NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-interview-ABC Radio Melbourne, Mornings with Rafael Epstein

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I mentioned that extra money from the Federal Government for airport rail. Does that mean we will actually get airport rail? Catherine King is the Infrastructure Minister. She is the MP in Ballarat as well. Morning, Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. It’s great that you’re out at St Albans. It’s a beautiful part of the world.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I haven’t yet sampled all the food. I’ve been to the market, I’m impressed. I’m going to go back there. An extra $2 billion from your government. Does this mean airport rail actually will happen?

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, it does. What this money does, if you remember a year ago, we got a mediator to come in and say, what are the things we can do now to unlock airport rail? And there were three things that were recommended. The first was that the airport, if it wanted to have the station underground, it needed to do the work. That meant the station then said, suddenly said, we don’t want it to go underground, we’re going to go overground. So that’s good. That’s been settled. He then said that we needed to redo the modelling for the Tullamarine Freeway-that’s about to start. And it then said we need to invest and build the Sunshine Precinct, which really is making Sunshine Station, pretty much the Southern Cross of the west. So a really big transport hub that is the centre of rail coming in. And then you build the SRL line out to the airport. So what we’re doing is unlocking the 5 billion that’s already on the table. And then we’ve put 2 billion in to get that Sunshine Precinct started. The Victorians are on board with us. You’ve seen Melbourne Airport yesterday, working constructively with us. We’ve got a little way to go just in terms of settling some of the stuff with the airport. But I am very confident that this will now happen.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Okay. I think the devil in the detail might be a little way to go with the airport. Is the airport the problem?

    CATHERINE KING: I think that we’ve still got to work through issues about- obviously, the airport leases its land from the Commonwealth. It’s got a lease that allows it to have quiet an enjoyment of its leasehold. And so it will come to us and obviously seek an understanding of what the impact is going to be …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] They want money, don’t they?

    CATHERINE KING: … But- they may well do. But again, that is, I understand that they are now talking very closely with the Victorian Government. We’ll also come to the, come in and talk with them as well and let you know. My view is we’re all on the same page to try and get this settled. Obviously there’s, as I said, a little way to go just in terms of the detail of that, but everyone is on the same page of saying, we want to get this done. We’re keen to get it done. Let’s try and break the deadlock as best we can. I know my department secretary and the Victorian department new transport secretary, Jeroen, have been talking over the last couple of days. I think they’re both pretty determined people. And we want to get this done. It’s time for Melbourne to have an airport rail.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Yes. It was described as the train line to the jetport in the Victorian Parliament in 1965. So that’s six years before I was born. But you just- you’re the minister federally responsible for this. You used the word deadlock. Are you sure the deadlock is going to be unlocked?

    CATHERINE KING: We’re going to do everything we can. I know the airport wants that to happen. Victorian government does, as does the Federal Government. So when you’ve got will and I think we’ve got a moment in time to get this done now, given that we’ve got all three parties very keen to get this done, we’ve got a, moment in time and that’s going to be up to all of us to do the work, because I think Victorians are a bit sick of the wait, the long wait. I’m a little bit older than you, so I also know how long this has been on Victoria’s books, and we’ve got a moment in time to really get this done. And I’m very determined that we should do it.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Brimbank Council, and that’s St Albans council. They want the rail line to come before the third runway. So that’s been approved, the third runway. Do you think we will get a rail line before the third runway is built?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is I’ve just got to be a bit careful here because I have approved as the minister for planning for the airport, the third runway. And Brimbank has now taken that to the- to appeal. So I just have to be a bit careful here. The airport is wanting to build the third runway. I have approved that. It now has to go through the appeal process. They’ll be responsible for building that. My view is we are responsible as transport ministers-Victorian government, Federal government in terms of getting airport rail done. And we are starting the work to make sure that we’ve got everyone on the same page in terms of where it’s going to finish at the airport. And we’ll have timelines when we’ve got all of that agreed, and we’ll make those public when we can.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: It’s about 18 minutes to 9 on 774. Catherine King is part of Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. I do want to know what you want from your politicians. You can text or call. If you’re texting in, by the way, text your say, we’ll send you a link. There’s a whole lot of stuff going on the ABC webpage about the impending federal election. Catherine King, as a minister in and part of a Labor Party that’s vying for re-election, there was two and a bit billion for the airport. There was more than a billion for roads. I think there was another 300 million for rail work around Melton. Would that money have come if there hadn’t been a big protest vote against state Labor in Werribee?

    CATHERINE KING: No, it was in planning for quite some time. Danny Pearson, the previous minister and I had been talking about, as we do every budget cycle… what are the investments that are needed? And these have been talked about for a while. So I think it …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Talks over] It does look a bit reactive.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, it- that’s your call, to say that. But I can absolutely guarantee, what I do when I look at budgets, when I look at the investments that are needed, I work closely with state governments about where they want to see investment. And this has been in discussion literally since the middle of last year. So that happens every budget cycle. The Victorian and every other government in the country all come to me with their wish list. It’s often, billions of dollars over what we can fund because they all want money. And then we make a decision about what we’re going to invest in. So really, this- these decisions are actually made last year that we’re announcing now as part of our budget, our lead up into the budget cycle. And they’re important investments for the state. But what you’ve also seen us do is unlock over in the east, the $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: I’m glad you mentioned it, minister, because I was going to ask you about that. Can I just- can I let everyone know the seat I’m in is a safe Labor seat – the seat of Fraser. There are- I know there are people who share your party room, Catherine King, who are nervous about Labor’s vote in a suburb like St Albans, all the way out to places like Melton. Is there a little part of you- is there a little part of you that dies every time they talk about the Suburban Rail Loop because it’s money in the east, not the west?

    CATHERINE KING: What I see is a state in Victoria who basically… were pretty much abandoned for the last decade, who’ve had to go it alone on building these really big infrastructure projects. I live in the west, I live in Ballarat, and I have to drive- you know every single day I go to- when I go to Melbourne, I’m going through that incredible work that’s been done on the West Gate Tunnel. That is game changing for us over in the west. That will be huge for people like myself who live in Ballarat. I see the North East Link. I’ve stood on that side as well. Both of those projects, not a single federal dollar has gone into either of those. The state has had to 100 per cent fund those. We’ve stepped in other- sorry, other than a small amount in the North East Link, we’ve had- we’ve stepped in and put some more money into the North East Link to bring that, recognising that Victorian taxpayers on their own are paying for these big projects that will be game changing for the way in which we move around the state. Suburban Rail will be a similar sort of project. It’s a big scale project I’ve seen over in the west of the- Western Australia. What these big scale rail projects can do in terms of really opening up new housing opportunities, new business opportunities, new ways in which people actually move around cities. And so that’s really what the Victorian government has been doing, is doing those investments pretty much on its own. And it’s time that the Commonwealth actually helped out a bit with those.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Well, we’ll see what everybody makes of that both the people here in St Albans and on the phone. Just- Peter Dutton, it’s been revealed how much money he’s made buying and selling properties. Doesn’t that mean he actually really understands the property market and maybe he’ll know how to fix it?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, I think the issue- it’s not so much- I don’t begrudge anyone being able to do that, but I think it’s being upfront about it. I think that we saw him, not necessarily make disclosures about that and money in trusts and the like. So I think really he just needs to be open about that. And, it’s aspirational. But it’s really- it’s up to him to sort of explain why these weren’t properly disclosed to people …

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: [Interrupts] But do you reckon he understands the property market?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, as someone who doesn’t understand the property market, particularly myself, I don’t know. That’s a matter for him. But I think that again, really, it’s up to him to make sure he’s disclosing all of those things appropriately.

    RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Thank you for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you. Lovely to- hopefully you get a good chance to have a chat to the people of St Albans. My brother in law doesn’t live far from there. It is a fantastic multicultural part of the world.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fire risk remains for parts of Victoria this autumn

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Large parts of western and central Victoria, as well as south and west Gippsland, are facing an increased risk of fire in early autumn, according to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn, released today.

    A lack of rain over the past 12-24 months has led to increased fuel in forests and heathlands. This has already resulted in large, fast-running fires in the Grampians and the Little Desert over summer.

    With average rainfall expected in Autumn, the availability of fuels in forests, woodlands and heathlands is expected to remain high. Forecast warmer than average maximum temperatures may also further increase fuel availability in western and central Victoria. This will make it easier for fires to start and spread.

    Across the rest of the state, Victorians can expect normal fire potential. However, fast running fires are possible on dry and windy days in areas with dry or cured vegetation.

    Conditions may delay planned burning in some parts of the state, but may also increase opportunities to target areas not typically available for burning in autumn.

    Emergency services will continue to monitor conditions to identify key risk areas leading into the autumn period.

    Victoria remains well prepared for the potential of fires, with a mix of water bombing aircraft, air supervision and air intelligence gathering aircraft positioned across the state to support our dedicated volunteer and career firefighters on the ground.

    The Outlook for Autumn is developed by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council and supported by the Bureau of Meteorology along with state and territory fire and land managers.

    It’s important for communities to understand their local risks. Keep up to date with the Fire Danger Ratings on the VicEmergency app and VicEmergency website.

    Quotes attributable to Country Fire Authority Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan

    ‘While conditions remain dry with little rain forecast in certain parts of the state over coming weeks, the fire risk will continue but our crews are ready and will adapt to changes as they develop through autumn.

    ‘Victorians should continue to maintain their properties and stay informed of their local risks so they can take action to protect their families in the event of a fire’

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech and Business – Oracle Services Power IT Modernization in Asia Pacific

    Source: Information Services Group, Inc.

    Enterprises embrace providers with GenAI tools to improve enterprise cloud migrations, optimize Oracle investments, ISG Provider Lens report says.

