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Source: Tasmania Police

Offences detected during opening of recreational rock lobster season

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 – 3:37 pm.

Tasmania Police Marine and Rescue Services remind recreational rock lobster fishers that reporting their catch is mandatory, after 118 offences were detected during the opening of the recreational rock lobster fishing season over the weekend. 
Acting Sergeant Ben Cunningham said, “Police want everyone to enjoy our waterways safely and comply with fisheries regulations, it’s mandatory that all recreational fishers report their rock lobster catch.” 
“Disappointingly a review of rock lobster catch reports over the weekend, indicated that approximately 50% of fishers did not report their catch.” 
Over opening weekend of the recreational rock lobster fishing season, in waters outside the East Coast stock rebuilding zone, police detected offences including:
• Taking undersize and excess rock lobster
• Fishing in closed areas
• Taking undersize sand flathead
• Various marine safety breaches.
“Police Marine and Rescue Services will continue to monitor compliance throughout the season to ensure adherence to fisheries and marine safety regulations, and we urge all fishers to report their catch.” 
“Catch reports must be made immediately after tail-marking your last lobster, or if no catch, immediately after pulling your pot, checking your ring or finishing your dive. Catch reporting assists in managing a sustainable rock lobster fishery.” 
“Our patrols over the weekend were supported by new technology – including Starlink satellite communications – which enabled real-time data transfer and improved connectivity in areas outside normal coverage. This innovation assisted police in detecting offences and enhancing compliance checks.” 
For more information on fishing regulations and reporting requirements, visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au or download the Fishing Tas app.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A 35-year-old female has been arrested in relation to a domestic violence related aggravated assault in a Roper Gulf Community overnight.

Around 10:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 40-year-old male had been stabbed by a female believed to be known to him. Staff from a local clinic were in attendance and providing medical assistance to the victim.

Local police attended and arrested the 35-year-old. She remains in police custody with charges expected to follow.

The victim was taken to the Katherine Hospital and is in a stable condition.

Police urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444 or attend their local police station. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force is currently investigating after an adult male was located deceased in Berrimah this morning.

Around 7:50am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a deceased male had been located in a storm drain along the Stuart Highway.

Police attended, and a crime scene was established. The circumstances around the death are not yet known and investigations remain ongoing.

Detectives are urging anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25296644. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Labor’s new legislation to require employers to pay their employees’ super at the same time as their salary and wages has passed Parliament.

This will benefit the retirement incomes of millions of Australians.

These laws are all about reforming our superannuation system to help ensure more Australians get the secure retirement they need and deserve.

The Albanese Government is ensuring more Australians earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more too.

From the 1st of July next year, employers will be required to deposit their employees’ super into accounts within seven business days of payday.

This will strengthen Australia’s superannuation system and help deliver a more secure retirement to more Australian workers.

Employees will benefit from more frequent and earlier super contributions that will grow and compound over their working life.

For the average 25-year-old worker’s retirement balance, this is the equivalent of receiving an extra $6,000 in today’s dollars.

If a worker is missing out on their super the impact is even more significant.

In a typical unpaid super case for a 35-year-old, recovering their super leaves their retirement balance more than $30,000 better off in today’s dollars.

While most employers do the right thing, the Australian Taxation Office estimates $6.25 billion worth of super went unpaid on the most recent financial year data.

This issue disproportionately affects more vulnerable Australians and women. That’s because those on lower paid, casual and insecure work – who are more likely to be women – are most at risk of missing out on their super.

The new law will:

• Require employers to ensure super contributions are received by the employee’s fund within seven business days of payday, or they will be liable for the superannuation guarantee charge.
• Help the Australian Taxation Office enforce the law and more quickly identify employers not making contributions.
• Redesign the superannuation guarantee charge to be fit for purpose and make Payday Super work.

The ATO is consulting on its approach to compliance for the 12 months after the change starts. The ATO’s approach will differentiate between low and high-risk employers.

This approach will mean that employers who are making the effort to pay contributions in line with each pay cycle can fall into the low-risk category.

We thank the unions, industry, businesses and the broader community for their feedback, engagement and views on this legislation.

Delivering payday super for Australian workers builds on our historic reforms to pay super on government paid parental leave, making our super system fairer from top to bottom, our boost to the Low Income Super Tax Offset, and Labor’s 12 per cent super guarantee.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

NT Police have arrested a 27-year-old male following the seizure of a large quantity of kava in Nhulunbuy yesterday afternoon.

Around 5pm, the Dog Operations Unit Drug Detection Dog Kobi, alongside local police members, attended Nhulunbuy Airport to screen a commercial aircraft arriving from Cairns.

Kobi located multiple suitcases allegedly containing a combined 70 kilograms of kava and 72 illegal vapes.

