Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australian National Party

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Source: New South Wales – News

Just after 6am on Wednesday 2 April, a red 2016 Ford Mustang was reported stolen from the driveway of a Rosslyn Park home.

Police spotted the Mustang travelling south out of Bute about 11.15am before heading east on the Copper Coast Highway through to Port Wakefield.

Patrols set up cordons around the area and awaited PolAir to commence tracking the vehicle from the air.

The Mustang was tracked through Two Wells and Virginia and into the northern suburbs.

About 12.45pm the Mustang drove onto the O-Bahn track at Tea Tree Plaza and travelled south for about 2km’s before becoming stuck near Welloch Street, Modbury.

Two people ran from the car and over fences of nearby houses but were quickly arrested by patrols.

Two Port Augusta teens aged 14 and 19 have been arrested and are currently being interviewed by police.

The O-Bahn track remains closed until a crane can remove the vehicle.

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Have you provided certain benefits to your staff in addition to their salary and wages? It’s important to know your FBT obligations. If you lodge your own FBT return, or use a tax professional who lodges by paper, you must lodge and pay the amount owed by 21 May, 2025.

If you use a tax professional who lodges electronically on your behalf, you may have until 25 June, 2025.

If it’s your first time lodging through a tax professional, make sure you’re on your agent’s FBT client list by 21 May to be eligible for a concessional due date.

Some perks you offer to your employees may attract FBT. These include employees using a work car (including dual cab utes) for private purposes, gym memberships, and even tickets to an event or show. If you provided benefits over the 2025 FBT year, make sure you know how to lodge and pay.

To help you get it right, don’t skip these steps:

• Identify the type of benefits you provide.
• Determine the taxable value of each fringe benefit.
• Lodge an FBT return and pay by 21 May (for self-preparers). If your tax professional lodges electronically on your behalf, you have until 25 June to lodge and pay.
• Keep good records that support your calculations and your FBT position when you lodge or pay by 21 May.

Remember to include your current financial institution details (FID) when you lodge to ensure any refund is deposited electronically into your account. Your refund may be held up if you do not provide FID.

Are you lodging a nil FBT return?

If you’re lodging a nil FBT return, assess whether you provided fringe benefits and work out the taxable value to make sure you’re reporting and calculating FBT correctly. If you don’t have an FBT liability and you’re registered for FBT, you should send us a completed FBT notice of non-lodgment.

To ensure any refunds are deposited directly into the correct nominated accounts, include current bank account details in each lodgment.

For more information, see ato.gov.au/fbt.

Source:

You’ll have read in our Findings Report that the Top 500 program has recently undergone a review and, as a result, from April 2025, there may be changes to how we engage with you.

You can find everything you need to know about what’s happening in our Top 500 private groups tax performance program resource.

As Assistant Commissioner for the Private Wealth Top 500 tax performance program, Glenn Cooper advises:

‘The aim of the changes is to ensure the focus of the program is on the wealthiest groups, as our insights show that those groups have the biggest impact on the tax system. We will also streamline our approach for certain groups when they achieve Full Tax Assurance.’

Glenn makes it clear that groups who have achieved, or are close to achieving, Justified Trust will have a choice about what happens next:

‘Groups that are no longer covered by the program will undergo an exit process after the current lines of enquiry are finalised, and the requisite assurance is achieved. Groups that are eligible to exit may opt to stay in the Top 500 program, provided they are in Justified Trust or expected to achieve Justified Trust within the next 12 months. Moving forward, groups remaining in the Top 500 program will be categorised as ‘Significant’ or ‘General’, and our provisional Justified Trust approach will be widened.’

‘Significant’ groups will continue to undergo ongoing annual assurance engagements and need to achieve Justified Trust before entering a 3-year monitoring and maintenance period. It’s important to bear in mind that these groups have the highest impact on the tax system and make up about a third of the groups in the program.

As Glenn points out, there will be a slightly different approach for ‘General’ groups.

‘When ‘General’ groups achieve Full Tax Assurance, they’ll enter a one-year monitoring and maintenance period, followed by an assurance refresh engagement.’

