Arrests – Aggravated burglary – Alice Springs

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police have arrested 3 youths after an aggravated burglary in Alice Springs overnight.

Around 10:30pm. Police received reports that multiple offenders unlawfully entered a residence on Standley Crescent, Gillen, armed with various weapons.

One of the offenders allegedly threatened one of the residents with a firearm before the group stole the keys to two vehicles and fled the scene.  

No injuries were reported.

Members from Operation Grimmel, Crime and general duties deployed into the area and recovered both vehicles abandoned just south of the CBD.

A short time later, police located three males, aged 12, 13 and 17 and arrested them in relation to the alleged offending. They all remain in custody pending further investigations.

Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Schumacher said “ This was a violent, confronting attack on a vulnerable resident. We have 3 already in custody and detectives are working swiftly to apprehend the remaining offenders, as well as to confirm what weapons were used and to get them out of our community.

“We are urging all residents in the Gillen area to review their CCTV for suspicious behaviour and to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference 2400031571.”

Call for information – Aggravated Burglary – Katherine

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police are calling for information after an aggravated burglary in Katherine overnight.

Around 1am, police received reports that two unknown males had unlawfully entered a residence on Giles Street, Katherine, armed with knives.

The offenders threatened the two residents with the weapons before stealing two vehicles.

The offenders abandoned one vehicle at the location and further threatened the residents before fleeing in the remaining outstanding vehicle, a white 4-door Corolla Hatchback with registration CD26WS. 

Police attended the scene and began tracking the vehicle which allegedly began targeting marked police cars. No injuries or damage was reported.

Detectives are urging anyone with information, particularly on the whereabouts of the vehicle,  to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2400031647. 

Works across Sydney’s road and transport network

Source: New South Wales Transport

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel for maintenance and project works. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Up to 5 lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge deck will close for maintenance and upgrade works from tonight: 

  • Friday 29 March: 10:30pm – 8am 
  • Saturday 30 March: 10:30pm – 8am 
  • Sunday 31 March: 10pm – 8am 
  • Monday 1 April: 10pm – 4:30am 
  • Tuesday 2 April: 10pm – 4:30am 
  • Wednesday 3 April: 10pm – 4:30am 
  • Thursday 4 April: 10pm – 4:30am 

Motorists can use other lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge or drive through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as an alternative route during these times. 

Warringah Freeway Upgrade works over Easter 

Sydney motorists are being urged to plan ahead as important roadworks on the Warringah Freeway Upgrade take place over the Easter long weekend.  

From 10pm Friday 29 March to 4:30am Tuesday 2 April 2024, there will be multiple temporary lane and ramp closures in several locations along the Warringah Freeway to carry out work.  

Motorists are warned to expect delays and allow extra travel time when travelling across the Easter long weekend. You can find more details here. 

Weekend Events 

Public transport is the best way to get to Sydney Olympic Park this long weekend, with large crowds expected, particularly on Good Friday for the Easter Show and NRL match between Rabbitohs and Bulldogs.  

Parking is nowsold outon Good Friday 29 March and Saturday 30 March, with limited spaces remaining for the rest of the Easter Long Weekend.If you haven’t pre-booked parking, do not drive, as there is no casual parking available on site.  

Plenty of express trains will run while the Easter Show is underway, with transport included with Easter Show and NRL tickets. Major Event Buses are also running daily throughout the Easter Show for show attendees. 

Showgoers are encouraged to catch public transport and plan their journey on transportnsw.info, more information can be found here 

Essential trackwork 

Passengers using the T4 and T8 lines need to plan ahead this weekend as essential trackwork targets key sections of the network to improve resilience and reliability.  

Detailed information on affected lines and alternative travel options are available in our trackwork alert 

As part of the Sydney Metro City and Southwest project, rail upgrade work will take place between Sydenham and Bankstown from Saturday 13 April to Wednesday 24 April. During this time, buses will replace trains on the T3 Bankstown line, with additional buses at peak times. More information on replacement and alternative services can be found here 

Passengers should allow for plenty of extra travel time and check specific journey information by visiting transportnsw.info or using trip planning apps.   

Changed traffic conditions on Victoria Road, Drummoyne and Rozelle 

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions on Victoria Road from Wellington Street, Rozelle to Park Avenue, Drummoyne. 

‘In Pavement Lights’ will be installed between 8pm and 5am until Monday 6 May. No work will be performed on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow directions and visit livetraffic.com for the latest traffic updates.  

