Category: MIL-OSI

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Road blitz delivers for south-east Melbourne

Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are fixing roads across Victoria, improving safety and better connecting Melbourne’s suburbs, Victoria’s regions, and surrounds.

The Australian and Victorian Governments will deliver two new road projects in a big win for the south-east:

  • Nepean Highway and Overton Road Intersection Upgrade ($50 million)
  • McLeod Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway Intersection Upgrade ($25 million)

The Nepean Highway and Overton Road Intersection Upgrade will enhance road safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists by installing traffic signals and improving footpath connectivity to the existing Kananook Creek Trail.

The McLeod Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway Intersection Upgrade will deliver improvements to this intersection, supporting journeys between the south-east suburbs and the coast.

These will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s south-east, improving the lives of residents from Carrum to Frankston and beyond.  

The projects are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s $1 billion Road Blitz, matching the existing near-billion dollar road blitz campaign by the Allan Labor Government, who have since added an additional $200 million.

This money is ready, right now, to fix roads in need of critical upgrades.

This follows funding already allocated to three projects under the Road Blitz, including:

  • Sealing and upgrading 5.6km of Old Sydney Road from the Mitchell/Hume boundary, Mickleham, to Camerons Lane, Beveridge.
  • Completing the duplication of Evans Road, Cranbourne, between Duff Street and Central Parkway.
  • Delivering further works at the intersection of McLeod Road and Station Street, Carrum, including adjustments to improve signalisation and traffic flow.

Delivery timeframes for the projects will be determined in consultation with the Victorian Government.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“My Government is building Australia’s future – and that means building Victoria’s future too. We want to make sure all Victorians have the services and the infrastructure they need now and into the future.

“We will continue to partner with the Victorian Government to deliver critical road upgrades to provide immediate congestion relief now.

“This is good for local jobs, good for local businesses and good for commuters.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan:

“Every Victorian wants to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with family – that’s why we’re delivering major road upgrades across Melbourne’s south-east and faster and safer journeys for decades to come.”

“As we build more homes, we are making sure our fastest growing communities have the transport infrastructure they deserve now and into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“We’re fixing roads right across Victoria; from Ararat to Gippsland to Melbourne, we’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government. 

“These will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s south-east, better connecting these growing suburbs with the city and the region.

“The Road Blitz will fund projects to improve network efficiency, travel times and road safety in key areas of Melbourne and its surrounds, to match the Victorian Government’s Road Blitz which is largely focused on the regions.

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams:

“After ten years of neglect from the federal Liberal National Party, it’s fantastic to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and deliver critical investments to keep our state moving.”

“Our growing communities deserve the very best road connections, which is why we are investing more to improve traffic flow and boost safety.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Dunkley Jodie Belyea:

“As a local who travels frequently across our community, I know this investment will make a major difference for pedestrians and road users.

“These upgrades will enhance safety for pedestrians and road users in our local community.

“These upgrades will make our local roads safer and get people moving faster.

“This money is ready right now, to deliver two major road upgrades in our community.

“Only the Albanese Labor Government is continuing to invest in roads and infrastructure in our local community, building Australia’s future.”

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Changes to the Minns Government Ministry

Source:

Published: 17 March 2025

Statement by: The Premier

Today I am announcing changes to the Cabinet and the Ministry of the NSW Government.

The Hon John Graham MLC will remain the Special Minister of State, the Minister for the Arts, the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy and will permanently take on the role of Minister for Transport

The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP will become the Minister for Roads and the Minister for Regional Transport. Regional roads will now be incorporated into the Roads portfolio. As a regional MP Jenny Aitchison is well placed to ensure the needs of regional and rural communities are met.

John Graham will continue to take carriage of the Government’s response to the toll review given the Government is mid-negotiation with toll companies about reforming the system.

The Hon Steve Kamper MP will be sworn in as the Minister for Jobs and Tourism, in addition to his responsibilities as the Minister for Lands and Property, the Minister for Multiculturalism and the Minister for Sport.

The Minns Labor Government is proud to welcome Janelle Saffin into the NSW Cabinet, to be sworn in as the Minister for Recovery, the Minister for Small Business, and the Minister for the North Coast.

