AU Engine

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force, in partnership with the Department of Housing, Larrakia Nation and the City of Darwin are continuing with Operation Home Safe following the 2025 Royal Darwin Show.

Over the first three days, the multi-agency operation has engaged with 222 individuals and achieved the following outcomes:

• 63 x high-visibility foot patrols conducted
• 174 x referrals to Return to Country Program
• 2 x referral to Territory Families
• 7 x council related issues identified
• 8 x referrals to the Department of Education
• 3 x cautions issued
• 15 x Litres of Liquor Tipped Out
• 4 x arrests

The operation is supporting community members in safely returning home and reconnecting with vital services and promoting wellbeing following the event.

Our combined message was to enjoy the show but make plans to return home. Sleeping rough, or in over-crowded conditions, is not safe for anyone. 

NT Police Force thanks our partner agencies for their ongoing support and commitment to community safety.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Police investigating serious motorbike crash at Herdsmans Cove

Thursday, 31 July 2025 – 11:32 am.

Police are investigating a motorbike crash in Herdsmans Cove last night where two people sustained serious injuries. 
About 11pm, two trail bikes were travelling in opposite directions on a walkway near Zena Drive. The area is poorly lit, the bikes did not have headlights, and one of the riders was not wearing a helmet.  
The bikes collided, and both riders, a 19-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man, were transported to hospital in serious but stable conditions.  
“Police remind all road users, particular motorcyclists, to prioritise their safety,” said Inspector Luke Horne. 
“Please – if you’re a rider – protect your safety and the safety of others every time you ride.”  
Anyone with information in relation to the crash is asked to contact Bridgewater Police on 131 444.  
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au.

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

The Albanese Labor Government has today cut all student debts by 20 per cent.

We are wiping more than $16 billion in debt for more than three million Australians.

Our number one focus is continuing to deliver cost of living relief for the Australian people.

Cutting student debt by 20 per cent will ease pressure on workers and students across the country.

For someone with the average debt of $27,600, this will see $5,520 wiped from their outstanding Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans.

Backdated to 1 June, this is lifting the burden for Australians with a student debt – including all HELP, Vocational Education and Training (VET) Student Loans, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, Student Startup Loans, and other student loans.

In addition to cutting student debt by 20 per cent, we are raising the minimum amount before people have to start making repayments from $54,435 to $67,000 and reduces minimum repayments.

For someone earning $70,000 it will reduce the minimum repayments they have to make by $1,300 a year.

This builds on our reforms to fix the indexation formula, which has already cut more than $3 billion in student debt.

This means, all up, the Albanese Labor Government will cut close to $20 billion in student debt for more than three million Australians.

The ATO will now begin the work of processing the cut.

This will take a little while but the 20 per cent cut to student debt is guaranteed.

Most people will see their balance reduced before the end of the year, backdated to June.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“This is another way my Government is continuing to deliver cost of living relief to Australians.

“We promised cutting student debt would be the first thing we did back in Parliament – and that’s exactly what we’ve done.

“Getting an education shouldn’t mean a lifetime of debt.

“No matter where you live or how much your parents earn, my Government will work to ensure the doors of opportunity are open for you.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“We promised we would cut your student debt by 20 per cent and we have delivered.

“This is a big deal for 3 million Australians.

“This will save millions of Australians thousands of dollars.

“The average student debt today is $27,600, this will cut that debt by $5,520.

“Just out of uni, just getting started, this will take a weight off their back.

“We are also cutting annual repayments. For someone earning $70,000 a year, it will cut the amount they have to repay every year by $1,300.

“That’s real help with the cost of living. It means more money in your pocket, not the government’s.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:  

“At the election, students and apprentices sent a resounding message of support for our Government’s plan to cut student debt by 20 per cent.

“Now, we’ve delivered on this commitment, making a real difference to the lives of students and apprentices – including nearly 300,000 TAFE students and apprentices.

“The Albanese Government is backing Australians with cost of living relief, and backing them to pursue an apprenticeship or qualification that sets them up for their future.”

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force continues to hold serious concerns for the welfare of 26-year-old Gach, who has not been seen or heard from since 5:30pm on Monday 28 July 2025.

Gach is described as a 6-foot-tall male of Sudanese appearance with a lean build, short curly hair, and was last seen wearing a red or orange puffer jacket, cream-coloured tracksuit pants, and dark-coloured runners.

