AU Engine

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CFA’s Statewide Vegetation Management Team has been collaborating with Community-Based Bushfire Management facilitators to help keen gardeners have valuable conversations about how to enhance bushfire resilience around their homes, while also providing enjoyable landscapes and habitat for wildlife.

A number of workshops across the state educated homeowners by using CFA’s Landscaping for Bushfire document, online plant selection tool and associated example gardens. The workshops focused on plant selection, garden design, zoning of the property, defendable space, as well as property and garden maintenance.

Two examples are described below and example gardens are being developed by local governments and Landcare groups. 

The Landscaping for Bushfire tool was used in the workshops to test a range of plant specimens from local gardens for fire-wise attributes. This means touching, scrunching and smelling foliage, and sharing different opinions about the values these plants provide people. Participants also learned that while some plants may be ranked as more flammable, they can be managed through pruning or placed in safer locations further than 10 metres from the house. 

Well-placed vegetation with low flammability may help protect homes by:

• reducing the amount of radiant heat received by a house
• reducing the chance of direct flame contacting the house
• reducing wind speed around a house
• deflecting and filtering embers
• reducing flammable landscaping materials in the defendable space.

Although the workshops focused on garden design, they also included discussion about ecology and biodiversity conservation that acknowledged there can be competing interests around management for fire risk as well as conservation.

Newham Landcare group hosted a two-part Living with Fire and Biodiversity workshop. Part one explained the evidence related to house loss and fire ecology. Discussions and exchange of practical advice continued the next day at a private property at the foot of Mount Macedon. The owners shared how they consciously considered the impacts of fire while providing habitat for wildlife.

A group of people walked through the different zoning of this fire-wise property to learn how subtle modifications can make living with bushfire less scary and aesthetically beautiful. 

“Participants said they left feeling less scared of bushfires and confident they could design a garden that looks after wildlife,” event organiser Jess Szigethy-Gyula said.

“Others were keen to share this field day information with neighbours, which indicates how transformative the field day was for many.”

In Balnarring, Red Hill Garden Society hosted an interactive talk where Owen Gooding, a keen gardener and retired CFA vegetation management specialist, brought the Landscaping for Bushfire interactive tool to life. Using his extensive experience of understanding house loss following the 2009 fires, Owen provided examples of houses impacted in past bushfires by poorly-placed plants and flammable garden structures. He compared these with clever and practical solutions to create beautiful gardens in high fire risk areas.

“The Landscaping for Bushfire plant selection key is designed for users to learn more about suitable plants for landscaping, how and where to place things you love in your garden and what to avoid, without having a garden that is barren and devoid of character,” Owen said.

“More than 70 people found the presentation and discussion of plant types keenly interesting, and it showed how we can enhance our gardens,” Virginia Ross from the Red Hill South Landcare Group said.

Lessons learned from these workshops are being collated so that CFA can create an information sheet and supportive material that brigades, local government or Landcare Groups can use to facilitate sessions with their local community.

Brigades that would like to run sessions using the Landscaping for Bushfire resources can get support from the Vegetation Management team, Community-Based Bushfire Management and community engagement teams.

The Plant Selection Key is available on the CFA website.

Source: Airservices Australia

The Reserve Bank of Australia has today released a summary of findings from the latest triennial survey of turnover in foreign exchange (FX) and over-the-counter (OTC) interest rate derivatives markets that was conducted in the Australian market in April 2025. This was part of a global survey that involved central banks and authorities from 52 jurisdictions and was coordinated by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) to obtain comprehensive and consistent information on the size and structure of FX and OTC derivatives markets. Similar surveys have been conducted every three years since 1986 for activity in FX markets and since 1995 for OTC interest rate derivatives markets.

Globally, the Australian dollar is the seventh most traded currency, down from sixth in the previous survey, and its share of turnover remained stable around 6 per cent. The AUD/USD remains the sixth most traded currency pair globally, accounting for around 5 per cent of all transactions.

Activity in Australia’s FX market in April 2025 reached its highest level on record. The survey was conducted during a period of heightened FX volatility and a surge of trading activity following several trade policy announcements by major economies. Average daily turnover in Australia’s FX market increased by 34 per cent to US$201 billion per day in April 2025, from US$150 billion in April 2022.^[1] Australia’s FX market remains the the 11th largest in the world.

