coomandook haystack fire at Werrimbrook Road 30km south of Tailem Bend in the Coorong Region, South Australia.

CFS volunteers, supported by Farm Fire Units and heavy machinery are on scene pulling apart the haystack to allow it to burn until it self-extinguishes. This operation will continue through the night and potentially into the comings days.

The landowner has assisted firefighters by constructing a mineral earth break around the fire, preventing it from spreading to adjoining crop stubble.

The CFS can confirm the hay storage shed and farm machinery stored inside the shed have been impacted by fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Smoke is impacting roads in the area, and visibility may be reduced. To ensure your safety and that of firefighters and other emergency personnel who are working in the area, please do not enter the area unless necessary.

Message ID 0008817

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
16 Dec 2025 20:26

Warning area
Coomandook near Coomandook in the Coorong area of South Australia.

Warning level
Advice – Avoid Smoke

Action
Smoke from COOMANDOOK fire on Wirrimbrook Road is in the Coomandook, Yumali and Dukes Highway area.

Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.

Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.

If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.

More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Local artists are invited to submit an expression of interest for the opportunity to exhibit their work at local businesses as part of the Eat.Drink.Art program in View Street during 2026.

The Eat.Drink.Art works will be on display at selected businesses from Saturday April 4 (Easter weekend) to Monday August 2, 2026, as part of the City of Greater Bendigo’s city centre activations.

Artists are asked to complete an expression of interest, including examples of their work and details about concepts they would like to develop for the exhibition.

Creative City Officer Mandy Field said the program continued to be a popular way for artists and businesses to connect since its inception in 2024.

“Eat.Drink.Art is a fantastic platform to showcase local talent, offering exhibition space and building exposure,” Ms Field said.

“It also helps businesses develop relationships with artists. We’ve already had strong support from View Street businesses for the Eat.Drink.Art art trail in 2026, which will be a great experience for residents and visitors.

“Selected artists will be paired with participating businesses, a collaboration that has proven highly successful in previous years.”

Eat.Drink.Art 2026 is part of a series of city centre public activations planned during the major redevelopment at Bendigo Art Gallery.

Expressions of interest close on Tuesday January 27, 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Tuesday February 3, 2026, and final selections by Thursday February 12, 2026.

For more information, email [email protected]

To view the guidelines or submit their expression of interest, visit:

Source: Tasmania Police

Former school worker to face child sex abuse charge

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 – 3:56 pm.

Detectives from Northern Family and Sex Crimes Division have charged a former staff member at a Tasmanian school with child sex offences.
The 70-year-old man was arrested this morning and charged with persistent sexual abuse of a child or young person.
The charge relates to crimes allegedly committed in Tasmania between 2018 and 2020.
The man is expected to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on February 18, 2026.
If you suspect child abuse, report it on 131 444 or if the child is in immediate danger, call 000.
You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au
Support for victim survivors, if required, is available through Arch https://arch.tas.gov.au/ or via https://keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/get-support/

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Today, we have declared Sunday’s Bondi attack a terrorist incident for the purposes of the Terrorism and Cyclone Insurance Act 2003, based on advice from relevant agencies and following consultation with the Minister for Home Affairs.

This will ensure businesses can lodge insurance claims related to the Bondi terrorist attack.

No business affected by this despicable act should have a legitimate claim denied due to terrorism exclusions in their insurance policies.

This declaration overrules any terrorism exclusion clauses in affected businesses’ insurance policies and means providers can’t refuse claims on the grounds that losses arise from an act of terrorism. Relevant claims include:

• Commercial property damage,
• Business continuity losses,
• Public liability.

In the first instance, anyone seeking to make a claim should contact their insurer.

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

The Albanese Government is backing the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry with the first of three significant grants under the $10 million Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF) announced today.

This funding is the first stage of delivering on the commitment that we made at the 2025 election to invest in bringing more tourists to the Great Barrier Reef, supporting jobs and businesses in Tropical North Queensland.

The $3 million grant will enable Tourism Tropical North Queensland to conduct an international education campaign promoting the Reef in key overseas markets.

The campaign will amplify the important message that visiting the Great Barrier Reef is not only a breathtaking experience, but a vital way to help protect it.

Other funding to be delivered under the REEF over the next three years includes:

• $6 million for a “Kids for the Reef” rebate program for schools across Australia to subsidise excursions to the Great Barrier Reef – making it easier for students to experience the Reef first-hand and understand its ecological significance.
• $1 million in support for local Reef tourism operators, covering up to 50 per cent of the cost of necessary upgrades, checks or clearances to accommodate school groups.

The $10m Reef Educational Experience Fund is part of $18.5m in targeted funding by the Albanese government to support tourism in both Far North Queensland and Central Australia.  

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell

“This program will help protect and promote the Great Barrier Reef as one of Australia’s greatest natural assets.

“Seeing the Reef up close is an unforgettable experience for Australians, attracting millions of visitors from around the world each year.

“By educating international visitors on the importance of sustainable tourism we can preserve this natural wonder and the thousands of jobs it supports.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Tourism Nita Green

“The Great Barrier Reef is an important environmental and economic asset for Australia, contributing over $9 billion to the economy annually and supporting 77 thousand jobs.