Fatal Crash – Nhulunbuy

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police are investigating after a fatal pedestrian strike in Nhulunbuy overnight.

Around 12:30am, emergency services received reports that a woman had been struck by a vehicle travelling along Melville Bay Road near Wallaby Beach in Nhulunbuy.  

The male driver stopped at the scene and rendered assistance to the injured pedestrian, as lawfully required, and contacted police.

St John Ambulance attended the scene and the woman was declared deceased a short time later.

The driver tested negative for alcohol.

Traffic diversions currently remain in place along Melville Bay Road and motorists are advised to avoid the area for the remainder of the day.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said “Major Crash detectives are currently flying to Nhulunbuy to assist local police with investigations.

“We believe alcohol is a factor in the crash.

“Detectives are urging witnesses, including anyone who travelled along Melville Bay Road last night who may have dash-cam footage, or saw any pedestrians in the area prior to the crash, to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference NTP2400031652.”

Legislation changes set to improve NDIS

Source: Australian Department for Social Services

27 March 2024

The Australian Government is taking the first steps to co-design changes to the NDIS with the disability community.

We have introduced the ‘Getting the NDIS Back on Track’ Bill into Parliament, as an important step towards future improvements to the NDIS.

These changes will ensure transparency in NDIS decision-making.

The bill will:

  • enable better early intervention pathways for people living with psychosocial disability and children under 9 years old – meaning the NDIS would work differently for different groups of people, based on their needs
  • improve how NDIS participant funds are set and provide clearer information on how they can be spent
  • strengthen the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The aim of these changes is to make sure decisions in the NDIS are fairer, more transparent, and more consistent for NDIS participants.

These changes have been informed by feedback from people with disability and the disability sector.

Once the bill passes, the Government will engage in a consultation and co-design process with the disability community to design and update the NDIS Rules.

We are planning a series of webinars in April to share more information about the NDIS Act and proposed changes to the NDIS Rules.

Find out more

For more information on the bill, visit dss.gov.au/NDISreforms

Subscribe for our updates about coming engagement opportunities at dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers

For more information about the NDIS Review, visit ndisreview.gov.au.

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Grants to help seniors stay water safe and connected

Source: New South Wales Government 2

Headline: Grants to help seniors stay water safe and connected

It is one of 21 organisations across NSW to receive funding under the $600,000 Connecting Seniors grants program which aims to help older people stay connected.

The Royal Life Saving Active Adults program has been running in Lake Macquarie during the Seniors Festival and new programs have been released for Maitland, Central Coast and Bateman’s Bay. The sessions comprise three, one-hour sessions covering CPR and a review of health factors to consider when exercising, an in-pool water-safety session and a swimming or water activity.

The Connecting Seniors grant program builds on previous grants, which have been proven to reduce social isolation for thousands of seniors in NSW.

The recipients include 16 not-for-profit organisations and five local councils organising a variety of activities to cater to all interests. More than half of the projects will support seniors living in regional NSW and about one-third will assist Aboriginal people over 50 and seniors with disability.

The grants deliver on the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031, with the Government committed to creating a more inclusive community and addressing isolation and loneliness.

More information about the grants program and the full list of recipients.

Find out more about the Royal Life Saving program.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“The Connecting Seniors Grants support activities which can provide a social lifeline for seniors, especially those who live alone.

“The NSW Government is pleased to be partnering with Royal Life Saving NSW in this program, which not only provides seniors with a refresher in water safety to help them stay active, it also contributes to their wellbeing as they connect with others in and out of the pool.

“As our population ages, we want to make sure we provide our seniors with opportunities to socialise while enjoying engaging experiences.”

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:

“This is a great opportunity for Hunter seniors to get out and try something new.

“Getting in the water is a part of the lifestyle here as anyone from the Hunter knows. That should be for everyone.

“This grant supports an important program run by Royal Life Saving NSW, making sure we support our seniors to enjoy the water with their families.”

Royal Life Saving NSW Manager for the Hunter Tanya Brunckhorst said:

“Building your fitness and confidence around the water as you age is as important as it was when you first learned to swim as a child, and we are calling all older adults to seek out new ways to get active.

“Last year, the leading contributing factors in drownings among Australians over 65 included low levels of fitness, trips or falls, lack of swimming and survival skills and underlying health conditions.  The 65 to 74 year age group is one of our most vulnerable populations, representing 30 per cent of those who drowned last year.

“Any regular, structured activity helps build fitness, improves your ability to manage in the water and offers fantastic social community benefits.”

