Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia, at the end of a big week in Australian politics. Good morning.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

ALICIA PAYNE, MEMBER FOR CANBERRA: Good morning, everyone. I’m Alicia Payne, the Member for Canberra, and I’m thrilled this morning to be here with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and Housing Minister Clare O’Neil to talk about what we are doing to help more Australians into housing. We’ve just visited the home of my constituents, Mika and Matt, and I really thank them for hosting us this morning. They’re another young couple who have benefited from our five per cent deposit scheme, and it was really heartwarming to see how them and their gorgeous dog, Pikelet, are settling into their new home. Our government is making sure that Australians can get into stable housing, whether it’s achieving the dream of owning their own home, or young homeless people getting into social housing. Our Budget has really invested in that. We’re also levelling the playing field so that incentive is skewed towards investing in new homes, and young people can get that start they need in the housing market. It’s my great pleasure now to hand over to the Prime Minister.

< ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER

Now, Tuesday night’s Budget was an opportunity as well for us to further advance our housing agenda. We have our $47 billion Homes for Australia Plan. That includes the $2 billion of additional funding for that little bit of extra infrastructure that you need for homes to go from the planning stage into construction. It might be sewerage, water, electricity, a little road infrastructure that will make a difference as well. But quite clearly, all of the measures that we’ve put in place for supply haven’t been enough. We need to do more. We need to throw everything at this. And that’s why we’re changing negative gearing so that when someone wants to invest in their own future wealth and a future asset for themselves, if they invest in a new home rather than an existing home, where they’re competing at an auction with first home buyers, and they have an advantage over people who are trying to buy a home for themselves and have that roof over their head. If they invest in a new home, what they’re doing as well is not just investing in their own future wealth and assets, they’re investing in the nation, because they’re assisting in supply. Because people will be skewed who are investors towards the new housing market rather than competing in the existing housing market with first home buyers. This is a really practical change. It’s a practical change which will change people’s lives and make an enormous difference.

And the fact that the Coalition, who I didn’t know that Angus Taylor had employed Malcolm Roberts as a speechwriter, but last night that’s what it looked like. And then you couldn’t have any answers about costings or anything else. They’ve just been a mess and haven’t been able to hold the line this morning. And the Treasurer will say more about the chaos that is the three ring circus of the Coalition, the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation all competing against each other, drifting Australia further and further down the hard right agenda. But our Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil, who I’ll spend a bit of time with over the next week, she has done an amazing job and is very focused. Unlike the former government, who for most of the time they were in office, couldn’t actually have one of their many Prime Ministers turn to a Housing Minister, because they didn’t have one. They didn’t have a Minister, they didn’t have an agenda. All they had was the housing pressures build up and up and up. Well, we’ve taken hard decisions this week to make sure that we continue to deliver more and more for the benefit of particularly young Australians, but also by the grandfathering that’s there, make sure that we also look after people who’ve made those investments under the negative gearing scheme. 

< CLARE O’NEIL, MINISTER FOR HOUSING

Even before the Budget on Tuesday, we had the most ambitious Australian government agenda on housing for 70 years. We’re building more homes, we’re getting renters a better deal and we’re getting more Australians into home ownership. Now, on Tuesday night, we built significantly on that agenda, and the Budget for housing was about two really important things. It’s about levelling the playing field for our nation’s first home buyers and it’s about building more homes for the country. Now, we’ve seen already the Liberals come out and say that they are going to unwind this, they’re going to unwind the five per cent deposit program, they’re going to unwind the tax changes that are going to level the playing field. And this tells us everything about where the Liberals are. They are literally the only people in this country who can’t see that we’ve got a cooked housing market. And while they’re defending the status quo, our government is standing up and fighting for the people of this nation who deserve better housing opportunities. And we’ll continue to do that. And I’d say to the people of this country, we’ve got a big fight on our hands here against an assortment of right wing parties who want to defend the status quo, point the finger at migrants and say, ‘this is everyone else’s fault’. We are going to stand up, we are going to fight for you and we are going to make the housing situation for our country better.

< JIM CHALMERS, TREASURER

Housing is really the defining intergenerational challenge in our economy and in our society, and our Budget does something about it. There’s no point having a ladder if the first few rungs are missing. And what we’re trying to do with this Budget, in addition to all of our work on supply and five per cent deposits, is to make the tax system and the housing market fairer for all Australians, but particularly for younger Australians who’ve been locked out for too long. That’s the motivation behind this Budget. Now, we could have taken a politically easier path and left everything exactly as it is, but that would have made life harder for tens of thousands of Australians, and particularly younger Australians who are getting a raw deal at the intersection of the housing market and the tax system. So, we took the difficult decision to change our policy on negative gearing and Capital Gains to give people a fairer deal, particularly younger people in a housing market and in a tax system which isn’t working for them. That’s really one of the key elements of the Budget that we handed down on Tuesday night.

