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We’ve reviewed our advice for Belize and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution for Belize overall. We also continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to the South side of Belize City (south of Haulover Creek Canal) (see ‘Safety’).
Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register
NATALIE BARR: This week’s inquest into the shocking death of Lilie James has uncovered a terrifying, yet common pattern of aggression and coercive control. Her killer, an obsessed ex partner, stalked Lilie and tried to control her before eventually planning her murder in cold blooded detail.
This is the moment he shopped for his weapon, he shopped for it, a hammer from the hardware store, and this is the moment he practised storming the bathroom where Lilie would eventually be killed.
Now her parents say something needs to change. Lilie’s mum, Peta, says if parents don’t teach their sons to respect a woman’s choices, we might be setting our daughters up for a failure.
Joining us now is Education Minister, Jason Clare, and Deputy Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley. Good morning to both of you.
JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Good morning.
BARR: Jason, an expert told us this week that domestic violence often starts with coercive control, boys exerting control over girls. What are we doing in our schools, in Australian schools to teach this?
CLARE: You can’t imagine what Lilie’s Mum and her Dad are going through at the moment. The sort of mind numbing pain that they’re experiencing. We got a little bit of an insight into that yesterday. Lilie was an innocent young woman whose life was taken away from her by this monster.
I think the key point we need to make is that this is not just the act of one monster. One in five women over the age of 15 are the victims of some type of sexual violence, and in answer to your question, if we’re serious about this, then it does involve education in our schools, not just at high school, but at primary school as well.
Last year we started the roll out of a five year program which is worth about $77 million investing in teaching our boys about respect and about consent, about coercive control, about stopping at the start the sort of things that led to this murder.
BARR: Because we are in week 12 of the year and 14 women and four children have already lost their lives. So whatever we’re doing up until this point, it’s not working, is it?
CLARE: No, it’s not. And part of it is what we do in our schools, part of it is what we do as mums and dads, part of it is what men do, talking to other men, calling out comments and actions by other men when we see the wrong thing being said.
Incidentally, the action that we’re taking to ban access to social media for young people under the age of 16 is important too, because it means that fewer boys are going to get access to that cesspit where you see the sort of horrible things that are said about women.
BARR: Yeah, you’re right on that, because it’s a whole community attitude. Sussan, I want to go to you and talk about older people; it’s not just young boys here, it is a community attitude.
A senior school principal said at the time of this murder words to the effect of, “This type of thing doesn’t happen as often as it does in other countries” and as we’ve seen roughly one woman a week, many years, is killed by domestic violence.
He then said this murderer, Thijssen, wasn’t a monster, he committed a monstrous act which was in complete contradiction to how everyone knew him. Again that was untrue. An ex girlfriend said he stalked her, he trapped her, he scared her.
Do we need to also look at educating our older people who are obviously getting this wrong too?
SUSSAN LEY: Everybody needs to pay attention, and no one could ignore the heartbreaking words from Lilie’s mother, and as a mother, I just had no words, Nat, it was just so, so incredibly painful to listen to.
There was a tragic chain of events that ended up with this monstrous act, and we have to work out as a society, and yes, everybody, how to break that chain, and it’s a job that’s too big for teachers, for schools, we have to bring in parents, we have to bring community groups, footy groups, faith groups, everybody.
I want to commend the work of the Movember Foundation doing some pretty incredible stuff around rebuilding what masculinity means, also Chanel Contos and Teach Us Consent. There are terrific materials, groups and information out there.
But ultimately we lost this beautiful young woman, and we have to work out how we break that chain of violence. So we also bring men and boys into the conversation, because men and boys are not a problem to be solved, they need to be brought into the solution.
So let’s, as you’ve indicated, as others have, make this something that everyone everywhere participates in.
BARR: Yep. Exactly. And like Jason said, it starts at primary school, and then into high school, and the language we all use, and the dads use and maybe we can get somewhere.
CLARE: Yep.
