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  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese envoy urges Somali parties to stay committed to resolving differences through dialogue

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on all Somali parties to keep up the momentum, strengthen dialogue and unity, and stay committed to resolving differences through dialogue.

    In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Somalia, Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, noted that in recent years, Somalia has made important headway in national reconstruction and peace and security, and both the UN and African Union (AU) missions have entered a critical transition period.

    “At this important stage, the support and assistance of the international community cannot relax,” Dai said.

    He emphasized three points — maintaining the overall situation of political stability; strengthening the foundation of security transition; and advancing UNSOM (UN Assistance Mission in Somalia) transition in an orderly manner.

    Underscoring that the Somali federal government has maintained communication with the governments of federal member states and reached important consensus on the constitution, elections, and political parties, the ambassador said, “We expect all Somali parties to keep up the momentum, strengthen dialogue and unity, and stay committed to resolving differences through dialogue.”

    He stressed that China has consistently supported the efforts of the Somali government to safeguard national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and called on the international community to support the country in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions, and provide guarantees for Somalia to embark on the path of long-term and stable development.

    Dai noted that in the next phase, ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) will transition into a new AU mission, and expressed the hope that Somalia, the AU, the UN, and others will strengthen their communication and coordination to reach consensus on new mission arrangements and to ensure the smooth progress of the relevant work.

    “Under-funding is an important challenge to AU missions’ mandate performance,” he said, calling on the European Union and other traditional donors to maintain their funding for the new mission and continue to contribute to the security and stability of Somalia. Dai also urged the Security Council to respond to the initiative of the AU and actively study various effective options to provide sustainable and predictable financial support for the new mission.

    Noting that the Somali government has repeatedly called for the transition of UNSOM to a UN country team, and has recently submitted a two-year transition proposal to the Security Council, the ambassador called on the council to use this as a base and, in line with Somalia’s national development priorities, adjust and streamline UNSOM’s mandate, with a view to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition.

    “China supports the peace and development process in Somalia, as well as the enhancement of Somalia’s capacity for autonomous development, counter-terrorism, and stability. We will continue to provide support to international peacekeeping operations in Somalia,” Dai said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-built supply chains to benefit all

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s intensified efforts to build resilient industrial and supply chains and expand international collaboration will further drive global industrial development and unlock a wealth of opportunities for companies worldwide, experts and company executives said.

    The comments were made in response to the central authorities’ resolution to this end. The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China — a meeting key to the nation’s reforms and modernization progress — said the country will move faster to build industrial and supply chains that are self-supporting and risk-controllable.

    Meanwhile, China will further deepen reform and opening-up, and facilitate international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, the meeting said.

    “China is both a participant and beneficiary of global industrial and supply chains, as well as a firm defender and builder of these chains,” Zhang Qingwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, said during a recent meeting.

    He added that the country will integrate more deeply with the global industrial and supply chain system and firmly oppose protectionism and any form of decoupling, while maintaining the desired outcome of global public good.

    Zhang Yansheng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said that China has witnessed momentum in emerging sectors like new energy in recent years despite headwinds such as decoupling moves initiated by the United States and its relocation strategies.

    “The US is leveraging new protectionism, industrial policies and government intervention to undermine the solid foundation of China’s industrial and supply chains. This retrogressive approach is not only unfair to Chinese companies and global consumers, but also a step backward in the global transition toward sustainability.

    “What is to the benefit of all is that China will further deepen market-oriented reforms, expand high-standard opening-up, improve the legal system, and enhance the institutional framework for fair competition, green development and the advancement of clean energy domestically.”

    Zhang added that if there were no negative spillovers of geopolitical tensions and protectionism, the supply and demand of new energy vehicles, photovoltaics and lithium batteries — areas in which the US unfairly accuses China of overcapacity — would achieve a dynamic balance at the global level.

    Recalling that the US and China have both benefited tremendously from more bilateral trade, Neil Bush, chairman of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations, said while addressing a recent event that countries that rely solely on local manufacturing face significant challenges.

    “Manufacturing is no longer confined to national borders. Countries that embrace innovation while working together can unlock new potential and drive economic growth by sharing research and best practices in technical advancements,” he said.

    As Chinese companies continue to weave themselves into the fabric of global industrial and supply chains, Wang Yang, president of SinoEV (Hefei) Powertrain Technologies, a developer of electric vehicle power systems, said it is challenging for some countries to be independent of China’s new energy industry supply chain in the short term.

    “Developing a robust supply chain requires a long time and certain favorable conditions, such as comprehensive policy and a large market scale,” Wang said.

    “China’s new energy industry supply chain is competitive on the global stage, thanks to its complete industry chain covering research and development, engineering design, manufacturing management and final assembly integration. It will bring benefits to companies around the world.”

    According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China is the only country in the world that has all industrial categories listed in the United Nations Industrial Classification, covering almost all traditional and emerging manufacturing sectors.

    Zeng Yuqun, founder of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, a leading EV battery maker, said that countries can actually benefit from the new energy sector by sharing the industry chain.

    “CATL has already taken some measures to diversify its overseas market and is willing to share its technology with the world,” he added.

    Citing challenges faced by the global industrial and supply chains, Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University, said China will not isolate itself, but rather integrate more actively into the global innovation system to avoid severe disruptions in the global industrial chain.

    “With its position in the global industrial chain key to the world, China must continue to innovate and open up to reinforce this position,” Xue said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Adjusted policies motivate realty sales

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Fueled by favorable policies, China’s residential real estate market witnessed an uptick in inquiries and viewings over the first three days of the National Day holiday. Experts have predicted a country-wide market revival marked by increased transactions, with first-tier cities leading the trend.

    They said recent policy adjustments that eased restrictions on leveraging, along with previous measures such as ensuring the delivery of pre-sale properties and the 300 billion yuan ($42.7 billion) loan to State-owned enterprises for affordable housing projects, are crucial for stabilizing the market. However, further support from the central bank may still be required to sustain the momentum.

    “Our phones rang non-stop the day new policies were announced, as they captured the attention of numerous potential homebuyers,” said Wu Libin, sales manager at house-letting agency 5i5j in Beijing, adding that inquiries are still coming in.

    Another sales manager in Beijing E-Town told Beijing News on Tuesday that transactions worth 125 million yuan had been completed and more than 100 families had visited the development area since Beijing announced its policies on Monday.

