NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sky News Regional Breakfast

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    ORTENZIA BORRE: The Regional Aviation Association of Australia is asking the government to consider regional airline operators during the sale process. Regional airlines, which are competitors to Rex, including Sharp Airlines, are concerned about the proposal where the government purchases Rex. Regional Aviation Association Chief Executive, Rob Walker says Rex has competition on 21 of its 46 routes, claiming the number of operators will reduce further if the government is subsidising the airline. And joining me live now on this and more is Regional Development Minister, Kristy McBain. Kristy, thank you for your time this morning. Now, do you share the same concern about the government stepping in to purchase the airline as the regional aviation Association does? 

    KRISTY MCBAIN: What is really important is you’ve got a government that backs regional aviation. What we’ve said from day one is that we want to see the administration process go through in its entirety. What we want to see is a private buyer come through. We’ve made sure that there are incentives in place for that to take place, including the fact that the use it or lose it process for Sydney airport slots doesn’t automatically go into recession. We’ve extended that out to 2026. Those are the things that are important to buyers. What we’ve said is we would be a buyer of last resort. We’re not stepping in now. We’re not substituting the administration process. It’s still got a way to run, and the administrator is keen to work with the private market on it. 

    BORRE: Now, ASIO boss Mike Burgess has revealed there have been multiple attempts by foreign countries to harm Australians, and that the rest of the decade could be even more dangerous. So what does the Albanese Government need to do now before the election to ensure our safety? 

    MCBAIN: What we say consistently is that we have confidence in our security and intelligence agencies. They do a fabulous job. As Mike Burgess has outlined, they’re doing this all whilst keeping Australians safe. Once a year he gives a speech about the things that are happening across our nation and across the world. Without that, Australians would be none the wiser that these things are taking place in the background. We continue to provide all the resources that our security and intelligence agencies need to do their job and keep Australians safe. What we want to make really clear is that we consider it a form of abuse for anyone to harass us, and we continually monitoring this. Harassment of Australians, individuals or businesses is not on. We have full faith that our security agencies will take the appropriate steps they need to. 

    BORRE: Now you’re in Goulburn today as part of the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund. Today, $50 million will be delivered to about 58 local governments in grants for energy upgrades. Talk us through this initiative and how it’s going to benefit Australians. 

    MCBAIN: The Community Energy Upgrade Fund is something that councils have been calling for across the country. They want some help to lower the fixed costs that they have, which in turn helps lower rates for individuals across the country. We’ve supported councils from Geelong in Victoria to Aurukun in Queensland, to the Shire of Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Projects like making community pools fully electric, making sure that there are solar panels and batteries on community libraries, fast car charging stations across our communities to encourage more people to come and visit, or to be able to use electric cars within our community. A really important fund, delivering some cost savings for councils across the country. Round two will be open very soon and we encourage councils to continue to put forward their projects and apply to this fund. 

    BORRE: Kristy McBain, always a pleasure. Thank you for your time this morning. 

    MCBAIN: Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: US backing for Pacific disinformation media course casualty of Trump aid ‘freeze’

    Pacific Media Watch

    A New Zealand-based community education provider, Dark Times Academy, has had a US Embassy grant to deliver a course teaching Pacific Islands journalists about disinformation terminated after the new Trump administration took office.

    The new US administration requested a list of course participants and to review the programme material amid controversy over a “freeze” on federal aid policies.

    The course presentation team refused and the contract was terminated by “mutual agreement” — but the eight-week Pacific workshop is going ahead anyway from next week.

    Dark Times Academy’s co-founder Mandy Henk . . . “A Bit Sus”, an evidence-based peer-reviewed series of classes on disinfiormation for Pacific media. Image: Newsroom

    “As far as I can tell, the current foreign policy priorities of the US government seem to involve terrorising the people of Gaza, annexing Canada, invading Greenland, and bullying Panama,” said Dark Times Academy co-founder Mandy Henk.

    “We felt confident that a review of our materials would not find them to be aligned with those priorities.”

    The course, called “A Bit Sus”, is an evidence-based peer-reviewed series of classes that teach key professions the skills needed to identify and counter disinformation and misinformation in their particular field.

    The classes focus on “prebunking”, lateral reading, and how technology, including generative AI, influences disinformation.

    Awarded competitive funds
     Dark Times Academy was originally awarded the funds to run the programme through a public competitive grant offered by the US Embassy in New Zealand in 2023 under the previous US administration.

    The US Embassy grant was focused on strengthening the capacity of Pacific media to identify and counter disinformation. While funded by the US, the course was to be a completely independent programme overseen by Dark Times Academy and its academic consultants.

    Co-founder Henk was preparing to deliver the education programme to a group of Pacific Island journalists and media professionals, but received a request from the US Embassy in New Zealand to review the course materials to “ensure they are in line with US foreign policy priorities”.

    Henk said she and the other course presenters refused to allow US government officials to review the course material for this purpose.

    She said the US Embassy had also requested a “list of registered participants for the online classes,” which Dark Times Academy also declined to provide as compliance would have violated the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.

    Henk said the refusal to provide the course materials for review led immediately to further discussions with the US Embassy in New Zealand that ultimately resulted in the termination of the grant “by mutual agreement”.

    However, she said Dark Times Academy would still go ahead with running the course for the Pacific Island journalists who had signed up so far, starting on February 26.

    Continuing the programme
    “The Dark Times Academy team fully intends to continue to bring the ‘A Bit Sus’ programme and other classes to the Pacific region and New Zealand, even without the support of the US government,” Henk said.

    “As noted when we first announced this course, the Pacific Islands have experienced accelerated growth in digital connectivity over the past few years thanks to new submarine cable networks and satellite technology.

    “Alongside this, the region has also seen a surge in harmful rumours and disinformation that is increasingly disrupting the ability to share accurate and truthful information across Pacific communities.

    “This course will help participants from the media recognise common tactics used by disinformation agents and support them to deploy proven educational and communications techniques.

    “By taking a skills-based approach to countering disinformation, our programme can help to spread the techniques needed to mitigate the risks posed by digital technologies,” Henk said.

    Especially valuable for journalists
    Dark Times Academy co-founder Byron Clark said the course would be especially valuable for journalists in the Pacific region given the recent shifts in global politics and the current state of the planet.

    Dark Times Academy co-founder and author Byron Clark . . . “We saw the devastating impacts of disinformation in the Pacific region during the measles outbreak in Samoa.” Image: APR

    “We saw the devastating impacts of disinformation in the Pacific region during the measles outbreak in Samoa, for example,” said Clark, author of the best-selling book Fear: New Zealand’s Underworld of Hostile Extremists.

    “With Pacific Island states bearing the brunt of climate change, as well as being caught between a geopolitical stoush between China and the West, a course like this one is timely.”

    Henk said the “A Bit Sus” programme used a “high-touch teaching model” that combined the current best evidence on how to counter disinformation with a “learner-focused pedagogy that combines discussion, activities, and a project”.

    Past classes led to the creation of the New Zealand version of the “Euphorigen Investigation” escape room, a board game, and a card game.

    These materials remain in use across New Zealand schools and community learning centres.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Households are burning plastic waste as fuel for cooking and heating in slums the world over

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bishal Bharadwaj, Adjunct Research Fellow, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University

    Poor people in vast city slums across the Global South are burning plastic to cook their food, warm their homes and boil water for hot showers.

    Waste plastic is plentiful and highly flammable. So it’s not surprising people in developing countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, are putting it to use – especially as wood is increasingly scarce.

    But burning plastic is hazardous, as it releases toxins into the surrounding air – and possibly into the food on the stove.

    We wanted to draw attention to this growing problem, which has received little attention to date despite the many potential harms.

    In our new “perspective” paper, published in Nature Cities, we explain why so many communities are using plastic as an energy source.

    We then explore further research needed and recommend ways for policymakers to tackle the issue.

    Mountains of plastic waste

    The world has produced more plastic in the past 20 years than the total previously produced since commercial production began in 1950. Roughly half a billion tonnes of plastic is now produced every year.

    Plastic production is still accelerating. Global plastic use is predicted to almost triple by 2060 due to soaring demand from a growing population with rising incomes.

    Unfortunately, most plastic is not recycled. Instead, it is discarded and ultimately ends up polluting marginal land such as flooded areas and open dumping grounds before making its way into the ocean.

    Burning plastic waste for cooking and heating is becoming increasingly common in city slums. a–f, Photographs showing the use of plastic to start a fire in Koshi Province in Nepal (a), a household heating milk by burning plastic in Madhesh province of Nepal (b) and the burning of plastic in Guwahati, India (c), in Enugu, Nigeria (d,e) and in the slums of Lahore, Pakistan (f). Credits for photographs: a, Srijana Baniya; b, Pramesh Dhungana; c, Monjit Borthakur; d,e, Chizoba Obianuju Oranu; f, Sobia Rose.
    Bharadwaj, B., Gates, T., Borthakur, M. et al. The use of plastic as a household fuel among the urban poor in the Global South. Nat Cities (2025).

    A product of energy poverty in city slums

    Increasing urbanisation is reducing access to traditional fuels such as wood and crop residue from farmland.

    But plastic is readily available. Low-income households with little or no access to gas or electricity often find themselves living alongside mountains of rubbish.

    This plastic, made from fossil fuels, represents a cheap and convenient fuel. It’s lightweight, easy to transport, and a nuisance material that people want to be rid of. Plastic is also relatively easy to dry and store, but can burn even when wet. It’s also flexible and pliable, so it can be used easily in traditional cooking arrangements such as basic stoves.

    Burning plastic releases toxins such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals into the air. These chemicals are known to cause cancer, heart disease and lung diseases.

    The more vulnerable people in the household – including women and children and those who spend more time indoors – tend to be most exposed to the fumes. But the problem also affects people in the neighbourhood and the wider community.

    Burning plastic is likely to also contaminate food. For example, eggs from farms near plastic waste incinerators in Indonesia contained hazardous chemicals from burned plastic. However, more evidence is needed around food contamination.

    Furthermore, when households burn plastic bottles and other containers, some of the original contents also burn. Given chemicals are poorly regulated, the consequences of burning plastic could be greater still.

    Overcoming the problem

    A first step to overcoming the problem is understanding the reality of those living in slums. Policy-makers need to recognise these people’s needs and the challenges they face.

    Extensive research is needed to design the most effective and inclusive policy interventions. This needs to be addressed if we are to reduce the associated health and environmental impacts on such large populations across the world.

    We have gathered a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of researchers from around 35 countries – mostly in the Global South – to better understand the problem. We recently completed a survey of people exposed to the issue such as local government employees, teachers and community workers in more than 100 cities in 26 countries.

    We are also examining the emissions from waste plastic during food preparation to determine the extent of contamination in variety of stoves.

    Nobody wants to burn plastic waste to cook food, so policies like ban on burning plastic with out contextual intervention will not work. There is a need to design inclusive policy interventions that provide equitable benefits to the wider community. For example, encouraging people to:

    • wash any plastic before it is burned, to remove chemical residues
    • use improved cookstoves that vent the fumes outside
    • expand basic urban amenities like waste management to low income settlements
    • provide support to help lift households out of poverty.

    Each approach will depend on the specific requirements of the slum settlement. But by implementing multiple approaches in parallel, we can tackle the problem more effectively.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Households are burning plastic waste as fuel for cooking and heating in slums the world over – https://theconversation.com/households-are-burning-plastic-waste-as-fuel-for-cooking-and-heating-in-slums-the-world-over-250265

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Having an x-ray to diagnose knee arthritis might make you more likely to consider potentially unnecessary surgery

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Belinda Lawford, Senior Research Fellow in Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne

    pikselstock/Shutterstock

    Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability, affecting more than two million Australians.

    Routine x-rays aren’t recommended to diagnose the condition. Instead, GPs can make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history.

    Yet nearly half of new patients with knee osteoarthritis who visit a GP in Australia are referred for imaging. Osteoarthritis imaging costs the health system A$104.7 million each year.

    Our new study shows using x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis can affect how a person thinks about their knee pain – and can prompt them to consider potentially unnecessary knee replacement surgery.

    What happens when you get osteoarthritis?

