The Australian government has raised serious concerns about child safety on the popular online gaming platform Roblox, with officials calling on the company to explain how it safeguards young users from harmful content and inappropriate contact. Recent reports have highlighted instances where children using the platform have been exposed to sexualised content, material encouraging self-harm, and contact from adults in ways that raise potential grooming red flags. In response, federal communications authorities have signalled they are reviewing Roblox’s classification and safety measures to determine whether current protections are sufficient for younger players. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government has written to Roblox, urging urgent action to strengthen protections for children. The platform’s current PG rating in Australia requires parental guidance but does not impose strict content controls. Officials are now considering whether this rating remains appropriate, given the growing popularity of the game among primary and early secondary-school-aged children. The online safety watchdog is also expected to conduct tests of Roblox’s moderation systems to assess whether they effectively filter offensive and harmful content. Parents, educators, and child safety advocates have welcomed the scrutiny, arguing that digital environments must be safe by design and not rely solely on reactive measures. Critics of current safety systems say platforms with large child audiences bear a responsibility to implement age-appropriate safeguards, clear reporting tools, and robust moderation protocols. They say failure to address these issues can expose vulnerable users to psychological harm and unsafe interactions. Roblox has not yet publicly released details of how it intends to respond to the government’s request, but technology industry analysts say global platforms must increasingly prioritise user safety as part of regulatory expectations. The debate highlights broader concerns over digital content safety and the need for clearer standards to protect children in online gaming and social spaces, where global communities intersect, and content can spread rapidly.

Police are appealing for public assistance after releasing images of three people believed to have information about an assault that occurred in Mooloolaba late last month. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 10:30pm on Saturday, 20 December 2025. A man in his 60s was walking along Mooloolaba Esplanade, near the intersection of Venning Street, when he was approached by a group of three young males. Police said one of the males allegedly assaulted the man, causing non-life-threatening head injuries. The group then fled the scene on foot, heading south along the Esplanade.One of the males is alleged to have then assaulted the man, causing non-life-threatening head injuries. The three males then fled the scene on foot. CCTV images released by police show the three males in the vicinity at the time of the incident. Investigators urge anyone who recognises the individuals or who witnessed the assault to come forward. A police spokesperson confirmed that officers have increased patrols in the area and are reviewing additional CCTV footage from nearby businesses and public cameras. No arrests have been made at this stage, but police say they are following several leads. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers or their local police station. Police investigations are ongoing. According to the most recent Queensland Police Service (QPS) statistics (as of late 2025), property crime remains the most commonly reported category on the Sunshine Coast, with burglary and vehicle theft seeing fluctuations throughout the year. Violent crime rates (including assaults) have remained relatively stable, though there have been periodic spikes often associated with nightlife hotspots such as Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, and Noosa.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a fresh safety advisory after laboratory tests confirmed that several imported, unregistered melatonin products circulating in Australia are counterfeit and pose significant health risks. According to the TGA, the tested products did not match their labelled melatonin content, with one sample containing over 400% more melatonin than indicated, while another had no melatonin at all. The agency warns that such inconsistencies could put consumers at serious risk, particularly children, who may face accidental overdose and possible hospitalisation. Consumers are urged to avoid purchasing melatonin products from unverified overseas sources and to consult healthcare professionals for safe options. More details about the tested samples are available in the TGA’s summary report. Melatonin products, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and liquids, are used to manage sleep-wake cycles, jet lag, and insomnia, typically in doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg.

