The victims were Sukhdeep Singh, 33, his wife Sukhvir Kaur, 29, and Gurpreet Singh, 38. Community leader Daljit Singh confirmed their identities and family backgrounds in an interview with The Indian Weekender.

All three were originally from Punjab, India.

Sukhdeep came from Goniana Khurd in Bathinda district and had lived in New Zealand for more than seven years, where he operated an NZ Post courier business. His wife, Sukhvir, was from Rauke Kalan in Moga district.

Gurpreet, a relative of the couple and their brother-in-law, came from Har Rai Pur in Bathinda district. He had been living in New Zealand for about three years and worked as an NZ Post courier van driver.

The crash occurred at about 10.15pm on Sunday, 8 November, on Great South Road in Takanini. The vehicle reportedly left the road and struck the BurgerFuel restaurant after the three had been returning from a Sikh temple.

New Zealand Police confirmed that all three occupants died at the scene. No one inside the restaurant was injured. The Serious Crash Unit attended, and an investigation into the circumstances of the crash is continuing.

The deaths have devastated the families in Punjab and the wider Punjabi community in New Zealand, with friends and community representatives now working to bring the three victims home for their final rites.

Singh said the families wanted the bodies repatriated to India. The release of the bodies was tentatively expected on Friday, 13 November, subject to the completion of formalities.

Provisional arrangements shared by Singh include washing and prayers on Monday, followed by an Ardas at South Auckland Funeral Services. The return of the bodies to India is tentatively planned for Tuesday, 17 November. These dates may change depending on the completion of the required processes.

Meanwhile, friends and community members have launched a fundraising appeal to help meet the costs of repatriation and provide financial support to the grieving families.

The Givealittle campaign, organised by Mandeep Singh Brar and a group of friends, says donations will help cover embalming, documentation, legal formalities, coffins, transportation and international repatriation expenses.

The organisers have appealed to people in New Zealand and overseas to contribute or share the fundraising page to help ease the financial burden on the families.

Donations can be made through the Givealittle appeal.

The Supreme Sikh Society and Central Sikh Association had earlier expressed condolences to the families and friends, describing the incident as deeply heartbreaking for the community. They said the community would be asked to assist following the police investigation.

As arrangements continue, members of Auckland’s Punjabi community are rallying around the families as they come to terms with the loss of three loved ones.

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It is important to note here that ACMA’s regulatory remit does not extend to online news content in the same way it applies to broadcasting, leaving a significant gap in external oversight as audiences increasingly consume news through digital platforms.

The decision raises broader questions about accountability at Australia’s publicly funded broadcasters, particularly when complaints concern perceived bias, impartiality and the representation of multicultural communities.

The proposal was put forward by Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, who has argued that the existing arrangements do not provide sufficiently independent scrutiny of complaints about coverage of Israel and the Middle East.

Segal first raised the proposal during hearings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in July. She argued that the broadcasters were effectively acting as their own judges when assessing complaints about their editorial coverage and called for an external ombudsman or independent oversight mechanism.

In an updated report released in October, she reiterated the recommendation, arguing that the seriousness of concerns about the accuracy, impartiality and proportionality of reporting warranted more detailed independent examination.

However, the government has indicated it will not replace the existing ABC and SBS ombudsmen with the proposed external body. Communications Minister Anika Wells’ spokesperson thanked Segal for her work but said the government would consider the forthcoming Royal Commission report, expected in December, before deciding on further action.

The government’s position is that ACMA already provides an avenue for external review when complaints are escalated.

Both broadcasters have also defended their existing arrangements. The ABC describes its complaints framework as comprehensive, while SBS maintains that its independent ombudsman and external regulatory oversight provide adequate accountability.

But the debate should not be viewed exclusively through the experience of Jewish Australians or complaints about reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Indian and Hindu Australians have also raised longstanding concerns about what they regard as biased, one-sided or inadequate reporting by the public broadcasters. These concerns have included coverage of Hindu religious issues, attacks on Hindu minorities overseas, India’s political affairs and the portrayal of the Hindu community in Australia.

The scale of dissatisfaction was highlighted in the Australian Hindus 2024 survey. Almost 80 per cent of respondents rated the ABC’s reporting on Hindus as poor or very poor. Among respondents who had complained to the ABC, more than 86 per cent said they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the response. The corresponding figure for complaints to SBS was also more than 86 per cent.

More than 80 per cent of respondents supported the appointment of an independent ombudsman for the ABC.

These figures represent the views of survey respondents rather than a nationally representative assessment of all Hindu Australians. Nevertheless, they point to a level of dissatisfaction that deserves serious consideration.

There are also documented examples of complaints concerning coverage of Hindu and Indian issues reaching the ABC Ombudsman’s Office.

In February 2024, the ABC received 275 complaints about its reporting on the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among the concerns were the historical context surrounding the site, the representation of Hindu perspectives and the accuracy of aspects of the reporting. The ombudsman’s investigation found no breach of the ABC’s editorial standards.

In another case, the ABC received complaints about its Four Corners program, ‘Infiltrating Australia’, which examined alleged Indian government influence in Australia. Complainants raised concerns about impartiality and what they considered anti-Hindu sentiment. The ombudsman again found no breach.

Complaints were also lodged over ABC coverage of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, with complainants questioning whether the broadcaster had adequately reported the violence and whether its reporting gave sufficient weight to the experiences of Hindu minorities. The ABC’s subsequent review found no breach of its editorial standards.

The ABC’s own figures show that complaints about India and Indian politics have been a significant feature of audience concerns. Its January-June 2024 mid-year ombudsman update recorded that coverage of India and Indian politics accounted for 10 per cent of complaints during that period.

For communities that feel their concerns have repeatedly been dismissed, the existence of an internal complaints process does not automatically translate into confidence that their grievances have been adequately addressed.

The ABC and SBS are not ordinary private media outlets. They receive substantial public funding (over 1.5 billion dollars annually) and have specific obligations to serve Australia’s diverse population. Their responsibilities extend beyond reporting on multicultural communities to ensuring that those communities are represented fairly and that their experiences are not overlooked or distorted.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to infer the pattern here. Biased reporting can have serious consequences for the well-being and security of the communities concerned, particularly when public broadcasters, armed with billions of dollars in taxpayer funding, have considerable power to shape public perceptions.

Despite India-born Australians having the highest median income of any population group in Australia, and among the lowest levels of criminality, negative perceptions of Indian Australians have increased significantly in recent years according to reports. Jewish Australians, who are also among the country’s most highly educated, highest-earning and law-abiding communities, have experienced a similar deterioration in public perceptions.

The correlation between the increasingly negative perceptions of these communities and what many regard as persistent editorial bias in publicly funded broadcasters is difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence and deserves serious scrutiny.

Ultimately, the test of a complaints system is not simply whether it exists, but whether Australians have confidence in its independence, transparency and capacity to address legitimate concerns.

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Wilson said the investment would help identify health and developmental problems earlier and ensure children receive appropriate support.

“Every parent wants their child to have the best possible start in life, and that means identifying problems early and making sure they get the right support,” she said.

“The Liberals and Nationals will back this world-leading research because investing in children’s health today means better outcomes for families tomorrow.”

The programme follows almost 50,000 children and 75,000 parents across Victoria, collecting health, education and developmental information to help researchers understand children’s health, development and wellbeing.

The proposed funding would support the continuation of the research programme and its expansion into Victorian primary schools, allowing researchers to examine children’s learning, development and wellbeing as they begin their school years.

The plan also includes establishing an Intervention Hub to trial and evaluate early intervention programmes and identify approaches that deliver effective outcomes.

GenV research has the potential to inform improvements in areas including childhood mental health, food allergies, obesity and school readiness. Its data and biological samples are also used to support research into children’s health and development.

Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier said early identification of health and developmental challenges could improve access to treatment and support.

“The earlier we can identify health and developmental challenges in children, the better chance we have of providing effective treatment and support before those problems become more serious.”

