"You can remove a physical statue, but the message of harmony it stands for is something no one can ever steal.”

Investigators had worked intensively to assess whether the accused acted alone and whether there was any ongoing risk to the community.

Tasmania recorded one of its largest cigarette seizures just before Christmas, when officers searched a shipping container from Poland and uncovered over 5.4 million illicit cigarettes declared as stretch film.

If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

Mr Cheema* said the attackers made racist remarks during the assault, including telling him to “go back to your f*** country.”

FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Jashanpreet Singh at the airport before he could leave the country.

He dismissed claims that employers in Australia and New Zealand were rejecting Fijian workers due to crime or domestic violence, clarifying that no such reports have been received.

“We have strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged them to take immediate action to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable.”

“Crimes like this are an attack on all Victorians who value respect, inclusion and the strength of our diverse society”

Applications have opened for Aviators in Schools, an initiative led by the CSIRO in partnership with Aviation/Aerospace Australia that connects teachers with industry experts to bring real-world aviation experience into primary and secondary schools.