“While the Reef faces new challenges, it’s important that we protect both the delicate ecosystem and the communities who rely on it.

“That’s why we’re working with industry, like TTNQ, to deliver support for sustainable tourism that will safeguard the Reef for future generations.”

Quotes attributable to Matt Smith MP, Member for Leichhardt

“The Great Barrier Reef is more than a global icon for Far North Queenslanders – it’s part of our identity.

“When we protect the Reef, we protect jobs in the local community.

“This targeted funding is an investment in the future of Far North Queensland.

Source: Tasmania Police

Get on board with safe boating this summer

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 – 2:03 pm.

As the summer season kicks off across Tasmania, police are urging boaties and their passengers to get on board with staying safe.Inspector Nikala Parsons said with waterways becoming busier, now’s the time to ensure you’re well-prepared and ready for a safe season.“As always, our marine officers will be patrolling Tasmanian waters, conducting compliance checks and enforcement across popular boating locations,” she said.“Boating is part of our Tasmanian lifestyle, but it must be done with care.”“Take the time now to check your boat and your gear, wear a proper lifejacket, make sure your passengers do too, and stay alert and sober.”“Tassie waterways often see a surge in incidents during the Christmas/New Year period, and we know national data shows a spike in drownings and watercraft accidents over the festive season.”“Nationally, not wearing a compliant life jacket remains one of the top reasons for on-water fatalities.”Before you head out this summer, get on board with safe boating:• Plan before you launcho Check the weather forecast and tides.o Ensure your vessel is seaworthy and not overloaded.o Carry all required safety equipment (anchor, flares, EPIRB, VHF radio, first aid kit).o If boating solo, tell someone your plan and when you expect to be back• Wear a life jacketo Mandatory for all on board; check it’s AS4758 compliant and in good condition.o Inflatable life jackets must be serviced regularly.• Stay alert and sobero Alcohol and boating don’t mix. Stay under 0.05.o Keep a proper lookout and maintain safe speed.• Be ready to act in an emergencyo Know how to use your VHF radio and EPIRB.o In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or raise the alarm, without putting yourself at risk.• Be safe when swimming or divingo Never swim or dive alone; always dive with a buddy.• Swim between the red and yellow flags.• Supervise children closely and avoid swimming at night or in unpatrolled areas.
For more information on safe boating and equipment requirements, visit www.mast.tas.gov.au.To learn more about beach safety, visit https://beachsafe.org.au/ 

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Held every November, the Pearcedale Fire Brigade Community Golf Day has become a much-loved tradition that brings the community together in support of a vital cause.

Founded 21 years ago by Alistair Errey and Michael Mitchell, the event has grown into one of the brigade’s most successful fundraisers, generating close to $200,000 to help support local firefighting efforts over the years.

Money raised goes towards equipment maintenance and updates and assists the brigade in responding to emergency incidents and serving the community.

Al and Mitch have spent countless hours coordinating the event and engaged the support of numerous other brigade members to ensure the day runs smoothly each year. 

Collectively, they have nearly 50 years’ experience with Pearcedale CFA, holding various roles from firefighter to captain. They have been the driving force behind the success of the event, encouraging long-term community support of the competition. 

The first Annual Golf Day was held at Devil Bend Golf Course in 2003 with 36 players competing. Subsequent golf days have been held at Lang Lang Golf Course and in most years the event attracts about 100 players. Unfortunately, COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the event twice, but player numbers have begun to build up again since then. 

Until recently, the Pearcedale Fire Brigade, supported by the Pearcedale Support Group, managed all catering for the event, providing a cooked breakfast and roast lunch. Catering is now handled by Lang Lang Golf Club, easing the workload for the brigade, though some members miss the camaraderie that came with organising it. Previously, more than 20 brigade members were involved in catering duties on the day.

The early days involved many long hours of sending letters to sponsors and players. Thankfully, this is now achieved by electronic means thanks to a couple of tech savvy members.  

Players at the event compete in a standard 18-hole course, as well as mini competitions including closest to the pins, straightest drives, best dressed team, a putting competition and a Mulligan hole which provides added excitement.  

Traditionally, the event was run under the Stableford format but was changed in 2025 to be Four Ball Best Ball (Ambrose Format). This change has made it more of a team event and we have had very positive feedback about the change in format.  

Although it is difficult to predict the weather on the day, the variable weather has not stopped the players from having a great time, even when it’s been raining.  

The event is strongly supported by four major sponsors – Bendigo Bank, Coolibah Herbs, MediaBank and Stirling Real Estate – along with local businesses sponsoring each of the 18 holes. Brigade members are encouraged to seek additional hole sponsors through their workplaces and networks, while many small and large businesses generously donate prizes and auction items for the day.

Pearcedale Fire Brigade is very grateful to all its sponsors who have supported its fundraising efforts.  

Captain Kevin (Sully) Sullivan has also been a great supporter of the event and stresses that although primarily the event is a fundraiser, the engagement between the brigade and community is by far the most positive outcome of the day.

The next Pearcedale Fire Brigade Annual Golf Day will be held at Lang Lang Golf Course on Sunday 22 November 2026.

We invite readers to join in and have fun on this, and future golf days.

Submitted by	Pearcedale Fire Brigade