She said the proposed investment would help researchers evaluate early intervention approaches and could reduce long-term pressure on the health system.

The $20 million commitment is an election pledge by the Victorian Liberals and Nationals. It would be delivered over two years if the Coalition forms government.

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The review warns that AI-related incidents could become more complex, widespread and consequential, calling for stronger cooperation between government agencies, frontier AI developers and international partners.

Among its recommendations, the review urges the Australian Government to strengthen information-sharing arrangements with leading AI developers, including through engagement with OpenAI’s Australian Taskforce, international initiatives, technical collaboration and personnel exchanges.

It also recommends encouraging frontier AI companies to establish research, training and AI safety activities in Australia, potentially giving the Government greater access to technical expertise and improving its ability to respond to emerging risks.

The review proposes that the Government consider mandatory, time-bound AI safety reporting, covering issues such as misaligned AI behaviour and agentic cyber incidents. It also calls for options to encourage the timely reporting of AI-related cyber and safety incidents, including protections for developers and others who disclose vulnerabilities or incidents.

The Office of AI is being asked to consider how Australia’s proposed AI Standards could draw on existing regulatory and law-enforcement mechanisms used by international counterparts.

The review also highlights the importance of Australia’s international engagement on AI governance. It recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, including the Australian AI Safety Institute, continue working with international partners on common expectations for AI safety, incident reporting, evaluations, safeguards and transparency.

It further calls for the Government to consider whether the AI Safety Institute has sufficient capacity to meet growing demands for technical research, evaluations and analysis, including providing rapid scientific and technical advice during a crisis.

Criminal law and government accountability

One of the more significant proposals concerns potential changes to Australia’s criminal law to improve AI safety.

The review recommends that the Attorney-General’s Department, in consultation with the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Home Affairs and other relevant agencies, examine options including criminal penalties for serious regulatory non-compliance.

It also proposes exploring a standalone ‘failure to prevent’ offence. Under this approach, a company responsible for developing an AI model could face criminal liability where the model engages in harmful conduct and the company fails to take reasonable steps to prevent that harm.

The recommendations also seek clearer responsibilities across government when agencies encounter suspected cyber security incidents that have not yet been technically verified.

The Protective Security Board is being asked to issue guidance clarifying agency obligations and escalation expectations when vulnerabilities or suspected incidents are reported but remain technically unconfirmed.

Commonwealth agencies are also urged to review their vulnerability-disclosure and cyber incident-management procedures to ensure unusual or emerging threats are escalated promptly to the Australian Signals Directorate, Home Affairs and senior decision-makers.

The review recommends formal liaison arrangements between the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre, the National Office of Cyber Security and the Australian AI Safety Institute to improve information-sharing and identify incidents that could have wider national security implications.

It also calls for clearer procedures to ensure the National Office of Cyber Security determines whether broader consequence-management arrangements are required following a cyber incident.

Preparing government agencies for AI-related threats

The remaining recommendations focus on strengthening the cyber security capabilities and preparedness of Commonwealth agencies.

Government departments responsible for national plans under the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework are being asked to assess how AI could affect the hazards and emergencies they manage. They must report their findings and any proposed changes to relevant Crisis Arrangements Committee chairs by the end of 2026.

The review also recommends improving AI literacy among government staff so they can better recognise and respond to AI-related risks.

It calls for renewed attention to fundamental cyber security practices, including implementation of the Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight mitigation strategies.

Other proposed measures include reducing the size of the Government’s digital estate by consolidating systems and disconnecting or segregating systems that do not need internet access.

The Government is also being urged to consider further strengthening the cyber defences of Systems of Government Significance in response to changing threats and risk profiles.

At the same time, agencies should work with the Australian Signals Directorate to identify responsible ways to use AI-enabled cyber defence tools for security monitoring, penetration testing, threat detection and incident response.

Taken together, the 18 recommendations seek to strengthen Australia’s ability to identify, report and respond to AI-driven cyber incidents while improving cooperation between government, industry and international partners.

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Mira claimed the state title in the final round of the Victorian Ninja League (VNL), held on Sunday, 8 November 2026, at Lyons Sports Academy in Victoria.

The championship concluded a five-round competition series held at different ninja sporting venues across Victoria, bringing together young athletes to compete for state honours.

Mira finished at the top of her age group to claim the gold medal, while Lyons Sports Academy also secured the overall Victorian Ninja League championship for the season.

Ninja Obstacle Course competitions test participants’ agility, balance, strength, coordination and problem-solving skills as they navigate challenging obstacle sequences.

Mira’s achievement highlights the participation and success of young Indian-Australian athletes in competitive sport across Victoria, with her family hoping her journey will encourage other children to pursue their interests and sporting ambitions.

Her gold medal also coincided with a successful season for Lyons Sports Academy, which finished as the overall Victorian Ninja League champion.

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The three artefacts, which are now being transferred to India, include a bronze trident associated with Goddess Bhadrakali, a granite idol of Nandi and a basalt sculpture of the six-headed deity Karthikeya.

The handover took place on 11 November 2026, with India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, joining the exchange.

The High Commission of India confirmed in a statement that it had formally taken possession of the objects and acknowledged the National Gallery of Australia’s cooperation in facilitating their return.

“Following through on the high-level commitment made by our Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese during the 3rd Annual Leaders’ Summit in July 2026, through its sustained efforts, the High Commission of India in Australia has formally taken over and is transferring the three precious Indian artefacts to India.”

It added that the artefacts would soon arrive in India, describing the transfer as bringing treasured heritage home.

The three objects have historical and religious significance and are associated with temples in Tamil Nadu.

The bronze trident of Goddess Bhadrakali and the granite Nandi idol are associated with the Shri Kashi Vishwanatha Swami Temple in Kulum Manguri, Tamil Nadu. Both date from the Chola to Vijayanagara period, between the 13th and 16th centuries.

The third object is a basalt sculpture depicting the six-headed Karthikeya, also known as Skanda. Dating from the early 11th century, the Chola-period sculpture is associated with the Naganatha Swami Temple in Manambari, in the Thanjavur district.

The return follows an announcement made by Mr Albanese during the third Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne on 9 July 2026.

Following discussions with Mr Modi, the Australian Prime Minister announced that Australia would voluntarily return several culturally significant objects held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

The announcement formed part of a wider commitment to cultural cooperation and the protection of heritage between the two countries.

At the same summit, Mr Albanese welcomed India’s decision to voluntarily and unconditionally repatriate the remains of an Australian First Nations ancestor held at the Government Museum in Chennai.

“The ancestor will be voluntarily and unconditionally repatriated by India to their Traditional Custodians.”

He described the return of First Nations ancestors as an important step towards healing, justice and reconciliation.

The reciprocal commitments were also recognised in the joint statement issued after the summit, which highlighted the importance of cultural cooperation and the protection and preservation of cultural heritage.

The return of the three Indian artefacts marks another step in Australia and India’s efforts to strengthen cultural ties through the restoration of significant heritage objects to their communities of origin.

The National Gallery of Australia says it has voluntarily repatriated more than 270 works of art from its collection since 2014, with 35 to India, as part of its commitment to ethical collecting and responsible collection management.

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The Youth Mayor of Nillumbik Shire Council, incoming 2027 School Vice-Captain of The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School and a senior leader in the Australian Air Force Cadets, Aashini has taken on responsibilities that extend well beyond her years.

As a Cadet Under Officer, the highest cadet rank, she has held leadership positions within the Air Force Cadets and has been involved in leading a squadron of approximately 140 cadets. She also serves as the Cadet Lead Public Affairs and Communications Officer for 4 Wing in Victoria, contributing to youth communications and public engagement.

Her leadership journey began at school, where she has accumulated more than eight years of experience in student leadership, including serving as a Student Representative Council representative, treasurer and peer support leader.

She is now preparing to take on the role of School Vice-Captain in 2027.

At Nillumbik Shire Council, Aashini first served as a Youth Councillor before becoming Youth Mayor in August 2026. Through this role, she has an opportunity to represent young people, contribute to local civic discussions and advocate for issues affecting her generation.