    Osteoarthritis arises from joint changes and the joint working extra hard to repair itself. It affects the entire joint, including the bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles.

    It is most common in older adults, people with a high body weight and those with a history of knee injury.

    Many people with knee osteoarthritis experience persistent pain and have difficulties with everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs.

    How is it treated?

    In 2021–22, more than 53,000 Australians had knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis.

    Hospital services for osteoarthritis, primarily driven by joint replacement surgery, cost $3.7 billion in 2020–21.

    While joint replacement surgery is often viewed as inevitable for osteoarthritis, it should only be considered for those with severe symptoms who have already tried appropriate non-surgical treatments. Surgery carries the risk of serious adverse events, such as blood clot or infection, and not everyone makes a full recovery.

    Most people with knee osteoarthritis can manage it effectively with:

    • education and self-management
    • exercise and physical activity
    • weight management (if necessary)
    • medicines for pain relief (such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

    Debunking a common misconception

    A common misconception is that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear and tear”.

    However, research shows the extent of structural changes seen in a joint on an x-ray does not reflect the level of pain or disability a person experiences, nor does it predict how symptoms will change.

    Some people with minimal joint changes have very bad symptoms, while others with more joint changes have only mild symptoms. This is why routine x-rays aren’t recommended for diagnosing knee osteoarthritis or guiding treatment decisions.

    Instead, guidelines recommend a “clinical diagnosis” based on a person’s age (being 45 years or over) and symptoms: experiencing joint pain with activity and, in the morning, having no joint-stiffness or stiffness that lasts less than 30 minutes.

    Despite this, many health professionals in Australia continue to use x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis. And many people with osteoarthritis still expect or want them.

    What did our study investigate?

    Our study aimed to find out if using x-rays to diagnose knee osteoarthritis affects a person’s beliefs about osteoarthritis management, compared to a getting a clinical diagnosis without x-rays.

    We recruited 617 people from across Australia and randomly assigned them to watch one of three videos. Each video showed a hypothetical consultation with a general practitioner about knee pain.

    People with knee osteoarthritis can have difficulties getting down stairs.
    beeboys/Shutterstock

    One group received a clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis based on age and symptoms, without being sent for an x-ray.

    The other two groups had x-rays to determine their diagnosis (the doctor showed one group their x-ray images and not the other).

    After watching their assigned video, participants completed a survey about their beliefs about osteoarthritis management.

    What did we find?

    People who received an x-ray-based diagnosis and were shown their x-ray images had a 36% higher perceived need for knee replacement surgery than those who received a clinical diagnosis (without x-ray).

    They also believed exercise and physical activity could be more harmful to their joint, were more worried about their condition worsening, and were more fearful of movement.

    Interestingly, people were slightly more satisfied with an x-ray-based diagnosis than a clinical diagnosis.

    This may reflect the common misconception that osteoarthritis is caused by “wear and tear” and an assumption that the “damage” inside the joint needs to be seen to guide treatment.

    What does this mean for people with osteoarthritis?

    Our findings show why it’s important to avoid unnecessary x-rays when diagnosing knee osteoarthritis.

    While changing clinical practice can be challenging, reducing unnecessary x-rays could help ease patient anxiety, prevent unnecessary concern about joint damage, and reduce demand for costly and potentially unnecessary joint replacement surgery.

    It could also help reduce exposure to medical radiation and lower health-care costs.

    Previous research in osteoarthritis, as well as back and shoulder pain, similarly shows that when health professionals focus on joint “wear and tear” it can make patients more anxious about their condition and concerned about damaging their joints.

    If you have knee osteoarthritis, know that routine x-rays aren’t needed for diagnosis or to determine the best treatment for you. Getting an x-ray can make you more concerned and more open to surgery. But there are a range of non-surgical options that could reduce pain, improve mobility and are less invasive.

    Belinda Lawford receives funding from Arthritis Australia, Medical Research Future Fund and Medibank. She is a Steering Committee Member of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International Rehabilitation Group, and also an Editorial Board member for Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy.

    Kim Bennell receives research funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Futures Fund as well as Medibank Private. Some of the consumer resources recommended in this article have been developed by her research team. She consults for Wolters Kluwers UptoDate knee osteoarthritis clinical guidelines

    Rana Hinman receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund and Medibank. Some of the consumer resources recommended in this article have been developed by her research team. She is also an Editorial Board member for Journal of Physiotherapy.

    Travis Samuel William Haber is a Steering Committee Member of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International Rehabilitation Group and of the Australian and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network Osteoarthritis Special Interest Group.

    – ref. Having an x-ray to diagnose knee arthritis might make you more likely to consider potentially unnecessary surgery – https://theconversation.com/having-an-x-ray-to-diagnose-knee-arthritis-might-make-you-more-likely-to-consider-potentially-unnecessary-surgery-249374

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economic growth the focus of PM’s visit to Viet Nam

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Viet Nam next week, visiting both Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, accompanied by a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders.  
    “Viet Nam is a rising star of Southeast Asia with one of the fastest growing economies in the region. This year our two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. My visit will further energise our relationships, strengthen existing trade, and open the door to more opportunities for New Zealand businesses, to grow incomes and create jobs here at home,” Mr Luxon says. 
    While in Viet Nam Mr Luxon will meet with His Excellency Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He will also call on Viet Nam’s other principal leaders to strengthen the Strategic Partnership and discuss ways of collaboration with Viet Nam. Mr Luxon will also deliver a keynote speech at the ASEAN Future Forum in Ha Noi. 
    “Our trade with Viet Nam has grown by 40 per cent in the past five years, but we know there is room for more and I am committed to reaching our ambitious two-way trade goal of US$3 billion in 2026. With over two decades of 5 per cent-plus annual economic growth and a population of more than 100 million people, Viet Nam is a market with huge opportunity for New Zealand, particularly in the areas of international education and high-quality food and beverage offerings.”
    Mr Luxon’s speech in Ha Noi comes as New Zealand also marks 50 years of dialogue relations with ASEAN. 
    “New Zealand’s future security and prosperity is linked to the success of ASEAN and its members. We are working hard to lift our cooperation and deepen the relationship with ASEAN, as we strengthen our international partnerships and leverage the opportunities they generate for Kiwi businesses.”
    Along with the business delegation, the Prime Minister will be joined by Minister of State for Trade and Investment Nicola Grigg.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointment of new ANROWS Board Chair

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Following endorsement by Commonwealth and state and territory governments, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has appointed Joan Fitzpatrick as the new Chair of their board.

    Ms Fitzpatrick has extensive business leadership experience and more than 25 years of board experience across multiple sectors, including serving as CEO and Director of the Australian Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF), and as a Director of the Create Foundation.

    Assistant Minister for Social Services and for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, said Ms Fitzpatrick’s wealth of management and board expertise will ensure ANROWS continues to conduct high-quality research integral to the development of effective, evidence-based policies that supports ending violence against women and children.

    “The quality of research conducted by ANROWS is key in implementing effective national policy to address, and ultimately end the crisis of gender-based violence, and I am confident Ms Fitzpatrick’s leadership as the new Chair will allow ANROWS to continue their vital work.”

    “Thank you to both interim Chair Mr Barry Sandison and former Chair, Her Excellency, the Honourable Ms Samantha Mostyn AO for their work towards our shared goal of ending gender-based violence in this country,” Assistant Minister Elliot said.

    ANROWS was established in 2013 as an initiative of Australia’s first National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022 (National Plan) by the Commonwealth Government and all state and territory governments of Australia.

    Since its establishment, ANROWS has demonstrated strong leadership in working to build the critical evidence base needed to inform policy and programs to support ending violence against women and children in Australia.

    CEO of ANROWS Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said “we are absolutely delighted to welcome Ms Fitzpatrick as the Chair of ANROWS. Her strength of expertise in best practice governance and her experience leading across a range of environments including nonprofit organisations, alongside her deep commitment to gender equality, make her ideally placed to guide the Board’s oversight of ANROWS and our strategic impact in the work ahead.”

    The work of ANROWS has been backed by extensive investment from the Albanese Labor Government, including $23.3 million for their National Priority Research Fund and $4.3 million in the 2024-25 Budget for building the evidence base on pathways into and out of perpetration of family, domestic and sexual violence.

    The Chairperson will be appointed for a term of three or four years and may be reappointed for a further term of up to 4 years.

    More information on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 is available on the Department of Social Services website.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family, or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

    If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au

    Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Boosting First Nations trade and investment

    Source: Minister for Trade

    The Albanese Labor Government is backing First Nations people, businesses and communities to take up new trade and investment opportunities through a new First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group.

    Growing trade and investment links for First Nations people delivers well paying, secure jobs in communities across Australia. We know that First Nations businesses who export generated over $670 million in revenue in 2022-23 and typically employed over seven times more workers than other First Nations businesses.

    The group will help First Nations businesses tap into a wide array of trade and economic opportunities, including our recently signed free trade agreement with United Arab Emirates, so that First Nations businesses can reap more of the benefits from international trade.

    By establishing this pilot Advisory Group we are delivering on our commitment to share the benefits of trade widely across our community.

    The membership includes a range of First Nations business leaders, industry groups and experts in international trade including:

    • Mr Bevan Mailman, Desert Springs Octopus
    • Mr Joshua Gilbert, Gilbert Consulting
    • Mr Cameron Costello, Costello Consultancy
    • Mr Brian Bero, First Nations Clean Energy Network
    • Ms Sharon Brindley, First Nations Bushfood and Botanical Alliance Australia
    • Mr Michael Dickerson, Gambarra Kaha
    • Ms Shannon McGuire, Kirrikin Foundation
    • Ms Leah Armstrong, First Nations Representative on the Indigenous Peoples Economic Trade and Cooperation Agreement (IPETCA)
    • Mr Leslie Delaforce, Dreamspark
    • Ms Jenny Wardrop, Supply Nation Representative
    • Ms Michelle Deshong, Deshong Consulting

    More information, including terms of reference, will be available at Advisory Group webpage.

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell:

    “Our First Nations people were our first traders, exchanging goods with Makassan seafarers from Indonesia.

    “These days First Nations businesses export a range of goods including native botanicals, art, design, cyber and clean energy solutions to the world markets.

    “We know First Nations business involved in trade create more jobs and grow faster.

    “That’s why our government is focussed on helping more First Nations businesses tap into the many opportunities provided by exporting to the world.”

    Quotes attributable to the Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy:

    “First Nations Australians are the holders of traditional knowledge and culture, and these perspectives can only benefit Australia’s international trade and investment agenda.

    “Initiatives like the First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group ensure First Nations perspectives, experiences and interests are embedded in our international economic agenda.

    “Working in partnership demonstrates the value of knowledge sharing and can deliver real, long-term economic empowerment and self-determination for First Nations Australians.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Playing favourites, inconsistency or a fair decision? Unpacking Jannik Sinner’s doping case

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Nichol, Lecturer in Law, CQUniversity Australia

    The tennis world is still reeling after news the number one ranked men’s player, Jannik Sinner, agreed to a three-month suspension issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to be served between the Australian and French Opens.

    Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam winner, received the ban after twice testing positive for clostebol, a steroid banned by the World-Anti Doping Code, in March 2024.



    Read more:
    Tennis is facing an existential crisis over doping. How will it respond?

    The fallout

    “Unintentional doping offences” – as in Sinner’s case – can attract a maximum two-year ban even if the athlete shows no fault or negligence.

    Sinner’s three-month ban was immediately criticised by many in the media and within tennis circles due to its leniency and convenient timing. It also did not result from a hearing before an anti-doping tribunal or the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as has been the case with other tennis players who have received bans in the past.

    The suspension was the product of a “case resolution agreement” (a negotiated settlement) between WADA and Sinner.

    WADA initially appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision not to suspend Sinner on the basis of demonstrating no significant fault or negligence, but withdrew its case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    Sinner argued the banned substance entered his system after a massage by a physiotherapist in his entourage who had used a cream with clostebol to treat a cut on his finger.

    Both WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted this version of events.

    In the eyes of most, WADA’s actions failed to pass the “pub test” and many high-profile tennis players voiced their concerns.