The Cook Government has launched public consultation on a proposed Multicultural Act for Western Australia, with community members given until 15 February 2026 to help decide how multicultural principles should be written into law for the first time in the state. Western Australians are being asked to help design a landmark Multicultural Act that would formally recognise the state’s cultural diversity in law and guide how government policies, services and decisions are delivered in the years ahead. Public consultation is now open and will run until Sunday 15 February 2026, with residents able to contribute via an online discussion paper, survey and written submissions. The initiative is being led by the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI), which has released a detailed discussion paper and supporting research outlining why an Act is being considered and what it could contain. The paper notes that more than 32 per cent of Western Australians were born overseas, with more than 249 languages spoken and over 130 religions followed across the state, and argues that this level of diversity warrants clear, legislated recognition. It frames the proposed law as a way to move multicultural commitments from aspiration to obligation, embedding principles of inclusion, fairness and participation across government. If adopted, a WA Multicultural Act would enshrine in law the progress already made under existing policies such as the WA Multicultural Policy Framework, ministerial advisory arrangements and community language programs. The Cook Government and OMI say a legislated framework could encourage greater investment in multicultural initiatives, improve the cultural competence of public services in areas like health, justice and education, and support education programs that build intercultural understanding. It is also expected to strengthen accountability, with research from other states highlighting the impact of mandatory reporting requirements on how agencies plan for and deliver services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The consultation comes as Western Australia approaches its bicentenary in 2029, a moment the discussion paper describes as an opportunity to reflect on the state’s migration history and the contribution of successive waves of settlers and refugees to social, cultural and economic life. The research underpinning the process emphasises that WA already has a substantial policy effort in place: as of September 2025, 64 public sector agencies were implementing multicultural plans with 4,830 specific actions committed across service delivery, participation and inclusion, nearly half of which had already been completed. The proposed Act is framed as a way to formalise and protect this work over the long term, rather than replace it. A key focus of the discussion paper is the distinct status of Aboriginal peoples as the First Peoples of Western Australia. It stresses that First Nations communities and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds have different histories and starting points, and that any legislative framework must recognise these differences while supporting equity across the broader population. The paper also canvasses whether existing multicultural advisory arrangements should be written into law, citing evidence from other jurisdictions that legislated councils and advisory bodies can strengthen trust and ensure consultation is ongoing, structured and tied to real decision-making. Western Australia is currently the only large mainland state without multicultural legislation, with Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia all operating under Acts that set out principles, define agency responsibilities and require regular reporting to Parliament. Research commissioned for the WA process finds that these laws have helped move commitments into practice by introducing clear accountability mechanisms, whole-of-government reporting and formal advisory structures. In some states, such as Victoria and New South Wales, local governments are also drawn into formal reporting and planning, improving visibility of regional and rural needs and reducing a purely metropolitan focus — an approach the WA discussion paper suggests could deliver similar benefits if adopted. Beyond governance, the research links multicultural legislation with stronger, more coordinated responses to racism and social tension. Jurisdictions with Acts in place report clearer lines of responsibility between agencies during periods of community stress and better-defined pathways for reporting and addressing incidents, supported by legislated principles and reporting frameworks. The WA consultation asks the public how such responsibilities should be structured in any new law, and what tools communities need to feel safe, respected and able to participate fully in civic life. Members of the public can provide feedback on the proposed Act through an online survey or by lodging written submissions via the OMI website, with support available for people who require interpreting services or translated material. A summary of submissions is expected to be released around April 2026, followed by development of a regulatory proposal and Cabinet submission later in the year. Social media outreach by OMI and WA ministers in early February has urged communities to contribute before the 15 February deadline, describing the consultation as a chance to help shape a more inclusive Western Australia for future generations. National context and MAN TV note With multicultural Acts already operating in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, Western Australia’s proposed legislation is part of a broader national shift towards embedding diversity and inclusion principles directly into law and tying them to transparent reporting. For multicultural broadcasters and community outlets such as MAN TV, the WA process also highlights the continuing role of independent media in explaining complex policy changes, platforming community voices and tracking whether promised reforms translate into real improvements in people’s everyday lives.

Australians rate their local councils as the best-performing tier of government but paradoxically, many also see them as the most expendable. A new nationwide survey reveals that 56 per cent of Australians think their local council does a good job, a higher rating than for state governments (46 per cent) and the federal government (39 per cent). Councils also received fewer “poor” ratings than the other tiers, with the federal government attracting the most “very poor” assessments. Yet despite their strong performance record, local councils are seen by many as the least essential level of government. Twenty-seven per cent of survey respondents said councils could be abolished, slightly more than the 26 per cent who would do away with state governments. Only nine per cent said Australia could function without the federal government. Political loyalties appear to shape views: Labor voters were more likely to consider councils unnecessary, while Coalition supporters leaned toward eliminating state governments. Still, a significant 38 per cent of participants were undecided highlighting broad uncertainty across the electorate about how government responsibilities should be divided. The findings also point to Australians’ growing appetite for streamlining government operations. Nearly three-quarters of respondents supported harmonising laws, taxes and regulations nationwide, while 58 per cent called for single-tier responsibility in key policy areas to avoid duplication and confusion. More ambitious reform options such as having state governments deliver services without elected parliaments received mixed responses. Almost half expressed some support, though many remained uncertain, and such ideas would face major constitutional obstacles. Overall, the research reveals a national paradox: Australians value the practical services their councils deliver from rubbish collection to road repairs and parks maintenance yet a substantial share sees them as non-essential in a more simplified model of governance. The results underscore a deeper tension in Australian politics between satisfaction with local performance and frustration with bureaucratic overlap. As debates about efficiency and reform continue, councils will need to demonstrate not only capability but necessity.

