Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Source: Australian National Party

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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police attended a residence in Larrakeyah overnight following an indecent assault and urge the community to remain vigilant.

Around 10:40pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report of a male intruder at a unit complex where a female had allegedly been indecently assaulted while in bed.

It is alleged the victim woke to a hand across her mouth before she pushed the hand away and called for help. The offender subsequently fled the scene.

The victim described the offender as neatly dressed in all black, wearing a full-face balaclava mask. He was approximately 190cm tall, slim build, with tanned skin and long eyelashes.

Upon police arrival, it was reported the male had allegedly entered a second apartment and stolen multiple personal items.

Detectives from the NT Police Force Sex Crimes Section have carriage of the incidents and investigations remain ongoing. At this stage, it is unknown whether the incident is linked to the recent indecent assault that occurred in Parap; however, police are investigating all possibilities.

The offenders involved in both incidents remain outstanding.

Detective Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said, “The nature of these incidents are understandably concerning to the community.  

“NT Police Force takes these matters extremely seriously, and the Sex Crimes Section are working closely with Strike Force Trident, CCTV operators and other police units and agencies to identify the offenders and bring them before the courts.

“It is unfortunate that with incidents like this we have to encourage the community to take safety precautions, such as securing doors and windows where possible, and to report any suspicious activity to police.”

Police urge anyone who has information about the incident or CCTV in the area to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P25157813. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Online services platform Mable Technologies Pty Ltd (Mable) has admitted to breaching the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) by using unfair contract terms when connecting people seeking care support to independent support workers.

Support services facilitated through Mable include social support, domestic support, nursing services and allied health services. Clients using the platform include participants on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the elderly and other people requiring support.

Mable admitted the breaches of the ACL in a court-enforceable undertaking accepted by the ACCC.

The unfair contract terms were in place between 9 November 2023 and 22 August 2024. These terms included the potential for Mable to receive a minimum penalty fee of $5,000 from clients and support workers in particular circumstances. For example, a support worker who leaves the Mable platform would be liable to pay the penalty fee if, within 12 months of leaving, they continued their care arrangement with a client they were introduced to through the platform.

The terms also provided for a client’s ‘service log’ (similar to an attendance record or timesheet) to be automatically deemed approved unless the client disputed it within 24 hours. Other terms allowed Mable to change some of its fees and terms without reasonable notice. Mable also included terms which sought to limit its liability for claims and losses.

“We were concerned Mable’s unfair contract terms potentially disadvantaged its clients, about half of whom are NDIS participants, as well as the support workers operating as sole traders or small businesses,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

“Contractual relationships with consumers and small businesses should be fair and more powerful parties should not stipulate terms which are unfair or limit existing rights. This is especially concerning where the clients are people experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantage.”

Mable has cooperated with the ACCC’s investigation, amended its website and terms of use and offered a court-enforceable undertaking to address the ACCC’s concerns.

The undertaking prohibits Mable from entering into particular terms with its clients and support workers, and to clearly and prominently communicate significant terms to clients and support workers. It also requires Mable to establish and maintain an ACL compliance program.

“We were concerned that the terms, which Mable has admitted were unfair, were so weighted in Mable’s favour that they created a significant imbalance in the contractual rights and obligations between Mable and its clients and support workers,” Ms Lowe said.

“We remind businesses who have not yet reviewed their contracts and removed or amended unfair terms that we are continuing to monitor the disability and aged care sector and will take appropriate action when warranted,” Ms Lowe said.

Businesses can view information about changes to the unfair contract terms laws on the ACCC’s website.

Further information for NDIS participants is available on the ACCC website.

A copy of the undertaking is available at Mable Technologies Pty Ltd.

Background

Mable is an online platform provider for assisted care services. It operates a two-sided online platform that connects people looking for care support with independent support workers. Support services provided through Mable include social support, domestic support, nursing services and allied health services.

From November 2023, changes to the ACL prohibit businesses from proposing, using, or relying on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts with consumers and small businesses.

Note to editors

Each year, the ACCC announces a list of Compliance and Enforcement priorities. These priorities outline the areas of focus for the ACCC’s compliance and enforcement activities for the following year.

As part of the 2025/26 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities, the ACCC is prioritising improving compliance by NDIS providers with their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law.

Enforcement activities in relation to unfair contract terms in consumer and small business contracts are another 2025/26 Compliance and Enforcement Priority.

The ACCC recognises that consumers experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage can be disproportionately affected by breaches of the law. Addressing conduct that impacts this cohort of consumers is always an ACCC priority. 

In December 2023, the government established the NDIS (Fair Price and Australian Consumer Law) Taskforce comprising the ACCC, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the NDIA. The Taskforce was established to address concerns that NDIS participants were being charged more for goods and services than other people, and to address potential breaches of Australian Consumer Law.

Source:

Portland Fire Brigade’s early foundations were laid with a public meeting notice that was published in the Portland Guardian newspaper in 1856.

Council Chairman, William Learmonth, called for a meeting to be held at Portland’s Mac’s Hotel, with the purpose of forming a volunteer fire brigade. The need for a brigade was, in part, due to the fact that they needed people to operate the fire appliance they had recently obtained from England. The engine required at least eight people to pull and operate.

