Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Tasmania Police

Issued: 15 May 2025

Innovative Queensland-based organisations with a bright idea to improve how First Nations artefacts are identified are being encouraged to apply for a new challenge.

The Queensland Government and Queensland Museum have partnered to deliver the Private Sector Pathways (PSP) Challenge – Charting provenance with First Nations artefacts.

The initiative aims to improve the digital storing, processing, analysis and digitisation of First Nations archival materials like hunting and gathering tools, traditional baskets, boomerangs and rock engravings.

Streamlining the process ensures the original creator has their work correctly attributed by the Queensland Museum.

Participants are encouraged to develop a user-friendly system which makes cataloguing, identifying, processing and managing First Nations artefacts easier for the Queensland Museum by reducing the lengthy and labour-intensive identification process.

The successful Queensland business will receive grant funding up to $100,000 to help them develop their proposed solution with the Museum.

Queensland Museum is custodian to more than 22,000 objects in the Queensland Aboriginal collection, as well as more than 28,000 items from outside of Queensland and more than 12,000 historic photographs.

Acting Deputy Director-General of Innovation Tony King said it’s important to recognise, honour and embrace the rich and ancient cultural history of First Nations peoples, as the first custodians of Australia.

“This challenge will help support the Museum’s archiving and streamline repatriation efforts with Indigenous communities, to uphold the integrity and respect of cultural artefacts,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing what ideas Queensland innovators come up with, to store and showcase First Nations material.”

Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson said this is a great opportunity for Queensland innovators to help improve how the museum cares for and connects with First Nations cultural items.

“By making the identification process easier and more accurate, we can better support communities and ensure these important objects are properly recognised, and if possible, returned,” he said.

Queensland Museum First Nations Director Dr Bianca Beetson said this opportunity is groundbreaking and will assist with First Nations artefact collection and recordkeeping.

“It could really improve our processes and make them quicker, transforming how the Museum works to repatriate items back to Indigenous communities,” she said.

“We’re hoping this tool will be able to pull up records of specific markings on cultural items like styles, patterns or timbers – to more effectively and efficiently identify its origin.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of First Nations items coming in from general surrenders and international returns and if this tool is successful, there’s also potential for other museums and even institutions like universities to use it as well.”

Applications close: 2pm Thursday 19 June 2025

View more information about the Private Sector Pathways (PSP) Challenge – Charting provenance with First Nations artefacts.

Media contact:                 DETSI Media Unit on (07) 3339 5831 or media@des.qld.gov.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A 27-year-old man is in a critical condition after a serious assault in Alice Springs this afternoon.

Around 5:10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of an altercation between up to 20 people on Gregory Terrace, Alice Springs.

During the altercation, an unknown man has allegedly stabbed the 27-year-old multiple times to his chest before fleeing the scene.

Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene and provided initial first aid before the man was conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital in a critical condition.

A crime scene was declared on Gregory Terrace between Todd Street and Hartley Street.

Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said “This was a senseless, violent attack, that has no place in our community. Detectives are canvassing the area, and the crime scene is expected to remain open into the night.

“Anyone with information is urged to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P25132773. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is currently investigating a single vehicle fatal crash that occurred in Kulgera this morning.

Around 11:40am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a vehicle had rolled on its side along the Stuart Highway approximately 3 kilometres from Kulgera.

Emergency services deployed from Alice Springs and Marla and the two vehicle occupants, a male and a female, were located deceased at the scene.

The Stuart Highway is now closed in both directions and police urge road users to avoid the area where possible.

Major Crash Investigation Unit have carriage and investigations are ongoing. 

The number of lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 14.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Recreational fishers fined after being caught with excess fish

Thursday, 15 May 2025 – 4:35 pm.

Western Police are reminding recreational fishers to ensure they are abiding by catch limits after a number of people were caught taking excess fish and undersized/oversized fish in recent weeks.
Two men have been fined after they were caught at Ulverstone on Sunday 11 May with 43 Sand Flathead which had been cut into 85 fillets.
The possession limit for Sand Flathead on state waters in the Northern and Western Fishing Zones of Tasmania is 10 per person. 
The men were also found to have a gummy shark onboard which had the dorsal fin and tail removed – in Tasmania, the dorsal and pectoral fins of gummy sharks must remain attached until the shark is landed. 
For further information regarding size, bag and possession limits, you can download the Fishing Tas App which also has the reporting of Rock Lobster fishing activities on it. Remember, check your catch in all respects.
Anyone with information regarding illegal fishing is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Fishwatch on 0427 655 557. Information can be provided anonymously

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

New taskforce to focus on high visibility patrols in Glenorchy CBD

Thursday, 15 May 2025 – 4:21 pm.