    A growing number of enterprises in Asia Pacific are seeking Oracle ecosystem services to help them carry out digital transformations to remain competitive in rapidly changing markets, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific finds many large Oracle customers are modernizing legacy systems, navigating cloud migrations and evaluating hyperscale cloud options. Service providers are helping clients optimize their Oracle investments, often with the use of AI tools, while Oracle is increasingly investing in talent development and collaboration in the region, including partnerships with governments in Singapore, Australia and India for large-scale training programs.

    “Companies in Asia Pacific need digital transformation to stay relevant,” said Michael Gale, partner and regional leader, ISG Asia Pacific. “Oracle and its partners are rising to the challenge by strengthening their expertise and developing talent in the region.”

    Large organizations in manufacturing, retail, financial services, consumer packaged goods and the public sector are increasing their use of Oracle services, the report says. In addition to modernization planning and execution, many seek help addressing regional nuances such as data sovereignty and compliance requirements, especially in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

    Outdated legacy systems are holding back many organizations in the region, leading to rising demand for both consulting and advisory services to plan modernization initiatives, ISG says. To reach strategic goals and maximize Oracle investments, enterprises seek providers that demonstrate domain expertise and the ability to innovate. Carrying out transitions with minimal disruption and consistent data integrity is a key requirement.

    Companies seeking to maintain Oracle performance and uptime amid cost, compliance and complexity challenges are driving up demand for managed services in Asia Pacific, the report says. Comprehensive services allow clients to optimize resource management, enhance productivity and focus on strategy.

    More enterprises in the region are adopting Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), often leveraging local data centers and integrating advanced tools, ISG says. A key requirement is the availability of generative AI for process automation and management of multicloud environments. Companies give priority to service providers that offer comprehensive support for Oracle and non-Oracle environments and enhance integration across cloud platforms.

    “Enterprises in Asia Pacific are choosing leading OCI providers with a strong local presence,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Along with competitive pricing and proven track records in Oracle migrations, this fosters trust.”

    The report also examines other trends affecting Oracle users in Asia Pacific, including enterprises consolidating providers of comprehensive application management services and the impact of OCI’s recently introduced interoperability across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.

    For more insights into the challenges faced by enterprises using Oracle in Asia Pacific, see the ISG Provider Lens Focal Points briefing here.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific evaluates the capabilities of 28 providers across four quadrants: Consulting and Advisory Services, Implementation and Integration Services, Managed Services and OCI Solutions and Capabilities.

    The report names Accenture, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, Infosys, LTIMindtree, TCS, Tech Mahindra and Wipro as Leaders in all four quadrants. It names PwC as a Leader in three quadrants and KPMG as a Leader in two quadrants. Capgemini is named as a Leader in one quadrant.

    In addition, Capgemini, DXC Technology and Kyndryl are named as Rising Stars — companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in one quadrant each.

    In the area of customer experience, Capgemini is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2024 among Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem providers. Capgemini earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG’s Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

    The 2024 ISG Provider Lens Oracle Cloud and Technology Ecosystem report for Asia Pacific is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

    About ISG Provider Lens Research

    The ISG Provider Lens Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG’s global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG’s enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage.

    About ISG

    ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Summer signing out sunny and warm – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 27th February – Monday 3rd March – Summer is ending on a sunny note. 

    South Island to expect rain this weekend and cooler temperatures next week.
    Three tropical cyclone systems named in the Southwest Pacific this week.
    MetService are monitoring Tropical Cyclone Alfred that remains an active system in the Coral Sea.

    Summer started off poorly with a long streak of cooler than usual weather for some, and little to no seasonal rain for others and is, making way to a cold start to Autumn. While the weekend will be dry in most places, wet weather is on the cards for the upper North Island and the lower South Island. After a slow start to the tropical cyclone season, this week saw a burst of activity in the tropics, and MetService is closely monitoring the situation.

    MetService Meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo said, “In contrast to how the year started, this season is coming to an end with sunny skies and warm temperatures, making it a suitable weekend to all the activities across the country.”

    The eastern areas of the country are expected to be the warmest, with maximum temperatures reaching upper 20s to low 30s. Despite the warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies, showers may be part of the weekend in the upper North Island.

    The dry weekend is going to be cut short for the lower South Island, with two successive fronts making their way from Saturday around midday.  

    “The second, and likely most rain-bearing front is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, moving up the Island in the beginning of next week. This will introduce a gradual drop in temperatures, with Alexandra dropping from a maximum of 30C on Sunday to 17C on Tuesday”, added Mhlongo.  

    While it had been settled weather in New Zealand, three tropical cyclone systems have been named in the Southwest Pacific this week. Two of these systems, Tropical Cyclone Seru and Former Cyclone Rae, have now moved away from the larger island groups. However, Tropical Cyclone Alfred remains an active system in the Coral Sea.  

    “Where Alfred heads next is the big question for us in New Zealand. For the next few days, Alfred is expected to slowly sink southwards through the Coral Sea. Next week, there is considerable variation in the potential path that Alfred could take”, said Mhlongo.

    The large area of high pressure that has been a feature of our weather recently has been helping to keep the most active weather systems away from us and will be a key player in how close Alfred gets to our shores next week.

    At the moment, there’s still a wide range of possible tracks in where Alfred could go and how, or if, it will impact us. We are monitoring the system closely along with our colleagues over the Tasman, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology ( https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=3abeda0c8b&e=852c839bf9 ), and will keep you updated with all the latest information through our Severe Weather Outlook ( https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=9ced8191ad&e=852c839bf9 ) and our daily Tropical Cyclone Bulletin: https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=c00ebbb582&e=852c839bf9

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-interview-4BC Brisbane, Breakfast with Peter Fegan

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    PETER FEGAN:  Now, you’ll remember last year we reported it here on 4BC and it made headlines nationally, the states were officially put on notice by the Federal Government. The states were saying, show me the money and the Federal Government was simply saying, well, prove what it’s worth. Federal Transport Minister Catherine King told state premiers if they wanted cash, they needed good business cases. It’s pretty smart politics, really. The good news is we’ve passed the test here in Brisbane. Today, we’ll be handed a cheque for $200 million, and it includes funding for one of Brisbane’s oldest icons. The Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, joins me on the line. Minister, great to have your company this morning.

    CATHERINE KING: So lovely to be with you, Peter. It’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, one of our landmarks, our most famous landmarks, will be getting some cash. Can you reveal it on the program please?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. So we’re working with the Brisbane City Council to start to investigate what the cost of and scope of work that are needed to restore and to future maintenance of what is obviously the most iconic bridge, one of the most iconic bridges in the country, apart from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, of course. But it’s- you know, it’s a landmark. And so we’re putting in alongside Brisbane City Council together, $5 million to really get that work done, to see what is it that we’re going to need to do. It’s going to need more cash into the future. But this is really starting the process of working with the council to look at what do we need to make sure this bridge stays there into the future and is as strong as it possibly can be, and we keep it there for many, many generations to enjoy.

    PETER FEGAN: Now, there was also $1 million that’s been put aside to investigate a bridge from West End to Toowong. Well, Minister, I’m going to do you a favour here this morning. I’m going to save you that $1 million, and I’m going to say this, just build it because we’ve wanted it for so long. 

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Well, unfortunately we have to work out the cost of these things first. And part of what you do with the business case and the planning is you do the geotech work. You have a look at what services need to be moved so that you can then- the city council can come to me and say, well, look, we need this amount of money to actually build it. So that’s really just the start of the process. And I was at the opening, obviously, of Kangaroo Point Bridge. I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of people have been using that. We want to see people being able to access all parts of the city. And so this is again, just working with the Brisbane City Council, doing that planning work, finding out how much- you know, we really need to understand how much it costs and then sort of getting on with it once we’ve got that understanding.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, no more footbridges. We need cars to go across. We drive here in Brisbane. We don’t get transport, unfortunately.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, we do lots of things. I think people catch buses.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs]

    CATHERINE KING: So obviously, there’s the Brisbane Metro [indistinct], there’s people do that. People will cycle. I’ve seen people everywhere doing that. I’ve seen people walking across footbridges and then I’ve obviously seen- in terms of lots of cars as well. Everyone does all of those things. But cars are obviously pretty important here in Queensland.

    PETER FEGAN: Minister, I found this one very interesting, being somebody that grew up in the western suburbs of Brisbane, plenty of people listening to me from the west this morning, they’ll find this interesting. $78.5 million towards cost pressures on the Moggill Road Corridor upgrade project, replacing Indooroopilly roundabout with an overpass over Moggill Road. Now that’s great, but what about the Moggill Road corridor in particular? And then that’s further out towards Moggill. And I’m talking about land that had been put aside. Government land, Crown land that’s been put aside since Malcolm Fraser’s days. And yet people that live out in those western suburbs are still struggling to get to work, because we haven’t used that parcel of land. Can you give a guarantee that one day we may use it?

    CATHERINE KING: What again, we do is work in partnership with councils. So obviously Brisbane City Council is in a really unique position across the country that it has such a substantial road and obviously public transport network that it has to fund and build itself. So we work closely with Brisbane City Council and also state governments. They bring projects forward to us in budget and we make considerations of those. We’ve got to do the planning work first, make sure we understand it, but know if the council or the state government want to bring that forward. I, of course, will give it due consideration in the budget process.

    PETER FEGAN: $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce Highway. I think this is the most contentious topic here in Queensland. And I got to say, Minister, when it comes to the election, this will be one of the most divisive topics and I think you’ll either win or lose votes here. $7.2 billion upgrade to fix the Bruce, right? That’s one hell of an obligation to Queenslanders in particular. But I’ve got to say this, Minister, we are reluctant to believe either government, particularly this Labor Government at the moment, because it was this government that had turned its back on the Bruce and had switched the funding arrangement around. $7.2 billion sounds fantastic. I’ve got to say, on behalf of all Queensland, Minister, we just need to get on with it. We need this highway to be safe.

    CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. And that’s why, you know, the earliest possible opportunity we did, we’ve made the announcement at that $7.2 billion. Money will flow this year and every subsequent year.  We’ve said we’ll get it done in eight years. We’ve asked the Queensland Government to deliver that …

    PETER FEGAN: [Talks over] But it’s been 50.

    CATHERINE KING: … then obviously [indistinct].

    PETER FEGAN: 50 or 60 years, Minister. It’s 50 or 60 years and not one government can fix it.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, this Government has made the single biggest contribution to the Bruce Highway ever. And this is a Labor Government that has done that. And if you look back when we were last in office, prior to that, it was the then infrastructure minister, now Prime Minister, who then made the single biggest commitment to this.

    This is a Labor legacy, and we are absolutely committed to making the Bruce Highway safer. We’ve been in government obviously two and a half years. And I do want to make it really clear, no money has ever been cut from the Bruce Highway. What we have said is-

    PETER FEGAN: But the funding agreement- the funding- hang on, Minister, the funding agreement, that’s not true. The funding agreement was an 80/20 split…

    CATHERINE KING: [Talks over] That’s true…

    PETER FEGAN: … and you- but you changed that. So that’s funding cutting. Hang on, Minister, you changed that. It was an 80/20 split, but you say no funding has ever been cut. If you change- if you go from 80/20 to 50/50, that to me- I’m not a mathematician, but that’s a 30 per cent cut in funding.

    CATHERINE KING: So no, it isn’t. And so I want to make that really clear. I think there’s some confusion about that and been a bit of mischief about that. So first thing is not a single dollar has been cut from the Bruce Highway. In fact, the commitment that we’ve got, there’s $10 billion that has already been spent on the Bruce Highway. That has remained, and then we’ve put in an additional 7.2 billion. We’ve recognised on the Bruce Highway, in particular because of the safety concerns, 41 deaths just last year alone, that we will continue to fund that on an 80/20 basis.

    But what we did announce is that because the Commonwealth is now increasingly funding suburban roads, public transport and has stepped into the space of the state governments, largely, we’re now on other roads, particularly across the country, now requiring the state to also step up its commitment. We’re not dropping any of our funding. There’s still $125 billion worth of Commonwealth funding going to states and territories. We’re not dropping that. We’re just asking the states to step up with their contribution as well. So it’s not a cut to our funding. We’re asking the states to step in in the same way we’re stepping in on suburban roads now, but generally were 100 per cent of the state to fund.

    PETER FEGAN: It’s bang on quarter after eight. My guest this morning is the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King. $200 million being announced today in funding for our roads here in Brisbane and in the South East. Minister, I’ve got to say this. It’s smart politics to ask the states to present you a case study because money is really, really tight, particularly on a federal level. So I like it. I think it’s good politics, and I think that that’s what the states should have to do. The reason I’m asking you about this, though, is because we need a really nice, new shiny stadium here in Queensland and particularly in Brisbane. We’ve got the Olympics coming. Now, if there was a case study put forward by David Crisafulli for a brand-new stadium, you’d be on board, wouldn’t you?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the thing that we have put money towards, so there’s $3.5 billion capped from the Commonwealth going into the Olympics. We have said the Commonwealth’s contribution will go towards the Brisbane Arena. $2.5 billion is going towards that, we think, will leave a really significant legacy for an entertainment venue here in the heart of Brisbane – really necessary. We’ve also said we will 50/50 share the minor venues. Obviously, the Queensland Government is undertaking a review of those venues at the moment, but the Commonwealth has done- we’ve done the work, we’ve done the business case, the work is ready to go on the Brisbane Arena and that remains- you know, remains there on the table to build that arena for Brisbane. We think it’s needed and it will leave a great legacy for the community.

    PETER FEGAN: Let’s hope they’re listening, because it’s next month that we announce whether we’re going to get a new stadium or not. Before I let you go, Minister, what did you make of today’s announcements? I want to get your thoughts on this because your government has approved a deal between Virgin and Qatar Airways. Now, this is a deal that would see Qatar be able to invest in Virgin. It means there’s going to be more Qatar flights. It means we can spread our wings a little bit. Should hopefully cheapen flight prices here in Australia. But I’ve got to think back, if my memory serves me correctly, it was you that clipped Qatar’s wings in the first place.

    CATHERINE KING: So what we’ve had announced today is that the Treasurer has approved the Foreign Investment Review Board’s decision that Qatar Airways, the Qatari government, can invest in Virgin, and that obviously allows Virgin to do a number of things in terms of it going forward. Obviously, Bain Capital is wanting to withdraw and have Qatar now come in as the major investor. What it’s allowed us also to do is ensure that there are some Australians on the board of Virgin to make sure that we’ve got that in place and that they’re in fact opportunities to train Australian pilots, as again, Qatar has been granted through Virgin some wet leases to increase its flights, its international flights and create that competition. And I think that’s a good thing.

    PETER FEGAN: Before I let you go, we’ve got some breaking news. The election, 12 April. Is that right?

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Very nice try there. What a sneaky way to do it, you cheeky thing.

    PETER FEGAN: [Laughs] I should have just – I shouldn’t have laughed.

    CATHERINE KING: You should have just- I know, I nearly believed you then. You just got me. I’ve got three brothers who do that to me all the time.

    PETER FEGAN: What would you have said, though?

    CATHERINE KING: I don’t know, I have absolutely no idea. [Indistinct] to the Prime Minister, but very cheeky. You nearly got me.

    PETER FEGAN: Good on you, Minister. We’ll chat again very soon.

    CATHERINE KING: Lovely to talk to you, Peter.

    PETER FEGAN: There she is. That’s the Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Legal aid is a lifeline for vulnerable Australians, but consistent underfunding puts the system at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Cortis, Associate Professor, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney

    It’s central to any democracy that citizens receive fair treatment under the law. An important part of this is access to legal advice and representation.

    But lawyers are expensive. Many people who engage with the justice system can’t afford them.

    This is where legal aid comes in. Legal aid is a government-funded service available to some people unable to afford legal assistance. It is tightly targeted and many people are turned away.

    Those approved can access professional advice and representation. Many clients are women and children escaping family violence, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who remain vastly overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

    But the first ever national census of legal aid private practitioners reveals widespread underfunding, overwhelming workloads and high financial costs borne by the lawyers providing help.

    How does legal aid work?

    Vulnerable Australians who need essential services often access them from private providers in mixed markets. This is the case for childcare, aged care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

    It’s also true of legal aid, in which private lawyers play major roles.

    Legal Aid Commissions deliver legal aid through a mix of directly employed, in-house practitioners and approved private providers. The mix is heavily weighted toward private providers, although it fluctuates over time and across jurisdictions.

    According to National Legal Aid, in 2022–23, 72% of successful legal aid applications were assigned to private practitioners.

    To resource this arrangement, private practitioners are funded by grants of aid allocated to approved clients, with amounts regulated through a fixed scale of fees. Legal Aid Commissions in each state and territory usually release grant funds to practitioners in stages, initially to cover advice, investigation and negotiation, with funding extended to cover more work, such as going to trial, if cases progress.

    Private practitioners are expected to assist legal aid clients at the same standard of quality they would provide to other, fee-paying clients.

    But quality legal representation, especially for highly vulnerable people, is complex and time-consuming.

    Our research shows private practitioners feel frustrated that government funding does not cover all activities they need to perform and falls short of meeting community need.

    Our research

    We surveyed private practitioners who had delivered legal aid in the past two years, or who were listed on legal aid panels or preferred supplier lists.

    Among the 1,010 who participated, most were self-employed or working in very small practices. A quarter had delivered legal aid for more than 20 years.

    Commitment to legal aid is high, reflected in statements such as “everyone deserves good-quality representation”, and

    there is an obligation on professionals to assist in providing access to justice.

    Overwhelmingly, private practitioners find legal aid satisfying and meaningful. They also value the way it can build expertise for practitioners early in their legal career.

    But despite being enjoyable and enriching work, private practitioners say legal aid is becoming more difficult to deliver.

    Bearing the brunt of the cost

    Legal aid work can be stressful for practitioners, but their greatest challenge by far is funding.

    While there is no illusion that legal aid will be lucrative, private practitioners are frustrated with paltry grants that require significant administration and which undervalue their work.

    They feel the funding they receive does not recognise the time required in legal aid cases, nor the growing complexity of cases. As legal aid clients increasingly present with unmet health, social and economic needs, cases are more complex, lengthy and costly.

    Community need for legal assistance is high. For years, formal reviews have found the sector is chronically underfunded, both in Australia and overseas.

    Announcements of additional funding and better indexation have been welcomed, but aren’t enough to fix the shortfall.

    In the census, private practitioners repeatedly told us the funding available does not cover all activities required in legal aid cases or expected by courts. As one practitioner explained:

    legal aid matters effectively become pro bono matters near weeks into an initial grant, despite being potentially years-long.

    For 85% of private practitioners, “having to perform unremunerated work” is a source of difficulty. More than three-quarters said “trying to do quality work with limited time and resources” makes legal aid cases difficult.

    Many private practitioners travel long distances for their legal aid work and feel frustrated when costs are not covered. They also find administration is slow and cumbersome, and feel that Legal Aid Commissions are too understaffed to respond quickly to inquiries.

    Although 70% intend to continue to deliver at least some legal aid in the next year, many private practitioners feel undervalued. A third want to reduce their legal aid caseload and one in nine plan to abandon this work altogether.

    To continue to deliver legal aid, private practitioners echo scholarly evidence
    in calling for better grants, straightforward administration and responsive communication.

    Some question why legal aid, as a public good, has come to rest so heavily on the commitment of private practitioners and suggest that in-house staff and the community legal sector play bigger roles.

