Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Become a Bendigo Region Ambassador and enjoy great savings when you take your family and friends to exciting local attractions or experiences.

The Bendigo Region Ambassador Pass is available to Greater Bendigo residents and Loddon Shire residents to use all year round. The pass entitles the holder to free entry and special offers for a range of attractions when they bring along their visiting relatives and friends.

The following businesses offer one free entry with the purchase of any full price adult or family ticket: Bendigo Military Museum, Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo Tramways Talking Tram Tour*, Central Deborah Gold Mine Experience Tour*, Discovery Science and Technology Centre. There are also plans to involve some Loddon attractions in the coming months. To redeem the offer, show your pass.

There are also exclusive Ambassador Pass offers including tickets at Star Cinema at member price. Bring one or more visitors for a drink or bite to eat at The Great Stupa’s StupaView café and you will receive a free coffee or tea*.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Thomas Prince said the Bendigo Ambassador Pass offered many advantages during the holiday season.

“It’s the perfect time to become a Bendigo Region Ambassador with the launch of Our Kind of Summer today, a vibrant seasonal campaign inviting locals to welcome friends and family to the region and share their insider tips on the best places to explore and enjoy this summer in Greater Bendigo and Loddon Shire,” Cr Prince said.

“Residents have the inside knowledge on what makes the region so special. They can showcase everything from family attractions and outdoor adventures to festive celebrations, exceptional food and drink, and vibrant community events highlighted in the Our Kind of Summer campaign.

“There are also themed suggestions such as the best cool-down treats, top outdoor dining spots, family-friendly attractions, festive season guides, and ways to beat the summer heat.

“Visiting friends and family will love experiencing the region like a local. With so much to see, do and enjoy, they’ll be wanting to come back to experience more.”

Loddon Shire Cr Miki Wilson said she was delighted the Ambassador Pass and the new summer campaign were expanded to include regional residents and businesses from Loddon.

“This is a fantastic opportunity that has come about thanks to the new regional tourism partnership. I am pleased that now even more residents can now proudly showcase and experience some of the region’s key businesses and attractions,” Cr Wilson said.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Celebrate local talent and creativity at the Bendigo Art Collective Artists Market’s special Christmas shopping evening from 4pm to 8pm in Hargreaves Mall this Friday, December 12.

The Bendigo Art Collective Artists Market will feature a range of works from local artists, market stalls, free art activations, and digital artwork on the Mall’s big screen. This will also be an opportunity for local artists involved in the market to promote, engage and sell their work. 

The Bendigo Art Collective is building a community of local artists and businesses to work together for the love of art.

This is the second of four markets being held in Hargreaves Mall as part of the City of Greater Bendigo City Centre Community Activation Grants program.

The grants program has selected seven exciting free public experiences over 2025 and 2026 that empower local creatives and event organisers to deliver free community activations. The aim is to showcase local talent, boost foot traffic and enhance Bendigo city centre’s vibrancy for residents and visitors.

Event Lead Sarah The Painter said the concept for the Bendigo Art Collective Artists had been developed over the past two years.

“With thanks to the support of the City of Greater Bendigo, we are bringing art to the community this season in Hargreaves Mall,” Sarah said.

“During the market this Friday, there will be free art activities for all ages, live demonstrations by local artists, a community art exhibition and wonderful local businesses sponsoring artists.”

Bendigo Venues & Events Manager Julie Amos said in the lead up to Christmas, the shopping night at the Artists Market was a perfect opportunity to support local talent.

“Hargreaves Mall is a great location for this market and its open-air gallery. I encourage residents and visitors to support the artists market and enjoy the festive spirit from 4pm to 8pm this Friday,” Ms Amos said.

To complement the artists market, some retailer and hospitality outlets in Hargreaves Mall will be open including Joe Paul Menswear (until 8pm), Hippo Bubble Tea, Toppers Café (open until 8pm) and Heavenly Melts (open until 9.30pm).

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested and charged a fourth male in relation to a crime series in Tennant Creek over the weekend.

Yesterday morning, officers from the Territory Safety Division attended a residence on Ford Crescent and arrested a 14-year-old male.

He has since been charged with Aggravated burglary, Theft and Unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was bailed to appear in court on 12 January 2026.

All of the offenders in this matter are now before court.