    There was a rush of inquiries elsewhere too. In Guangzhou, Guangdong province, a housing sales center in Liwan district extended its office hours and stayed open throughout the night following Guangzhou’s policy announcement on Sunday.

    By Monday noon, the number of visitors to the sales center had surged by 200 percent compared to usual levels, according to Jimu News. A staff member surnamed Liu said while some buyers jumped at the chance to buy following the policy announcement, others had opted for a wait-and-watch approach.

    Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Shanghai also reported a rise in the number of visitors to various sales offices. Latest data from a research center of realty agency Leyoujia revealed a nearly 40 percent surge in pre-owned home transactions at Leyoujia sales centers on Monday compared to the previous day — the highest since February 2021. New home transactions also hit a two-year high. Xinmin Evening News revealed that multiple sales offices in Shanghai are fully booked for house viewings next week.

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said on Sunday that cities, especially first-tier cities, should utilize policies and adjust housing purchase restrictions based on local conditions.

    The same day, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen all made significant policy changes. Shanghai streamlined its purchase restrictions, notably reducing the threshold and initial payment costs. Among first-tier cities, Guangzhou was the first to completely remove home purchase restrictions. Shenzhen also lifted such restrictions in several areas.

    On Monday, Beijing also announced measures such as further reducing interest rates on existing housing loans and lowering the minimum down payment for personal housing loans.

    Yan Yuejin, vice-president of the Shanghai-based E-House China R&D Institute, said the new policies in the four major cities, in conjunction with financial policies from the People’s Bank of China, are timely, precise and comprehensive, playing a positive role in stabilizing the real estate market.

    “All of the four first-tier cities have modified their purchase restrictions in response to new market demands, continuously optimizing relevant policies to better support the release of reasonable housing consumption demands. Other cities nationwide are expected to follow suit, indicating a period of comprehensive policy relaxation,” Yan said.

    “China’s real estate market is anticipated to witness a wave of transactions in the fourth quarter, potentially seeing a favorable trend of both increased sales volume and prices.”

    Charlie Zheng, chief economist at Samoyed Cloud Technology Group Holdings, took a more cautious stance. He said that while the property market had previously experienced an overall decline in sales, the introduction of positive policies could halt this trend in cities particularly with strong demand and population influxes. However, a combined effort of existing policies and potentially further increased loan support from the central bank could be necessary for a nationwide rebound in the realty market in the future.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: G7 voices concern over ‘deteriorating situation’ in Mideast

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Group of Seven (G7) leaders on Thursday voiced “deep concern” over the “deteriorating situation” in the Middle East.

    The “dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks fuelling uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East, which is in no one’s interest. Therefore, we call on all regional players to act responsibly and with restraint,” said a G7 statement released by 10 Downing Street.

    The statement said G7 leaders had discussed “coordinated efforts and actions” to avoid further escalation of conflict in the region, without specifying details.

    “We also reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance, and an end to the conflict,” it said.

    As to the recent escalating conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, leaders of the seven biggest developed countries urged all actors to protect civilian populations, saying they are committed to providing humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon.

    In the statement, they stressed “the importance of the United Nations in resolving armed conflict and mitigating the humanitarian impact in the Middle East,” saying that “we are committed to reinforcing our support to the mission, pursuant to applicable UN resolutions.”

    The G7 comprises the United States, Britain, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Japan.

    Also on Thursday, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad reported that a total of 1,974 people have been killed, including 127 children and 261 women, since the onset of the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict in October last year. The World Health Organization said on the same day that 28 healthcare workers were killed in the past 24 hours in Lebanon amid escalating hostilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll rises to 87 after ferry sinks in eastern DR Congo: official

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    At least 87 people were killed Thursday after a ferry sank on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a report by local authorities seen by Xinhua.

    People gather at a port after a ferry sank on Lake Kivu near Goma, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Oct. 3, 2024. At least 87 people were killed Thursday after a ferry sank on Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a report by local authorities seen by Xinhua. (Xinhua/Alain Uaykani)

    The ferry, coming from the town of Minova in the South Kivu province, capsized near the port of Kituku, on the outskirts of Goma, capital of the North Kivu province.

    In the report addressed to the central government in Kinshasa, the provincial government also spoke of 78 people still missing. The 87 bodies recovered were transported to the morgue of the general hospital in Goma and nine other survivors were taken to hospital.

    The number of passengers aboard the boat remains unknown. Local sources, however, told Xinhua a “significant overload” of the boat.

    The boat failed to withstand a violent wave before it capsized about 700 m away from the port, said staff of the Kituku port.

    Till late Thursday, the population still gathered at the port of Kituku with anxiety and the hope of finding the bodies of their loved ones, observed Xinhua.

    The roads between Goma and Minova have been cut off for months due to hostilities between armed groups and the DRC military. Cases of boat accidents are frequent on Lake Kivu due to strong winds and overloading.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hurricane Helene death toll tops 200 in US

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Death toll exceeded 200 on Thursday in hurricane-stricken southeastern U.S. states, according to NBC News.

    At least 204 people are known to have died across six states as a result of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene since it made landfall in Florida a week ago, reported the news outlet, adding that hundreds are still missing and nearly a million customers remain without power.

    Helene has become the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

    More than half of the fatalities were confirmed in storm-ravaged North Carolina, with at least 98 deaths. In particular, Buncombe County, which located in western North Carolina, reported 61 deaths.

    U.S. President Joe Biden decided Wednesday to immediately deploy “up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers to support the delivery of food, water and other critical commodities to communities affected by Hurricane Helene.”

    The active-duty military personnel are in addition to more than 1,000 North Carolina National Guard soldiers currently deployed, who are surging food, water, supplies and conducting search and rescue operations, according to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

    The governor noted on Thursday that “around-the-clock efforts continue to provide resources and assistance” to communities in western part of the state.

    Biden toured the Carolinas to survey damage on Wednesday and is scheduled to visit Florida and Georgia on Thursday. The White House said in a news release that Biden will further survey damage caused by Helene and meet with state and local leaders regarding ongoing response efforts.

    “The president and his entire administration will continue to do everything in our power to help the people of Florida, Georgia, and every community affected by this storm,” said the White House.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NASA’s Psyche mission sends signal from Mars orbit

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    NASA’s Psyche mission has sent signal from Mars orbit, marking a critical milestone of the mission, NASA said on Thursday.

