Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Emma Sleep Pty Ltd has admitted it made false or misleading representations about the sale prices of mattresses, bed frames, pillows, and accessories. The Federal Court today found that its related entity Bettzeit Southeast Asia Inc. also engaged in the admitted conduct.

Emma Sleep Pty Ltd admitted that between at least 15 June 2020 and 27 March 2023 it advertised 74 products online, showing a purchase price alongside a higher price with a ‘strikethrough’, and also displaying a percentage discount (such as ‘50% OFF’), or indicating the sale price would represent a certain saving to the consumer (such as ‘Save as much as $3,531’).

Of the 74 products, 58 products had not previously been for sale at the strikethrough price or a price equivalent to the price without the claimed discount.

The remaining 16 products had almost never been for sale at the strikethrough price or a price equivalent to the price without the claimed discount.

“Sales and claimed savings can be enticing to consumers so it is important these claims are accurate,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

Emma Sleep Pty Ltd also admitted that it had made misleading representations that products would only be available at sale prices for a limited period of time, when in fact that was not the case.

“Sales campaigns on the Emma Sleep website and other platforms indicated that discounts would only be available for limited periods of time through the use of countdown timers. The timers created a false sense of urgency by suggesting the sale price would no longer be available after the timer reached zero. In fact, after reaching zero the countdown timers reset, or the products continued to be advertised for sale at the same or similar discount.”

“These type of false advertising practices not only mislead customers but also mean companies get an unfair advantage over other suppliers,” Ms Lowe said.

The ACCC had also taken action against Emma Sleep Pty Ltd’s German parent, Emma Sleep GmbH. The Court dismissed the ACCC’s allegations that Emma Sleep GmbH engaged in the alleged conduct, or that Emma Sleep Pty Ltd had acted at the direction of, or as an agent for, Emma Sleep GmbH.

The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, injunctions, and other orders.

The Court will determine the penalty and other orders after a hearing on a date to be fixed.

The ACCC will continue to scrutinise promotional conduct by retailers. One of the ACCC’s Compliance and Enforcement Priorities for 2025-26 is ‘consumer and fair trading concerns in the supermarket and retail sectors, with a focus on misleading pricing practices.’

Background

Emma Sleep GmbH is a German bedroom furniture supplier based in Frankfurt that commenced trading in 2013. Emma Sleep GmbH operates in over 30 countries.

Bettzeit Southeast Asia Inc is a subsidiary of Emma Sleep GmbH which operates in the Philippines.

Emma Sleep Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Emma Sleep GmbH which operates in Australia and has done so since 2020.

The ACCC instituted proceedings against Emma Sleep GmbH, Bettzeit and Emma Sleep Pty Ltd on 14 December 2023.

Emma Sleep advertises its products on its website, its Facebook and Instagram pages, its comparison website https://www.top5bestmattress.com.au, TV, radio, print media, email, SMS and through third-party retailer websites such as Woolworths Marketplace and Bunnings Marketplace.
 

Image of Emma Sleep website showing countdown timer and alleged discount pricing

Example of Emma Sleep social media advertising

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

ALICIA PAYNE, MEMBER FOR CANBERRA: Good morning, everyone. I’m Alicia Payne, the Member for Canberra, and it’s my great pleasure this morning to have Education Minister Jason Clare visiting Goodstart Braddon, here in the electorate. And I want to thank Crystal and the team for welcoming us this morning, and the children for sharing some colouring in with us. Lovely to meet them. 

As a parent, I really know the value of early childhood education. When you drop your children off at early learning, you want to know that they are getting a great experience, that they are having fun, that they are learning and being cared for. But above all, you want to know that they are safe. And today, we are making some announcements that will strengthen the regulations around keeping our children as safe as possible and supporting our wonderful early childhood educators to maintain the best standards in early childhood education and care. 

And as always, when I visit the centre, as I visit many centres around Canberra, I just want to say, take the opportunity to say a big thank you to all of the educators who do such an incredible job with our youngest Canberrans. Taking the time and with the skill and dedication that they show each and every day to give people the best start in life. And it’s my great pleasure to hand over to Jason now.

JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks very much, Alicia. And thanks to the team here at Goodstart Braddon for letting us come to visit today. The sign on the door says it all. Early education and care helps to make sure that young people get a good start in life. Early education and care helps mums and dads to return to work, but it also helps to make sure that young Australians are better prepared to start school. And the early development census data that’s out today is more evidence of that. That data shows the real long-term impact of the pandemic on our youngest Australians. 

These are kids who were born in 2018 and 2019. They’re kids of the pandemic. And the data out today shows the impact of the pandemic on them. Early education and care isn’t babysitting. This really is about helping to prepare young people for school. And the data out today shows that. It shows that children who went to preschool were one and a half times more prepared, better prepared to start school. And that’s why the 3 Day Guarantee that comes into effect from January next year is so important. That’s all about making sure that every child in Australia, regardless of the income of their parents or where you live, gets access to a 3 Day Guarantee early education and care subsidised by the Australian Government. Because we know the data tells us that if you get access to early education and care, then you’re better developed, better prepared to start school.

We’re making big changes in early education and care. Number one, we’ve cut the cost of early education care for more than a million Australian families. Number two, we’re providing a 15 per cent pay rise for our early educators, 10 per cent rolling out now and another 5 per cent starts in December. And we’re making sure that more young people can get access to early education and care first with that 3 Day Guarantee that starts in January next year. But in addition to that, a $1 billion dollar fund that we took to the last election and that was endorsed by the Australian people, to build more early education and care centres where they’re needed. In our outer suburbs and in our regions, in areas that are sometimes called child care deserts, including on the grounds of local schools. 