Two senior community leaders have been appointed Co‑Coordinators General to steer the next phase of recovery and support for those affected by the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, in a move the NSW Government says is designed to sustain care “for the long haul.” Multicultural NSW chief executive Joseph La Posta and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Michele Goldman will jointly oversee services for victims’ families, survivors and the wider eastern suburbs and Jewish communities. New leadership for recovery The NSW Government confirmed the Co‑Coordinators General appointments on Wednesday 14 January 2026, one month after the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December 2025. Premier Chris Minns said the roles are intended to ensure support efforts for the Bondi community remain “organised, appropriate and effective” as the focus shifts from immediate crisis response to long‑term recovery. Who the Co‑Coordinators are Joseph La Posta has led Multicultural NSW since 2019, driving the agency’s five‑year strategy and programs to strengthen cultural diversity and social cohesion across the state. Michele Goldman became CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in 2024 and previously served as CEO of Asthma Australia, vice‑president of JewishCare NSW, and as a non‑executive director at Social Impact Hub, The Housing Connection and the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. Their roles and priorities La Posta will lead whole‑of‑government coordination, making sure support programs and services are delivered seamlessly across NSW agencies, while Goldman will provide dedicated community leadership informed by close engagement with affected Jewish and eastern suburbs communities. Together, they will coordinate efforts across government, NGOs, charities and the private sector, with a stated priority on active engagement with community leaders to rebuild wellbeing, strengthen social cohesion and support long‑term recovery. Scale of support so far Federal and NSW Governments have so far committed about $60 million towards wellbeing, resilience and recovery initiatives for victims, families and impacted communities, building on earlier joint disaster recovery funding announced in the weeks after the attack. According to the NSW Government, more than 830 people have already accessed the Bondi Community Hub, over 230 businesses have received help from Service NSW, and more than 350 applications have been lodged with Victim Support Services. Context of the Bondi attack The 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach shooting, described by authorities as an Islamic State‑inspired antisemitic terrorist attack, targeted a Jewish Hanukkah event and has been labelled the deadliest antisemitic attack in Australian history. The attack has triggered a national response that includes a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion and a series of reforms aimed at improving security, tightening laws and bolstering support for Jewish and broader Australian communities.

NSW has announced what it is calling the nation’s largest Australia Day 2026 program, with a full day of free events across the state and a major focus on Sydney Harbour from dawn until late night. The program weaves together First Nations ceremonies, family activities, harbour spectacles and a star‑studded concert at the Sydney Opera House, framed as a day for both celebration and reflection following the recent Bondi terror attack. Dawn ceremonies and First Nations focus Sydney’s program begins with a Dawn Reflection as the sails of the Sydney Opera House are illuminated with artwork by Aboriginal artist Garry Purchase, signalling the start of the day’s commemorations on Eora Country. This is followed by the WugulOra Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo’s Walumil Lawns, continuing a tradition that acknowledges the cultural and spiritual significance of 26 January for First Nations peoples and invites the wider community to reflect on history and resilience. Harbourfest on water and in the sky From late morning, Sydney Harbour transforms into a large‑scale Harbourfest with a sequence of on‑water and aerial events designed for spectators along the foreshore and on vessels. Signature elements include the Ferrython, the Midday Salute honouring Australian veterans through a tri‑forces display, the Harbour Parade with decorated boats, the Tall Ships Race and the 190th Australia Day Regatta, billed as the world’s oldest annual sailing event. Family activities around Circular Quay Around Circular Quay, the program emphasises accessible, family‑friendly activities spanning much of the day. Surf Life Saving NSW will run its Fun in the Sun activation at First Fleet Lawn, offering free games and water‑safety education for children, while the Mega Kidz Zone at the Overseas Passenger Terminal returns with large‑scale games, inflatables and arcade attractions aimed at younger audiences. Australia Day Live concert and tribute The evening culminates in Australia Day Live, a free concert on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House set against the harbour and bridge, positioned as the emotional centrepiece of the program. An all‑star Australian lineup features Cody Simpson, Kate Ceberano, William Barton, Jude York and supergroup The Fabulous Caprettos (Wendy Matthews, Rai Thistlethwayte, Dave Gleeson and Joe Camilleri), alongside performers such as Burn the Floor and John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra, with a fireworks and aerial display over Circular Quay closing the night.     A key segment of the concert will be a tribute to those affected by last month’s Bondi terror attack, which claimed multiple lives and left the state in mourning. Sydney band SHIR, associated with the Australian Jewish Music Festival and known for a widely shared rendition of “I Am Australian” at the Bondi vigil, is slated to perform as part of a moment of shared remembrance embedded within the broader celebration Statewide events and government message Beyond Sydney, local councils and communities across New South Wales will host citizenship ceremonies, community festivals and Australia Day Ambassador Program events, with more than 100 Australians recognised for their contributions travelling to regional and suburban locations. The NSW Government is promoting the 2026 program as the largest of its kind in the country, highlighting its free, statewide nature and promising further detail closer to the day.   Premier Chris Minns has framed the day as an opportunity to focus on shared beliefs in freedom, respect and a “fair go,” while acknowledging the contested nature of the date and underscoring the need for space to reflect on First Nations history and the trauma of recent events such as the Bondi attack. Jobs and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper has emphasised themes of diversity, mateship and unity, stressing that the expanded program is designed to allow people to participate in ways that suit them, whether at harbour spectaculars, formal ceremonies or smaller gatherings with family and friends.

