CANBERRA, ACT, July 2 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police (QPS) and Australian Border Force (ABF) The North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NQJOCTF) has charged a second man over his alleged role in a failed people smuggling venture into Australia. The AFP and ABF spoke with the Chinese national, 30, in a supermarket carpark at Weipa in Far North Queensland on...
CANBERRA, ACT, July 2 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following media release: The Albanese Government has today introduced legislation to help secure the sustainable distribution of cash in Australia. This is about strengthening the cash distribution system, which is essential for the many Australians and businesses that rely on cash. The Cash Distribution Framework Bill 2026 introduces a regulatory framework to ensure the sector serves the public interest and is on a sustainable fo...
CANBERRA, ACT, July 2 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following media release: The Albanese Government is legislating tougher sanctions in response to misconduct by tax advisors. This is all about making our taxation system stronger, driving better behaviour and deterring misconduct. We're introducing a stronger sanctions framework including criminal penalties for unregistered tax preparers, new civil penalties for breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct, and increased penalty a...
CANBERRA, ACT, July 1 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police (QPS) and Australian Border Force (ABF) A Taiwanese national has been charged by the North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NQJOCTF) over his alleged role in a failed people smuggling venture into Australia. The man, 34, was arrested in a supermarket carpark at Weipa in Far North Queensland yesterday (30...
CANBERRA, ACT, July 1 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: The Albanese Labor Government is delivering real changefor Australians, with a suite of cost-of-living measures starting on 1 July 2026, including more tax cuts,a full six months of Paid Parental leave,strengthening Medicare and more hospital funding. Starting1 July 2026, the Albanese Labor Government is: * Giving every taxpayer another tax cut, as part of our plan to deliver a series of five tax cuts...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: The AFP has upgraded charges against two Russian-born Australian citizens to conspiracy to commit espionage under Operation Burgazada. The married pair was originally charged on 11 July, 2024, with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, contrary to section 91.12 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Following a comprehensive assessment of the available evidence and prospects of conviction, th...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint media release between the AFP and NSW Police Force Editor's Note: Images of letter excerpts are available via Hightail. The AFP and NSW Police Force are seeking public assistance to help identify a person believed to be responsible for writing more than 100 letters over the past decade to a wide range of high-profile people, including federal and state parliamentarians, religious organisati...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: fuel excise, housing market, 1 July cost-of-living relief, superannuation James Glenday: The consumer watchdog has put petrol stations on notice ahead of tomorrow's fuel excise changes which will lead to higher prices. The government has opted to keep its cut to the fuel excise, which it brought in in response to the war with Iran. But it is not going to be as much for the month of July. Emm...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: superannuation, 1 July 2026 cost-of-living relief, tax reform Peter Stefanovic: Well, the Greens are showing some of its bargaining chips this morning - it wants Labor to force the nation's biggest companies to pay super to nearly 500,000 teenagers who work less than 30hours. Joining us live is the federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Treasurer, we'll start here. I mean, I seem to recall getting s...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: housing market, tax cuts, 1 July cost-of-living relief Tom Steinfort: The Labor government is insisting its Budget isn't to blame for those dire auction clearance rates we're seeing. Sarah Abo: To discuss we're joined now by Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, live in Canberra. Treasurer, good morning to you. So your government says this slump is predominantly the fault of a 4.35percent interest rate,...