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Update II – Fatal crash at Elizabeth Vale

Source: New South Wales – News

A woman has died following a crash in Elizabeth Vale yesterday afternoon.

Just before 3pm on Monday 25 August, police and emergency services were called to Oldham Road after reports a Hyundai sedan collided with a pedestrian who was standing at a bus stop.

Tragically the pedestrian, a 62-year-old woman from Craigmore, died at the scene.

Major Crash officers attended the scene to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The road was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

Anyone who witnessed the crash who hasn’t yet spoken with police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 3333 000.

The woman’s death is the 56th life lost on SA roads this year.

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NAB strengthens digital banking protections in fight against scammers

Source: Premier of Victoria

New NAB customers will be asked to take a ‘selfie’ as part of a new process when opening an account or product online to help protect customers from fraud and scams.

The initiative is aimed at reducing fraud such as identify theft which occurs when an individual’s details are stolen by criminals.
In addition, they’ll be required to scan their identification document like a Driver’s License or Passport and hold their mobile phone up to their face to match the image.

The initiative will begin rolling out across select products in September, with further expansion to additional products and account types planned over the coming months.

It follows other actions NAB has taken to protect customers, including rolling out confirmation of payee in digital banking channels in line with industry, removing links from text messages, introducing payment alerts to digital banking and making it harder for criminals to infiltrate bank phone numbers and text message threads.

woman takes phone selfie

NAB Group Chief Operating Officer Les Matheson said the facial biometrics initiative would provide a critical further step in safety for customers and make life tougher for criminals.

“We still have more to do, but this is a simple and fast way we can help protect customers against fraud and scams,” Mr Matheson said.

“This initiative will make it harder for criminals to open fraudulent accounts or apply for fraudulent credit cards using documents they’ve stolen from the dark web or from someone’s letter box.

“This sort of technology is already used for other services, including things like passport applications and we’ve designed the experience to be simple for customers to follow.”

NAB already uses biometric technology in other ways with about 2 million customers a month using FaceID or fingerprints to log in to the NAB App or Internet Banking.

NAB also uses another form of behavioural biometrics to help identify and detect suspicious transactions.

The facial biometric identification initiative is part of NAB’s bank-wide scam strategy and the banking industry’s Scam Safe Accord launched in 2023. The Accord outlines key areas the banking industry will focus on to take actions against scams.

“While we must do more and we will, criminals operate beyond laws and regulations,” Mr Matheson said.

“That’s why every part of the scam ecosystem needs to remain focused on stopping the crime before it happens.”

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Updated information on ordinary time earnings for employers

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Paying super is an important part of being an employer, and we’ve improved our web content to help you get it right.

Super guarantee (SG) is calculated based on ordinary time earnings (OTE). This is the amount you pay your employees for their ordinary hours of work.

However, not all amounts you pay your employees are OTE. It’s important to understand which amounts are OTE for SG so you can be confident you’re meeting your SG obligations.

Additional details and examples are now available to help employers work out how much SG they must pay and what’s considered OTE. The law and definition of OTE has not changed, but we’ve updated our web content to help employers get it right.

The government previously announced that Payday Super would start from 1 July 2026. We expect this legislation to introduce a new concept of qualifying earnings to calculate SG entitlements. This will include OTE. We’ll share further information when Payday Super becomes law.

Keep up to date

We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

Subscribe to our free:

  • fortnightly Business bulletins email newsletterExternal Link
  • email notifications about new and updated information on our website – you can choose to receive updates relevant to your situation. Choose the ‘Business and organisations’ category to ensure your subscription includes notifications for more Business bulletins newsroom articles like this one.
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Our 3 top tips this Scams Awareness Week

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Tax time is in full swing and so are the scammers! Their aim? To trick your organisation into handing over sensitive information so they can steal your identity and commit fraud in your name.

Scams Awareness Week is a great reminder for your teams to stop and take a sec to check it’s really the ATO contacting your business. We know you’re busy, juggling multiple deadlines and reporting obligations, but scammers plan on you being distracted.

Do these 3 things to help protect yourself:

  1. Don’t be fooled by emails and texts with QR codes or links to an online portal that claim to be about your business tax – that’s a scammer trying to steal your corporate information and credentials information.
  2. When checking the status of your company’s tax return or using online services, always type the URL into your web browser – don’t click a link in a message.
  3. Make sure you protect your TFN, ABN and myID/RAM login details! Never give out your business information to anyone unless they genuinely need it and have been properly verified.

If you think a phone call, SMS, voicemail, email or social media interaction claiming to be from the ATO isn’t genuine, don’t engage with it. You should either:

  • go to Verify or report a scam to see how to spot and report a scam
  • phone us immediately on 1800 008 540 if you’ve divulged information or paid a scammer money.

Learn more at ato.gov.au/scamsafe.

