The number of offenders proceeded against by police in 2023-24 fell to its lowest level since the time series began in 2008-09, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).Samantha Hall, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: "There were 340,681 offenders in Australia in 2023-24, a fall of 2 per cent from the previous year.“Accounting for population growth, 2023-24 marked the lowest offender rate since we started collecting this data in 2008-09. The rate is now down to 1,430 offenders per 100,000 people. This was largely due to a fall in illicit drug and public order offences, with both categories reaching record lows for the time series.“Illicit drug offending has generally been falling over the last eight years with the offender rate at 202 offenders per 100,000 people in 2023-24 versus 399 offenders per 100,000 people in 2015-16.”The largest falls in illicit drug offenders since the previous year were in New South Wales (-2,287 offenders) and Queensland (-1,666 offenders). While the largest public order offender falls were in New South Wales (-1,686 offenders), Victoria (-1,442 offenders) and Queensland (-1,157 offenders).Despite the overall fall in offenders, family and domestic violence related offenders rose to 90,697 offenders in 2023-24, up 3 percent since 2022-23. This was driven by a rise in assault, which went up by 4 percent from 2022-23.Further details can be found in Recorded Crime – Offenders 2023-24 available as a free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools. As part of the Heads of Agreements signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to New South Wales. This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and follows New South Wales delivering its election commitment to reach 75 per cent of the SRS in 2025, two years ahead of the former Liberal National Government. This will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to New South Wales public schools over the next 10 years.This represents the biggest ever new investment in New South Wales public schools by the Australian Government. New South Wales has also committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation so that New South Wales schools will be fully funded over the life of the Agreement. Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement will be accompanied by a New South Wales Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as: Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify students who need additional help;evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind;initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals;access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, andinitiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers.In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have national targets that complement the New South Wales Government’s own public school targets released last week.National targets include: Improving NAPLAN proficiency levels for reading and numeracy across all year levels;Increasing the outcomes for priority equity cohorts in NAPLAN results;Increasing the Student Attendance Rate;Increasing the engagement rate (completed or still enrolled) of initial teacher education students; andIncreasing the proportion of students leaving school with a Year 12 certificate.This means more help for students and more support for teachers.Today’s agreement with New South Wales follows agreements with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Victoria. The Commonwealth is continuing to work with Queensland. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Building Australia’s Future means investing in the next generation. “That’s why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn. “We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia. “This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said, “Public education is the best investment any government can make. Every dollar spent in this space is a dollar spent on the future of our country.“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded. “We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do."This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.” Minister for Education, Jason Clare said, “This is big. The biggest state in the country has now signed up. “This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools. “This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school. “It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results. “That’s why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work. “It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves.” New South Wales Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “This incredible outcome for public schools will allow us to deliver on the ambitious targets we have set for the public education system in New South Wales."Our commitment to rebuilding public education will now be underpinned by an agreement that delivers full funding for public schools. “The Minns Labor Government inherited a teacher shortage crisis and falling outcomes after a decade of under funding by Federal and State Liberal and National Governments that saw 10,000 merged and cancelled classes daily and over 3000 teacher vacancies. “With teacher vacancies now down 40 per cent and the number of cancelled classes halved, we are delivering tangible results. "This investment will enable us to restore public education in New South Wales to the world-leading standards that families deserve.”

The NSW and South Australia state governments are continuing their collaboration on initiatives to help improve the wellbeing of our schoolkids with an agreement to work on measures to combat bullying.Deputy Premier and NSW Education Minister Prue Car and her South Australian education counterpart Blair Boyer signed a joint agreement to tackle the scourge of bullying.The joint effort follows the success of last year's groundbreaking Social Media Summit, organised jointly by the NSW and SA Premiers, to explore and address the impacts of social media on children and young people.The MOU binds the two states to “undertake a coordinated approach to information sharing and collaboration to minimise the impacts of bullying in schools and support positive school environments”.Work will commence immediately on the sharing of best practice prevention strategies that are already working in NSW and SA schools, curriculum materials and tools for educators to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, in our schools. Last year NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Car announced they would lead the development of a statewide bullying framework for all NSW schools. The regulator of schools, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), has already convened its first meeting with the school sectors to progress the work on the anti-bullying framework.The MOU is just part of a suite of measures the Minns Labor Government has initiated to deal with challenges facing our schools:Banned mobile phones in all NSW Public schools, with a recent survey showing that 86% of principals believing socialising has improved since this came into effect. Implemented a new, stronger behaviour policy which provides teachers and principals with the authority they need to appropriately manage student behaviour. Introduced a revised school curriculum which includes lessons on bullying, respectful relationships and consent education.Hosted a Social Media Summit alongside the South Australian Government, and supported the Federal Government’s decision to raise the minimum age for social media to 16. Recruited 92 new school counsellors and psychologists since the beginning of this year.Launched the Spotlight on Cyberbullying Website which provides free and easily accessibly cyberbullying resources for parents, carers, teachers and schools. NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “Bullying is a scourge that impacts children across all school sectors, states and territories, and we all have a crucial role to play in stamping it out.“NSW is leading the way nationally to address bullying and cyberbullying so children at all schools feel safe and supported to focus on their learning.“I am proud to work with South Australia in progressing this issue. There is much that we can share with each other to come up with the best approaches to prevention.“We all want the same outcome - which is to keep our kids safe and happy so that they can get the best out of their education.“As we progress this work in NSW, we look forward to working with our state and federal counterparts on a consistent national approach.”SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said, “Preventing bullying before it starts is the best action we can take to make sure every child can get the education they deserve.“That’s why we’ve focused our efforts on training teachers to better respond to bullying and bolstering the respectful relationships curriculum.“Prue Car and I have made tackling bullying a priority and our new partnership will give staff more tools to act and support students.“This action builds on South Australia’s nation-leading mobile phone ban, the rollout of explicit teaching of behaviour in schools, and 100FTE mental health and learning specialists in schools.“Bullying impacts all schools in all sectors. That’s why we’re sharing resources and training across all sectors to take action across all schools.”   

