Yankee Hat Rock Art Site reopens
Closed since 2022, the Yankee Hat Rock Art Site — the only known Aboriginal art site in the ACT — has officially reopened.
First Nations people have camped and painted in the area since 3,700 years ago. The rock art, painted in ochre on a granite boulder, depicts 18 animal and human-like motifs.
Replacing infrastructure damaged in the 2020 Orroral Valley bushfires, upgrades include a steel viewing platform; an elevated boardwalk; interpretive signage; improvements to the 3-kilometre access walking track; a steel footbridge over Bogong Creek; and new landscaping and infrastructure at the picnic area and carpark.
The visitor infrastructure was built from bushfire-resilient materials, and funded by the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant.
The site is protected under the Heritage Act 2004, and visitors should not touch the art or the rock surface. It is an offence to damage, disturb or destroy Aboriginal heritage places including objects. The Ngunnawal people ask that others respect the cultural protocols they have developed for Namadgi.
To learn more about the Yankee Hat Rock Art Site and plan a visit to Namadgi National Park, go to the Parks ACT website.
Canberra Liberals push for tougher laws on illicit tobacco and vaping
The Canberra Liberals have accused the ACT Government of ignoring the rise of the illicit tobacco and vaping trade in Canberra, and called for greater police powers to shut down illegal operators.
Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley MLA last month introduced a bill pushing for tough laws in line with NSW and Queensland, including severe penalties and new regulatory powers. The ACT Government agreed to strengthen penalties and enforcement in principle, but did not commit to the model the Liberals proposed.
Ms Castley said today that the ACT Government’s attitude was that “since we hadn’t seen any of the horrific crimes seen in the other states, there wasn’t a problem in the ACT”. She, however, argues that this “hands-off approach” exposes Canberrans to organised crime.
“This is both a health and community safety issue,” Ms Castley said. “Simply saying that there’s no problem here ignores the reality that the ACT is an island in NSW, and we are already seeing localised crime issues at local shops.”
Ms Castley said the nearly increase in illicit tobacco and vaping products was fuelled by the high cost of regulated tobacco, creating a market for unregulated, cheaper products.
“We need tougher legislation in the ACT to give police greater powers to tackle the issue from a supply side. We have done a great job educating Canberrans about the dangers of smoking but because it is such a lucrative industry, we will see organised crime set up shop here.”
Shadow police minister Deborah Morris MLA said community safety was not a priority for the ACT Government.
“Canberra should be a hard target for organised crime,” Mrs Morris said. “Instead, organised criminal syndicates look to Canberra as a safe haven to conduct illicit activities. The illicit tobacco trade and the amount of money that can be made is a magnet for organised crime, and these gangs don’t consider state or territory borders when it comes to setting up shop.”
The Liberals want the following measures included in a new illicit Tobacco and Vaping Bill:
- Enforcement officers can immediately close shops suspected of illegal sales for up to 90 days; longer closures available through the courts
- Landlords can terminate leases of tenants caught selling illicit products; penalties for landlords complicit in the trade
- Higher fines and longer jail sentences, with tougher sanctions for links to organised crime
- Extending forfeiture laws to seize assets connected to illicit tobacco sales, even without a conviction
- On-the-spot fines
The Canberra Liberals urged the government to adopt these considerations in future legislation and to state when the proposed legislation will be introduced this year.
Police minister Dr Marisa Paterson MLA attended the Police Ministers Meeting today, where the illicit tobacco trade was a key issue for national discussion. It recognised that “the growing concerns around illicit tobacco are a national challenge – one that requires a coordinated, national response”, Dr Paterson said.
The government will introduce further legislation to strengthen its response to this issue within the ACT community.
It will work with the Australian Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner (ITEC) and Commonwealth, State and Territory counterparts to address the illicit tobacco trade across Australia, Dr Paterson said.
“While the ACT has not experienced the same level of illicit tobacco activity seen in other jurisdictions, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and it remains a priority for ACT Policing and our health, licensing, and compliance agencies.”
New policing direction
The ACT Government has issued a new ministerial direction to ACT Policing prioritising domestic, family, and sexual violence; firearms safety; and reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system.
Police minister Dr Marisa Paterson MLA said: “This direction makes clear the alignment between ACT Government priorities and ACT Policing to continue to deliver a professional, accountable and community-focused service that keeps Canberrans safe and continues our trend of reducing overall crime.”
Key initiatives include a Domestic and Family Violence Investigation Unit with training in coercive control and technology-assisted abuse; upgrades to the ACT Firearms Registry as part of a national register; and culturally informed policing practices alongside justice reinvestment strategies.
“We are prioritising initiatives that reduce harm, build trust, and address the underlying causes of crime,” Dr Paterson said.
The direction is issued under the policing arrangement between the ACT Government and the Australian Federal Police, and backed by more than $230 million in annual funding. Recent budgets included $107 million to recruit 126 additional police officers, planning for a Molonglo Valley Police Station, and upgrading the City Police Station and Winchester Police Centre.
ACT Policing will continue to focus on crime prevention, road safety, and countering violent extremism.