    Ultimately, some private practitioners will find ways to integrate legal aid into their business, or simply wear the cost. But for most, financial costs and risks are too high. Essential services cannot be delivered based on practitioners’ goodwill.

    Natasha Cortis conducts commissioned research on social policy and service delivery, for government and non-government organisations. The research this article discusses was commissioned by National Legal Aid.

    Megan Blaxland conducts commissioned research on social policy and service delivery for a range of government and non-government organisations. The research this article discusses was commissioned by National Legal Aid.

    – ref. Legal aid is a lifeline for vulnerable Australians, but consistent underfunding puts the system at risk – https://theconversation.com/legal-aid-is-a-lifeline-for-vulnerable-australians-but-consistent-underfunding-puts-the-system-at-risk-250275

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Supporting Australia’s multicultural media sector

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Albanese Government is investing in Australia’s multicultural media, today announcing funding of $11.3 million over three years in recognition of the critical role of the independent multicultural media sector in fostering an inclusive and informed society.

    Informed by the Multicultural Framework Review and its three key principles of connection; identity and belonging; and inclusion, the funding will support the sustainability and capacity building of small to medium multicultural media outlets.

    This investment includes a competitive grant program of up to $10 million for eligible multicultural media organisations to transition to sustainable new media practices, and operational funding of $1.3 million to the not-for-profit Independent Multicultural Media Australia.

    This new funding for multicultural media is in addition to the Government’s commitment to provide $153.5 million over four years to implement the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), as well as an additional $27 million to back Australia’s vital community broadcasting sector.

    The administration of the funding for multicultural media will align with the News MAP, which guides government intervention to support public interest journalism and media diversity in Australia, whilst balancing the need to maintain the independence of the sector.

    Work to implement the News MAP is now underway, including to establish an expert advisory panel and design the administration of funding opportunities to support and build the sustainability and capacity of news organisations.

    Further information on grant opportunities to support multicultural media will be available in due course.

    The Government recognises multicultural media as critical to the health of our democracy, social cohesion and informing communities.

    For more information on the Multicultural Framework Review and the Government’s Response, visit Multicultural Framework Review – Australian Government Response.

    For more information on News MAP, visit News Media Assistance Program (News MAP).

    For more information on the Community Broadcasting Program and the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review, visit Community Broadcasting Program.

    Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Julian Hill MP

    “Independent multicultural media outlets are the most trusted source of news and information for many Australians.

    “It’s absolutely critical that they continue so all Australians have access to quality journalism, and avoid succumbing to rumours and misinformation permeating social media, WhatsApp and other online groups.

    “The Labor Government has listened and is acting on the Multicultural Framework Review’s advice which highlighted the need for government support to help multicultural media outlets be sustainable and adapt to digital environments.”

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP

    “The Albanese Government is continuing its strong support for the multicultural media sector, with additional funding to support public interest journalism in this vital part of our media landscape.

    “This funding will complement the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP), and is in addition to two funding rounds already delivered by the Albanese Labor Government to support local news publishers, including multicultural media.

    “An independent and diverse multicultural media sector is at the heart of local communities, is essential to building social cohesion and makes a vital contribution to media diversity in Australia.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing farmers to innovate and make more money

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is ramping up a programme to boost sustainably and farm productivity. 

    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has announced the ‘Science for Farmers’ initiative will be rolled out at agricultural events around the country starting with the Dargaville, Wānaka, Feilding, and Kirwee Agricultural Shows over the next two months. 

    “Science for Farmers brings leading scientists to the regions to talk directly with farmers about research and innovation that’s already paying dividends on farms around the country,” Mr McClay says. 

    The programme is a collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries’ On Farm Support service and key research partners, including AgResearch, AgriZeroNZ, LIC, Massey University, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. 

    It provides detailed information and access to experts in many areas including on:

    • Alternative pasture types that can help farmers future-proof their pasture-based systems in a warming climate.
    • Advanced genetics to increase production whilst helping to meet environmental and emissions obligations. 
    • On-farm management systems that increase profit and enhance business resilience.

    “The Government is committed to lifting rural productivity, increasing jobs and unlocking New Zealand’s potential by going for growth.

    “Small steps can make a big difference. Every extra kilo of milksolids, kg of meat or wool, and extra tray of fruit we produce through innovation and science, puts more money into the pockets of rural New Zealand and helps achieve our goal of doubling the value of exports within 10 years”. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Whitireia and WelTec connect with community at local events Te Rā o te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua

    Source: Whitireia and WelTec

    Whitireia and WelTec have joined two Wellington events which focus on the wellbeing of local communities, celebrate culture and local talent, and commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
    The events, Te Rā o te Raukura in Waiwhetū, Lower Hutt (a Te Āti Awa and Āti Awa Toa FM event) and Waitangi Day in Porirua (a collaboration between Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa Rangatira) both held annually, are important occasions in the calendar for local communities, with excellent turnouts, including record attendance this year at Waitangi Day in Porirua. The festivities include musical performances, food stands and artisanal stalls, with Whitireia and WelTec hosting an education stall at both.
    Te Rā o te Raukura, a whānau-oriented community cultural festival that focuses on social wellbeing, education, and health, provided a great opportunity for those enjoying the festivities to see firsthand some of the learning and support options at Whitireia and WelTec. Waitangi Day in Porirua is one of the largest celebrations of our nation’s day with an estimated 35,000 attendees this year, making it a fantastic event to connect with the local community and those who travelled from across the wider Wellington region to commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
    The Whitireia and WelTec stalls included interactive displays and showcased the learning journey, mahi (work) and projects completed by current ākonga (students) and graduates. These stories provided valuable insight into the impact of study, with highlights including a carpentry house model, samples of engineering projects, and a student-developed computer game, all demonstrating potential career paths for ākonga. Māori and Pasifika Trades Training and enrolments kaimahi (staff) alongside tutors from information technology, trades training, nursing, social work, construction, and engineering were able to talk through the pathway to gaining hands-on skills or study towards a qualification.
    Hinemoa Priest, Kaiwhakahaere Ngā Ara Me te Tautoko, Director Learner Pathways and Support at Whitireia and WelTec, explains that community connection is important. Positive education outcomes are an enormous contributor to economic and social wellbeing and the study options and support offered by Whitireia and WelTec can make a huge difference in the lives of learners, their families, and wider communities. “The exceptional support throughout a student’s study journey at Whitireia and WelTec and being able to study local and be close to home with whānau support, is an incredible advantage.”
    Plus, there is dedicated support for ākonga Māori at Whitireia and WelTec, with the Tamaiti Whāngai and Te Awarua teams on hand to support the success and participation of ākonga Māori. “Ākonga can walk in, have a hui, ask questions, and get wrap-around mentoring, pastoral, cultural and academic support. The teams also provide external advocacy to help learners navigate things like fees and accommodation”, says Hinemoa.
    Mark Oldershaw, Executive Director for Whitireia and WelTec says Te Rā o Te Raukura and Waitangi Day in Porirua are two wonderful events, both fostering community connection. “It is a privilege to reinforce Whitireia and WelTec’s commitment to providing vocational education, showcase our study options and be on hand to have conversations with those considering study and future work.”
    To enol with Whitireia and WelTec: visit https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/enrolment-information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong outlines plans to leverage strategic positioning, boost global connectivity

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will continue to leverage its strategic positioning as the “three centers and a hub” and make good use of the advantages of “one country, two systems,” the financial secretary of the HKSAR government said on Wednesday.
    While delivering the 2025-26 budget at the HKSAR’s Legislative Council, Paul Chan said it is imperative to do so, outlining a range of plans to inject new impetus into Hong Kong’s economy, consolidating and strengthening industries with clear advantages while actively nurturing and developing new industries.
    To reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center, Chan said the HKSAR government will introduce a series of measures across various fields, including the securities and derivatives market, fixed income and currency hub, as well as asset and wealth management center.
    The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited will put forward recommendations to enhance the issuance mechanism of structured products with a view to providing greater flexibility for product listing and trading, he said.
    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is preparing to issue the third tranche of tokenized bonds, and will continue to encourage digital bonds issuances through the Digital Bond Grant Scheme, while actively exploring tokenizing traditional bonds issued, Chan said.
    To promote the connection of e-payment between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, the People’s Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority are working closely to implement the linkage of faster payment systems of both places, with a view to providing round-the-clock real-time, small-value cross-boundary remittance service for residents in both places, said Chan, adding that the service is expected to be launched in mid-2025 at the soonest.
    To promote the construction of Hong Kong as an international trade center, Chan said that the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation will provide credit insurance for export services relating to multinational supply chain to render more comprehensive support to enterprises seeking to go global.
    Hong Kong will continue to leverage its role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chan said, adding that Hong Kong will continue to further cultivate the ASEAN and Middle East markets, and explore opportunities in Central Asia, South Asia and North Africa.
    Chan reaffirmed that the HKSAR government will establish the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board this year to strengthen relevant research, promotion and manpower training to facilitate the sustainable development of the international maritime center.
    In addition, Hong Kong will help the home-developed C919 aircraft enter the global market, Chan said, noting that the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy will expand its training programs in this regard.
    To foster a talent hub, Chan said the HKSAR government will enhance the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals and the General Employment Policy by allowing young non-degree talents with professional and technical qualifications and experience to come to Hong Kong to join skilled trades facing manpower shortage.
    The HKSAR government will continue to attract more students, especially those from ASEAN and other countries under the BRI cooperation framework, to study in Hong Kong through various measures, including the Belt and Road Scholarship, he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China builds extreme ‘super lab’ to assist global scientists in probing mysteries of matter

