Source: New South Wales Government 2
11 April 2025
This notice affects importers of live plants (nursery stock), customs brokers and departmental staff.
The department has identified a scientific publication by Ahmad et al. (2024) reporting that the plant pathogenic bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa (Xylella), was detected overseas in commercial, field grown Cannabis crops.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry…
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 11/04/2025
From Monday 28 April 2025, JJ’s Waste and Recycling will start as the new service provider for the collection of household bins in the ACT.
In 2024 the ACT Government announced the consolidation of all household waste collection services into one contract. This contract was awarded to JJ’s Waste and Recycling.
Over the past 12 months JJ’s Waste and Recycling has been acquiring a new fleet of vehicles, including one electric collection truck, and preparing staff and facilities for the commencement of service delivery.
Under the new contract, JJ’s Waste and Recycling will be responsible for delivering the following services:
As part of the new arrangements there will only be one change to the household waste collection calendar. This change will be for the suburb of Charnwood (see details at the bottom of this media release).
The scheduled collection day for all other suburb collections will remain the same.
While there are no further formal changes to the bin collection schedule, Canberrans are asked to be patient during the transition process. While every effort is being made to ensure a smooth transition between service providers, there is potential for some temporary service impacts.
Important things for ACT households to note include that:
Prior to Monday 28 April 2025
From Monday 28 April 2025
For more information, including to view the current collection schedule, visit www.act.gov.au/bins.
Change to Charnwood collection day
From Monday 28 April 2025, household bin collections in Charnwood will move to Wednesdays.
This is for all three household bins including recycling, landfill and green waste. Recycling and green waste are collected on alternate weeks.
This means there will be a change to the current collection day for some households in Charnwood. There will be no change to collection schedules for multi-unit dwellings.
The change is happening to improve collection efficiency. Currently, collection of household bins in Charnwood is split over four days. From 28 April 2025, there will be one single collection day for Charnwood.
The ACT Government will provide all affected households with a new collection calendar in their letterbox.
– Statement ends –
ACT Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate | Media Releases
«ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases
Source:
We’ve reviewed our advice for China and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. As previously advised, authorities have detained foreigners on the grounds of ‘endangering national security’. Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws.
Source:
Werribee Fire Brigade members are gearing up for the Good Friday Appeal
Fundraising as a brigade since 1977, the brigade begins planning months before the day itself, taking into account where members will be stationed, transport for the day and most importantly who will be cooking the fish on the BBQ to keep them fueled.
Having raised well over $1 million for the cause over the years, the Appeal is a key event in the brigade’s annual calendar.
Werribee Fire Brigade Captain Michael Wells has been a CFA member for 36 years and has fond memories of fundraising with the brigade in the late 1980s right through to today. He said fundraising is a joint effort between the brigade itself and the wider community.
“We rely on our members to get involved, both in the lead-up to and on the day itself, and we rely on our community to be generous enough to allow us to do that,” Michael said.
“Everyone gets behind the cause and it really inspires us to keep doing this.”
For the brigade members, fundraising for the Appeal is a proud extension to their volunteerism with CFA.
“As firefighters, we often see devastation that can occur and incidents where children might end up needing the services of The Royal Children’s Hospital, whether it’s a burn or an injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident,” Michael said.
“We volunteer with CFA because we are community-minded and like giving back, so this is just another way we can contribute. We understand the importance of having the best facilities available, and if we can contribute to this in some way, it is worthwhile.”
The cause hits close to home for the team, with many brigade members using the services of The Royal Children’s Hospital over many years.
Werribee Fire Brigade firefighter Mick Davie is one of those members. Mick has done everything and more over his last 20 years of fundraising, from door-knocking, tin-rattling, to sitting on the organising committee.
“My family has a long history with both CFA and the Good Friday Appeal. Both my kids and my wife get there early in the morning with me, and we spend the day helping to raise as much money as we can for the cause,” Mick said.
“We’ve seen the impacts the Appeal can have firsthand, with both of our kids needing treatment.
“Our son, Jake, has needed two head reconstructions and our daughter, Charlotte, is currently going through cancer treatment, so we are at the hospital weekly. We can’t speak highly enough about them and what they have done for our family.
“We are so lucky to have the Royal Children’s Hospital so close and accessible to us. The staff there are the best in the world at what they do, they are so good at finding the best treatment for each individual and what will work best for each child.
“There is a reason that people come from around the world to see specialists there.
“We need the hospital to have the best gear possible so our kids can be looked after.
“You can see the impact that the Good Friday Appeal can have as soon as you visit The Royal Children’s Hospital. It is really important to keep the support going.”
