$45.5 million for Indigenous Visual Arts, Languages and Culture

I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government will provide $45.5 million to activities that will support and enrich Australia’s unique Indigenous cultures. This funding will support 86 Indigenous visual art organisations, 51 Indigenous languages activities, 83 culture activities and more than 570 jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An extension of […]

Media Release: Week of action targets precursor importers

An Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) investigation, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and partner agencies, has resulted in the seizure of 35 kilograms of precursor drugs, the arrest of one person and the detention of one unlawful non-citizen across New South Wales and Victoria. The investigation began last week when […]

Media Release: Two charged over internally concealing drugs

Two Japanese nationals have been charged with drug importation offences for attempting to internally import drugs into Melbourne International Airport. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) questioned the men when they arrived into Melbourne International Airport on Friday (22 August). During questioning, the ABPCS officers became suspicious the men may be concealing drugs […]

Serious penalties for biosecurity offender

Swift investigation by the Department of Agriculture on the illegal importation of aquatic plants has r esulted in the conviction and sentencing of a Queensland man who may now spend Christmas in prison. The man pleaded guilty to five offences of illegally importing aquatic plants by using false consignee details, decoy packaging and falsely declaring […]

Syrian troops takes control of airbase under IS attack

Damascus, Aug 24 (IANS) Syrian troops took full control of the al-Tabaqa airbase Sunday after intense battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, state-run media said. The militants could not hold their ground, SANA news agency reported. Government forces are still striking at the positions of the terrorists in that area. An army commander said severe […]

Ex-CAG’s comments draw sharp reactions

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) Former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai’s remark that he was “pressurised” by the erstwhile UPA government to drop certain names from his reports Sunday drew sharp reactions from the Congress and the BJP. While the Congress questioned why Rai did not make the revelations while he was in office, […]