The NT Police Search and Rescue Section (SRS) is leading an intensive search operation, now into its third day, approximately 21 km west of Alice Springs. The operation is being supported by over 50 personnel, including members from local police units and partner agencies such as NT Emergency Services, NT Fire and Rescue Service, and Parks and Wildlife NT.

The coordinated search effort includes foot teams, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), drones, and helicopter support, with more than 500 km² of challenging terrain already covered.

Search Coordinator Acting Sergeant Chris Grotherr said, “Search efforts have been extensive, with significant contributions from local resources. These efforts will continue into day 3. However, forecasted sub-zero overnight temperatures over the coming days are increasing our concerns for Gach’s welfare.”

Police are appealing to the public for any information that may assist search efforts.

Anyone who may have seen Gach in the vicinity of Larapinta Drive, Standley Chasm, or Simpsons Gap on the evening of Monday 28 July, or who has any knowledge of his current whereabouts, is urged to contact police on 131 444.

Source:

Trailblazing women across the south east region are stepping up into roles which have only ever been held by men.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Natalie Barr:

For more, we’re joined by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Good morning to you.

Jim Chalmers:

Morning, Nat.

Barr:

So, when the godfather of AI begins to regret his contribution to the invention, should we be concerned?

Chalmers:

I think there’s a whole range of views about artificial intelligence. I’m optimistic that it will be transformational in a good way in our economy but only if we manage the risks right. And so our government is doing a heap of work, including with Scott Farquhar and others who will be part of our Economic Reform Roundtable, to make sure that we maximise the opportunities of AI at the same time as we manage the risks. The risks can be substantial in our labour market and more broadly as well. We need to manage those. But overwhelmingly, I think AI will be transformational in our economy and in our society, and we need to make it work for us, not against us.

Matt Shirvington:

It’s moving so fast, isn’t it, Treasurer? Let’s talk about that roundtable. You said tech billionaire Scott Farquhar is going to be a part of that. He’s for this. He wants more productivity, more investment to expand AI in Australia. Is that required? Is that what we’re going to do? Are we going to take advantage of the time being now?

Chalmers:

I think there are broadly 3 schools of thought here. There’s a group of people who say, let it rip. There’s a group of people who, I think unrealistically, say that we should kind of turn back the clock and pretend these technological developments aren’t happening. And then there’s a responsible middle path, which is the approach that the government intends to take. And that’s all about making sure that our people are beneficiaries, not victims of these big technological changes. This will be seismic. Artificial intelligence will have a massive impact on our economy and on our society. And it’s up to us as governments and as societies to work out how we make that work for us, not against us. To make people beneficiaries of these changes rather than victims of it.

Barr:

So this is the guy who resigned from Google because he wanted to warn the world about the dangers. Are you confident that our country has the safeguards against the bad parts of AI?

Chalmers:

I’m confident that we can manage the risks, but it won’t be easy. And something that is changing this quickly, the pace of change, the accelerating pace of these technological changes, is a big challenge because we need to catch up and keep up with the way that it’s changing our economy and our society. And we need to make sure that its impact is positive, not negative.

The risks are there, they are substantial. We focus on the risks, for example, in the labour market, but also more broadly, and we need to manage that. Every country in the world is grappling with this challenge. Trying to work out how AI can be a force for good in our economy, making us more productive, making our work easier, augmenting some of the tasks that people do at work. Those are the upsides of AI.

There are potential downsides as well, and that’s why we work so closely with the tech industry and with others – my colleague Tim Ayres and Andrew Charlton and Ed Husic before that. It’s a big focus of the government. It’ll be a big focus of our efforts at the reform roundtable next month as well.

Shirvington:

It’s good to hear, because you just don’t want to miss the boat. Just quickly on inflation figures. You know, you’ve been at the helm, you’ve seen them go down and down and down. Low 2s now, paving the way potentially, for a rate cut next month. What do you think?

Chalmers:

I try not to make predictions about decisions that the independent Reserve Bank will take about interest rates, but I’m really pleased that inflation has come down so substantially. It’s a powerful demonstration of the progress that Australians have made together in the fight against inflation. When we came to office 3 years ago, it was higher than 6 per cent and absolutely galloping. We’ve got it down now into the low 2s. That’s a good thing. But the job’s not finished. It’s not mission accomplished.

We know that people are still under pressure and that’s why the main goal of the parliament the last 2 weeks since it’s returned after the election has been to deliver all kinds of cost‑of‑living relief to help ease some of these pressures. But inflation coming down is a very good thing. The unemployment rate staying relatively low is a very good thing. Real wages are growing as well, but we know there’s always more work to do.