Acting Superintendent Mick Fields said “The behaviour we saw over the weekend has no place in our town and the community can rest assured that the police will not stand for it.

“Police recently attended Barkly Regional Coordination Committee to discuss the recent incidents effecting Tennant Creek and we are committed to working with local stakeholders to address these issues.

“Continued mobile CCTV deployment will occur throughout the town and the police led Tennant Creek Interagency Tasking Coordination Group will continue to share information collaboratively to address local community safety and antisocial behaviour issues.

“Police Safer Streets Patrols will also deliver proactive, highly visible patrols complementary to frontline general duties activities through the upcoming summer months as part of Ludlow II. Local police are able call on specialist support including Dog Operations, Territory Mounted Unit, Strike Force Viper, Fugitive Task Force and Traffic Operations.”

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet is ready to take to the skies and support our hardworking ground crews ahead of another high-risk fire season this summer.

Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward unveiled the fleet at Avalon Airport today, alongside Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch and emergency services personnel.

This year’s fleet features 54 aircraft and includes two new fixed wing aircraft with infrared capabilities which can capture higher quality images than ever before, enabling better decision making and more accurate mapping.

Two Large Air Tankers will be based at Avalon Airport, and two high-volume Aircranes with the capacity to carry 10,000 litres of water will be positioned at Essendon and Moorabbin.

A dedicated Super Puma helicopter has returned to the skies to fight fires at night through firebombing, supported by an Air Attack Supervision aircraft that provides critical fire detection and observation at night.

This fleet unveiling follows the launch of 15 regional aircraft which started their service period early last month.

A call when needed fleet of more than 100 aircraft is also available including Black Hawk Helicopters, and Victoria can request additional aircraft from the National Fleet.

The latest Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Summer indicates south-west and western Victoria, including north central, east central and south-west Gippsland are at an increased fire risk due to underlying dryness.

This includes the northern slopes of the Otways, Mt Buangor State Park, Wombat State Forest and Central Highlands, parts of Mornington Peninsula, the Kinglake and Yarra Ranges and parts of Eildon. The remaining parts of the state are forecast to have normal fire risk this summer.

Aircraft can be moved across the state according to risk and have already responded to several fires since starting their service period in October – a month earlier than usual due to increased fire risk.

Aircraft play a key role in supporting emergency services workers on the ground, which includes thousands of dedicated emergency services workers from across the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and other agencies.

Victorians are urged to make sure they have a fire plan for their home and anywhere they’re travelling this summer.

For more information on how you can prepare for fires and other emergencies, download the VicEmergency app or visit emergency.vic.gov.au. People can also create a fire plan online customised to their needs and sharable with family and friends via fireplanner.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward

“In the sky and on the ground – our fire crews are ready for whatever this season throws at them.”

“Fire preparedness is a shared responsibility – we need all Victorians to get ready and stay informed so everyone can enjoy summer safely.”

Quotes attributable to Emergency Management Commissioner, Tim Wiebusch

“We’ve already seen how important aircraft is in supporting emergency services to fight fires, and the remainder of the fleet will play an important role in supporting communities across the state over the coming months.”

“Our emergency services will continue to do everything they can to support our communities but it’s important to have a fire plan and listen to warnings and advice. If you haven’t downloaded or practiced using the VicEmergency app, now is the time to do so.”

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

We have directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to extend its fuel price monitoring program for an extra five years.

This is about making sure consumers get a better deal at the bowser through better competition and the ACCC’s quarterly reports play an important role in that.

The ACCC’s latest quarterly report released today found average retail prices in the five largest cities were lower than 2024 levels, while the gap between prices in metro and regional areas also narrowed.

The current direction, which requires the ACCC to monitor and report on petrol prices quarterly, expires this month.

We’re extending it because we’re determined to make sure the regulator can keep a close eye on the price of fuel and make sure the fuel market is operating as it should.

The direction will also allow the ACCC to keep reporting on emerging issues in the industry. The ACCC has delivered reports on important issues like market composition, price cycles, the financial performance of the industry, and how consumers can make the most of fuel price apps and websites.

For example, the September quarter report updates consumers on developments in vehicle sales.

9.7 per cent of new vehicles sold were battery electric and, along with plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles, made up 13.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales over the September quarter.

Registrations of battery and fuel‑cell electric vehicles have increased 670 per cent since we came to office, saving motorists even more on fuel costs.

