Month: August 2026

Speeding to be cracked down at Sandgate

Road safety on the Pacific Highway will be strengthened with the reinstallation of two speed cameras at Sandgate, helping to reduce speeding and keep motorists safe on one of the state’s busiest transport corridors.

The fixed cameras were removed three years ago during the upgrade of the Hexham Straight, between Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge, and will be turned on from today.

The northbound camera has been reinstated where the previous camera was, and the southbound camera is now about 70 metres north from its original site to align with the completed road upgrade. 

The cameras first enforced this stretch of road in 2003. During the five-year period prior to the 2003 installation there were 23 casualty crashes on the Pacific Highway at Sandgate, within 500 metres either side of the cameras. These crashes resulted in one fatality and 24 people being injured. Since the cameras were installed there have been no fatalities and a significant reduction in injuries in the vicinity of the cameras.

Transport for NSW’s Road Safety Regulation executive director Duncan Lucas said the return of the cameras would reinforce the importance of safe driving behaviour and help reduce the risk of serious crashes.

“While the cameras were removed during construction, the warning signs remained in place to remind motorists to slow down and drive safely for the benefit of everyone using the road,” Mr Lucas said.

“Speeding remains the leading factor involved in death and injuries on our roads, contributing to about 40 per cent of road fatalities.

“When the unexpected happens on the road – the speed that you’re travelling at matters. ‘just a bit over’ can be the difference between stopping safely and being involved in a crash.”

The new cameras will operate in warning mode for at least one month during which time drivers caught speeding will be sent a warning letter to encourage them to change their behaviour. 

Fines and demerit points will be sent to offending drivers once the warning letter period has finished.

Homicide Squad detectives charge two teens with murder after alleged fatal stabbing – Lake Macquarie

Homicide Squad detectives have charged two teens with murder following an investigation into an alleged fatal stabbing in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

Shortly after 4am on Sunday 19 April 2026, emergency services were called to Montgomery Street, Argenton, following reports of an assault.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District arrived to find a 38-year-old man had been stabbed.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, died at the scene.

A crime scene was established by local police before the investigation was handed to State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad under Strike Force Blave.

A 22-year-old man has since been charged with murder and remains before the court.

Following inquiries, about 9.15am today (Thursday 6 August 2026) strike force detectives arrested two boys – aged 16 – at Gosford Police Station, where they were both charged with murder.

One of the boys was also charged with fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.

Both teens were remanded in custody to appear at a Children’s Court today (Thursday 6 August 2026).

Investigations under Stike Force Blave are ongoing.

Man charged after alleged road rage, firearm and tasers seized – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged following an alleged armed road rage in the state’s north yesterday.

About 5.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 4 August 2026), police were called to a shopping centre carpark on Stockland Drive, Glendale, following reports of a road rage incident.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told two women – aged 22 and 47 – were involved in an alleged road rage incident with another unknown driver, before a firearm was pointed at them and the driver leaving the scene.

Following inquiries, police attended a home on Anzac Parade, Teralba, and stopped a vehicle believed to be linked to the alleged incident.

A vehicle search was conducted, with police allegedly locating and seizing a gel blaster, two tasers, a baton, three slingshots and a knife.

A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with possess unregistered firearm-pistol, five counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal) and armed with intent commit indictable offence.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 today (Wednesday 5 August 2026).

Victorian firm secures $160 million helmet contract

The Albanese Government is investing in the supply and refurbishment of combat helmets for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through Victorian company, Aquaterro.

This investment of up to $160 million across seven years will support Australian industry and jobs, and ensure ADF personnel have access to reliable, locally supported and up-to-date protective equipment.

Aquaterro has supported the ADF for ten years, supplying over 75,000 ballistic helmets and conducting refurbishment maintenance services on over 30,000 helmets.

The contract includes the provision of 100% Designed and Made in Australia camouflage helmet covers.

Defence and Aquaterro have also signed a $1.16 million support services contract, increasing technical support for small arms capability used by our soldiers, sailors and aviators.

This contract provides Defence with access to Aquaterro and SIG Sauer technical expertise, strengthening Australia’s local defence industrial base while supporting relationships with international suppliers.

Aquaterro employs more than 70 staff at its facility in Pakenham, located in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“This investment is about keeping Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators safe and supporting local defence industry and jobs.

“Aquaterro’s work will play an important role in strengthening Australia’s sovereign domestic supply chains and supporting the sustainment of critical ADF capability.

“This is another example of how the Albanese Government is ensuring the capability and protective equipment used by the ADF are supported by local, accessible and responsive technical expertise.

“Importantly, it supports Australian jobs and strengthens our skilled technical workforce.”

Launch of the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy

The Albanese Government has today launched the 2026 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) Strategy – a 10-year blueprint to accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and new technologies for Defence and strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial base. 

In a rapidly evolving strategic environment, the pace of technological change is accelerating and emerging technologies are reshaping the character of warfare. To maintain Australia’s strategic advantage, Defence must be equipped to innovate, adapt and deliver capability at speed.