Barr:

Treasurer, thank you very much for your time.

Chalmers:

Appreciate it, guys.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

James Glenday:

Welcome back to the show. On this Thursday morning, you’re watching News Breakfast. It is always lovely to have your company.

Emma Rebellato:

We’ll get an update on the latest with the global tsunami alerts in just a moment. But first, borrowers will be hoping the latest inflation data will be the confirmation the Reserve Bank needs to cut rates next month.

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, joins us now from Canberra. Treasurer, thanks for joining us this morning.

Jim Chalmers:

Thanks for having me back on, Emma.

Rebellato:

So homeowners are hoping for a rate cut. Are you worried though that if there is a cut it will encourage more investors into the market, and that will price out people wanting to buy their own home?

Chalmers:

I’m not going to pre‑empt decisions that the Reserve Bank takes independently. I think rate relief is welcome, certainly when interest rates were cut twice already this year, that provided some very, very welcome rate relief for millions of Australians with a mortgage. That’s how we see it, but I don’t want to make predictions or pre‑empt the decisions that the Reserve Bank will take.

What yesterday’s numbers showed when it comes to those inflation numbers is really quite remarkable progress. The progress that Australians have made together over the course of the last 3 years on inflation has been outstanding because we’ve been able to get inflation down at the same time as we deep unemployment low, we’ve got real wages growing again – but it’s never mission accomplished, because the global environment’s uncertain, we’ve got some persistent structural issues in our economy, growth in our economy is soft and people are under pressure. And that’s why the primary goal, the main priority of the first 2 weeks of the parliament sitting has been to roll out more cost‑of‑living help.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, your productivity roundtable is on in just a few weeks. Will you be looking – and we know housing going’s to be on the agenda – will you be looking specifically at property investors. Do you want to change the capital gains tax discount?

Chalmers:

That’s not why we’ve put this Economic Reform Roundtable together. It’s all about making our economy more resilient and more productive, and our budget more sustainable.

I expect and I hope that building more homes is one of the central considerations of the Economic Reform Roundtable. I’ve been working very closely with Minister Clare O’Neil with a number of people who will be at the roundtable and with a whole range of people around the country.

We’ve all got an interest in building more homes sooner; that’s the government’s priority. The primary focus there, I think, at the roundtable will be around how we speed up approvals and get the zoning for housing right, because we desperately need more homes. The Commonwealth government has come to the table with tens of billions of dollars in investment, our political opponents want to cut funding for housing, but overwhelmingly, people want to see where there’s common ground to build more homes, and that will be the focus.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, one of the stories we’re following today is the latest Productivity Commission report on closing the gap. Again, so many targets are showing so little progress, and some are worsening. How would you characterise this? Is this a failure by governments?

Chalmers:

We need to do much better. I think from memory, 10 of the 15 measures, we’ve seen a little bit of progress in the report released overnight, some have gone backwards in worrying ways.

I think every member of the government, and I think many Australians would acknowledge that we need to do better, and the reason why these reports are so important is because they make sure that we keep governments and the community more broadly up to the mark. We need to do better when it comes to closing the cap.

Minister Malarndirri McCarthy is working in her characteristically diligent way with all of the stakeholders, all of the communities to try and turn these numbers around. There has been progress in 10 of the 15, there has been some worrying outcomes in the rest, but overall, we need to do more and we need to do better.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, we know the issue in the Middle East is a big talking point in parliament and in the government at the moment. Is it now inevitable that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state; do you want to see that happen?

Chalmers:

I do, and I think it’s a matter of when, not if Australia recognises a Palestinian state for a long.

Rebellato:

So could we see it before September, before that UN meeting?

Rebellato:

I don’t want to put a timeframe for it, it’s been a long‑standing bipartisan policy that we see a two‑state solution in that part of the Middle East. From my point of view that progress that has been made, that momentum that we’re seeing in the international community is welcome, but it’s also conditional.

There are a number of obstacles still in the way to recognition of a Palestinian state, for example, the treatment, the release of the hostages, making sure that there’s absolutely no role for Hamas. These are the sorts of things that the international community is working through.

That statement that came out yesterday that we signed as Australians via our Foreign Minister Penny Wong is a really important one. It condemns the terrorist act on 7 October, it demands a ceasefire, the release of hostages and access for humanitarian aid; it encourages countries to work towards recognition as a really important part of that two‑state solution, and the reason we want to see a two‑state solution is because Israeli families and Palestinian families need and deserve to be able to raise their kids in peace, and that’s what this is all about.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, let’s stay with issues overseas, and the issue of tariffs. Now, Donald Trump has now said if he’s not negotiated with a country that they’re now looking at between a 15 and 20 per cent tariff. Is that what you’re working towards now; forget about 10 per cent, it’s now looking 15 to 20?