    The Psyche spacecraft, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in October last year, is the first-ever U.S. mission to study a metal-rich asteroid in the far reaches of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

    Almost a year since launch, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment sent a laser signal from Earth to Psyche spacecraft about 460 million kilometers away, according to NASA.

    Soon after reaching that milestone on July 29, the technology demonstration concluded the first phase of its operations since launching aboard Psyche.

    The milestone is a proof that human could one day relay data to and from Mars with lasers, according to NASA.

    By transporting data at rates up to 100 times higher than radio frequencies, lasers can enable the transmission of complex scientific information as well as high-definition imagery and video, which are needed to support humanity’s next giant leap when astronauts travel to Mars and beyond, said NASA.

    Psyche spacecraft remains healthy and stable, using ion propulsion to accelerate toward a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, according to NASA

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: DPRK top leader threatens nuclear response if sovereignty breached

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said the country would use all offensive forces, including nuclear weapons, if enemies attempt to use armed forces encroaching upon the DPRK sovereignty, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

    Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, made the remarks while inspecting a training base of the special operation units earlier this week.

    Kim stressed that the enemies’ threatening rhetoric, action, trick and attempt will not take away the DPRK’s nuclear weapons and the country “has irreversibly secured the absolute strength as a nuclear power and the system and function for using it,” according to the KCNA report.

    “To pray for a good luck of survival in a military conflict with the nuclear weapons state would be a foolish thing,” and “if such situation comes, the permanent existence of Seoul and the Republic of Korea would be impossible,” the DPRK leader was quoted by the KCNA as saying.

    Noting the necessity for the DPRK military force to keep cultivating its strength, Kim stressed that “strength in our hands is the only guarantee for keeping under control the enemy and defending ourselves,” the KCNA report said.

    During the inspection of the training base of the special operation units in the western area on Wednesday, Kim touted the DPRK special operation forces as the “pivotal and core force” in the country’s war deterrence and war-fighting capabilities, while underlining the need of expanding and strengthening the special operation forces into the country’s strongest combat forces, the KCNA said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New fish species found in east China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese researchers have discovered a new species of fish, Opsariichthys iridescens, in east China, which features beautiful colors.
    The research findings describe how the species is distinguished from congeners by morphological features, which have been validated through gene-based phylogenetic analysis.
    The discovery was published in a recent edition of the international academic journal Zookeys. The research was led by Yang Jinquan, a professor at Shanghai Ocean University, in collaboration with the Zhejiang Forest Resource Monitoring Center and other institutions.
    The new species can be distinguished from its closely related species with a genetic divergence of over 14 percent, according to the research findings. The new species is found in the Qiantang and Oujiang River systems in Zhejiang Province and the tributaries of the lower Yangtze River adjacent to the Qiantang River.
    Yang said that the discovery of several new species living in fast-flowing rivers or streams including Opsariichthys iridescens, indicates that the diversity of freshwater fish species in the region is still underestimated.
    According to Yang, these stream fish species are food resources for waterfowl and other animal, contributing to the nutrient cycling and water purification of rivers.
    Yang said protecting these fish species is essential to maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, which helps to maintain biodiversity and promote the sustainable development of ecotourism and fisheries.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland expresses condolences following Taiwan hospital fire

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday expressed condolences to the families of the victims after a hospital fire killed nine people in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan.
    “We offer our condolences for the loss of lives, and extend our sympathy to their families and all the injured,” said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
    Speaking to the media earlier, Su Ching-chyuan, the hospital’s honorary dean, said that the fire was caused by the combustion of an air compressor in a machine room, adding that most of the victims were elderly hospitalized patients.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: GDP decreases 0.2 percent in the June 2024 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: Gross domestic product: June 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    GDP decreases 0.2 percent in the June 2024 quarter – 19 September 2024 – New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.2 percent in the June 2024 quarter, following a 0.1 percent increase in the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    Retail trade and accommodation; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and wholesale trade industries all fell.

    “Activity in retail trade and wholesale trade has been in steady decline since 2022,” national accounts industry and production senior manager Ruvani Ratnayake said.

    Forestry and logging drove the fall in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry. This is mirrored by a fall in exports of forestry primary products.

    Despite the overall fall in GDP, 7 out of the 16 industries increased. The largest rise was in manufacturing.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: New toad species discovered in south China’s Guangdong

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese researchers have discovered a new horned toad species, which has been named Boulenophrys pepe, in Lianshan Bijiashan Nature Reserve in south China’s Guangdong Province.
    The research findings, led by Guangdong Polytechnic of Environmental Protection Engineering and other institutions, were published in a recent edition of the international academic journal Zootaxa.
    The new species was discovered in evergreen broadleaf forests at altitudes of 490 to 540 meters, where mountain streams and a layer of leaf litter create diverse microhabitat systems.
    The toad, notable for its swollen lips, differs significantly from closely related species in the same area, according to Lin Shishi, a member of the research team.
    Lin noted that Boulenophrys pepe is highly sensitive to changes in the forest ecosystem. The discovery of this new toad species enhances the understanding of biodiversity and shows that China’s conservation efforts to protect mountain forest ecosystems have been very effective, Lin said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Electronic card transactions: August 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Electronic card transactions: August 2024 – 12 September 2024 – The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.

    Key facts
    All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

    Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.

    August 2024 month
    Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the August 2024 month (compared with July 2024) were:

    • spending in the retail industries increased 0.2 percent ($10 million)
    • spending in the core retail industries increased 0.4 percent ($25 million).

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Food prices increase 0.4 percent annually – Stats NZ media and information release: Selected price indexes: August 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Food prices increase 0.4 percent annually – 12 September 2024 – Food prices in New Zealand increased 0.4 percent in the 12 months to August 2024, following a 0.6 percent increase in the 12 months to July 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    Higher prices for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food and grocery food drove the annual increase in food prices, up 3.6 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

    The price increase in restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food was due to higher prices for lunch/brunch, hamburgers, and takeaway coffees.

    The price increase in grocery food was due to higher prices for olive oil, chocolate blocks, and butter.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: International travel: July 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    International travel: July 2024 – 11 September 2024 – International travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering or leaving New Zealand.

