Category: MIL-OSI

Source:

We’ve reviewed our advice for India and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. Higher levels apply in some areas. 

Carrying or using a satellite phone or GPS-enabled devices (including emergency locator beacons) without official permission is illegal. You could be arrested or detained, receive a large fine, have the device confiscated and face significant travel delays (see ‘Local Laws’).

If you have had a baby in India, you must inform the FRRO and secure the appropriate travel document and Indian visa to remain legally in the country or to travel. Failure to comply could result in significant financial penalties by the FRRO (see ‘Travel’).

Travellers have been robbed and assaulted after consuming spiked drinks or food. Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning from consuming alcoholic drinks (see ‘Safety’).

Source: New South Wales – News

Representatives from SAPOL, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), Department for Environment and Water (DEW), Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), and Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) met this week to discuss additional risk mitigation measures.

Currently, a fixed wing shark patrol is conducting routine flights between 9am and 5.30pm, which will sound a siren when a shark is sighted.

Coinciding with the Easter long weekend, SAPOL’s Water Operations Unit and all partner agencies will have increased water patrols across inland and coastal locations and will pay particular attention to the Aldinga Beach area.

“We want the public to enjoy our beautiful beaches, but to do so safely,” Senior Sergeant Andrew Suter from SAPOL’s Water Operations Unit said.

“While authorities are monitoring the loitering shark in the vicinity of Aldinga Beach, we encourage beachgoers to be vigilant and adhere to all rules and regulations when on the water.”

Dr Michael Drew, Research Scientist with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) said white sharks can unpredictably visit the near-shore coastal waters of South Australia at any time of year.

“The near-shore coastal marine environment is an important habitat for juvenile and sub-adult (<3-4m) white sharks as it provides access to preferred prey species, such as small-bodied sharks and rays, and larger fish species like Australian salmon and snapper,” he said.

Beachgoers are reminded to be aware of their surroundings and to avoid swimming near food sources like large schools of fish.

Swimmers should also consider not entering murky waters, deep channels, and areas next to deep water and river mouths.

SLSSA will continue stationing members at Aldinga Beach, and in addition to routine club patrol coverage, will have one jet rescue boat dedicated to patrolling the southern beaches over the Easter long weekend. A secondary jet rescue boat will be available on northern metropolitan beaches.

The southern SLSSA jet rescue boat will aim to provide coverage between 10am and 6pm.

Up-to-date hazard alert information for all South Australian beaches is available to the public via the BeachSafe platform: https://beachsafe.org.au.

BeachSafe is a nationally recognised tool that provides current information for every beach in Australia, including patrol services, hazards, and available facilities and weather conditions, swell, and tide information.

The platform is designed to assist the public in selecting the most suitable and safe location for their beach visit. Should SLSSA receive reports of shark sightings over the weekend, it will promptly update the relevant hazard alerts to the affected beaches via BeachSafe.

Additionally, PIRSA would like to remind the public that using blood, bone, meat, offal or animal skin (other than a fish, worm or insect) for berley is prohibited in SA waters and should be reported to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522.

Fishers are advised that gear restrictions for metropolitan shark fishing apply from Outer Harbor to Lady Bay Shacks, south of Normanville.  More information can be found at pir.sa.gov.au/fishing-sharks-rays or the Recreational Fishing App.

More information about reducing the risk of shark interactions is available at pir.sa.gov.au/reducing-shark-risks

For more information on boating rules and regulations, visit: South Australian boating safety handbook (marinesafety.sa.gov.au)

Report any suspicious behaviour to SAPOL by calling 131 444.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Fatal motorcycle crash to be investigated

Thursday, 17 April 2025 – 1:51 pm.

Sadly, a male motorcyclist has died following a two-vehicle crash on the Brooker Highway at Glenorchy this morning.The crash occurred near the Elwick Road intersection around 8.30am, when a black motorcycle crashed into a white Holden Captiva.Police had attempted to intercept the motorcycle a short time earlier.Upon police arrival, CPR was provided to the rider however sadly, he died at the scene. Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.The occupants of the Captiva were not physically injured.As is normal practice in these circumstances, a Professional Standards investigation will be conducted into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.While the investigation is in its early stages, evidence suggests that the police vehicle was not in the immediate vicinity of the motorcycle, or under lights and sirens, at the time of the crash.Police and emergency services remain on the scene, with the Brooker Highway remaining closed to allow crash scene investigations to be conducted.Police are calling for witnesses to the crash to come forward.Anyone with dash cam footage or information should contact Police on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.auA report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Source:

Camperdown CFA and Lion’s club members

A further 48 Camperdown residents have had their homes further safeguarded from fire as we head toward winter, thanks to the collaborative efforts of community volunteers.