Tasmania Police is stepping up its focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the Glenorchy municipality, launching Taskforce Respect, a new community campaign involving high visibility patrols in the CBD and shopping areas.
Inspector Jason Klug said the aim of Taskforce Respect was to enhance public safety and community confidence in the Glenorchy CBD, stretching also into Moonah and Claremont, with officers targeting recidivist offenders and anti-social behaviour.
“Tasmania Police’s high-visibility foot patrols will continue in retail precincts to disrupt and reduce incidents of crime, with a particular focus on known and repeat offenders,” Inspector Klug said.
“We’ll also be using drug detection dogs, CCTV footage and CBD exclusion orders to help achieve our goals of helping keep the community safe.”
Recidivist offenders and youth crime will be a key focus of Taskforce Respect, with Tasmania Police data showing just 57 people made up 50 per cent of youth crime charges across the state in 2024.
“Our message to these people is simple, if you are offending in the Glenorchy area, then we will be looking out for you,” Inspector Klug said.
“Our aim is to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment for businesses, residents and visitors.”
Inspector Klug said there was a deliberate use of the word ‘respect’ in naming the new taskforce, which began operation on Monday, May 12.
“Our message is about instilling a basic respect for one another in our community,” Inspector Klug said.
“It is a message, aimed particularly at our youth, in which we say acts of violence and abuse, and acts of retail crime and theft, like we have seen in the past, are unacceptable.
“We want to help people understand the importance of respect, that is, respect for each other, respect for your community and respect for those businesses and retailers that are operating in our city.”
Taskforce Respect will build upon successful policing initiatives Operation Swipe in Glenorchy (December 2024) and Operation Saturate (ongoing) across greater Hobart.
Tasmania Police continues to work in partnership with Glenorchy City Council, businesses and stakeholders such as Metro Tasmania to prevent, resolve and investigate issues of crime and anti-social behaviour that occur in public spaces.
Supporting police, Crime Stoppers Tasmania ambassador Mark Mewis said Crime Stoppers welcomed the initiative and sought to remind the public that community safety was the responsibility of all Tasmanians.
“Everyone should be able to enjoy our public spaces without fear or intimidation, and we can further support the police by reporting anti-social behaviour and those engaged in such behaviour anonymously through Crime Stoppers,” Mr Mewis said.
As part of the official launch of Taskforce Respect, Tasmania Police’s new Poli community outreach van was in attendance to help engage with the Glenorchy community.
Launched in April, Poli has been developed to increase police visibility and improve engagement in the community.
“Poli is staffed by members of the Community Engagement Services team, along with local officers, who can discuss local crime issues and provide crime prevention and general advice to residents and business owners. Poli staff can also provide information and resources about personal, residential and business safety, as well as child safety and safeguarding,” Inspector Klug said.
Information on crimes in the Glenorchy community can be provided to police on 131 444 or to Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au – information can be provided anonymously. If you are in immediate need of police assistance, call Triple-Zero (000) in an emergency.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Alice Springs general duties members arrested a 23-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident in Sadadeen this morning.

About 8:30am, police received reports of a domestic violent incident unfolding outside a residence. It is alleged the male assaulted his female partner by pulling her by the hair and throwing her against a parked car, prior to her running to a nearby residence to seek help.

A female resident successfully assisted the victim inside; however, before she could lock the door the male has attempted to pull at the door. The female resident was allegedly assaulted with a rock, before she was able to successfully close the door. The male then allegedly damaged the door and was attempting to gain entry to the premises just as police arrived on scene.

The male fled the scene and after a short foot pursuit, he was apprehended and conveyed to the Alice Springs Watch House.

Investigations remain ongoing and charges are expected to follow.

St John Ambulance conveyed a female victim to Alice Springs Hospital for medical assessment.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please reference to job number P25132376.

Source:

In an extraordinary concession, the Fair Work Commission has acknowledged labour hire firms may face millions of dollars in retrospective liabilities under Labor’s “same job same pay” laws – even leading to workers losing their jobs.

In its decision of 7 May 2025 (published Monday 12 May) relating to Glencore’s Bulga coal mine in New South Wales, the FWC considered arguments from labour hire firms Skilled and WorkPac that they would be impacted by increases in the retrospective value of annual leave and sick/personal leave entitlements of their employees, should the same job same pay order be made.

Despite ultimately making the order, the FWC found:

“… the fact that making a regulated labour hire arrangement order would increase the liabilities of each of Skilled and WorkPac for accrued annual leave and personal leave (which must be paid out in some circumstances), weighs in favour of a conclusion that it would not be fair and reasonable to make the orders sought.”

