Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Australia Government Statements 2

The Albanese Government is supporting a stronger, more inclusive Indo-Pacific through a new $50 million flagship initiative – Stronger Movements, Stronger Futures.

Stronger Movements, Stronger Futures will strengthen national, regional, and global disability rights movements – ensuring people with disability are at the centre of policy and decision-making.

Supporting disability rights movements is a key priority under the Albanese Government’s International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, released in November 2024.

Australia has a proud history of supporting disability equity and rights through our development program. This new initiative is Australia’s largest ever international investment dedicated to disability, reaffirming our global leadership in this sector.

Through this investment, Australia will partner with three leading organisations of people with disability – the International Disability Alliance, Pacific Disability Forum, and ASEAN Disability Forum.

Today’s announcement coincides with International Day of People with Disability.

Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong: 

“One year on from launching Australia’s International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, we are deepening our engagement with organisations led by and for people with disability – powerful advocates for change and key partners for creating real outcomes.

“Stronger Movements, Stronger Futures empowers people with disability to lead change – removing barriers and creating opportunities for full and equal participation in society.

“Improving outcomes and advancing rights for people with disability reflects Australia’s values and strengthens our region.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development Anne Aly:

“Disability equity benefits everyone. Inclusive societies are more peaceful and cohesive, and have greater potential for economic growth.

“People with disability are expertly placed to shape the policies and programs that impact them. This investment will ensure people with disability are at the centre of decision-making, from the very onset.

“Too often people with disability aren’t seen, or their needs are treated as an afterthought. Inclusion shouldn’t be an add on, it should be central to how decisions are made.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has extradited and charged a man in relation to a suspicious death in Bakewell.

On Saturday 12 September 2020, a 43-year-old woman was located deceased at a residence in Bakewell in suspicious circumstances.

A crime scene was declared, and a report was prepared for the Northern Territory Coroner.

An inquest into her death was held from the 17-21 June 2024.

A referral was made to the Commissioner of Police after the formal findings were handed down.

Following continued investigations, the Northern Territory Police Force can now confirm that last week, the 44-year-old former partner of the deceased was arrested in Victoria, charged with one count of Murder, and has been extradited back to the Northern Territory.

He was further remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court tomorrow.

Source: Australian Capital Territory – State Government

Source: Tasmania Police

Police investigate firearms incident at Rokeby

Wednesday, 3 December 2025 – 10:02 am.

Police are investigating an incident involving a firearm in Rokeby on Tuesday evening.
Authorities were called to the scene on Hart Place shortly before 8:30pm, after a man was reportedly shot in the leg.
He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A crime scene was declared and police began searching the area for two people of interest, believed to be young males who had fled on foot in the direction of Burtonia Street.
At this stage the males have not been located. Initial inquiries indicate the broader community is not at risk.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact South East CIB on 131 444 (reference ESCAD 373-02122025).

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC will not oppose Igneo Infrastructure Partners’ proposed acquisition of Benedict Recycling Pty Ltd, following a change to the transaction addressing the ACCC’s preliminary competition concerns.

Igneo manages the infrastructure fund which owns Integrated Waste Services (IWS) and operates under the Recycle Central brand in New South Wales. IWS and Benedict Recycling overlap in the supply of building and demolition (B&D) waste processing services in New South Wales’s Newcastle region.

In September 2025, the ACCC expressed strong preliminary competition concerns that the proposed acquisition was likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of mixed B&D waste processing services in the Newcastle region.

“IWS and Benedict Recycling are each other’s closest competitors in the area, and there are limited alternatives to IWS and Benedict Recycling for customers to choose from,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

“We were concerned that in its original form, the proposed acquisition would have led to higher prices or reduced service quality for those seeking to dispose of mixed B&D waste in the Newcastle region.”

After the ACCC’s preliminary concerns were outlined in its Statement of Issues, and following further engagement with the ACCC, the merger parties restructured the transaction to exclude Benedict Recycling’s Newcastle Recycling Centre in Mayfield West, including its assets, staff and equipment, from the transaction.

