Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
A stretch of Puketona Road / State Highway 11, closed due to an earlier fatal crash, has now reopened.
Police acknowledge the public’s understanding and cooperation while our enquiries were carried out at the scene.
An investigation is underway into the circumstances of the fatal crash.
ENDS
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attributable to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard:
Police investigating a homicide and aggravated burglary in Miramar are appealing for information from the public regarding a vehicle seen in the area, and items of clothing located near the property that was burgled.
At around 2am on Monday 17 March, Police were called to a Darlington Road address after the occupants located an intruder inside their home. A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged with aggravated burglary in relation to this incident.
Then at around 2.20am on Monday 17 March 63-year-old Abdul Nabizadah was located with serious head injuries at the intersection of Camperdown Road and Totara Road. Sadly, Mr Nabizadah subsequently died in hospital and a homicide investigation was launched.
A large Police team is working to establish whether the incidents are connected and we are continuing to appeal for any information.
We wish to speak to the driver of a Grey or Silver Mazda Atenza / Mazda 6, 2006 model that was seen driving through Darlington Rd / Camperdown Rd intersection several times between 11.50pm Sunday 16 March and 2.17am Monday 17 March. The CCTV image shows the vehicle and the reference image shows the make and model of the vehicle sought.
We hope that the driver of this car will be able to assist Police with enquiries. If this was you or if you recognise this vehicle and know who the driver is, please contact Police.
We are also interested in information about two items of clothing left at the Darlington Road burglary scene. We believe that both items were left by the burglar and, while a person has already been charged in relation to the burglary, we continue to seek any information about the clothing items.
The first item is a white baseball hat with red swastika on the front.
The second item is a pair of H & H size 8 woman’s gumboots. It is possible that these had been stolen from a nearby residence, maybe a back door, insecure shed or porch by the alleged burglar. Police ask that anyone who believes that these may be their gumboots to please contact us.
We wish to thank the community for their help so far, and we note that community assistance helped identify the man running in Darlington Rd who was the subject of a previous appeal.
We continue to appeal for information about a man seen walking down Camperdown Road from Totara Street and who turned right in to Darlington Road from Camperdown Road at 12.28am. The man was wearing a light-coloured top and dark pants. We urge this person, or anyone who may know them, to come forward as soon as possible.
We understand these incidents are upsetting and concerning for the community and the investigation team are working tirelessly to determine the circumstances around Mr Nabizadah’s death and to bring closure for his family.
If you have any information that could help the investigation teams, please update us at 105 online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250317/6324, or reference Operation Celtic.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Markus Wagner, Professor of Law and Director of the UOW Transnational Law and Policy Centre, University of Wollongong
Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has doubled down on using trade measures – mostly tariffs – to reshape global trade. He plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on what he has labelled “Liberation Day”, April 2.
The Trump administration claims US producers face higher tariffs and more restrictions abroad than foreign producers when they export to the US.
The administration also examined tax systems such as Europe’s Value Added Tax and Australia’s GST, import regulations and other factors. It believes – mostly wrongly – these unfairly disadvantage American businesses and contribute to the US trade deficit.
As with many Trump initiatives, actual tariffs often change significantly between announcement and implementation, if they are implemented at all.
His reciprocal tariffs have been narrowed to imports from the US’ largest trading partners instead of imports from all countries. There may also be tariffs on specific sectors. Last week, Trump announced 25% tariffs on cars from overseas. At the weekend said he “couldn’t care less” if this made cars more expensive for US consumers.
President Trump has raised a myriad of puzzling arguments in favour of tariffs. They largely fall into three categories:
The first is the use of tariffs as a coercion tool against other countries. In the first Trump presidency, trading partners were pressured to renegotiate trade agreements such as the renamed but largely identical US-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Similarly, the Trump administration used the threat of tariffs to gain market access, elicit better trade terms or as a form of weaponised trade to achieve unrelated foreign policy goals.
Last week, Trump suggested he would consider a reduction in tariffs on China in exchange for a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner.
The second category is the use of tariffs as a source of revenue. The Trump administration envisions tariffs to be collected by a yet-to-be-created External Revenue Service. This would form the flip side of the powerful and much-maligned Internal Revenue Service.
Trump claims tariffs will be paid by the exporting country. This would be in theory to finance future tax cuts. In practice, tariffs are almost always paid by the importer of goods and usually get passed on to consumers.
There is a potential contradiction between these two rationales. It appears the Trump administration wants to make at least some tariffs permanent. But doing so would almost nullify the use of tariffs as a bargaining chip and coercion tool.
The final category is to encourage companies to “re-shore” production to the US to avoid tariffs and to support US jobs.
This would signal a reversal of what 1994 presidential candidate Ross Perot, speaking of the North American Free Trade Agreement, called the “giant sucking sound going south”. Some manufacturing may return to the US. But the high costs of building new factories, re-routing supply chains and uncompetitive US labour costs will hinder large-scale re-shoring efforts.
The Trump administration’s trade moves can be seen as part of a larger strategy to reshape the US domestic and the global economic system.
In a recent speech, US Vice-President JD Vance argued for a structural reshaping of the US economy, to increase domestic innovation capacity.
Vance warned “deindustrialisation poses risks both to our national security and our workforce”. Vance himself sums up this approach by characterising tariffs as a “necessary tool to protect our jobs and our industries”.
This line of argument overlooks a number of critical factors. Tariffs lead to higher prices for consumers. Unless currencies adjust, the inflationary impact could disadvantage the very people that can least afford it.
The same is true if other countries respond to US trade measures by responding in kind, as Canada and the European Union already have.
American farmers and other export-oriented industries will be hard hit. From a strategic perspective, the US position as global leader has suffered a severe blow. Some countries are openly pivoting to its geopolitical and economic rival, China.
If this scenario comes to pass, the US pullback – an outright withdrawal is unlikely – from the highly integrated international trading system might end up a more chaotic version of the UK’s pursuit of Brexit.
The world of liberalised trade that followed the end of the Cold War in 1990 is ending. Countries will turn inwards, prioritising their economic security and resilience. The costs of this turn away from multilateralism and international institutions, however, are not just economic.
The close economic integration we have witnessed post-1990 has led to reduced uncertainty in international economic relations, increased international security and greater prosperity.
A return of the “beggar thy neighbour” policies of the 1930s would be a dangerous path, with the world inching closer to the abyss. “Liberation Day” might push the world over the edge.
Read more:
What are non-tariff barriers – and why is agriculture so exposed?
Markus Wagner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. These 3 arguments are part of the long game in Trump’s trade wars – https://theconversation.com/these-3-arguments-are-part-of-the-long-game-in-trumps-trade-wars-252516
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police can now release the name of the woman who died following a crash in Naenae on Thursday 27 March.