Janelle is one of the most experienced MPs in the NSW Government. She has been instrumental in helping the Lismore community and surrounds recover from the 2022 floods as well as the recent impacts from Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

She has intimate knowledge of the workings of the NSW Reconstruction Authority and will be a very strong advocate and voice for the North Coast as well as small businesses across the state.

Emily Suvaal will also be appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business.

Parliamentary Secretaries perform an important role in supporting Ministers and driving action to deliver on government priorities in Parliament and Emily is an excellent addition to the team.

These are important changes to the NSW Ministry that will ensure we continue to invest in essential services that people rely on, and build a better NSW.

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Safety switch: Date set for Average Speed Camera trial

Source:

Published: 16 March 2025

Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Minister for Roads

Average speed cameras will be switched on to warning mode for light vehicles in two key regional locations from 1 May.

The trial, a recommendation from the 2024 NSW Road Safety Forum, will see the NSW Government flick the switch on cameras which measure a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes and cameras on the Hume Highway which measure a 16km stretch between Coolac and Gundagai to capture speeding light vehicles.

These two stretches have been chosen based on several factors, including known crash history. There were a combined total of six fatalities and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 at these locations.

In NSW average speed cameras only enforce speeding offences for heavy vehicles, however data shows that in the past five years (2018-2022) almost 80% of all fatalities and serious injuries across all existing 31 average speed camera lengths in NSW did not involve a heavy vehicle.

NSW is unique in that it’s the only place known to use these cameras for just a subset of vehicles. Most other Australian jurisdictions either use Average Speed Cameras for all vehicles or plan to do so in the future. Studies from around the world have shown that average speed enforcement for all vehicles leads to significant reductions in crash-related injuries and fatalities.

The trial will have a two-month warning letter period for light vehicle drivers caught speeding on both lengths of road before it is switched to full enforcement mode. From 1 July, those detected speeding will face fines and demerit point penalties. Existing enforcement of heavy vehicle offences at these sites will be unaffected by the trial.

A comprehensive communications campaign will begin to roll out before the warning letter period to help alert motorists to the trial.

Road signs will notify all drivers that their speed is being monitored by the cameras on the trial stretches, giving them the opportunity to adjust their speed as needed.

The average speed camera trial builds on other road safety initiatives introduced by the Minns Labor Government, including:

  • seatbelt enforcement by the existing mobile phone camera detection network
  • removing a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six months
  • the demerit return trial that rewarded more than 1 million drivers for maintaining a demerit-offence-free driving record during the second year of the trial
  • doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with the addition of 2,700 new locations where a camera can be deployed. Enforcement hours will remain the same
  • hosting the state’s first Road Safety Forum with international and local experts
  • signed National Road Safety Data Agreement with the Commonwealth

Minister for Roads, John Graham said:

“We know that speed remains our biggest killer on the road, contributing to 41 per cent of all fatalities over the past decade.

“Studies from around the world show that using average speed enforcement cameras for all vehicles reduces the road toll, and road trauma.

“We know the trial will be a change for motorists in New South Wales, so it will be supported by community and stakeholder communications. All average speed camera locations have warning signs installed.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen.

“With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users.

“I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing.

“We will have a communications strategy in place including the use of print, radio and social media as well as variable messaging signs and mobile billboards to help communicate the trial details to drivers and riders.

“We will also have clear warning signs installed before the enforcement sites, but most importantly we will have a 60 day warning period in place so that people have an opportunity to adjust their driving behaviour before they receive a penalty.”

Background

  • Enforcement of average speed is generally considered a fair form of enforcement as drivers demonstrate intentional and consistent speeding behaviour over a long length of road and/or time, not only at a single point.
  • Research conducted in New South Wales in 2024 found that 68 per cent of respondents thought that average speed cameras were important in making New South Wales roads safer.
  • A 2015 study in Norway found that average speed cameras cut deaths and serious injuries by 49%. Similarly, a 2016 study in the United Kingdom showed a 36% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes with the use of average speed cameras.
  • Average speed cameras in NSW have cut fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involving heavy vehicles. There was a reduction on fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involving heavy vehicles at average speed camera locations of about 50%, when data from the five years before they were installed is compared to the five years after installation.
  • The Road Transport Act 2013 (the Act) was amended in October 2024 so that average speed cameras can enforce speeding by all vehicle types.
  • The trial will run for 14 months in total. (2 months in warning mode, 12 months in enforcement)
  • Warning mode will begin on 1 May, enforcement mode will begin on 1 July.
  • The NSW Government will report back to Parliament on the outcomes of the trial in 2026, consistent with legislative changes made in late 2024.
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Sydney man fined more than $470,000 for unlicensed and uninsured building work