Now, ours is a plan to strengthen the economy. Angus Taylor’s is a ploy to stave off One Nation. What we saw last night from Angus Taylor was not a Budget Reply, it was a binfire. It wasn’t a Budget Reply, it was a bin fire of higher deficits, more debt, more inflation and more division. Angus Taylor’s recipe is for higher inflation, bigger deficits, more debt and more division in our society. Now, he was asked last night, immediately after giving this speech, how much would his tax plan cost and he couldn’t say. Now, he won’t tell you what he needs to cut to pay for his policies, because he can’t tell you how much it costs. Now, I have seen a lot of Budget replies in my time. The PM has seen a few as well. But I’ve never seen one that has died within half an hour of delivery. But that’s what happened last night. In the very first interview that Angus Taylor gave about his Budget in Reply speech, he couldn’t tell the Australian people how much his plan cost. And that means he can’t tell you how much and how he’ll cut to pay for those tax policies. He can’t tell you what it means for Medicare. We know when the Liberals and Nationals won’t tell you where the cuts are coming from, we know that they’re going after Medicare again to pay for this uncosted, unfunded shambles of a Budget Reply that we saw last night. So, we work through these very serious issues in our economy in a considered and in a methodical way. What Angus Taylor released last night was uncosted. It was unfunded. It was a recipe for much bigger deficits, much more debt and much more division as well. Angus Taylor is focused exclusively on staving off One Nation. This government is focused on strengthening our economy, making it work for more people, and housing is a really important part of that.

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Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

CFA has continued to exceed planned burning and fuel treatment targets over the last two years, further helping to protect Victorians and their properties, agricultural assets, and businesses.

Since June 2025, CFA has completed 170 burning operations across 2,876 hectares.

A recent example of this is when CFA members from Main Ridge, Red Hill, Flinders, Mt Martha, Rye and Balnarring Fire Brigades took part in candling operations along Pindara Road in Arthurs Seat (14 May).

The aim of the day was to work alongside the Mornington Peninsula Shire to reduce the fire hazard around Arthurs Seat and neighbouring residents and businesses.

CFA Planned Burn Operations Officer Graeme Briggs and CFA Commander Nick Bryant said working with residents and brigades to manage fuel loads and reduce bark hazards will help minimise severity of potential ember attack in the event of a fire.

“It has been a working example of interoperability and collaboration between CFA and local Government,” Nick said.

“We are very active in this space for community safety and fire prevention.”

CFA District 8 Vegetation Management Officer Heath Bunting said candling operations are a necessary hazard reduction technique used to remove excessive stringy bark fuel loads.

“Through these practices, the tree itself burns the stringy bark off and collapses onto the ground – removing the fuel load from the tree,” Heath said.

“Reducing fuel decreases the impact of bushfires by lowering its intensity and devastating effects. Lower intensity also makes it easier for firefighters to control a bushfire.”

Planned burning is delivered by CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) to reduce the impact of bushfires as part of the Joint Management Fuel Program through the identification of areas requiring fuel reduction through risk assessment and local knowledge and consultation.

CFA conducts planned burning along roadsides managed by both the Department of Transport and Planning for major arterial roads, and roadsides managed by Local Municipalities.

CFA Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic AFSM said there are many examples of where CFA burns have slowed or halted the spread of fires, increasing the ability of firefighters to control them.

“Our strategic burns have allowed CFA firefighters to contain pockets of a fire at the roadside instead of having the fire jump a road and continue to spread to adjoining properties,” Alen said.

“We saw this throughout the bushfires in 2024-25 in the Cavendish area.”

CFA also delivers planned burns on behalf of and at the request of landowners by local brigades supported by the CFA’s Planned Burn Taskforce, made up of more than 900 volunteers statewide.

Landowners have started to manage their fuel loads around their properties ahead of the next fire season and since 9 March 2026, there have been more than 29,600 private burn-offs registered.

“CFA also delivers a range of alternative non-burning fuel reduction activities where appropriate, such as grass slashing, and mulching,” Alen said.

“It is important to note that planned burning is an important component to reduce the risk of bushfires in Victoria and provides benefits for fire suppression, however it is not a panacea and it needs to work in unison with other fire prevention measures and response system.”

Submitted by	CFA media

Source:

Issue date: Friday, 15 May 2026

The new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence (PJCD) has commenced its work in examining Defence policy, capability development, and administration and expenditure, with an emphasis on long‑term effectiveness and strategic outcomes. At its first meeting on 12 May, the committee elected Senator Deborah O’Neill as Chair and Senator Dave Sharma as Deputy Chair.

Senator Deborah O’Neill said she was honoured to take on the role of Chair.