    Key facts
    Monthly arrivals – overseas visitors
    Overseas visitor arrivals were 221,800 in the July 2024 month, an increase of 8,000 from the July 2023 month. The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

    • Australia (up 11,400)
    • China (up 10,000)
    • United States (down 13,100).

    July 2023 saw a boost in overseas visitor arrivals from the United States, coinciding with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: New Zealand net migration rate down from peak – Stats NZ media and information release: International migration: July 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    New Zealand net migration rate down from peak – 11 September 2024 – International migration in the July 2024 year increased New Zealand’s population by 13 more people for every 1,000 already living here, according to provisional estimates from Stats NZ.

    The net migration rate of 13 per 1,000 in the July 2024 year was down from a rate of 26 per 1,000 in the October 2023 year.

    “New Zealand’s net migration rate is down on last year, but is still relatively high by historical standards,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

    High net migration rates in 2023 and 2024 mainly reflect the large number of migrant arrivals to New Zealand following the relaxation of COVID-19-related travel and border restrictions, both in New Zealand and overseas, from 2022.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Local authority statistics: June 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Local authority statistics: June 2024 quarter – 10 September 2024 – Local authority statistics provides information on the performance of core non-trading activities of New Zealand’s territorial and regional councils.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Down and under pressure: US and UK artists are taking over Australian charts, leaving local talent behind

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Kelly, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney

    Shutterstock

    Missy Higgins’ recent ARIA number-one album, The Second Act, represents an increasingly rare sighting: an Australian artist at the top of an Australian chart.

    My recently published analysis of Australia’s best-selling singles and albums from 2000 to 2023 shows a significant decline in the representation of artists from Australia and non-English-speaking countries.

    The findings suggest music streaming in Australia – together with algorithmic recommendation – is creating a monoculture dominated by artists from the United States and United Kingdom. This could spell bad news for our music industry if things don’t change.

    Who dominates Australian charts?

    In 2023, Australia’s recorded music industry was worth about A$676 million, up 10.9% year on year.

    Building a strong local music industry is important, not only to support diverse cultural expression, but also to create jobs and boost Australia’s reputation on a global stage.

    When Australian artists succeed, this attracts global investment, which in turn stimulates all aspects of the local music industry. Conversely, a weak music economy can lead to global disinvestment, thereby disadvantaging local companies, artists and consumers.

    My research shows how the rise of music streaming – which became the dominant format for Australian recorded music sales in 2017 – has had a noticeable impact on the diversity of artists represented in the ARIA top 100 single and album charts.

    In the year 2000, the top 100 singles chart featured hits from 14 different countries. By contrast, only seven countries were represented in 2023.

    The percentage of Australian and New Zealand artists in the top 100 single charts declined from an average of 16% in 2000–16 to around 10% in 2017–23, and just 2.5% in 2023.

    Album share also declined from an average of 29% in 2000–16 to 18% in 2017–23, and 4% in 2023.

    This chart shows changes in diveristy in the ARIA top 100 albums chart over 22 years.
    Author provided

    Similarly, the proportion of artists from outside the Anglo bloc of North America, the UK and Australia/New Zealand declined from an average of 11.1% in 2000–16 to 7.3% in 2017–23 – while album share declined from 5% in 2000–16 to 2.3% in 2017–23.

    My study also found representation of Indigenous artists remained low, but stable, over the period studied – and in line with population ratios.

    Concetration of power

    The findings suggest the decline in Australian and non-Anglo representation in the ARIA top 100 charts is linked.

    Some economists and academics have argued easier access to independent music and global distribution via streaming will lead to greater diversity in music. But this hasn’t been the case in Australia, at least as far as chart-topping artists are concerned.

    The global recorded music industry has consolidated in recent years. In the early 2000s there were five major music labels. Currently there are just three: Universal, Sony and Warner.

    Last year, these three labels were responsible for more than 95% of the Australian top 100 single and album charts. Meanwhile, Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube make up an estimated 97% of the Australian streaming market.

    These concentrations of power allow a handful of record labels and distributors to have a disproportionate influence over music design, production, distribution and governance – thereby limiting opportunities for diversity.

    The need for new policy

    My findings align with European research that found markets with a strong cultural differentiator of language are showing increased national diversity with streaming.

    However, countries without a distinctive language are being increasingly dominated by global music production. In Australia’s case, we’re becoming reliant on the star-making machinery of the US.

    Recently, Australia’s live music crisis came under scrutiny at a federal government inquiry, which highlighted the significant power imbalance between artists and multinational promoters.

    As I and many others have suggested, targeted cultural policies are necessary to combat our highly concentrated and US-dependent market.

    Relying on labels and streaming platforms will do little to preserve and promote our nation’s unique musical and cultural identity.

    Previous employment at Sony Music, Universal Music, Inertia Music. ARIA Chart Committee member 2005-2017. Employment at these labels ceased by 2017. No continued professional relationship with any of the companies.

    – ref. Down and under pressure: US and UK artists are taking over Australian charts, leaving local talent behind – https://theconversation.com/down-and-under-pressure-us-and-uk-artists-are-taking-over-australian-charts-leaving-local-talent-behind-239822

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Curious Kids: What does the edge of the universe look like?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology

    Greg Rakozy/Shutterstock

    What does the edge of the universe look like?

    Lily, age 7, Harcourt

    What a great question! In fact, this is one of those questions humans will continue to ask until the end of time. That’s because we don’t actually know for sure.

    But we can try and imagine what the edge of the universe might be, if there is one.

    Looking back in time

    Before we begin, we do need to go back in time. Our night sky has looked the same for all of human history. It’s been so reliable, humans from all around the world came up with patterns they saw in the stars as a way to navigate and explore.

    To our eyes, the sky looks endless. With the invention of telescopes about 400 years ago, humans were able to see farther – more than just our eyes ever could. They continued to discover new things in the sky. They found more stars, and then eventually started to notice that there were a lot of strange-looking cosmic clouds.

    Astronomers gave them the name “nebula” from the Latin word for “mist” or “cloud”.

    It was less than 100 years ago that we first confirmed these cosmic clouds or nebulas were actually galaxies. They are just like Milky Way, the galaxy our own planet is in, but very far away.

