Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

A Victorian man has been jailed for fraudulently obtaining over $2.4 million in GST refunds, contrary to section 134.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth).

ATO Deputy Commissioner and Serious Financial Crime Taskforce Chief John Ford welcomed the result.

‘It is astounding that people think they can get away with this type of behaviour,’ Mr Ford said.

‘We take all levels and amounts of fraud seriously and ensure that those who seek to gain an unfair advantage face the full force of the law.’

Kristopher Andree-Jansz was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to 4 years and 7 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 2 years and 7 months, for fraudulently obtaining $2.4 million in GST refunds and attempting to receive a further $300,000. He was ordered to make reparation of $2.4 million.

Between 1 March 2021 and 2 February 2022, Mr Andree-Jansz lodged a total of 31 business activity statements (BAS), claiming his business had made nearly $30 million worth of purchases.

An ATO audit found no transactions or bank activity consistent with the running of a plumbing business. Instead, it was found Mr Andree-Jansz spent the money on various lifestyle items, luxurious accommodation and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

‘This type of behaviour is essentially stealing money from the community that could be used to fund essential services that benefit everyone,’ Mr Ford said.

This matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth)(CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.

As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has taken action against more than 57,000 alleged offenders.

The ATO continues to undertake firm action including debt recovery, as well as criminal investigations for serious offenders.

As of 28 February 2025:

• 104 people have been arrested.
• 98 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.
• the ATO has finalised 61 investigations and referred 51 briefs of evidence to the CDPP.

You can anonymously report suspected tax evasion or crime to us by making a tip-off online or call 1800 060 062. For more information about Operation Protego results, visit www.ato.gov.au/Protego.

Source:

Two school friends lost touch after they left high school 40 years ago.

But by coincidence they met again late last year in the Horsham Incident Control Centre during the Grampians fire, where they were both Level 3 incident controllers.

Lachie Gales is now the group officer for Wangaratta Group of brigades and Peter West works for the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.  

“We were close from about age 14 through to when Peter left to study forestry at ANU,” Lachie said. “I remember hitch hiking to Canberra to visit him.” 

Peter knew that Lachie was a volunteer with CFA, but their paths never crossed. 

“We grew up in Wangaratta and both attended Wangaratta High School,” Peter said. “My sister Wendy still lives there, so during my visits back home I occasionally heard about Lachie from her. 

“When you have kids, you tell them all your stories of growing up and mention names from your past. My kids had heard of Lachie but never met him – like some folklore myth.” 

While Peter was deployed at the Grampians fire over Christmas 2024, he heard that Lachie was arriving on the next deployment.  

“I was in the middle of running an IMT briefing with a room full of people. I looked around and saw this figure entering the room and I instantly knew he was Lachie – a kind of old gentrified Lachie, not the cocky larrikin but a responsible grown-up.”

“I hung back in the crowded meeting room as Peter worked through a full IMT/EMT briefing, not wanting to intrude on his eyeline,” Lachie said. “Clearly, he was a person that displayed empathy and respect and engaged people with a leadership style that impressed me from the outset.” 

At the end of the meeting, Lachie and Peter exchanged an awkward handshake. 

“When we shook hands, I was struck by his height,” Lachie said. “I didn’t remember Peter towering above me at school. He still had plenty of hair and just as unkempt as it was in the 1970s. All I could manage to say was, ‘Well, here we are’.” 

“It felt weird in the context of this busy IMT scene. We were both swept away into IMT changeover, with him having to get his head around the current state of the fire,” Peter said. 

The following day, before Peter travelled back to Gippsland, he looked for Lachie. 

“We shut the door and left the IMT outside,” Peter said. “We chatted about family mostly, then friends and although it felt like I was speaking to a different person, the old Lachie was there 
as well. 

“There was a formal, polite edge to our conversation but a curiously familiar ease at the same time. He was a totally different person. I realised I only knew a fragment of his story and experience but behind the glasses and beard I could still see the Lachie I used to know.” 

“I was really pleased when Peter reappeared in the ICC and suggested we take some time together,” Lachie said. 

“We didn’t get a long time on our own and I was struck by how much I learned about his life. He must have felt interrogated as I peppered him with questions. He was genuinely open and generous in the face of my nervousness. 

“I’ve stayed in touch with a handful of mates from school and was able to talk about them. I married Beth, who was also at school with us, and was falling over myself to show Peter her photo.” 

When Lachie and Peter reflected on their chance encounter, to some extent they were not surprised that their paths had finally crossed given they are both Level 3 incident controllers. 

“One of the best things about IMTs is that you form strong relationships with those you work with and you are constantly running into people from past campaigns and reconnecting,” Peter said. “I like the emergency management family vibe – but this was reconnecting to a new level.” 