This year, CFA volunteers are aiming to surpass $40 million in total funds collected for the Good Friday Appeal across 74 years.
On Good Friday, call 1300 APPEAL between 9am and 11pm.
| Submitted by | CFA Media |
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 11/04/2025
On the one-year anniversary of the ACT Disability Strategy, the ACT Government is reinforcing our commitment to fostering a more inclusive city for people with disability.
The development of the 10-year Strategy and associated action plans set a high bar as an example of extensive community-led co-design approaches with people with disability, advocates, carers and service providers.
The Government has committed more than $5.5 million to support delivering on the Strategy’s priorities to continue removing barriers and enhancing accessibility for people with disability in the ACT.
Key achievements in the first year of the Strategy and First Action Plan include:
The Government acknowledges there is still more to do to ensure Canberrans living with a disability have full and equal participation in all aspects of community life.
Key focus of the work ahead includes:
The progression of this important work will continue to be guided and informed by the experiences of people with disability and the broader ACT Disability Community.
Quote attributable to Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr:
“Today marks an important milestone in our journey to ensuring Canberra is as inclusive as it can be and a place where people with disability can fully and easily participate in all aspects of our community.
“I would like to thank everyone who has shared their time, expertise and experience in the last year to ensure the needs of people with disability are heard and we are making the change that is needed.
“Making our city truly inclusive won’t happen straight away and I look forward to working with the community as we continue to build on our work to date.”
Quote attributable to Renée Heaton, Chair of Disability Reference Group:
“It has been 12 months since the ACT Disability Strategy was launched and with so much reform yet to come the DRG are pleased that the Strategy and first action plan is delivering for Canberrans with disability now.
“The actions delivered to date cross directorates and interlink to make sure that however a person with disability wants to live their life, they can.
“For example, if they want to go out to the multicultural festival, they can knowing there’s an accessible changing places bathroom available.
“People with disability deserve to have great lives so we look forward to the ACT Government continuing to deliver on the First Action Plan and showing the rest of Australia how it’s done.”
– Statement ends –
Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases
Source: New South Wales Ministerial News
Please be aware that our Payment Portal, Online Customer Requests and Building Application lodgment portal will be unavailable between:
Starts: 5.00pm on Friday April 11, 2025
Ends: 12.00am on Saturday April 12, 2025
For any payments please refer to your invoice or statement for other payment options during this period.
Source: Australian National Party
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 10/04/2025
Young people in Canberra are encouraged to participate in ACT Youth Week 2025, which will be held from 10 – 20 April. The 10-day celebration features a vibrant program of free, fun and informative events across the city.
“ACT Youth Week is a prime opportunity to celebrate the invaluable role that young people play in our community,” Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Michael Pettersson MLA said.
“Every day young people are making a real difference in Canberra. Young people are some of our most creative, energetic, passionate and committed citizens with their constant desire to make this world a better place. As Minister for Children, Youth and Families I am continually amazed at young people’s generosity for community work, activism and achieving personal goals.”
“I hope that young people in Canberra will get involved with the incredible line-up of events and activities to meet new people, celebrate being young and to share their incredible stories.”
To support ACT Youth Week, the ACT Government provided grants of up to $2,000 for youth-led initiatives that:
There are several exciting events being held over the next 10 days, which received funding through the ACT Youth Week Grants Program. These include:
A full list of ACT Youth Week events is available at: www.act.gov.au/our-canberra/latest-news/2025/april/your-guide-to-act-youth-week-in-canberra
Quotes attributable to Vando Celestina Emmy Rabi, the ACT Government’s Young Canberra Citizen of the Year 2024:
“Youth Week is an important occasion for me because it provides a dedicated space to celebrate and amplify the voices of young people in our communities. It’s a time to reflect on the incredible contributions that youth make to society and to highlight the potential we all have to drive positive change. Personally, it means a chance to connect with others, share experiences, and inspire each other to continue pushing boundaries and striving for a better future,” Ms Rabi said.
– Statement ends –
Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases
Source: New South Wales Government 2
10 April 2025
Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who are required to book and manage requests for inspections via the Biosecurity Portal.
The Biosecurity Portal allows a requester to provide the exact time that goods are available. Providing this information will assist the department in allocating resources effectively. Biosecurity Portal users are encouraged…
Source: New South Wales Government 2
8 April 2025
This notice affects importers, freight forwarders, biosecurity industry participants and accredited persons operating under the department’s approved arrangement class 19.
Australia currently has emergency measures in place to manage the risk of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) entering the country. This includes mandatory pre-border treatment of:
Source: New South Wales Government 2
7 April 2025
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.
Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended M/s Blue Bird Pest Control Pvt. Ltd. (AEI: IN0419MB) from the…