Further, in the case of WorkPac:

“… I accept that many arrangements could become wholly unviable for WorkPac’s business and it would need to consider its options to respond to those challenges, which may include terminating those arrangements which are commercially unsustainable. WorkPac’s employees may be immediately and adversely affected if those arrangements are terminated…”

And, in the case of Skilled:

“Skilled has no right to recover this increase in liability from Bulga or anyone else. Because Skilled only earns a small profit margin on the labour hire employees it supplies to the mine, the increased leave liability arising from the making of a regulated labour hire arrangement order would exceed the profit margin earned by (Skilled) under its supply contract with Bulga over the life of that contract.”

AREEA Chief Executive Steve Knott AM said the decision confirmed long-held concerns that “same job same pay” could mean “hundreds of millions of dollars in retrospective leave liabilities”.

“In late 2023, AREEA raised concerns with the Albanese Government that its proposed same job same pay laws could unleash retrospective leave liability costs on the mining industry, potentially ranging in the hundreds of millions,” he said.

“The government paid lip service in response – implementing a partial fix that would apply only in very limited circumstances. This issue needs to be urgently revisited.

“The FWC has finally been forced to acknowledge the unfair, unreasonable and unsustainable impacts of same job same pay orders on labour hire firms in the mining industry, going so far as to admit contracts may be terminated and employees may lose their jobs.

“Evidence was accepted that labour hire firms have limited ability to recover unplanned increases in both prospective costs and retrospective leave liabilities, and their ability to commercially service contracts may be put at real risk.

“Yet, remarkably, such impacts apparently do not weigh heavily enough in the favour of a same job same pay order being “not fair and reasonable” when balanced against labour hire employees and direct hired employees having a pay differential.

“Retrospective cost increases driven by government policy is a killer for investor certainty and business confidence. How could any firm confidently invest and do business in Australia when such concerns can be cavalierly brushed aside?

“The Albanese Government said the laws would not impact on firms retrospectively. It should act to ensure this commitment is upheld and protect the sanctity of commercial arrangements lawfully and compliantly entered into under the laws of the land at the time.

“At stake are thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in investment capital and many billions more in government revenues to fund national programs and infrastructure.”

Another challenging outcome of the Bulga mine same job same pay decision is that relatively inexperienced labour hire employees will soon be paid at the same rates as their vastly more experienced direct-hired counterparts.

This outcome was accepted, but also didn’t weigh heavily enough against the making of the order.

“As a result, labour hire trade assistants with as little as 12 months’ experience will receive pay rises of up to $40,000 per annum, bringing them into parity with experienced heavy machinery operators who have been employed at the mine for more than 10 years,” Mr Knott said.

“Given the Albanese Government said the laws would not result in unfair pay parity between inexperienced and highly experienced employees, these types of outcomes may play out adversely in the marketplace.”

Source: New South Wales – News

Just before 10am Thursday 15 May, emergency services were called to Nangkita Road, Nangkita (near Willowburn Drive), after reports a cattle truck had rolled. Patrols arrived to find the truck down an embankment and in a creek.

The driver, a 29-year-old man from Craigmore was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and he will undergo mandatory blood tests. Due to the location of the truck, the number of cattle injured is currently unknown.

A heavy vehicle tow truck is at the scene and PIRSA personnel are in attendance to assist with euthanasia of the animals.

Nangkita Road is currently closed and road users are asked to avoid the area.

The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.

Source: New South Wales – News

Subsequently a man was arrested for serious offences relating to an ongoing investigation.

The man is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today, where prosecutors will seek a suppression order.
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Source:

Former CFA Board Chair and long-time volunteer Kerry Murphy PSM AFSM was farewelled today by family, friends, colleagues and brigade members at a memorial service at Mt Macedon Fire Brigade.

Kerry had been a CFA member for 52 years and was honoured for a lifetime of public service, dedication and achievement not only within this organisation, but by the broader community.

His memorial service, attended by CFA members who he mentored and supported over many decades, heard of his skill as a strategic thinker and problem solver.

Colleagues recalled his leadership as brigade captain during the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 when he protected the township of Mt Macedon, and in providing a calming presence during the recovery phase. He held many roles within CFA and continued to provide guidance to members across the organisation throughout his long career as a volunteer.

Kerry’s role as CFA’s Board Chair from 2007 to 2012, and his commitment to representing the voice of the volunteer in the organisation, were recognised and highlighted, particularly in the aftermath of the 2009 fires, overseeing CFA as it implemented the changes required to improve the response to future fires.

His honours included the Public Service Medal, Australian Fire Services Medal, Centenary Medal, National Medal and CFA Life Membership.

Speakers reflected that Kerry’s legacy was of someone who was regarded as a caring, trusted and deeply respected friend who had left a mark on all who met him.

At the conclusion of today’s service, CFA members formed a guard of honour outside the Mt Macedon Station to farewell Kerry Murphy for a final time.

Submitted by	CFA News