We’re supporting the uptake of more efficient vehicles, including with our recent $40 million investment in nationwide charging infrastructure.

These reports help consumers and Government better understand the industry and ensure greater accountability.

Whether they’re in our cities or regional areas, Australian motorists rightly expect that petrol companies are doing the right thing and setting prices fairly.

We’ve consistently backed the ACCC by ensuring they have the right tools to take on companies ripping off consumers, including increasing penalties for corporations engaging in anti‐competitive behaviour from $10 million to $50 million.

Knowing that the independent regulator will continue to monitor pricing behaviour in the years ahead puts the industry on notice that there will be no let‑up in scrutiny.

This will help to ensure that the market is properly competitive, market conditions are not misrepresented and motorists are not misled.

The ACCC’s fuel price monitoring and quarterly reports are an important part of our Government’s efforts to do all we can to help Australians with the cost of living.

Table: Change in retail petrol price September 2024 to September 2025, five largest cities

City	Average retail price September 2024	Average retail price September 2025	Change
Adelaide	177.5	172.0	−3.10%
Brisbane	188.0	185.8	−1.17%
Melbourne	185.2	182.9	−1.24%
Perth	179.1	174.0	−2.85%
Sydney	184.3	179.4	−2.66%

Sources: ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market September quarter 2024; ACCC Report on the Australian petroleum market September quarter 2025; Prices are cents per litre.

Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

10 December 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Importers and brokers who import or work with goods containing material derived from ASF susceptible species (i.e. all breeds and types of domestic pigs and wild pigs) from Spain. 

What is happening?

​​Following notification from Spain on 28 November 2025 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of an outbreak of ASF, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is working to assess…

Source: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is advancing the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with support for three new projects designed to make EV charging more accessible and affordable for Australians nationwide. 

Supported under ARENA’s Driving the Nation Program, these projects will advance a range of solutions and represent a major step forward in building the infrastructure and insights to support Australia’s transition to zero-emission transport. 

Across novel approaches to public charging and strengthening industry collaboration, ARENA is paving the way for a cleaner transport future and making electric vehicles more practical for Australians. 

The three projects will deliver a range of outcomes, including: 

• Flow Power: $18,066,000 to develop and operate a network of ultrafast battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging stations across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, in partnership with Gridserve. 

• Essential Energy: $2,300,000 to deploy public EV chargers in rural and regional NSW, improving access and equity for EV drivers outside metropolitan areas. 

• UTS & RACE for 2030 CRC: $1,089,620 to establish Australia’s first national Vehicle-Grid Network, a three-year collaboration to accelerate EV grid integration with over 20 industry partners. 

In addition, ARENA funding recipient Zenobē has today marked the official opening of Australia’s first off-site electric truck charging depot in Mascot, NSW, after receiving funding in September 2024.  

The site will house a greenfield BEV charging hub and trial a vehicle as a service (VaaS) business model that will include 60 BEV trucks, 30 dual chargers, a second life stationary battery and smart charging software.   

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said ARENA’s support for these projects demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles across Australia.  

“By backing innovative projects in EV charging infrastructure, we’re helping to break down barriers and make EVs accessible for more Australians, no matter where they live or drive.” 

“The transport sector is on track to become Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030, and these projects demonstrate the rate of progress being made in driving down these emissions, as well as the breadth of solutions required to do the job.” 

About ARENA’s focus on Decarbonising Transport 

Decarbonising transport is a key strategic priority for ARENA. Transport plays a vital role as an enabler of Australia’s economy, yet is responsible for around 20% of Australia’s emissions. The government’s latest Transport and Infrastructure Sector Plan warns that as the economy grows, demand for transport modes is projected to rise across land, air and sea until at least 2050.  

To address this challenge, ARENA is currently focused on supporting projects that accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and low-carbon fuels across both light and heavy road transport. Read more about these focus areas on ARENA’s strategic priorities page. 

Through the Driving the Nation fund, ARENA has already allocated $266 million of critical grant funding to support road transport projects. Additional transport-related funding for Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) is scheduled to be delivered by ARENA through the Future Made in Australia (FMA) Innovation Fund  

Our Advancing Renewables Program (ARP) is ARENA’s flagship, always-open funding initiative supporting a broad spectrum of renewable energy projects—from early-stage research and development through to demonstration and pre-commercial deployment. The ARP is continuously open for applications that align with ARENA’s strategic priorities as set out in the Investment Plan. For more information on Driving the Nation including program guidelines, eligibility criteria, and how to apply, visit ARENA’s funding page.   