“Australia is contending with the most complex and demanding strategic environment that it has faced in decades,” she said. “Every Australian has a stake in the success of our resilience, preparedness and capabilities.”

“Parliament has chosen to give this committee stronger powers and a more robust structure to provide necessary bipartisan scrutiny of the agencies involved in our national defence. We will work to ensure Australians are informed about the work and impact of our investments in defence, and the skilled jobs and business growth opportunities that strengthening our sovereign capability and supply chain network provides. In addition, the committee’s new capabilities to obtain private and secure briefings from relevant agencies will ensure proper parliamentary oversight of defence while not compromising national security.”

Deputy Chair, Senator Dave Sharma, said “There is no more important role for the Parliament than protecting the security, interests and way of life of the Australian people, and defending Australia’s sovereignty and national freedoms. With the continued deterioration in Australia’s strategic environment, characterised by growing risk and uncertainty, this task is more vital than ever.

“I look forward to working closely with Chair Senator Deborah O’Neill to ensure the Committee makes an enduring contribution to Australia’s national security and strengthens our national preparedness.”

The PJCD will oversee not only the Department of Defence but a number of other Australian defence agencies including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Australian Submarine Agency. The PJCD welcomes the cooperation of Defence and its portfolio agencies as it embarks on its new oversight responsibilities and emphasises the Committee’s intention to work constructively, rigorously and in the public interest.

Media inquiries

For background information

Committee Secretariat
Ph: 02 6277 4504
pjcd@aph.gov.au

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is launching Palmerston-based Operation Ventura on Monday 18 May, to combat elevated crime and anti-social activity in the area.

Recent crime statistic trends have highlighted a concerning rise in numbers of assaults and total property offences across Palmerston.

Operation Ventura will act as a circuit breaker to reduce crime in Palmerston with high visible policing, strong enforcement, and co-ordinated support for the community.

Police will take immediate enforcement action on detected offending, with a focus on non-compliance with Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs), court orders, and bail conditions.

High-visibility patrols will be deployed in hotspot areas at peak times and wanding operations and traffic enforcement will support broader public safety outcomes.

Our partner agencies will aim to support vulnerable and displaced individuals by providing welfare checks, referrals and connection to support services in order to reduce harm and prevent escalation where possible.

Operation Ventura will include:

• NT Police, (including the new Police Public Safety Officers scheduled to graduate from training on 26 June 2026.)

• Public Order Response Unit

• Larrakia Nation

• Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (Transit Safety Officers)

• Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development (Public Housing Safety Officers)

• Department of Children and Families

• City of Palmerston

• Neptune Security

• Licensing NT

• Department of Education and Training (School Engagement Officers)

• Department of Health

Acting Commissioner Travis Wurst said “Our message is clear. Police are present, active and responding to community concerns.

“The Northern Territory Police Force wants the community to feel safe in knowing that there will be an increased police presence across Palmerston, particularly the known hotspots where anti-social behaviour and criminal offending is occurring.

“Operation Ventura is about engaging with the Palmerston community and we encourage people to come say hello when you see us out and about.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) has arrested and charged a 25-year-old male in Alice Springs in relation to the public display of a hate symbol.

Police received information that in late December 2025, an adult male attended a business in Alice Springs with a visible Swastika tattoo on his leg.  

NTPF detectives commenced an investigation and subsequently identified a 25-year-old male.

Yesterday, members from the Southern Drug Investigation Unit arrested the male on Bath Street. As part of the investigation, police executed a search warrant at the offender’s home address in Elder Street and seized items indicative of drug supply.

He was conveyed to the Alice Springs Watch House and has since been charged with:

• Public display of prohibited Nazi symbol

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court today. 

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

Bendigo’s performing arts scene is hitting a high note this May, with a sold-out local theatre production and landmark orchestral festival set to draw audiences from across the region and beyond.

The City of Greater Bendigo is celebrating the success of shows from performance partners Bendigo Theatre Company and Bendigo Symphony Orchestra, with a sold-out season of Priscilla Queen of the Desert taking to the Ulumbarra Theatre stage until May 17, and the upcoming Beethoven Festival from May 29 to 31.

The Bendigo Theatre Company’s vibrant production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert marks the first time the much-loved musical has been staged in Bendigo, delighting audiences with its high-energy performances, dazzling costumes and celebration of community and inclusion.

Following closely behind, the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra’s 45th anniversary Beethoven Festival brings together five orchestras for one of the most ambitious musical events presented in regional Australia.

Musicians will travel from Ballarat, Melbourne, and Adelaide to join local talent in performing the complete cycle of Beethoven’s nine symphonies – a rare opportunity to hear this extraordinary body of work across one weekend.