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Researchers work at an experimental station of the Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    What astonishing phenomena might materials reveal when they are subjected to conditions mimicking the extremes of the cosmos-ultra-low temperatures, magnetic fields that are hundreds of thousands of times stronger than Earth’s, and pressure close to that at the planet’s core?
    The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), located in Beijing’s suburban Huairou District, is opening a portal for scientists to observe the bizarre phenomena of matter under such extreme environments.
    After starting construction in September 2017, the SECUF passed national acceptance review on Wednesday, marking the completion of the internationally advanced experimental facility integrating extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperature, ultra-high pressure, strong magnetic fields, and ultra-fast optical fields.
    The facility, led by the Institute of Physics (IOP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a cluster of precision-controlled “extreme environment generators.” It serves as a “super lab” for probing the frontiers of materials science. Here, scientists can explore the mysteries of matter and uncover new phenomena or laws invisible under ordinary conditions.
    The SECUF can cool materials to an extremely low temperature of 1 millikelvin, which is 1,000 times lower than the cosmic background temperature. It is capable of producing a steady 30 Tesla magnetic field, which is 600,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field, according to Lv Li, the leading scientist of SECUF.
    The facility can reach an ultra-high pressure of 300 GPa, nearly equivalent to the pressure at the Earth’s core. It can generate ultra-fast laser pulses lasting 100 attoseconds, which is a billionth of a billionth of a second, to capture electron dynamics in real time.
    Under extreme conditions, materials often exhibit “magical” behaviors. For instance, superconductivity–where electrical resistance vanishes–occurs only at ultra-low temperatures. Additionally, some ordinary materials transform into superconductors under high pressure.
    Based on the SECUF, scientists are expected to discover more superconducting materials under high pressure, and even room-temperature superconductors, which is of great significance for improving computer processing speed, Lv said.
    Strong magnetic fields and ultrafast light fields allow scientists to delve deeper into the microscopic structures and dynamic behaviors of materials, experts explained.
    These extreme conditions can be combined based on different research needs at the SECUF, enabling advanced experiments in material synthesis, quantum control, and ultrafast dynamics, providing an unprecedented experimental platform for research in the fields such as materials science, physics and chemistry, Lv said.
    The completion of the facility has significantly enhanced China’s comprehensive capabilities in basic and applied basic research in the field of materials science and related areas. Researchers can conduct studies on unconventional superconductivity, topological states of matter, and novel quantum materials and devices, according to Cheng Jinguang, deputy director of the IOP.
    This experimental platform is open to scientists worldwide. So far, 13 universities and research institutions from 10 countries, including Denmark, Germany, France and Japan, have conducted experiments at the SECUF, with some experimental stations already yielding scientific results, Cheng said.
    Scientists plan to further enhance SECUF’s capabilities while keeping its doors open to global researchers, to attract more pioneers to this “extreme challenge,” unlocking discoveries that reshape humanity’s understanding of the material world. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Four-year term legislation to be introduced

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has agreed to introduce legislation that will enable a four-year term of Parliament subject to a referendum, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
    “As stipulated in the National-Act coalition agreement, the Bill is modelled on the ACT Party’s draft Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill.
    “This means a standard term of Parliament will remain at three years, but with the ability to extend the maximum term of Parliament to four years. 
    “The main condition is that membership of certain select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-Executive parliamentary party membership of the House.
    “Given the constitutional significance of the term of Parliament, this change would be subject to the outcome of a binding referendum.
    “Both the National-Act and National-New Zealand First coalition agreements include supporting a bill to select committee. At this stage, no decisions have been made on whether this Bill will proceed beyond this. 
    “It is possible a referendum could be held alongside the next General Election in 2026. However, any final decisions on timing for a referendum will depend on what comes out of the select committee process.
    “Future decisions will also need to be made by the Government as to whether the bill proceeds as introduced, or whether it should be amended.
    “We want to hear what New Zealanders think during the select committee process.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Minim Martap Project Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PERTH, Australia, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) (‘Canyon’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to provide an update on key development workstreams at the Company’s flagship Minim Martap Bauxite Project (‘Minim Martap’ or ‘the Project’), located in Cameroon, as the Company continues to make rapid progress toward production.

    Minim Martap ranks among the world’s richest bauxite deposits, underpinned by an Ore Reserve of 109Mt at 51.1% total Al2O3 and 2.0% total SiO2 and a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,027Mt at 45.3% total Al2O3 and 2.7% total SiO2

    The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) remains on schedule for completion in Q3 2025, with a focus on optimising operational efficiencies, ensuring sustainable economics and confirming the preferred pathway to production. The Company remains confident that the DFS will reinforce the viability of Minim Martap as a world-class bauxite project. Concurrently, discussions with select debt providers are progressing positively, as Canyon seeks to secure an optimal funding structure in alignment with strategic objectives and results from the DFS.

    As part of the DFS, Canyon is currently evaluating the implementation of a two-stage development strategy, aimed at accelerating production through a phased ramp-up to enable a first bauxite shipment in 2026. This approach would enable earlier revenue generation, strengthen supply chain relationships and strategically position Minim Martap for future growth as rail capacity expands. In addition to this process, Canyon has engaged several internationally recognised consultants to refine and optimise the existing rail infrastructure required for the transport of the bauxite ore. Detailed assessments are now underway to enhance logistical efficiency and explore capacity expansion strategies that will support long-term operational growth.

    As part of project execution planning, Canyon is working with leading mining equipment vendors to define procurement schedules and delivery timelines, ensuring timely access to critical mining equipment, which will be essential for meeting targeted production timelines and targets and maintaining operational efficiency. The Company remains focused on aligning equipment availability with its potential staged development strategy to support seamless project execution.

    Discussions with potential offtake partners are advancing well, with negotiations reflecting strong market interest in Minim Martap’s high-quality bauxite product and supporting the Company’s efforts to secure long-term sales agreements. Establishing these strategic partnerships is a key step in de-risking the Project, working through the relevant financing discussions and ensuring an efficient pathway towards commencement of operations.

    Bauxite market fundamentals and pricing has strengthened over the past 12 months, with the CIF China price for 45% Al203 and 3% total SiO2 ex Guinea reported to be approximately $US 100/DMT in February 2025. The product from Minim Martap with a proved or reserve grade 51.1% total Al203 and total SiO2 should achieve a considerable premium price compared to a 45% Al2O3 and SiO2 bauxite product.

    Lastly, Canyon continues to focus on building out its project team and management team to ensure the Company is well-positioned during the next phase of development growth, as Canyon works toward becoming a near-term bauxite producer.

    Mr Jean-Sebastien Boutet, Canyon Chief Executive Officer commented: “Progress at our world-class Minim Martap Project continues as planned, reinforcing our confidence in our timeline towards production. Notably, the analysis of a potential two-staged development strategy has been particularly promising, offering the opportunity for fast-tracked production and revenue generation, while strategically positioning the Company to capitalise on expanding rail capacity and the establishment of key supply chain relationships.

    “Our team remains committed to transforming the Minim Martap Bauxite Project into a world-class operation that delivers sustainable, long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. We will continue to provide timely updates as we achieve key milestones and advance toward production.”

    This announcement has been approved for release by the Canyon Resources’ Board of Directors.

                                                            
                                                    
                                                    
                                            
                  
                                  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BusinessNZ – Business backs a four year term

    Source: BusinessNZ

    BusinessNZ says there is support from the private sector for a longer political term in New Zealand, as the Government looks to introduce legislation extending it to four years.
    Chief Executive Katherine Rich says extending the term is an important step towards improving the New Zealand’s governance and encouraging longer-term plans to fix major economic problems.
    “A four-year term is not a new idea, it’s been discussed each decade by both National and Labour since at least the 1960s and put to the public twice by referendum.
    “Most countries operate with four or five-year electoral terms. New Zealand’s three-year electoral term is one reason for the policy pendulum swings which contribute to a failure by successive governments to execute long term solutions.
    “The reality is three years is too short to govern successfully – particularly when we are facing complex economic problems or long-term trends like the costs and impacts of our aging population, which may require tough political decisions to solve.
    “BusinessNZ has long been a supporter of a longer term because business leaders value policy stability and a predictable environment where they can pursue productivity, innovation and growth, and feel confident about investing. Our current campaign Future Vision has been gauging support from businesses, who are largely in favour of a longer term.
    “Business investment horizons surpass political terms, and successive flip-flops do nothing to enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business.
    “Political leaders hoping for change this time around will have to present a compelling narrative to explain the benefits in a way that rebuts fear, cynicism and tendency towards the status quo.”
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Disabled people need more care and support – Stats NZ media and information release: Disability statistics: 2023

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Disabled people need more care and support – 27 February 2025 – Half a million disabled people living in New Zealand households need more care or support in at least one important area of daily life, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    The 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS) found that 62 percent of disabled people (506,000) had at least one unmet need.

    “Unmet need refers to situations where a person doesn’t have something they need in the way of support, reasonable accommodations, medical care, home modifications, or equipment,” social and community spokesperson Nicolette Edgar said.

    ‘Reasonable accommodations’ are changes needed for disabled people to participate on an equal basis and to exercise their human rights.

    Files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Witnesses sought after serious assault, Taradale

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Glenn Restieaux of Hastings Police:

    Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after an assault that left a young person critically injured.

    About 12.40pm yesterday, in the vicinity of Bellevue Dairy Gloucester Street, Taradale, a group of young people was approached by a male who had just exited a car with others.

    The male then allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old in the group, and a fight broke out between the two groups.

    The 14-year-old was transported to hospital with critical injuries. He remains there in a serious but stable condition.

    The second group fled in the vehicle, which was later located and seized.

    Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of what occurred, and identify those responsible for the assault.

    We know there were several other members of the public who were in the area at the time, and we are hoping they have valuable information to share.

    If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 250227/9346.

    You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Courtenay Place

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can now name the woman who died following a crash on Courtenay Place, Te Aro, on 24 February.

    She was Ursula Machtel, 66, formerly of Freiburg, Germany.