On Saturday, 5 April, 18 dedicated volunteers from the Camperdown Fire Brigade, Camperdown Lions Club and CFA’s South West Region Community Safety team came together to install and test smoke alarms for those in need.

Five teams set out to inspect, test and replace every outdated 9V battery smoke alarm with a 10-year battery targeting vulnerable community members who were unable to obtain, install or maintain smoke alarms themselves.

Together, they successfully visited 48 properties, checking 97 smoke alarms and installing 37 new ones to ensure community members stay protected.

Camperdown’s Brigade Community Safety Coordinator, Sarah Blair said that only working smoke alarms save lives, but for some people, checking and maintaining them is not possible.

“Climbing a ladder can be a real hazard for the ageing population or those with mobility issues. This initiative takes away that worry and ensures their alarms will work when it matters most,” Sarah said.

“Some of the alarms we saw had gone yellow and were well past their expiry date. It’s reassuring knowing they have now been upgraded.

“It might seem like a small upgrade, but it has the power to save lives and offers them peace of mind knowing they are protected for the next decade.”

While Camperdown has been doing the program for a number of years, the brigade’s efforts have been boosted by CFA’s partnership with RACV and their support through the Smoke Alarm Installation Program which kicked off in April 2024.

Since April last year, the program has reached 990 properties statewide, with CFA members engaging with over 1,200 residents to discuss home fire safety and install 1863 smoke alarms at 755 properties.

The initiative highlights the power of community collaboration and strong volunteer spirit, while aiming to increase the understanding and awareness of home fire hazards and reduce the number of preventable fire fatalities.

Smoke alarms play a critical role in early fire detection and evacuation, yet statistics indicate many homes do not have enough smoke alarms or have them installed in the wrong areas, with some residents also unaware if they are in working order.

Camperdown Fire Brigade are proud to work alongside the Lion’s Club and CFA’s South West Region Community Safety team to keep the community safe, one smoke alarm at a time.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: New South Wales Government 2

17 April 2025

Who does this notice affect?

Biosecurity industry participants and accredited persons operating under Approved Arrangement Class 19, including self-reporting importers, who are interested in attending an information session on the upcoming release of new industry reporting via the Biosecurity Portal.

What has changed?

The department will soon provide two additional reports to industry through the Biosecurity Portal for all accredited persons…

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The Federal Court has today found oil and gas services company Qteq Pty Ltd and its executive chairman Simon Ashton engaged in cartel conduct in relation to the supply of goods and services in the oil and gas industry, following court action by the ACCC.

The Court found that between 2017 and 2019, on five occasions, Qteq and Mr Ashton attempted to induce suppliers in the industry to enter into contracts, arrangements or understandings with them which contained one or more cartel provisions.

Qteq and Mr Ashton were found to have attempted to induce competitors or likely competitors in the upstream phase of production in the oil and gas industry to enter into cartel arrangements or understandings, which included provisions not to supply particular services to large oil and gas companies, to share markets and to rig a multi-million-dollar tender.

“We brought this action because we believed these attempts had the potential to impact competition between Qteq and other current or likely competitors for the supply of goods and services in the oil and gas industry,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Cartels are the most fundamental attack on competition in our economy, and taking actions against them is a high priority for the ACCC.”

“Today’s decision should send a strong warning to all businesses and senior managers that attempting to enter or induce collusive agreements with a competitor is illegal and will be met with strong enforcement action by the ACCC,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

The Court did not find in favour of the ACCC in relation to one additional instance of alleged cartel conduct.

The Court will set a date for a further hearing to consider submissions about penalties and other orders.

Publication of the judgment is pending confidentiality review by the respondents.

Background

Qteq is a Queensland-based company which provides mining equipment and technology services to support the upstream oil and gas industry.

Its primary business is the sale, installation, and servicing of downhole pressure gauges to coal seam gas producers, which is known as ‘gauge works’. At the relevant time, Qteq was the market leader in providing gauge work services.

Gauge works are a form of monitoring and measurement where a downhole gauge system is inserted into a well to monitor the water level so that the rate at which water is pumped out of the coal seam can be controlled.