In the Australian FX market the majority of turnover remained in FX swaps, accounting for around 53 per cent of total turnover. Spot transactions accounted for 25 per cent of Australian turnover, up from 23 per cent in 2022, and outright forwards accounted for 18 per cent of Australian turnover, little changed from the previous survey.

Activity in the Australian OTC interest rate derivatives markets increased sharply since the previous survey. Average daily turnover in Australian OTC interest rate derivatives markets increased by 123 per cent to US$252 billion during April 2022, reflecting an increase in turnover of interest rate swaps.

The preliminary results of the global turnover survey are available from the BIS website. The final data and related analysis will be released by the BIS in December 2025. Links to other participating jurisdictions’ results are available from the BIS website. More detailed results for the Australian market are available on the 2025 BIS Triennial Survey Results – Australia page. The BIS will also publish global data on amounts outstanding in OTC derivatives markets in November 2025.

Source:

Today, 1 October, is International Day of Older Persons.

Older people bring with them a lifetime of experience, skills and practical knowledge, and these attributes can make them resilient to fire emergencies and disasters. However, older people are disproportionately affected by disasters and often experience higher fatality rates compared with younger populations.

In Australia, people aged 65 years and older are 12.8 times more likely to die from weather-related events (including heatwave) than the general population. Older people are also at disproportionate risk of being affected by fire. 

It’s not age alone that makes older people more vulnerable – it’s the factors associated with advancing age such as impaired physical mobility, diminished sensory awareness, pre-existing health conditions, as well as social and economic constraints.

We have an ageing population in Australia and it is growing. The number of people aged 65 and over increased by 32 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Also, the number of older people receiving care at home increased more than fourfold – from 57,000 to 258,000 people over this 10-year period. This trend is continuing to rise each year in Victoria.

In terms of home fire fatalities, 36 per cent of nationwide fatalities between 2003 and 2017 were aged 65 and older. This pattern continues.

The My Aged Care providers, who deliver in-home support, are in a unique and trusted position because they work inside the homes of people at higher risk from fire. 

CFA has recognised this important link and we recognise that people who can’t prepare and respond quickly and effectively are at higher risk from fire. Since 2019 we have invested more in programs to upskill and engage the care workforce.

The CFA Community Engagement team works to improve how we engage and connect with older people and their informal and formal supports through:

• Partnerships at a state level with National Disability Services, Ageing Australia, VCOSS and COTA (Council on the Ageing) Australia
• Advocacy to My Aged Care at a national level in partnership with FRV  
• Online training for support workers and carers
• In-person engagement at expos, conferences and events such as Ageing Well Expo with the FRV At-Risk Groups team
• Direct engagement with older people, carers and formal providers and people who contact CFA for support.

CFA volunteers also deliver a smoke alarm installation service for people at higher risk, installing 2,680 smoke alarms in 1,047 households across Victoria last financial year. CFA targets the service to older people through follow-up visits from fire safety sessions with community groups, referrals from support services, and brigade members’ local community knowledge.

A recent survey of community members who had received the smoke alarm installation service showed that 92 per cent of recipients were aged 65 or older.

CFA members can play a role locally to help older people by:

• promoting the online learning modules and resources to their local care providers and carers
• engaging local care and health providers so they know who to contact locally at CFA
• attending a local disability and/or seniors expo or event to engage people about fire safety.

Deputy Chief Officer Brett Boatman

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

International ratings agency S&P has today reaffirmed Australia’s AAA credit rating.

This is a resounding endorsement of the Albanese Labor Government’s responsible economic management.

It shows that under Labor, Australia has one of the best budgets in the G20.

“Australia’s fiscal performance is sound… Australia’s economic outlook is sound.” the report reads.

“Sound fiscal metrics support our ‘AAA’ long‑term sovereign credit rating on Australia.

“Excellent political and institutional settings are conducive to stable policymaking.”

Responsible economic management is the hallmark of the Albanese Labor Government and S&P’s report reinforces that.