But in addition to that, we need to do more to make sure that our centres are safe, that they’re of the highest quality possible and that they’ve got the integrity that’s needed so that Australian parents have got faith in the services that they rely upon, looking after and educating their children. And so, you will remember that in July last year, we took steps to ban the use of personal mobile phones in child care centres. And that was in response to the evidence that emerged out of NSW and Queensland about an offender working in child care centres. We took that action as a nation, and that was implemented last year. 

In response to some of the evidence that emerged out of the 4 Corners report earlier this year, we announced a series of other measures to improve safety and the quality of our services. And that includes where a provider is not up to scratch, stopping them from expanding other services, but also where a provider is dodgy, not letting them move from child care to another part of the care economy from, for example, stopping them from opening a NDIS service. And legislation to implement the reforms that we announced earlier this year will come into the Parliament later this year.

But in addition to that, based on the advice from ACECQA, Education Ministers have now agreed that the mandatory reporting of sexual abuse and physical abuse in child care centres will need to be reported to regulators within 24 hours, instead of the seven-day rule that exists at the moment, and that will come into effect from the first of September this year. 

All of these reforms are about making our early education system better and safer, improving quality and improving the integrity of the system. And when Education Ministers meet on Friday in Adelaide next week, one of the things that we will talk about are the next steps that we need to take to improve the quality and the safety and the integrity of our early education and care system. Thanks very much.
 

Source: Australian National Party

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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source:

A group of brigades in the outer suburbs of Melbourne are ready for the fire season ahead with four new tankers and a newly renovated station at Chirnside Park.

The Basin, Olinda and South Warrandyte brigades officially received their new heavy tankers at an event on Sunday 15 June, while Chirnside Park received a medium tanker along with their station refurbishment.

Chirnside Park was originally built in 2004 as a satellite station of Lilydale, it became a standalone brigade in 2015.

The renovations provide a new multi-purpose room and kitchen as well as a new workshop, entry and turnout area. Further alterations include upgraded bathrooms, breathing apparatus maintenance, a drying room and two new offices.

Chirnside Park Captain Ben Cash said the renovated station will assist with growing membership numbers and will improve their ability to respond to emergencies.

“The extension also gives us increased room to expand our training and improve the skillset of our dedicated members,” Ben said.

“The renovation comes at a time when our station is celebrating 10 years as a standalone brigade which is a great way to round off the decade.”

Chirnside Park also received a new medium tanker, further boosting their service to the area.

The medium tanker is equipped with a 2,500 litre water capacity that allows for rapid and controlled suppression of fires directly from the vehicle.

“This new tanker is a great asset for us, it is four-wheel drive and comfortably seats a crew of five,” Ben said.

“Our previous medium tanker served us well but this new tanker provides double the pumping ability which is more beneficial for our growing urban population.

“The new tanker has already been in good use, responding to the Montrose fire earlier this year.”

Deputy Chief Officer Gavin Thompson said the renovated station and four new tankers are welcomed resources for the region.

“The four tankers have state-of-the-art features and will be well utilised in their new homes,” Gavin said.

“The heavy tanker holds 4,000 litres of water, has automatic transmission, four-wheel drive and crew cab to provide firefighters with greater on and off-road capability, safety and comfort. 

“It also features improved firefighter operator interface and features to reduce fatigue and improve safety and ergonomics, including crew protection systems, electronic monitors, and electric rewind hose reels. 

“Each brigade will greatly benefit from their new trucks and Chirnside Park’s 37 members will also enjoy their refurbished station for many years to come.”

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Man in custody on firearms charges

Monday, 16 June 2025 – 11:35 am.

A 28-year-old man is in custody facing several charges after an incident in Hobart on Sunday afternoon in which police allege he threatened a person with a firearm at a city hotel and attempted to dispose of two additional firearms in the CBD, while trying to outrun officers.
A quick police response is being credited with the Hobart man’s timely arrest, without incident, in the Liverpool Street area when uniform police officers successfully chased him down on foot.
Following the man’s arrest, a search was conducted of a property in Campbell Street, Hobart, where police seized another firearm and ammunition. In total, four firearms (including a stolen firearm), a quantity of ammunition and prescription medication have been seized.
The man from will appear in Hobart Magistrates Court today charged with:
• Aggravated assault
• Possession of a stolen firearm
• Possess a firearm when not the holder of a firearm licence of the appropriate category
• Possess a firearm to which a firearms licence may not be issued
• Possess ammunition when not the holder of the appropriate firearm licence
• Possess a controlled drug. (minor offence)
• Possess thing used for administration of controlled drug. (minor offence)
Anyone that may have witnessed the incident, or may have information that can assist police can call 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: Australian National Party

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Man arrested following Hawks v Crows Match at UTAS Stadium

Saturday, 14 June 2025 – 9:15 am.

A 42-year-old man from Launceston was arrested following an incident at UTAS Stadium on Friday night.
Shortly after the final siren of the AFL match, the man entered the playing surface, disrupting post-match activities while players and umpires were leaving the ground. Security personnel swiftly intervened, but during the incident, two security guards were assaulted.
Police attended and arrested the man, who appeared to be intoxicated.
No injuries were reported. The man was charged with trespass, assault and disorderly conduct, and will appear in court at a later date.