Keep up to date

We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

Subscribe to our free:

  • fortnightly Business bulletins email newsletterExternal Link
  • email notifications about new and updated information on our website – you can choose to receive updates relevant to your situation. Choose the ‘Business and organisations’ category to ensure your subscription includes notifications for more Business bulletins newsroom articles like this one.
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A diamond in the ‘ruff’

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Macca is one of many rescue dogs that have been trained to keep our community safe.

In Brief:

  • A kelpie named Macca was rescued from Domestic Animal Services by the Australian Defence Force.
  • He was recruited and trained as an explosive detection dog.
  • There are many dogs available for adoption at Domestic Animal Services with untapped potential.

A Domestic Animal Services (DAS) graduate is proving just how powerful a second chance can be.

Once overlooked, a friendly kelpie called Macca found himself awaiting adoption at DAS in September 2024.

After 30 days at DAS, Macca’s luck changed dramatically when the Australian Defence Force (ADF) visited Domestic Animal Services.

They were searching for a dog who would be suitable to join the army for their detector dog program. They instantly recognised Macca’s potential.

Macca was intelligent, agile and demonstrated a high pray drive which made him the perfect fit for the job.

Macca is one of many rescue dogs that are recruited and trained as explosive detection dogs (EDDs) to keep our community safe.

EDDs undergo daily training to sniff out explosive devices, weapons and ammunition.

Their daily training includes search, agility and odour recognition.

Macca has successfully finished his training and is now a fully accredited detection dog.

He serves in the army to protect Australians.

Caption: Macca is now happily working alongside his handler to service and protect Australians.

There are lots of dogs with untapped potential available for adoption at DAS. If you’re ready to give a hidden gem a second chance, visit Domestic Animal Services at Mugga Lane.

For more information visit the City Services website.

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National code to protect staff and students from sexual violence in higher education

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to establish a mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Not enough has been done in our universities to address sexual assault and sexual harassment and for too long, students haven’t been heard.

The National Code will help to change that and will strengthen the work of the National Student Ombudsman.

For the first time, the National Code will set standards and requirements that all higher education providers must meet to make students and staff safer, including in student accommodation.

Under the National Code, universities will be required to take evidence-based steps to prevent gender-based violence, including providing education and training to students and staff.

It will introduce accountability at the highest level, help drive cultural change, and make sure staff are qualified to support victim-survivors.

It means universities must comply with the recommendations of the Student Ombudsman in relation to gender-based violence.

Universities’ compliance with the obligations in the Code will be monitored and enforced through a range of compliance powers, with serious penalties for non-compliance.

The National Code has been developed in consultation with victim-survivor advocates, students, the higher education sector, gender-based violence experts, states and territories and relevant Australian Government agencies.

Addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment in universities was one of five priority actions from the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report.

The National Code and Student Ombudsman are key measures of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education, agreed by Education Ministers in February 2024.

They contribute to the work to end gender-based violence in one generation as outlined in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Every student deserves to feel safe from sexual violence on campus. This new National Code makes that non-negotiable.

“We’ve listened to students and survivors on what needs to be done to drive long overdue cultural change on our campuses.

“Universities aren’t just places where people work and study, they are also places where people live, and we need to ensure they are safe.

“This Code will make sure universities are taking action to prevent sexual violence from happening in the first place.

“And when the worst does happen, the Code mandates staff and students get the response and support they deserve, every time.

“If universities fail to act on sexual violence, this Code will give the Student Ombudsman real teeth to hold them to account.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek:

“University should be a time of excitement, learning and discovery. A time for making new and lifelong friends. But for too many students, it becomes a nightmare.  

“One in six students have reported sexual harassment and one in 20 have reported being sexually assaulted on campus. One in two felt they weren’t being heard when they made a complaint.

“How a survivor of violence is supported by their university has lifelong consequences. Victim-survivors must be heard and supported and universities must make every effort to stop violence in the first place.

“The National Code will make this a reality. It will hold all higher education providers to consistently high standards to proactively prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

“Students on campus deserve to feel safe and I’m so proud our Government has taken action.”
 

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More than a dot on a map – All roads lead to Bradfield as Australia’s newest city begins the journey as a destination!

Source: Mental Health Australia

With delivery of Australia’s first new city in 100 years underway, the first road signs pointing to Bradfield have also been installed.

The new signs on Badgerys Creek Road and The Northern Road are the first to show Bradfield City as the major destination it is set to become. 

Bradfield City will deliver 20,000 jobs,10,000 homes, and significant economic benefits for the people of Western Sydney. At 114 hectares and with more than 30% green open space, Bradfield City will be a high quality urban environment with advanced industries at its heart. 

Momentum of delivery at the city is strong, with the First Building now welcoming visitors to Bradfield City after opening in March this year, and other major projects such as an iconic 2 hectare Central Park, an advanced industry focused Second Building, and civil works enabling private sector development well progressed. 