    Novak Djokovic flagged issues over the treatment of high-ranked athletes such as Sinner compared to lower-ranked players.

    For example, Chilean Nicolas Jarry was suspended for 11 months in 2020 after testing positive to ligandrol and stanozolol that he alleged were in a supplement he took.

    In 2023 Sweden’s Mikael Ymer was suspended for 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for failing to submit to three out-of-competition tests in a 12-month period.

    Great Britain’s Tara Moore took nearly two years to clear her name before an anti-doping tribunal in 2023 revealed contaminated meat had led to her positive tests for nandrolone and boldenone. Despite this decision, Moore served a 19-month ban.

    Djokovic’s view suggested favouritism for higher-ranked players, who can access top lawyers. He also criticised a lack of transparency in the Sinner agreement with WADA.

    However, high-ranked players such as Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova have received lengthy suspensions for doping violations.

    Nick Kyrgios was similarly critical, stating it was a sad day for the sport and that fairness in tennis did not exist.

    Former Spanish player Feliciano Lopez was among those who supported Sinner. He said he believed in clean sport and that Sinner had not enhanced his performance and took responsibility for the actions of his physiotherapist.

    Intentional and unintentional doping

    The criticisms appear to be based on a misunderstanding of the anti-doping provisions in the World Anti-Doping Code and the failure by WADA to clearly communicate its rationale for Sinner’s suspension.

    Rather than favouritism for a high-ranked player, WADA’s decision to suspend Sinner for three months was based on the distinction in the World Anti-Doping Code between intentional and unintentional doping. It found that Sinner:

    • had not intended to cheat using clostebol
    • received no performance-enhancing benefit from the substance
    • had no knowledge of the administration of the substance.

    But WADA argued that under the code, Sinner was responsible for the negligence of his entourage and issued the suspension.

    WADA confirmed its rationale for the three-month suspension after Spanish media pointed out that figure skater Laura Barquero had received a six-year ban for a positive test of clostebol.

    WADA differentiated the two cases based on intention. It was not convinced by Barquero’s explanation of how clostebol entered her system, while it said the evidence supported Sinner’s version of events.

    Lessons from the Sinner case

    So what can be learned from Sinner’s case?

    One of the most important legal issues arising from the Sinner case is the distinction in the anti-doping rules between intentional and unintentional doping.

    This distinction explains the difference in penalties between Sinner and other athletes.

    Also, the facts of a doping case are relevant in determining circumstances that may reduce the severity of a penalty in matters resolved by negotiated case resolution agreements.

    An important lesson for WADA is ensuring transparency in proceedings and the clear communication of the rationale used to arrive at a penalty.

    Finally, a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing may not have been needed for Sinner as the parties agreed on the facts leading to the doping rule violation.

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

    – ref. Playing favourites, inconsistency or a fair decision? Unpacking Jannik Sinner’s doping case – https://theconversation.com/playing-favourites-inconsistency-or-a-fair-decision-unpacking-jannik-sinners-doping-case-250143

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ASIO threat assessment is a dark outlook for Australia’s security. Are our laws up to the task?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Kendall, Adjunct Research Fellow, The University of Queensland

    Shutterstock

    This week, ASIO chief Mike Burgess delivered his sixth Annual Threat Assessment.

    His approach this time was unprecedented. Instead of focusing on past and present threats, Burgess declassified parts of ASIO’s assessment for the future, warning us about Australia’s security outlook to 2030.

    Over the next five years, ASIO is expecting “an unprecedented number of challenges, and an unprecedented cumulative level of potential harm”, Burgess warned. At the same time, the threat environment will become more diverse.

    Espionage and foreign interference are already at extreme levels, but are anticipated to intensify. Sabotage is expected to pose an increasing threat. Politically motivated violence and communal violence will also remain an elevated concern.

    What does this mean for our criminal laws? Are they robust enough to protect us from the growing and diversifying threat of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference? Or will they need bolstering?

    What are the threats?

    Espionage, or spying, involves the theft of information. Burgess has warned that both our enemies and our friends will seek to steal information from us.

    This includes information about our military capabilities and alliances, such as AUKUS.

    Instead of using traditional spies to gather this information, Burgess expects greater use of proxies.

    These proxies could be unwittingly involved in the espionage efforts of a foreign country – such as private investigators. Or they could know exactly what they’re doing.

    Foreign interference involves covertly shaping decision-making to the advantage of a foreign power. Burgess has warned that foreign governments are monitoring, intimidating and coercing Australians and diaspora communities, including engaging in coerced repatriations.

    He also expects that foreign interference may be used to undermine community support for AUKUS.

    Concerningly, ASIO has disrupted plots by foreign countries to physically harm (or even kill) people living in Australia. This includes activists, journalists and ordinary citizens – all critics of certain foreign governments.

    Both espionage and foreign interference will be enabled by advances in technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), deep fakes and large online pools of personal data.

    Sabotage involves deliberately destroying or damaging infrastructure.

    Russia has been engaging in diverse acts of sabotage in Europe, aiming to erode support for Ukraine and damage cohesion. These attacks include arson against various types of infrastructure (including defence and munitions facilities), jamming civil aviation GPS systems, and disrupting railways.

    While Burgess warned that the risk of similar attacks against Australia is increasing (including attacks against infrastructure arising out of AUKUS), cyber-enabled sabotage will be of more concern. At the moment, foreign governments are exploring and exploiting Australia’s critical infrastructure networks to map systems and maintain access in the future.

    As with espionage, Burgess expects criminal proxies to be used more frequently to engage in sabotage. This includes state-sponsored or state-supported terrorist groups.

    Are our laws ready to deal with this?

    With the espionage, sabotage and foreign interference threat growing and diversifying over the next five years, you’d be right to ask whether our criminal laws are robust enough to stand up to the challenge.

    For the most part, they are.

    All the laws apply to conduct that occurs “in the real world” and online. The laws also apply to any foreign country, including our friends, as well as terrorist organisations.

    In addition to foreign countries, the laws apply to conduct on behalf of a foreign country, including where the conduct is directed, funded or supervised by the foreign country or a person acting on its behalf. This means the laws would apply to proxies hired to engage in espionage or sabotage.

    Our sabotage laws are broad enough to cover the explorations of critical infrastructure networks currently being undertaken. An act of sabotage does not have to be committed to be an offence under these laws.

    Our foreign interference laws would cover coerced repatriations. While plots to harm Australians may also fall within these offences, a number of other offences also exist for harming or killing Australian citizens or residents.

    Room for improvement

    Our espionage, sabotage and foreign interference laws certainly are “world-leading”. However, there are some drawbacks.

    For example, the laws are yet to grapple with the rise of AI and its use to gather information for espionage or generate mis- or disinformation for foreign interference.

    While the laws have broad extraterritorial reach – they apply to conduct that occurs within or outside Australia – the practicalities of enforcing the laws when offenders are located overseas is a big barrier.

    But in today’s digital age where espionage, sabotage and foreign interference can be conducted online from the safety of a foreign country and therefore beyond the reach of Australia’s criminal law, we need more than a robust legal response.

    As Burgess stressed, these issues “require whole of government, whole of community, whole of society responses […] national security is truly national security: everybody’s business”.

    We all need to be aware of the risks and what we – as individuals, employees, researchers and business owners – can do to mitigate them.

    This article was written in Sarah Kendall’s personal capacity as an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Queensland School of Law. It does not reflect the views of the Queensland Law Reform Commission or the Queensland Government.

    – ref. The ASIO threat assessment is a dark outlook for Australia’s security. Are our laws up to the task? – https://theconversation.com/the-asio-threat-assessment-is-a-dark-outlook-for-australias-security-are-our-laws-up-to-the-task-250372

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Youngsters take a shine to gold phone stickers

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Customers view gold jewelry at a gold shop in Jinan, capital of East China’s Shandong province, Jan 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] 

    As gold prices rally, driven by market volatility and central bank purchases, younger Chinese consumers are finding a new way to get in on the action — through the purchase of trendy and low-cost gold phone stickers.

    These lightweight accessories, ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 grams in weight and priced anywhere from 40 yuan ($5.5) to over 100 yuan, come in a wide variety of auspicious designs and motifs, from depictions of the God of Wealth to emblems bearing lucky phrases such as “Peace and Happiness” and “Get Rich”.

    “By simply peeling off the adhesive and affixing the charm to the back of their smartphones, young consumers can instantly transform their devices into portable talismans of wealth and success,” said Wu Ming, a business owner in Shuibei, a gold jewelry manufacturing and trading hub in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

    It’s a small investment, but the impact is quite powerful, Wu said, adding that the charms allow young people to feel like they’re partaking in the gold rush, while also serving as a daily reminder of their aspirations for prosperity.

    The gold phone sticker trend has taken on a strong social media dimension, with users actively engaging with and inspiring one another. This has created a powerful viral effect, attracting more people to participate in this fashion craze.

    A search for “gold phone stickers” on the popular social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as Rednote, yielded over 5.98 million related posts, as of mid-February.

    While gold phone stickers have been around for years, it wasn’t until the end of 2024 that they turned highly popular. The key driver behind this surge is advances in manufacturing that have allowed producers to create thinner, lighter charms with a wider array of stylish designs, Wu said.

    Collaborations with popular IP and the integration of viral social media catchphrases have proved to be highly effective strategies, Wu added.

    Chinese jeweler CHJ Industry has joined forces with the iconic Japanese anime character Doraemon and popular Chinese TV drama Empresses in the Palace, to break out of their traditional mold and tap into the cultural zeitgeist driving the gold phone sticker trend.

    “The posts on Xiaohongshu all talk about how wearing these gold charms can bring you luck and prosperity,” said Yang Hongyi, a 26-year-old resident in Beijing.

    “I’m not buying them to hold as an investment — I just want a touch of gold on my phone to bring a little auspiciousness, and maybe even give one to a friend as a fun gift for the new year,” Yang said.

    Take, for example, a gold phone sticker weighing just 0.1 gram, which is being sold for about 100 yuan at least. This translates to a unit price of over 1,000 yuan per gram, while a gram of pure gold in the open market generally sells for around 700 yuan, including both the cost of the gold and a processing fee of 15 to 35 yuan.

    In the past, the primary driver for gold purchases was the metal’s perceived ability to maintain and grow in value over time, but the trend of gold phone stickers has ushered in a new era where the aspirational appeal of these accessories has taken center stage, said Li Yang, an associate professor at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

    It’s no longer just about the intrinsic value of the gold, but the social currency and cultural cachet these accessories represent, Li said.

    “A gold phone charm is just a decorative item, it has nothing to do with whether it maintains its value or not,” Yang said. “It’s like a phone case — if you don’t like it, you can just change it, and you don’t feel bad about it.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Changes to enable investment in build-to-rent housing passed into law

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The coalition Government has passed legislation to support overseas investment in the Build-to-Rent housing sector, Associate Minister of Finance Chris Bishop says.  

    “The Overseas Investment (Facilitating Build-to-Rent Developments) Amendment Bill has completed its third reading in Parliament, fulfilling another step in the Government’s plan to support an increase in New Zealand’s housing supply and get Kiwis into warm and dry homes. 

    “The changes provide a streamlined consent pathway for foreign investors looking to invest in existing Build to Rent developments.

    “This Bill addresses a key concern of BTR developers – that they need certainty they will be able to on-sell their developments. Given the size and complexity of these assets, this can be challenging when limited to the domestic market.  

    “The Build to Rent sector has real potential for growth in New Zealand. 

    “Build to Rent developments are medium-to-large scale rental properties, typically well located and often within walking distance to key transport links. The developments tend to be professionally managed, with good amenities. Often offering longer leases to tenants, they can be a popular choice for renters. 

    “They are a relatively new form of rental housing in New Zealand but are well established overseas. 

    “BTR developments are often financed and operated by institutional investors and developers (such as pension funds), as they offer long-term, stable returns. 

    “However, to date Overseas Investment Act settings have been holding back growth in the sector and made investment challenging. 

    “Under the Act, it is difficult for overseas investors to invest in existing Build to Rent assets. There are a limited number of domestic investors with the capital and expertise to run these developments, and as a result developers in New Zealand have been uncertain as to whether they would be able to sell their assets when they choose to exit their investment.