She was 60-year-old Vanessa Rithia Houpapa, of Naenae.
Police extend our condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time.
A 25-year-old woman is due to reappear in the Hutt Valley District Court on 29 April, charged with excess breath alcohol causing injury and excess breath alcohol causing death.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises State Highway 11 is closed near Haruru due to a fatal crash.
The closure is between the State Highway 10/SH11 intersection at Puketona and Haruru and is expected to remain in place for a least a couple of hours while the NZ Police Serious Crash Unit investigates.
Traffic will be detoured via State Highway 11 from Kawakawa.
People are advised to check the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) for up-to-date information on the closure before they travel.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
A section of State Highway 11 near Haruru has been closed due to a fatal crash.
Police are in attendance at the crash involving a truck and vehicle on Puketona Road / State Highway 11.
The crash was reported at 2.27pm.
Sadly, the driver of the vehicle has died at the scene.
Two occupants of the truck have sustained moderate injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit is deploying to the site and will examine the scene, with an investigation to commence.
A section of State Highway 11 has been closed and these are expected to be in place for at least a couple of hours.
Diversions are in place at the Puketona roundabout (intersection with State Highway 10) and at Haruru Falls Road.
Light vehicles travelling from Paihia will be able to U-turn at Haruru Falls Road intersection.
Heavy vehicles will need to travel via Haruru Falls Road, through Waitangi, to return to Paihia.
Please expect delays on your travels this afternoon.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
As parties and individuals seeking election finalise the policies they will take to the people in the lead up to the Federal polls, the Law Council of Australia is calling on them to prioritise protection of the rule of law, promote the administration of justice, support the exercise of rights under the law and commit to the principles of good law making.
“Today we release our 2025 Federal Election Call to Parties. We wholeheartedly believe the recommendations made in this document can make Australia a fairer and more just society,” Law Council of Australia President, Juliana Warner said.
“The Law Council is seeking a commitment from candidates to improve access to justice for all Australians by providing vital, and long overdue, funding for legal assistance services. These services are relied upon by Australians to help to resolve family law disputes, remove themselves from harm, enforce their employment rights, defend themselves against charges, or make sure they have a roof over their head.
“The Law Council is particularly calling on those seeking election to establish a financially sustainable model of grants of legal aid to private practitioners, including Independent Children’s Lawyers, to ensure they can continue to deliver high-quality legal assistance services across Australia.
“Around 72 per cent of legal aid approved matters – more than 100,000 cases – are provided by private practitioners, the majority of whom are working in very small businesses. But these lawyers and small businesses are at breaking point, and many are considering walking away from legal aid work unless rates are raised to more sustainable levels.
“The level of unmet legal need continues to rise as a result of funding failures. Sadly, those most harmed by these failures are the most vulnerable members of our community, including children, First Nations people, people with disability and older Australians.
“In particular, people living in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia can find it difficult to access a lawyer when they need one. To assist with this growing crisis, the Law Council is proposing a HELP debt relief incentive that we believe can help bring more lawyers to where they are needed.”
The Law Council’s Call to Parties offers considered proposals on a range of other challenges facing Australia today.
“Our next Government must adopt an approach to criminal justice reform that is evidence-based and consistent with the rule of law and Australia’s international human rights obligations,” Ms Warner said.
“This should include national leadership on child justice in line with the recommendations of the National Children’s Commissioner; raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility at the federal level to 14 years; repealing all Commonwealth provisions imposing mandatory minimum periods of imprisonment; and in line with the recent Budget commitment, the establishment of a Commonwealth Parole Board.
“The Law Council is also seeking a commitment to ensuring that our laws are operating as intended – supported by appropriately resourced services – when it comes to protecting and supporting those experiencing family violence.
“The responses we are seeking also include the establishment of a Federal Judicial Commission, further privacy reforms, careful improvements to the regulation of artificial intelligence technology, and the introduction of a federal Human Rights Act.
“Each of the reform measures we are calling for must be underpinned by a commitment to proper consultation with relevant stakeholders.
“Good lawmaking depends on robust and transparent consultation processes. The Law Council is concerned that legislative reform processes are increasingly rushed and lack transparency or public scrutiny. This impacts the efficacy, accuracy and appropriateness of potential reforms. It also undermines the participation of civil society and may erode democratic culture and decision making.
“The Law Council will be asking parties and independent candidates for formal responses to each of the recommendations contained in its Call to Parties, which we will share with the profession and public.”
Source: South Australia Police
The Girrawheen Hub Precinct redevelopment continues to take shape, with community feedback now being sought on the concept design.
Identified as a priority project by Council last year, the Girrawheen Hub Precinct forms part of the City’s ‘Putting Community First’ advocacy campaign, which aims to secure support from all levels of government to deliver vital community infrastructure.
The single-storey concept design incorporates the existing hub, senior citizens centre, library, community centre and community garden functions, and provides greater accessibility across the facility and improved flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The redevelopment will also provide increased floor space for external service providers based at the hub, more car parking, expanded parklands and a new outdoor event space.
Mayor Linda Aitken said the innovative concept design would deliver a more accessible and inviting community facility for residents of Girrawheen and surrounds.
“Redeveloping the Girrawheen Hub Precinct will give our community a more welcoming and convenient place to connect with one another, and to access important services closer to their homes,” she said.
“This consultation will help ensure the hub will meet the needs and aspirations of the community.”
Community consultation is open from 31 March to 12 May 2025, and findings from the consultation will be presented in a report to Council.
Construction of the redeveloped hub is scheduled to begin in January 2026 and expected to take approximately 15 months to complete.
The City will work closely with affected hub hirers and tenants to minimise disruption while we work to build a better Girrawheen Hub precinct for everyone.
For more information on the Girrawheen Hub Precinct redevelopment project, visit yoursay.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Hawke’s Bay Police are appealing for information from the public in relation to a number of serious assaults in Hastings.
Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley says Police were called to a disorder involving a large number of people fighting on King Street at around 3.30am on Sunday 30 March.
“Police arrived and located five people with injuries, some are believed to have been from a weapon.
“They were all transported to hospital to receive treatment.”
Police are speaking with several people believed to be involved and are working to establish what has occurred.
“We would like to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the assaults as we believe they have information that could assist in our investigation,” says Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley.
Police would also like to hear from anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage in the King Street area between 3am and 4am on Sunday.
If you have any information that could assist Police, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250330/6709.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers online or via 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
It is planned that all ACT public schools will have access to Parent Portal in a gradual rollout by term 2, 2024.
A new parent portal will be rolled out across all ACT public schools this year, making it easier for parents and carers to engage with their school.