BARR: We thank you both for joining us this week. We’ll see you next week.
Source: Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
The Albanese Labor Government is supporting First Nations women and children living in Darwin in the Northern Territory to leave violent intimate partner relationships.
The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service has received $9 million in funding to work in partnership with Danila Dilba Health Services, the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter and Yilli Rreung Housing to support victim-survivors.
This is one of three regional place-based trials commencing from 1 July – complementing the next stage of the $925 million Leaving Violence Program.
The Government is investing $22.35 million in trials in Darwin, Dubbo in New South Wales and Broome in Western Australia, to provide tailored, trauma-informed support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service will also provide victim-survivors with an option to access the Leaving Violence Program through their service as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Organisation.
Under the Leaving Violence Program, eligible victim-survivors receive financial support of up to $5,000, including up to $1,500 in cash and the remainder in goods and services. Supports include safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other essential services for up to 12 weeks. The program is expected to support over 36,000 victim-survivors a year.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the trials will provide eligible victim-survivors with access to practical and financial support to leave family violence.
“By providing culturally safe, trauma-informed support, we can empower victim-survivors within our Indigenous communities to regain safety, stability, and control over their lives and wellbeing,” Minister Rishworth said.
“No person in our country should be forced to live in an environment that compromises their safety or their agency, and this expansion of the program will allow hundreds of vulnerable Australians to take that first step into a brighter future.”
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the Albanese Government is committed to working with Aboriginal community-led organisations to support First Nations women and children escaping family violence.
“The North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service, Danila Dilba Health Services, the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter and Yilli Rreung Housing all do vital work in this space,” Minister McCarthy said.
“This trial means more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children can access tailored, trauma-informed support as well as financial assistance to leave unsafe environments.”
Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, said the Government understands no two victim-survivors’ experiences are the same, and neither is the support they need.
“It may feel as though all choices have been removed for those enduring intimate partner violence, and that’s something we’re committed to changing,” Mr Gosling said.
“We acknowledge the courage it takes to leave an environment of violence, and encourage those in a violent relationship to reach out for support.”
Intimate partner violence is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced it in their lifetime.
The Leaving Violence Program helps support the aims of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 to end violence in one generation, and forms part of the Albanese Government’s $4 billion investment in women’s safety since 2022.
It also makes permanent the Escaping Violence Program trial. More than 78,000 victim-survivors have accessed the EVP payment since 2021. Over 70 per cent of those accessing the support were self-referrals meaning without this program they may have fallen through the cracks of the support system.
This funding is part of the Commonwealth’s investment of more than $245 million in the Northern Territory to address family, domestic and sexual violence.
More information on the Leaving Violence Program is available on the Department of Social Services website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT, or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit No to Violence.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Source: Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
Today on the 12th anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions, the Albanese Labor Government acknowledges the trauma faced by children, families, and communities due to past forced adoption practices.
In 2013, the then Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered an unconditional apology on behalf of Australians for the lasting harm to mothers, adopted people, some fathers and wider families caused by forced adoptions.
The Prime Minister also apologised for the estimated removal of around 250,000 babies from their mothers between the 1950s and the late 1970s.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the 12th anniversary was a significant milestone to recognise the lasting trauma inflicted on Australian families and communities.
“On this day 12 years ago, we saw the Australian Parliament unreservedly and humbly apologise to the mothers who were denied even that first precious moment with the child they brought into the world,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We apologised to the children, now adults, who were denied their identities and robbed of a sense of connection to family, culture, and place.
“We apologised to the fathers – the ones who sought, but were excluded from, the births and their children’s lives. And the wider families, the siblings, the grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins – because this is an intergenerational trauma that runs deep and wide.
“I recognise that the National Apology remains a significant turning point in bringing national awareness to the forced displacement of children, where identities, connections, and culture have been lost.
“It remains incredibly important that we continue to bring these issues to light, to acknowledge, reflect, and learn from the cruelties of the past, and to apologise to those who were wronged.”
