Chris Minns

Australian Border Force and Department of Home Affairs crack down on scam migration agents A major multi-agency effort is underway to crack down on scam migration agents who have ripped off vulnerable visa applicants of more than $1.4 million.    Field Operations officers from the Department of Home Affairs, supported by Commonwealth partners, are tracking down scam migration agents financially exploiting vulnerable visa applicants by giving out unlawful migration advice. #migrants #visa https://lnkd.in/eR6TV5uT

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Chair of Discipline (Law) at Southern Cross University and former magistrate, Professor David Heilpern, is calling for urgent action to prevent ‘sovereign citizens’ from clogging Australian courts. These groups believe that laws relating to traffic, debts, family law and tax do not apply to them because they are ‘sovereign’. Professor Heilpern says one sovereign citizen can throw a whole day in court into turmoil, disadvantaging other litigants, their lawyers, witnesses and victims. A single parking ticket charge, which should take a handful of minutes, can end up taking hours. He is calling for enforcement agencies to prosecute people profiteering from spreading misinformation, as well as a rehabilitation program to divert sovereign citizens from the courts. “A diversion program would not focus on changing opinions, just pointing out that maintaining this approach is doomed to failure, has never worked and will certainly lead to increased penalties and public humiliation,” Professor Heilpern said. “The need for action is urgent – the evidence is that this movement is growing, diverting courts from their core business which is administering justice for all.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/grYQPq3h

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If we want to see more small businesses survive and thrive, the increasingly complex regulatory burden must be reduced. Read the Ombudsman’s latest op-ed 👉 asbfeo.gov.au/op-eds #SmallBizAU

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An audit has found multiple NSW prison programs are struggling to reduce reoffending among Aboriginal people, prompting an urgent government response to create a new taskforce to review the last taskforce’s review of the review. Officials confirmed the new initiative will focus on “measurable outcomes”, beginning with a refreshed glossary where “culturally appropriate” is defined as “a poster with ochre on it” and “evaluation” means “a survey link no one can open in the visiting room”. A spokesperson said the department is “listening deeply” and has already scheduled 14 consultations, three roundtables and one ceremonial unveiling of a PowerPoint titled Closing the Loop: Closing the Gap: Closing the Tab. “We recognise the findings and will address them by piloting a pilot,” the spokesperson said. #jokes #satire #Aboriginal #Indigenous #comedy

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For Department of Department of Internal Affairs (NZ)'s Victoria Wray, she says that a lesson she keeps learning is the importance of allowing enough time and budget for public engagement. "We are drafting the Digital Accessibility Standard following a discovery with disabled people’s organisations and disabled people with first-hand experience of interacting with government digital services. This is critical and in keeping with the principle of ‘nothing about us without us," she says in GovInsider's Women in GovTech 2025 report.

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A new study from World Commerce & Contracting and OneAdvanced has highlighted an urgent need for an overhaul of public sector contracting in Australia and New Zealand, citing fragmentation, skill gaps and technology bottlenecks ⬇️

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The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) recently published its revised Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Principles, designed to provide a framework for police “to address racism and strengthen collaborative partnerships”; Jacqueline Durand, ANZPAA’s Assistant Director of Policy and Projects, explains why the Principles have been updated, the important differences between anti-racism and cultural awareness, and the vital role leadership plays in delivering this proactive approach. ❝Policing today is no longer solely about ensuring equitable service; it increasingly involves navigating the complex and often competing expectations of different groups, shaped by global influences and heightened socio-political dynamics.❞ ❝The experiences of Aboriginal peoples, Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori in relation to policing are shaped by a complex and enduring context. This includes the ongoing impacts of colonisation, land dispossession, and intergenerational trauma.❞ ❝This timely revision recognises that anti-racism and cultural diversity are central – not peripheral – to effective, accountable and culturally safe policing.❞ ❝While cultural diversity training aims to increase awareness and appreciation of different cultures, anti-racism training focuses more directly on identifying and addressing racist behaviours, attitudes and systemic barriers.❞ ❝Police leaders are positioned as key catalysts for change. They are expected to model inclusive behaviour, set clear expectations and create environments where diversity is respected and cultural safety is prioritised.❞ ❝For police leaders, these Principles serve as an overarching reference and guide. They call for authentic leadership, embedding cultural safety as a core organisational value and building trust through sustained, meaningful engagement.❞ https://lnkd.in/eH7yBG7e #lawenforcement #policing #police

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