Parent Portal is a secure online platform for sharing student information between schools and parents and carers.
Key information – spanning preschool to year 12 – will be housed on the one system.
The portal has capacity for parents and carers to:
The introduction of the portal will be phased. At first it will complement existing school communication channels. Eventually it will be the key online communication tool used by all ACT public schools.
In term 4 2023, the portal was successfully rolled out at nine northside schools in a pilot program.
More than 2000 parents at these schools are already using Parent Portal.
Parents and carers with children across multiple schools will not need to sign up to the system twice.
They can easily add a student to their account once those schools have access to Parent Portal.
It is planned that all ACT public schools will have access to Parent Portal in a gradual rollout by term 2, 2024.
“Council’s P&C delegates were really impressed to see a recent demonstration of the Parent Portal, and its capabilities. Parents are looking forward to the roll-out of the portal to their local schools, it will make it easier for them to keep track of what’s happening, from explaining absences, excursions and making payments. Parents will be cheering to not have to dig through school bags for lost notes,” said Executive Officer ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations Veronica Elliott.
As Parent Portal becomes available at each school, information will be provided to explain the benefits and how families can access the platform.
School front office staff can assist parents and carers who can’t access the online tool, or who may need assistance.
For more information on beginning the sign-up process, visit the ACT Education Directorate website: https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/parent-portal.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Upcoming building demolition will make way for new a facility for pathology and other clinical services.
The Canberra Hospital Master Plan will reach a new phase with demolition work beginning on Building 23.
The demolition of Building 23 and the adjacent Building 6 will make way for a new state-of-the art facility for pathology and other clinical services.
The next step in delivering a modern, accessible Canberra Hospital campus, it is also an early priority of the Canberra Hospital Master Plan.
It is also just one of many significant changes taking place at the hospital.
The hospital’s new Critical Services Building will open later this year, featuring a new emergency department and additional operating rooms, treatment spaces and intensive care beds.
The hospital is also home to the recently completed expansion of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, and a new Cancer Research Centre to be completed in late 2024.
Multiplex will undertake the demolition work for Building 23 and will then progress to the demolition of Building 6.
Demolition work is expected to take several months and is projected to be completed in quarter three of 2024.
The Canberra Hospital Master Plan will continue to transform the campus over the next 20 years.
Planning work for Canberra’s new northside hospital and more community-based health centres also continue.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new Lanyon Drive Interchange is the first of three upgrades planned for the Monaro Highway.
Construction has begun on the first of three interchanges planned for the Monaro Highway, south of Canberra.
Work on the new Lanyon Drive Interchange has begun which will improve safety and reduce congestion.
This consists of a southbound flyover for the highway over Lanyon Drive and three intersection upgrades including:
The design aims to have a minimal impact on existing native plants.
The landscaping plans will focus on local and native species. They will prioritise tree planting, water sensitive urban design and biodiversity conservation.
Some of the construction work has already been completed or is underway. This includes:
Preliminary design is also underway on future interchanges at the Hume industrial precinct and Isabella Drive.
There will be impacts to travel times during construction. This includes during peak periods, with reduced speed limits and temporary lane closures expected.
The ACT Government is encouraging motorists to rethink their travel plans where possible and consider taking public transport or travelling outside peak times where possible.
The government expects construction to take about three years to complete. The design and construction phases are estimated to create 700 jobs.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The grant programs support local climate change, environmental and sustainability projects.
Applications are now open for three grant programs that support local climate change, environmental and sustainability projects.
Canberrans can apply for grants of up to $75,000 per project to help turn their ideas into reality.
The grants assist community groups, schools, organisations and individuals to deliver projects that:
The ACT Food Co-op is a community owned-and-run bulk grocery store and cafe, events venue and community hub.
Receiving a grant helped the Co-op reduce emissions and cut operating costs.
“Grants funding from the ACT Government has enabled us to convert from an expensive high-emissions gas kitchen to a cheaper zero-emissions electric kitchen. Our army of kitchen helpers are now safer, our bills are cheaper and our environmental footprint is smaller – a real win,” Chairperson Lucaya Rich said.
2024 ACT Environmental Grants Program
This program offers up to $350,000 in total funding.
Grant recipients have the opportunity to:
For more information and to start your application, visit the ACT Environment website.
To hear from previous recipients, watch the ACT Environmental Grants recipient stories.
Nature in the City: Cooling Your Suburb Grants Program
Additional grants are available through the Nature in the City: Cooling your Suburb Grants Program.
Offering upto $150,000 in 2024 project funding, these grants support projects that help keep Canberra cool in a changing climate.
Project ideas could include:
For more information and to start your application, visit Everyday Climate Choices.
Community Zero Emissions Grants Program
This program offers up to $75,000 in funding per project in 2024.
Funding will support community projects that:
For more information and to start your application, visit Everyday Climate Choices.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Jodie Griffiths-Cook wants to help children and young people access information they can trust and understand.
ACT Children and Young People Commissioner Jodie Griffiths-Cook is on a mission to help Canberra’s children and young people understand their rights.
In her role – which is independent from government and part of the ACT Human Rights Commission – she consults and speaks with kids every day.
“My role principally involves being able to engage directly with children and young people and find out what is important to them, then using that to try to influence public policy and create change that will hopefully make Canberra a better place for children and young people generally,” Jodie said.
She does this in a variety of ways, including creating simply written resources that can be used in schools and more broadly.
She regularly updates a dedicated section of the commission’s website with targeted, trustworthy information for kids, teens and young people.
Jodie also distributes the monthly Rights in ACTion newsletter to further inform ACT children and young people about their rights and wellbeing.
From school visits to Instagram posts, finding ways to tailor sometimes complex information for different age groups is important.
“Children and young people have a right to access information they can trust and understand,” she said.
“It really humanises things when you’re able to speak in a language that is clearly understood by kids.”
The Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 highlighted a particular need for this.
“We saw a lot of communications going out to adults but very little being targeted to children and young people. For us, that really started the process of thinking mindfully about what we can do to shift that, both in terms of direct communications and modelling – trying to encourage others to do the same,” she said.
“If we actually think about some of the decision-making that happens – so many of our decisions impact young people in ways that we perhaps don’t consider,” she said.
Having been Commissioner for eight years now, Jodie says the discussions she has with children and young people are most rewarding.
“Some of those conversations are just absolute gold when it comes to what young people already intrinsically understand about their rights and about those sometimes competing rights that we all grapple with,” she said.
“I can almost take off my own commissioner hat and give it to some of them!”
Particularly engaged young people can also get directly involved with the commission. This in turn provides important feedback.