“There’s a lot of strength in our IMTs where a disparate group of people, all with varied skill sets and drawn from all over the nation, find themselves united in a common effort to achieve great things,” Lachie said. 

“Peter and I grew up in a regional town and our values were formed by that experience together. That showed up big time in Horsham 40 years later, as we found ourselves sharing the motivation to contribute at the highest level we could to keep our community and our environment safe.” 

Submitted by	News and Media

Source:

Over 20 trucks and emergency service personnel marched down the main street of Bannockburn to celebrate the brigade’s 100th year serving their community on Saturday night.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

What’s happening? 5 min read

Reforming the regulatory framework that underpins our electricity system is a key aspect of Australia’s energy transition, and the current volume of reform initiatives can seem overwhelming.

So, here is a snapshot of five key regulatory reforms that are currently in progress or that have recently been implemented, and that are designed to facilitate the energy transition (such developments are covered more comprehensively in our monthly National Electricity and Gas rules update).

Five key regulatory reforms

Source: New South Wales – News

Just after 12.30pm on Sunday 6 April, police and emergency services responded to a single vehicle crash on Evans Road.

Evans Road is closed just north of Farr Road. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

Major Crash Investigators will be attending the scene.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Repeat drink driver caught by police in St Helens

Sunday, 6 April 2025 – 1:51 pm.

A 29-year-old Warrane man has been apprehended and charged with drink driving and other serious traffic charges for the third time in Northern Tasmania.
Just after midnight, police officers from St Helens apprehended the man after he allegedly attempted to evade officers conducting a random breath test.
Inspector Luke Manhood said the man reportedly fled on foot before being caught by officers and subsequently returning a reading of 0.095.
“He has been charged with evading police, exceeding 0.05, and driving whilst disqualified, and his vehicle has been clamped for 28 days.
“This is the third time in recent months the man has been apprehended for similar offences on Tasmania’s East Coast.
“On 31 December 2024, the man was apprehended by police on the Esk Highway, Fingal, where he returned a reading of 0.122 and was charged with evading police, stating a false name, speeding, driving with a suspended licence, and exceeding 0.05.
“Then on 25 January 2025, he was intercepted by St Helens Police, where he returned a reading of 0.088, was charged with exceeding 0.05 and driving with a suspended licence.
“This type of dangerous and repeat behaviour is unacceptable and places the community at serious risk.
“This pattern of behaviour may result in significant legal consequences,” said Mr Manhood.
“We remain committed to road safety and want everyone to get home safely.
“Our message is simple – if you drink and drive, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught. We could be anywhere, at any time,” Mr Manhood added.
Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving or suspects someone may be driving under the influence is urged to contact police on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

Source: South Australia County Fire Service

FOREST RANGE

Forest Range Hazardous Material

Issued for FOREST RANGE near Lenswood and Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia.

The CFS is responding to a hazardous materials (HazMat) incident at Plummer Road near Lenswood and Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia.

CFS volunteers, with support from SA Ambulance Service, are on scene with 6 trucks actively monitoring an ammonia gas leak with specialist equipment.

CFS firefighters are working to bring the ammonia gas levels inside the building to a safe level.

Crews, wearing specialist breathing apparatus, are using positive pressure fans to ventilate the building and will continue to monitor the atmospheric readings both inside and outside.

This will help ensure the safety of all personnel at the scene and in the surrounding areas. Building management also has an ammonia technician on site, working to fix the source of the leak.

Crews will remain on site for some time to keep monitoring the situation and ensure the community stays safe.

Emergency services are working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised to stay away. If you need to travel on roads in the area, please take care and drive to the local conditions.

Message ID 0008497

Source: New South Wales – News

About 1.30am today (Sunday 6 April), police and emergency services were called to a private property on Spiller Road after reports a man had fallen from a Toyota Ute.

Police arrived and found the front passenger a 20-year-old man from Golden Grove had sustained serious injuries.

The man was air lifted to hospital with life threatening injuries.

Major Crash are in attendance and the driver, a 21-year-old man from Waikerie is assisting with ongoing investigations.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Fatal crash, Mount Direction

Sunday, 6 April 2025 – 7:47 am.

Sadly, a man in his 20s has died following a serious crash at Mount Direction.
Police and emergency services were called to Old Bangor Tram Road, Mount Direction, just after 2:00am on Sunday 6 March, following reports of a single vehicle crash.
The passenger in the vehicle sadly died at the scene. The driver was taken to the Launceston General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Police remain at the scene of the crash. Motorists should avoid the area until further notice.
Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services