At present there are four new road signs pointing to the city, and as Bradfield grows in the future, road signage will be upgraded further.

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Changed traffic conditions on the M5 Motorway between Heathcote Road and the Hume Highway

Source: Mental Health Australia

From Wednesday 3 September until mid-December 2025, there will be temporary traffic changes on the M5 Motorway between Heathcote Road in Wattle Grove and the Hume Highway in Casula due to pavement and geotechnical investigation work along the M5 corridor.

This work is part of the early phase of the M5 Westbound upgrade, a major infrastructure project aimed at easing congestion and improving safety for motorists and freight operators.

Work will be carried out during the day from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, with night work scheduled from 8pm to 5am Sunday to Friday.

Partial lane closures and traffic control will be in place for the safety of workers and road users. No full road closures will be in place for this work.

Road users are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of signs and traffic control.

Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience during this time. 

For the latest traffic updates across the network, ring 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App. 

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‘Scarred’ book brings Bayindeen fire stories to life

Source:

When the Bayindeen-Rocky Road fires tore through the Mount Cole region in February 2024, they left more than a blackened landscape, they left a tapestry of unique stories in need of being told.

In the months following the fires, the idea to preserve those stories began to emerge. 

What started as a simple proposal to collate photos quickly evolved into something more ambitious, a full-length book. 

And at a launch held at the Cave Hill Creek camping venue in Raglan on Sunday 24 August, ‘Scarred’ was officially unveiled to the fire-affected community, capturing the Bayindeen fires through the many voices of those who lived through it. 

The project is the brainchild of Raglan Fire Brigade member Rod McErvale.  

Rod enlisted the services of experienced author Hugh Carroll who said the scope of the project became clear after attending a barbecue in Raglan shortly after the fires. 

“I honestly had no intention of writing a full-length book,” Hugh said. 

“But after I was invited to Raglan and spoke with the affected families, I quickly realised there was a story here and it needed to be told.” 

Hugh began the writing process by interviewing locals from Raglan, Beaufort, Warrak, Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Ararat and the surrounding areas, eventually speaking with more than 100 people. 

“Everyone had different stories, and no one had the full picture of what happened across the fireground,” he said. 

“There was this universal shock at the scale of the fire. 

“Even seasoned locals who had experienced fires before weren’t prepared for something of this magnitude.” 

Hugh said he was struck by the backgrounds of those affected. 

“I expected to find mostly farming families who’d been there for generations. But I was struck by the diversity, people from places like Paris and Mexico City, or those with family histories shaped by global conflict, all ending up in this quiet corner of Victoria,” he said. 

“Their reasons for settling there were just as compelling as their experiences during the fire. 

The result is a book that blends personal histories with reflections on the fire and the resilience of local communities. 

Rod, who convened the Book Group tasked with bringing the project to life, said a $10,000 grant from the Bendigo Bank’s Bushfire Recovery Fund helped turn the idea into reality. 

“We formed the group and applied for the grant, when we were successful, we thought ‘ok, we can really make something special here’. Fortunately, Hugh had also agreed to come on board free of charge.” Rod said. 

Rod praised Hugh’s storytelling approach. 

“It reads like a novel, I was surprised by how candidly people opened up,” he said. 

“It wasn’t like we asked them to bare their souls, but once the interviews started, it became clear people needed that chance to speak. It was like a healing process. 

“The way the book weaves different people’s stories together is brilliant. To have something like this to pass down through the generations in the area is just fantastic.” 

‘Scarred’ opens with one family’s personal account, then steps back to trace how the fires unfolded across multiple communities. 

“It’s about what people went through, with the fire in the background. Hugh’s done such a good job,” Rod said. 

CFA was represented at the book launch by Deputy Chief Officer West Region Brett Boatman, who acknowledged the importance of the project. 

“Capturing local knowledge and community voices ensures that the lived experience of the fire is never forgotten,” Brett said. 

Proceeds from book sales will support the restoration of bushland campsites and community spaces in the Mount Cole area. 

Submitted by CFA Media
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Arrests – Aggravated burglaries – Palmerston

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

An adult male and two male youths have been arrested in relation to an aggravated burglary and assault police incident that occurred in Palmerston overnight.

Around 10:40pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report of a group of up to five offenders unlawfully entering two businesses at a shopping centre on Mannikan Court in Bakewell.

The offenders fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival.

A short time later, the offenders were sighted on police CCTV on Emery Avenue. Strike Force Trident and general duties members were deployed and a foot pursuit commenced. It is alleged a 14-year-old male challenged a police officer, during which a nearby 23-year-old male, not believed to be involved with the unlawful entries, punched the officer to the head.

The officer deployed OC spray in self-defence and both offenders were arrested. An additional 14-year-old male was also arrested in relation to the unlawful entries.

The offenders remain in police custody with charges expected to follow.

Three offenders remain outstanding, and Strike Force Trident have carriage of the investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2500084878. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.