Aashini’s achievements have received recognition at state, local and national levels. She won first place in the 2025 Victorian Parliament Prize and was named Nillumbik’s 2025 Young Citizen of the Year.

She also received the Vivekanand Society of Australia’s Yuva of the Year award and was selected as an international finalist for the Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award in 2026.

Beyond formal leadership positions, she has demonstrated a commitment to volunteering and community service. As a Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award holder, she has completed substantial volunteering and service hours as part of the programme.

Her interests also extend to aviation and communications. Aashini has contributed articles to WINGS, a nationally and internationally distributed aviation magazine, using her writing and communications experience to engage with aviation-related topics.

She has also participated in public speaking, parliamentary engagements and civic events.

Last year, she joined a community panel at an International Women’s Day event hosted by Nillumbik Shire Council, sharing her perspectives alongside women making a difference in their communities.

For Aashini, leadership is closely connected to inclusion, representation and creating opportunities for others.

As a young woman of multicultural heritage, she is particularly passionate about promoting multiculturalism, empowering young women and ensuring that young people’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives.

Her journey highlights the contribution that young people from diverse backgrounds can make to Australian public life, not simply as future leaders but as active contributors to their communities today.

Aashini hopes that sharing her experiences will encourage other young Australians to embrace opportunities, develop confidence, find their voices and recognise the positive impact they can make.

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In a strongly worded public statement, Qereqeretabua said she was deeply embarrassed by reports of incidents involving children in Indigenous Fijian communities and questioned whether parents were providing adequate discipline and guidance at home.

“INDIGENOUS FIJIAN PARENTS, WHERE ARE YOU?” she wrote.

“As an Indigenous Fijian, I am deeply embarrassed about what is happening in our communities.”

She said reports of alleged stone-throwing incidents during Diwali, including attacks involving places of worship and public transport, should be a serious concern for parents.

The Deputy Speaker also raised concerns about reports of students vandalising classrooms, questioning the values and behaviour being encouraged at home.

“What are we teaching our children? Where is the discipline, respect and parental guidance?”

In a direct message to parents, she questioned whether they were paying sufficient attention to their children’s activities and behaviour.

“Parents, are your eyes more on your phones than your kids?”

Qereqeretabua also challenged those who speak proudly about their vanua (land and community), lotu (faith) and Indigenous culture to reflect on whether they are practising the values they promote.

Her comments also addressed calls for Fiji to become a Christian state.

“Sa rauta mada na viavia Christian State, look at your children and you, their teachers,” she wrote, urging people to examine their own conduct before making demands about the country’s religious identity.

The remarks have brought parental responsibility, cultural values and religious identity into the discussion surrounding alleged incidents during Diwali.

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The post “What are we teaching our children?” Fiji’s Deputy Speaker questions parents over alleged Diwali attacks and vandalism first appeared on The Australia Today.

A total of 1,037 candidates have nominated, including 734 for the 88-seat Legislative Assembly and 303 for the 40-seat Legislative Council, according to figures released following the close of nominations on Monday, 9 November.

The number is down from 1,194 candidates at the 2022 election, a reduction of 157, or approximately 13 per cent.

However, the decline has been concentrated in the upper house, where candidate numbers have fallen from 454 in 2022 to 303 this year.

The number of lower house candidates has barely changed, dropping from 740 to 734, suggesting voters will still face a wide field of candidates in individual electorates.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has published candidate lists for all 88 lower house districts and eight upper house regions, allowing voters to identify who is standing in their electorate and the order in which candidates will appear on ballot papers.

The election comes as Premier Ben Carroll seeks another term for Labor, while Opposition Leader Jess Wilson leads the Liberal-National Coalition’s campaign to end more than a decade of Labor government.

One Nation, the Greens, Victorian Socialists, Family First, independents and other smaller parties are also contesting seats.

Labor, the Greens, One Nation and Victorian Socialists have nominated candidates in all 88 lower house electorates, while the Liberals and Nationals are contesting seats across the state.

Some of the most crowded contests are in Melbourne’s established and rapidly growing suburbs.

Footscray has attracted 15 candidates, the highest number of any lower house electorate, while Prahran has 13.

Tarneit, Sydenham and Ripon each have 12 candidates, while Sandringham has just five.

In Melbourne’s west, Tarneit has emerged as one of the most crowded electoral contests.

Labor MP Dylan Wight is seeking re-election against Liberal candidate Venkat Ram Upparlapalle, the Greens’ A. Raheem Rifai and One Nation’s Walter Villagonzalo, among others.

The 12-candidate field also includes representatives of the West Party, Family First, Animal Justice Party, Victorian Socialists and The Republican, alongside other candidates.

In neighbouring Point Cook, Labor’s Mathew Hilakari faces Liberal candidate Raja Reddy and the Greens’ Ponraj Krishna Pandi, with candidates from One Nation and other smaller parties also contesting the seat.

The contests are taking place in communities experiencing continuing population growth, where housing affordability, transport connections, schools, healthcare and the cost of living are among the issues residents will be weighing as they consider their choices.

Across Melbourne’s outer south-east, Pakenham will be contested by Labor’s Alessandra Soliven, Liberal candidate Radmila Dyson and One Nation’s Victorian leader Warren Pickering, alongside other candidates.

The seat was narrowly won by Labor at the 2022 election and will have a new member following the retirement of Emma Vulin.

The election will also see a major change to the way Victorians vote for the Legislative Council.

Group voting tickets, which previously allowed political parties to direct preferences through registered arrangements when voters marked a single box above the line, have been abolished.

Under the new system, voters choosing to vote above the line must number at least five groups in their order of preference. Those voting below the line must number at least five individual candidates.

Political parties can no longer determine the onward distribution of above-the-line preferences through group voting tickets.

Electoral analysts have linked the reform to the smaller number of upper house candidates, as minor parties reconsider where to contest seats without the previous preference arrangements.

Election analyst Ben Raue reported that upper house ballot papers will have between 11 and 15 groups in each region, compared with more than 20 groups in most regions in 2022.

The changes represent one of the biggest differences between this election and the previous state poll.

In Western Metropolitan Region, candidates include Liberal Roshena Campbell, Labor’s Lizzie Blandthorn and Ingrid Stitt, along with candidates from One Nation, the Greens and other parties.

The region will elect five representatives to Victoria’s upper house.

For multicultural communities across Melbourne’s west, north and south-east, the growing diversity of candidates also reflects the increasing involvement of Australians from migrant backgrounds in state politics.

Candidates with Indian and other South Asian backgrounds are among those contesting lower and upper house positions, including candidates standing for major parties and smaller political organisations.

However, a candidate’s cultural background is only one aspect of the contest, with voters also assessing party policies, local commitments and the record of sitting representatives.

The 2026 election will determine all 88 members of the Legislative Assembly and all 40 members of the Legislative Council.

Early voting opens on Wednesday, 18 November and continues until Friday, 27 November.

Election day is Saturday, 28 November, with polling centres open from 8 am until 6 pm.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has urged voters to check their electorate and voting arrangements before polling day.

With nominations now closed and ballot positions determined, the final stage of the election campaign will focus on candidates presenting their policies and seeking support from voters across the state.

Voters can find the complete list of candidates for their lower house electorate and upper house region on the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

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In her Remembrance Day 2026 statement, Wilson honoured the courage and sacrifice of generations of Australians who answered the call to serve, describing them as “ordinary Australians who showed extraordinary courage”.

She reflected on the men and women who left behind their families, friends and communities to serve their country, often without knowing whether they would ever return.

“Too many never did,” Wilson said.

She noted that behind every name on a war memorial was a life lost, a family forever changed and a community that continued to feel the impact of that sacrifice.

Wilson said Remembrance Day was an opportunity not only to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice but also to honour veterans who returned home carrying the wounds of war, both visible and invisible.