    “Under the new pathway, overseas investors will be able to apply to purchase existing Build to Rent developments with at least 20 dwellings, provided they intend to continue to lease these.   

    “These changes mean BTR developers will have confidence in their ability to eventually exit their investment, meaning they’re more likely to build in the first place.   

    “Build to Rent developments offer an opportunity to increase the supply of secure, affordable and quality rental developments, placing downward pressure on rents.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: UPDATE: SH1 blocked southbound at Dome Valley (now open)

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    UPDATE: State Highway 1 Dome Valley has reopened southbound, following an earlier crash.

    Congestion remains in both directions, so please be patient and expect delays while traffic clears.

    3:32pm

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises State Highway 1 is blocked southbound at Dome Valley due to a crash.

    Our crews are responding, however, traffic is building both southbound and northbound, and people are advised to delay their travel or consider using State Highway 16.

    People are encouraged to visit the Journey Planner website for up to date information before they travel.

    Journey Planner(external link)

    NZTA thanks everyone for their patience.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Further night closures planned for SH1 between Johnsonville and Tawa for resurfacing works

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    People travelling on State Highway 1 between Johnsonville and Tawa need to prepare for night-time closures from this Sunday, 23 February for resurfacing works.

    While originally scheduled for this week have, these works have been delayed due to rain. It means extra time is needed to complete the works on this section of the highway.

    Weather permitting, night works are planned from Sunday, 23 February until Thursday, 27 February. It will affect the highway’s northbound lanes, as well as the Takapu Road on and offramps.

    Crews will be resurfacing northbound lanes north of Johnsonville as well as the Tawa/Glenside onramp.

    Local road detours will be available via Johnsonville and Glenside along Middleton Road.

    Every effort is being made to reduce the impact of the work on the public. It is being done at night when fewer vehicles on the road. Closing the northbound lanes allows the project to be completed quicker with lower traffic management costs. It is also safer for road workers and the public.

    Drivers can expect resurfacing work on the highway to continue during March between Newlands and Tawa. An update will be provided once its timing is confirmed.

    This work on State Highway 1 is a key part of wellington’s state highway summer maintenance programme.

    On an average, more than 30,000 vehicles use the northbound lanes on State Highway 1 between Ngauranga and Porirua every day. This is why regular resurfacing and road maintenance is essential – it improves the road’s surface, making it more resilient and safer for drivers.

    Work schedule and detour maps:

    Sunday, 23 February, Monday, 24 February and Tuesday, 25 February. 9 pm – 4.30 am

    Northbound road closure between Johnsonville and Glenside. Vehicles will need to follow the detour using Johnsonville off-ramp and Glenside on-ramp

    Wednesday, 26 February. 9 pm – 4.30 am

    Northbound road closure between Glenside and Tawa. Vehicles will need to follow detour using Glenside off-ramp and Takapu road on-ramp.

    Thursday, 27 February. 9 pm – 4.30 am

    Tawa/Grenada onramp CLOSED

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 18, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,78,950.11 6.26 5.25-6.60
         I. Call Money 14,414.61 6.35 5.25-6.50
         II. Triparty Repo 4,01,857.25 6.25 6.15-6.60
         III. Market Repo 1,60,689.05 6.28 5.75-6.45
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,989.20 6.47 6.42-6.55
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 276.00 6.36 5.80-6.40
         II. Term Money@@ 216.00 – 6.45-6.70
         III. Triparty Repo 705.00 6.30 6.25-6.40
         IV. Market Repo 1,045.78 5.88 5.75-6.70
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Tue, 18/02/2025 2 Thu, 20/02/2025 71,773.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 18/02/2025 1 Wed, 19/02/2025 1,359.00 6.50
      Tue, 18/02/2025 2 Thu, 20/02/2025 0.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 18/02/2025 1 Wed, 19/02/2025 89,800.00 6.00
      Tue, 18/02/2025 2 Thu, 20/02/2025 7,559.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -24,227.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Mon, 17/02/2025 4 Fri, 21/02/2025 57,413.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 14/02/2025 49 Fri, 04/04/2025 75,003.00 6.28
      Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       9,095.71  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,91,521.71  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,67,294.71  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 18, 2025 8,97,439.46  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 21, 2025 9,12,240.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 18, 2025 71,773.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 24, 2025 -34,103.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2138 dated February 12, 2025 and Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2195

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Playing favourites, inconsistency or a fair decision? Unpacking Jannik Sinner’s doping case

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matt Nichol, Lecturer in Law, CQUniversity Australia

    The tennis world is still reeling after news the number one ranked men’s player, Jannik Sinner, agreed to a three-month suspension issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to be served between the Australian and French Opens.

    Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam winner, received the ban after twice testing positive for clostebol, a steroid banned by the World-Anti Doping Code, in March 2024.



    Read more:
    Tennis is facing an existential crisis over doping. How will it respond?

    The fallout

    “Unintentional doping offences” – as in Sinner’s case – can attract a maximum two-year ban even if the athlete shows no fault or negligence.

    Sinner’s three-month ban was immediately criticised by many in the media and within tennis circles due to its leniency and convenient timing. It also did not result from a hearing before an anti-doping tribunal or the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as has been the case with other tennis players who have received bans in the past.

    The suspension was the product of a “case resolution agreement” (a negotiated settlement) between WADA and Sinner.

    WADA initially appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision not to suspend Sinner on the basis of demonstrating no significant fault or negligence, but withdrew its case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    Sinner argued the banned substance entered his system after a massage by a physiotherapist in his entourage who had used a cream with clostebol to treat a cut on his finger.

    Both WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted this version of events.

    In the eyes of most, WADA’s actions failed to pass the “pub test” and many high-profile tennis players voiced their concerns.

    Novak Djokovic flagged issues over the treatment of high-ranked athletes such as Sinner compared to lower-ranked players.

    For example, Chilean Nicolas Jarry was suspended for 11 months in 2020 after testing positive to ligandrol and stanozolol that he alleged were in a supplement he took.

    In 2023 Sweden’s Mikael Ymer was suspended for 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for failing to submit to three out-of-competition tests in a 12-month period.

    Great Britain’s Tara Moore took nearly two years to clear her name before an anti-doping tribunal in 2023 revealed contaminated meat had led to her positive tests for nandrolone and boldenone. Despite this decision, Moore served a 19-month ban.

    Djokovic’s view suggested favouritism for higher-ranked players, who can access top lawyers. He also criticised a lack of transparency in the Sinner agreement with WADA.

    However, high-ranked players such as Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova have received lengthy suspensions for doping violations.

    Nick Kyrgios was similarly critical, stating it was a sad day for the sport and that fairness in tennis did not exist.

    Former Spanish player Feliciano Lopez was among those who supported Sinner. He said he believed in clean sport and that Sinner had not enhanced his performance and took responsibility for the actions of his physiotherapist.

    Intentional and unintentional doping

    The criticisms appear to be based on a misunderstanding of the anti-doping provisions in the World Anti-Doping Code and the failure by WADA to clearly communicate its rationale for Sinner’s suspension.

    Rather than favouritism for a high-ranked player, WADA’s decision to suspend Sinner for three months was based on the distinction in the World Anti-Doping Code between intentional and unintentional doping. It found that Sinner:

    • had not intended to cheat using clostebol
    • received no performance-enhancing benefit from the substance
    • had no knowledge of the administration of the substance.

    But WADA argued that under the code, Sinner was responsible for the negligence of his entourage and issued the suspension.

    WADA confirmed its rationale for the three-month suspension after Spanish media pointed out that figure skater Laura Barquero had received a six-year ban for a positive test of clostebol.

    WADA differentiated the two cases based on intention. It was not convinced by Barquero’s explanation of how clostebol entered her system, while it said the evidence supported Sinner’s version of events.

    Lessons from the Sinner case

    So what can be learned from Sinner’s case?

    One of the most important legal issues arising from the Sinner case is the distinction in the anti-doping rules between intentional and unintentional doping.

    This distinction explains the difference in penalties between Sinner and other athletes.

    Also, the facts of a doping case are relevant in determining circumstances that may reduce the severity of a penalty in matters resolved by negotiated case resolution agreements.

    An important lesson for WADA is ensuring transparency in proceedings and the clear communication of the rationale used to arrive at a penalty.

    Finally, a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing may not have been needed for Sinner as the parties agreed on the facts leading to the doping rule violation.

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

    – ref. Playing favourites, inconsistency or a fair decision? Unpacking Jannik Sinner’s doping case – https://theconversation.com/playing-favourites-inconsistency-or-a-fair-decision-unpacking-jannik-sinners-doping-case-250143

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    On the morning of February 19, 1945, the first wave of United States Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima — commencing 36 long, perilous days of gruesome warfare, and one of the most consequential campaigns of the Second World War.  With ruthless fervor, the Japanese struck our forces with mortars, heavy artillery, and a steady barrage of small arms fire, but they could not shake the spirit of the Marines, and American forces did not retreat.

    Five days into the conflict, six Marines ascended the island’s highest peak and hoisted Old Glory into the summit of Mount Suribachi — a triumphant moment that has stood the test of time as a lasting symbol of the grit, resolve, and unflinching courage of Marines and all of those who serve our Nation in uniform.

    After five weeks of unrelenting warfare, the island was declared secure, and our victory advanced America’s cause in the Pacific Theater — but at a staggering cost.  Of the 70,000 men assembled for the campaign, nearly 7,000 Marines and Sailors died, and 20,000 more were wounded.

    The battle was defined by massive casualties, but also acts of gallantry — 27 Marines and Sailors received the Medal of Honor for their valor during Iwo Jima.  No other single battle in our Nation’s history bears this distinction.  Eighty years later, we proudly continue to honor their heroism.

    American liberty was secured, in part, by young men who stormed the black sand shores of Iwo Jima and defeated the Japanese Imperial Army eight decades ago.  In spite of a brutal war, the United States–Japan Alliance represents the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

    Nonetheless, our victory at Iwo Jima stands as a legendary display of American might and an eternal testament to the unending love, nobility, and fortitude of America’s Greatest Generation.  To every Patriot who selflessly rose to the occasion, left behind his family and his home, and gallantly shed his blood for freedom on the battlefields at Iwo Jima, we vow to never forget your intrepid devotion — and we pledge to build a country, a culture, and a future worthy of your sacrifice.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 19, 2025, as the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.  I encourage all Americans to remember the selfless patriots of the Greatest Generation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Solar Pools and Libraries with First $50 million for bill busting upgrades

    Source: Australian Ministers for Infrastructure and Transport

    Batteries to soak up excess solar at a council childcare centre, solar panels to cut bills for the local library and the community pool going all-electric are just some of the projects the Albanese Government is backing with its $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund (CEUF).

    Today 58 local government bodies around the nation will get on with bringing down their energy bills for good, with $50 million in grants for energy upgrades going out the door.

    Whether it’s the neighbourhood sports club, the community hall, the local pool or library, local government brings us together and keeps us thriving. Each year 8 million people use community sporting infrastructure, including local councils. Now the Albanese Government is working with councils, so they can save on their bills and invest more into their communities.

    One-off grants of between $25,000 to $2.5 million have been awarded through the merit-based program, with local government providing at least 50 per cent of project costs.

    Successful funding applications include 31 upgrades to local aquatic centres and five grants for smart electric vehicle charging infrastructure for local government vehicles.

    In Melbourne, Collingwood Leisure Centre will go electric, with its air, pool and hot water system using 100% renewable energy and storage.

    In Western Sydney, council-owned early learning centres will free up funding to invest more into our next generation by cutting bills with batteries that soak up excess solar to be used across their own and other community buildings. While in Broken Hill they’ll unlock their sunny skies with the council installing solar panels over the car park and replacing gas heating with electric heat pumps.

    Meanwhile in Darwin, the Casuarina Library will be cooler this summer with an energy upgrade, while further upgrades to Parap Pool and West Lane carpark will see the council save $83,500 a year.

    In Tasmania, a local council will ensure people keep on moving, installing smart electric vehicle chargers and dynamic load management to support electrification and decarbonisation of its vehicle fleet.