The 2026 IS&T Strategy focuses on six key capability priorities: 

  1. long-range fires and hypersonic weapons; 
  2. high-energy lasers; 
  3. autonomous systems; 
  4. quantum technology; 
  5. artificial intelligence; and 
  6. undersea warfare. 

These priority areas will be critical to the delivery of capabilities and autonomous platforms for our Defence Force, such as the Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft and the Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicle. They will also support the development of quantum technologies which provide secure navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, and advanced systems to counter drones and protect Defence personnel and infrastructure – drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East. 

This is a national endeavour, drawing on and contributing to capabilities across government, industry, research institutions and universities. The 2026 IS&T Strategy strengthens these partnerships to accelerate innovation, build sovereign capability and contribute to the peace and security of our region. 

Defence also continues to work with trusted international partners to expand collaboration across areas of innovation, science and technology. 

The 2026 IS&T Strategy is being launched in conjunction with the 2026 ADSTAR Summit which begins in Adelaide today. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“The Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy sets clear direction for Defence, industry, academics and researchers to work together on the technologies that will define the future of modern warfare. 

“Technology is reshaping warfare at a pace we have never seen before. The lessons from conflicts around the world are clear: nations that can innovate faster and adopt new technologies more effectively will have a decision advantage. 

“The 2024 Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy made strong progress and the 2026 Strategy builds on this and aligns efforts with the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Defence Industry Development Strategy.” 

Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Mark Hammond:

“The new Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy offers a blueprint for providing the capability our warfighters need.

“The Strategy will enable us to transition new technologies to our people sooner through a balanced approach to risk, deeper partnerships with industry, academia and international allies, and a culture of rapid experimentation that allows us to fail fast, learn faster and adapt quickly.

“Today is an invaluable opportunity for all of us to come together at ADSTAR, to discuss how we can take collective action to accelerate and enhance Australia’s asymmetric advantage to preserve peace, prosperity and security for all Australians.”

Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro:  

“The Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy clearly outlines Defence innovation, science and technology priorities, helping our partners focus their expertise and investment on the areas that will have the greatest impact on Australia’s national security and defence capability.

“This represents a significant step towards deeper co-design and co-development with industry and academia, ensuring research programs are shaped from the outset by shared priorities and real capability challenges, while strengthening research security across the innovation ecosystem. 

“This Strategy will help align research effort, investment and innovation with Defence’s highest-priority needs and strengthen Australia’s strategic advantage.”

Greens welcome long-awaited action on mental health emergencies, but more needed

After sustained pressure from the Greens, working alongside the families of those harmed by police during mental health emergencies, people with lived experience, and experts, the Minns Labor government has finally announced a welcome change to the way that Triple Zero calls for mental health are responded to, two years after committing to reform in this space.

A health-led response to mental health emergencies, with police activated as a secondary response only when required to support the safety of health workers, was a key recommendation of the Greens-led inquiry into community mental health care, which handed down its report in June 2024.

Dr Amanda Cohn, Greens spokesperson for Health including Mental Health, said today’s announcement is welcome and significant, but is not yet sufficiently resourced.

“When someone calls Triple Zero for their mental health or for a loved one, they need mental health care, not law enforcement. Too many people have been harmed by police as the default response in NSW while alternative response models have been operating in other states.”

Eight Mental Health Acute Assessment Teams (an expansion of the successful trial in Western Sydney), available 12 hours per day, leaves police as default responders for the vast majority of calls across NSW for care and support.

“People across the state are still at risk of harm from police-led responses. Now that this significant reform has commenced, the Greens are calling on the Minns Labor government to finish the job and ensure that people calling Triple Zero for mental health can get the care they need, regardless of the time of day or where they live.”

Selected Parliamentary activity by Dr Cohn calling for reform:

Labor and Nationals team up to keep coal projects away from independent review

The Minns Labor Government has ensured coal projects will continue to be approved in-house instead of by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) after voting against Greens amendments to the “Net Zero Future Committee Report: Emissions from the fossil fuel sector” to recommend coal projects must be independently assessed.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Climate Change and Planning Sue Higginson says:

“I moved this very simple amendment to this report to make good Labor’s own pre-election commitment to have coal projects independently assessed – I was shocked that they’ve teamed up with the Nationals and voted against their own position,”

“Coal exported from NSW is causing significant harm here and around the world. People are losing their lives, homes and landscapes because of the impacts of climate change. It’s astounding that Labor and the Nationals voted to let these deadly projects keep being approved without independent oversight,”

“Since the Minns Labor Government legislated our emissions reductions obligations in NSW, six mines totalling six million tonnes of collective greenhouse gas emissions have been approved without being referred to the Independent Planning Commission. This is despite Labor promising that new coal projects would be assessed independently,”

“This Committee was specifically established to have oversight of the Minns Labor Government’s legally enshrined obligations to reach net zero emissions, but they’ve stacked it with their own numbers and now the Nationals are helping keep coal approvals rolling along out of public view,”

“There should not be any new, expanded, or extended coal in NSW, and this report contains the evidence that approving any is actually against the law,”

“The Minns Labor Government cannot claim to be taking action on climate or staying true to the commitments they have made to the people of NSW when they have stopped this report from recommending all coal projects at the very least be independently assessed. It’s literally two-faced duplicity, with dire consequences” Ms Higginson said.

For media contact: Sue Higginson on 0428 227 363

Pre-election commitment by Labor for independent oversight of coal projects on page 31 of the transcript: Minister for Resources Courtney Houssos: I’d just make a couple of points in relation to coalmining and expansions. We were really clear before the election that we support the independent planning assessment process of resources projects, and that is the important overarching principle.

Greens stand in solidarity with Camp Sovereignty and First Nations community

The Victorian Greens are deeply disturbed by reports of an assault at Camp Sovereignty on Sunday night and extend our solidarity to Ash Ni Mara, everyone present at the camp, and the First Nations community.

It comes at a painful time for the community, just days after guilty pleas were entered in relation to last year’s violent attack on Camp Sovereignty and as the community approaches the one year anniversary.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“We’ve seen vile and racist attacks on Camp Sovereignty, which are deeply disturbing. It’s heartbreaking that First Nations people are being forced to relive this trauma so close to the anniversary of the violent neo-Nazi attack on Camp Sovereignty last year.

“Camp Sovereignty is a sacred place of truth-telling, resistance and the survival of the oldest continuing culture on Earth. It is a place that brings people together, and one that so many in our community feel deeply proud of and grateful to be welcomed to share in.

“Attacks like this do not happen in a vacuum. We are seeing racism and far-right extremism become increasingly emboldened, fuelled by those who seek to divide our communities.

“Now more than ever do we need to come together and unite against fear, hate and division. To stand in solidarity with First Nations communities, to protect and strengthen Treaty, truth-telling and justice.”

Labor doubles down on AI data centres and neglecting the environment

Labor’s reshuffle tells us a few things – Environment? Don’t care. Cyclists? Don’t care. AI data centres? More please! 

The Victorian Greens say that Labor’s priorities have been made crystal clear: rolling out the red carpet for big tech corporations top the list, while the environment is not even on the page. 

Victoria now has the fifth Environment Minister in five years. A revolving door that shows how little priority Labor gives to protecting our natural environment. 

‘Active’ has been dropped from the Public Transport Minister’s title – which the Greens say sends a clear signal that helping more Victorians to safely walk or cycle and lowering vehicle emissions, is not a priority. 

And the cherry on top is that Victoria now has a Minister for AI as Labor doubles down on special treatment for big tech corporations and even more AI data centres that spell disaster for Victoria’s environment. 

The Victorian Greens say that if anyone is going to believe that Labor’s AI data centre plan and the environment are compatible, they should think again. 

Not only is Labor already neglecting nature as it is, they’re now walking away from active transport and doubling down on AI data centres that will make things far worse. 

Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Dr Sarah Mansfield: 

“Labor’s been rolling out the red carpet for these AI data centres that guzzle water and energy and spell total disaster for the environment – and now they’ve even got a new Minister dedicated to bringing in even more of them. 

“If anyone in Labor actually cared about the environment, they wouldn’t be throwing the portfolio around like a hot potato every ten seconds while fast-tracking data centres that risk wreaking havoc on our environment and keeping Victoria hooked on coal and gas longer.

“If Labor genuinely cared about responsible investment, they would be supporting industries that create jobs to protect our climate, water and environment. But instead, they’re prioritising big tech corporations and fast-tracking data centres that send us backwards on all of the above.” 

Albanese must stop high-fiving wealth wipe out of young Australians

“The Albanese government needs to stop high-fiving falling house prices, because they’re sending first home buyers and Australian families into negative equity”, said Shadow Treasurer, Tim Wilson.

Mr Wilson’s comments come as new PropTrack analysis confirms $230 billion has been wiped from Australia’s property market in just four months, with property values falling from $12.77 trillion to $12.54 trillion since Labor’s tax changes, global turmoil and interest rate rises began to bite.

“It’s clear that the Albanese government doesn’t understand that they’re deliberately crashing Australians’ wealth”, Mr Wilson said.

“Yesterday, Albanese government Minister Matt Thistlethwaite couldn’t even tell the difference between negative equity and defaulting on a mortgage on national television, and this is the government deciding the fate of Australians’ biggest asset”.

“First the Albanese government came for the savings of retirees, then they came for the equity of small business owners, then the wealth of families, and now they’re coming for the hopes of first home buyers”.

“Their own 5 per cent deposit scheme has loaded first home buyers up with government-guaranteed debt right as they’ve crashed confidence in the property market, and now those same Australians are being walked into negative equity by the government’s own design”.

“This isn’t a fundamental problem with real estate, it’s a sentiment of fear created by an Albanese government that thinks smashing the value of Australians’ homes is somehow a win”.

“Taxpayers are now on the hook for $11 billion in liability because Labor’s scheme has more than quintupled since they came to office, while almost 60 per cent of new entrants are borrowing more than 94 per cent of the purchase price”.

“The Albanese government should stop treating a housing wealth wipe-out as some kind of victory lap and start taking responsibility for a crisis of confidence they created”.