Source:

Published: 16 March 2025

Released by: Minister for Building

A Sydney man has been hit with a $473,000 fine after being found guilty of more than 40 breaches involving unlicensed and uninsured residential building work for four consumers in 2022.

Anthony Abi-Merhi, a sole trader business operating under the name “Triscapes” quoted one consumer $99,500 for a job which ended up costing the consumer $142,000.

During the investigation, Building Commission NSW identified offences including unlicensed work, excessive deposits, and work undertaken without Home Building Compensation Fund insurance.

He was also found guilty of 27 charges of demanding or receiving payment for building without insurance, while carrying out landscaping work in south-western Sydney.

In NSW, a licence or certificate is required to do any residential building work, including general building work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials.

This includes construction, repairs, renovating or decorating a property. 

For contracts valued at more than $5,000 the maximum deposit to cover labour and materials is 10 per cent. 

Home Building Compensation Fund Insurance is required for projects valued at more than $20,000 and contractors must obtain this cover before starting any work or accepting any payments including deposits.

This insurance provides a safety net for consumers facing incomplete or defective work in certain circumstances.

The defendant has 28 days to exercise a right to appeal in respect of the sentence.

For more information on choosing the right tradesperson for the job visit the Step by step guide to choosing the right tradesperson or builder webpage.

To check a contractor’s name or licence number visit the Verify Licence website.

To access the Contract checklist visit the Fair Trading website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:

“This serious $470,000 fine for unlicensed building work sends a clear message to builders – the Minns Government is serious about eradicating cowboys and shonks from the NSW home construction industry. 

“Building Commission NSW inspectors are now out in force and will come down hard on those caught doing the wrong thing.

“Consumers should only engage a contractor once they have researched their credentials including by looking them up on the Verify Licence website, to make sure their licence is valid and whether the licence has any conditions or regulatory issues attached to it.

“You can also check user ratings online from other consumers who have used the trader, and make sure you use the handy Contract Checklist page on the Fair Trading website before signing a contract and paying any money.”

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Custom designed armoured vehicles handed over to NSW Police Force

Source:

Published: 17 March 2025

Released by: Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism

The NSW Government is today launching five new Tactical Armoured Vehicles, which will significantly strengthen the capability of the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) to respond to high-risk, tactical and counter-terrorism situations.

The armoured Lenco ‘Bearcat’ vehicles were custom designed and custom built for the specific needs of the NSWPF – at a total cost of $3.5 million.

All five Bearcats will be strategically positioned across NSW to support the work of Tactical Police and Police Negotiaters.

Key features include ballistically rated steel and glass with riot shield covers, rotating roof hatches, spotlights, external speakers, high-tech camera systems and advanced technical and communication capabilities.

In an Australian first, one of the new Bearcats is equipped with an extendable ramp to allow police to quickly and safely access multi-storey buildings and aircraft. This vehicle will be stationed in Sydney, the other four vehicles will be stationed in northern, western and southern regions – allowing the Tactical Operation Unit and Tactical Operations Regional Squads to quickly respond to high-risk situations.

The five new Bearcats bring the total number of specialised armoured vehicles in NSW to six and will further allow officers to swiftly and effectively respond to high-risk and counter-terrorism situations, ensuring the safety of the people of NSW.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said:

“These custom vehicles will greatly improve the capability of the Tactical Operations Unit to respond to and disrupt high-risk situations across the state.

“The NSW Police Force is world class so it’s only fitting it has modern resources and technology to fight crime and keep our community safe.

“Only a Labor Government backs our hardworking police 100% and ensures they have the capability they need.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM said:

“These vehicles are deployed by the Tactical Operation Unit during high-risk situations.