She also acknowledged the families who waited for loved ones, worried about their safety, endured loss and have carried their memories through generations.

Across Victoria, communities from regional towns to the heart of Melbourne are gathering to pay their respects to those who served.

Wilson said the occasion remained important because the peace Australians enjoy, the freedoms they cherish and the country they call home came at an enormous cost.

“We owe those who served more than our gratitude,” she said.

“We owe them a commitment to never take those freedoms for granted, and to ensure future generations understand the sacrifices made to protect them.”

Australians will observe a minute of silence at 11am on Remembrance Day to remember those who lost their lives in service, honour veterans and acknowledge the sacrifices made to protect the nation.

Wilson concluded her statement with the traditional words of remembrance: “Lest we forget.”

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The post Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson honours fallen Australians in Remembrance Day tribute first appeared on The Australia Today.

Community member Luckey Singh has identified the woman as Baljit Kaur and says she has died following the incident. He has also alleged that her husband was involved. However, Victoria Police has not publicly confirmed her identity, her death or the circumstances surrounding the stabbing.

The incident occurred at a home on Woodlee Street, Dandenong, at about 11.30 am on Friday, 6 November.

According to Victoria Police, emergency services found three people with injuries believed to be stab wounds.

A 28-year-old woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, while two men, aged 26 and 35, were transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Dandenong Family Violence Investigation Unit is investigating the circumstances.

Police said the people involved were known to each other and that investigators were not looking for anyone else.

The police statement did not identify the injured people or confirm the nature of their relationship.

According to member of the local Punjabi community Lucky Singh, Baljit Kaur’s elderly parents are in India and are seeking assistance to obtain visas to travel to Australia for their daughter’s final rites.

Victoria Police has not announced any charges in connection with the incident or publicly identified a suspect.

Detectives are continuing their investigation and have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from the area to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Wilson said the party would assess individual candidates before finalising preference recommendations, leaving room for exceptions to the Coalition’s broader approach.

“We have made the decision to put Labor, the Greens and the Socialists at the bottom of the ballot paper,” Wilson said.

She said the party was scrutinising more than 700 candidates, with decisions to reflect who was standing in each electorate.

The announcement establishes the Coalition’s general position as parties prepare their how-to-vote cards. The Australia Today understands that the Coalition would complete final preference decisions over the coming days.

One Nation welcomed the decision, while Labor accused Wilson of retreating from earlier assurances about deals with Pauline Hanson’s party. Premier Ben Carroll portrayed the announcement as a reversal of her previous position.

The confirmation came on the same day One Nation dumped its candidate for Preston, Franco Guardiani, over a social media post appearing to praise Adolf Hitler.

One Nation’s Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, condemned the comments and said people holding such views had no place in the party. One Nation also acknowledged that its candidate vetting needed improvement.

The developments place immediate attention on how the Coalition will apply its candidate assessments when settling its recommendations.

A preference recommendation can matter in a close contest, but voters retain control over where their vote goes.

The Victorian Electoral Commission says how-to-vote cards are suggestions only. For the Legislative Assembly, voters must number every candidate in their preferred order, starting with one. They can choose a different order from the card handed to them by a party or candidate.

If no candidate receives more than half the formal votes, the lowest-polling candidate is excluded and their ballot papers are distributed to the next available preference. That process continues until a candidate secures a majority.

Under that system, the Coalition’s recommendation could help One Nation in an electorate where the Liberal or Nationals candidate is excluded while One Nation remains in the count against Labor. Its effect would depend on the candidates’ finishing order and how voters number their ballots.

The final cards will show how the Coalition’s general position translates into recommendations in individual seats. Registration closes at noon on November 20, with the electoral commission publishing registered cards during the campaign.

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The changes will begin in finance, procurement, people and marketing, with the first phase expected to take effect by mid-2027.

As per reports, Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson informed staff of the decision in an email on Tuesday, describing it as “hard news for some” and apologising for the uncertainty it would create.

She said the partnership was aimed at modernising the technology behind the airline’s operations, improving efficiency and responding to rapid changes in artificial intelligence (AI).

“The scale and speed of change in technology and AI is something none of us have seen in our lifetime,” Ms Hudson wrote.

“It is changing what our customers expect from us and what you need from the tools you use every day, and leading businesses around the world, in aviation and beyond, are moving quickly. Standing still is not an option for us.”

Under the multi-year agreement, some services currently handled by Qantas corporate teams will move to Accenture, with most work to be delivered by its teams in India and some in Australia.

The airline said the partnership would redesign and simplify parts of its corporate functions, with automation and AI expected to transform some services further over time.

“We expect around 850 roles to be affected over the coming years, with the first changes expected to be in place by mid-2027,” Ms Hudson said.

She added that the decision was not a reflection of employees’ contributions or commitment and said Qantas would seek to redeploy as many affected staff as possible.

“We need to reinvent the processes, platforms and data behind our business so we can innovate faster and deliver a better, more connected experience for our customers and our people.”

Qantas said the partnership builds on its existing technology investment of more than $1 billion annually. The airline also pointed to its new Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, which is expected to grow to more than 400 roles.

The company said it operates more than 1,000 legacy applications that were developed over decades and were not designed to work together.

Modernising these systems and connecting data, it said, would help simplify operations and accelerate the airline’s use of AI.

The announcement has drawn criticism from the Australian Services Union (ASU), which said it was meeting with Qantas members following the news.

ASU Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen said the union had been discussing the proposed partnership with the airline for months and was surprised by the extent of the planned outsourcing.

“We were told at the time that there was no plan for 1,000 jobs to be offshored and yet today staff have been told by Vanessa Hudson that up to 850 jobs could be sent offshore,” Mr Cowen said.

“So this is really shocking news for our members.”

He said the union would work with employees to fight for every job, adding that most of the proposed cuts were expected to affect positions based in Sydney.

“We’ve seen time and time again through corporate Australia deals with global tech giants like Accenture suddenly there seems to be a mass need to be sending jobs offshore.”

Qantas has disputed claims that it assured the union no jobs would be moved overseas. The airline said it had discussed the potential for some roles to move to Accenture teams in India and Australia during meetings with the union in recent months.

It said there would be consultation with affected employees and the union, with a focus on redeployment opportunities, reskilling and retraining.

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The proposed next stage would cover swimming pools, change rooms, community sporting venues, hospitals, aged care facilities and services supporting victim-survivors of family violence.

Premier Ben Carroll said the move was aimed at protecting people’s privacy in places where they should be able to feel safe from being secretly recorded.

“We’re banning smart glasses in places you’d never want to be recorded,” Mr Carroll said.

“Smart glasses make it impossible to tell when somebody is filming you. The law needs to catch up. So we will ban them from places you’d never want to be recorded like playgrounds, swimming pools, and change rooms.”

He added: “Tech has changed, so must our laws.”

“Creeps shouldn’t be able to secretly film kids at Saturday sport.”

The announcement builds on the Victorian Government’s earlier decision to restrict smart glasses and covert filming devices in schools from the start of the 2027 school year.

Under the policy, taking effect from 27 January 2027, smart glasses and covert filming devices will be prohibited on Victorian government school premises and at school-organised activities, including off-site events.

The restrictions will cover students, staff, parents, carers, contractors, volunteers and other visitors at government schools. Student restrictions on personal electronic devices, including smart glasses, will also apply across government, Catholic and independent schools.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gabrielle Williams said the government was setting clear rules for every Victorian school.

“We’re setting clear rules across every Victorian school – making sure students can focus on learning, and families can feel confident their children are in a respectful and safe school environment,” Ms Williams said.

“Smart glasses have no place in our classrooms or on our school grounds.”

Labor has also pledged to extend the adult restrictions to non-government schools through legislation if it wins the election.

The latest commitment comes as councils across Victoria introduce or consider restrictions on smart glasses in public facilities.

The City of Yarra and the City of Melbourne are among councils that have taken steps to restrict the devices in recreation facilities, including pools and other community spaces.