    Police extend our condolences to her loved ones at this time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Onerahi incident

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died and a homicide investigation has been launched following a firearms incident in Onerahi this morning.

    Police received a report of a person injured at Beach Road Reserve at about 11.10am.

    Upon arrival, one person was pronounced deceased at the scene.

    A second person was located with serious injuries and has been transported to hospital.

    Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB, says Police do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the wider community.

    “The key focus for us is determining the series of events that led up to this tragic incident.”

    Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, in particular we would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident.

    Cordons will remain in place and the community can expect to see an increased Police presence in the area while a scene examination is completed and enquires are carried out.

    Members of the public are asked to avoid the area until this has been completed and motorists are advised Beach Road remains closed from Church Road.

    “We understand this incident would have been unsettling for the wider community and we appreciate the assistance from the public during this time.”

    Police will provide a further update when we are in a position to do so.

    If you can assist with our investigation, please call Police on 105 or go online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 quoting job number P061751387.

    Information can also be provided anonymously on 0800 555 111 via Crime Stoppers.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace obtains coordinates of coral destruction NZ Government refused to reveal

    Source: Greenpeace

    The New Zealand government is refusing to release details of the location a New Zealand bottom trawler hauled up deep sea coral late last year, despite Greenpeace offering to go and survey the damage at the site with deep sea cameras.
    But following requests from the scientist in charge of designing the impending deep sea survey, Australia has released these coordinates so that documentation of the impact can go ahead.
    The Tasman Viking, a New Zealand bottom trawler, pulled up 37kg of deep sea coral in the Lord Howe Rise area, renowned for diverse marine life in October 2024. This triggered a rule under the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), to temporarily close the area.
    Under SPRFMO, the best available information is meant to be provided on the nature of an encounter such as this, and Greenpeace has offered to go and document the site as part of their Seamounts Expedition, due to commence in March 2025.
    But requests from Greenpeace for the coordinates of the area were declined by the New Zealand Government due to ‘commercial sensitivity’. The Australian SPRFMO Commissioner has now released these coordinates in response to requests from the expedition’s Lead Researcher.
    Greenpeace’s Ellie Hooper is calling the New Zealand government’s refusal to share the coordinates “ludicrous” and “a blatant example of the Luxon led government running interference for the fishing industry.”
    Hooper says: “In collaboration with scientists, we’re heading out to the deep ocean to survey vital habitats so we can see what lives there and how that life is being impacted by bottom trawling, including hopefully surveying this impacted site.
    “We want to add to our collective understanding of these deep sea ecosystems, about which so little is known, and to shine a light in the dark.”These coordinates have already been shared with all fishing companies and SPRFMO countries, so why is the information being hidden?
    “Australia clearly has a more progressive and transparent approach when it comes to deep-sea management, and has provided us with the opportunity to go to this area and attempt to survey it.”
    Seamounts and other underwater hills and knolls are ocean lifelines, often home to diverse coral and sponges, and are key breeding grounds for fish and feeding spots for migrating whales.
    “The main threat to these ecosystems is bottom trawling,” says Hooper.
    It’s estimated that coral brought to the surface by trawlers is only a small fraction of what’s destroyed on the seafloor.1
    Next week, Greenpeace Aotearoa will embark on its Seamounts Expedition, where deep sea cameras will be used to collect images and data of these ecosystems, and identify the species living on them.
    “To make the most informed decisions on the ocean, we need more observation and science, something that appears to be being blocked by NZ,” says Hooper. “Less than 1% of the world’s seamounts have been surveyed, and most of what we do know about these places is from what’s dragged up dead in bottom trawl nets. That’s a pretty sad reality. “We’re setting out to try and uncover some of the secrets of the deep, it’s challenging work and we don’t know exactly what we ‘ll find – but we’re committed to trying.”
    New Zealand is the only country still bottom trawling in the high seas of the South Pacific and has faced criticism for blocking protection measures at SPRFMO this month.Summary:
    • In November 2024 last year it was reported that an NZ bottom trawler, Westfleet’s Tasman Viking pulled up 37kg of deep sea coral from the Lord Howe Rise area, in the international waters of the South Pacific.
    • This triggered a suspension of all fishing in the area.
    • Greenpeace is offering to survey the impact site using deep sea cameras as part of a seamounts survey we’re carrying out in March 2025
    • But the NZ government has turned down Greenpeace’s request for the information quoting commercial sensitivities, despite all fishing operators, and SPRFMO states already being notified of the location.
    • The Australian SPRFMO Commissioner [ lead of their delegation to the RFMO] responded to requests from the Lead Researcher on the seamounts expedition, providing the coordinates of the closed area..
    • Greenpeace says NZ failing to release the data is clearly the government protecting the commercial fishing industry above gathering scientific information about the impact of the encounter.
    • After a VME encounter such as this in the SPRFMO zone [high seas], states are meant to use the best available scientific information to assess the impact. Documenting the site would inarguably be the best available information, and Greenpeace is offering to provide this with the survey.
    • The Greenpeace seamounts expedition will commence in March 2025 and is designed to gather deep sea imagery of deep sea habitats both in the waters of Aotearoa and the international waters of the South Pacific.
    • Greenpeace plans to make the findings available so they can be used to improve our collective knowledge of the deep sea.
    Notes: Coral in nets to destroyed on seafloor ratios:1. Geange, S. et al 2017, SC7-DW14, and Stephenson, F. et al 2022, SC10-DW04

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Germany’s stale (and still pale) political mainstream

    Analysis by Keith Rankin.

    Chart by Keith Rankin.

    The above chart traces the vote-share of Germany’s establishment political parties: the right-wing CDU/CSU and the now-centre-right SPD (essentially the Christian Democrats, just like National in New Zealand) and the Social Democrats (just like Labour). And it compares Germany with England to show a similar process there.

    An increasingly stale political centre has consolidated power in both Germany and the United Kingdom, despite record low vote-shares for these establishment parties. In Germany, the ‘major party’ combined vote has fallen to 45% (nearly as low as that in last year’s election in France, for the Centre and the traditional Right). In the United Kingdom, the establishment (Labour, Conservative) vote has fallen to 60%; though, given a much lower turnout in the United Kingdom than Germany, 60% there represents a similar level of support to that of the equivalent parties in Germany.

    With these outcomes being at-best borderline-democratic (JD Vance had a point about the shutting-out of alternative voices), neither country is scheduled to have another election until 2029. And the ‘left’ establishment parties – in office in both countries in March 2025 – are as right-wing as their centre-right predecessor governments of Merkel and Sunak.

    We note that, for Germany, elections before 1991 are for West Germany only. And, for the United Kingdom, my aim has been to focus on England, where Celtic nationalist parties have not played a role; thus until 1979, the British data is for the United Kingdom, whereas from 1983 the data is for England only. We also note that Germany shows few signs of promoting the literally colourful characters who play such an important part in contemporary British politics.

    The waxing and waning of the postwar German mainstream

    Postwar German politics began in 1949, with its new MMP voting system; proportional voting featuring two disqualification mechanisms, a five percent party-vote threshold, and the failure to gain a local electorate using the simple-plurality (FPP) criterion. (In Germany, in the 1950s, the latter disqualification rule was tightened; three electorate seats were required, rather than one.)

    The rise in the two-party vote from 1949 to 1972 represented the consolidation of the major-party system, essentially in line with the post-war German economic miracle. From 1949 to 1969, the government was CDU-led. The SPD led the government from 1969 to 1982 (though with fewer votes than the CDU/CSU). All subsequent governments have been CDU-led, except for the relatively short-lived administrations of Gerhard Schröder (c.2000) and Olaf Scholz.

    The fall in establishment-party vote-share reflects the rise of the Green Party in Germany, which itself reflects the waning of the economic miracle.

    The 1990s’ political stability reflects the reunification era, the political dominance of Helmut Kohl; and the fact that, due to reunification, German politics suspended its characteristic debt-phobia.

    The 2000s and 2010s represents the Angela Merkel era. The 2009 result reflects the Global Financial Crisis. The 2005 vote reflects the early Eurozone period, in which investment within the European Union was diverted into the development of the southern EU countries (and to Ireland). In particular, the 2000s saw the rise of The Left Party, which was shunned by the Establishment parties; this was the beginning of the German ‘firewall’, which meant that ‘grand coalitions’ were favoured over the inclusion of ‘outsider’ parties into government. In that time, the Green Party became a centrist party; inside rather than outside ‘the tent’.

    In 2014 the debt-phobic way Germany ‘resolved’ the Euro crisis was popular in Germany, though ‘austerity’ ushered in the deflationary bias that has characterised subsequent fiscal policy in the European Union. (The adverse effect of deflationary fiscal policy was the use of a zero-interest-rate monetary policy by the European Central Bank; so the adverse consequences of the austerity policies played out more slowly than they might have.)

    Since the initial ‘triumph’ of austerity in 2014, we have seen a substantial and ongoing decline in the vote for the establishment parties. However, these parties managed to consolidate power despite haemorrhaging votes. The new 2025 Government will be a substantially right-wing government made up of German-National (CDU 28.5%) and German-Labour (SPD 16.4%); this represents easily the worst vote ever for the ‘left’ SPD and easily the second-worst vote ever for the ‘winning’ CDU/CSU.

    And, in the United Kingdom, the vote for Labour in 2024 was easily the worst vote of any ‘winning’ party in any election since 1945 (and possible since the time of Walpole in the 1720s).

    Democracy anyone?

    Postscript UK

    In the UK, the highest percentage vote for a political party in the postwar era was 48.8% for Clement Attlee’s Labour Party, seeking a third term in office (in a very-early election which Attlee was tricked into calling). Labour was defeated, despite its record-high poll! Winston Churchill’s Conservatives got 48.0% of the vote; but, crucially, more seats. Attlee’s government was the least stale government in the United Kingdom’s post-war history; Attlee, in the UK, had a popularity and significance comparable to that of Michael Joseph Savage in New Zealand.

