A RIFLE with a sound suppressor (silencer) attached to it has been seized from a Sandford-area property and the firearm owner’s licence has been suspended ahead of a court appearance.
The 56-year-old man will be proceeded against by summons for firearm-related offences following a search at his property in late 2025.
The search in which the firearm was located was conducted by wildlife rangers from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, with assistance from Tasmania Police.
Under Section 118 of the Firearms Act 1996, it is an offence to possess or use a firearm sound suppressor without the correct authority. The Act further stipulates that a firearm fitted with a suppressor is classified as a prohibited firearm.
The man, who is a licensed firearms holder, will be proceeded against by summons for alleged firearm offences.
His licence was suspended and all firearms registered to him have been seized.
Tasmania Police reminds firearms licence holders of their legal obligations and the strict regulations surrounding the possession and use of firearms and suppressors.
Anyone unsure of their obligations regarding firearms ownership, or firearms licences in Tasmania, is urged to seek further information by visiting www.fas.police.tas.gov.au
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC has commenced Federal Court proceedings against Amazon Commercial Services Pty Ltd (Amazon AU) for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by including unfair contract terms in its Prime subscriptions contracts, and later relying on those terms to introduce advertising to its streaming service, Amazon Prime Video.
Between November 2023 and August 2025, Amazon AU’s Prime contracts with more than one million annual subscribers contained what the ACCC alleges were five unfair contract terms that allowed it to unilaterally make negative changes during the contract period without offering subscribers a remedy.
It is also alleged that Amazon AU later relied on one or more of these unfair terms when it introduced ads to Prime Video in Australia in July 2024. Prior to that, Amazon Prime Video was almost entirely ad-free.
After July 2024, subscribers who wanted to maintain ad-free streaming had to pay an additional $2.99 per month. This was despite annual subscribers already having paid $79 upfront for the service.
“We allege that Amazon AU included multiple unfair terms in its contracts with Australian annual Prime subscribers, and it then relied on some of these terms to bring ads onto Amazon Prime Video,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Consumers who wanted to avoid ads were left with no choice but to pay more to maintain the service they’d initially signed up for.”
The ACCC also alleges that Amazon.com Services LLC (Amazon US) was knowingly concerned in Amazon AU’s conduct.
It is alleged that Amazon US was involved in drafting the Australian contracts that contained the terms which the ACCC says were unfair. The ACCC also alleges that Amazon US made the decision to introduce advertising to Prime Video globally and helped implement the decision in Australia.
“All businesses are required to balance rights and obligations in their standard form contracts with consumers to ensure they are fair,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Contraventions of unfair contract term protections are subject to significant penalties. We strongly encourage all businesses, particularly those offering subscriptions, to review their contracts to ensure they comply with the Australian Consumer Law.”
The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, consumer redress, costs and other orders.
This case is one of the first contested matters taken by the ACCC that falls under the new penalty regime for unfair contract terms, which applies to contracts made or renewed from 9 November 2023.
Unfair contract terms in consumer and small business contracts with a focus on harmful cancellation terms is an ACCC compliance and enforcement priority in 2026-27.
The ACCC investigated Amazon AU’s contracts after receiving consumer reports about the introduction of ads to Prime Video in 2024.
Note to editors
Unfair contract term protections safeguard consumers and small businesses – who often have limited bargaining power, expertise and ability to negotiate – from harmful standard form contract terms.
Contract terms are unfair if they:
cause a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of the parties under the contract
are not reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the party who gets an advantage from the term, and
would cause financial or other harm to the other party if enforced.
In deciding whether a term is unfair, a court can consider any matters it thinks relevant but it must consider the contract as a whole and whether the term is transparent.
Section 25 of the Australian Consumer Law provides examples of potentially unfair contract terms, which includes terms that permit one party to unilaterally vary the terms of the contract, or the characteristics of the services to be supplied.
Unfair contract term protections have been included in the Australian Consumer Law since it first came into effect in 2010.The test for whether a term is unfair has remained the same since 2010.
Since November 2023, penalties have applied to proposing or relying on unfair contract terms in contracts which were made or renewed from that date.