There were 26,068 full-fee paying overseas students enrolled in Australian schools in 2024, an increase of 23.4 per cent (or 4,944 students) from 2023, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Mell Plumb, ABS head of education statistics, said: "2024 was the second year in a row of year-on-year growth in the number of full-fee paying overseas students in Australian schools since before the COVID-19 pandemic."The pandemic years saw a drop of 41.9 per cent from 26,593 full-fee paying overseas school students in 2019 to 15,461 in 2022.Across Australia, the highest percentage year-on-year growth in the number of full-fee paying overseas school students were seen in Tasmania (+39.9 per cent, an increase of 93 students), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (+28.0 per cent, an increase of 198 students), and Victoria (+27.5 per cent, an increase of 2,024 students) between 2023 to 2024.

The first release of experimental National Ecosystem Accounts released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimate that in 2020–21, climate regulation through carbon storage was the most valuable service provided by select Australian ecosystems.This is the first release of the Australian experimental National Ecosystem Accounts, which provides insights across four account types. The accounts align to the international System of Environmental and Economic Accounts. Ecosystems are difficult to measure and over time, modifications will be made to the methods. This initiative has been made possible via an ABS and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) partnership. Jonathon Khoo, ABS head of environment statistics said: ‘Over 34.5 million kilotonnes of carbon was stored by ecosystems, with a combined monetary value of $43.2 billion’.‘The ecosystem which contributed the most to carbon storage was grasslands, with $18.1 billion. This was followed by native forests which contributed $17.8 billion, and savannas which contributed $7.1 billion.’Climate regulation is one of many ecosystem services measured in this release. Other services include grazed biomass ($40.4 billion), water provisioning ($1.4 billion), and wild fish provisioning ($39.2 million).‘Grazed biomass is the amount of feed naturally produced by the environment for sheep and cattle. The $40.4 billion is the estimated amount of money farmers saved by feeding their livestock things like grass and vegetation growing on their land,’ Mr Khoo said. ‘Water provisioning is the naturally occurring surface water taken from our ecosystems. This water is used for drinking water, energy production, and things like cooling, irrigation and manufacturing.‘Wild fish provisioning is growing fish in the wild to then be caught by fishers and sold for us to eat.’ The new experimental estimates also reveal how much our natural landscapes protect our coastlines. Ecosystems like coral reefs, sandbanks, dunes and mangroves act as a buffer against tidal and storm surges. ‘We estimate that mangroves protected 4,006 dwellings and 7,653 people around Australian coastlines. These mangroves prevented more than an estimated $57 million worth of damages to these dwellings,’ Mr Khoo said.‘We also measured the size of these ecosystems. In 2021, mangroves covered an estimated 1.1 million hectares of Australia’s coastal areas. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory were home to 97 per cent of mangroves in Australia.‘In comparison, desert ecosystems cover 383.8 million hectares, or 50 per cent of Australia’s terrestrial landscape.’We would like to thank all organisations and individuals who contributed to the first release of National Ecosystem Accounts.

TheFederal Government will freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for two years, in a win for beer drinkers, brewers and hospitality businesses.Indexation is applied twice a year under arrangements in place for decades. While the February indexation accounted for a small percentage of the cost of a pint, this change will help pubs and their patrons.We will freeze indexation on draught beer for two years from the next indexation date of August 2025.This will take pressure off the price of a beer poured in pubs, clubs and other venues, supporting businesses, regional tourism and customers across Australia.The Government will consult with the sector on the implementation of this measure.This announcement comes on top of new tax relief announced last week for Australia’s distillers, brewers and wine producers.Currently brewers and distillers get a full remission of any excise paid up to $350,000 each year.We will increase the excise remission cap to $400,000 for all eligible alcohol manufacturers and we will also increase the Wine Equalisation Tax producer rebate cap to $400,000 from July 1 2026.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “My Government is building Australia’s future and to do that we need to support our small and medium local businesses to thrive.“Freezing the excise on draught beer is a common sense measure that is good for beer drinkers, good for brewers and good for pubs.”Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, "This is a modest change but will help take a little bit of the pressure off beer drinkers, brewers and bars."

Abandoned train tunnels 20 metres below the Sydney CBD have been turned into a historic tourist hotspot after a million-dollar makeover by the NSW Government.Built in the 1920s, visitors will be able to explore hidden parts of the St James Tunnels following restoration and revitalisation works to create a unique underground experience.St James Tunnels will combine a historical walking tour with an immersive multimedia and soundscape attraction, offering visitors a snapshot of our city’s transport and wartime past.Once utilised as a World War II air raid shelter, tour groups will be able to walk through the disused southern tunnel, extending under Hyde Park, from busy St James station.The tunnels were part of visionary engineer John Bradfield’s intended east-west rail corridor, but this was abandoned in the face of the Great Depression and disagreements over rail routes.Two of the constructed tunnels at St James station have been in continuous use as part of the City Circle since opening in 1926, but the other two were never put into active service.Experience-led tourism is a key priority of the NSW Government, with plans to help transform the state’s visitor economy into a $91 billion powerhouse by 2035.The St James Tunnels tour is expected to be a visitor drawcard, similar to award-winning attractions in London which explore disused tube stations and secret wartime shelters.The tour is anticipated to run several times a day and will be suitable for visitors aged 13 and above. Once an operator is appointed, tours are expected to commence later this year.Minister for Transport John Graham said, “These historic tunnels are more than just infrastructure; they are an expression of Sydney’s development as a modern, international city. These tunnels belong to the people of NSW, so it’s fantastic news that they’ll become another of our city’s great public spaces.“Tours like Bridgeclimb on the Harbour Bridge are now a must-do experience for Sydney locals and visitors alike. In time, we want to see tours of the St James tunnels become just as popular.“I want to congratulate the teams who worked so hard underground in a difficult environment to preserve the heritage of the site and reimagine it into an exciting and educational experience.TAM Chief Executive Lyndal Punch said, “Transport Asset Manager of NSW (TAM) is proud to be leading this innovative project, unlocking a disused, historic rail asset while using multimedia technology to tell the story of Sydney’s city railway development.“This new visitor attraction will ensure the stories of the past continue to inspire future generations.”Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said, “We are very excited be part of this unique transport project which is turning a once disused and unseen heritage site into a fascinating, interactive and educational visitor experience.“The St James Tunnels are a window into our transport past, a snapshot of World War II history, and the efforts of the workers who built Sydney’s transport infrastructure.”

Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) has taken its case for a $350 million government investment to clear chokepoints in the state’s freight network to Macquarie Street. A delegation representing RCNSW members has met with state government and shadow ministers to advocate for government support to recoup tens of millions of dollars in lost efficiencies each year across the freight network. RCNSW Chair Cr Steve Krieg said a business case commissioned by RCNSW had identified 93 chokepoints across the state’s freight network responsible for $80 million in lost efficiencies annually.  “The Regional Transport Pinch Point Program report took a detailed look across the state to identify areas in the freight network in need of upgrading. It found the network’s connectivity and efficiency would be improved with a $346 million investment in 10 priority projects,” Cr Krieg said. The delegation’s meetings last week included the Minister for Transport and Roads John Graham, Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Regional New South Wales Dugald Saunders, and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Gaming and Racing, and the Arts and Heritage and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson. Other issues raised by the delegation included investment into regional cities across NSW to increase: ●       housing availability and affordability;●       water security and Water Risk Management (particularly in relation to per and polyfluoroalkyl);●       regional aviation and airports; and ●       access to more skills to support regional businesses and service delivery. Cr Krieg said the meetings were a valuable opportunity to advocate for government investment in the freight network ahead of the June 2025 State Budget. “Our RCNSW delegation also discussed with the government ways the State Government could help to address the shortage of housing in regional cities, including by assisting to speed up the development of shovel-ready land,” Cr Krieg said. “We also recommended a range of measures to enhance water security across its member cities, including ongoing funding for at-risk regional water infrastructure,” Cr Krieg concluded.

Used-car buyers are being urged to check a vehicle’s history before purchase after NSW Fair Trading issued 28 fines in a month and a man was sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections order for unlicenced motor dealing and odometer tampering. During the crackdown, NSW Fair Trading issued 54 penalty notices in relation to car sales and repairs valued at more than $100,000. While more than half were for odometer interference, other offences included the non-supply of goods and services and unlicensed vehicles and sales.Additionally, Andrew Rodney Leech pled guilty to operating without a motor dealer’s licence and odometer tampering. Between 2020 and 2022, Leech sold 16 vehicles, while unlicensed, online, with one car having an odometer that had been wound back by more than 200,000 kilometres.  Buyers of used vehicles are being urged to research the car’s history to ensure it has no outstanding finance, has not been written off in a crash, and has accurate odometer readings. The NSW Government offers a free vehicle registration check where prospective buyers have access to a NSW-registered vehicle’s previous three annual odometer readings, as well as basic details like vehicle make, registration and insurance history. Across the motor vehicle industry in 2024, NSW Fair Trading took disciplinary action against 21 licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers, resulting in 10 licence cancellations, 13 disqualifications, including three permanent, and one suspension. For more information on consumer protections relating to purchasing a used vehicle visit the NSW Fair Trading website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/buying-and-selling-vehicles/buying-a-used-vehicle. To check registration, including odometer reading visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-a-vehicle-registration or the Service NSW App.Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said, “Odometer tampering is used by unscrupulous sellers to increase the value of a vehicle leaving the buyer with a vehicle which is not in the condition advertised, and likely to require repairs at cost and inconvenience to the buyer.“Sellers of used cars who reduce the number of kilometres displayed on the vehicle can be fined $1,100 per offence, and if taken to court can receive a penalty of up to $55,000 per offence.“Any buyer of a used car from any source, whether that be online like Facebook Marketplace or through a licenced car dealer, should do their homework, including visiting the Service NSW website to run a free history check on the car they wish to purchase.”

The NSW Police Force will launch a high-visibility operation to keep the community safe during the 47th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade this weekend.Tens of thousands of people will line Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade from Hyde Park to Moore Park to watch more than 200 floats and 11,000 marches from all sections of the LGBTQIA+ community celebrate on Saturday 1 March 2025.The police operation will involve general duties officers assisted by specialist officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Police Transport Command, the Public Order and Riot Squad, Youth Command, Licensing Police and Mounted Command.Operation Mardi Gras 2025 Commander, Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith said the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate safely.“Police have been working closely with parade organisers and the LGBTIQA+ community to ensure a safe environment for all those participating in and supporting the event,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.“We urge those attending the parade to plan ahead so you know how you are getting into the city, what you’re doing at the parade and how you’re getting home.“We ask people to please follow the directions of police and security staff when vantage points are full.”With significant crowds expected to make their way through major transport hubs before and after the parade on Saturday 1 March 2024, police will be focused on maintaining public safety and security.“There will be major road closures in the city, and we encourage people to use public transport,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.“We also ask people to drink responsibly, know their limit and look after one another.“As with any major Sydney event with many people, a highly visible and mobile police operation is needed to ensure the public is safe.“Our focus will be on targeting criminal and anti-social behaviour, which undermines the celebratory spirit of the night.“Police will act in a fair but firm manner to ensure everyone has a good time but not at the expense of other people’s safety.”This year marks the 35th anniversary of the NSW Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLO) and their dedicated service to LGBTQIA+ communities.Corporate Sponsor for Sexuality, Gender Diversity, and Intersex, Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said there are more than 380 GLLO’s working across the state, in metropolitan and regional areas, who are dedicated to building trust and confidence between the NSW Police Force and LGBTIQA+ communities.“The LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer Program was established in 1990,” Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.“GLLO’s are a contact point for members of LGBTIQA+ communities, as they utilise skills, knowledge and experience, to ensure the best policing response is provided.“This milestone underscores our ongoing commitment to developing and delivering, effective and sensitive policing responses that are accessible to all.”GLLO’s will be working on the night, talking to people and doing community engagement.Keep up to date with special event traffic information as well as live traffic reports by visiting www.livetraffic.com, and check the latest timetable and ticketing information for trains, buses, ferries and taxi ranks via www.transportnsw.infoFor more information about the 2024 Mardi Gras parade, visit www.mardigras.org.au. For further information on alcohol-free zones in Sydney visit the City of Sydney website: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.

Education experts at the University of South Australia are encouraging schools to consider problem-based learning (PBL) in a move to improve engagement and creativity among high school students.The call follows new Productivity Commission data that shows national school attendance rates over the past year have decreased from 88.8% in Year 7 to 84% in Year 10. Government schools are the worst hit, with only 73% of public school students completing year 12, as compared with nearly 80% in 2017. New UniSA research demonstrates how hands-on, community-based projects can deliver successful learning outcomes for disengaged students. Specifically, the study showed that when students:engage in hands-on projects, they are more likely to complete their studies feel empowered in their learning, their confidence and motivation improve contribute to their communities, they see greater value and meaning to tasks they are engaged in. Researchers say the findings present alternative supports to the interventions outlined in the South Australian government’s $48 million investment for disengaged high school students. Using a problem-based learning model, disengaged Year 13 Design and Technology students researched, planned, and built a playground for a low-income school. UniSA’s Dr Chris Chimwayange says by linking learning to a real-life challenge, the project demonstrated how their academic content is applied within their community. “Up to 20% of Australian and 25 to 30% of New Zealand students struggle with disengagement from school, which is often due to coursework that lacks real-world application,” Dr Chimwayange says. “By looking at teaching and learning practices differently, we can find alternatives that can help students who are not engaging with the typical curriculum or might be slipping through the cracks. “Here, we sought to create a project and environment that empowered learners through project-based learning and service to their community. “Through this approach, students learned to set achievable goals for their project, conducted market research to understand existing solutions and identify potential needs, and explored a wide range of design options to arrive at the best possible solution for the community. “By giving students choice and autonomy over their learning process, they not only increased their critical thinking, confidence and self-esteem, but also their collaboration, teamwork and leadership. “They also learnt how to respectfully express their perspectives, how to evaluate contributions without putting each other down, and how they can positively contribute to their local community.” Remarkably, the project reignited the passion for learning among previously disengaged students, helping them successfully complete their coursework. Dr Chimwayange says while this project focussed on design and technology skills, the same principles can be applied across other disciplines. “We strongly believe that disengaged students will participate more in learning if they can see how it relates to the real world, how it can help their communities, and when given the chance to make their own decisions,” Dr Chimwayange says. “With student disengagement on the rise, it's time to rethink traditional learning. We encourage educators and policymakers to explore problem-based community learning as a solution to declining engagement.”

Millions of Australians will soon be paying more for private health cover following the approval of premium increases for insurers, who say the rise is as low as they can go.The federal government has signed off on an average industry premium increase of 3.73 per cent, Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Wednesday.It is an increase on previous years but less than the six per cent jump some insurers had hoped for.Already, some have announced their increases will be higher, with insurer nib announcing an average rise of 5.79 per cent.The insurer's chief executive, Ed Close, said premiums were driven up by hospital costs, including wages and supplies increasing, as well as the renewal of contracts with private hospitals. "Those contracts ensure access to services and limit out-of-pocket costs, which is important when members' budgets are already stretched," he said.Meanwhile, HBF announced a 2.8 per cent average premium increase."As a not-for-profit health insurer, we are focused on keeping premium increases as low as possible for our members, especially with cost-of-living pressures affecting household budgets," chief executive Lachlan Henderson said.Private Healthcare Australia chief executive Rachel David said insurers needed to raise premiums to keep up with inflation."The increase of 3.73 per cent, agreed with federal regulators, is as low as the health funds can go without seriously squeezing private hospitals and other providers," she said.The changes take effect in April.Australian Private Hospitals Association chief executive Brett Heffernan said the premium increase - based on an average annual cost of $4000 - would deliver a $2.2 billion windfall to insurers, almost $150 per policy."But the providers of healthcare treatments and services, private hospitals, don't expect to see much of it in payments for treatments and care," he said.Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said the incoming increase was the highest in seven years, and policyholders had been left with little time to shop around before their premiums go up.Mr Butler said he had written to 29 insurers in December asking them to resubmit claims for an increase."Based on the resubmissions, I was not prepared to tick and flick their asks and instead asked them to resubmit again," he said.The multiple submissions and resubmissions had, however, ensured a better deal for 15 million people with private health insurance, he added.Insurance comparison site iSelect said increasing premiums could prompt many to drop or change their cover, with 28 per cent of a November survey's 1545 respondents saying any increase would prompt them shop around.

The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose 2.5 per cent in the 12 months to January 2025, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: ‘Annual CPI inflation at 2.5 per cent in January was the same as it was in December 2024.’ The largest contributors to the annual movement were Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.3 per cent), Housing (+2.1 per cent), and Alcohol and tobacco (+6.4 per cent). When prices for some items change significantly, measures of underlying inflation (like the annual trimmed mean and CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel) can give more insights into how inflation is trending. ‘Annual trimmed mean inflation was 2.8 per cent in January, up slightly from 2.7 per cent in December,’ Ms Marquardt said. ‘The CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel measure rose 2.9 per cent in the 12 months to January, compared to a 2.7 per cent rise in the 12 months to December.’Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose 3.3 per cent in the 12 months to January, up from a rise of 2.7 per cent to December. The increase in annual food inflation was mainly driven by Fruit, with prices 12.3 per cent higher compared to 12 months ago. Berry prices remain elevated following poor growing conditions in mid-2024. Prices for avocadoes, mangoes and citrus fruit have risen recently due to lower supply during the summer growing season.The Housing group rose 2.1 per cent in the 12 months to January, up from a 1.5 per cent annual rise to December. Rents rose 5.8 per cent in the 12 months to January, following a 6.2 per cent rise to December, with easing rental price growth reflecting recent increases in vacancy rates across most capital cities. New dwelling price rises slowed to 2.0 per cent in the 12 months to January, following a 2.3 per cent rise in the 12 months to December. This is the lowest annual rise in new dwelling prices since June 2021. The slowing in annual new dwellings inflation is due to project home builders offering discounts and promotional offers to entice business, as well as improvements in the supply of materials and labour. Most of the increase in annual inflation for the Housing group to January was caused by increases in electricity prices for those Queensland households that had used up the Queensland State government electricity rebates. ‘Electricity rebates lower the price of electricity for households. The Queensland government introduced a one-off electricity rebate of $1,000 from July 2024. This rebate exceeded the average electricity bill for Queensland households. The impact of the rebates was lower in January than December as some households had exhausted the full value of the rebate.’ Ms Marquardt said. Compared to 12 months ago, electricity prices were 11.5 per cent lower in January, a smaller decrease than for the year to December 2024 (-17.9 per cent). Excluding all Commonwealth and State government rebates, electricity prices would have fallen 1.2 per cent in the 12 months to January 2025 compared to an annual fall of 0.9 per cent to December 2024.Automotive fuel prices fell 1.9 per cent in the 12 months to January, following a 1.4 per cent annual fall to December. In monthly terms, Automotive fuel prices fell 1.4 per cent in January, the first monthly fall since October 2024.

In a first for a NSW Government emergency services agency, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has launched the latest tool in its technological arsenal, a drone that can ‘smell’.The FRNSW Aviation Unit and Hazardous Material teams are constantly looking for innovative ways to utilise the drone fleet, first formed in the aftermath of the Black Summer Bushfires.The smelling capability of the new drone means crews can now use drones to detect potential threats in the air, with firefighters able to maintain a safe distance and protect the wider public.The drone was successfully deployed during last month’s response to a major fire and chemical emergency at a waste recycling plant at St Marys in Sydney’s west.One of several drones deployed at the scene by firefighting crews, the smelling drone was able to analyse the smoke from the fire, identifying its chemical make-up and determining any potential risk to the public.The drone also analysed the atmosphere around burning gas cylinders within the plant to determine potential air quality impacts.This new drone can detect 12 different chemicals in the air, including chlorine, carbon dioxide, and a range of flammable gases.The drone can then provide live data and gas readings to Command Posts, the FRNSW Strategic Operations Centre at Alexandria, or to scientific support staff for analysis.FRNSW continue to find new and innovative ways to keep the NSW community safe using their drone fleet.Other drones in the FRNSW fleet can collect water samples for chemical testing; there are smaller drones able to enter buildings through small openings to search for trapped people or identify structural threats, and drones fitted with infrared cameras can assist during overnight search and rescue missions.Drones were used extensively in the aftermath of the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, carrying out damage assessments over vital infrastructure and identifying debris for collection.The Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said, “It’s terrific to see Fire and Rescue NSW continuing to explore new technologies to safeguard its firefighters and keep the broader NSW community safe.“This is just the latest in an ever-growing list of FRNSW drone capabilities, which means firefighters can have eyes – and a nose – on any blazes they’re battling.“The drones can fly over built-up areas, assess the risk, and help authorities protect people in their homes, at work, or in critical infrastructure such as schools or hospitals.“Firefighters are prepared for anything, including embracing new technologies to protect the irreplaceable.”Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said, “The drone that can smell means we can assess dangerous environments quickly to keep our people and the community safe.“Our crews are highly trained to deal with hazardous materials emergencies, but this type of drone means we don’t have to risk anyone’s safety when trying to identify potentially dangerous substances.“When crews arrive at the scene of a fire, they can quickly get one of these drones airborne to determine the threat we’re dealing with, and make crucial decisions based on immediate information.“This is the latest in an ever-growing list of drone capabilities at Fire and Rescue NSW.”

The NSW Government is taking strong action to prevent a waste crisis in NSW, with landfill due to reach capacity in Greater Sydney by 2030.NSW has just passed landmark legislation to become the first state to implement a statewide mandate for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling, to divert food waste from landfill into compost.The legislation mandates FOGO collection services for households by July 2030 and for businesses and institutions in stages from July 2026.FOGO bins will be rolled out at premises such as supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels and hospitals. Large supermarkets will also be required to report on the amounts and types of surplus food donated to charities like OzHarvest, Second Bite and Foodbank.With FOGO taking up to a third of household red bin capacity, this legislation will help take some pressure off landfill. It also takes us one step closer to a circular economy in NSW, where resources are recycled, reused and repurposed.The new laws are backed by a $81 million FOGO Fund to go largely to Councils for infrastructure, including bins, kitchen caddies and liners, contamination audits, community education programs and staffing, including a $9 million boost in funding allocated to:$4 million to support implementation in apartments and multi-unit dwellings$3 million for a statewide advertising campaign to raise awareness and encourage behavioural change$1 million for councils with existing FOGO services to conduct annual “booster” education campaigns$1 million for a pilot to tackle contamination hotspots using artificial intelligence.The new laws are projected to divert up to one million tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year. Most will be transformed into high-quality compost for parks, sporting fields and agriculture, promoting healthier soils and sustainable food production.The NSW Environment Protection Authority is working closely with communities, councils and industry to ensure a smooth and effective transition.A step-by-step Best Practice Guide has also been launched to help councils introduce FOGO and manage contamination risks.To learn more about the rollout, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/fogo-mandates-and-rollout.The next step to tackle the waste crisis is the refinement of the Energy from Waste framework in NSW.A discussion paper outlines some small, proposed changes to the existing Energy from Waste framework, including clarification around the definition of thermal treatment.Public consultation is open from Tuesday, 25 February until Tuesday, 8 April, and feedback can be provided through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say platform.Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe said, “NSW has ignored the crisis for landfill capacity for too long. We cannot kick this can down the road any longer.“The new FOGO laws mean NSW is leading the nation in combating food waste, becoming the first to mandate this recycling revolution across the state.“These new laws are backed by $81 million to support councils to move to FOGO by 2030.”

Australia’s leading personalities are sharing their experiences with shingles to encourage Australians aged 50 years and over to be aware of their risk of the disease this Shingles Awareness Week (24 February to 2 March 2025).This comes as new research*, commissioned by GSK Australia, which surveyed 600 Australians, revealed that Australians aged 50-79 have a limited understanding of their risk of shingles.4 Over a third (36%) of respondents don’t know that one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime, and over a quarter (26%) don’t believe that adults over 50 are likely to develop shingles.4Shingles can present in a number of ways; however, it can be a painful and potentially debilitating condition. It is a viral infection that is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox earlier in life.1,2  The risk of developing shingles increases with age.5 As the immune system naturally weakens, and this can allow the usually inactive virus that causes shingles to reactivate.6 If Australians have a weakened immune system due to illness, treatments or medications, you may also be at increased risk.1,2,5Shingles Awareness Week aims to increase understanding of the impact of shingles and address common misconceptions surrounding shingles. Journalist Shelly Horton and AFL-legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico join news presenter Deborah Knight as Shingles Awareness Week ambassadors, having experienced first-hand the pain and impact of shingles.“I experienced shingles during a very stressful time of my life. A huge spread of tiny blisters appeared on my right inner thigh, which left me in excruciating pain, and I felt completely debilitated,” shared Shelly Horton, who is an advocate for talking about taboo health topics. “Since my experience, many people close to me have been affected by this condition. My mum had shingles, which caused a rash across her torso. It was so painful she couldn't even drive or sit on the couch to watch TV. She almost went to hospital because she thought it was kidney stones.“I now know that shingles is common in people 50 and over. One of Mum's friends got shingles in her eye, which could have affected her sight. My father-in-law also had shingles at my wedding in Mexico, with a rash across his back,” recalled Ms Horton. “He was in a lot of pain and afraid of the rash being aggravated, especially during our dance. While everyone else continued celebrating, he became bed-bound in the hotel room.” Recognised as one of Hawthorn Football Club’s most prominent players, Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, has also experienced the painful and debilitating impact of shingles and has cared for his partner during her shingles diagnosis.“Compared to the pain of many of my sporting injuries, shingles was relentless. It put me out of action for nine days,” said Dipper. “I had a large, itchy, red rash suddenly appear on the left side of my body. It was so uncomfortable I slept on a mattress in the lounge room with the air conditioning running to try and find some relief. It was horrible to experience personally, and I know some of my loved ones, like my partner and my mum, have also experienced the pain and discomfort of shingles.”Monika Boogs, Chief Executive Officer, Pain Australia, says that the pain of shingles is often described by people as some the worst they have ever experienced. “Shingles is often more than just a rash. The pain from shingles can disrupt sleep, mood, work and daily activities and impact quality of life. For some people, it can cause long-term issues with eyesight or chronic nerve pain leading to long-term discomfort,” said Ms Boogs.  Leading expert Professor Tony Cunningham, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (WIMR) and Vaccine Theme Leader at Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (SydneyID), The University of Sydney, suggests that Australians aged 50 and over should not underestimate their shingles risk even if they don’t recall having had chickenpox.“If you've had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in your body. Almost all Australians have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having it or were asymptomatic, and so are at risk of shingles as they carry the inactive virus. As you get older, there is a decline in your immune system that can leave you susceptible to the reactivation of this virus, which causes shingles,” said Professor Cunningham.“Shingles Awareness Week is an important reminder to understand the symptoms and your risk, especially if you are aged 50 and over. Speak to your doctor to understand your risk of shingles and encourage loved ones who are older to do the same.”To help reduce the impact on people’s lives and the disruption to everyday activities that shingles can cause, Australians aged 50 years and over should learn more about the signs, symptoms and risk factors for shingles. For more information about shingles, speak to a healthcare professional and visit knowshingles.com.au.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government says it will make the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, with $8.5 billion to deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits each year, hundreds of nursing scholarships and thousands more doctors in the largest GP training program ever. Australian patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs, with patient savings of $859 million a year by 2030. Labor’s record investment restores the $8.3 billion the Australian Medical Association says was cut from Medicare through the funding freeze initiated by Peter Dutton a decade ago. For the first time, Labor will expand bulk billing incentives to all Australians and create an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient. This will mean 9 out of 10 GP visits will be bulk billed by 2030, boosting the number of fully bulk billed practices to around 4,800 nationally – triple the current number. Labor will:Expand the bulk billing incentive to all Australians.Labor tripled the bulk billing incentive for people who need to see their GP most often: pensioners, concession cardholders, and families with children.That support has restored bulk billing for those 11 million Australians.From 1 November, Labor will expand that incentive to all Australians.Introduce a new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient.From 1 November, a new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program will support practices that bulk bill all their patients.On top of the bulk billing incentive, fully bulk billing practices will receive an additional 12.5% loading payment on their Medicare rebates.The combined investment means around 4,800 practices will be in a better financial position if they adopt full bulk billing. Labor will deliver more doctors and nurses into Medicare, with 400 nursing scholarships and the largest GP training program in Australian history, funding the training of 2,000 new GP trainees a year by 2028. Fact sheet – more bulk billing: ‘More bulk billing – fact sheet’Fact sheet – more doctors and nurses: ‘More doctors and nurses – fact sheet’ Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Labor built Medicare, we will protect it and improve it for all Australians. “I want every Australian to know they only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the healthcare they need. “No Australian should have to check their bank balance to see if they can afford to see a doctor. That is not who we are. That is not the future we want for Australia. “This is a policy that lifts up our entire nation and ensures no one is held back and no one is left behind. “It will make Medicare even stronger, help with cost of living pressures and ensure every Australian receives the best health care that they deserve.” Health Minister Mark Butler said, “No more wondering if you need to reach for your Medicare card or your credit card: Labor will put back into Medicare every dollar that Peter Dutton’s rebate freeze took out. “Australia's doctors voted Peter Dutton the worst Health Minister in Medicare history for a reason. “Peter Dutton tried to end bulk billing with a GP tax and then started a six-year freeze to Medicare rebates that froze GP incomes and stripped billions out of Medicare. “There is no question that when it comes to Medicare, you’ll be worse off under Dutton.”