    The highly popular Albanese Labor Government initiative saw Round 1 oversubscribed, with 165 applications overall for the first $50 million package of funding. Round 2 is expected to open shortly, with unsuccessful applicants from round 1 warmly encouraged to reapply.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

    “Local councils run many of the sport and public facilities that keep our communities and clubs thriving. We want facilities that Australians know and love, like cricket grounds and local pools, to be able to save on their energy bills and spend more on the things they do best.

     “The Albanese Government is not just providing short term relief on power bills, with our Community Energy Upgrades Fund and Energy Savings Package, we’re helping communities bring down bills for good.”

     Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain:

     “We’ve heard loud and clear from councils about the need to upgrade ageing facilities with more energy-efficient technology, to bring down their overheads and to lower their emissions – which is exactly why we launched the Community Energy Upgrades Fund.

     “We now have transparent grant programs that every postcode can apply for, we’ve delivered record funding increases for local roads, and we’ve brought local councils back to the table as a trusted delivery partner after a decade of neglect – with this program a real testament to what we can achieve for our communities when we work together.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson:

     “The Albanese government is investing in energy efficiency measures for community facilities because it has a triple-whammy effect of cutting emissions, cutting running costs, and allowing those savings to be used for other local services.

     “These projects are helping to deliver a cheaper, cleaner energy future for Australians.”

    BACKGROUND: 

    STATE SUCCESSFUL COUNCILS TOTAL GRANT FUNDING
    NSW

    17

    Blue Mountains City Council, Campbelltown City Council, Coolamon Shire Council, Council of the City of Broken Hill, Cowra Shire Council, Dubbo Regional Council, Inner West Council, Junee Shire Council, Ku-Ring-Gai Council, Leeton Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Northern Beaches Council, Parkes Shire Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Wagga Wagga City Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council,

    		 $15.3 million
    VICTORIA

    15

    Ballarat City Council, Banyule City Council, Cardinia Shire Council, City of Maribyrnong, Colac Otway Shire, Corangamite Shire Council, Glen Eira City Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Melbourne City Council, Merri-Bek City Council, Mildura Rural City Council, Surf Coast Shire, Wyndham City Council, Yarra City Council, Yarra Ranges Shire Council

    		 $23.9 million
    QUEENSLAND 7
    Aurukun Shire Council, Brisbane City Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Mackay Regional Council, Maranoa Regional Council, Murweh Shire Council, Paroo Shire Council    		 $4.5 million
    SOUTH AUSTRALIA

    7

    Barunga West Council, City of West Torrens, Corporation of the City of Unley, District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Rural City of Murray Bridge, The Barossa Council, The Flinders Rangers Council,

    		 $2.3 million
    WESTERN AUSTRALIA

    5

    City of Armadale, City of Melville, City of Swan, Town of East Fremantle, Town of Port Hedland

    		 $2.8 million
    TASMANIA 5
    Brighton Council, Clarence City Council, Devonport City Council,  Huon Valley Council, Launceston City Council,    		 $674,011
    NORTHERN TERRITORY 2
    Central Desert Regional Council, City Darwin    		 $580,528

    Note: This media release was originally published by the Climate and Energy portfolio: Solar pools and libraries with first $50 million for bill busting upgrades (https://minister.dcceew.gov.au)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Access for everyone: how we manage bookable spaces

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council’s Director of Community Rachel Kelleher responds to concerns about the council’s approach to venue hire of our community meeting halls and shared spaces.

    It is with huge gratitude that I acknowledge the messages of support our staff and the council has received over the past few days, regarding our response to the awful disruption of a family-friendly Pride event at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last weekend.

    It has been uplifting to see the voices of leaders throughout New Zealand also extend their support to our brave library staff and affected communities, along with the widespread public condemnation of this harmful activity.

    We are also grateful for police support, to ensure that all remaining Pride events at our venues continue to be uplifting occasions to celebrate Auckland’s rainbow communities.

    We are actively monitoring any health, safety or security risks at future events.

    Venue hire

    We have been asked questions about the use of our community venues and whether the council should apply tighter restrictions on bookings – particularly from groups like Destiny Church with strong views that not everyone shares.  

    So, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about how Auckland Council provides access to our collection of more than 100 bookable community venues across the region on the principle that they are available for anyone to hire. We are obliged to ensure everyone throughout Auckland has fair and equal access to connect and enjoy using these spaces.

    This doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of an event, or the views of participants, but rather that we must manage our venues in a neutral and non-discriminatory manner.

    It is not always easy to maintain that careful balance between providing a public service (venues for hire) and expressing our council values, including ensuring our people feel supported on our position on diversity and inclusion.

    This sometimes leads to tension, and pressure to do more in support of one community or group, over another.

    Here’s the thing.  We remain one hundred per cent committed to protecting and growing Tāmaki Makaurau’s culture of inclusivity and belonging. That’s the foundation we build our practical policies and guidelines on, and what helps us make decisions or remain focussed when dealing with difficult situations.

    When differences arise between the views of the various groups using our community venues, and there is potential for conflict or any risk to public safety, we work closely with the police and security experts to determine if activities should go ahead.

    An example of this occurred in 2023, when the council terminated venue bookings at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall in response to safety concerns from two groups with strong opposing views planning to gather on the same night.

    Consistent with our obligations as a public authority, we will continue to operate our venues on the principle that they are available to all Aucklanders, but will not hesitate to address or terminate bookings if terms are breached or safety compromised.

    With respect to the events at the events at the at Te Atatū Peninsula Library last Saturday, council is supporting the police with their investigations and has not ruled out taking further action against those individuals involved.  

    Venue hire requirements:

    • All venue hire bookings agree to comply with council’s venue hire terms and conditions. These set out the circumstances in which the council may terminate a booking and include situations where the event might breach the law or the conditions themselves or where the management or control of the event is deficient.
    • It is always the responsibility of venue hire users to ensure their events are managed safely, and to meet the terms and conditions of our venue hire policy.
    • Where we have concerns that an event may raise health and safety or security concerns we work with the organisers andrelevant agencies to ensure that these concerns are addressed ahead of the event. 
    • Our community venues are operated on the principle they are available for anyone to hire. If a booking is accepted, it doesn’t mean that we endorse the content of the event, but rather that we are obliged to manage our venues in a non-discriminatory manner.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Two Labour members’ bills drawn from ballot

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Bills by Labour MPs to remove rules around sale of alcohol on public holidays, and for Crown entities to adopt Māori names have been drawn from the Members’ Bill Ballot.

    Kieran McAnulty’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Sales on Anzac Day Morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day) Amendment Bill repeals rules that limit the sale of alcohol on public holidays.

    “The Bill will allow hospitality businesses already able to operate on these days to do so under normal conditions,” Kieran McAnulty said.

    “This will prevent the need to apply for a special licence to serve alcohol to veterans after Anzac Day services, remove any incentive to stockpile alcohol before Easter, and allow hospitality businesses to operate under normal conditions during some of the busiest and most profitable times of the year.”

    Shanan Halbert’s Enabling Crown Entities to Adopt Māori Names Bill aims to fix the issue that Crown entities often adopt names in Te Reo Māori in addition to English names, creating the impression that Māori names are optional or secondary.

    “More te reo Māori in the community is a positive reflection of where we are as a more inclusive society, and reflects te reo Māori’s status as an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand,” Shanan Halbert said.

    “It is important that public sector organisations reflect the Crown’s commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    “Recently the National Government has undermined that commitment and taken the revitalisation of te reo Māori backwards by going back to English names for Te Whatu Ora and Waka Kotahi, which are both Crown entities.”

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building climate resilience into food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

    Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

    The world’s highest concentration of rural poverty occurs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh, India and Nepal – a region that is home to 450 million people.

    Livelihoods in this part of the world rely greatly on agriculture. Opportunities to work with smallholder farmers can lay the foundations for a more productive, sustainable and diversified agricultural economy. 

    Among the research-for-development professionals on the ground is a team working on the Rupantar project, an ACIAR-supported initiative led by Dr Tamara Jackson of the University of Adelaide.

    The Rupantar project operates at a whole-of-system level. It spans both social and farming practices and extends all the way through to policy settings, market opportunities and other agrifood system barriers holding smallholders back. It also builds on prior investments by ACIAR and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

    Included in this integrated approach are considerations for climate impacts.

    This concern saw 15 team members from the Rupantar project visit the University of Adelaide and regional South Australia and Victoria in October 2024. Funded as part of a DFAT Australia Awards Fellowship program, the study tour focused on climate resilience and adaptation.

    The Rupantar project

    ‘Rupantar’ has a common meaning in Bangla, Hindi and Nepali. It means change on a level so profound that it is transformative. Launched in 2021, the Rupantar project is identifying opportunities for inclusive and diversified food production innovation. 

    Given the partnership model typical of ACIAR projects, these opportunities need to be priorities for local communities. They also need to be sustainable and to fit with longer-term climate, nutrition and available water resource projections. 

    Achieving this level of integration requires working on multiple levels at the same time. There is ground-up innovation – from personal to organisational. Then there are high-level policies that work down and can make important change on the ground.

    Our hypothesis is that an integrated approach to livelihood change – coupled with inclusive and collaborative approaches – will result in more effective and sustainable development pathways.

    Dr Tamara Jackson, 
    University of Adelaide

    ‘So, our goal is to understand the processes and practices needed to diversify food production in ways that improve farm livelihoods and reduce inequity, production risk and unsustainable resource use.’

    The on-the-ground work with smallholders is implemented at sites in West Bengal (India), Rangpur (Bangladesh) and Koshi Province (Nepal). Implementation involves actioning ‘diversification pathways’ that were co-developed collaboratively with local partners. 

    Diversification pathways

    The aim of these pathways is twofold. The first is to test diversification options and select the most appropriate crop and livestock options that are priorities for local communities. These are then implemented within existing networks and are aligned with institutional settings.

    The second aim is to monitor the changes associated with the pathways, including long-term sustainability. 

    The project is also mindful that diversification can look very different to different members within households and can include off-farm income from seasonal male migration and greater reliance on women household members.

    In all, three types of diversified systems are being explored:

      •  plant-based production, including crops and horticulture
      •  livestock-based, including chickens, goats and dairy that are especially important to women’s income
      •  irrigation-constrained systems.

    ‘The project is working on strengthening what already works about a farming system in the Eastern Gangetic Plain and building on innovations from prior projects, such as ACIAR’s introduction of conservation agriculture cropping practices,’ said Dr Jackson.

    Long-running ACIAR initiatives in the Eastern Gangetic Plains worked with smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to introduce sustainable practices and innovations to intensify production.

    The project team has spent the first 2 years on the ground running baseline surveys and mapping villages to better understand the system. 

    Implementation started in 2023 once it became clear what would work best in different settings. The visit to Australia in 2024 provided project partners with opportunities to observe what diversified and climate-resilient Australian farms look like.

    Participants included Rupantar project partners from provincial government, cooperatives, farmer producer companies, NGOs, local university partners and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. 

    Climate-smart innovation

    Dr Jay Cummins from International Agriculture for Development hosted the study tour group and developed the course that focused on addressing the climate realities in collaboration with the Rupantar project.

    The 20-day study tour was entitled ‘Supporting climate-smart, resilient food production networks in the Indo-Gangetic Plains’. 

    Key experts shared their experiences responding to climate change and on-farm visits examined how Australian agriculture builds climate resilience into its practices in different environmental and socioeconomic settings. 

    ‘Included were visits to more rainfed, dryland cropping systems in the Mallee and, in addition, to irrigated production systems in the Murray–Darling Basin,’ said Dr Cummins. 

    The Australia Awards program provided a valuable mechanism to connect the participants with a whole range of Australian organisations and professionals, which in turn will help build international networks and collaboration.

    Dr Jay Cummins 
    International Agriculture for Development 

    In the Eastern Gangetic Plain, food production can be heavily focused on wet season rice crops. In Australia, the visitors were able to explore dry season opportunities for diversified production of crops and livestock, including in mixed farming systems. They saw how Australian farmers manage risks around water scarcity and drought. At South Australian Riverland sites, discussions included irrigation and water management that present different diversification options.