Under the revised transaction, the Newcastle Recycling Centre will be retained by the existing owners of Benedict Recycling, and it will continue to operate as an independent facility for customers such as waste collectors.

“Having reviewed this restructured transaction, we are of the view that the proposed acquisition is now unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition,” Dr Williams said.

More information is available on the ACCC’s public register at Igneo Infrastructure Partners – Benedict Recycling Pty Ltd.

Note to editors

B&D waste is material generated from the demolition, construction or renovation of residential and commercial buildings, civil projects or infrastructure development. B&D waste is non-putrescible (or ‘solid’), meaning it contains primarily non-organic materials that may or may not be recyclable.

Mixed B&D waste is a subcategory of B&D waste which involves materials that have not been segregated. Mixed B&D waste may involve materials such as bricks, concrete, timber, glass, plastic, plasterboard, ceramics, metal, paper and cardboard. Producers of mixed B&D waste typically engage waste collectors to dispose of it. These waste collectors commonly supply skip bins and operate trucks to collect the waste.

Background

Igneo proposes to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Benedict Recycling. Prior to this acquisition taking place, the assets, staff and equipment of the Newcastle Recycling Centre will be transferred to a new company which will be owned and operated by the current owners of Benedict Recycling.

Igneo is an unlisted infrastructure asset management business of the First Sentier Investors Group, an Australian asset manager with more than $222 billion in funds under management (as at 30 June 2024). First Sentier Investors Group is ultimately owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

Igneo manages an infrastructure fund that owns IWS, a waste management business with operations in Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales. IWS provides a range of waste management services including resource recovery, commercial composting, and disposal.

IWS owns Recycle Central Group (Recycle Central), a waste management business that provides waste collection, disposal and processing services for B&D and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste. Recycle Central operates two facilities in Greater Newcastle:

• a large-scale waste processing facility, located in Kurri Kurri, 38 km from the Newcastle CBD; and
• a waste transfer station located in Cardiff (in central Newcastle).

In the Newcastle region, Recycle Central offers collection services under the brands ‘Central Skips’ and ‘Rentaskip’.

Benedict Recycling provides waste disposal and processing services for B&D, C&I, household and green waste across Greater Sydney (Belrose, Chipping Norton and Smeaton Grange), Bowral, Unanderra and Newcastle.

In Newcastle, Benedict Recycling operates a processing facility in Mayfield West, close to the centre of Newcastle.

Benedict Recycling does not operate a waste collection business.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo is calling on residents from our small township communities to submit their ideas for the City to apply for funding through the Victorian Governments Tiny Towns Grant Program.

City of Greater Bendigo Director, Healthy Communities and Environments, Jess Howard, said the City want to hear from residents who live in Greater Bendigo’s small townships about their ideas for projects that could be funded through the program.

“Whether it’s a project to improve local spaces, celebrate culture, or strengthen community connections, your ideas matter,” Jess Howard said.

“By working together, we can make our local small towns even better places to live.”

Small township residents can submit their ideas through the City’s community engagement website Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo by Sunday January 4, 2026.

To meet the grant criteria the townships are required to be non-urban areas of Greater Bendigo and have a population of less than 5,000.

Eligible projects could include:

• Improvements to local parks, playgrounds, or community spaces
• Initiatives that celebrate culture and heritage
• Activities that strengthen community connections
• Small-scale infrastructure that benefits residents

All submissions will be assessed against the grant guidelines and the City’s strategies and policies to ensure project ideas align with community priorities and deliver the best outcomes for Greater Bendigo.

To submit an idea, please visit:

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Development of the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct has reached a significant milestone, with the Planning Scheme Amendment to rezone the site released for public comment.

The amendment seeks to rezone the BREP site to an industrial zone and introduce a Development Plan Overlay to support staged delivery of the site.

At the September 2025 Council Meeting, Council endorsed development of the BREP as its number one project.