The Government provides $1.8 million annually for Forced Adoption Support Services (FASS) which include a national helpline, individualised casework and support, assistance with family searching and records tracing, peer support and access to counselling.
The Government also recently released a new online training package to support the aged care workforce and broader allied health professionals, who may provide services to people impacted by past forced adoption policies and practices.
This training follows the Government’s 2023 announcement of $700,000 to strengthen support services during the 10th Anniversary of the Apology for Forced Adoptions.
More information on the range of supports available through Forced Adoption Support Services can be found on the Department of Social Services website.
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We expect everyone to meet their tax obligations, but our recent work with the legal profession has revealed some lawyers are failing to lodge returns, are making errors, or not paying their taxes on time.
While most lawyers do the right thing, unfortunately we’re seeing too many who aren’t. In fact, our reviews of over 250 lawyers show that 85% didn’t lodge returns, including some with multiple years overdue. By securing outstanding lodgments and detecting omitted income in returns we’ve raised $28 million.
One thing we see too often is lawyers incorrectly reporting distributions from partnerships and associated service trusts. If you redirect your legal firm income to an associated entity, you may come to our attention as high risk. To help you, our comprehensive online resource lets you self-assess your risk of inappropriate alienation of income and understand the compliance action we take.
To help lawyers fulfill their tax obligations, we’ve undertaken compliance actions including:
To give you just 2 examples, our compliance actions have addressed:
To avoid these kinds of outcomes:
Prosecution could lead to findings that you’re not a fit and proper person to practice law and you could be struck off your states’ registers.
For example, the Queensland Civil Administration Tribunal recently upheld the Bar Association of Queensland’s decision that a barrister was not fit to hold a practising certificate due to multiple failures, including unpaid tax liabilities since 2019. In his decision Justice Bradley stated:
‘He knew the money he spent on any other thing was money he was denying the ATO. This was wrong … To describe it as an administrative failure is inadequate. Most right-thinking members of the community expect people to honour their obligations to meet their debts, if they can.’
To find out more about our approach to practices like yours, see our Private Wealth Adviser Program resource.
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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The Auditor contravention report (ACR) instructions have been updated to clarify key aspects of SMSF auditor obligations.
The following updates have been made:
The update relating to professional judgement has been made in consultation with the SMSF Auditors Professional Association Stakeholder Group.
You should review the updated instructions to ensure you’re complying with the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.
For more information, see how to complete the ACR form.
Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.
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Every year trustees must value the assets of their SMSF at market value when preparing financial statements and accounts. Our Valuation guidelines for self-managed super funds provides advice to trustees when valuing assets.
Auditors play an important role in verifying the market value of fund assets. They must obtain evidence to support the valuations as part of their audit. If the evidence doesn’t support that the valuation is at market value, the auditor should consider modifying their opinion in the independent auditor’s report and lodge an Auditor contravention report (ACR), if the reporting criteria are met.
Last year, we analysed our data and identified over 16,000 SMSFs that reported assets such as property and unlisted trusts at the same value for three consecutive years. There were over 1,000 auditors involved in the audits of those SMSFs.
In March and April 2024, we contacted those SMSFs and auditors to remind them of their obligations. We then checked the value of the assets reported to us when those SMSFs lodged their next SMSF Annual Return. We found that 80% of the SMSFs updated their property valuations, but only 48% updated the unlisted trust valuation.
Where valuations were not updated and ACRs were not lodged, we commenced reviews on those auditors involved. We asked for the evidence they used to verify that the assets were valued at market value. In all cases finalised so far, we found the auditor didn’t obtain sufficient evidence to verify the market value.
Trustees and auditors have continued to rely on incorrect and outdated practices, such as only obtaining a valuation every 3 years or not obtaining objective data related to the underlying assets of an unlisted unit trust. This is a breach of their obligations and can result in penalties for trustees and compliance action for auditors.
Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.