More than 2200 locations across Victoria have been approved for mobile speed camera use in January 2026, as authorities refresh their enforcement map for the new year. The official list, published monthly by the Victorian Government, now includes 2262 potential sites where cameras can be deployed at any time during the month. What’s changed this month The January update brings a modest reshuffle, with six new camera locations added and ten removed from the state-wide schedule. While the overall coverage remains extensive, the adjustments fine-tune enforcement around both regional and metropolitan roads.   New locations: Warrnambool: Aitkins Road, Raglan Parade and the Princes Highway. Hamilton: Mt Napier Road and Coleraine Road. Toolern Vale: An additional site on Diggers Rest–Coimadai Road.   Removed locations: Anakie Road (Bell Park), Barkers Road (Hawthorn East), Bennett Road (Horsham), Clarendon Street (East Melbourne), Cookes Road (Doreen), Edgecombe Road (Kyneton), Gardenia Street (Horsham), Meeniyan–Promontory Road (Buffalo), Sheepwash Road (Barwon Heads), and one of two entries for the Princes Highway in Moe, with one Moe listing remaining active. How sites are selected Each mobile camera site must satisfy at least one safety or enforcement criterion before it is approved for use. The aim is to target high‑risk or problematic areas rather than placing cameras at random. A recent history of speed‑related crashes or road trauma over the past three years.   Confirmed complaints about speeding from community members or local councils.   Identification by police as a location with persistent speed issues.   Situations where other enforcement options are considered unsuitable, making mobile cameras the most practical tool. Who runs the cameras Victoria Police decide when and where each camera operates, but day‑to‑day operation is handled by private contractor Serco. The devices are housed in unmarked vehicles and rely on Gatso T‑Series camera units supplied by road safety technology company Sensys Gatso. Serco has been providing traffic camera services to Victoria since 2007, with its current contract—first awarded in 2019—extended through to October 2029.   The partnership covers the deployment, operation and maintenance of the mobile enforcement fleet across the state. Trailer-based cameras on the way Victoria is also moving toward wider use of trailer‑mounted portable speed cameras following a recent trial. A new agreement will see Sensys Gatso supply trailer‑based systems to Serco until October 2029, indicating these units are expected to become a regular part of the enforcement mix.   Trailer cameras are already in use in Tasmania, where Sensys Gatso supplies and operates similar systems.   Authorities say the combination of vehicle‑based and trailer‑mounted cameras is intended to strengthen speed compliance and reduce road trauma across both Melbourne and regional Victoria.