Our provisional Justified Trust approach that was previously only available to predominantly passive investor groups has also been expanded to include all groups that achieve Full Tax Assurance, subject only to the additional requirement of testing tax governance for operational effectiveness.

Some things won’t change. Our engagements will assess the 4 principles of Justified Trust, and effective tax governance will continue to be encouraged for all groups in the population. However, as Glenn says:

‘We know that some groups have proven they’ve paid the right amount of tax by achieving Full Tax Assurance, even without the requisite tax governance for Justified Trust. The changes we’ve made to the Top 500 mean that we will continue to meet the program’s objective of ensuring that the wealthiest groups are paying the right amount of tax, and that significant groups will continue to pay the right amount of tax in the future, while also providing a streamlined engagement approach where appropriate. Make sure you’re on top of these changes and are clear about the implications for your group.’

Keep up to date

We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

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Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The majority of the High Court has today dismissed an appeal by the ACCC against a decision of the Full Federal Court in proceedings against the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and construction company J Hutchinson Pty Ltd (Hutchinson).

The High Court ruling upholds an earlier appeal by the CFMEU and Hutchinson against a Federal Court finding that they had reached an anti-competitive boycott arrangement or understanding.

The ACCC had alleged, and the Federal Court trial judge in the original judgment had found, that the CFMEU and Hutchinson made an arrangement or understanding to boycott a waterproofing subcontractor at the Brisbane Southpoint A apartments construction site in 2016, meaning the subcontractor could no longer perform the work.

“We took this case originally because boycotts are a kind of anti-competitive conduct which harms the economy as well as individual businesses and consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

The ACCC’s appeal sought the High Court’s ruling on what is required to demonstrate that parties have reached an anti-competitive arrangement or understanding.

“We took this appeal because the issue of what is needed to prove an arrangement or understanding is an important one for the enforcement of our competition laws,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said. 

“The ACCC respects today’s High Court ruling. It reflects the complexity of enforcing these provisions of our competition laws.”

“We remain committed to enforcing our laws and holding those who engage in anti-competitive conduct accountable,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

Background

Hutchinson is one of Australia’s largest privately owned construction companies.

The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union is a trade union organisation that represents members in a number of industries including the construction industry. When proceedings started it was known as the ‘CFMMEU’, while today it is known as the ‘CFMEU’.

Sections 45E and 45EA of the Competition and Consumer Act prohibit contracts, arrangements or understandings that contain a provision included for the purpose of preventing or hindering the acquisition of goods or services from a supplier, which is also referred to as a “secondary boycott”.

On 4 December 2020, the ACCC instituted proceedings against Hutchinson and the CFMEU.

On 14 February 2022, the Federal Court found that by making and acting on the agreement, Hutchinson contravened sections 45E and 45EA of the Competition and Consumer Act.

The CFMEU was found to have been knowingly concerned in, or party to, the contraventions by Hutchinson.

The Court also found that the CFMEU induced Hutchinson’s contraventions by threatening or implying that there would be conflict with, or industrial action by, the CFMEU if Hutchinson did not stop using the particular subcontractor.

On 30 August 2022, the Federal Court ordered the CFMEU and Hutchinson to pay penalties of $750,000 and $600,000 respectively.

On 29 February 2024, the Full Federal Court upheld appeals by the CFMEU and Hutchinson against the first-instance decision.

On 2 April 2024, the ACCC sought special leave to appeal to the High Court from the Full Federal Court’s judgment that upheld appeals by the CFMEU and Hutchinson. Leave was granted in August 2024, and the appeal was heard in December 2024.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police working with City of Hobart and local businesses to reduce retail crime

Wednesday, 2 April 2025 – 12:38 pm.