    *******

    Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Press center opens for China’s annual ‘two sessions’

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Feb. 27 — A press center for China’s annual sessions of its top legislature and political advisory body, known as the “two sessions,” opened Thursday at the Media Center Hotel in Beijing.

    The third session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference will kick off on March 5 and March 4, respectively.

    More than 3,000 journalists have registered to cover the “two sessions” this year, which marks the final year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period. Among them, over 1,000 reporters are from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign countries.

    The number of journalists has increased compared to last year.

    The press center will host a series of press conferences and events, with heads of central government departments expected to address hotspot domestic and international issues.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Aged Care issues – Consumer NZ backs calls for court action against retirement village operators’ unfair contract terms

    Source: Consumer NZ

    Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association are concerned retirement villages are ignoring warnings from the Commerce Commission about unfair terms in their contracts with residents. Both organisations are calling for the Commission to take further action.  

    Following complaints from Consumer NZ and the Retirement Village Residents Association (RVResidents), the Commerce Commission warned village operators some of their care claims and contract terms risked breaching the Fair Trading Act.  

    One term the Commission identified as potentially unfair allowed operators to charge residents for maintenance and repairs of chattels or fixtures within their units.  

    The Commission considered these terms likely to be unfair because the residents don’t have any ownership rights over their units, or the operator’s chattels, yet are expected to pay for maintenance and repairs.

    Despite the Commission’s warning, most of Metlifecare occupation right agreements (ORAs) still allow the operator to charge its residents for maintenance and repairs.  

    After this was brought to RVResidents attention, it recently lodged a further complaint with the Commission, asking it to take court action. Consumer backs this call.  

    Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive, says living in a village under an ORA isn’t the same as owning a home because residents have no ownership rights, and in most cases, aren’t entitled to any capital gains when their units are sold.

    “Even though residents don’t own the units, chattels or fixtures, they’re often responsible for the cost of maintenance, repairs and replacement of everything from heat pumps and blinds to light switches and power sockets.  

    “We think that’s completely unfair. Responsibility for repairing, replacing and maintaining operator-owned fixtures and chattels should fall on the retirement village.”

    Residents don’t want to make a fuss

    Di Sinclair, RVResidents national vice president and complaints coordinator, says the organisation receives ongoing complaints from Metlifecare residents about having to foot the bill for maintenance and repairs.

    “In one case, an elderly woman was charged $562 for a draft strip to close up a gap between her garage door and some uneven concrete outside.”

    Yet, according to Sinclair, under the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008, which sets out the obligations operators must meet, Metlifecare would be responsible for fixing the problem with the garage door, particularly as it was initially caused by the concrete beyond the woman’s villa.

    “The operator must keep the building and equipment in good working order. A garage door, particularly one attached to a unit, is part of that obligation,” Sinclair says.

    The resident fought the charge, and the operator backed down. It said it would pay half the repair cost and credited her account with $281. The resident reluctantly agreed to pay the reduced sum.

    “Residents are afraid of repercussions if they ‘make a fuss’, and they often feel they don’t have the emotional or physical strength to get into conflict with village management.

    “It’s not fair that they have to rely on advocates to enforce their rights,” says Sinclair.

    Consumer urges the Commission to hold retirement village operators to account

    RVResidents is asking the Commission to seek a court declaration that these terms are unfair.

    Consumer’s Jon Duffy agrees with Sinclair – residents shouldn’t have to get advocates involved to get a fair deal. ORA terms should be fair from the get-go, but often, they don’t meet the mark.

    “Unfortunately, there isn’t much residents can do if they think their village is relying on an unfair contract term – only the Commerce Commission can take action.  

    “This needs to change to ensure residents, and others facing unfair terms, are protected. In the meantime, we want to see the Commission give teeth to its warnings and take action to protect residents,” says Duffy.

    “We support RVResidents’ call to action and urge the Commission to hold operators to account.”

     

    Note

    Read the full article on Consumer’s website: How Metlifecare is ignoring the Commerce Commission’s warnings: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-fdrjtdk-ijjdkdttjk-t/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Culture and Heritage – Funding of creative spaces leaves legacy

    Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

    Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage welcomes a new report Te kaha o ā tātou mahi | The Power of our work which details the impact of multi-year funding of creative spaces across New Zealand.
    As part of the COVID recovery programme, the Ministry invested $18 million into a network of creative spaces, in partnership with Arts Access Aotearoa, to support the growth and sustainability of creative spaces over three years.
    “It’s fantastic to read about the positive impacts in the report,” says Manatū Taonga Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.
    “Funding allowed the spaces to increase services to meet the high demand, and had so many benefits for staff and participants – particularly on their mental health and wellbeing.
    “Funding of creative spaces not only created more jobs, but provided career development opportunities and supported career pathways, including for artists who had previously been participants or volunteers. Many of the creative spaces have used those three years of investment to find new ways to support their long-term sustainability.
    “The funding gave creative spaces greater capacity to build relationships to help expand the reach of their programmes, and support different groups in the community to access creative opportunities. Some spaces supported artists to sell their artworks, and even helped to develop their own small business enterprises.
    “A big thank you to Arts Access Aotearoa for partnering with Manatū Taonga to monitor the investment and support creative spaces throughout this initiative,” says Leauanae.
    A total of 54 creative spaces received funding across the country.
    Read the report, as well as individual stories of creative spaces, on the Creative Spaces Network website: https://creativespacesnetwork.org.nz/Impact-of-multi-year-investment-for-creative-spaces

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal Welfare Laws – Study reveals flaws in animal protection laws – Auckland University

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    New Zealand’s animal welfare system is failing – and in urgent need of a dedicated police unit, researcher warns.

    The animal protection system in Aotearoa is ineffective, underfunded, and at risk of collapse, according to new research.

    University of Auckland law scholar associate professor Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere warns that without major reform, animals will continue to suffer harm without adequate legal consequences.

    His doctoral thesis with the University of Alberta, which compares New Zealand’s system with Alberta, Canada, identifies deep structural flaws. These include overlapping responsibilities, jurisdictional confusion, and a reliance on the SPCA – an under-resourced charity – to carry out much of the enforcement.

    “The effect of this enforcement gap is clear: breaches of animal welfare laws go consistently undetected and under-prosecuted,” says Rodriguez Ferrere.

    “Not only does this directly harm animals, but it weakens the deterrent effect of the law, allowing a cycle of neglect and cruelty to continue. In this way, animal welfare underenforcement frustrates the rule of law.”

    A lack of financial support for the sector has resulted in inadequate training for animal protection officers, reactive and delayed enforcement, and areas where no enforcement occurs at all.
    Our reliance on private enforcement is outdated and the biggest flaw in the system. We need a specialised animal welfare unit within the police.

    In New Zealand, three agencies – police, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) – theoretically share responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. But in reality, that enforcement falls to the MPI and the SPCA and neither of them, Rodriguez Ferrere argues, have the resources to do the job effectively.

    “The SPCA has been given the responsibility to enforce animal welfare legislation with regards to companion animals, even though police and MPI also have jurisdiction,” he says. “It’s a strange quirk of our system that we rely on a charity with limited funding to do this work. They do their best, but it’s not working.”

    He believes New Zealand should consider removing enforcement responsibilities from the SPCA, which remains one of the few charities in the world still conducting private animal welfare prosecutions. Instead, he argues that their expertise could be shifted to state-funded enforcement bodies dedicated to animal welfare.

    “The SPCA has done an amazing job, despite limited resources, but our reliance on private enforcement is outdated and the biggest flaw in the system,” he says. “We need a specialised animal welfare unit within the police.”

    Rodriguez Ferrere also sees broader issues at play, linking New Zealand’s weak enforcement to institutional speciesism. He says people prioritise the interests of their own species, while treating other animals as ‘property’.

    “The legal classification of animals as property is speciesism in action,” he says. “As long as animals are treated as commodities, their well-being is directly linked to the value they represent to their owners and society.”

    While removing the property status of animals would be too radical a shift, Rodriguez Ferrere says a more immediate and achievable step is to strengthen regulatory enforcement. A properly funded police unit focused on animal welfare, he argues, would go a long way toward ensuring the law is upheld. Such a unit operates within the city of Edmonton, Alberta, with significant success.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Healthline Diverts 83 Patients Daily from Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) Region Emergency Departments