S&P says Australia’s debt is lower than that of most advanced economies and forecasts growth to pick up in the period ahead.

We’ve turned two big Liberal deficits into two substantial Labor surpluses in our first two years, significantly reduced the deficit in our third year, and continued to pay down debt.

The Budget is $209 billion better over the three years to 2024–25 than the one we inherited.

Added together, our three Final Budget Outcomes have delivered a cumulative underlying cash balance of +$28 billion, compared with the more than −$181 billion we inherited.

The better fiscal position means gross debt in 2024–25 was $188 billion lower than the one left to us, avoiding over $60 billion in interest costs over the 11 years to 2032–33.

The budget is in much better nick because we’ve paid down almost $200 billion of Liberal debt, demonstrated spending restraint, overseen the creation of more than 1.1 million jobs and got real wages growing again.

While we’ve delivered a substantial budget improvement, we recognise that structural pressures are intensifying rather than easing and that’s why we’re taking decisive action to address some of the biggest spending pressures on the budget.

We’re delivering substantial reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and aged care system, and we’re paying down Liberal debt which is saving us tens of billions of dollars in interest payments.

Australia is one of only nine countries to be rated AAA by all three major credit rating agencies and this was achieved for the first time under the last Labor government.

We are realistic about the challenges facing our economy including growing global uncertainty, but our AAA rating is further proof Australia is coming at these challenges from a position of genuine economic strength.

We’ll continue to do what we can to clean up the budget mess we inherited from the Coalition and to make our economy more productive and resilient.

Source: New South Wales – News

About 2pm on Tuesday 30 September, police were called to a business on O’Sullivan Beach Road after a man was found unresponsive in a warehouse.

Southern District CIB attended the scene with Forensic Response Investigators.

It is early in the investigation and further details will be released when known.

Source:

The Get Fire Ready initiative is underway

CFA has today launched its Get Fire Ready initiative across Victoria in anticipation of a potentially challenging fire season.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

On 9 September 2025, members of the Northern Territory Police Firearms Audit and Enforcement Unit attended a property in Kakadu National Park to conduct a firearms dealership audit and compliance check.

During the audit, multiple breaches of the Northern Territory Firearms Act 1997 were identified.

As a result, more than 240 firearms, along with various firearm parts, were seized.

A man, aged in his eighties, was issued with a Firearm Licence Suspension Notice and a Notice to Appear at the Jabiru Local Court on 28 October 2025.

He will be charged with:

• Fail to meet storage requirements
• Breach of firearm licence conditions

The firearms dealership licence and multiple firearms licences held by the man have been suspended.

During the seizure, an old revolver, in poor condition, was found to be loaded with rounds stuck within the firearm. As officers attempted to manipulate the firearm it discharged in a safe direction. No officers were injured and no damage to property occurred because of the discharge. Additional loaded firearms were also located within the dealership.

Acting Superintendent Alex Brennan said, “This was a complex seizure operation that highlights the importance of correct firearm storage.

“Officers within the Firearms Policy Unit are currently working to record each firearm and perform a full audit on everything seized.

“All Northern Territory firearm licence holders should be acutely aware that compliance with the Firearms Act 1997 is mandatory.”

