Thredbo Receives Snowfall as Cold Weather Sets In
Thredbo resort has experienced a fresh layer of snow. The resort posted on Instagram:
Temps dropped to a chilly -6.4 this morning, the village rooftops are dusted in white and the Snow Cams are already looking very wintery 👀 Opening Weekend is getting closer, and Mother Nature is giving us a taste of what’s to come – let’s GO!
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported that parts of Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales are expected to experience wintry conditions in the coming days due to a cold front and a following high-pressure system.
It’s a sure sign we really are moving into the cooler months of the year,
BoM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told AAP.
No Timeline for Fixing Job Ready Graduates Scheme, Says Labor
Education Minister Jason Clare stated he has no set timeline to amend the job ready graduates (JRG) program, despite previously describing the Morrison-era initiative as a failure in discouraging students from pursuing humanities degrees.
The scheme, introduced in 2021, aimed to encourage students to enrol in degrees such as science, nursing, education, and IT, while increasing fees for humanities, law, and creative arts degrees. It has been in place longer under the Albanese government than under the Liberal government.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Clare acknowledged the complexity and cost of fixing the program but noted that the newly established Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), created under legislation earlier this year, has the authority to review the system. However, the timing of this review remains uncertain.
I’ve said that JRG is a failure if the purpose of the former government was to get people to not study the things that they are passionate about.
I’ve also said that it is expensive and complex to fix. The Atec, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission has got the ability now to be able to look at the costs across the whole system. And I said that this is unfinished business and that there is more work to do, but I won’t set a timeline on that today.
Treasury modelling released earlier this week indicated that one quarter of humanities students will take longer to complete their studies under the scheme.
Owners of Bondi Kosher Kitchen Describe Impact of Devastating Fire
The owners of Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a kosher restaurant in Bondi that was destroyed by fire in 2024, provided testimony at the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion during its fourth day of hearings.
Judith Lewis, managing director and great-grandmother in a large Jewish family, explained that she, her husband, and her parents founded the kosher caterer in 1970 before it evolved into a restaurant located on Bondi’s Curlewis Street.
Her daughter, Karyn Lewis, who worked at Lewis’ for nearly 40 years alongside cousins and children, noted that it was Sydney’s first kosher takeaway restaurant and later expanded to catering for airlines, hospitals, prisons, and fine dining.
The restaurant was destroyed by fire in October 2024 and has not reopened since.
A lot of people came and met there, and were able to sit and eat and then see other people there. It was a communal centre … For us it’s devastating because we’re not seeing all our friends, because the customers very much became our friends.
The commission then proceeded to a closed session to hear the Lewises’ evidence without compromising ongoing criminal proceedings related to the attack on the restaurant.
Queensland Education Department Affected by International Cybersecurity Breach
The Queensland Education Department has been impacted by an international cybersecurity breach, according to the state’s Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek.
In a statement released on Thursday, Langbroek confirmed that the names, email addresses, and school locations of students enrolled in state schools since 2020 may have been exposed due to a hack of the third-party provider managing the state’s online learning platform, QLearn.
Langbroek emphasized that there is no evidence that sensitive information such as passwords, dates of birth, or financial details were accessed during the breach.
This incident has impacted thousands of educational institutions, including state schools and universities within Queensland, across Australia and overseas, and early advice is this will impact more than 200 million people and more than 9,000 institutions worldwide.
School principals are currently contacting families and teachers to inform them about the breach.
Langbroek added that the department is providing priority support to families and teachers with known domestic violence or child safety histories.
NSW Premier Announces Tactical Policing for Arrivals Linked to Islamic State
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated that a tactical policing operation will be in place when Australians connected to Islamic State fighters arrive in Sydney today.
Earlier, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declined to confirm whether arrests would occur upon the arrival of a woman and child expected this afternoon. When asked about security measures, Minns said police have a tactical operation planned for the day.
I can assure you that NSW police counter-terrorism command, the JCTC, will be working with commonwealth colleagues to take action if they believe a criminal offence has been committed, or they believe that public needs to be made safe as a result of an arrest for example.
If there’s action for the NSW police and charges relating to those individuals upon landing in Australia, that’s exactly what should happen.
Minns also noted that the Department of Communities and Justice will assist with the reintegration of returning Australians, including children. Police Minister Yasmin Catley, who confirmed the arrivals yesterday, did not specify whether a large police presence would be deployed.
In my briefings, they have advised me of all of this information, and I have confidence that the NSW police, along with the commonwealth agencies, will certainly operationalise this as they have planned.
Government to Announce Details on East Coast Gas Reservation Scheme
The federal government is anticipated to release further details this afternoon regarding the design of its proposed east coast gas reservation scheme.
The initiative would require gas exporters to reserve between 15% and 25% of their gas production for domestic consumption.
The final model is subject to consultation with industry stakeholders and others.
The scheme, supported by environmental groups and unions, aims to reduce prices for households and businesses by increasing gas supply within the east coast market.
The announcement is expected to coincide with the release of a Senate inquiry report on gas company tax settings, chaired by the Greens, later on Thursday.
The committee has been reviewing a proposal for a 25% tax on gas exporter revenue.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out such a tax in the upcoming budget, partly to avoid straining relations with Asian trading partners from whom Australia sources fuel amid the global oil shock.
Tabcorp Under Investigation by Financial Intelligence Agency
Tabcorp announced this morning that it is under investigation by AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence agency.
In an ASX announcement, the betting company stated that AUSTRAC has expressed “serious concerns” regarding Tabcorp’s ability to effectively identify, mitigate, and manage its money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) risks. The investigation will focus on the company’s compliance with federal finance laws and obligations.
AUSTRAC has advised that its investigation is at an early stage and its approach will be determined once sufficient evidence has been collected and assessed. AUSTRAC has also advised that all potential outcomes remain open, including the possibility that no further enforcement action will be taken.
Brett Chenoweth, Chair of Tabcorp, said:
Tabcorp takes its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations very seriously. The Board and Executive are fully committed to collaborating with AUSTRAC in the continuing uplift in Tabcorp’s ML/TF risk maturity.
Two Men Charged After Fatal Car Crash into Weir Near Sydney
New South Wales police charged two men following a fatal car crash into a weir in the Royal National Park near Sydney early yesterday morning.
Emergency services responded to Audley Weir around 1:15 a.m. after reports of a vehicle entering the water. The 20-year-old driver escaped the vehicle, but the 20-year-old passenger did not and was later recovered by police divers.
The driver and another 18-year-old man, who was driving a separate vehicle, were taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Both were subsequently arrested.
The older man faces charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death. The 18-year-old was charged with driving with a suspended licence and multiple offences related to non-compliance with p-plate restrictions.
Both men were granted conditional bail and are scheduled to appear in court next month.
Victorian Premier Reverses Decision to Ban Football Match Broadcasts at Federation Square
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced she is overturning the decision to prohibit broadcasting Socceroos matches at Federation Square.
In a statement posted on social media, Allan expressed disagreement with the Melbourne Arts Precinct’s earlier decision, citing the misconduct of a few individuals should not prevent World Cup events from proceeding.
Yesterday, Melbourne Arts Precinct decided that Fed Square won’t show Socceroos matches on the big screen. I disagree with that decision – and I am overturning it. The government will ensure Fed Square has the support it needs to put on the matches this year.
We’re also looking at additional events and live sites, so Victorians have more options to watch.
Now, more than ever, people deserve more free stuff to do together in the city.
There’s always a risk of bad behaviour from a few dickheads at every public gathering but police and security will be on site and there’ll be zero tolerance for it.
The World Cup should bring us together, not keep us apart.
Good luck Socceroos – Victoria is behind you.
Mortgage Holders Urged to Negotiate Interest Rates Amid Rising Costs
Following three consecutive interest rate increases, mortgage holders are facing increased financial pressure.
Consumers seeking better rates are encouraged to negotiate with lenders to discover their "edge of cliff" pricing—the maximum rate lenders are willing to offer to retain customers.
Liberal Senator James Paterson Reports Incident at Pre-Polling Booth
Liberal Senator James Paterson described a "bit of excitement" after a confrontation with a One Nation volunteer at a pre-polling booth in Albury ahead of the Farrer by-election. Paterson was campaigning for Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski.
Video footage shows a One Nation volunteer confronting Paterson over a sign critical of One Nation’s candidate, David Farley, and allegedly grabbing Paterson’s phone.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson apologized for the volunteer’s conduct in a interview, stating that Farley reached out to check on Paterson and that the party had apologized for the incident.
Hanson added that the volunteer was dismissed and sent home immediately. However, One Nation’s chief of staff James Ashby later qualified Hanson’s remarks, claiming that while the behavior was not condoned, Paterson had been "rage-baiting a pensioner."
Woolworths Reintroduces Soft Plastics Recycling Collection Points
Woolworths is reinstating soft plastics recycling collection points at over 700 stores across five states, more than three years after the nationwide REDcycle supermarket scheme ended, according to AAP.
The supermarket chain stated that the initiative makes it easier for Australian families to recycle soft plastics such as chip packets and lolly wrappers during their weekly shopping.
The new scheme began with a trial in five Victorian Woolworths stores in February 2024, with several South Australian stores joining recently.
Some of the collected plastics are recycled into in-store wall paneling and Woolworths-branded bread bags.