    What is amazing is that in every direction we look in the universe, we see more and more galaxies. In this James Webb Space Telescope image, which is looking at a part of the sky no bigger than a grain of sand, you can see thousands of galaxies.

    It’s hard to imagine there is an edge where all of this stops.

    The edge of the universe

    However, there is technically an edge to our universe. We call it our “observable” universe.

    This is because we don’t actually know if our universe is infinite – meaning it continues forever and ever.

    Unfortunately, we might never know because of one pesky thing: the speed of light.

    We can only ever see light that’s had enough time to travel to us. Light travels at exactly 299,792,458 metres per second. Even at those speeds, it still takes a long time to cross our universe. Scientists estimate the size of the universe is at least 96 billion light years across, and likely even bigger.

    You can learn a little more about that and our universe as a whole in this video below.

    What would we see if there was an edge?

    If we were to travel to the very, very edge of the universe we think exists, what would there actually be?

    Many other scientists and I theorise that there would just be … more universe!

    As I said, there is a theory that our universe doesn’t actually have an edge, and might continue on indefinitely.

    But there are other theories, too. If our universe does have an edge, and you cross it, you might just end up in a completely different universe altogether. (That is best saved for science fiction for now.)

    Even though there isn’t a straightforward answer to your question, it is precisely questions like these that help us continue to explore and discover the universe, and allow us to understand our place within it. You’re thinking like a true scientist.

    Sara Webb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Curious Kids: What does the edge of the universe look like? – https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-what-does-the-edge-of-the-universe-look-like-233111

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ADHD prescribing has changed over the years – a new guide aims to bring doctors up to speed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Prosser, Professor of Public Policy and Leadership, UNSW Sydney

    Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

    Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most diagnosed childhood neurological disorder in Australia.

    Over the years, it has been the subject of controversy about potential misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. There has also been variation in levels of diagnosis and drug prescription, depending on where you live and your socioeconomic status.

    To address these concerns and improve consistency in ADHD diagnosis and prescribing, the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association has released a new prescribing guide. This will help the health-care workforce to consistently get the right treatment to the right people, with the right mix of medical and non-medical supports.

    Here’s how ADHD prescribing has changed over time and what the new guidelines mean.

    What is ADHD and how is it treated?

    Up to one in ten young Australians experience ADHD. It is diagnosed due to inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that has negative effects at home, school or work.

    Psychostimulant medication is a central pillar of ADHD treatment.

    However, the internationally recognised approach is to combine medicines with non-medical interventions in a multimodal approach. These non-medical interventions include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), occupational therapy, educational strategies and other supports.

    Medication use has changed over time

    In Australia, Ritalin (methylphenidate) was originally the most prescribed ADHD medication. This changed in the 1990s after the introduction of dexamphetamine, along with the subsequent availability of Vyvance (lisdexamfetamine).

    Perhaps the most significant change has come with “slow release” versions of the above medications that can last more than eight hours (longer than a school day).

    When following clinical guidelines, prescribing medication for ADHD is safe practice. Yet the use of amphetamines to treat young people with ADHD has caused public concern. This highlights the importance of consistent guidelines for prescribing professionals.

    Medication for ADHD can be combined with other non-drug approaches.
    Caleb Woods/Unsplash

    Growth in diagnosis and prescribing

    Starting from low levels, there was a dramatic rise in diagnosis and drug treatment in the 1990s. Much of this was overseen by a small number of psychiatrists and paediatricians in each state or territory. While this promised the potential of consistency in the early days, it also raised concerns about best practice.

    This led to the development of the first ADHD clinical guidelines by the National Medical Health and Research Council in 1997.

    It was followed by several refinements as prescription expanded due to changing diagnostic criteria (expanding to include a dual diagnosis with autism) and the need for best practice with the growing prescription by GPs. These guidelines enhanced the consistency of approaches nationally and reduced the likelihood of misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis.

    However, a recent Senate inquiry found diagnosis and drug treatment continued to grow substantially in the five years to 2022. It emphasised the need for a more consistent approach to diagnosis and prescribing.

    First the ingredients, then the recipe

    The most recent clinical guidelines, released by the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association in 2022, outlined a roadmap for ADHD clinical practice, research and policy. They did so by drawing on the lived experience of those with ADHD. They also emphasised broader health questions, such as how to respond to ADHD as a holistic condition.

    It remains difficult to predict individual responses to different medication. So the new prescribing guide offers practical advice about safe and responsible prescribing. This aims to reduce the potential for incorrect prescribing, dosing and adjusting of ADHD medication, across different age groups, settings and individuals.

    To put this visually, the clinical guidelines describe what the ingredients of the cake should be, while the prescribing guidelines provide step-by-step recipes.

    So what do they recommend?

    An important principle in both these documents is that medication should not be the first and only treatment. Not every drug works the same way for every child. In some cases they do not work at all.

    The possible side effects of medication vary and include poor appetite, sleep problems, headaches, stomach aches, moodiness and irritability. These guidelines assist in adapting medication to reduce these side effects.

    Medication provides an important window of opportunity for many young people to gain maximum value from psychosocial and psychoeducational supports. These supports can, among others, include:

    Support for ADHD can also include parent training. This is not to suggest parents cause ADHD. Rather, they can support more effective treatment, especially since the rigours of ADHD can be a challenge to even the “perfect” parent.

    Getting the right diagnosis

    There have been reports of people seeking to use TikTok to self-diagnose, as well as a rise in people using ADHD stimulants without a prescription.

    However, the message from these new guidelines is that ADHD diagnosis is a complex process that takes a specialist at least three hours. Online sources might be useful to prompt people to seek help, but diagnosis should come from a qualified health-care professional.

    Finally, while we have moved beyond unhelpful past debate about whether ADHD is real to consolidate best diagnostic and prescribing practice, there is some way to go in reducing stigma and changing negative community attitudes to ADHD.

    Hopefully in future we’ll be better able to cherish diversity and difference, and not just see it as a deficit.

    Brenton Prosser is a Board Member of the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia and affiliated with the School of Population Health at UNSW.

    – ref. ADHD prescribing has changed over the years – a new guide aims to bring doctors up to speed – https://theconversation.com/adhd-prescribing-has-changed-over-the-years-a-new-guide-aims-to-bring-doctors-up-to-speed-240313

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NSW will remove 65,000 years of Aboriginal history from its syllabus. It’s a step backwards for education

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Westaway, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland

    The NSW Education Standards Authority has announced that teaching of the Aboriginal past prior to European arrival will be excluded from the Year 7–10 syllabus as of 2027.