Source: Australian Green Party

Knockout Outdoor music festival will be the next major event to host an onsite drug checking service as part of the NSW drug checking trial, further strengthening harm reduction measures for festivalgoers.
The fourth festival to take part in the 12-month NSW drug checking trial, Knockout Outdoor will take place on Saturday 4 October at Sydney Olympic Park.
The free and anonymous drug checking service will allow festival patrons to bring a small sample of substances they intend to consume to be analysed on-site by qualified health staff.
Through rapid evaluation, patrons will be provided with information about what was found in the sample, including potency where possible, in line with available technology. They’ll also receive advice on how to reduce risks if they choose to take the substance.
Trained peer workers will be available to provide tailored guidance about the risks, confidential support, and information about additional support services.
While illicit drugs remain illegal in NSW, the trial acknowledges the reality of drug use at music festivals.
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said the service is intended to help people make informed decisions to reduce drug-related harm but is not a guarantee of safety.
“This trial aims to inform individuals about substances, allowing them to avoid dangerous substances, discard high-risk drugs, make safer and more informed choices and potentially avoid serious health risks,” Dr Chant said.
“Our priority is to reduce harm and keep people safe.”
Knockout Outdoor organisers said the service was a very welcome addition to its harm minimisation undertakings and had been well received by festival patrons.
“We are committed to creating the safest possible environment for everyone who attends our events.
“Drug checking is an important step forward in harm reduction, giving patrons access to free, professional advice that can help them make more informed decisions.
“Partnering with NSW Health on this initiative reflects our ongoing focus on safety, care, and wellbeing for our community.”
The NSW drug checking trial will include up to 12 music festivals through to the end of February next year when it will be independently evaluated.
The trial comes after the NSW Government’s Drug Summit concluded in December 2024. The Report on the 2024 New South Wales Drug Summit provided a priority action recommending a trial of music festival-based drug testing.
Further information on the NSW drug checking trial can be found at NSW drug checking trial.
More information for young people around how to keep themselves and their friends safe at music festivals is available on the Your Room website.

Source: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is throwing its support behind some of Australia’s largest manufacturers to reduce their emissions, with over $12 million in funding to trial and demonstrate low emission technologies for process heat, reducing the reliance on natural gas. 

McCain Foods, Sugar Australia and Blackmores will each receive funding as part of ARENA’s efforts to reduce Australia’s industrial emissions. 

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said ARENA support through programs like the Industrial Transformation Stream remains vital in increasing the adoption of clean technologies in manufacturing.  

“Achieving Australia’s emissions reduction goals requires that our energy-intensive industries and manufacturers develop and execute clear strategies to integrate renewable energy into their operations,” Mr Miller said. 

“These grants are designed for forward-thinking businesses ready to pioneer and incorporate new applications of renewable energy technologies.” 

“By assisting in the adoption of clean technologies in heat processes in Australia’s food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, these projects will provide a blueprint for similar businesses to replicate and scale up these solutions nationwide.” 

McCain Foods is receiving $7.38 million in funding from ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) to implement two interconnected heat recovery systems at its Ballarat potato processing site. 

The first system will recover high-temperature heat from condensate to decrease boiler demand, while the second captures lower temperature fryer exhaust heat to produce hot water, which is then upgraded to steam using an electrically driven mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) system. Collectively, these systems are expected to lower the site’s natural gas boiler load by 22% and reduce annual emissions. 

Sugar Australia’s project, backed by $4.1 million in funding through ARENA’s National Industrial Transformation (NIT) Program, aims to significantly reduce emissions at its Yarraville sugar refinery by replacing traditional natural gas evaporators with an electrically driven MVR system.  

Both projects will demonstrate the commercial readiness of MVR for industrial heat applications, providing proof that innovations such as hot water to steam and increased efficiencies for water evaporation can be successfully retrofitted to commercial operations. If the projects are successful, they will serve as a blueprint for how Australian industries can utilise the technology, derisk future investment and decarbonise key processes. 

Blackmores, Australia’s leading natural health company, will also receive $723,900 through the NIT Program to undertake a project at its manufacturing facility in Braeside, Victoria to reduce emissions and energy consumption by replacing a natural gas boiler with a high-efficiency heat pump and a hot water buffer tank. The new system will use renewable electricity and the site’s refrigeration condensate water as a heat source, producing hot water for various manufacturing processes.  

The project is expected to cut natural gas consumption by about 25 per cent at Blackmores’ Braeside facility, lower annual emissions, and demonstrate how heat pumps can be integrated with process heating, HVAC and dehumidification in an operational facility. This facility is particularly significant, as it accounts for the majority of the company’s natural gas use. 

The projects build on ARENA’s work in industrial decarbonisation, supporting Australia’s ambition to become a renewable energy superpower and meet 2030 and 2050 net zero targets. 

The $40 million National Industrial Transformation (NIT) Program is now closed to new applications. 

Round 3 of ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) program is now open. For further information and to apply, visit the funding page. 

ARENA media contact:

media@arena.gov.au

Download this media release (PDF 174KB)