Manager Bendigo Venues & Events Julie Amos said the back-to-back events highlight the strength and vibrancy of Bendigo’s arts and culture sector.

“Seeing a locally produced musical sell out at Ulumbarra Theatre is a fantastic achievement and speaks to the incredible talent and dedication of our community,” Ms Amos said.

“Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a joyful celebration that has clearly resonated with audiences, and it’s wonderful to see such strong support for local theatre.

“The upcoming Beethoven Festival will further cement Bendigo’s reputation as a destination for major cultural experiences and will be a real treat for classical music lovers.

“To present the complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies in a single weekend is an extraordinary undertaking and a rare opportunity for audiences.

“The festival will bring musicians and visitors to Bendigo and showcases the depth of artistic excellence we have in regional Victoria.”

Audiences are encouraged to keep an eye on upcoming performances across Bendigo’s venues as a dynamic calendar of events continues throughout the year.

To purchase tickets to the Beethoven Festival and for more information about upcoming shows and events, visit:

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

Issued on
15 May 2026 10:32

Warning area
Meningie in the Coorong region.

Warning level
Advice – Avoid Smoke

Action
Smoke from MENINGIE is in the Meningie township 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: Prime Minister of Australia

he Albanese Labor Government has now helped more than 250,000 Australians buy a home through the 5% Deposit Scheme, helping a new generation of Australians get into home ownership.

This has helped Australians save more than $2.3 billion on Lenders Mortgage Insurance costs and taken years off the time it takes to get into a home. 

This milestone builds on the Government’s housing plan announced in the Budget to build more homes, make the tax system fairer and help more Australians realise the dream of home ownership with reforms to negative gearing and the capital gains tax.

For too long, too many Australians have worked hard, done all the right things, and still felt locked out of home ownership.

That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is focused on tackling the housing challenge from every responsible angle: helping Australians buy a home, building more homes more quickly, getting renters a better deal and making the housing system fairer for younger Australians trying to get ahead.

Since coming to office, the Government has helped more than 250,000 Australians into home ownership, including more than 172,000 Australians in metro areas, and more than 81,000 Australians across regional and remote Australia.

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This milestone shows Labor remains the party of home ownership, and the party of aspiring homeowners.

Attributable to the Prime Minister:

“We are making it easier and fairer for young Australians to buy their first home.

“Our 5 per cent deposits have now helped 250,000 first home buyers get into the housing market.

“This is helping people into home ownership sooner, while saving them money along the way.

“This year’s Budget is helping 75,000 more Australians into their first home by making the tax rules fairer and by building more homes.

“We’re delivering more tax cuts, giving people a fair crack at buying their first home, and an economy that works for Australians, businesses and future generations.”

Attributable to the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers:

“This Budget delivers more homes and a fairer go for first home buyers.

“Whether it’s five per cent deposits, more help for first homebuyers or by building more homes, we’re coming at this housing challenge from every responsible angle.

“We know it’s too hard for too many Australians to buy their own home and get ahead and that’s why we’re investing in housing supply, making our tax system fairer and putting first home buyers ahead of foreign investors.”

Attributable to Minister for Housing, Clare O’Neil:

“We know that the housing system feels stacked against first home buyers so we’re levelling the playing field and building more homes.

“I don’t care what your politics is, 250,000 first homebuyers is a staggering number of people to have helped into homeownership, and there are thousands more to come.

“We want more homes and more home owners, and that’s what we’re working to deliver.”

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

Watch and admire the creative energy of nine mural artists as they set to work to transform Pennyweight Walk in the heart of the city centre with a new vibrant open-air gallery from May 16-24.

The City of Greater Bendigo’s A Week in the Lane initiative will see a variety of selected local and street artists paint new murals live on site, only using brushes and/or rollers.

The nine artists were selected following an expression of interest in March for local mural and street artists to deliver new vibrant pieces of public art based on their individual theme choice.

Bendigo Venues & Events Manager Julie Amos said this was an exciting creative project for the city centre.

“The chosen artists were selected for their passion for colour, place and storytelling, and individual themes,” Ms Amos said.

“This is a wonderful celebration of Greater Bendigo’s creative spirit as they transform the laneway with fresh colour and vibrancy.

“The nine new murals will be unveiled as part of A Week in the Lane between May 16-24.

“Community members are encouraged to drop in throughout the week to see the works in progress, meet the artists, and experience the laneway’s evolving transformation. It’s a great reason for residents and visitors to explore the city centre and appreciate the new murals.”

The refreshed Pennyweight Walk will be celebrated at a launch on Sunday May 24, 2026 at 2pm. All are welcome.

Artists involved: Frankie O, Kim Lowe, Louise Davis, Wes Franklin, Tomi McManus, Kate Smith, Alicia Huddy, Maxine Thomson and Narsha Kang.