Source: Australian Capital Territory – State Government
Headline: Department of Education to take on oversight of home schooling in NSW
The Department of Education will assume responsibility for overseeing home schooling in NSW from May 5, 2025. This change transfers oversight from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to the Department, and will align NSW with most other Australian jurisdictions.
The Department of Education has obligations under the Education Act 1990 to ensure students are either enrolled in an approved school or registered for home schooling. These changes will better enable the Department to ensure it is meeting that responsibility.
NESA staff currently involved in the regulatory oversight of home schooling will transfer to the Department of Education, retaining the expertise, working knowledge and relationships that are important to the administration of home schooling in NSW.
The NSW Government will also consider any recommendations made in relation to home schooling in the NSW Auditor-General’s review of Education in alternative settings.
As in all NSW educational settings, the wellbeing and safety of children remains paramount.
Source: New South Wales – News
Police have arrested a second person after the discovery of a clandestine laboratory at a Camden Park home on Wednesday.
Just after 3.30pm on Wednesday 19 March, police and MFS were called to a block of units on Anzac Highway after reports of a strong chemical smell coming from one of the units.
MFS crews attended and rendered the scene safe.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives entered the home and located chemicals believed to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
A 36-year-old man from Camden Park was arrested and charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug. He was refused bail and appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Detectives spent the day dismantling the clan lab before Southern District police carried out a further search.
As a result of further investigations, a 42-year-old Camden Park woman was arrested and charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug. She was refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court today.
Anyone with information on the sale, supply, manufacture or distribution of illicit drugs is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.
Source: New South Wales Bureau of Health Information
The vehicle helping our defence industry and researchers test and refine advanced technologies.
Modern cars come with all kinds of smart add-ons as features these days – but not many are capable of testing cutting edge electronic warfare technologies on the go.
Meet EWTE – the Electronic Warfare Tactical Engagement vehicle – a nation-first from defence leader Raytheon.
And while – at first glance – it might look like a normal Ford Ranger, the vehicle actually assists local defence industry and researchers test and refine advanced electronic warfare technologies, such as blocking or intercepting enemy signals, while stopping the detection of our own.
The custom-built vehicle was developed at Raytheon Australia’s Mawson Lakes facility, in collaboration with South Australian company REDARC Defence & Space, which created and installed the vehicle power sub-system and provided critical modifications to support electronic warfare equipment and operational needs.
Last year, REDARC was able to expand its workforce after securing $2 million from the State Government towards Stage 1 of establishing an Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Hub, as part of the $154 million Economic Recovery Fund.
Electronic warfare (EW) plays a crucial role in modern military operations. Australia is investing in advanced EW capabilities to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) situational awareness and communications in contested environments, as part of the AUKUS agreement.
Raytheon Australia’s vehicle demonstrates the important contribution local industry is making in strengthening EW capabilities and providing technologies to all three AUKUS partners.
Raytheon Australia Managing Director Ohad Katz said: “What we have launched here today showcases the art of the possible through innovation and collaboration with Defence industry and provides an opportunity for local industry and universities to be involved in this national initiative, which is a first of its kind for Australia.”
“By investing to develop a state-of-the-art electronic warfare test environment, Raytheon Australia is ready to best support the ADF in the next generation of threat environment analysis and to provide a step change to our national security endeavours.”
REDARC Defence & Space Executive General Manager Scott Begbie said the company was “excited to partner with Raytheon Australia on the groundbreaking Electronic Warfare Tactical Engagement (EWTE) vehicle”.
“Our close collaboration with Raytheon Australia, leveraging our expertise in vehicle integration of power and distribution systems, has delivered a robust and reliable mobile power solution,” Mr Begbie said.
“This custom-built system is critical for supporting the EWTE vehicle’s cutting-edge electronic warfare technologies, enhancing Australia’s Defence capabilities and demonstrating the power of sovereign innovation.”
South Australia is home to Raytheon Australia’s Centre for Joint Integration, the company’s largest operation, which employs more than 390 staff and delivers programs across sea, land, air and space domains.