“We started a new youth advisor role, pitched for young people aged 16–25 years who have left school. We bring young people in for six months where they are looking for opportunities that will help them decide and pursue their career direction. From them we get a lot of intel about the kind of language to use, and the kind of things that are of interest to young people. We also take in work experience students in years 9-12,” she said.
A range of child-friendly resources to help children and young people understand the Human Rights Act will be launched in March this year – on the Act’s 20th anniversary.
Visit actkids.act.gov.au for more information.
Jodie wants all Canberra children and young people to know her door is always open – whatever they have to say.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
New nurses Ainslie and Shreejana are excited to get started on their clinical placements at Canberra Hospital.
Canberrans can expect to see many new faces in healthcare settings around the city.
A new cohort of over 360 graduate health professionals have joined Canberra Health Services (CHS) in recent weeks.
There are over 200 nurses and midwives, 96 junior medical officer interns and 59 allied health graduates starting their first year of supported practice in Canberra’s public health system.
These graduate programs help build and develop the city’s public health workforce.
Graduates will experience a broad range of specialities across their rotations which span Canberra Health Services.
Placements include:
Shreejana and Ainslie are two of the new graduates starting at Canberra Hospital this week.
Between them they will be rotating through the geriatrics, oncology, cardiology and orthopaedic wards.
For registered nurse Shreejana, this career was a childhood dream.
“I’m feeling very nervous, as well as excited,” she said.
“Seeing all the support and the guidance that I will be receiving from the CHS team, I’m very, very much looking forward to this journey.”
Enrolled nurse Ainslie completed her 18-month certification at CIT.
“I wanted to care for people and give back to my community,” she said.
“Honestly, it’s the little things. It’s when you ask someone “how can I help you?” It’s giving them a cup of tea, giving them coffee, giving them warm blanket. The little things that put a smile on someone’s face and just knowing that you’ve made them happy.”
In a Canberra Health Services first, three cohorts of graduate nurses are undergoing orientation at the same time.
This includes:
“The new starters bring a great amount of enthusiasm and energy into our services and teams, and it is hugely fulfilling for all our staff to support and guide these new health professionals at a critical time in their career,” Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery at North Canberra Hospital Judy Ryall said.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new school is expected to open for the 2026 school year.
The development application for the new public school in Whitlam has been lodged, marking a key milestone in the project.
The ACT Government has committed $76.8 million to deliver a new school, which is expected to open for the 2026 school year.
Once open, the school will span preschool to year 6 and include an early childhood education and care centre.
It will accommodate up to 780 students with 130 childhood education and care places.
The new school will help cater to the growing population in Whitlam and will be in the heart of the new residential suburb and community.
It will be built adjacent to John Gorton Drive on the corner of Hazel Hawke Avenue and Alice Moyle Way, alongside local shops.
This location provides convenient access to the local neighbourhood via nearby public transport stops, bike paths and footpaths.
View a flythrough of how the new school will look.
Information about the new school is available at builtforcbr.act.gov.au
Regular updates are also available on the Whitlam School web page: education.act.gov.au/Whitlam_School
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Playground Safety Inspector Lawrence and the safety inspection team
Canberra has more playgrounds than any other state or local council in Australia.
And each day, plenty of work goes into ensuring they are safe and ready for play.
Playground Safety Inspector Lawrence is part of a City Services team working to assess Canberra’s 500+ playgrounds.
Lawrence’s team of six inspects district parks twice a week, community play spaces weekly and smaller neighbourhood parks every fortnight.
Lawrence and his team use three main assessment methods.
Level 1 – visual inspection
In this initial inspection, workers check the area for sharps, vandalism and major equipment faults.
They collect any litter and rake bark into heavy-use areas to keep the playground clean and ready to use.
Level 1 inspections occur bi-weekly to fortnightly, depending on the size and use of the playground.
Lawrence assesses a timber post for repair
Level 2 – detailed inspection
A Level 2 inspection occurs monthly or bi-monthly.
The team tests all playground equipment for wear and tear, operational defects, deterioration and any other faults.
They also test for hazards, including potential for head, torso and finger entrapment.
They check timber posts, look for swing chain entrapment and measure the height of swing sets to ensure a safe distance between the bottom of the seat and the ground.
Depending on the risk associated with the fault or hazard, the playground may need to be fenced off or temporarily closed for repairs.
Finger entrapment testing
Level 3 – independent assessor inspection
Qualified external assessors carry out Level 3 inspections annually.
These assessors are independent from the ACT Government and have an engineering background.
The assessor compares each playground to the Australian Playground Standards.
This ensures equipment is safe and the existing process of ongoing safety inspections is compliant.
External assessor Grant from Playtest conducting surface impact testing
Get involved
The community is the most important playground safety inspector, so if you see a potential safety hazard, please complete a job request via the Fix My Street online tool.
Provide as much detail as possible on the location and issue when completing the request.
Head entrapment testing
Find out more about Canberra’s playgrounds.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Critical Services Building building provides a major upgrade and expansion to the Canberra Hospital.
Construction of the new Critical Services Building at Canberra Hospital is progressing well towards the planned opening later in 2024.
The 44,000 square metre building provides a major upgrade and expansion to the Canberra Hospital.
It will include:
The building’s public facilities and amenities have been designed to make the hospital experience more comfortable for staff, patients, their carers, and families.
New facilities and amenities include:
Take a peek at the construction work happening inside the building:
Main reception area and view of patient transfer link bridge.
Medical imaging in the Emergency Department.
Nurses’ station in inpatient unit.
Family lounge area in inpatient unit.
Operating theatre.
Surgical recovery area.
Helipad.
Acute care treatment space in the new Emergency Department.
Ambulance triage area in the new Emergency Department.
Treatment spaces in the new Emergency Department.
Find more information on the Canberra Hospital Master Plan.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The heritage home offers a unique glimpse into Canberra’s past.
Lanyon Homestead offers a unique glimpse into Canberra’s past.
The restored 1850s property is open for the community to enjoy, with some special events ahead to allow Canberrans to embrace all it has to offer.
A rich, multifaceted history
You can’t speak about Canberra’s history without appreciating the thousands of years of Aboriginal history preceding our 190 years of European settlement.
And you can’t speak about the last 190 years of Canberra’s history without mentioning historic places like Lanyon Homestead.
Each of the homestead’s residents left their distinctive mark over the years, and each area is meticulously honoured as part of the heritage site’s preservation.
New life for a historic walnut tree
Attention to detail in the property’s restoration and maintenance filters down to individual plants and trees.
Recently, Lanyon Homestead and Yarralumla Nursery partnered to preserve a historically significant walnut tree, first planted between 1835 and 1840.
Along with his team, the head gardener at ACT Historic Places, Neil Wright, tried to propagate the tree for eight years with limited success.