Chalmers:

We haven’t heard differently from the 10 per cent baseline that’s been levied on Australia; obviously we continue to engage with the Americans on this. It’s one of the main issues playing out in the global economy, it’s a major source of uncertainty in the economy, whether it’s what’s been said overnight about India, whether it’s the back and forth between the US and China or the tariffs levied directly on Australia. We’ve got the baseline rate as far as we are aware, and as we understand it, which is 10 per cent.

Rebellato:

So you don’t expect that to move?

Chalmers:

I think it would be a brave person to assume that there won’t be – whether it’s with other countries or – there will always be more announcements about this. These tariff announcements are a moving feast. But our understanding, our expectation is we get the baseline.

We think that the best outcome is zero because these tariffs are an act of economic self‑harm. We see inflation is going up in the US. Earlier in the year they had slowing growth, interest rates on hold again in the US overnight, they’ve got higher interest rates than we do in Australia.

We think these tariffs are bad for the American economy, certainly bad for the global economy. We’re better placed and better prepared than most countries to deal with that, but we won’t be immune. We’ll continue to engage with the Americans on it.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, just to change things up a little bit, this is possibly the hardest question you’ll be asked today, we’ve been talking about theme songs. Do you have a favourite theme song?

Chalmers:

It’s hard to go past the themes – the 2 theme songs in the Rocky movies, or the theme song to that great Eminem movie, 8 Mile. I’m a hip‑hop guy –

Rebellato:

Oh, yeah.

Chalmers:

– as James on the couch knows, but I think the best theme song, now that you put me on the spot, the best theme song I can remember is when Powderfinger, These Days kicks in during that wonderful Australian movie, Two Hands.

I think These Days by Powderfinger came in at number 14 on the week in the Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs. Like everyone who loves Powderfinger, I think that should have been higher. But that’s an amazing theme song, and that’s an incredible, Two Hands, Heath Ledger, Bryan Brown, Rose, all the great Australian actors and a wonderful Australian theme song too by Powderfinger from Brisbane.

Rebellato:

Treasurer, thank you so much for joining us this morning, we appreciate it.

Chalmers:

Thanks very much.

Source: New South Wales – News

It will be alleged that three men were present together at the Adelaide Airport about 11.30am on Wednesday 30 July.

The Rebels, an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, is a declared criminal organisation and it is an offence for participants of a declared criminal organisation to be in a public place with two or more other persons who are also participants in a declared criminal organisation.

The three men, a 43-year-old man, 27-year-old man and a 34-year-old man all from Western Australia, were arrested and charged with criminal association.

They were all refused bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court later today.

Crime Gangs Task Force will continue to investigate reports of Outlaw Motorcycle Gang members gathering in public places in contravention of this law to ensure the safety of the public.

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

We’re pleased to announce the release of our updated General Aviation (GA) Workplan 2025, alongside the Forward Regulatory Program and the refreshed RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Strategic Regulatory Roadmap – 3 key initiatives shaping the future of aviation in Australia.

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Woman on assault police charge, dangerous dog seized

Thursday, 31 July 2025 – 9:09 am.

A 57-year-old woman has been charged with assaulting police, and a dangerous dog seized, after an incident in East Devonport on Wednesday.
The North-West woman was remanded in custody overnight and is scheduled to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court today.
She is facing charges of assaulting police, abusing and threatening police, and being the owner of a dog that attacks a person.
The charges stem from an incident at Melrose Street, East Devonport, on Wednesday afternoon.
Police had been called to assist Devonport Council and North West Animal Control Services issue a warrant to seize an American pit bull, a dog that had been identified as being dangerous.
Police will allege the woman refused to surrender the dog and that she threatened and verbally abused officers during the issuing of the warrant.
Tasmania Police specialist resources were deployed and negotiations with the woman continued for several hours.
During this time, the unrestrained dog was released by the woman and the animal ran off.
The woman is then alleged to have assaulted police officers before being arrested without further incident and taken into custody.
The dog was subsequently located and safely seized by police in collaboration with Animal Control Services. Police drone resources were used to help locate the dog.
Tasmania Police would like to thank members of the public for their assistance in reporting sightings of the dog, which played a key role in its safe recovery.