“This is about protecting our specialist officers.

“All of these vehicles are bullet and blast resistant and have the capacity to transport hostages or injured personnel.”

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Gabon

Source:

Gabon will hold its first presidential elections on 12 April since a military takeover in 2023. Authorities continue to maintain a higher security alert level in Libreville and other areas, and protests and civil unrest may occur with little warning. During the election period, travel to, from and within the country may be impacted. Avoid polling booths, protests, and demonstrations and monitor the local media for updates (see ‘Safety’).

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Labor delivering a stronger and fairer NDIS

Source: Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science

The Albanese Labor Government’s significant reforms and investment have put the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) back on track.

Minister for Social Services and the NDIS, Amanda Rishworth, said the Government is making changes to ensure every dollar allocated to NDIS participants reaches them and is spent in a meaningful way that makes a difference in their lives.

“The Albanese Labor Government is absolutely committed to improving the lives of the more than 700,000 NDIS participants, ensuring people with disability can live independently and participate fully in the community,” Minister Rishworth said.

“We’re reforming the NDIS to deliver better outcomes for people with disability and to be more responsive to individual needs, as well as enabling more consistent, fair and transparent decision making so that it continues to provide the reasonable and necessary supports that people need.”

The latest NDIS monthly data for the end of February shows the scheme is tracking at approximately $700 million lower than initially forecast this financial year.

This puts the year-on-year growth rate at around 10 per cent, down from the 12 per cent growth forecast for this financial year – significantly down from 22 per cent in the 2021-22 financial year under the Liberal Party.

These results show scheme costs are stabilising and remain on track to reach National Cabinet’s eight per cent growth target by 1 July 2026.

Significant work to provide more clarity around what can be included in plans, and stopping fraud and exploitation of participants, has helped stabilise growth.

“A sustainable NDIS provides certainty for the Australian community and those who rely on it now and in the future,” Minister Rishworth said.

“The NDIS has broad support and is an integral part of our social infrastructure. While we are delivering a sustainable NDIS that can endure for generations, solely focusing on the finances fails to celebrate the scheme for what it is – a world leading social initiative.”

Minister Rishworth said the reduction in scheme growth was not coming at the expense of Australians living with disability.

“This reduction in growth is a direct result of our Government, along with the National Disability Insurance Agency, working with participants and the broader disability community to build a better NDIS,” Minister Rishworth said.

“We have had a strong focus on providing greater clarity on what NDIS funding can and cannot be spent on, on preventing fraud, and on improving planning to make it more consistent, transparent and fairer.

“We know there is more to be done, but these reforms are bringing us closer to the original intent of the scheme – to provide genuine choice and control, and provide reasonable and necessary supports, to people with a permanent and significant disability so they can participate in everyday activities.

“It is essential people with disability continue to have a voice in how any changes are implemented. We will continue to use co-design to amplify the voices of people with disability so that we get these improvements right.”

The latest data including monthly reports can be seen on the NDIS website.

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Top 3 questions before requesting lodgment deferrals

Source:

There may be circumstances where you need to request additional time to lodge your clients’ obligations. Ask yourself the following questions before you apply for lodgment deferrals.

1. Are the circumstances exceptional or unforeseen?

Lodgment deferrals can help if you or your clients experience exceptional or unforeseen circumstances that affect your ability to lodge by a due date. For example, a serious illness, unexpected staff absences, natural or other disasters.

You should not request lodgment deferrals if your clients simply haven’t provided information with enough time for you to prepare and lodge their return by the due date.

When applying for lodgment deferrals, you need to include full details of:

  • the exceptional or unforeseen circumstances you or your clients are experiencing
  • how those circumstances affect your ability to lodge by the due date
  • if applicable, why you’re submitting the request after the lodgment due date.

This allows us to take those circumstances into consideration when assessing your request. If you don’t include the information, we can’t consider it and your request may be declined.

2. Does your client have a 15 May due date?

You don’t need to request deferrals for tax returns due on 15 May if your clients are eligible for the 5 June concession date.

The concession allows individual, partnership and trust tax returns to be lodged by 5 June without penalty, provided that any payment required is also made by this date.