    Participant perspectives

    Loxton farmer Brycen Rudiger (left)discusses the challenges of growing wheat in the Mallee region with Nepali participant Gautam Bhupal (right).

    Among the participants were Dr Deepa Roy from India, Ms Bimala Pokhrel from Nepal and Dr Mamunur Rashid from Bangladesh. 

    Dr Roy is an agricultural extension expert based at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India. She told ACIAR that smallholder farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains face numerous challenges that can lock them into poverty.

    These range from small and fragmented landholdings that make mechanisation difficult, to a lack of agronomic knowledge, limited agricultural support services, limited market access, financial constraints and climatic hazards.

    ‘Through the course several key insights and learnings emerged that may help our farmers in understanding and adopting climate resilient technologies,’ said Dr Roy.

    Key insights for participants included:

      •  assessing the carbon footprint of farming and taking action to reduce it
      •  introducing efficient soil moisture management strategies such as mulching
      •  adopting agronomic practices such as crop rotations and climate-resilient crops 
      •  building soil fertility
      •  advocating for improved climate forecasting
      •  adopting grower-led research and extension
      •  developing digital tools to monitor the adoption of innovation
      •  providing financial management training to smallholder farmers
      •  using podcasts and radio to provide farm advisory services. 

    Overall, Dr Roy said that the course equipped attendees with a holistic understanding of climate-smart practices. ‘It helped us not only to strengthen technical knowledge but also to develop critical soft skill and a deeper understanding of sustainable climate resilient farming.’

    It’s a point of view shared by Ms Pokhrel, who works with the Ministry of Industry Agriculture and Cooperatives in Koshi Province, Nepal. She said the course enriched efforts to both help farmers and policymakers with future planning. And it worked by enhancing both her professional and personal capacity.

    ‘What stood out was the extent that Australian farmers have already adopted technology to mitigate against climate change,’ said Ms Pokhrel. ‘This was particularly stark when it came to soil health and sustainable soil management practices. One of the key learnings is that we can tailor these practices for our context in the Koshi Province and, in that way, improve crop productivity by improving soil health.’

    Mr Rashid agreed. He is a research fellow at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. He noted that while ACIAR is helping to introduce conservation agriculture to Bangladesh, South Australian farmers have already adopted these soil and soil-moisture conserving practices. 

    They are also growing more legume crops for soil health and fertiliser benefits, adopting risk-aversion strategies amid climate variability, and introducing carbon farming to adapt to climate change.

    Improved water management

    Both Ms Pokhrel and Mr Rashid were especially impressed by Australian water management systems in drought-prone landscapes. They think these kinds of Australian practices have a role to play at the project sites.

    While the cost and expertise required to adopt and maintain technologies such as drip irrigation systems used in Australia may be beyond the capacity of many smallholder farmers, the study tour has already inspired a new water conservation pilot project.

    The Bangladesh team will launch ‘Conserving soil moisture through mulching technique in chili farming’ in the Rupantar project areas, focusing on farmers in northern Bangladesh, who experience frequent floods and droughts.

    The Rupantar project delegation on tour in the northern Mallee of South Australia.

    ‘This initiative aims to use soil moisture and reduce irrigation in chilli farming, aided by Chameleon soil water sensors that can support decision-making for the farmers of the Rupantar project,’ said Mr Rashid.

    Ms Pokhrel was greatly impressed by the grower-centric research, development and extension infrastructure built around farmers’ needs in Australia. For her, this was typified by organisations such as the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Almond Board.

    She thinks there are opportunities to ‘sensitise’ the different boards in Nepal to this approach. 

    Surprises for the project partners included the large size of farms given the small number of people working in agriculture. 

    What also surprised us is the rate of technology adoption by farmers, along with their dedication and the satisfaction they receive from the agricultural profession.

    Ms Bimala Pokhrel
    Nepal 

    ‘Mallee Sustainable Farming System was impressive and working with farmers groups and developing the communication material in local languages are the things that we can develop for our smallholder farmers too.’

    Finally, they praised the networking opportunities provided by the course, including with farmers, and opportunities to understand the people, country and culture. 

    ACIAR Project WAC/2020/148: ‘Transforming smallholder food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plain’

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Retail pricing, merger reform implementation and competition issues among ACCC’s 2025-26 priorities

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has stressed the positive impacts of a competitive economy for consumers as she outlined the agency’s priorities for the 2025-26 financial year.

    Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event in Sydney today, Ms Cass-Gottlieb outlined the agency’s annual compliance and enforcement priorities which include working decisively on consumer protection, promoting competitive markets, and clear and accurate pricing information for products and essential services.

    “The ACCC‘s complementary mandates support the community to participate with trust and confidence in commercial life and promote the proper functioning of Australian markets. We will continue to pursue our priorities through strong enforcement action, education to foster compliance, and advocacy for reform,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Consumers are still doing it tough, and the cost of groceries and essential services have contributed to significant cost of living stress.”

    “We will continue to work hard to protect consumers by using the full range of our tools and powers to enhance competition and fair trading, through tough and rigorous enforcement as well as targeted compliance and education initiatives.”

    Cost of living and competition issues in groceries, retail and essential services

    Ms Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC would conduct dedicated investigations and enforcement activities to address competition and consumer concerns in the supermarket and retail sector in the year ahead.

    One priority will be to address consumer and fair trading concerns, with a focus on misleading pricing practices including around surcharging.

    Another priority to address competition concerns in the supermarket and retail sector will focus on firms with market power and conduct that impacts small business or contributes to higher prices for consumers.

    “Our work will also address the potential imbalance of power more broadly between larger businesses that impose standard form contracts on one hand, and small businesses and consumers on the other as reflected in our priority on unfair contract terms in consumer and small business contracts,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Market concentration is a growing challenge across the Australian economy, not just in supermarkets and retail, but also in aviation, digital platforms, and many of our essential services.

    Australian consumers and small businesses are likely to feel the impact of any anti-competitive conduct in essential services on price, choice and quality of services. Therefore, in 2025 to 2026, the ACCC will continue to prioritise promoting competition in essential services with a focus on telecommunications, electricity, and gas.

    In addition to these cost of living measures, the ACCC will add a new priority, to address misleading surcharging practices and other add-on costs.

    “We have previously taken enforcement action against merchant surcharging that exceeds the cost of card acceptance. In the year ahead, our work will focus on increasing business compliance with the excessive card payment surcharging prohibition, and improving pricing practices to ensure all add on costs are appropriately disclosed,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Competition and merger reform contribute to a dynamic economy and lower prices

    “Greater competition in markets fuels economic dynamism and growth. This is the key principle on which Australia’s competition policy, and the ACCC’s role in enforcing it, rests.”

    “That’s why we use our tools in competition policy and consumer fair trading to achieve the best outcomes,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “When markets are not workably competitive, Australian customers, whether consumers or businesses, pay the price. When businesses compete with each other to meet consumer needs, they are incentivised to innovate and improve, to offer greater choice, lower prices and better quality products and services that deliver value for the money consumers choose to spend.”

    “Competition promotes higher growth rates, higher household incomes and a strong Australian economy. And competition contributes to a better standard of living and a better way of life.”

    Therefore, one of the enduring ACCC priorities is to address anti-competitive agreements and practices, misuse of market power and cartel conduct so that competition may be fostered at all levels of the supply chain.

    After the passing of new merger legislation, voluntary notification of mergers will begin from 1 July 2025, ahead of the new regime coming into effect from 1 January 2026.

    “We acknowledge the challenges navigating this period and are committed to working with the community during the transition,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Successfully and efficiently implementing the reform to the merger regime, promoting compliance with the new regime, and taking enforcement action, where necessary, will be a significant focus for us in the coming year.”

    In addition to these key priorities, the ACCC will continue its work on product safety, consumer and fair trading issues in the digital economy, with a focus on misleading or deceptive advertising within influencer marketing, online reviews, in-app purchases and unsafe consumer products.

    Promoting choice, compliant sales practices and removing unfair contract terms such as subscription traps in online sales, is a key focus for the ACCC.

    The focus on consumer, fair trading and competition concerns in relation to environmental claims and sustainability will also continue, with a new emphasis on greenwashing, as will a range of other priorities.

    “In the year ahead, as we progress the priorities I have outlined today, we will continue to use our full range of tools and powers available under Australia’s Competition and Consumer Act and the Australian Consumer Law, and to exercise our enforcement powers independently, in the public interest, and with integrity and professionalism,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “We will also continue, as always, to remain clear eyed in our purpose to enhance competition across our economy, to promote the welfare of consumers and small businesses and to make markets work for all Australians.”

    More information including the full list of the ACCC’s 2025-26 enforcement priorities is available at Compliance and enforcement policy and priorities.

    A summary is also available at 2025-26 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities.

    A transcript of the speech is available online.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript-Press conference, Frankston

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    JODIE BELYEA: Good morning. Jodie Belyea, the Federal MP for Dunkley here, with the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Honourable Catherine King. And we’re here today to announce a $923,000 funding initiative into the Tower Hill Road precinct in Frankston South. Each day, this one kilometre stretch of road sees over 2000 students from Overport Primary and Frankston High School come to this area to and from school. It’s very congested, sometimes unsafe, so this funding is going to ensure that people can walk, ride and drive through this area in a safe and orderly manner so that everyone gets to school easily.

    And now I’m going to hand over to the Minister to talk a bit more about the whole initiative.

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah, thanks very much, Jodie. It’s great to be here and particularly also with Councillor Brad Hill as well – it’s part of his ward. And really this project that we’re funding here, and I’ll talk a little bit about the program all up, but just over $923,000 really is the Active Transport Fund. It’s been out for competitive expressions of interest, basically expressions of application. And basically what we’ve seen with a project like this is exactly what we’ve been looking for, trying to make sure we’re making our transport to schools safer, trying to make sure that we’ve got people who are in cars can actually slow down around schools, and also really utilise the amenities in your neighbourhoods much better. So this is a great example. It’s part of $21 million we’re announcing today across the state of Victoria, out of the Active Transport Fund.

    Further south there’s a project in Phillip Island, some $980,000 there for Bass Coast Shire, particularly for Cowes. And that will really help with the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program there– we’ve done down the Esplanade, again, making it more walkable, less people, less reliant on cars. Ararat Rural Council, there’s some funding going to them there for the Ararat on the move strategy, something that that council has been working on for a while.

    This program was very highly sought after, so I do want to particularly commend the Frankston City Council and the officers, but also Brad, because he almost did a little dance before when we saw him about this project. This has been on your list for a while, Brad. Really commend the council officers. These are really important ways in which we’re actually making the neighbourhood safer, but we’re also giving people back your amenity so that you can move around. You can use your bike, you can push your pusher. If you’ve got a walker, you can walk safely in your neighbourhoods, and you don’t have to rely on your car so much. And that’s really what the Active Transport Fund is all about.

    BRAD HILL: Fantastic. Thank you. Brad Hill, local ward councillor, and I am really, happy this project now gets some traction. And, you know, it ticks all the boxes. It links the sporting precinct. It links our community centre, it links the primary school, it links Frankston High School. It links the surrounding streets right up to the end of where Moorooduc Road is, where the existing path network is. So it provides safe connectivity for all those kids walking, riding. But it’s not just about bikes. It’s not just about kids and community centres and sporting clubs. It’s also about mothers with prams. It’s also about people who can’t walk properly, uh, people who have to ride a disability scooter. So it just ticks so many boxes. And it’s clear to me this project was selected on its merits for all those reasons. So I’m really, really happy. And I thank the Minister today for the announcement.

    CATHERINE KING: You are welcome.

    JOURNALIST: Councillor, how long has this project been in the works?

    BRAD HILL: A few years now. The council has a strategy for linking together our disparate network of shared user paths. We’ve been very clear what the strategy is, and yeah, it’s a few years now, and there’s a few more to go.

    JOURNALIST: Jodie, how do you think your community is going to respond to this?

    JODIE BELYEA: They’ll be thrilled. I have lived and worked in this area for some time, and I’m a local resident in this ward, so I know how congested this gets, having seen and lived in this area. So they’ll be thrilled. Safety first. And active transport.