Background
Both Amazon AU and Amazon US are owned by the US entity Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon launched its Prime subscriptions in Australia in June 2018.
Amazon Prime is a paid subscription offered by Amazon AU which provides members access to a variety of benefits including access to the Prime Video streaming service, as well as delivery and shopping benefits. Amazon Prime subscribers can subscribe on a monthly basis for $9.99 each month or purchase an annual (12-month) subscription for $79 upfront.
Subscribers to Amazon Prime enter into a contract with Amazon AU for a subscription through a standardised online sign-up process.
Concise statement
This document contains the ACCC’s initiating court document in relation to this matter. We will not be uploading further documents in the event this initial document is subsequently amended.
Police seeking witnesses following serious crash – Lower Turners Marsh
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 – 11:01 am.
Police investigating a serious single-vehicle crash at Lower Turners Marsh in the state’s North are calling for witnesses.
The crash, involving a silver Subaru station wagon, reportedly occurred outside 1866 Pipers River Road on Saturday 27 June.
The crash was reported to police on Monday 29 June, after the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was taken to the Launceston General Hospital and subsequently flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital suffering serious head injuries.
He remains in a critical condition.
Investigations are ongoing and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who was travelling through the area in the early afternoon, to come forward.
In particular, investigators are interested in speaking with the members of the public who stopped to assist the man.
Anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area at the time, is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000. Please quote reference number 000248-29062026.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have charged four people following proactive traffic apprehensions in the Palmerston area, resulting in the seizure of illicit drugs, prohibited firearms and ammunition.
Territory Road Policing officers conducted a traffic apprehension at a service station in Bakewell, stopping a vehicle and identifying the driver was unlicensed.
A search of the vehicle located cannabis, drug paraphernalia, a prohibited pistol and a magazine containing 9mm ammunition.
A 33-year-old man was also arrested and charged with:
Possess or use prohibited firearm
Possess ammunition without a licence
Fail to comply with firearm storage requirements
Breach of bail
A 24-year-old woman was arrested and charged with:
Possess Schedule 2 dangerous drug (less than traffickable quantity)
Possess thing to administer a dangerous drug
Drive while unlicensed
Breach of bail
Give false or misleading information
During follow-up enquiries relating to that investigation, Territory Road Policing officers identified another vehicle linked to an address of interest.
When the driver saw police, he allegedly performed a U-turn and attempted to flee the area. Police had already established a cordon and, with assistance from the Dog Operations Unit, safely apprehended the vehicle.
Police searched the vehicle, locating approximately 190 grams of cannabis, evidence consistent with the supply of dangerous drugs, a prohibited .22 calibre pistol and ammunition.
A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with:
Possess or use prohibited firearm
Possess Schedule 2 dangerous drug (traffickable quantity)
Supply Schedule 2 dangerous drug (less than commercial quantity)
Drive while never licensed
Possess ammunition without a licence
Fail to comply with firearm storage requirements
Breach of a Community Corrections Order
A 23-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with:
Possess Schedule 2 dangerous drug (traffickable quantity)
Supply Schedule 2 dangerous drug (less than commercial quantity)
All four offenders were remanded in custody.
Superintendent Rick Magree from Territory Road Policing Division said these arrests are the result of proactive policing and targeted enforcement aimed at disrupting criminal activity before it causes harm.
“The seizure of prohibited firearms alongside traffickable quantities of drugs is a serious concern, and police will continue to target those who choose to carry weapons or profit from the supply of illicit drugs in our community.
“Anyone with information about the supply of illicit drugs or illegal firearms is urged to contact police on 131 444. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
he Albanese Labor Government’s extension of fuel tax relief has now passed the Parliament, cutting the excise by 16 cents per litre for petrol and diesel for all of July.
We’re delivering more temporary and tapered support that will help take the sting out of petrol prices and help Australians with the cost of living.
This will save Australian motorists around $11 on a 65-litre tank.
The excise cut will continue until 2 August.
We are also cutting the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge by 16 cents for the same period to help truckies keep Australia moving.
This is about providing more responsible help with the cost of living because we know that while fuel prices have come down, Australians are still under pressure.