    Since 2012, the topic “Ancient Australia” has been taught nationally in Year 7 as part of the Australian Curriculum. In 2022, a new topic called the “deep time history of Australia” was introduced to provide a more detailed study of 65,000 years of First Nations’ occupation of the continent.

    However, New South Wales has surprisingly dropped this topic from its new syllabus, which will be rolled out in 2027. Instead, students will only learn First Nations’ history following European colonisation in 1788.

    This directly undermines the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration of 2020. This is a national agreement, signed by education ministers from all jurisdictions, which states:

    We recognise the more than 60,000 years [sic] of continual connection by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a key part of the nation’s history, present and future.

    If the planned change to the syllabus goes through, the only Aboriginal history taught to NSW students would be that which reflects the destruction of traditional Aboriginal society. It also means Aboriginal students in NSW will be denied a chance to learn about their deep ancestral past.

    The significance of Australia’s deep time past

    Bruce Pascoe’s groundbreaking 2014 book Dark Emu (which sold more than 500,000 copies), and the associated documentary, have highlighted an enormous appetite for learning about Australia’s deep time past.

    Hundreds of thousands of Australians engaged with Dark Emu. As anthropologist Paul Memmott notes, the book prompted a debate that encouraged a better understanding of Aboriginal society and its complexity.

    It also generated research that investigated whether terms such as “hunter-gatherers” are appropriate for defining past Aboriginal society and economic systems.



    Read more:
    Farmers or foragers? Pre-colonial Aboriginal food production was hardly that simple

    In schools, teachers have used Pascoe’s book Young Dark Emu to introduce students to sophisticated land and aquaculture systems used by First Peoples prior to colonisation.

    The book raises an important question. If you lived in a country that invented bread and the edge-ground axe – a culture that independently developed early trade and social living – and did all of this without resorting to land war – wouldn’t you want your children to know about it?

    For many students, the history they learn at school is knowledge they carry into their adult lives – and knowledge is the strongest antidote to ignorance. Rather than abandoning the Aboriginal deep time story, schools should be encouraging students to engage with it.

    Learning on Country

    One of the strengths of the current NSW history syllabus is the requirement for students to undertake a “site study” in Years 8 and 9. Currently, NSW is the only jurisdiction that has made this mandatory.

    Site studies are an excellent opportunity for students to learn on Country. Many teachers organise excursions to Aboriginal cultural sites where students can directly engage with local Traditional Owners and Elders.

    New South Wales is brimming with sites of cultural significance to Aboriginal people. The map below highlightssome of these, ranging from megafauna sites, to extensive fish traps, to the enigmatic rock art galleries and ceremonial engravings (petroglyphs).

    How students will miss out

    The Ngambaa people and archaeologists from the University of Queensland are currently investigating one of the largest midden complexes in Australia. This complex, located at Clybucca and Stuart’s Point on the north coast, spans some 14 kilometres and dates back to around 9,000 years ago.

    Middens, or “living sites”, are accumulations of shell that were built over time through thousands of discarded seafood meals. Since the shells help reduce the acidic chemistry of the soil, animal bones and plant remains are more likely to be preserved in middens.

    For instance, the Clybucca-Stuarts Point midden complex contains remains from seals and dugongs. Both of these animals were once part of the local ecosystem, but no longer are.

    The middens also extend back to before the arrival of dingoes, so studying them could help us understand how biodiversity changed once dingoes replaced thylacines and Tasmanian devils on the mainland.

    Local school students, especially Aboriginal students, will be actively participating in this cutting-edge research alongside the Ngambaa people, archaeologists and teachers. Among other things, the students will learn how the Ngambaa people sustainably managed land and sea Country over thousand of years during periods of dramatic environmental change.

    But innovative programs like this will no longer be as relevant if Australia’s deep time history is removed from the NSW syllabus.

    An opportunity for leadership

    The study of First Nations archaeological sites, history and cultures tells us a broader human story of continuity and adaptability over deep time. Indigenising the curriculum – wherein Aboriginal knowledge is braided with historical and archaeological inquiry – is a powerful way to reconcile different approaches to understanding the past.

    The NSW Education Standards Authority’s proposed changes risk sending young people the message that Australia’s “history” before colonisation is not an important part of the country’s historic narrative.

    But there is still time to show leadership – by reversing the decisions and by connecting teachers and students to powerful stories from Australia’s deep time past.

    Michael Westaway receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Humanities and Social Science at the University of Queensland .

    Bruce Pascoe is the author of the texts mentioned in this article, Dark Emu and Young Dark Emu: A Truer History. He also has positions on the boards of Black Duck Foods, the Twofold Aboriginal Corporation and First Languages Australia.

    Louise Zarmati receives research funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence of Australian Biodiversity and Heritage.

    – ref. NSW will remove 65,000 years of Aboriginal history from its syllabus. It’s a step backwards for education – https://theconversation.com/nsw-will-remove-65-000-years-of-aboriginal-history-from-its-syllabus-its-a-step-backwards-for-education-240111

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Ram raid – Moil

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested multiple youths in relation to a ram raid in Moil early this morning.

    Around 2:30am, police received reports that a business in Moil Place had been ram raided with a stolen Mitsubishi Pajero. The alleged offenders then stole a quantity of alcohol and fled the scene in the vehicle.

    A crime scene was established and investigations commenced.

    Detectives from Strike Force Trident have now arrested 4 males, aged between 13 and 15. All remain in custody and are expected to be charged later today.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact 131 444 and quote occurrence number P24273707.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Search update – Unoccupied vessel washed ashore, Kingston Beach

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Search update – Unoccupied vessel washed ashore, Kingston Beach

    Friday, 4 October 2024 – 2:09 pm.