More than 100 people attended a retail crime and safety forum in Hobart this morning to discuss strategies for making stores and shopping precincts safer.
Inspector John Toohey said the event, organised by Tasmania Police and City of Hobart, brought together community leaders, police and retailers.
“Today’s forum highlights the importance of working together to reduce crime,” he said.
“By collaborating, we can create better strategies to target retail crime and make our environment safer for everyone.”
“There are simple things retailers can do to prevent crime, from ensuring the store layout allows visibility to installing high-quality CCTV and other security measures.”
“Properly training staff, engaging closely with customers and restricting access to key areas is also key.”
“If a crime does occur, it’s important the matter is reported to police in a timely manner so our officers can respond effectively and hold offenders to account.”
“We want our local businesses, and communities more broadly, to be able to thrive without worrying about crime.”
“It’s crucial that both the public and employees feel safe not only in public spaces but also in their workplaces.”
City of Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council is dedicated to creating a safe and vibrant retail environment in Hobart.
“Today’s discussions have reinforced the need for ongoing collaboration between the council, law enforcement, and retailers to address the challenges we face,” she said.
Retailer Warren Lucas said retail crime not only affects businesses’ bottom line, but also the safety and wellbeing of staff and customers.
“Forums like this are essential for sharing knowledge and developing practical solutions to these issues.”
The forum provided a space for meaningful conversations and idea-sharing, paving the way for stronger partnerships and better strategies to fight retail crime.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Second person charged in relation to murder at Glenorchy

Wednesday, 2 April 2025 – 12:32 pm.

Police have charged a second person with murder following an incident at Dickson Street, Glenorchy, on 11 March, which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man.
The 15-year-old youth was arrested last night. 
They have been detained to appear before the Youth Justice Court today. 

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police investigate damage at Stanley penguin viewing platform

Wednesday, 2 April 2025 – 12:26 pm.

Police are investigating after a series of incidents where damage was caused at the Godfreys Beach Penguin Viewing Platform at Stanley.
Between Tuesday 18 March and Saturday 22 March, several LED strip lights and guide lights were damaged or removed from the platform off Harrison Terrace. 
The marine-grade lighting had been fitted over information boards, and around the platform.
Police are also investigating similar incidents of damage at the platform in recent months.
Anyone with information about these incidents should contact Smithton Police on 131 444 and quote Offence Report 770206.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

As Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and region of Gastronomy, the latest Djaa Djuwima celebrates First Nations bush tucker through a range of traditional and contemporary creative works.

The exhibition Dhelk Djakitj, which means nourishing food in Dja Dja Wurrung language, is inspired by bush tucker – the food, the people, Country and stories that bring them together.

This is the first exhibition for newly appointed Djaa Djuwima Curator and Arts Officer First Nations Michellie Charvat.

Twelve talented artists are exhibiting their work in Dhelk Djakitj following a recent visit to the Me-Mandook Galk education place in Chewton where the bush tucker farm Nalderun is located.

Ms Charvat said she was delighted to be involved at the start of the creative process with exhibitors.

“It was a wonderful visit to Me-Mandook Galk education place which inspired the artists in so many different ways,” Ms Charvat said.

“The artists had the opportunity to learn about the bush tucker that Nalderun is growing and harvesting, to ask questions and gain a great deal of inspiration from the farm and surrounding area on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

“They then developed their artworks to reflect their diverse experience, personal connections to bush tucker through traditional and contemporary art forms such as painting on canvas, digital art printed, creating coolamons out of traditional and natural fibres or contemporary craft forms such as beading.

“The free exhibition is a brilliant display of artworks exploring bush tucker and the personal connections to food and culture,” Ms Charvat said.

“It is also a wonderful collaboration, celebrating the region’s designation as Australia’s first Creative City of Gastronomy at Djaa Djuwima.

“Djaa Djuwima is important in the spirit of reconciliation because it offers the opportunity for visitors and local residents to experience the diverse local First Nations peoples and artists’ exploration of their own culture and identity through their art forms. Djaa Djuwima means to show and share Country and was established on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in 2022.”

The community is welcome to attend the opening of Dhelk Djakitj tomorrow, Thursday April 3 from 5pm to 6.30pm at Djaa Djuwima.

The free exhibition is open until September 2025. Djaa Djuwima is located in the Bendigo Visitor Centre, Pall Mall and is open 9am to 4.30pm daily (except Christmas Day).