The growing debate reflects concerns that camera-equipped glasses can resemble ordinary eyewear, making it difficult for people to know when they are being recorded.

However, the proposed restrictions also raise questions about accessibility, with smart glasses providing useful assistance to some people with vision or hearing impairments. Existing school rules allow limited exemptions where the technology is required as a reasonable disability adjustment.

Labor’s proposed expansion would make the regulation of smart glasses a broader privacy and public-safety issue beyond the school environment.

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The Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand has shared the heartbreaking news with the community, saying the three deceased belonged to Punjab.

New Zealand Police confirmed that all three occupants of the vehicle died at the scene following the crash on Great South Road at approximately 10.15pm on Sunday, November 8.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, police said emergency services were called after a vehicle left the road and struck a building.

“Sadly, all three occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene. No one inside the building was injured.”

The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is continuing.

Police also confirmed that formal identification processes were underway and expected to take some time.

Daljit Singh shared the news in a statement, describing the deaths as deeply heartbreaking for the community.

“We are sharing deeply heartbreaking news for the community,” the statement said.

“We cannot share their specific details or any other information at this moment.”

The statement said the families had requested that the bodies of all three deceased be returned to India.

“In accordance with the families’ wishes, the bodies of all three will be sent back to India, and we are currently in contact with the family members.”

The society also extended its condolences to the bereaved families and friends, saying the wider community would be asked to assist once the police investigation was complete.

“On behalf of the community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends during this time of grief. Once the police investigation is complete, the community will be asked for assistance.”

The deaths have brought grief to the Indian community in New Zealand, particularly as the crash occurred on the eve of Diwali, one of the most significant festivals celebrated by Indian communities.

The victims’ identities and further details about the circumstances of the crash have not been publicly confirmed. Police have urged that formal identification and investigation processes be allowed to continue.

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Australia must confront an uncomfortable question about its national security priorities: how did a country with a rising terrorism threat find itself reportedly devoting extensive investigative resources to monitoring a decorated former soldier, while counter-terrorism capabilities are stretched?

The question has resurfaced following comments by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, who has spoken publicly about the surveillance he says he was subjected to during the lengthy investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. In an interview with 2GB presenter Ben Fordham, Roberts-Smith questioned why such resources were being spent monitoring him when, in his view, people who posed a threat to Australia were not being surveilled. He argued that authorities could have simply asked him to attend an interview rather than maintain extensive surveillance. His remarks have brought an important debate about the allocation of public resources back into focus.

The timing is particularly significant given what has emerged about Australia’s counter-terrorism capabilities. An ABC investigation in May 2026 reported that the proportion of intelligence resources devoted to counter-terrorism had fallen to its lowest level since the September 11 attacks, despite ASIO assessing the likelihood of a terrorist attack as probable. The decline apparently occurred even as overall funding for the National Intelligence Community increased by $3.4 billion since 2020, including a 37 per cent increase in ASIO’s funding. A growing share of resources was directed towards foreign espionage and interference, particularly threats linked to China. But there were media reports suggesting that resources were also allegedly being spent on surveilling diplomats and community members from fellow democracies and important bilateral partners like India, South Korea and Israel. In November 2025, just weeks before the Bondi terror attack, ASIO chief Mike Burgess stated that even countries Australia considered friendly had a “relentless hunger for strategic advantage” and an “insatiable appetite for inside information”.

Investigating espionage and foreign interference by hostile states is a legitimate responsibility of Australia’s intelligence agencies. But allegations involving friendly countries demand evidence, not simply assertions. Undermining relations with important strategic partners without a clear evidentiary basis can itself create risks to Australia’s national security. Where is the publicly available proof of these threats, their nature and scale, and what justified the resources devoted to pursuing them when the threat of Islamist extremism and domestic radicalisation was increasingly evident? It did not take an intelligence expert to recognise the danger. Just weeks later, Bondi was bloodied by a terrorist attack. Australians have every right to question whether intelligence priorities were appropriately calibrated. The issue, therefore, was not simply how much money was available, but how agencies chose to distribute it.

There were further questions about operational capacity. The Nightly reported in January that an AFP national surveillance team established under the high-risk terrorist offender regime had allegedly been disbanded shortly before the Bondi attack, with internal correspondence citing budget pressures and uncertainty over future funding. The team had been responsible for specialist surveillance work. While the AFP does not publicly discuss its operational capabilities, the reported decision raises legitimate questions about whether the country had maintained sufficient capacity to monitor individuals considered potential security risks.

ASIO’s Director-General, Mike Burgess, while acknowledging before the Royal Commission that the agency was ‘stretched’, maintained that counter-terrorism was not under-resourced and that ASIO was managing multiple security threats simultaneously. Yet the former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson, before resigning from the royal commission, questioned whether enough resources went to Islamist extremism after the threat level rose. When the country’s premier intelligence agency says they are stretched, and the former head of the same raises concerns, the public is owed a straight answer about priorities.

The AFP also acknowledged that it had examined shifting resources to meet competing operational demands, while insisting that specialist surveillance capabilities continued to support counter-terrorism operations.

The Bondi attack, which is Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack in history, makes these questions impossible to ignore. The two terrorists who opened fire had previously come to the attention of security agencies. ASIO had investigated their associations with an Islamic State-linked cell in 2019 but concluded they did not pose a terrorist threat at that time. The Royal Commission is examining why that assessment was not revisited and whether agencies adequately responded to the evolving threat. It would be premature to declare that a different allocation of resources would necessarily have prevented the attack. But it is entirely reasonable to ask whether the agencies tasked with identifying and monitoring emerging threats were doing their job, particularly when warning signs were visible well in advance.

None of this means Roberts-Smith should be exempt from investigation because he received Australia’s highest military honour. Allegations of war crimes are serious, and the law must apply equally, regardless of a person’s rank, reputation or service record. He has been charged with five counts of war-crime murder and denies wrongdoing. The criminal proceedings must, of course, be allowed to run their course. However, there is a growing concern that the media trial surrounding Roberts-Smith is already shaping public opinion, potentially prejudicing perceptions before the criminal court has delivered its verdict. The presumption of innocence till proven guilty and the right to a fair trial must apply to everyone including him.

It is also important to distinguish between an investigation into alleged criminal conduct and an assessment of someone as a threat to Australia’s national security. There has been no publicly established evidence that Roberts-Smith posed a national security threat to Australia or its citizens. Indeed, his own question about why extensive surveillance resources were devoted to him, while counter-terrorism capabilities were reportedly under pressure, deserves serious consideration.

A Victoria Cross recipient is not above the law. But neither should anyone lose sight of who is a real threat to the nation and who is not. When individuals who later carry out terrorist attacks have previously come to the attention of authorities, while agencies are reassessing the resources available to monitor threats, the public deserves more than assurances that priorities were managed appropriately. It deserves a clear account of the decisions made, the risks assessed and the lessons learned.

The measure of a national security system is not how many investigations it can pursue, or how much money it can spend. It is whether it can identify danger, act on credible warnings and protect Australians before lives are lost. That is the question the government and its security agencies must now answer.

The Australia Today sent ASIO a series of questions seeking clarification on these concerns, including its alleged surveillance activities and the allocation of intelligence resources. ASIO responded: “As a Royal Commission is underway, ASIO cannot comment on these matters.”

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Artificial intelligence (AI) use among university students is now near-universal in many countries. Yet, as of a year ago, fewer than one in five universities in a 90-country UNESCO survey had a formal AI policy.

Since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022, the threat to academic integrity has loomed large. Unis must now ensure students earn degrees by showing what they can do, not what AI can do.

This requires policies that drive structural change to assessment and curriculum, not just rules about when AI can be used. But it’s not so straightforward.

The challenge for universities

Universities, in particular, have struggled to adapt to generative AI more than primary and high schools.

This is because university classes are often large and contact time between students and teachers is limited. Together, this makes it hard for teachers to get to know students personally and to ensure they learn what is required for their degrees.

UNESCO has published an AI competency framework, but it focuses primarily on schools and stops short of providing specific guidance for higher education.

University AI policies are often vague

A study published in July examined the public AI policies and guidelines of 39 Australian universities that teach information and communications technology. This is a subject area where AI can readily complete coding tasks.

The analysis found wide variation among the universities’ AI policies. Often, AI rules were buried in institutions’ misconduct policies rather than assessment design procedures. Out of the 39 unis, only one had published specific guidance around AI.

The universities’ general guidance on AI use was often vague, too. One simply required AI use to be “ethical, pedagogically sound, transparent and purposeful” but did not provide any further detail.

The researchers argued that AI was disrupting assessments faster than universities could build the structures to govern it. Only seven of the 39 universities had documented a body, such as a task force, to coordinate their response.

Many have also left it to individual unit coordinators to spell out what AI use is allowed. This means the rules can differ between units.

The risks also go well beyond cheating. Global discussion among leading researchers and policymakers this year has shifted to a deeper issue: using AI to avoid learning altogether. This is when students’ offload their work to AI entirely and, as a result, learn nothing themselves. It is difficult to gauge how much of this offloading is already occurring.

Universities’ current policies aren’t sufficient in addressing student offloading to AI. Students cannot be forced to learn through a policy.

Teachers have also been using AI tools to detect whether students have included AI-generated text in their submissions. But universities are now moving away from this as the technology is not always accurate.

Experts have warned that relying solely on AI detectors can lead to false accusations of student academic misconduct.

Assessment reform

Instead of focusing on more systemic responses, universities have mainly responded to AI by changing how assessments work. This has usually meant:

• a greater emphasis on in-person exams and oral presentations where AI cannot be easily accessed
• permitting the use of AI in some assessments, such as take-home essays, where students have cited their use of the technology.

But while redesigned assessments can show whether learning has occurred, it is still not enough. It also matters what students are assessed on.

What are other countries doing?

In other parts of the world, such as the European Union, attention is turning to explicitly developing students’ capabilities to adapt to constant change. These include teaching students to:

• make sound judgements about how much they know about a subject
• critically evaluate information, both with and without AI
• make decisions about their learning processes and goals independently of AI or an educator.

However, these capabilities are hard to develop and mostly don’t transfer between subjects. Instead, they must be taught explicitly to students, in the context of their subject area or discipline.

One way of doing this would be to incorporate specific modules into courses that teach this.

So, what’s the right approach?

In 2023, a number of academics, including myself, wrote evidence-based assessment principles for the Australian higher education regulator. The principles were formed to guide unis on how to adapt assessments to account for students’ AI use.

One principle focuses on assuring students are actually learning content and not offloading work to AI, which institutions have attempted to address through assessment redesign. These attempts at redesign are having an effect.

The second principle is about preparing students for a world where AI is ubiquitous. Students need to learn how to effectively use AI for when they enter the workforce.

This principle has proven much harder for unis to adapt to, as skills tied to today’s AI tools quickly become outdated as the technology rapidly advances. This means simple “AI literacy” is not enough for students alone.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, unis would also benefit from collaborating with each other to tackle the problem.

However, institutions tend to compete rather than share resources. Only one of the 39 in the study I previously cited mentioned learning from other institutions.

A national strategy would help

In 2024, the higher education regulator required every uni to submit AI action plans outlining what they are doing to adapt to AI. The regulator has also since published guides outlining strategies.

But a regulator can only set expectations. It cannot fund the long-term work of enabling changes to policy and practice across the country.

That was the job of the Office for Learning and Teaching, which funded teaching innovation and helped universities share what worked. It closed in 2016, and a promised replacement never materialised.

A national approach would mean an enabling body – independent of any single university – sharing evidence and guidance across the sector. This might look similar to Ireland’s Higher Education Authority, which has published a national framework on AI in teaching and learning.

However, there are challenges in setting this up in Australia, given how protective universities are about their autonomy. There would be questions around who funds such a body. And it would be difficult for a national authority to keep pace with technology that changes faster than policy.

Still, unis must engage deeply and collaboratively with this debate about how to adapt to AI. Otherwise they risk becoming redundant in the age of intelligent machines.

Jason M. Lodge, Director of the Learning, Instruction & Technology Lab and Professor of Educational Psychology, School of Education, The University of Queensland

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The election took place on Monday evening, 9 November 2026, at The Capital theatre in Bendigo, where approximately 250 people gathered to witness the occasion.

With family, friends, community members and supporters present, Awasthi was elected by his fellow councillors to lead Greater Bendigo for the 2026–27 mayoral term.

For Awasthi, the occasion carried a meaning far beyond his personal achievement.

He described his election as an “extraordinary moment” for migrants who have made Australia, and particularly Bendigo, their home.

His election also carries special meaning for the Indian Australian community, with Awasthi’s journey reflecting the growing participation of migrant Australians in local government and civic life.

Originally from Mandi in India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh, Awasthi arrived in Australia in 2008 as an international student to pursue a Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at La Trobe University.

Like thousands of international students who arrive in Australia seeking education and new opportunities, he began his journey far removed from the world of local government and politics.

After moving to Bendigo in 2010, he gradually became involved in community organisations, volunteering and multicultural initiatives.

Over the following years, Bendigo became more than the city where he lived and worked. It became home for his family and the community he would eventually represent.

Awasthi founded the Indian Association of Bendigo, which was formally established in 2021, helping bring together Indian families across central Victoria through cultural celebrations, charitable activities and community support programs.

His involvement extended beyond the Indian community. He has worked with organisations including Rotary, multicultural services, community houses and local sustainability groups.

In November 2024, Awasthi entered elected office after winning the Kennington Ward election with 58.86 per cent of first-preference votes, defeating Gavin Hicks.

He subsequently became Greater Bendigo’s first Indian-born Deputy Mayor for the 2024–25 term, serving alongside then Mayor Andrea Metcalf.

Two years after first entering the council chamber, his unanimous election as Mayor represents another milestone in his public life.

As a councillor, Awasthi has advocated for improved local services, affordable housing, better walking and cycling infrastructure, support for small businesses and more mental health services.

His elevation to the mayoralty also comes as regional Victorian communities continue to change, with people from different cultural and migrant backgrounds increasingly contributing to local businesses, education, healthcare and community organisations.

The presence of approximately 250 people at The Capital, including those closest to Awasthi, gave the occasion a personal dimension.

For migrant families who have built their lives in regional Australia, his election offers a visible example of how community involvement can lead to leadership in the places they now call home.

From the hills of Himachal Pradesh to the mayoral office in Bendigo, Awasthi’s story is one of migration, community service and an enduring connection to his adopted home.

His election places him at the head of the council responsible for representing residents across Greater Bendigo’s nine wards, with the task of turning that community connection into decisions affecting the city’s future.

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Liberal candidate for Western Metropolitan Region Roshena Campbell announced the $300,000 commitment for the SMVS Swaminarayan Temple in Tarneit, condemning vandalism directed at Victoria’s religious communities as unacceptable.

Temple trustee Biren Joshi told The Australia Today the community was stressed, upset and angry after the latest incidents.

Mr Joshi said the temple had been targeted 16 times in seven years, including before major Hindu festivals. He alleged the attacks were deliberate and religiously motivated.

Statements issued by the Hindu Council of Australia and the Australian Hindu Temples Council date the latest incidents to Saturday, 31 October, and the early hours of Saturday, 7 November.

Both organisations said the temple’s power lines were deliberately cut ahead of Diwali celebrations scheduled for Sunday, 8 November.

Mr Joshi criticised what he described as an indifferent response from the state government, saying practical support had remained negligible despite the community repeatedly raising its concerns.

His criticism concerned the response to the attacks before the latest temple-specific funding pledges.

Victoria Police has not stated investigative findings, a motive or any arrests at the time of publication

The Australian Hindu Temples Council said the incidents formed part of a history of theft, vandalism and intimidation stretching back to 2015.

According to the council, previous incidents included smashed security cameras, a stolen entrance gate, a switchboard being set alight, a firebombing and a vehicle being driven through the temple’s wall.

The Australia Today reported in 2022 that the temple had experienced more than 10 incidents in three years, with families concerned about the safety of children attending religious and language classes.

Australian Hindu Temples Council president Kulwant Joshi said the damage had consequences beyond the cost of repairs.

“This is a place of worship, not a target,” he said in the council’s statement.

“Our devotees, women, children and elders among them, should not have to weigh their safety against their faith.”

The council called on Victoria Police to investigate the pattern as suspected targeted or bias-motivated offending, provide visible patrols and appoint a named liaison officer to give the temple regular updates.

It also urged government authorities to fund security infrastructure and monitoring, and called on Wyndham City Council and local parliamentarians to assist with surveillance, lighting and access security.

Council secretary Shan Pillai said the community wanted sustained action.

“We have reported every attack, installed cameras, and asked politely, year after year. Patience is not the same as acceptance,” he said.

Labor’s member for Tarneit, Dylan Wight, has also announced a $200,000 security commitment if the government is re-elected.

Mr Wight told Australia Today that the security improvements would be determined in consultation with temple management.

The competing election pledges follow mounting concern from temple representatives and Hindu organisations over repeated damage at the premises on Davis Road in Mount Cottrell, in the Tarneit area.

The Hindu Council of Australia’s Victorian chapter separately condemned the repeated incidents in a statement.

President Gurpreet Verma said,

It said women, children and older devotees were increasingly concerned about attending the temple. The council alleged that nobody had been identified or held accountable despite repeated reports to police, and called for a thorough investigation.

Mr Wight, in his statement, condemned the cutting of power lines on 31 October and acknowledged the community’s frustration.

“No community should have to continually repair damage to their place of worship or fear for their safety when coming together to celebrate their faith and culture,” he said.

He also acknowledged the financial and emotional toll of the repeated incidents.

Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland condemned the damage in a statement dated 8 November.

He said the community had paid thousands of dollars to reconnect electricity after the first incident, only for the supply to be cut again before Diwali.

“No faith community in Victoria should have to live like this,” Mr Mulholland said.

“Families, women and children deserve to feel safe at their place of worship.”

The temple-specific pledges come after Premier Ben Carroll announced a broader proposed Temple and Gurdwara Safety Fund worth more than $11 million, including $1 million earmarked for Sri Durga Temple in Deanside.

That fund, announced on 1 November, is a Labor election commitment conditional on re-election at the 28 November state poll. The original announcement did not identify an allocation for SMVS.

The latest commitments give SMVS worshippers specific security funding promises from both major parties. The community organisations are also seeking police action, regular updates and practical protection to prevent further attacks.

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The Victorian Liberals and Nationals have announced they will introduce Aidan’s Law if elected on 28 November, requiring courts to specifically consider attacks on good Samaritans as an aggravating circumstance when sentencing offenders.

The proposal follows calls for stronger legal protections from Aidan’s mother, Natalie Becker, whose son died on 6 March 2026 after intervening to help a 14-year-old boy allegedly being assaulted and robbed at Mernda railway station in Melbourne’s north.

Aidan, a security guard at The Alfred Hospital, was returning home from work when he witnessed the confrontation.

According to Victoria Police, the young man stepped in to protect the schoolboy and attempted to lead him away from danger. He was subsequently followed and allegedly attacked by a group using fists, kicks and edged weapons.

Despite efforts by bystanders and emergency services, Aidan died at the scene.

Four people were subsequently charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with his death. Three teenage defendants pleaded not guilty to murder in August, with their matters transferred to the Supreme Court. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings.

The tragedy prompted an outpouring of grief across Melbourne, with thousands gathering at Mernda railway station for a candlelight vigil in Aidan’s memory.

A memorial plaque was also unveiled at the station in June, recognising his courage and sacrifice.

Under the Coalition’s proposed legislation, Victoria’s Sentencing Act 1991 would be amended to explicitly require judges and magistrates to consider whether a victim was attacked while acting as a good Samaritan.

Although courts can already take such circumstances into account, the Coalition argues the absence of a specific statutory requirement fails to adequately recognise the seriousness of attacks on people attempting to protect others.

The proposed change would apply at sentencing following a conviction. It would not create a separate criminal offence or automatically impose a fixed additional penalty.

Wilson said Aidan’s actions demonstrated extraordinary courage and should lead to lasting legislative change.

“Aidan’s courage should never be forgotten, and his legacy should be a law that stands up for people who stand up for others,” Wilson said.

“Every parent hopes that if their child is ever in danger, someone will be brave enough to step in and help.

“That’s exactly what Aidan did. He saw a young boy in trouble, stepped in to protect him, and never made it home.”

Wilson said the young man’s death had devastated his family and raised serious questions about how the justice system recognises people who put themselves at risk to help others.

“Aidan was just 22 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. His family should be planning his future, not mourning his loss,” she said.

“What happened to Aidan was heartbreaking. But we have an opportunity to make sure something good comes from this terrible tragedy.”

“If you’re brave enough to stand up for someone else, the law should stand up for you.”

Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury said the proposed legislation would provide clearer direction to courts when dealing with attacks on people attempting to prevent violence.

“Aidan’s Law will send a clear message that attacks on people helping others must be taken seriously by the courts,” Newbury said.

“Victorians should never have to think twice about helping someone in danger because they’re worried about becoming a victim themselves.”

Newbury also criticised the Victorian Labor Government’s approach to sentencing reform, arguing that changes could be introduced without waiting for another comprehensive review.

“We don’t need another review to recognise that people who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others deserve the full backing of the law,” he said.

The announcement comes as the Victorian Government undertakes a broader review of the Sentencing Act.

The review, announced in May 2026 and funded through the state budget, is being conducted by the Sentencing Advisory Council. It will consider how sentencing laws can better reflect community expectations, support victims and improve consistency across the justice system.

Importantly, the government’s review specifically includes sentencing outcomes for offences against people intervening to stop violence.

The council is expected to deliver its final recommendations to the Attorney-General in mid-2028, with public consultation scheduled to begin in April 2027.

The Coalition argues that victims and families should not have to wait until that review is completed for the proposed protections to be introduced.

However, the reform would not guarantee a particular sentence. Courts would still need to consider the circumstances of each offence, the offender and other applicable sentencing principles.

The announcement adds another criminal justice proposal to the Coalition’s election platform, with law and order becoming a major issue ahead of Victoria’s 28 November election.

For Aidan Becker’s family, the proposal offers the possibility of a lasting legal recognition of the young man’s actions on the day he died.

The Coalition says it wants his name to become associated with a principle that people who put themselves in danger to protect others deserve specific recognition under Victorian sentencing law.

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The post ‘He saved a boy but never made it home’: Jess Wilson unveils ‘Aidan’s Law’ with tougher penalties first appeared on The Australia Today.

Premier Ben Carroll said learning a language could help young people maintain connections with their heritage while opening up future opportunities.

“Learning a language doesn’t just help young people stay connected to their past – it can unlock their future,” Carroll said.

“Labor will always back our Indian community.”

He added that Victoria’s multicultural community speaks hundreds of languages and every student should have the opportunity to study the language they want, irrespective of where they live.

“Every Victorian student should have the opportunity to study the language they want, no matter where they live.”

The commitment aims to remove barriers for students whose local schools do not offer the language they wish to study, particularly those living in regional and rural communities.

Under the proposal, the VSL would expand its online language programme from the current 17 VCE languages to all 44 modern VCE languages from 2028.

This would allow students to study Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali and Tamil online, regardless of whether their local school offers these subjects.

Labor has also committed to exploring the possibility of making Sanskrit available to Victorian students.

More than 16,000 Victorian students are studying a VCE language this year, while around 800 currently access online language classes through the VSL.

The proposed $43 million investment would increase the school’s capacity to deliver online classes and provide thousands more students with access to language education, regardless of where they live.