    Police have investigated the circumstances of an unoccupied boat washing ashore at Kingston Beach on Wednesday, and have determined there are no suspicious circumstances. 
    “As part of our investigation, police have reviewed cctv from several locations, located personal items, and spoken to a number of people, and it has been determined there are no suspicious circumstances,” said Commander Jason Elmer. 
    “Sadly we believe the owner of the vessel – a man in his 70s – entered the water on Wednesday.” 
    “Extensive searches have been conducted, utilising marine resources and two helicopters, however unfortunately at this stage the man has not been located.” 
    “Following a comprehensive review, the search has been suspended, however we will continue to investigate any information received.” 
    Anyone with information that may assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 131 444 – quote ESCAD 211-02102024.   
    “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the missing man.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 216-2024: Scheduled Service Disruption: Friday 04 October to Saturday 05 October 2024 – Biosecurity Portal

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    04 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who will be required to book and manage requests for import inspections using the Biosecurity Portal during this scheduled maintenance window.

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view electronic government certificates (eCertificates) and relevant attachments online as part of document assessment for imported…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Shine bright at the City of Wanneroo’s events series

    Source: Government of Western Australia

    The City of Wanneroo’s 2024/25 free events series guarantees to entertain residents and visitors from this October through to May 2025.

    We have 12 fun-filled family friendly events lined up, from toe-tapping concerts and buzzing festivals, to laid-back evenings in the park.

    Mayor Linda Aitken said the series was all about highlighting the importance of community and encouraging everybody to get involved and attend an event in their suburb.

    “Get ready for the return of our crowd-favourite, Symphony Under the Stars! This year, we’re turning up the spotlight on some incredible local talent,” she said. “Enter our Search for a Star competition and you might just find yourself performing with a 70-piece orchestra!”

    “This concert is always popular, and it’s easy to see why – it’s a night of unforgettable music under the open sky.

    “From the carnival vibes of the Banksia Grove Fun Fest that kicks off the season, to the City-wide celebration of art at the Beach to Bush Arts Festival in May, our event season has something for everyone.

    “Wherever you are in the City, don’t miss out on the fun, there’s something to please everyone.”

    The 2024/25 City of Wanneroo events series includes:

    • Banksia Grove Fun Fest, Saturday 26 October 2024, Grandis Park, Banksia Grove
    • Evening in the Park, Saturday 9 November 2024, Ridgewood Park, Ridgewood
    • Sunset Sounds Alkimos, Saturday 30 November 2024, Leatherback Park, Alkimos
    • Aquamotion Outdoor Cinema, Saturday 7 December 2024, Wanneroo Aquamotion
    • Christmas Fiesta, Saturday 14 December 2024, Wanneroo Town Centre
    • Aquamotion Family Fun Day, 11 January 2025, Wanneroo Aquamotion
    • Sunset Sounds Landsdale, Saturday 18 January 2025, Warradale Park, Landsdale
    • Wanneroo Festival, Saturday 1 February 2025, Wanneroo Showgrounds, Wanneroo
    • Symphony under the Stars, Saturday 22 February 2025, Kingsway Sporting Complex, Madeley *includes Search for a Star competition
    • Fun Fest Clarkson, Saturday 8 March 2025, Riverlinks Park, Clarkson
    • Multicultural Evening in the Park, Friday 21 March 2025, Hudson Park, Girrawheen
    • Beach to Bush Arts Festival, Friday 9 May to Sunday 25 May, various locations across the City.

    All events are free to attend, with no registration required.

    Visit our events page for more information or to submit an application for our Search for a Star competition.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Aeromedical Training Academy opens in Bundaberg

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The new Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Aeromedical Training Academy in Bundaberg is now officially opened.

    Located next to the Bundaberg RFDS base, the new academy has a Beechcraft King Air B360/260 Flight simulator – the first of its kind in Australia – as well as two simulator rooms, two full motion aircraft simulation bays, five meeting rooms and two offices. 

    The facility also features changerooms, IT and storage rooms, solar energy capabilities, 18 car parking spaces and an access road to service the simulator building.

    This world-class facility will train the next generation of Queensland RFDS pilots, with non-RFDS pilots also able to use the simulator for their endorsements or regular training for King Air aircraft.

    In total, the simulator will be able to provide 7,000 hours of simulator training on a 24/7 basis, with the RFDS to utilise 1,500 of those available hours.

    The project supported 200 jobs during construction, 90 per cent of these living in the region. 

    The Australian Government committed $14.9 million to the $28.88 million project, with the RFDS ($10.4 million) QCoal Foundation ($3 million) and Bundaberg Regional Council ($580,000 in kind donation) providing the remaining funds.

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

    “This new state-of-the-art academy will support essential medical services by ensuring Queensland RFDS pilots are trained to meet current flight standards in a superior training device.  

    “We’re proud to have played a role in making this project a reality, through our $14.9 million contribution, so the RFDS has the facilities they need to save lives in the future.

    “This project highlights our commitment to delivering the services and infrastructure that regional, rural and remote communities need.

    “The RFDS Aeromedical Training Academy won’t just benefit the hundreds of people who receive care from the RFDS each year, it will also cement Bundaberg as a hub for regional healthcare and training in specialist services.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Specialist Disability Program open for tender

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    The Albanese Labor Government’s vision of a New Specialist Disability Employment Program that puts participants back at the centre is one step closer to being realised with a request for tender now open.

    From 1 July next year the new program will replace the current Disability Employment Services program to improve the employment and career outcomes for people with disability through high quality, individualised and effective specialist disability employment services.

    The new Program will focus on providing tailored supports to assist people with disability, injury and/or a health condition to find and maintain suitable, sustainable employment that supports their career goals.

    It will build a more viable and attractive market that includes a wider range of small and specialist providers with deep expertise to provide real choice for people with disability.

    The new specialist Program features several key changes, including: 

    • expanded eligibility to help more people with disability, injury and/or a health condition to prepare for and find sustainable employment. This will support up to 15,000 additional people a year with an assessed work capacity below eight hours per week, and people not on income support;
    • the removal of the current two-year program limit; 
    • a focus on the meaningful engagement of participants by providers, with the expectation that providers will work with participants to build positive relationships and take a partnership-based approach to goal setting and engagement in activities; and
    • increased flexibility and customisation to meet the individual needs of participants through two new service offers based around intensive or flexible servicing arrangements.

    Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the design of the new Program will see providers place both participants and employers at the centre of their services, focusing on these important relationships rather than unnecessary complexity.

    “We are inviting organisations with diverse expertise and a focus on providing quality services and are passionate about improving employment outcomes for people with disability to submit a tender response,” Minister Rishworth said.  