A 27-year-old male was arrested at the scene and later charged with:

• Possess and Supply Kava – Commercial Quantity
• Unauthorised possession of Schedule 4 substance
• Supply of Schedule 4 substance

He was bailed to appear in the Nhulunbuy Local Court on 16 December 2025.

Officer in Charge of the Dog Operations and Mounted Unit, Acting Senior Sergeant Ryan Watkinson said, “This is a significant detection by Kobi, and highlights the excellent efforts of police to stop the unlawful importation of illicit substances.

“We will continue to act on intelligence and target those seeking to bring these items into our remote communities.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police are calling for witnesses in relation to a series of aggravated burglaries that occurred on Sunday night.

A 16-year-old male has since been charged in relation to the incidents with:

• Aggravated Burglary
• Damage to Property
• Armed with an offensive weapon
• Publishing material of offending conduct

He is due to appear in court today.

Two offenders remain outstanding, and police continue to investigate.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incidents or with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500109261.

Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo has completed a key phase of the Bendigo Writers Festival review process, following the closure of an online survey and roundtable discussion held last week, as well as direct engagement with publishers and other literary stakeholders.

The survey on the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo community engagement platform was completed by 852 people and the independently facilitated roundtable discussion brought together a group of six local stakeholders identified as having helped establish the Festival or had significant involvement in past festivals.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf and Cr Damien Hurrell also participated in the roundtable, with Cr Hurrell’s participation due to him serving as the Council representative on the Festival working group.

Feedback from both the survey and the roundtable reflected on the Festival’s history, who the Festival is for and the benefits it provides to the community, what has worked well, where improvements can be made, the recent challenges experienced by the Festival, and a future direction for the event and what success looks like.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney thanked everyone for participating in the review to date.

“This has been an important process for the City to undertake following this year’s reduced Festival. We value the time and energy people have put into completing the survey, responding to requests for feedback or attending the roundtable discussion,” Mr Cooney said. 

“Our team will now assess the data and emerging themes to inform a report to Council that will go to the December Council meeting with a recommendation on how we move forward.”

A summary of the survey data, roundtable discussion and other feedback will be included in the Council report.

Source: Mental Health Australia

The NSW Government is announcing $9 million to seal the final stretch of Rangari Road in the Narrabri Shire.

The funding, from the NSW Government’s Rural and Regional Roads Fund, will allow Narrabri Shire Council to seal the last 9.6 kilometres of the road, the missing link that connects the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri local government areas.

Once complete, Rangari Road will be fully sealed for the first time, improving safety, reducing maintenance, and providing a smoother, more reliable route for locals, farmers, freight operators and emergency services.

The upgrade will cut dust, improve traction and reduce potholes, making travel safer and easier year-round, particularly in wet weather when unsealed roads can become impassable.

The $9 million investment brings total government funding for Rangari Road improvements to more than $30 million, completing a vital regional transport corridor and supporting economic growth across Western NSW.

More information available here (PDF, 128.15 KB). 
 

Source: Tasmania Police

Police seek witness to fatal motorcycle crash

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 – 12:55 pm.

Police are seeking information as investigations continue into a fatal motorcycle crash on the Bass Highway, at Elizabeth Town, on the afternoon of Friday, 31 October.
In particular, police would like to speak with the driver of an older model, white Toyota Hilux who was believed to be travelling behind the Honda motorcycle just prior to the crash.
The driver did stop at the scene and was observed to be a younger male wearing high-visibility clothing, but he left prior to police arrival.
Police would like to speak to this person as he may have valuable information in relation to the crash.
Police wish to highlight that they are wanting to speak with this driver as a witness only and there is no information to suggest he was involved in the crash.
The driver can contact Northern Crash Investigation Services on 131 444.
Police are calling for any other witnesses to the crash, or any person who observed the motorcycle rider’s manner of driving prior to the crash, to come forward.
Anyone with dashcam footage or information should contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Police are currently investigating the circumstances of a fatal pedestrian strike and a large disturbance that occurred in Timber Creek overnight.

Around 8:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a large group of people, some allegedly armed with edged weapons, were fighting along the Victoria Highway.

During the incident an unknown male entered a vehicle and began driving dangerously through the area before striking and killing a 27-year-old male in the process.

A 16-year-old male and 65-year-old female were allegedly assaulted with an edged weapon and sustained serious injuries, while a 24-year-old male was also assaulted, resulting in minor injuries.

The 16-year-old male and 65-year-old female were stabilised at the scene before being conveyed via CareFlight to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Three crime scenes have been established with additional resources from Katherine deployed along with the Major Crash Investigation Unit, Northern Investigations Section and Major Crime Detectives.

The Victoria Highway is expected to remain closed in both directions for the remainder of today, and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500109691. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers through 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.