Rates payment notice error

Source: Government of Western Australia

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The City of Wanneroo acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we are working on, the Whadjuk people. We would like to pay respect to the Elders of the Noongar nation, past, present and future, who have walked and cared for the land and we acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contributions made to the life of this City and this region.

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Fatal Crash – Kakadu

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police are investigating after a fatal crash in Kakadu earlier today.

Around 2pm,  police received a report that a vehicle carrying three men had crashed around 90km’s west of Jabiru on the Arnhem Highway.

Upon attendance, police located two deceased men within the vehicle while the third man was located with serious injuries outside the vehicle.

The surviving man was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition.

A crime scene was declared and the highway is currently blocked in both directions with motorists advised to avoid the area overnight.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said, “Major Crash detectives remain on scene, recovering the deceased men who are yet to be formally identified.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.”

Government’s Annual Wage Review submission

Source: Australian Treasurer

The Albanese Labor Government has recommended the Fair Work Commission ensures the real wages of Australia’s low‑paid workers do not go backwards.

One of the best ways to deal with cost‑of‑living pressures is to ensure workers earn enough to provide for their loved ones and to get ahead.

That’s why today the Government has gone in to bat for Australian workers and lodged its submission to the Commission’s 2023–24 Annual Wage Review.

Our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn, which is why we’re focused on delivering strong and sustainable wages growth and giving a tax cut to every Australian taxpayer on 1 July this year.

The Government believes our cost‑of‑living tax cuts should be in addition to any increase in award and minimum wages, not a substitute.

We’ve made welcome progress on inflation and seen a return to real wages growth earlier than forecast, but we know it’s not mission accomplished because many Australians are still under pressure.

Low paid workers – who are disproportionately women – are particularly affected by cost‑of‑living pressures because they typically do not have savings to draw on to cover rising costs.

Our Government’s support for low paid workers in the Annual Wage Review has been an essential part of returning to real wages growth.

In 2022 our advocacy helped secure a 5.2 per cent pay rise for workers on the minimum wage. In 2023 we helped secure a record 8.6 per cent increase.

We’ve also seen record increases for award wage workers in both of those years.

These changes have helped contribute to three consecutive quarters of real wage growth and wages growing at the highest level in 15 years.

Under the Albanese Labor Government real wages are growing, unemployment is near record lows, the gender pay gap is down and inflation is moderating.

Around 790,000 jobs have been created since we came to office – the most of any first‑term Government on record.

The gender pay gap is now at the lowest level on record at 12 per cent.

Inflation – while still too high – is moderating, helped by our cost‑of‑living policies.

We know that economic conditions remain challenging, but we have the right plan to steer the economy through these difficult times.

This submission does not suggest that across‑the‑board wages should automatically increase in line with inflation, or that inflation is the only factor the Fair Work Commission should consider.

We are also delivering on our broader economic agenda to boost productivity, which is the key driver of real wages over the longer term.

For the best part of a decade, the Liberals and Nationals deliberately kept wages low.

We know that because they admitted it – saying low wages were a deliberate design feature of their economic management.

Peter Dutton wants Australians to work longer for less.

We take a different view.

We’re helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn with strong and sustainable wages growth and cost‑of‑living tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer from July this year.

We thank the Commission’s Expert Panel for the opportunity and look forward to their decision.

The Government’s full submission [PDF 1.4MB] is available on the Fair Work Commission website.

Resolution of wine dispute with China

Source: Minister for Trade

The Australian Government has been notified that, from 29 March 2024, China will remove its duties on Australian bottled wine.

We welcome this outcome, which comes at a critical time for the Australian wine industry.

The re-entry of Australian bottled wine into the Chinese market will benefit both Australian producers and Chinese consumers.

This outcome affirms the calm and consistent approach taken by the Albanese Labor Government and follows the success of the similar approach taken to remove duties on Australian barley.

Since 2020, China’s duties on Australian wine effectively made it unviable for Australian producers to export bottled wine to that market. Australia’s wine exports to China were worth $1.1 billion in 2019.

We acknowledge and thank Australian grape growers and wine producers for their fortitude and support during a challenging period.

The removal of duties means that Australia will discontinue its legal proceedings at the World Trade Organization.

The Australian Government’s approach is to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest – the outcomes on barley and wine reflect that approach.

We will continue to press for all remaining trade impediments affecting Australian exports to be removed, which is in the interests of both Australia and China.

Trade diversification is a key element of the Government’s trade policy strategy. The Government will continue to support Australian businesses to sell their world-class products on the global stage.