The ACCC filed civil cartel proceedings against Qteq and Mr Ashton in December 2022.

Notes for editors

A cartel exists when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other. Conduct can include price fixing, sharing markets, rigging bids and controlling the output or limiting the amount of goods and services.

Anyone who thinks they may be involved in alleged cartel conduct is urged to call the ACCC Cartel Immunity Hotline on (02) 9230 3894. More information about the immunity process is available on the ACCC website at Cartels. They can also report alleged cartel conduct by using the anonymous cartel portal. 

The ACCC investigates cartel conduct and can take civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court or refer serious cartel conduct to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

For corporations, the maximum penalty for each cartel offence before 9 November 2022 is the greater of:

• $10 million,
• three times the total benefits that have been obtained and are reasonably attributable to the commission of the offence, or
• if the total value of the benefits cannot be determined,10 per cent of the corporation’s annual turnover connected with Australia.

An individual found to have been involved in civil cartel conduct before 9 November 2022 is subject to a maximum penalty of $500,000 for each act or omission. 

The maximum civil penalties for cartel conduct by corporations and individuals were substantially increased with effect from 9 November 2022.

Source: South Australia Police

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The City of Wanneroo acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we are working on, the Whadjuk people. We would like to pay respect to the Elders of the Noongar nation, past, present and future, who have walked and cared for the land and we acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contributions made to the life of this City and this region.

TermsAll content © 2025 City of Wanneroo. 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo WA 6065 | Locked Bag 1, Wanneroo WA 6946

Source:

We’ve reviewed our advice and continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Nigeria due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime and the risk of civil unrest. Higher levels apply in some areas. There’s currently a state of emergency for Rivers state (see ‘Safety’).

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has released a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation with conditions to allow the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) and industry participants to collaborate on sustainable finance initiatives for five years.

ASFI is seeking authorisation for itself, ASFI members and other industry participants to exchange information to improve the integration of natural capital data into financial decision-making, co-designing investment structures and developing related regulatory reform proposals. Authorisation is also sought for some participants to agree to jointly develop and propose to Government or ASFI the most effective investment structure and/or product features to achieve sustainable investment products.

ASFI aims to facilitate the development of sustainable farming practices, support producers to meet sustainability regulations of export destinations, and contribute to emissions reduction targets. The goal of the proposed collaborative conduct is to enable ASFI to increase the flow of private capital into sustainable investment opportunities.

“We consider that the proposed collaborative conduct would increase the likelihood of greater investment in projects seeking to preserve Australia’s environment as well as cost savings and process efficiencies,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

The ACCC considers this kind of information sharing and collaboration between competitors can reduce competition in the supply of sustainable financial products as well as in broader financial markets through coordinated behaviour enabled by information sharing between competitors.

The ACCC has made some amendments to the conduct to be authorised in its draft decision and is proposing to impose a number of conditions to limit any negative impacts. It will consider further whether additional refinements to the conduct are necessary before making a final decision.

The ACCC is seeking to ensure sufficient oversight and transparency of the arrangements and to appropriately limit the circumstances and contents of any information sharing.

“With the proposed conditions, we are satisfied that the collaborative conduct is likely to result in public benefits that would outweigh any likely harm to competition,” Mr Keogh said.

The ACCC is seeking submissions in response to the draft determination by 2 May 2025 before making its final determination.

Further information about this application including a copy of the decision is available on the ACCC’s public register.

Background

ASFI is a collaboration between representatives of the Australian financial sector, civil society, academia, and financial regulators. Membership is voluntary and open to any corporation in the financial services sector or service provider to financial institutions which is interested in pursuing and supporting ASFI’s objectives.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has provided the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute with a grant to undertake the ‘Institutional Investor Engagement (Indo-Pacific)’ project to draw private investment into development outcomes in the Indo-Pacific region, including through supporting the development of DFAT’s blended finance portfolio.

The ACCC granted interim authorisation to the ASFI and its member banks on 7 March 2025, allowing them to discuss and exchange information for the purpose of developing potential banking capital requirement reforms to remove constraints on sustainable finance and investment in Australia. Interim authorisation will remain in place until the final determination comes into effect.

Notes to editors

ACCC authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct by competitors that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act.

Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.

In December 2024, the ACCC released its guide on sustainability collaborations and Australia competition law to inform businesses and other entities about the interaction between Australian competition law and sustainability collaborations.

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin