Have your say on telecommunications services

A new consultation paper with proposals for modern reliability safeguards for telco services in Australia has just been released as part of our ongoing Consumer Safeguards Review
Australians depend on reliable access to telecommunications services to stay connected with family and friends and to do business.
We expect getting connected to a service to be easy and that the service is reliable. When this is not the case, we expect simple and easy-to-navigate safeguards to help fix connection problems.
The review is examining the protections offered to consumers so our telecommunications framework is suitable for all Australians into the future.
We are seeking input on a number of proposals designed to improve the reliability of fixed voice and broadband services, including:

  • New rules enforcing maximum timeframes for connections and repairs and encouraging telco providers  to keep the connection and repair appointments they make
  • Requirements to focus on keeping consumers connected to a service if maximum timeframes cannot be met
  • Requirements for network operators to publish reliability metrics to help consumers make informed decisions.

You can provide your feedback by 21 December 2018 through the Have Your Say webpage.
Find out more:
Read the Minister’s media release

PARTNERSHIP TO RESEARCH HIGH SPEED FLIGHT

A new collaboration agreement between DST and the University of Queensland has been established to undertake advanced research in flight science and enabling technologies.

The $10 million agreement will see the consolidation of both parties’ test facilities to leverage the expertise of academic and industry researchers and international partners.
Professor Richard Morgan, the University of Queensland’s Director of the Centre for Hypersonics, has been appointed to provide expertise in the development and operation of advanced large-scale test facilities and facilitate closer collaboration under the agreement.
In 2017, Professor Morgan became the only non-US scientist to have received a hypersonic systems and technologies award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Australia is a world leader in high speed flight science with over 10 years of joint flight experimentation by DST, the University of Queensland and industry.
High-speed flight science is one of the priority areas to be developed under the Next Generation Technologies Fund, a program focussing on research and development in emerging and future technologies.

OPV construction commences

In a momentous day for Australia’s national shipbuilding endeavor, construction has commenced on the Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessels at Osborne in South Australia.
The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the multi-billion dollar project will see 12 OPVs delivered.
The OPVs will have an important role protecting our borders and will provide greater range and endurance than the existing patrol boat fleet.
“The OPV project is expected to create up to 1000 direct and indirect jobs,” said Minister Pyne.
The first two vessels will be built at Osborne before Civmec starts constructing the next 10 at Henderson in Western Australia.
Minister Pyne said ASC Shipbuilding will use its expertise gained through the Air Warfare Destroyer program to build the first two OPVs.
“These new vessels are being built in Australian facilities, with Australian steel, and by Australian workers.”
“Only a year ago we announced Lürssen was the preferred tenderer.”
“It’s a fantastic achievement to start construction on time and on budget and I’d like to thank everyone involved in the project.”
The Government’s $90 billion dollar continuous naval shipbuilding program is the largest and most ambitious capital investment ever undertaken in Australia.
“This investment is about more than building ships, submarines and shipyards because it will establish an Australian sovereign capability.”
“The continuous shipbuilding program will act as a catalyst for industry growth which will secure thousands of Australian jobs for decades.”
“This is truly a national endeavour, with the Federal Government laying the foundations for an Australia-wide sovereign naval shipbuilding enterprise.”
The OPVs will be built using Australian steel, creating Australian jobs. The steel used today in construction is from the same batch cut by the Prime Minister in Henderson just a few weeks ago, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to the naval shipbuilding program and Australian jobs.
“Our commitment ends the boom-bust cycle which has afflicted the Australian naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry in the past.”
The Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Mathias Cormann said that ASC’s shipbuilding capacity has continued to grow from strength to strength since the Government initiated the Air Warfare Destroyer reform program in 2014.
“Over the past few years ASC has demonstrated its capacity to deliver high quality vessels for the Royal Australian Navy.
“ASC’s workforce has already delivered two state-of-the-art Air Warfare Destroyers, with a third due next year. They are also exceeding their performance benchmarks in support of our Collins Class submarine fleet.”
“We look forward to ASC continuing their strong work on the first two Offshore Patrol Vessels that begin construction today.”

Mint 2018 Holiday Season

The Holiday season is just around the corner. Don’t forget to visit our online store or phone our Contact Center to place your orders on time. You can pick up a range of beautiful coins, collections and stocking fillers.
To ensure delivery for domestic locations prior to Christmas, orders must be placed by Friday 07 December 2018. International orders must be placed by Friday 30 November 2018.

Man charged after firearms located during vehicle stop in the Hunter

A man has been charged with drug and firearms offences, which arose from a vehicle stop in the Hunter region last night.
About 8pm (Wednesday 14 November 2018), officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North stopped a vehicle on Newcastle Road, New Lambton, and spoke with the 23-year-old female driver and a 23-year-old male passenger.
Officers removed the man from the vehicle and located a .22 calibre single-shot revolver in his waistband.
Following a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge cartridges, .22 calibre ammunition, and a shotgun barrel.
The pair was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station, where the man was served a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO).
During a subsequent FPO search of a New Lambton home, investigators seized further ammunition, and methylamphetamine, cannabis, suspected steroids, prescription medications, and cash.
The man was charged with 10 firearms offences, supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 15 November 2018).
The woman was released pending further inquiries.

NSW Police to retain Newcastle Airport role

New South Wales Police will retain policing operation duties when Newcastle Airport begins international operations later this month.
From Thursday 22 November 2018, Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd (NAPL) will introduce Virgin Australia flights between Australia and New Zealand three days a week.
The 13-week arrangement is due to continue until Sunday 17 February 2019.
The Port Stephens-Hunter Police District has been working closely with the airport, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) to prepare for the changes.
Despite the introduction of international flights, Port Stephens-Hunter Commander, Detective Superintendent Craig Jackson, said the responsibility for policing will remain with NSW Police.
“The airport’s classification has moved from category three to category two, but it’s not deemed a “designated” facility, so there’s no requirement for the Australian Federal Police to staff the airport,” Det. Supt Jackson said.
“However, the AFP has started training local NSW officers to deal with international crime detection and the prosecution of offences under state and federal legislation,” he added.
“There are new areas of policing for us to consider, relating to importation, immigration and aviation offences, as well as the airport’s own procedures.”

Man charged, cannabis plants seized – Swansea

A man has been charged after police executed a search warrant and located hydroponic cannabis set-ups near Lake Macquarie.
At 8.30am on Wednesday 14 November 2018, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at a property on Kahibah Street, Swansea.
Police will allege they located hydroponic set-ups and seized cannabis plants from three rooms in the house.
A short time later, police attended a property on John Fisher Road at Belmont North where they seized cannabis plants before arresting a 37-year-old man and taking him to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with cultivate prohibited plant and granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 28 November 2018.

Mobility scooter tows boat, charges follow

A man will face court next year after a mobility scooter was used to tow a motorboat along the M1 Pacific Motorway.
On Friday 19 October 2018 police responded to reports of a mobility scooter being used to tow a 17-foot boat along the Pacific Highway at Belmont.
Police attached to the Lake Macquarie Highway Patrol made a number of inquiries in relation to the matter.
Yesterday (Tuesday 13 November 2018), a 35–year-old man was charged by way of a Future Court Attendance Notice for driving whilst disqualified, use unregistered vehicle on road, use uninsured vehicle on road, and use unregistered trailer on road.
The man is due to appear in Belmont Local Court on 9 January 2019.

Man charged over firearm and drug offences – Strike Force Raptor North

Strike Force Raptor North have charged a man following a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) search in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 6.30am (Wednesday 14 November 2018), the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North served an FPO on a 56-year-old man, who is a member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG), at a home in Kitchener.
During a subsequent FPO search of the home, investigators seized a semi-automatic pistol, a firearm barrel, and a quantity of methylamphetamine and cannabis.
Following inquiries, a 33-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
He was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess a barrel for a firearm unless authorised by licence, two counts of possess prohibited drug, and outstanding warrants.
The man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 15 November 2018).

Finalists announced for 2018 Rotary Police Officer of the Year Awards

Thirty-three NSW Police officers have been announced as finalists for the prestigious 2018 Rotary Clubs of NSW, Police Officer of the Year awards.
The category winners and overall Police Officer of the Year will be announced at a special dinner held at the Hyatt Regency, Sydney, this Friday (16 November 2018).
The finalists for each category are as follows;
Metropolitan Field Operations Police Officer of the Year Award

  • Leading Senior Constable Daniel Glenn – North Shore Police Area Command
  • Senior Constable Rahsan Keles – Auburn Police Area Command
  • Senior Constable Steven Day – Blue Mountains Police Area Command

Regional NSW Field Operations Police Officer of the Year Award

  • Inspector David Maher – Orana Mid-Western Police District
  • Detective Sergeant Justin Marks – South Coast Police District
  • Senior Sergeant Lisa Westwood – Wollongong Police District

Investigations and Counter Terrorism Police Officer of the Year Award

  • Detective Sergeant Jay Locke – Child Abuse & Sex Crimes Squad
  • Detective Sergeant John Edwards – Criminal Groups Squad
  • Detective Sergeant Joseph Maree – Homicide Squad

Specialist Support Police Officer of the Year Award

  • Sergeant Gregory Moon – Forensic Evidence & Technical Services Command
  • Senior Constable Katherine Emerson – Traffic & Highway Patrol Command
  • Senior Sergeant Raymond Cameron – Police Prosecutions

Corporate Services Police Officer of the Year Award

  • Senior Sergeant Barry Cash – Workforce Safety Command
  • Sergeant Janelle Widders – NSW Police Academy
  • Senior Constable Sascha Benn – Education & Training Command

Employee of the Year Award

  • Darryl Hamilton – Mt Druitt Police Area Command
  • Lisa Gardner – NSW Police Academy
  • Scott Mieni – Mid North Coast Police District

Volunteers in Policing Award

  • Harry Scope – Tuggerah Lakes Police District
  • Helen Chapman – Kings Cross Police Area Command
  • Glen Fanning – Riverina Police District

Rotary Community Award

  • Leading Senior Constable Bianca Williams – The Hume Police District
  • Chief Inspector Guy Guiana – Hunter Valley Police District
  • Chief Inspector Robert Fitzgerald – Blacktown Police Area Command

Customer Service Excellence Award

  • Sergeant Aaron Greenwood – Richmond Police District
  • Senior Constable Draz Brkljac – Youth & Crime Prevention Command
  • Sergeant Scott Mostran – Kings Cross Police Area Command

The Irene Juergens (IJ) Fellowship Award – Sworn Category

  • Sergeant Kelsey Priestley – North Shore Police Area Command
  • Senior Constable Raffaelle Frisina – Liverpool City Police Area Command
  • Senior Constable Sam Donni – Kings Cross Police Area Command

The Irene Juergens (IJ) Fellowship Award – Unsworn Category

  • Kim Fenwick – St George Police Area Command
  • Patricia Owen – Newcastle City Police District