For companies and super funds (excluding large and medium taxpayers and head companies of consolidated groups), the concession applies where both the prior year and the current year return will be non-taxable or result in a refund.

3. Do you need tailored support?

If the problems you’re experiencing affect your whole practice, then requesting a supported lodgment program may be a better option than lodgment deferrals.

A supported lodgment program is available to practices of all sizes when you need additional time to lodge a large proportion of your clients’ obligations.

We’ll work with you to tailor solutions to help you get your lodgment program back on track. This may include applying lodgment deferrals, or in some instances, suspending compliance action.

We recommend you request a supported lodgment program as early as possible.

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Prepare to lodge your quarterly TBAR

Source:

Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) report certain events that affect members transfer balance account quarterly using transfer balance account reporting (TBAR). You must report these events even if the member’s total superannuation balance is less than $1 million.

TBARs for the March quarter are due on 28 April 2025. If you don’t report on time, you may be subject to compliance action and penalties and your member’s transfer balance account may be adversely affected. The member may need to commute any amounts more than their cap and pay more in excess transfer balance tax.

Refer to Event-based reporting for SMSFs and the TBAR instructions when preparing your TBAR.

The easiest way to lodge is through Online Services for Business.

You’re not required to lodge if there were no transfer balance account events during the quarter.

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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There’s plenty of pork on Chinese forks, but the environment is paying a heavy price

Source:

17 March 2025

Pork accounts for at least 60% of all meat eaten in China, but its popularity exacts a heavy toll on the environment that has proven tricky to resolve until now.

A new study by Chinese and Australian researchers has identified a sustainable solution to mitigating excessive amounts of copper found in the 3.8 billion tons of pig manure turned into organic fertiliser to increase crop yields.

Although an essential nutrient in small doses, high concentrations of copper – added to pig feed to promote growth – is toxic to plants, soil, water and humans.

Researchers from China’s Fujian Normal University and the University of South Australia have demonstrated that adding green-synthesised iron nanoparticles (G-nFe) to pig manure neutralises the amount of bioavailable copper in piggery effluent, reducing the environmental risks.

China has regulations limiting the amount of copper allowed in pig feed, but the scale of livestock farming keeps increasing to feed a population of 1.4 billion people, making it difficult to control the huge amount of manure and sewage released into the environment.

Experiments undertaken by researchers showed that adding G-nFe to pig manure compost reduced exchangeable cooper by 66.8%, carbonate-bound copper by 47.5%, and iron-manganese oxide-bound copper by 15.4%.

“This process was able to convert free copper into a less bioavailable form, reducing the potential for uptake by plants,” according to UniSA environmental chemist, Associate Professor Gary Owens, who was part of the study.

Residual copper levels initially increased by a third in the first five days before declining by over 60.9% over the full composting period.

The study findings have recently been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

China processes approximately 628 million pigs annually, making it the world’s largest pork producer.

Nearly half of the 3.8 billion tons of the resulting pig manure is inadequately treated, researchers say, and the heavy metal and organic pollutants are causing widespread environmental contamination.

While pig manure has traditionally been valued s an inexpensive organic fertiliser for Chinese farmers, it is increasingly posing a serious problem due to the heavy metal contamination, posing a challenge for both government and researchers seeking economically viable solutions.

Green synthesised iron nanoparticles have been widely used to remediate water and soil contamination due to its cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and strong absorption rates.

However, this is the first study to explore its use in organic compost to remediate heavy metal pollution.

“This research presents a significant step forward in addressing heavy metal contamination in agricultural waste,” according to Assoc Prof Owens.

“By using green-synthesised iron nanoparticles, we can not only improve the safety of composted pig manure, but also contribute to more sustainable farming practices.”

The researchers plan to test G-nFe’s efficiency in larger composting systems using fresh pig manure, hoping to encourage stakeholders in the livestock and composting sectors to adopt the process.

A video explaining the research is available at https://youtu.be/CoEz82qlSq8

Notes for editors

“Enhanced Copper Passivation in Pig Manure Composting through Iron Nanoparticle Amendment” is authored by researchers from Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, Fujian Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, and the University of South Australia. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177950

The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

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Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
Researcher contact: Associate Professor Gary Owens E: gary.owens@unisa.edu.au