The BREP is a 294ha site located along the Wimmera and Calder Alternative Highways south of the Marong township. The Victorian Government via Regional Development Victoria has invested $6M to prepare a range of studies that will outline how the site can be developed and identify the most appropriate businesses. Some of these funds have also supported a Coliban Water pipe upgrade.

City of Greater Bendigo CEO Andrew Cooney said the aim was to finalise the rezoning process prior to next year’s State election.

“This is an important infrastructure project for our community and wider region. It will deliver a long-term industrial supply pipeline, allow existing businesses to grow, attract new businesses and free up smaller industrial lots for those that need them,” Mr Cooney said.

“Previous studies suggested that approximately 10 years of industrial land supply remain on paper. However, recent analysis by the Victorian Planning Authority indicates that factors such as lot size and development readiness may have reduced the amount of land that is genuinely available for development.

“When complete, it is envisaged that approximately 3,000 direct and potentially 3,000 indirect jobs will be created at the BREP, delivering $9.5B in economic benefits. The site is planned to be developed in six stages, with stage 1 expected to generate 1,150 jobs and $3.3B in economic uplift.

“As we think about a future population of 200,000 people by 2050 and Marong being highlighted as a key growth area, the BREP will be essential for providing jobs.

“The City is in the process of advocating for $27M in further funding to progress detailed planning in 2026/2027, so as the project is ready for trunk infrastructure delivery (power, water, sewer, roads etc.) in 2028/2029 and having lots available by approximately 2032.”

Since 2020, the City has prepared three strategic documents confirming demand for industrial land and where a future site would be best located.

The 2020 Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy acknowledged Greater Bendigo was experiencing a significant industrial land shortfall and struggling to meet demand, while the 2020 Marong Township Structure Plan and 2024 revised Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy identified the preferred 294ha BREP site for industrial development in Marong. In 2021, the City purchased 155ha within this preferred site.

Engagement opportunities include:

• Monday December 8, online via Zoom, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
• Thursday December 11, Marong Shire Hall, 2pm – 7pm. Drop-in session
• Tuesday February 3, online via Zoom, 5pm – 6pm
• Thursday February 5, location TBC, 11am – 2pm. Drop-in session

To register for one or more sessions, to make a submission or to find out more, visit:

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

A new exhibition celebrates Greater Bendigo as Australia’s First UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.

There’s a place at the table for you is a delightful exhibition that explores the deep connections between food, community, culture, and creativity.

Located at the Living Arts Space in Bendigo Visitor Centre, the exhibition is an invitation to reflect on the integral role food plays in our lives and connects us to each other, to a community and to the land.

This inspiring showcase honours some of the people and passion behind Bendigo’s 2019 UNESCO designation. Through a series of evocative portraits by local photographer Leon Schoots and curated by Gastronomy Officer Michelle Symes, the exhibition captures the stories of those shaping the region’s food system where gastronomy is woven into everyday life.

From producers and artisans to community leaders and cultural custodians, each portrait reveals a story of innovation, resilience, and a deep-rooted love for the land and its people. These are the faces behind the flavours, the hands that nurture, and the hearts that connect.

Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said the exhibition took a unique approach to food that residents and visitors will enjoy.

“Food is more than a daily necessity. It welcomes us, shows care, and expresses culture,” Mr Myatt said.

“This exhibition is a beautiful reminder that food connects us all. As Australia’s first Creative City of Gastronomy, food is part of our regional identity that continues to build.

Whether you’re a grower, a maker, a sharer, or simply a lover of good food, there’s a place at the table for you.”

The exhibition features portraits of community members making a positive impact across the region’s local food system, reinforcing Bendigo’s reputation.

Open until the end of February 2026, the exhibition is at the Living Arts Space is in Bendigo Visitor Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall. Open 9am to 4.30pm daily (except Christmas Day).

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Tuesday, 2 December 2025 8:48am

Original publication: Tuesday, 2 December 2025 8:48am

Source: ACT Police

Last update: Monday, 1 December 2025 10:13am

Original publication: Monday, 1 December 2025 10:13am