Minister for Education Gabrielle Williams said the investment would improve access to language education, particularly for students in regional and rural communities.

“By investing in the Victorian School of Languages, we’ll give more students better access to language education – particularly in regional and rural communities.”

The announcement forms part of Labor’s education commitments ahead of the Victorian election.

The government has contrasted the proposed investment with what it describes as a $40 billion cuts agenda from a Liberal–One Nation Coalition, arguing that reduced education funding could put language programmes at risk.

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Quan Liu, also known as Christine, was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment on Friday, 6 November 2026. The sentence will be served in the community under an Intensive Correction Order (ICO), and she must complete 120 hours of community service.

Liu, who was earning $275,000 a year as the government agency’s CFO, used the taxpayer-funded flights to travel to China six times over 14 months between 2022 and 2023 to visit her elderly parents.

According to court reporting, she sought business class travel because she believed the roomier cabin would reduce her risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing the virus to her parents. She was also concerned about the possibility of being placed in a quarantine camp under China’s strict pandemic restrictions.

The court heard that her fear of COVID-19 influenced her decisions, particularly during the first two trips, and remained a factor throughout the offending.

Liu pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining a financial gain from a Commonwealth entity and an offence relating to facilitating the unlawful entry of a non-citizen into Australia. The latter offence concerned falsified official documents used to secure an Australian business visa for her cousin.

The offences were prosecuted under section 135.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and section 234(1)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), respectively.

Judge Ross Hudson said Liu had abused the position of trust placed in her by the Australian public and that the sentence needed to deter others from similar conduct.

“This is a jail sentence but you’re servicing that jail sentence in the community.”

In deciding that the sentence could be served through an Intensive Correction Order, the judge considered her genuine regret and remorse, ongoing rehabilitation, lack of prior criminal history and the potential impact of full-time imprisonment on her mental health.

The court also heard that Liu had been experiencing the onset of a major depressive illness when she committed the offences and had since received psychological assistance.

Her conduct was described as lacking sophistication or complexity, with the judge also taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of being separated from her elderly parents.

Liu lost her position at Tourism Australia, where she had worked for about five years, after the conduct was discovered. She repaid $36,000 to the organisation when asked and was ordered to repay the remaining amount of approximately $13,000.

AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said the misuse of public funds undermined confidence in government processes and institutions.

“Those entrusted with public resources have a responsibility to act with integrity, and the AFP will not hesitate to investigate conduct which may breach this trust.”

He said fraud against the Commonwealth was not a victimless crime, as money diverted for personal gain could otherwise be used to deliver services to the Australian community.

The AFP encouraged the public to report suspected fraud, corruption and other serious misconduct to help protect public funds and maintain confidence in government institutions.

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The post Former Tourism Australia executive avoids full-time jail over $50,000 flight fraud and visa offence; ordered to complete 120 hours of community service first appeared on The Australia Today.

Albanese confirmed that the Governor-General had accepted his recommendation to appoint Ayres to the additional departmental role.

The Prime Minister said the appointment reflected Ayres’ contribution to overseeing the Office of Artificial Intelligence, which is developing national AI standards.

The standards are intended to ensure Australians can benefit from artificial intelligence safely and that the technology operates in Australia’s interests.

There will be no changes to Ayres’ ministerial titles. He will continue to administer the Department of Industry, Science and Research, as well as PM&C.

The Office of AI is overseen by Albanese, Ayres and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton.

Charlton is already appointed to administer PM&C in his capacity as Cabinet Secretary.

The Prime Minister said the appointment was consistent with the recommendations of the Bell Inquiry into the appointment of the former Prime Minister to administer multiple departments.

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The fatal stabbing occurred on Frederick Way shortly before 8.10pm on Friday, 6 November, after the two delivery riders allegedly confronted a man suspected of tampering with their bicycles.

According to reports, the alleged attacker stabbed one rider multiple times in the chest and wounded the second man once. Emergency services attended the scene and performed CPR on the first victim, but he died at the scene.

The second rider, a man in his 30s, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The victim has not yet been formally identified. However, a witness who knew him told the Herald Sun that he was a father of two whose children were in China.

“He was working all day here, trying to feed his family. He delivered food to me before. I know this guy. I can recognise his face,” the witness said.

The witness described the incident as deeply distressing, saying he had never expected such violence in Australia.

Footage shared on WeChat reportedly showed a man collapsing against a restaurant wall as another person tried to help him. A bystander could be heard calling for towels to apply pressure to the wound while another person asked for an ambulance.

Other HungryPanda riders reportedly chased the alleged attacker towards a nearby bus station in an attempt to apprehend him, but he escaped while still carrying a knife.

Victoria Police established a crime scene between Queen Street and A’Beckett Street, with Homicide Squad detectives investigating the circumstances surrounding the stabbing.

On Saturday morning, detectives arrested a 51-year-old Footscray man in connection with the incident. He remains in custody and is expected to be interviewed by police.

Police have said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident. Investigations are continuing.

HungryPanda said it was deeply saddened by the death and extended its condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.

The food delivery company said it had established a dedicated response team and was contacting the family to offer assistance and support.

“The safety and wellbeing of every delivery rider remain among our highest priorities,” the company said, adding that it was also providing guidance and support to its rider community.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of food delivery workers. A recent survey of 250 delivery riders and drivers by law firm Slater and Gordon found that 65 per cent were concerned about their safety while working.

Half of those surveyed said they were worried about being assaulted while working, including 34 per cent who identified risks while in their vehicles and 25 per cent at customers’ premises or food collection locations.

Among motorcycle riders, 52 per cent expressed concern about assault while picking up or delivering food.

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The post Delivery rider and father of two stabbed to death in Melbourne; 51-year-old man arrested first appeared on The Australia Today.

In the video, Roberts refers to concerns reportedly raised by truck drivers in Western Australia and Queensland about Indian migrants allegedly obtaining heavy vehicle licences too easily or operating without the required licences.

The issue was discussed during a Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee hearing on 9 February 2026, when representatives of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) were questioned about unlicensed and inadequately trained drivers.

During the hearing, Roberts asked whether particular nationalities or ethnic groups appeared more frequently in reports involving unlicensed or untrained drivers.

He said he had heard from truck drivers in Western Australia and Queensland that “a lot of Indians are getting licences very easily – or not getting licences”, while acknowledging that the concerns were anecdotal.

NHVR representative Rosie told the committee that the regulator’s risk-based approach was ethnicity-agnostic. She said the regulator had not identified a particular ethnic profile among higher-risk operators, with enforcement action based on operator behaviour and assessed safety risks.

The NHVR acknowledged an increase in concerns involving unlicensed or inappropriately licensed drivers and said it was undertaking surveillance and targeted operations to address compliance issues.

However, responsibility for driver licensing rests with state and territory authorities. The regulator said jurisdictions were examining ways to improve consistency in training and qualification requirements.

The hearing also discussed the employment of overseas workers in the transport sector. While employers can recruit migrants to address workforce shortages, new arrivals must still meet Australian licensing requirements before driving heavy vehicles.

The NHVR said it was also working on improved data matching across agencies, including linking Australian Business Numbers with driver risk profiles to strengthen monitoring of operators.

The debate comes as Australia’s road transport industry continues to face a significant shortage of truck drivers.

Industry estimates have put the shortfall at about 28,000 drivers, while a substantial proportion of the existing workforce is approaching retirement age.

An ABC report in January 2026 highlighted the industry’s ageing workforce, with almost half of truck drivers aged 55 or older, raising concerns about the need to attract and retain new workers.

At the same time, Indian and Punjabi truck drivers have reported experiencing racism and intimidation while working on Australian roads.

An ABC investigation published in January 2026 documented accounts of racist abuse, death threats, spitting and racial slurs directed at Indian truck drivers, including abuse broadcast over UHF radios.

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The post “Many Indian immigrants are obtaining truck licences too easily or operating without them,” recalls One Nation senator citing concerns raised by truck drivers first appeared on The Australia Today.