    “Under the new Program, providers will be expected to design and deliver services to meet the unique needs of their participants and employers.

    “We are prioritising both intensive and flexible services to meet the individual needs of participants and will expand eligibility to help those who will benefit most. Because we believe that if a person with disability wants help to find a job, support should be available.”

    The new specialist Program was announced as part of this year’s Budget, following two years of stakeholder consultation on DES reforms.

    The program’s design has been informed by extensive consultation with the disability employment sector and multiple reviews, including feedback received through public consultation on an Exposure Draft of the request for tender in August 2024.

    Interested organisations can submit a tender through AusTender.

    More information on the Government’s reforms to Disability Employment Services is available on the DSS website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Firefighter Games a highlight in Swan Reach

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Bairnsdale Fire Brigade winning members

    More than 70 brigade members recently gathered in Swan Reach to compete in CFA’s District 11 Firefighter Games.

    While the sun shone across the weekend (September 15), members travelling from Mallacoota, Cann River and Omeo drove through snow to participate at Swan Reach Recreation Reserve.

    Seven brigades got involved in the day, competing for medals and trophies throughout activities that made use of their general firefighter, driving, leadership and teamwork skills.

    New Bairnsdale recruit Vijay Ravi was one of the fresh faces to embrace the day, having just completed his General Firefighter Course three weeks ago.

    “It was such a great day. It was really nice to see other members from different brigades and to have so many people there supporting,” Vijay said.

    “I really enjoyed the bushfire event and the hydrant relay – it was a good opportunity to continue developing my skills.

    “Since I finished my practical test a few weeks ago, I haven’t missed a call out.”

    That day entailed a round-robin approach, with members making their way through a running grass fire event, a hydrant relay, entrapment drill, draughting, a five-person fog attack and a navigation and communication exercise.

    Up to five participants took part in each event, with fire ground practices adhered to and time deductions for any errors made. Coaches were encouraged on the course and judges gave feedback at the conclusion of runs.

    To close out the day, each team nominated two pairs to compete in a hose race, with Group Officers jumping in for a go. Metung Fire Brigade were the eventual winners with their promising juniors coming in second, and their Junior Leaders winning the race by less than a second.

    The overall trophy was presented to Bairnsdale Fire Brigade by Tim Bull MP, who were said to be practicing across many nights in the lead up. While gold, silver and bronze medals were presented in each event by Tim Bull MP, CFA’s Manager for South East Region Volunteer Sustainability Lisa Peters and Councillor Arthur Allan.

    “I’ve just moved from Eagle Point, and I knew one of my friends was already in CFA so I just asked him if I could come down with him and give it a go,” Vijay said.

    “It’s a great way to make friends and events like these are such fun experiences.”

    Participants and supporters were also treated to a showcase of specialist vehicles, including the Metung Marine Unit, Lakes Entrance Rescue Unit, Sarsfield Big Fill, Paynesville Rehab Unit and Bairnsdale’s Breathing Apparatus Support Unit.

    The D11 Headquarters Brigade staging area truck and communications van was also on display, and onlookers got a sneak peek at the Light Tanker Prototype truck that is currently touring Victoria.

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government continues tax avoidance crack down

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Albanese Government continues its crack down on unethical tax avoidance behaviour with a consultation paper released today to review the tax promoter penalty laws. This forms the next part of the government’s steadfast response to the PwC tax scandal.

    The promoter penalty laws are designed to capture tax agents who promote illegal and fraudulent schemes to clients to reduce their taxes. However, the PwC scandal exposed gaps in these laws, which did not capture the heinous activity of those involved in the promotion of illegal tax dodging schemes to multinational corporations.

    The government responded quickly to close the obvious loopholes, and this consultation builds on the legislation passed in May 2024, which significantly increased the maximum civil penalties for promoters of tax exploitation schemes.

    This consultation is considering whether the regime, as amended in response to the scandal, is fit for purpose, adequately addresses current types of promoter activity, and effectively safeguards taxpayers from being enticed into illegal tax exploitation schemes.

    The government is committed to ensuring the ATO has the tools to address tax exploitation schemes and closing gaps identified during the PwC matter.

    The government seeks feedback on:

    • The effectiveness of the current regime in deterring and addressing the promotion of tax exploitation schemes
    • Operation of the framework, including whether existing exemptions provide appropriate safeguards to tax practitioners providing genuine advice
    • How other existing, comparable regimes effectively deter misconduct.

    The Albanese Labor Government is overseeing the biggest crackdown on tax adviser misconduct in Australian history.

    The PwC scandal exposed severe shortcomings in our regulatory frameworks that were largely ignored by the Coalition, and we’re taking significant steps to clean up the mess.

    We’re cracking down on misconduct to rebuild people’s faith in the systems and structures that keep our tax system and capital markets strong.

    Interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback by 1 November 2024.

    Further information regarding the consultation process is available on the Treasury website.

    This is the fifth of eight Treasury‑led reviews announced by the Government in its PwC response.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Dangerous Driving – Coolalinga

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have charged a man after a dangerous driving incident in Coolalinga overnight.

    Around 9:10pm, Darwin Traffic Operations were conducting speed enforcement duties along the Stuart Highway, Coolalinga, when a blue Holden Commodore utility  was detected travelling at 122 km/hr in a posted 80 km/hr zone.

    Police followed the offending vehicle along the Stuart Highway up until the Lambrick Avenue intersection, at which time a traffic apprehension was attempted. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated through the Palmerston suburbs of Zuccoli, Rosebery, Gunn and Bakewell.

    Tyre Deflation Devices were deployed on Lambrick Avenue near the intersection of Hutchison Terrace at which time the vehicle came to a stop. The driver refused  to exit the vehicle resulting in him being extracted and arrested.  

    The 42-year-old man has since been charged with:

    • Exceed speed limit 31 – 45 km/hr over
    • Fail to obey direction of Police officer
    • Resist Police in execution of duty
    • Drive under the influence of drugs
    • Not stop at stop sign
    • Exceed speed limit 01-15 km/hr over

    Senior Sergeant Devrim Kanyilmaz said “ This was an incredibly dangerous driver that was putting himself, other motorists and police at risk.

    “ There is absolutely zero excuse for this behaviour on our roads and I commend the officers involved who no doubt averted a potentially fatal incident from occurring. ”

    MIL OSI News –