    BRAD HILL: Exactly. It’ll encourage people to leave their homes more than perhaps they were before. That’s what I think. Yeah.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN-UK Symposium on the Development of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered pre-recorded remarks at the launching of the ASEAN-UK Symposium on the Development of the ASEAN Creative Economy (ACE) Sustainability Framework, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his remarks, Dr. Kao emphasised the vital role of cultural and creative industries in driving economic growth and job creation. He welcomed ASEAN’s creative potential and underscored the symposium’s importance in supporting the development of the ACE Sustainability Framework as a roadmap to guide cross-sectoral collaboration towards achieving meaningful social, cultural, economic, and environmental outcomes in fostering the creative economy.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers pre-recorded remarks at the ASEAN-UK Symposium on the Development of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoffrey Brooks, Professor of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology

    Alex Cimbal/Shutterstock

    Whyalla is a proud steel town. The steelworks physically dominates the townscape, and most jobs in the town are either directly at the steelworks or heavily reliant on it.

    In recent months, however, the steelworks have lurched from one setback to another, from serious technical problems that forced shutdowns to rising debts owed to suppliers and the state government.

    On Wednesday, the South Australian government forced Whyalla steelworks into administration. To do so, it quickly passed amendments to the Whyalla Steelworks Act. Current owner GFG Alliance will no longer operate the site.

    For me, someone intimately involved in the steel industry, the news that the steelworks has been put into administration is not a shock. This has been coming for some time.

    On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a A$2.4 billion rescue package.

    A portion of this money will be used to address immediate debt issues and keep the plant afloat. But $1.9 billion has been earmarked for major, long-term infrastructure upgrades under a new owner.

    The next steps will be crucial if this vital component of Australia’s manufacturing infrastructure – and heart of the town of Whyalla – is to survive.

    How we got here

    Whyalla’s steelworks was founded by BHP and opened in 1941, originally concentrating on ship building. It later transitioned to producing structural and rail products during the 1970s and ‘80s.

    After the steel division was spun out of BHP in 2000, the steelworks operated under the OneSteel banner, which was renamed Arrium in 2012.

    The plant has been in decline for a couple of decades. Its products have had difficulty competing against overseas imports and there have been issues with the scale of production and costs.

    GFG Alliance took over Whyalla’s struggling steelworks in 2017, to great fanfare and optimism.

    GFG is led by Indian-born British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, who owns steel plants across the world. Until recently, he was a relatively unknown figure in the steel industry, but rapidly built up a steel empire after buying his first major steel plant in the UK in 2013.

    Gupta’s business practices have recently drawn close scrutiny from regulators in the UK, particularly the financing arrangements for several of his businesses. GFG’s largest lender, Greensill Capital, collapsed in 2021.

    A failure to turn things around

    Upon purchasing the plant in 2017, GFG promised to invest in upgrading the equipment and move the steelworks towards “green” steel production.

    But these investments never materialised, and the operations have continued to lose money. There have also been significant operational issues over the past year, resulting in months of no production.

    These challenges have been compounded by what appears to be poor management of key equipment in the plant, particularly the blast furnace.

    The steelworks has been beset by technical issues over the past year.
    Adwo/Shutterstock

    Keeping blast furnaces running smoothly is one most important technical issues facing any steelmaker.

    A string of recent breakdowns, resulting in major production shutdowns in 2024, does not reflect well on GFG.

    On Wednesday, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had been forced to step in, given debts of more than $300 million owed by GFG and reports workers weren’t being paid.

    Still a valuable asset

    The town of Whyalla will be watching the outcome of the state and federal governments’ rescue plan with bated breath. If it’s not to be GFG, who should be trusted with taking over and running the steelworks?

    In such times, it is worth pointing out some of the key advantages of the plant that could make it an attractive asset to prospective owners.

    Whyalla has good port facilities, a major iron ore deposit (Middleback Range) nearby, and abundant renewable energy.

    It also has an experienced and trained workforce, with established product lines that are in demand (particularly rail steel).

    Bluescope has been touted as one potential new owner. But there is also likely to be foreign interest, given the potential for linking steel production to renewable energy in Whyalla.

    Taking Whyalla into the future

    The current scale of the Whyalla steelworks, about 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel per year, is simply too small to be competitive. It is operating in a market where plants producing more than 3 million tonnes per year are common.

    The plant’s product range could be broadened and raised in value by investing in key steelmaking equipment.

    The general shift towards green production routes also presents opportunities for Whyalla. The local abundance of solar energy is likely to be a significant advantage for the plant’s future.

    However, converting from the plant from its current coal-based technology to non-coal based technology (such as hydrogen ironmaking) will take significant investment and technical skill.

    Whyalla is close to iron ore deposits in the Middleback Range.
    Adwo/Shutterstock

    Opportunities for Australia

    Could Australia simply let the steelworks shut down and import its rail steel instead?

    That would draw parallels with Australia’s car manufacturing sector, which the government ultimately allowed to collapse. But I believe this position is unlikely to attract much support.

    For one, there would be an enormous human cost to the people of Whyalla. The town of 20,000 people would be economically devastated by the plant’s closure.

    There’s also a fear such a move would further weaken Australia’s ability to generate long-term wealth. Historically, the steel industry has been an important generator of long-term jobs and national wealth.

    And it would certainly be demoralising for our manufacturing sector. Australia has plentiful ore, energy and a huge railway network. We should be able to run a sustainable steel plant specialising in rail and structural steel.

    All these challenges need investment and strong technical leadership. The decisions taken by the state and federal government in the next few months will be vital for Whyalla’s future.

    Geoffrey Brooks receives funding from the HILT CRC, ARC Steel Innovation Hub and Victorian Hydrogen Hub for fundamental research into steelmaking. The Liberty GFG company and other steel companies financially invest into these research bodies and directly support some of his steelmaking research. He is also the Chairman of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology Australian and New Zealand Chapter. This organisation organises conferences and seminars on steelmaking topics. His activity in this Chapter is on a voluntary basis.

    – ref. With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry – https://theconversation.com/with-whyalla-steelworks-forced-into-administration-australia-has-crucial-decisions-to-make-on-the-future-of-its-steel-industry-250317

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hales, Director, Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    The goal of science is to uncover truths and create new knowledge. But this is not always welcome. Increasingly, scientific findings are being attacked or downplayed. And scientists themselves face intimidation or harassment.

    In our global study of more than 2,000 scientists across six areas of science, two-fifths (41%) of respondents had, as a result of their work, been harassed or intimidated at least once over a five-year period.

    Intimidation efforts included online abuse, physical threats, and threats to budgets or employment. Harassment, while personal, could be meted out by superiors, colleagues or outsiders. Some scientists felt their leaders had thrown them under the bus to protect the institution’s reputation.

    Who’s doing the intimidation? Strikingly, a majority of cases of intimidation and harassment actually came from inside the institution for most fields. That is, it was perpetrated by senior colleagues or managers. But for climate scientists, most intimidation efforts came from outside.

    Intimidation of scientists doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In recent years, there has been a rise in populist leaders who pour scorn on “elites” and evidence. Scientific issues are increasingly politicised. Disinformation is rampant. This atmosphere adds to the pressure faced by scientists, especially those working in politically sensitive areas such as climate science or COVID.

    Harassment and intimidation can silence or isolate scientists.
    Hayk_Shalunts/Shutterstock

    What did we find?

    We used an online database of scientists to find and contact experts publishing in six fields: climate science, medical health, humanities and social science, food and plant science, astronomy, and other STEM areas.

    More than 2,000 responded to our survey on whether they had experienced various types of intimidation or harassment. We asked respondents for more detail on the perpetrators, what triggered the incident, and what effect it had on them.

    Many respondents had a clear view as to what the intimidation or harassment was meant to do. The motivations of perpetrators varied greatly. But the most common reasons were to damage their reputation, to stop them from publishing certain types of research, or to “put me in my place”.

    Specific fields of science were more prone to harassment and intimidation – in particular climate science, and humanities and social science.

    Among those scientists who had been intimidated, climate scientists reported online abuse three times more often than astronomers. Climate science is politically charged, because climate change is clearly linked to pollution from some of the world’s largest industries – oil, gas and coal. Astronomy is not. Half of the climate scientist respondents experiencing intimidation saw the bad behaviour as a way to discourage them from undertaking specific research and speaking about it.

    Researchers from humanities and social sciences faced similar levels of online abuse to climate scientists.

    When it came to personal harassment, there was a clear gender dimension. Among those who reported experiencing harassment, female scientists were more than four times more likely to report “unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature” than their male counterparts. Women were affected almost twice as much as men by non-sexual forms of personal harassment.

    Our findings follow earlier research finding similar rates of intimidation. For instance, a 2021 survey of 321 scientists working on COVID-19 found 15% had received death threats and 22% received threats of sexual violence.

    Intimidation and harassment are damaging

    The consequences of intimidation are profound and far-reaching. Many scientists told us the experience had caused lasting damage, whether to wellbeing, career prospects or research activities.

    More than 40% of those affected said their career prospects had worsened following incidents of harassment. Just over a third (34%) reported a decline in their desire to work in science. Scientists who experienced intimidation often cut back their collaboration with colleagues (35%), leaving them more isolated.

    Many of our respondents described flow-on effects such as decreased access to funding (35% of respondents) and less public communication from their institution about their work (23%).

    Scientists targeted with multiple types of harassment reported very damaging effects, from difficulty finding their next job to poor mental health.

    Intimidation slows progress

    Intimidation and harassment have a chilling effect on science. This, in turn, could hinder progress on crucial issues such as climate change, public health and technological advancements.

    The disproportionate impact on women and researchers in politically sensitive fields threatens to undermine diversity and inclusivity in science.

    Without targeted interventions, women in science may continue to suffer disproportionate levels of harassment and intimidation. This will have long-term implications for gender diversity in scientific leadership and the direction of research in various fields.

    In the United States, the Trump administration’s withdrawals from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization are likely to further embolden anti-science movements. Many American scientific institutions are engaged in anticipatory obedience of the Trump administration’s demands that diversity and anti-discrimination programs be abolished, or climate change stop being mentioned. Many even go beyond what is explicitly sought.

    Female scientists are targeted in different ways.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    What can be done?

    Science and academia is often seen as a bastion of free inquiry and open discussion. One of our most surprising findings was how common intimidation was within scientific institutions.

    The key to beating intimidation is organisational support and clear strategies, not obedience. These include:

    • genuine commitment to institutional policies protecting scientists from both internal and external intimidation

    • formal, well-resourced support systems for researchers facing harassment or pressure (not the HR office)

    • programs to increase public understanding of the scientific process to build trust and resilience to misinformation

    • boosting international collaboration between scientists and policymakers to ensure resilience against country-specific efforts to undermine science

    • educating the public on the importance of scientific independence and of fostering respectful dialogue around contentious topics.

    As populist movements gain traction in many countries, scientists working on controversial issues will face heightened scrutiny – and potentially more intimidation.

    Climate science is likely to remain a particularly contested field. As the damage wrought by climate change becomes more and more apparent, it will get even more contentious.

    Over the last few centuries, science has produced breakthroughs in many areas. But the integrity of science is not guaranteed. Harassment and intimidation from both inside and outside institutions has a very real effect on scientists.

    The future of evidence-based decision-making and ability to tackle global challenges depends on fostering an environment where scientists can work free from fear and undue pressure.

    Robert Hale receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded projects, including this one.

    Ian Lowe was president of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 2004 to 2014.

    Carolyn Troup and Georgina Murray do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution – https://theconversation.com/two-in-five-scientists-in-our-survey-reported-harassment-and-intimidation-often-the-perpetrators-are-inside-the-institution-248013

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Helping charities and strengthening communities

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Albanese Government is helping Australia’s 62,000 charities by ensuring that states and territories collaborate effectively with the federal government – reducing unnecessary paperwork.

    We’re taking the practical step of including representatives from all states and territories on the advisory board of the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission (ACNC). This will include the greatest representation from state and territory governments since the Board’s inception in 2013.

    This move builds on the substantial body of work that Labor has done to support charities, and aligns with recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s landmark Future Foundations for Giving report.

    These strategic appointments aim to ensure the diverse interests of our communities are effectively represented, fostering a consistent national approach to regulatory and policy matters within the charity sector.

    The ACNC Advisory Board supports the Commissioner by offering informed advice on matters affecting charities and strengthening the governance and effectiveness of the sector.

    The new ex‑officio appointments will provide an additional layer of regulatory expertise, complementing the sector‑based members and enhancing the Board’s role as a forum supporting charity law, policy and regulatory reform.

    The new appointments to the ACNC Advisory Board are:

    • New South Wales – Ms Natasha Mann, Commissioner of Fair Trading and Deputy Secretary of Fair Trading and Regulatory Services, Department of Customer Service
    • Northern Territory – Ms Amanda Nobbs‑Carcuro, Executive Director, Industry Capability, Licensing and Migration, Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations
    • Queensland – Ms Victoria Thompson, Deputy Director‑General, Harm Prevention and Regulation, Department of Justice
    • South Australia – Mr Brett Humphrey, Commissioner for Consumer and Business Services
    • Tasmania – Ms Robyn Pearce, Executive Director of Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, Department of Justice
    • Victoria – Ms Nicole Rich, Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, Executive Director of Regulatory Services, Department of Government Services
    • Western Australia – Ms Patricia Blake, Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety

    The ACT is already represented on the board, with David Crosbie, CEO of the Community Council for Australia, reappointed in July 2023.

    This ensures that all states and territories will be represented in the national conversation about helping charities and reconnecting communities.

    These appointments reinforce the Government’s commitment to fostering a robust, well‑regulated charity sector that serves communities across Australia. It builds on our achievements to date. Since coming into government, the Australian Government has:

    • Improved the deductible gift recipient system by creating a new pathway for community foundations to access tax deductible status.
    • Streamlined the deductible gift recipient application process for environmental organisations, harm prevention charities, cultural organisations, and overseas aid organisations.
    • Introduced legislation to give the ACNC greater discretion to comment publicly on harmful breaches of compliance, to better support public trust and confidence in the regulatory framework.
    • Appointed a widely respected charity sector expert, Sue Woodward, to head the ACNC.
    • Refreshed the ACNC Advisory Board to be more representative of the charity sector, bringing First Nations, CALD and youth voices onto the Board.
    • Sent a clear signal that charitable advocacy is supported and welcomed by this government.
    • Worked with state and territory governments to streamline and harmonise fundraising rules across jurisdictions.
    • Funded a new General Social Survey with new questions on participation in volunteering and involvement in cultural events and cultural activities, and providing insights reflecting the impact of giving, participation, and purpose driven activity.

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Charities, Dr Andrew Leigh MP

    “Labor wants to minimise the time that Australia’s great charities spend doing paperwork, so we can maximise the energy they devote to helping the vulnerable, cleaning up the environment, helping people stay active, and connecting neighbours.

    “One of the best ways of achieving this is to ensure that all jurisdictions are working together on charitable regulation.

    “Bringing sector experts and regulators from all states and territories onto the advisory board of the charities commission will help charities by reducing regulatory overlap, and ensuring jurisdictions are working together to help charities and non‑profits thrive.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Opinion piece: Strengthen charities, strengthen democracy

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    In 2015, a group of young Australians had a simple yet ambitious vision: to use hospitality to change lives. They believed that something as universal as sharing a meal could also build a stronger community.

    A decade later, that vision has made a real difference – Stepping Stone Café, located in my electorate of Fenner in the ACT, has helped over 60 migrant and refugee women to participate in meaningful work. Last April, I recognised the café as my monthly ‘community champion’ for its contribution to inclusion and opportunity, and on Australia Day 2025, its founders, Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, were named Australian of the Year Local Heroes.

    Their philosophy is simple: participation strengthens society. ‘We dream of a society where diversity is celebrated, where all people are empowered and able to live the lives that they choose,’ Hannah said upon receiving the award. By breaking bread together, newcomers and locals don’t just share food – they build community, foster belonging, and strengthen democracy itself.

    It is initiatives like Stepping Stone Café that our government seeks to support – not just because their work is virtuous, but because when charities thrive, democracy thrives.

    That’s why our focus has been strengthening the operating environment for charities and not‑for‑profits, so they can all do what they do best – serve communities. We have made significant progress and the path to a stronger sector is clearer than ever.

    When the Albanese government took office in 2022, the charities sector was facing serious challenges after the Coalition’s nine‑year war on charities. Charities were being tied in knots by outdated, inconsistent fundraising laws, spending time on compliance that could be spent helping people. They needed a government that saw them as partners, not just service providers. Across society, we saw that charitable donations were up, but fewer people were giving – a worrying trend and a long‑term risk to our culture of generosity and equality of opportunity.

    We’ve tackled this by cutting excessive paperwork, aiming to double philanthropy by 2030, and strengthening social capital through community engagement. Our reforms aren’t about just one big fix, but about laying the foundations for lasting change. Each step we have taken strengthens the path towards a more connected, generous, and fair Australia.

    A giving nation: doubling philanthropy by 2030

    Giving in Australia has been too dependent on too few people. We need to broaden the base, not just by increasing donations from existing philanthropists but by encouraging more Australians to give. We committed to doing this as a partner, working alongside businesses, non‑profits and philanthropists.

    That’s why we commissioned the Productivity Commission’s review into philanthropy, Future Foundations for Giving, released at the end of 2024, and are considering its findings. Anticipating some of the Commission’s final recommendations, we’ve taken practical steps to build a systematic culture of giving.

    In addition, since coming into government, we have introduced a new deductible gift recipient (DGR) category for community foundations to support place‑based and community‑driven giving. We have streamlined the DGR application process for environmental organisations, harm prevention charities, cultural organisations and overseas aid organisations. And we have reformed the tax deductibility of donations, including removing the $2 minimum for tax‑deductible claims to encourage small donations, such as rounding up purchases at the checkout.

    More impact, less paperwork

    For years, charities called for fundraising reform, stuck navigating outdated, inconsistent state laws designed for an era of street collections, not digital donations. A Senate committee, chaired by Catryna Bilyk, put the compliance cost at over $1 million a month – money better spent in communities.

    In February 2023, we worked with state and territory governments to introduce national fundraising principles and streamline regulations. Once fully implemented nationwide, this will mean charities can fundraise under a single, modern set of national principles, without the unnecessary paperwork that’s held them back for years.

    Our government has also acted to strengthen trust and transparency in the charity sector. We passed legislation empowering the Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission (ACNC) to publicly address harmful breaches of compliance, ensuring Australians can have confidence in the system. We appointed Sue Woodward, a highly regarded expert, as head of the ACNC to provide the sector with strong, informed leadership. And to better represent the voices charities serve, we refreshed the ACNC Advisory Board, bringing First Nations, CALD and youth perspectives to the table.

    Rebuilding social capital

    In an era of rising disconnection, the work of charities in building communities has never been more vital.

    We’re making volunteering easier and more accessible. Last year, we funded the General Social Survey to provide better data on volunteering and social cohesion, which will help charities plan their work and target beneficiaries, by providing new questions on participation in volunteering and involvement in cultural events and activities. This builds on our 2023 initiative to connect 5,000 young people with volunteering opportunities.

    To build social capital and trust, charities must have the freedom to bring people together, take action, and advocate for their interests. We have sent a clear signal that charitable advocacy is supported and welcomed by this government by removing restrictive gag clauses, ensuring charities can shape policy to suit the needs of their communities.

    Strengthening our social fabric, one step at a time

    Stepping Stone Café creates change by providing a supportive, enabling environment for refugee and migrant women. government plays a similar role. Our job is to create the conditions in which charities and not‑for‑profits can thrive, one connection and reform at a time.

    Stepping Stone Café’s impact grows meal by meal, connection by connection. We’ve taken a plethora of practical steps to create a better operating environment for not‑for‑profits – to remove barriers to fundraising, boost philanthropy and strengthen community engagement.

    Our reforms aren’t about just one big fix, but about laying the foundations for lasting change. Each step we have taken strengthens the path towards a more connected, generous, and fair Australia.

    In the year ahead, we will build on this momentum, continuing to work with the sector to unlock new opportunities for giving, volunteering, community participation, and building the 4 key pillars that the Productivity Commission inquiry identified.

    This cannot be done by government alone. We want to go far on this path, and charities, businesses, and individuals must go together with government to make giving a habit, volunteering a priority, and participation a cornerstone of our democracy.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH3 Rukuhia rebuild is flying ahead

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    From Monday 24 February, both lanes of a short section of State Highway 3 (SH3) between Rukuhia Road and Narrows Road near Hamilton airport will be rebuilt and closed to southbound traffic for approximately 4 weeks.

    The rebuild work involves digging out the existing road layers and replacing them layer by layer. The road is then surfaced, swept and line marked. 

    The work will be completed 1 lane at a time. The lane not being worked on will be open to northbound traffic at all times. A 24/7 southbound detour will be in place for light vehicles via Raynes Road and State Highway 21 Airport Road, to re-join SH3, adding approximately 7 minutes to journeys between Hamilton and Te Awamutu.  

    The intersection of SH21 Airport Road and Raynes Road will be under stop/go between 7.30am and 6.00pm each weekday. 

    Any residents travelling southbound will be required to use the detour route to travel north to access their properties. We will make sure that Rukuhia Road will remain open at all times, but it will be left turn in and left turn out only. Once 1 lane is completed, work will switch to the other lane meaning that northbound traffic will stay on SH3 at all times. 

    HPMV’s, overweight and over dimension vehicles will be stacked and allowed through the worksite with the buses, however up to 30 minute delays should be expected.  

    If you are heading to the airport to catch a flight, you may want to leave a few minutes earlier as there will be additional travel time related to this worksite as well as the works at Ōhaupō Village, which are still underway. 

    These works form part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.  

    NZTA thanks road users for their patience.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three people taken into custody on Karangahape Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Three people have been arrested following a firearms incident in Herne Bay this afternoon.

    At around 1.30pm, information was received that a man was carrying a firearm on Hamilton Road.

    A Police camera operator observed the man getting into a vehicle and tracked it travelling along Jervois Road.

    Police units conducted an armed traffic stop on Karangahape Road.

    As the traffic stop was being carried out, a passenger ran from the vehicle and attempted to get into a vehicle passing by.

    Our staff prevented this from occurring and arrested the 35-year-old man, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

    No injuries have been reported.

    Police arrested two other occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman aged 30, without incident.

    On searching the vehicle, Police have recovered a paintball gun.

    Charges are being considered for what has unfolded this afternoon.

    ENDS

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CN25 tests partner nations fifth-generation capability

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    This year’s main focus is the relationship of the U.S. Air Force, joint services, Japan Air Self Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force fifth-generation aircraft and strengthening the interoperability of allies. 

    “Cope North 25 is an opportunity for the USAF, RAAF and JASDF to integrate at a level of training that you can’t accomplish anywhere else,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Bobby Evans, 134th Fighter Squadron electronic combat pilot. “The airspace here is unrestrictive, and the amount of time we are able to spend tackling problems together is a fantastic experience.”

    CN25 marks the first year where there are F-35A Lightning IIs from all three participating nations with the U.S. Marine Corps bringing in the F-35B Lightning II. 

    The F-35A Lightning II is the coalition forces’ latest 5th generation aircraft. This specific aircraft was designed to operate with its ability to survive in a contested environment, with its advanced avionics, situational awareness, aerodynamic performance and reduced vulnerability for the United States and partner nations. 

    “The number one goal of Cope North is the integration of the F-35 tactics between the three nations, Japan, Australia and the United States,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Schuck, 3rd Wing commander. “We all use the F-35, so you would think that one airplane means that we do everything the same, but that’s an assumption we have to validate.” He went on to explain that each country operates in a unique way, which is why trilateral integration exercises such as CN25 are vital. 

    With a few days left of CN25, JASDF, RAAF, USAF and other joint nations continue to sharpen aerial warfighting integration, strengthening joint integration and partnership for a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

    MIL Security OSI –