For more information about the Advancing Renewables Program visit the ARENA funding page. 

ARENA media contact:

media@arena.gov.au

Download this media release (PDF 174KB)

Source: Government of Australia Capital Territory

Source: Government of Australia Capital Territory

• This article lists places in Canberra to get ice-cream.
• Locals voted for their favourite ice-cream spots on the We Are CBR Instagram.

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Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

Quarterly retail petrol prices across the five largest cities were higher in the September quarter 2025, according to the ACCC’s latest quarterly petrol monitoring report.

Click to enlarge

Average petrol prices were also higher in Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin and on average across over 190 regional locations that the ACCC monitors.

Prices across the five largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth) were 178.8 cents per litre (cpl), an increase of 3.1 cpl from the previous quarter.

“Although average prices were higher in the September quarter, they were lower than price levels throughout most of 2024,” Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

The following figure shows movements in average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities from October 2023 to September 2025.

Seven-day rolling average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities in nominal terms

The following figure shows the increase in average prices in the September quarter 2025 which largely reflects higher international prices for refined petrol (Mogas 95) and increases in other wholesale costs and margins.

“The increase in international refined petrol prices was partially offset by a higher quarterly AUD-USD exchange rate, which made the international cost of refined petrol less expensive in Australian dollar terms,” Ms Brakey said.

Components of average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities – Australian cents per litre

Other wholesale costs and margins include import and wholesale related costs such as international shipping, the quality premium for Australian fuel standards, insurance and loss, local wharfage and terminal operation, as well as wholesale marketing margins.

Gross indicative retail differences are a broad indicator of gross retail margins and include both retail operating costs and retail profits. Gross indicative retail differences represent the difference between average retail petrol prices and indicative wholesale prices.

Quarterly average petrol gross indicative retail differences were 16.4 cpl across the five largest cities, the same as in the previous quarter.

Diesel prices were also higher in the quarter

Quarterly average retail diesel prices increased in all capital cities. Across the five largest cities, quarterly average retail diesel prices were 181.8 cpl, an increase of 3.4 cpl from the previous quarter.

The increase in average retail diesel prices was driven by higher international refined diesel prices (Gasoil 10 ppm).

Sales of regular unleaded petrol have been declining in Australia

Sales of regular unleaded petrol have been declining over time as petrol vehicles continue to become more fuel efficient and travel patterns evolve, including more working from home arrangements.

The decline of petrol sales has also been impacted by more battery, hybrid, and plug-in vehicles on the road. The number of registered battery electric vehicles has increased significantly over the past few years, although in early 2025 they still made up only around 1.2 per cent of total registered vehicles.

Diesel sales have gradually increased over time, as the number of registered diesel vehicles has grown by more than a million between 2021 and 2025.

Every state and territory now has a fuel price transparency scheme in place

The launch of the Servo Saver feature on the Service Victoria app in October, marked the completion of phase one of the Victorian Government’s Fair Fuel Plan.

This near real-time pricing data follows the introduction of mandatory fuel price reporting requirements on fuel retailers and means that every state and territory now has a fuel price transparency scheme in place.

“We are pleased that comprehensive near real-time pricing data is now available to Victorians,“ Ms Brakey said.

“There is often a range of prices available, and we encourage motorists to utilise fuel price apps and websites to shop around for lower prices to save some money at the bowser.”

Note to editors

‘Petrol’ means regular unleaded petrol unless otherwise specified.

Price changes are reported in nominal terms unless otherwise specified.

Singapore Mogas 95 Unleaded (Mogas 95) is the relevant international benchmark for the wholesale price of petrol in Australia. Singapore Gasoil with 10 parts per million sulphur content (Gasoil 10 ppm) is the international benchmark for the wholesale price of diesel.

Background

The ACCC has been monitoring retail prices in all capital cities and over 190 regional locations across Australia since 2007.

On 14 December 2022, the Treasurer issued a direction to the ACCC to continue to monitor the prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of petroleum products in the petroleum industry in Australia and produce a report every quarter for a further three years.