“We just couldn’t get it, so we called Yarralumla Nursery in,” Neil said.
“They’ve got better facilities than us. They’ve got 200 cuttings and of those, only 11 were successful.”
The trees were grown under the careful watch of the team at Yarralumla Nursery.
Eventually, seven were planted along the river corridor to replace the stumps where the original trees once stood.
While Neil has a deep appreciation of the garden, he says Lanyon Homestead has something to offer everyone.
“You come and do a tour of the house but then you realise it’s nice to just sit here, to have a cup of coffee at the cafe. The kids can run around, you can have a picnic, and then you come back again and appreciate something new.”
The team at Lanyon Homestead meticulously manage the house according to seasonal needs. In summer, the muslin curtains billow in the breeze, while in winter the fires are lit and candles glow.
Outside, the gardening team work to update the garden in line with the seasons.
“I try and do something different in the garden every year to bring people back. This year we’ve got a big pumpkin display, and the Harvest Day Out is coming up,” Neil said.
Harvest Day Out: Saturday, 2 March
Harvest Day Out is a celebration of Lanyon Homestead’s autumn kitchen garden. There’s a focus on sustainable food and growing practices under the theme of “grow – preserve – sustain”.
The event will include workshops, demonstrations, and tours. Guests can learn about practices like preserving, pickling, seed saving and gardening practices as valuable today as they were in the homesteads early days.
From 10am to 2pm there will be face painting on offer, and from 10am to 4pm there will be market stalls selling coffee, food, wine, jewellery, arts and more.
Find out more about Harvest Day Out.
Dinner and stargazing events: various Fridays
See Lanyon Homestead in another light and attend a Dinner with the Stars – dinner and stargazing event.
Enjoy a two-course meal at Barrack’s Café, featuring produce grown in the gardens.
Find out what to look for in the night sky, before venturing out to stargaze with telescopes.
Find out more about Dinner with the Stars.
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Source:
Final Practical Compliance Guideline
Fees for personal financial advice paid from member accounts by superannuation funds – apportioning the deduction and pay as you go withholding obligations
This Guideline sets out a methodology that superannuation funds (other than self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs)) can use to determine the extent to which payments of financial advice fees satisfy paragraph (d) of table item 5 of subsection 295-490(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
It also outlines our compliance approach in relation to a superannuation fund’s obligation to withhold from payments for personal financial advice fees in the income years prior to 1 July 2019, including SMSFs.
To be advised
Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2025/D1 Fees for personal financial advice paid from member accounts by superannuation funds – apportioning the deduction and pay as you go withholding obligations published on 15 January 2025. Comments period closed on 14 February 2025.
Jay Gao, Public Groups
Phone: (02) 9374 5168
For more information, see Consultation matter [202421].
Addendum to Law Companion Ruling
Law Companion Ruling LCR 2021/2 Non-arm’s length income – expenditure incurred under a non-arm’s length arrangement
LCR 2021/2 is being updated to include the Commissioner’s view as to how the amendments in explanations of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Act 2024 apply in respect of the non-arm’s length expenditure and non-arm’s length component provisions.
Draft update LCR 2021/2DC1 published on 27 November 2024. Comments period closed on 24 January 2025. We are currently reviewing submissions.
Bonita Tsang, SEO
Addendum to Taxation Ruling
Taxation Ruling TR 2010/1DC Income tax: superannuation contributions
TR 2010/1DC is being updated to include the Commissioner’s view about the amendments in explanations of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) Act 2024. In addition to updates for the non-arm’s length expenditure amendments, TR 2010/1DC (which was previously issued for consultation on 28 July 2021) will also be updated with regard to issues such as in specie contributions, the maximum earnings test and the deductibility of contributions.
The draft update to TR 2010/1DC2 published on 27 November 2024. Comments period closed on 24 January 2025.
TR 2010/1DC was withdrawn on 27 November 2024.
Bonita Tsang, SEO
Draft Law Administration Practice Statement
Administration of penalties that apply to employers who fail to comply with their Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting obligations
Event-based reporting regimes were introduced in 2018 for employers (STP) and for superannuation funds (member account transactions and attributes). The information reported through these reporting regimes has a range of applications across the tax and super systems, and their effectiveness can be reduced as a result of:
There is a need to provide guidance for ATO staff on the administration of penalties that may apply to employers or superannuation funds that fail to meet their reporting obligations.
April 2025
Draft Law Administration Practice Statement
Administration of the false and misleading statement penalties on superannuation funds that do not report superannuation contribution information to the Commissioner accurately
Event-based reporting regimes were introduced in 2018 for employers (STP) and for superannuation funds (member account transactions and attributes). The information reported through these reporting regimes has a range of applications across the tax and super systems, and their effectiveness can be reduced as a result of:
There is a need to provide guidance for ATO staff on the administration of penalties that may apply to employers or superannuation funds that fail to meet their reporting obligations.
April 2025
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 2, Waikino is curerntly closed while emergency services respond to a crash.
The two-vehicle crash happened near School Road, and was reported just before 1pm.
Initial indicications are that there are serious injuries.
Detours are in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source:
Finalisation of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2005/6 Goods and services tax: the scope of subsection 38-190(3) and its application to supplies of things (other than goods or real property) made to non-residents that are GST-free under item 2 of the table in subsection 38-190(1) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999
This Ruling is being updated and modernised to reflect changes to subsection 38-190(3) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 made by the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Act 2016 (SLA Act). The changes impact how goods and services tax (GST) applies to cross-border supplies. Schedule 2 of the SLA Act (generally about business-to-business supplies) applies from 1 October 2016.
To be advised
The draft update to GSTR 2005/6 published on 26 March 2025. Comments period closes on 9 May 2025.
Katrina Bond, International, Support and Programs
Phone: (03) 8792 1539
Finalisation of Goods and Services Tax Ruling GSTR 2007/2 Goods and services tax: in the application of paragraph (b) of item 3 in the table in subsection 38-190(1) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 to a supply, when does ‘effective use or enjoyment’ of the supply ‘take place outside Australia’?
This Ruling is being updated and modernised to incorporate amendments made by the SLA Act. The changes impact how GST applies to cross-border supplies. Schedule 1 of the SLA Act (about business to consumers supplies) applies from 1 July 2017 and Schedule 2 of the SLA Act (generally about business-to-business supplies) applies from 1 October 2016.
To be advised
The draft update to GSTR 2007/2 published on 26 March 2025. Comments period closes on 9 May 2025.
Katrina Bond, International, Support and Programs
Phone: (03) 8792 1539
Final Goods and Services Tax Determination
Food of a kind marketed as a prepared meal
This Determination will outline the Commissioner’s view on the meaning of ‘food of a kind marketed as a prepared meal’ by reference to key concepts referred to in the Federal Court decision in Simplot Australia Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [2023] FCA 1115.
Revised Draft Goods and Services Tax Determination GSTD 2024/D3 Goods and services tax: supplies of food of a kind marketed as a prepared meal published on 16 October 2024. Comments period closed 15 November 2024.
Draft Goods and Services Tax Determination GSTD 2024/D1 Goods and services tax: supplies of food of a kind marketed as a prepared meal, which published on 27 March 2024, has been withdrawn.
To be advised
Jo Drum, International, Support and Programs
Phone: (03) 8792 1469
Final Goods and Services Tax Determination
Supplies of sunscreen
This Determination sets out the Commissioner’s preliminary view on when a supply of a sunscreen preparation is GST-free under subsection 38-47(1) of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999. Draft Goods and Services Tax Determination GSTD 2024/D2 Goods and services tax: supplies of sunscreen published on 14 August 2024. Comments period closed 13 September 2024.
To be advised
Sharon Iselin, International, Support and Programs
Phone: (07) 3121 7318
Draft Goods and Services Tax Determination
Supplies of toddler formula products
This Determination will outline the Commissioner’s view of the term ‘infant’ in the context of table item 13 of Schedule 2 to the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, which provides that ‘beverages, and ingredients for beverages, of a kind marketed principally as food for infants or invalids’ are GST-free. This issue is currently considered in Issue 14 – Beverage for infants of the food industry register. Since this was published, there have been significant developments in the industry and we have received feedback asking us to review if an infant can be a person beyond the age of 12 months.
To be advised
We are further considering the scope of the draft Determination.
Jo Drum, International, Support and Programs
Phone: (03) 8792 1469
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Mr Phillips has been in the Interim Commissioner position since 30 September 2023.
The ACT Government has appointed Mr Wayne Phillips as the new Commissioner for the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA).
Mr Phillips has been in the Interim Commissioner position since 30 September 2023.
Commissioner Phillips is the sixth Commissioner to lead the ESA.
He brings a significant amount of operational and leadership experience to the Commissioner role.
Prior to joining ESA in 2022, he had a long and distinguished career with Fire and Rescue NSW.
Commissioner Phillips is focused on the ESA’s workplace environment. He is known as a consultative leader who engages with employees, volunteers and the community to better understand their needs.
Commissioner Phillips advocates for building partnerships and working with First Nations employees and community members to embed cultural practices and respect into the Agency.
Mr Phillips’ appointment is intended to provide the Canberra community with strong and effective emergency services leadership.
“I am honoured to be appointed to lead the ESA through the next five years and am committed to working alongside our very capable emergency services leaders in our shared mission to keep Canberra safe,” Commissioner Phillips said.
“The ESA is a fantastic organisation, full of talented and hard-working experts who have a collective goal – to make Canberra the safest place to live and work.”
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The gardening workshops in Whitlam are open to all Canberra residents.
The Suburban Land Agency, in partnership with Fiona Buining of Ainslie Urban Farm, is delivering a series of gardening workshops called Growing Food Through the Seasons.
The workshops cover range of gardening basics and focuses on getting the best from Canberra’s unique growing climate. They will teach participants when and what to plant for a bountiful supply of backyard produce year-round.
You might think that you could pop out to a nursery, buy whatever vegetable is in season, plant them and enjoy your homegrown veggies soon.
As it turns out, you’d be mistaken.
“A big misconception is around when you plant things,” Fiona said.
“And then the other misconception is how long things take to grow. Most things take a long time. If you’re planting a savoy cabbage in Canberra, you need to plant it in December to harvest it in winter.”
These common misunderstandings about growing your own vegetables is one of the reasons that Fiona and the Suburban Land Agency are delivering these workshops at the Innovation Precinct at the Suburban Land Agency’s Display Village in Whitlam.
In the meantime, here are some of Fiona’s top tips for beginner gardeners:
Start with greens
“The reason leafy greens are good is that they grow more or less year round,” Fiona said.
Some of the leafy green vegetables that Fiona suggests for first time growers include:
If you’re looking for something nutritious that also looks nice in your garden, tat soi is a good option.
“It’s a pretty Asian green that you can get in purple and green,” Fiona said.
“It grows into this beautiful rosette that almost looks too good to pick.”
Use your balcony
Canberrans living in apartments and townhouses can also grow their own food. Instead of a backyard, Fiona suggests using the space on your balcony.
“Grow bags are great for apartments and people with balconies. They’re absorbent, so when you water, the bag itself absorbs some of the water. You get a lot less of that dripping and running over that you would get with pots,” Fiona said.
A budget-friendly alternative is a polystyrene box. Fiona says they’re an ideal depth for growing greens and tend to keep plants cooler than black plastic pots.
“My tip for people with no balcony or outdoor growing space is to have a go at growing sprouts on your benchtop,” Fiona said.
“Sprouts are great because they’re fresh, they’re full of minerals and vitamins and enzymes, and you can grow them in the dark.”
Start today
“People love starting a veggie garden in spring and summer,” Fiona said.
“There’s something about the energy of spring and summer but actually, any time is ideal.”
According to Fiona, there are things that you can plant in every month of the year in Canberra. Leafy greens, in particular, can be planted in any month.
“Any time is good. When you’re inspired is the right time to do it. Don’t put it off,” Fiona said.
Consider a verge garden
If you have a verge (also known as a nature strip) out the front of your home, you could use it to plant vegetables. There are specific rules around what you can and can’t do with nature strips, so be sure to check out the City Services guide.
“You can start a verge garden that can be a one-to-two-hour project,” Fiona said.
“You don’t even have to dig. You can mow or cut the grass by hand, lay down newspaper, make sure it’s overlapping, put some compost or potting mix on top, plant the seedlings into the mounds, cover it with mulch, bingo.”
The next Growing Food Through the Seasons Workshop is on Saturday 2 March. Workshops will be held on the first Saturday of every month (except for July) in 2024.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Teresa Wojcik has created an Australian-first website, Your Season.
An ICON grant from the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) helped Teresa Wojcik create an Australian-first website.
The point of difference for her fashion site, Your Season, is its organisation by seasonal colour palettes.
After having her colours done professionally, Teresa quickly identified a huge gap in the market.
“Shopping by colour palette wasn’t accessible in real life,” she said.
“The majority of stores were off limits because clothes weren’t in my colours.
“I’d go online but would spend hours and have hundreds of tabs open trying to find clothes I liked, and were in my palette,” Teresa said.
Her partner told her about CBRIN’s Innovation Connect (ICON) grants, and that’s when Teresa’s idea for Your Season came to life.
ICON grants are currently open and close 16 April 2024.
CBRIN receives funding from the ACT Government to support entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups – like Your Season – in Canberra.
It offers business support, programs, grants and access to networks of other entrepreneurs.
“I got matched funding from the ICON grant for $30,000. It helped me build the Your Season website and work on the complex algorithm that feeds it.”
Teresa has already secured birdsnest.com.au, petalandpup.com.au, stfrock.com.au and Amazon Australia to list their clothes on her site.
She has ASOS and The Iconic in her sights for 2024. She’s also working on improving website functionality and getting other well-known brands on board.
“And there will always be work to do on the algorithm, it’s extremely complex and I want it to be the best it can be, even if my eyes are bleeding colours,” she said.
When asked what advice she had for anyone wanting to start a business in Canberra, she gave three tips:
Previous ICON grant recipients include Future Swirl and Aurabox.
For more on ICON grants, visit the CBRIN website.
Be the first to know about grants and funding to support Canberra businesses – subscribe to the CBR Business update e-newsletter.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Mel Couper is part of the team managing the Libraries ACT collection.
The Libraries ACT collection offers hundreds of thousands of items for Canberrans to borrow. But have you ever wondered how new items are added to it?
Libraries ACT collects a wide range of quality resources in both existing and emerging formats.
This ensures their collection has broad appeal while enhancing learning opportunities and informing, entertaining and connecting people, groups and communities.
There are over 350,000 physical items available. And that’s not even counting the ebooks and eaudiobooks that can be downloaded, or movies and music that can be streamed for free!
The Libraries ACT collections team has overall responsibility for selecting new library materials and resources. The team is always guided by community needs, analysis of collection use and customer and staff suggestions.
“Suggestions from library customers for materials not already in the collection are a valuable way for the libraries team to connect with the community and acquire materials users want and need,” collection librarian Mel Couper said.
The team also liaises with key ACT community groups and cultural organisations to develop collections of relevance and interest to these communities.
“Standing orders with suppliers are also used to ensure rapid acquisition of known popular authors or series that are usually in high demand, with standing order plans reviewed each year,” Mel said.
Libraries ACT aims to have a current, vibrant and attractive collection, with approximately half the collection less than five years old.
The team actively removes items from the collection by reviewing the use and physical condition of items and taking into account storage capacity at libraries across the ACT and the currency and accuracy of the information.
You can check out the full list of items available to borrow online as well as the standing orders for new publications.
If an item you’d like to access isn’t in the collection (or on order) you can submit a suggestion to add it to the collection.
Libraries ACT just ask that you read the guidelines for suggestions and limit your suggestions to two items per week.
Libraries ACT aims to meet the needs and expectations of Canberra’s library users.
Careful selection and management of material by professional, experienced staff, along with the input from the community, ensures the wide-ranging educational, cultural, recreational and information needs of library users are met.
To search the collection, view the standing orders or suggest an item to add to the collection visit the Libraries ACT website.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Staged work has started at the junior play area at Point Hut Pond playground and will next move to the Maliyan nest.
Construction is underway on upgrades to Gordon’s Point Hut Pond playground and Chisholm’s Alston Street playground.
Both upgrades follow community consultation and will provide Canberrans with better places to play.
Work is taking place between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday. If required, work may be undertaken on weekends between 8 am and 4 pm.
Both play spaces will feature First Nations artwork by Bradley Mapiva Brown.
Point Hut Pond playground, Gordon
Staged work has started at the junior play area and will move to the Maliyan nest.
Point Hut Pond District Park – including the toilets, picnic facilities and barbecues – will still be open during the construction period.
The basketball court will remain accessible with partial closures only.
Junior play area key features:
Maliyan nest area key features:
There will also be more seating added at the basketball court, interpretive signage, cultural design elements and landscaping.
Find out more and view designs
Alston Street playground, Chisholm
Exciting additions are coming to Alston Street playground.
Key features:
Alston Street playground will be closed while upgrades are underway.
The closest alternative playgrounds are the Caroline Chisholm playground and the Chisholm shops playground.
Find out more and view designs
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Source: New South Wales – News
A tight-knit country community will honour and remember a local police officer during a special memorial unveiling event this Sunday.
A life-size silhouette of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig and accompanying plaque will be unveiled by SA Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC and Doig family members at Lucindale’s Centenary Park from 2pm Sunday.
On 17 November 2023, Brevet Sergeant Doig, 53, was killed in the line of duty on a property at Senior in South Australia’s upper south-east.
He joined South Australia Police in 1989 and served the Limestone Coast community for more than a decade, taking up the Lucindale post in 2011.
SA Police Legacy, Police Association of South Australia, Wall to Wall and Cops 4 Kids have worked with SAPOL to organise the memorial following an outpouring of donations and support after Brevet Sergeant Doig’s death.
He was posthumously awarded the South Australia Police Bravery Medal for saving the lives of two police colleagues.
The memorial silhouette is based on a 2013 photo (pictured) taken during Brevet Sergeant Doig’s Lucindale posting, where he stands proudly next to a patrol vehicle.
Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens will join fellow SAPOL members, the Doig family and other dignitaries and guests to celebrate Brevet Sergeant Doig’s life and career.
“The Lucindale community has been extremely generous, which is a testament to the impact Brevet Sergeant Doig had during his career,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“He leaves behind a legacy of community service and will forever be remembered for his courage and sacrifice.”
Along with being the officer-in-charge at the Lucindale police station, Brevet Sergeant Doig was well known around town for volunteering at several sporting clubs and participating in crime prevention activities.
SA Police Legacy Board President Kellie Watkins will emcee this Sunday’s event, which will include a Commissioner’s address, memorial unveiling, prayer and blessing, minute’s silence, speech by brother Brett Doig and a SAPOL course mate, and conclude with the laying of tributes.
The Band of the South Australia Police will also perform The Requiescant – played at funerals and memorial ceremonies for Australian police officers killed on duty.
Coinciding with the unveiling, Lucindale Lions Club has renamed a structure in the local park to be the ‘Jason Doig PBM LEM Memorial Shelter’.
Members of the public are invited to attend the memorial event on Sunday, April 6 at Lucindale Centenary Park, Musgrave Avenue, 1.45pm for a 2pm start.
A life-size silhouette and plaque will be unveiled at Lucindale this Sunday in honour of Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig.
Source: Australian National Party
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 31/03/2025
Today, 31 March 2025, marks the official end of the 2024-25 bushfire and storm season in the ACT.
Throughout the season ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) and ACT Parks & Conservation Service (ACTPCS) staff and volunteers responded to 42 grass fires and 1,030 requests for storm or flood assistance across the territory.