The brigade was officially formed in 1858, and its first fire station is still standing today on the grounds of Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church on Julia Street.

Portland, on Victoria’s southwest coast, is a vibrant deep-sea port town and home to one of the country’s largest aluminium smelters. The various port operations present unique challenges for the brigade and requires members to be trained in a mix of skills.

Away from the port, the landscape of District 4 consists of dense coastal scrub, tree plantations, native forest and farmland. Again, this requires a mix of skills, including strong working relationships with Forest Industry Brigades and, at times, the Country Fire Service across the border in South Australia.

These days, Portland is a co-located brigade with Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), and its current station, now in its third iteration, sits on Percy Street in the heart of the town.

Submitted by	Alison Smirnoff

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The NT Police Force has charged a 38-year-old male following the seizure of 241.55 kilograms of Kava in Ramingining on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

Police conducted a traffic apprehension on a vehicle along the Ramingining goat track in which it initially stopped before taking off as the officers exited the police vehicle. Approximately 20 minutes later, the police observed the same vehicle crashed on the side of the road, abandoned.

Upon approaching the vehicle, kava was seen in the backseat, therefore police executed a lawful search resulting in the seizure of 241.55 kilograms of kava.

The male was located and subsequently arrested at Darwin airport, while attempting to flee interstate.

He was charged with Possess commercial quantity kava Supply commercial quantity kava and Enter on Aboriginal Land without Permit. He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 18 June 2025.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone with information on the supply of alcohol or drugs into remote communities can call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Australian Green Party

NSW Health is urging the community to book in now for their flu vaccine, as cases rise across the state.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report shows more than 3,100 people in NSW testing positive for influenza in the week ending 7 June, an increase of 10.6 per cent compared with the previous week, and following weekly increases since 10 May 2025. Most people with flu don’t have a test, so these are just a small proportion of all people who have had influenza recently.
Health Protection NSW Executive Director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said influenza is now circulating at moderate levels in the community.
“Getting the flu vaccine is quick, easy and recommended for everyone aged six months and over,” Dr McAnulty said.
“With flu on the rise and school holidays fast approaching, we are strongly encouraging people to book in for their flu vaccine now, which is widely available through pharmacists and GPs. Vaccination is the best protection against infection and severe disease.
“Influenza is a serious illness that can cause pneumonia, make chronic underlying medical conditions like diabetes, lung and heart disease much worse requiring hospital admission, and cause death.
“Complications can occur in anyone but are most likely in those at higher risk of severe illness.”
The flu vaccine is free for:

children aged six months to under five years
pregnant women
Aboriginal people aged six months and over
anyone aged 65 and over
people with serious health conditions

NSW Health also continues to remind the community there are a few simple steps they can take to protect themselves and others from respiratory illness, including:

staying up to date with their vaccinations
staying home if they’re sick and wearing a mask if they need to go out
avoiding crowded spaces and getting together in well-ventilated spaces
consider doing a rapid antigen test before visiting those more vulnerable
making a plan with their doctor if they’re at higher risk of severe illness
practicing good general hygiene, like regular handwashing.

If an illness or injury is not serious or life-threatening, we encourage the community to call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, for 24-hour advice. A nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and connect you with the right care.
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Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

The Australian Antarctic Program has appointed Professor Nerilie Abram from the Australian National University as its new Chief Scientist.
Professor Abram is a professor of climate science, and was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2024.
“I’m incredibly excited and honoured to be taking up the role of Chief Scientist of the AAD,” Professor Abram said.
“Antarctica is such a special place, and the science that the Australian Antarctic Program does is critical for protecting Antarctica, and for preparing Australia and the world for how changes in Antarctica will affect us all.”

Professor Abram has extensive experience as a climate and Antarctic scientist, most recently taking part in the Denman Terrestrial Campaign.
She is a former Chair of the Academy of Science National Committee on Antarctic Research, where she served as Australia’s delegate to the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) and on Australia’s Antarctic Science Council.
“It is great to be coming into this role with a new and ambitious Decadal science strategy,” she said.
“One of my first priorities will be to work with the community to develop the plans for how we will implement this strategy within the AAD, and through bringing together the expertise that we have across the whole of the Australian Antarctic science community.”
Professor Abram said she is taking up the role of Chief Scientist at an incredibly exciting time for Australian Antarctic science.
“Major investments in Australia’s new icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, the Million Year Ice Core traverse and our national climate modelling capabilities are opening up research possibilities that we haven’t seen before,” she said.
“The way that the Australian Antarctic science community has come together around major campaign-style research priorities offers a new way of tackling really big and important science problems.”
The Head of the Australian Antarctic Division, Emma Campbell, said Professor Abram will be a welcome addition to the Science branch of the Division.
“Professor Abram will be playing a key role in what will be a crucial time for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science,” she said.
 “We are planning the first environmental management voyage to Heard Island and McDonald Islands in over 20 years, which will have a significant Southern Ocean and sub-Antarctic science component,” she said.
“We are also making excellent progress in the Million Year Ice Core campaign, as we chase the longest ice core climate record in history.
“And the monitoring work done by our seabird teams will be crucial as we prepare for the arrival of avian influenza.”
Professor Abram will take up the Chief Scientist posting in August.
This content was last updated 16 minutes ago on 12 June 2025.