This extension of the fuel tax cut recognises there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the Middle East and the global economy more broadly, and our action provides a graduated return to normal settings for the fuel excise.
The additional relief we’re providing means that from 1 July, we’ll have more temporary help with the cost of living with this extension to the fuel tax cut, and more permanent help with the cost of living with another round of tax cuts for every taxpayer.
We thank the states and territories for contributing to the fuel tax cut.
We expect this cut to be passed on in full to motorists at the bowser and won’t accept Australian consumers being treated like mugs.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is continuing to monitor fuel prices, backed by stronger penalties and additional resources for enforcement.
The ACCC has already written to fuel retailers in light of this cut, putting them on notice.
Whether it’s slashing the fuel tax, slashing the road user charge for truckies or tax cuts for every taxpayer, we’re taking action to ease pressure on Australians.
Our economic plan is all about helping Australians with the cost of living, addressing inflation and making our economy more productive and resilient.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force are calling for information on the whereabouts of 67-year-old Brian.
Brian was last seen on Monday 29 June 2026, after leaving a premises on Gap Road, Alice Springs. He is wearing thongs, greenish/blue beanie, blue hoody, black track suit pants with red emblem on upper thigh.
Brian was reported missing to police on the 29 June 2026, after enquiries failed to determine her whereabouts.
Brian is described as having a slim build, approximately 175cm tall and weighing 90kgs.
Police and family hold concerns for his welfare and anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 131 444 or visit your local station. Please quote Reference P26184559.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon again. Well its been 6 months since the start of our world-leading aged social media ban started and I’m joined by the Minister. But importantly as well, I’m joined by Wayne Holdsworth, parent of Mac, and Mia Bannister, the parent of Ollie. This is a change in the world that has been led by Australian parents. Who have taken what are personal tragedies and channelled that into a demand for action to protect our younger citizens. And that has made an enormous difference, and I do want to thank Wayne and Mia and others who are just joined online by Emma, who is out of Australia at the moment, for the courage that they have shown. They are truly inspirational Australians. More than 5 million social media accounts for under 16s have been deactivated as a result of this ban. It has created a global conversation and we are proud of it. Many nations are now following our lead, indeed at least 20 to implement their own bans. However, it’s clear that big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law and there are still too many children on social media. So, we’re calling time on the social media companies today and doubling down on the changes that we have made and that we’re prepared to make . Today we’ll introduce legislation this afternoon that goes further to ensure social media companies are doing everything within their power to stop children under 16 being on their platforms. We’re doubling the fines, we’re giving the eSafety Commissioner world leading powers to compel them to comply. This is the right thing to do. We’re committed to backing the Australian parents that led this global movement. And this week and next week, our nation’s children are heading on their school holidays and we want them on the football fields, on the netball courts, not on their phones because this will make an enormous difference. We said when we did this legislation that it wouldn’t be perfect and indeed we’re going to have to see over the years because technology changes with nudify apps, with algorithms, with all of these changes that occur with new technologies. We will have to be – whoever is in government will have to be – vigilant and prepared to make changes and continue to keep on top of this issue. I do want to pay tribute to Peter Dutton, the former Leader of the Opposition who backed these reforms as well and made sure that they were bipartisan when the legislation carried. We’ll be asking for similar support across the Parliament for this legislation from both the Opposition, but crossbenchers as well. This is a national issue. In the interests of our youngest and most vulnerable Australians, we have a responsibility to do what we can to protect them.
Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in Blackmans Bay this morning in which sadly, police can confirm a man aged in his late 40s has died.
The crash happened about 8.50am on Burwood Drive and involved a white Mazda utility which veered off the road and struck a power pole, before continuing and hitting a second pole.
There were two people in the vehicle at the time of the crash – an adult male from the Kingston area who was driving, and a 12-year-old boy who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment and observation.
The impact caused power lines to come down, affecting some residential properties and creating an additional safety hazard.
The cause of the crash is now under investigation and Crash Scene investigators, and Forensics officers were on scene throughout the morning gathering evidence.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those involved and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Police are calling for anyone who was a witness to the crash, or who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle involved and the manner of the driving, to come forward. You can report to police on 131 444 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.