This year, the ACT provided support across our nation. Over 250 staff and volunteers deployed interstate to help others during their times of need. Some of the notable emergencies that ESA and ACTPCS personnel assisted with include:
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, says it was gratifying to see members of the ACT working across Australia this bushfire and storm season.
“Over the past few months, staff and volunteers from the ESA have stepped up without hesitation to support not just our local community, but people across Australia during challenging and uncertain times. After one of the ESA’s largest deployment seasons to date, I am proud to see how well our services have been represented nationwide.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to every member who has given up their time to assist during storms, floods, bushfires, and other emergency events. Their unwavering commitment and hard work demonstrate that we truly have the best people safeguarding our community.”
Quotes attributable to ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) Chief Officer, Rohan Scott
“As the bushfire season ends in the ACT fire permits are no longer required, and the daily fire danger rating will not be displayed as the risk of bushfire is now lowered.
“However, it is important that we don’t become complacent. Bush and grass fires can occur at anytime, anywhere. Although the ACTRFS is taking steps to ensure we are prepared, this can only be done with the help of our community. I encourage our community to visit the ESA website for advice on staying prepared.
“With more volunteers due to join our service soon, our capability is only growing, allowing us to better serve the needs of the growing ACT community during emergencies.”
Quotes attributable to ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) Interim Chief Officer, Steve Forbes
“This season has been a big one for our ACTSES volunteers. When not assisting with storm and flood responses here in the ACT, they have been busy across borders helping with the response and aftermath of high-risk weather events across the country.
“It’s always great to help out our own community, but these interstate deployments have given our members opportunities to refine their skills and learn from interstate colleagues. I know that many of our volunteers will be taking these skills and applying them here in the ACT.
“Although storm season is coming to an end, I would like to remind the community that a storm or flood can happen anytime of year. That is why it is important that all year round residents are taking steps to maintain their home to ensure it is ready for a storm. We are prepared when Canberra prepares together.”
– Statement ends –
Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK has mobilised over 40 countries and organisations to launch an unprecedented global fight against ruthless people smuggling gangs.
The UK is spearheading the toughest ever international crackdown on organised immigration crime as the Prime Minister and Home Secretary host a landmark summit today (31 March).
The Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) Summit brings together over 40 countries, including the United States, Vietnam, Iraq, and France, to unite behind a new approach to dismantle people smuggling gangs and deliver on working people’s priorities for secure borders.
This is the first time the full range of factors driving illegal migration, from the supply chain in small boats to anti-trafficking measures, illicit finance and social media advertising, have been explored at a global summit of this scale.
The summit will also see representatives from Meta, X and TikTok discuss how to jointly tackle the online promotion of irregular migration.
Through the summit, the government will use all available levers at its disposal to push forward progress in bringing gangs to justice, tackle the global threat of organised immigration crime and protect vulnerable people from exploitation.
To back this drive, the Home Secretary has today announced £30 million of funding going directly to high impact operations from the Border Security Command to tackle supply chains, illicit finances and trafficking routes across Europe, the Western Balkans, Asia, and Africa.
An additional £3 million will enable the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to increase its capacity to prosecute organised international smugglers and expand its international footprint to support the Border Security Command to pursue, disrupt and arrest those responsible for dangerous people smuggling operations.
This reflects the Prime Minister’s long-held view, informed by his work as Chief Prosecutor, that cross border cooperation is the foundation of tackling international gangs and securing Britain’s borders.
In remarks delivered later today, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is expected to say:
This vile trade exploits the cracks between our institutions, pits nations against one another and profits from our inability at the political level to come together.
When I was the Director of Public Prosecutions, we worked across borders throughout Europe and beyond to foil numerous plots, saving thousands of lives in the process. We prevented planes from being blown up over the Atlantic and brought the perpetrators to justice.
I believe we should treat organised immigration crime in the same way.
I simply do not believe organised immigration crime cannot be tackled. We’ve got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people smuggling routes.
The summit will deliver concrete outcomes across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and North America by strengthening international partnerships, enhancing intelligence sharing, and implementing targeted disruptions to Organised Immigration Crime networks.
As a direct result, we will be able to strengthen UK borders and security and create a more efficient and manageable asylum system, taking the burden away from housing, the NHS and schools, and giving hotels back to the local economy.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
Smuggler and trafficking gangs make their money crossing borders so law enforcement needs to work together across borders to bring them down. Only a coordinated international response, across the whole irregular migration route, can effectively dismantle these networks.
The Organised Immigration Crime Summit is the first of its kind and will reinforce the UK’s position as a leader by securing international commitments to disrupt Organised Immigration Crime at every stage of the business model.
The summit demonstrates mine and the Prime Minister’s absolute dedication to disrupting the callous Organised Criminal Gangs, strengthening our borders and ultimately save countless lives.
The UK’s global leadership on this is issue is already delivering results. France has agreed to launch a unit of specialist officers who are mobile, highly trained and equipped to respond dynamically to prevent small boat launches.
Germany has committed to strengthen their laws against those who facilitate smuggling to the UK and a new UK-Italy taskforce is hitting people smugglers’ financial flows. After boosting the resources for the National Crime Agency to work with international law enforcement partners, they have seized 600 boats and engines since July.
Along with this, work continues at home through giving law enforcement tougher powers than ever to smash the smuggling gangs, ramping up removals to record levels and surging illegal working raids to end the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats.
This comprehensive approach is a vital aspect of the government’s Plan for Change, with the threat from organised immigration crime increasing in scale and complexity.
Organised immigration crime spans multiple countries, nationalities, and criminal methodologies, with recent estimate of the total global income from migrant smuggling reaching $10 billion last year.
Criminal gangs headed by hundreds of kingpins are using sophisticated online tactics, the abuse of legitimate goods and services, and illicit financial networks to facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys which undermine border security and put thousands of lives at risk each year.
The summit will also examine the work of the government’s Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) in supporting the US, by providing innovative space-based maritime surveillance capability to monitor and dismantle any vessels along Haiti’s north coast suspected to be involved in illegal immigration, illegal fishing activities and drug smuggling.
The JMSC is harnessing cutting edge technology and capabilities to provide 24 hour monitoring of UK waters and ensure our borders are secure, by using satellite to provide a better overall understanding of incoming threats to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The UK government is working with our partners in Turks and Caicos to support and protect the Island from irregular migration.
This collaboration demonstrates the UK government’s commitment to deploying advanced capabilities against illegal migration while protecting overseas territories.
There has also been a series of major arrests of smuggling kingpins, including:
These arrests come alongside the NCA working with the authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for the first time, to facilitate the arrests of 3 men linked to a Kurdish people smuggling organised crime group, as well as an increase in the takedown of social media accounts linked to people smugglers.