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) welcomes the commitment made by the federal government of an additional $8.5 billion in funding for Medicare and general practice, which follows years of campaigning by the AMA on the need to urgently invest in Australia’s primary care system.AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said general practitioners are the cornerstone of Australia’s healthcare system and equitable access to affordable GP care is essential.”This is the second significant package of funding for general practice from the government and follows a $5.7 billion investment in 2023 to support patients and address growing concerns over the viability of many general practices,” Dr McMullen said.“Through our Modernise Medicare campaign, we have highlighted the neglect of Medicare, which included years of frozen and inadequate indexation by successive governments,” Dr McMullen said.“In 2023, our analysis of the impact of that freeze and years of inadequate indexation found close to $4 billion had been stripped from general practice, and it would be further compounded without reform and investment. The neglect of Medicare by successive governments means the patient rebate no longer bears any relationship to the actual cost of providing high-quality services to patients.”Dr McMullen said the government had taken the AMA’s calls for more investment in general practice very seriously; however, more work was still needed to address issues relating to the growing complexity of general practice care.“This funding package will help address affordability issues for many vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians who do not currently qualify for bulk billing incentives. But greater support for patients with more complex needs can’t afford to be ignored.“We need a rethink of Medicare rebates to ensure today’s patients who have increasingly complex needs get the care they require. Today’s patients have more chronic disease, more mental illness, and our population is aging. Australians need more time with their GP, but the structure of Medicare encourages shorter consultations, meaning many patients face out-of-pocket costs."The AMA has proposed a generational reform to Medicare that would introduce a new seven-tier general practice consultation item structure that is fit-for-purpose and designed to meet the challenges of the growing burden of complex and chronic disease.“While bulk billing incentives will now be available for all patients, it is important for the public to understand that general practices will still need to set their fees based on an assessment of the costs they face in running a modern medical practice.”Dr McMullen welcomed funding to grow Australia’s GP training places to 2000 by 2028.“Only recently, in our 2025–26 budget submission, we highlighted the need for additional training places to address an impending and disastrous shortfall in GP numbers, with our 2022 report showing Australia is facing a shortage of more than 10,600 GPs by 2031.“The government has also responded to AMA calls for funding for additional training rotations in general practice for early career doctors and funding to improve and equalise employment conditions for GP doctors-in-training. This will make a significant difference to attracting more doctors into general practice, helping to improve accessibility.“The government announcement today is important. As we approach an election campaign, we look forward to hearing from the Coalition which has yet to articulate its policies for improving access to general practice.”

The Federal Government will provide tax relief for Australia’s distillers, brewers and wine producers. Currently brewers and distillers get a full refund of any excise paid up to $350,000 each year. The Government will increase the excise remission cap to $400,000 for all eligible alcohol manufacturers. The Government will also increase the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) producer rebate to $400,000. Adjusting the taxation arrangements will back an important local industry as well as supporting regional tourism, investment and job creation. Currently, around 1,500 brewers and distillers and 3,000 wine producers access these tax incentives. The proposal will apply from 1 July 2026. In addition to the tax relief, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) will be providing Australian distillers, brewers and wine producers with additional support to help them grow their exports in high priority overseas markets. This support includes the opportunity to join in trade missions, expert advice and connections to help our small and medium-size exporters tap into fast-growing markets, including in Southeast Asia and beyond. The tax relief is estimated to decrease tax receipts by $70 million over five years from 2024-25. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “To build Australia’s future, we need strong small and medium-sized businesses generating jobs and economic opportunity for Australians. “This common sense measure will back thriving local industries and open the way for growth.” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, "We're pleased to have found room in a tight budget to provide some tax relief for a really important industry creating jobs and opportunities around Australia. "Brewers, distillers and winemakers play a large role in many local economies and this support will help them invest and grow." Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said, “Supporting small distillery, brewing and wine businesses is not just about producing exceptional products – it's about creating jobs, fostering local economies, and building a better Australia. “By boosting our export support for these businesses, we are helping fast-track their success in international markets which will create even more jobs at home.”