    Source: Whakarongorau Aotearoa

    A new study by Te Pūnaha Matatini and Auckland University reveals that Healthline, operated by Whakarongorau Aotearoa, prevents approximately 83 unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits per day across the Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) region, with potential to reduce ED pressure further.
    Analysis of data from July 2019 to June 2024 demonstrates that Healthline advice has successfully diverted 14.6% of potential ED presentations, while identifying an additional 6% of current ED visits that could be managed through the telehealth service.
    “These findings confirm what we’ve always believed — that Healthline plays a crucial role in connecting New Zealanders with the right care at the right time,” says Glynis Sandland, CEO of Whakarongorau Aotearoa. “By providing 24/7 clinical advice, we’re not only making healthcare more accessible but also reducing unnecessary pressure on our emergency departments.
    “The study showed particularly strong impact in the Bay of Plenty, where Healthline prevented 29.6% of potential ED visits, followed by Lakes (23.5%) and Waikato (14.1%).
    “Every unnecessary ED presentation we prevent allows hospital clinicians to work at the top of their scope, focusing on patients who truly need emergency care,” Sandland adds. “This is about creating a more efficient healthcare system that works better for everyone — patients, whānau, and healthcare providers alike.
    “The research identified that Healthline is particularly effective at supporting younger and older individuals, Māori communities, and people from higher deprivation areas who might otherwise default to ED services due to uncertainty about care options or access barriers.
    About Whakarongorau Aotearoa: Whakarongorau Aotearoa is New Zealand’s national telehealth service provider, operating Healthline and other essential health and wellbeing support services. We connect the people of New Zealand with healthcare professionals 24/7, providing clinical advice, support, and information when and where it’s needed most.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate – Paris Agreement requires urgent action to cut pollution, not just vibes – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace is slamming climate minister Simon Watts for claims that New Zealand does not have to meet our climate targets under the Paris climate agreement.
    Farmers Weekly reported yesterday that Watts had told a group of Federated Farmers members that there was no requirement for New Zealand to meet its climate targets, saying “It’s not a liability on our books, it’s intent and there is no legal obligation in the context around that.”
    Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says “Watts is fundamentally wrong. Our climate targets are not vague ‘intentions’ built on vibes. We are facing an escalating climate crisis – a fire that is burning up our only home while our children are inside. The only appropriate action is to stop pouring fuel on the fire.
    “Regardless of what Watts may believe, New Zealand also has a legal obligation to take action to prevent the climate crisis.”
    In early February, the Government announced its updated climate target under the Paris Agreement, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC. Greenpeace and many others criticised this target for being deeply unambitious when it was announced, as the target aims for an additional 1-5% reduction in emissions between 2030 and 2035.
    “Luxon’s Government is waging a war on nature, while the climate crisis escalates,” says Larsson.
    “We already have the solutions to the climate crisis at our fingertips, and there is no reason why New Zealand couldn’t meet, and actually exceed, our climate targets with appropriate ambition from the Government.
    “What Watts has failed to realise is that the actions we take to protect our kids’ future have added benefits for our health and livelihoods. Cleaner air, safer streets, clean drinking water, swimmable rivers and more abundant wildlife.
    “We know that the biggest climate polluter in Aotearoa is the intensive dairy industry, led by Fonterra, and the tools exist to reduce emissions from intensive dairy right now. The sector’s relentless refrain that we need to wait for magic bullet technology is frankly untrue.
    “What Fonterra and lobbyists from Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ are pushing for is to be exempt from doing their part in the fight for our children’s future. This is a sector that already gets tax-free capital gains, deductible expenses and publicly-funded research. Continuing to refuse to take any climate action simply means the rest of New Zealand has to shoulder that burden, effectively subsidising the already-privileged dairy sector.
    “Quite simply, we have too many cows producing large quantities of superheating methane gas. We need to reduce herd sizes, and phase out inputs like synthetic nitrogen fertiliser which enable these oversized herds,” says Larsson.
    “Ultimately, the future of farming lies in ecological, organic, plant-based agriculture practices. The Government – and Fonterra – must support farmers to transition away from climate polluting practices towards ways of farming that work with, instead of against, nature.
    “Lobby groups like Federated Farmers are doing their members a huge disservice by delaying action. They should be supporting their farmers to shift to practices that will be more resilient to climate change impacts like droughts and floods, while also meeting the standards of our biggest customers.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment – NZDF and PSA dispute settled

    Source: PSA

    PSA members at the New Zealand Defence Force have settled their dispute after nearly 8 months of bargaining and strike action. NZDF had previously refused to budge from an offer that included no pay rises.
    This week PSA members, who are civilian workers, voted to ratify a new collective agreement which includes pay increases for every union member covered by the Collective Agreement.
    “Collective action gets results, even in the face of Government austerity and hostility towards public service workers,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. “Our members refused to be disrespected and took action. They forced NZDF and the Government to take notice and table a new offer.”
    PSA members escalated industrial action last year after NZDF offered no pay rises during negotiations for a new collective agreement.
    This triggered a rare use of powers by the Minister of Defence, approving the military undertaking the work of striking civilian workers. A settlement was agreed after two days of facilitation by the Employment Relations Authority in January and has now been ratified by union members.
    “Such a drawn-out dispute is tough for members, but the alternative was accepting no pay increase while the cost of living is still high,” said Fitzsimons. “Through their determination and resolve they’ve won recognition and respect they deserve.”
    “There is still the outstanding issue of increased funding to restore the cuts made to NZDF and to stop further civilian job losses. We call on Government to reverse cuts already made and urgently invest in our Defence Force.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – Agricultural and horticultural review presents opportunities for EPA

    Source: Environmental Protection Authority

    The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes the recommendations in the Ministry for Regulation’s Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review, which was released today.
    Working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, and the EPA, the review aimed to identify system-wide opportunities to improve timely access to agricultural and horticultural products.
    “The EPA recognises the importance that timely assessments and decisions on agrichemicals have for industry.
    “We welcome the opportunity for further improvements to the legislation, and how we operate,” says EPA Chief Executive Dr Allan Freeth.
    “We already have work underway that relates to some of the recommendations in the review.”
    We are making a raft of changes to improve our timeframes for hazardous substance applications, including:
    – bolstering our frontline by recruiting up to 11 new staff to assess applications
    – developing new group standards for low-risk hazardous substances
    – working with other agencies on amendments to the HSNO Act
    – improving communication and transparency with applicants and stakeholders.
    “We will continue to work closely with the other relevant agencies, and our stakeholders, to implement the report’s recommendations. This includes providing advice on technical and operational matters – including resourcing implications – so we are best placed to progress these improvements,” Dr Freeth says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Team behind University’s first Pacific Strategy spans the Moana

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Finance Opposition spokesperson, the Hon Pesetatamalelagi Barbara Edmonds visited her alma mater, the University of Auckland to talk with Business academics and learn more about the Pacific Strategy and Pacific Academy initiatives launching this year.

    Edmonds (Fale’ula, Faleatiu, Safotu, Fasito’o/Sāmoa) is the MP for Mana and visited the University on 24 February. She met with leaders from the School of Business, Schools and Community Engagement, and the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific.
     
    “It’s nice to be back home, it does feel like home, this is my alma mater where I did my Law and Arts degree that set me up for my career.”
     
    Edmonds says it was good to be amongst Pacific students and to have in-depth discussions focused on economic policies.
     
    “We had good discussions with the School of Business, around macro and micro economic policies that we will be testing as part of our policies that we will be forming,” she says.
     
    Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Sipaea Tiatia-Siau says drafting the University’s first Pacific Strategy in 142 years has been a huge task over the last year; having someone with the expertise and calibre of the Finance Opposition Spokesperson view the work undertaken highlights the strategy’s significance.
     
    “We’re grateful to have had the Hon Barbara Edmonds come onto campus, to be able to share with her the work we have undertaken.
     
    “She’s a great example of why drawing up a road map for Pacific success here at the University is important, so that our young people can flourish at the University and leave ready to take on the world.”
     
    Professor Tiatia-Siau says the Mana MP relished learning about initiatives to prepare school leavers for the university environment such as Auckland Maths Challenge and the Pacific Academy, ensuring Pacific youth were able to thrive.
     
    Edmonds says it was also important to encourage the Pacific community into the Business space.  She pivoted during her career path starting out in Health Sciences before graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 2008, going on to become a specialist tax lawyer.
     
    A mother of eight, her path to becoming a Cabinet Minister began eight years ago while working as a private secretary for the National Party’s Ministers of Revenue, Michael Woodhouse and Judith Collins. The following year in 2017 she was appointed as a political adviser for the Labour Government’s Revenue and Police Minister Stuart Nash. She entered Parliament in 2020 as the MP for Mana and became a Cabinet Minister in 2023, holding the Internal Affairs and Pacific Peoples portfolios.
     
    “I came into the business space through the Arts and through Law, it was a very different pathway, says the 44-year-old.
     
    “I got into the area of tax through law, it’s a good indicator of broadening [your scope]. The Humanities and the Arts are important, it means you have a good grounding for a diverse career.
     
    “I’ve been really fortunate that I had a good grounding here, with the Law School and with the Faculty of Arts, and that means decades later you become a Finance Opposition spokesperson for a major political party – don’t knock the Arts!”
     
    Professor Tiatia-Siau says Edmonds’ visit to give guidance and moral support to developing the Pacific Strategy was timely.
     
    “We are this week welcoming our first-year students and we are also on the eve of a great milestone. The presence of Pesetatamalelagi the Hon. Barbara Edmonds is a show of support for the work we are doing, and she is a wonderful role model of what can be accomplished once you have secured a university education.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Waipoua River fire update #2

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Eight helicopters, five heavy machinery and around 50 firefighters are back fighting the Waipoua River fire today.
    Incident Controller Corey Matchitt says the aim today is to keep on top of the fire from the air while establishing containment lines on the ground.
    “We did not lose any structures overnight, and we will continue to protect structures today,” he says.
    “As we work with heavy machinery to establish the containment lines, we will have iwi alongside us to identify sites of significance and ensure they are not disturbed.”
    Around 20 homes were evacuated on Wednesday night as the fire took hold. A community meeting was held with evacuees this morning.
    Corey Matchitt says crews were working as quickly as possible to get people back into their homes, but this would only be done when it was safe to do so.
    “The safety of residents and our people is at the forefront of everything we do.
    “I would like to thank those who have been evacuated for their patience and understanding.
    “It can be a very hard thing to do to leave your home when a fire is near, but doing so has meant everyone is safe. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect their homes.
    “I would also like to thank the public for staying away from the area. We need to keep these roads clear so our ground crews can get to where they need to go.”
    While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Corey Matchitt says the incident is a reminder of how quickly a fire can move in these dry conditions.
    “I would like to remind everyone across Northland that we are in a restricted fire season, so you need a permit to light an open-air fire.
    “It is important if you do have a permit to adhere to the conditions of the permit and to check it’s alright before you light at www.checkitsalright.nz.
    “This fire is an example of how things can turn really quickly if a fire does get out of control.”
    There’ll be another update later today.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –