Authorities have increased security measures around Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque following reported threat letters received ahead of upcoming Ramadan celebrations, prompting a coordinated safety response. Police confirmed enhanced patrols and visible security operations will be implemented across the Lakemba precinct to ensure the safety of worshippers and visitors attending Ramadan events, including the widely attended Lakemba Nights food market. Lakemba Nights has become one of Australia’s largest multicultural Ramadan festivals, attracting large crowds and showcasing diverse food, cultural traditions, and community engagement throughout the holy month. Community leaders emphasised the importance of unity, mutual respect, and peaceful celebration, noting that Ramadan represents a period of reflection, generosity, and spiritual connection for Muslim communities across Australia. Government representatives reiterated their commitment to protecting religious freedom and community harmony, highlighting the role of security measures in supporting safe public participation during major cultural gatherings. Authorities say investigations into the reported threats are ongoing, while organisers continue preparations for the festival, which is expected to draw significant attendance from multicultural communities across Sydney.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a public health warning regarding Natures Valley Collagen Builder tablets after laboratory testing revealed the presence of an undeclared prescription medicine, sildenafil, in the product. Each tablet was found to contain 199.3 milligrams of sildenafil, a substance that is only available by prescription in Australia and is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction. The TGA warns that the undisclosed inclusion of sildenafil poses a serious health risk, particularly as the medicine can cause severe side effects both when taken alone and in combination with other drugs. One of the most concerning risks is sildenafil’s potentially dangerous interaction with nitrates, a common ingredient in medications prescribed for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. This interaction can result in dangerously low blood pressure. The supply and sale of Natures Valley Collagen Builder tablets containing undisclosed sildenafil is illegal, and the product has not undergone the mandatory assessment for quality, safety, or efficacy required under Australian law. In response, the TGA is working in partnership with the Australian Border Force (ABF) to prevent further shipments of the product from entering the country. Any intercepted products will be seized and destroyed. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using Natures Valley Collagen Builder tablets and to take any remaining tablets to their local pharmacy for safe disposal. Anyone with health concerns arising from the use of this product should consult their healthcare practitioner promptly.

New South Wales is set to introduce a major healthcare reform allowing specially trained general practitioners to diagnose attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a responsibility previously limited to psychiatrists and paediatricians. The policy aims to improve access to diagnosis while reducing long waiting times and financial barriers faced by patients seeking neurodevelopmental assessments. The reform forms part of broader efforts to streamline mental health care pathways, with many patients historically required to undergo multiple specialist consultations before receiving a diagnosis. These processes have often resulted in substantial out-of-pocket expenses and delayed treatment, particularly affecting adults and women whose symptoms may have been overlooked. Health professionals say the change could significantly ease pressure on specialist services while enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention. Earlier policy measures allowing trained GPs to manage repeat ADHD medication prescriptions have already demonstrated improvements in affordability and continuity of care for families. Despite the reform, experts note that autism assessments remain complex and costly, with continued calls for expanded Medicare support, increased funding, and further clinician training to address ongoing diagnostic gaps. The initiative is expected to strengthen accessibility and affordability across neurodevelopmental health services while supporting improved patient outcomes.

The Queensland Ambulance Service Clinical Hub at Kedron has undergone an expansion to improve the state’s emergency response capability. According to the Queensland Government, the expanded facility is intended to provide easier access to health services and help ensure ambulances remain available for life-threatening emergencies. The expanded QAS Clinical Hub is designed to reduce pressure on hospitals, keep ambulances available for emergencies, and ensure appropriate care for Queenslanders. Officials say the changes are expected to improve emergency response times, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and increase the availability of frontline paramedics across metropolitan, regional, and rural areas. The $8.31 million Clinical Hub, located at the Emergency Services Complex in Kedron, provides secondary triage and health navigation for people after they’ve called Triple Zero (000), including 66 new workstations. The Clinical Hub is staffed 24/7 by a multi-disciplinary clinical team including senior paramedics, specialist doctors, registered nurses, mental health clinicians, social workers, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. Between July- December 2025, more than 33,000 patients received care through the hub without an ambulance being dispatched, preventing thousands of unnecessary hospital trips and ensuring ambulances are available for emergencies. Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls, said the expanded hub and model of care represent practical steps to improve health service delivery. “This is about making sure ambulances are available for emergencies, heart attacks, strokes, serious trauma while still ensuring people get the care and advice they need,” Mr Nicholls said. QAS Acting Chief Operating Officer David Hartley said the expanded Clinical Hub reflects current trends in emergency care delivery. “Triple Zero (000) is often the first entry point to the health system for Queenslanders in need, and we have a responsibility to navigate patients to the most appropriate care, and sometimes that means expert advice, mental health support, or connection to community and aged care services rather than an ambulance response,” Mr Hartley said. “Every day, the QAS Clinical Hub supports around 1,800 Queenslanders. The expansion of this service means we can help even more people get the right care quickly, whether that’s clinical advice, community support or an ambulance when it’s truly needed,” he said.

A growing intergenerational housing trend is gaining national attention as older homeowners increasingly rent spare rooms to younger tenants, offering a potential solution to Australia’s housing affordability challenges. The model, which pairs seniors with renters seeking affordable accommodation, is being promoted as a practical response to rising rental costs and limited housing supply across major cities. Housing advocates say millions of unused bedrooms exist nationwide, while younger Australians continue to face significant barriers to entering the rental market. The intergenerational approach aims to bridge this gap by enabling homeowners to generate supplementary income while providing renters with more affordable and stable living arrangements. Beyond financial benefits, supporters highlight the social advantages of shared living, including reduced loneliness among older residents and enhanced community connections. Program coordinators facilitating these arrangements report increasing demand from both seniors seeking companionship and younger tenants struggling with escalating housing expenses. Experts note that while the model is not a complete solution to Australia’s housing shortage, it may help ease pressure on the rental market and improve housing accessibility. Calls have also emerged for policy support, including incentives and safeguards, to expand intergenerational housing programs and ensure safe, mutually beneficial arrangements. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to shape national housing dynamics, the intergenerational housing trend is being viewed as an innovative and community-focused strategy that could contribute to improving affordability while fostering stronger social ties.

Brisbane City Council has identified Sandgate, one of the city’s slowest-growing suburbs, as the next proposed Suburban Renewal Precinct as part of efforts to increase housing supply. The plan, led by the Schrinner Council, aims to deliver hundreds of new homes in Sandgate by focusing development near jobs, transport, shops, and services. The proposal includes parts of Brighton Road and Rainbow Street. Sandgate and the surrounding Deagon Ward have experienced slower population growth compared to the broader Brisbane area; between 2019 and 2024, the ward grew by 0.8 percent annually, less than half the city’s 1.7 percent rate. Meanwhile, Brisbane continues to attract more than 600 new residents each week. “Sandgate already has a train station, thriving local businesses and a renowned foreshore, which makes it a smart location for sensible suburban renewal,” says Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. The Suburban Renewal Precincts program is designed to transform under-utilised land into mixed-use centres. This approach builds on previous projects in West End, Teneriffe, and New Farm, but differs from large-scale planning by focusing on smaller, well-located areas to deliver new homes and local jobs more rapidly. The Deagon Ward, which includes Sandgate, is serviced by eight train stations, including one adjacent to the proposed precinct. The council’s broader anti-sprawl housing program already has plans completed in Stones Corner and underway in Wynnum Centre, Mt Gravatt, and Alderley. Precinct boundaries for Chermside Centre and Upper Mt Gravatt Centre were also recently identified, with community engagement set to begin soon. The proposed Sandgate Centre renewal plan builds on the Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in November 2022 and took effect in March 2023 following state government approval. The neighbourhood plan covers Sandgate, Deagon, Shorncliffe, and Brighton, introducing protections for pre-1947 homes and reinforcing the area’s historic village character. Community consultation is expected to play a key role in shaping the draft plans for Sandgate Centre. Drafts will be released for further public feedback before finalisation, and final plans will be subject to review by the state government.

Immigration and international education policy continue to dominate national political discussion as Australia navigates the complex balance between economic growth, workforce demand, and housing affordability. Policymakers are increasingly examining migration levels and student visa settings amid rising cost-of-living pressures and ongoing rental market constraints across major cities. Migration has long played a critical role in supporting Australia’s labour market, helping address skill shortages in sectors including healthcare, construction, hospitality, and education. However, growing population inflows have also intensified housing demand, contributing to broader concerns about rental availability and affordability. International students remain a key component of Australia’s education export sector, providing significant economic benefits to universities and local communities. At the same time, elevated student numbers have been linked to increased pressure on urban housing markets, prompting calls for policy adjustments that balance economic contributions with infrastructure capacity. Government and opposition leaders continue to debate migration targets, student caps, and housing supply initiatives, with experts emphasising the need for coordinated strategies that support workforce needs while maintaining sustainable housing outcomes. The discussion reflects broader efforts to manage population growth in a way that safeguards economic resilience and community wellbeing. As Australia’s demographic and economic landscape evolves, immigration and international education policies are expected to remain central to national policy planning, shaping housing, labour market, and social outcomes in the years ahead.

A comprehensive national study has revealed racism is widespread and systemic across Australian universities, with thousands of students and staff reporting discrimination, exclusion and harm in academic settings. The document is the largest investigation of its kind into racial discrimination on campus. It surveyed more than 76,000 students and university staff from 42 institutions nationwide and involved focus groups, policy audits and literature reviews. The report showed that around 15% of participants reported having experienced direct interpersonal racism at university. Roughly 70% reported indirect racism, meaning witnessing or hearing racist conduct against others. Jewish and Palestinian respondents reported the highest rates of racism, with more than 90% saying they had encountered discrimination, exclusion or hostility on campus. First Nations, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Muslim, Māori and Pasifika students and staff also experienced racism at significantly elevated levels. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said the findings show racism in universities is not limited to sporadic incidents but is “deeply embedded” in institutional culture and systems. According to the report, racist behaviour ranges from overt slurs and hostile comments to discrimination embedded within university policies and practices that undermine the inclusion and wellbeing of marginalised groups. Despite the high prevalence of racism, only a small fraction of those affected submitted formal complaints, citing low confidence in existing reporting systems and fear of retaliation. The peak body representing vice-chancellors, Universities Australia, described the experiences shared by students and staff as “deeply troubling” and affirmed a pledge to working with the Human Rights Commission to address racism and improve campus safety and inclusion.

Two individuals have been charged with multiple dangerous drug offences after police executed a search warrant at a Hermitage Drive residence in Airlie Beach on February 16. At approximately 8am, officers from the Whitsundays Tactical Crime Squad (TCS), supported by the Dog Squad, searched the property as part of an ongoing investigation into illicit drug activity in the region. Police allegedly located approximately nine ounces of cocaine during the search, with an estimated street value exceeding $100,000. A quantity of cannabis, drug paraphernalia, and cash were also allegedly seized from the premises. A 25-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast faces two counts of possessing dangerous drugs (cocaine and cannabis), as well as one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing tainted property, and possessing utensils. A 25-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast faces two counts of possessing dangerous drugs (cocaine and cannabis), as well as one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing tainted property, and possessing utensils. Both accused are scheduled to appear before Proserpine Magistrates Court next month. Mackay Whitsundays Support Services Group Inspector Shelley Moore emphasised the ongoing police commitment to keeping dangerous drugs out of the community. “Our officers will continue to disrupt the unlawful supply of dangerous drugs from our streets,” said Inspector Moore. “We have zero tolerance towards illicit substances, and investigators remain committed to holding all offenders to account.”

A new study from the University of Queensland reveals that while general tobacco use is dropping across Australia, the rates of vaping and illicit tobacco consumption are on the rise. The research, led by Dr. Zhe Wang of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, analysed wastewater samples collected from 55 treatment plants across the country, covering more than half of Australia’s population. The samples, gathered between 2017 and 2023, showed a significant decrease in overall nicotine levels, with the most notable reductions in outer regional and remote areas. “Nicotine levels were found to be decreasing nationwide,” said Dr. Wang. “However, the proportion of illicit tobacco detected in wastewater jumped from 9 percent to 33 percent over the study period.” The study also found that nicotine from vaping and alternative products, such as gum and patches, increased from 5.4 percent to 26.3 percent. While some vaping products are accessed legally via medical prescriptions, researchers warn that the rising cost of cigarettes may be fuelling an illegal vaping market. Illicit tobacco consumption in Australia rose sharply—from about 1,350 tonnes to 3,400 tonnes over the seven years studied. The research team cross-referenced their wastewater findings with tobacco sales and illicit tobacco seizure data to confirm the trend. These results have been highlighted in the latest report by the Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Commissioner (ITEC), which estimates that half of all tobacco products sold in Australia are now illicit Associate Professor Phong Thai, a co-author of the study, acknowledged the positive trend of declining tobacco use but emphasised that more action is needed. “Smoking remains the leading risk factor for premature mortality and morbidity in Australia. While the illicit tobacco market could hinder progress toward the national goal of reducing smoking prevalence to 5 percent or less by 2030, it is encouraging that overall smoking rates are still falling. However, targeted efforts against the illicit tobacco market are urgently needed.” The study underscores the complex landscape of tobacco control in Australia, suggesting that while public health measures are effective in reducing legal tobacco use, further strategies are necessary to address the growing challenges of illicit tobacco and vaping.