It was a birthday to remember for six‑year‑old Charlie McEvoy from Noosa, whose dream of becoming a police officer received an unforgettable boost last weekend. Charlie and his mum Katie had recently visited Noosa Police Station to invite the local officers to his upcoming birthday party. During their visit, police gave the crime‑fighting enthusiast a quick station tour, a memorable experience for the young boy already proudly wearing a junior police uniform given to him by Santa last Christmas. Just a few days later, Charlie’s dream came true. Senior Constable Joel Schoenberger and Constable Alex Browne surprised him by driving their patrol car right up to his party on Saturday, January 10. The officers let Charlie climb inside, try the siren, and handed him a very special birthday present: a custom mini vest complete with a badge naming him Special Constable Charlie. “It was such a lovely morning,” said Charlie’s mum Katie. “The officers were incredible. They made his day unforgettable.” Constable Browne told MAN TV it was just as special for them: “We were thrilled to help make Charlie’s birthday a little bit more memorable.” The celebration was entirely police‑themed from the decorations to the cake but what stood out most was the community spirit between officers and residents. Katie said the experience still comes up in every conversation: “Charlie tells everyone he meets about his police party, even people we run into while walking the dog.” It’s moments like these that remind Queenslanders how strong connections between local police and the community can inspire the next generation. Source: Queensland Police Service Media Release “Noosa officers make a birthday wish come true” (Jan 16, 2026)

Nationals leader David Littleproud has accused the Albanese Labor government of dragging its feet on key supermarket transparency reforms and “letting shoppers down” during a cost‑of‑living crisis, as Labor counters that it has already delivered a tough mandatory supermarket code and is now moving on wider consumer protections, including a national crackdown on online “subscription traps”. Supermarket prices and Nationals’ criticism Nationals leader David Littleproud says families will head into 2026 still “shopping in the dark” because the government has not forced the major supermarket chains to share real‑time price data in a way that lets consumers easily compare prices across stores and products.He points to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s supermarkets inquiry, which recommended that the largest chains be compelled to publish their prices online and provide “dynamic price information” via application programming interfaces (APIs) that third‑party comparison tools could use to help shoppers find the lowest prices. Mr Littleproud argues that almost every grocery item has risen in price during the cost‑of‑living crunch, with some products up around 20 per cent, while real wages have failed to keep pace, leaving household budgets under severe strain at the checkout.He says that, nearly 300 days after the supermarkets inquiry report, failure to implement the dynamic pricing tools amounts to a broken promise and is “costing families” over the New Year period. ACCC reforms and ‘shrinkflation’ concerns The ACCC’s inquiry into supermarket competition and pricing recommended a suite of measures aimed at improving transparency, including mandatory online pricing by big chains, dynamic price APIs for the very largest retailers, and clearer disclosure of so‑called “shrinkflation”.Shrinkflation occurs when a product’s size or weight quietly falls while the price stays the same or rises, and the ACCC has urged that supermarkets be required to publish clear notifications when package sizes change, alongside prominent unit‑pricing information so shoppers can see the true cost per litre, kilo or unit. Mr Littleproud says the lack of mandatory shrinkflation notifications leaves room for “tricky pricing practices” that take advantage of busy consumers who may not notice subtle changes in package size.He also links delayed implementation of transparency measures to pressure on farmers, who are facing higher input costs and lower margins, arguing that stronger rules would help both producers and shoppers “vote with their feet” and switch to better deals. Government’s supermarket code and response The federal government says it has already taken significant steps by making the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory for large supermarket chains from 1 April 2025, implementing recommendations of an earlier independent review by former Labor minister Craig Emerson.The mandatory code applies to supermarket and grocery wholesalers with more than $5 billion in turnover and is designed to protect farmers and suppliers by requiring written supply agreements, good‑faith dealings, and anonymous complaint channels, with penalties of up to 10 per cent of turnover for serious breaches Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh has highlighted that the strengthened code is aimed primarily at conduct in the supply chain rather than directly setting prices, and that other levers such as competition cases and planning reforms are also being used to increase supermarket competition.Labor figures note that Coalition MPs voted against the mandatory code package in Parliament, even as they now demand faster and tougher action on supermarket behaviour. New push on online ‘subscription traps’ While the Nationals press for faster supermarket changes, the government is also moving to outlaw a wider class of unfair trading practices, with Assistant Minister Leigh describing 2026 as the year “subscription traps” and similar tactics will be banned under an expanded Australian Consumer Law.Subscription traps include free trials that silently roll into paid plans, cancellation buttons hidden deep in websites or apps, and requirements to phone during business hours to cancel, even when sign‑up was instant and online. Draft national legislation due for consultation in early 2026 is expected to impose a general ban on unfair practices that manipulate consumer decision‑making and cause harm, with specific rules targeting subscription traps and “drip pricing”, where mandatory fees are only revealed at the final step of checkout.Under the proposed reforms, businesses would need to clearly disclose key subscription terms before sign‑up, send reminders before free trials convert to paid plans, and ensure cancelling is at least as simple as joining, with regulators given stronger powers and civil penalties for breaches. What it means for Australian families For households juggling high rents, mortgages and rising food bills, the debate leaves a gap between the reforms already in place and the on‑the‑ground experience of weekly shopping and online subscriptions.Consumer advocates say dynamic price tools, clear shrinkflation warnings and tougher penalties for misleading tactics would give people more power to compare options and walk away from bad deals, but warn that none of these measures will instantly reverse global food inflation or broader cost‑of‑living pressures. As Parliament prepares to consider both supermarket‑related regulations and the broader unfair trading ban in 2026, families, farmers and digital‑business operators will be watching closely to see whether the final laws deliver practical changes at the checkout and in their inboxes, rather than just another round of political blame‑shifting.