Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Joint statement between the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom David Lammy and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul.
We condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s continued unlawful arms transfers and the reported deployment of its troops to the Russian Federation to support Russia’s unlawful war of aggression in Ukraine. Such cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is not only in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions, but also prolongs the suffering of the Ukrainian people and threatens global security, including those in the ROK and the UK, and demonstrates the desperation of the DPRK and Russia. We are committed to providing the support Ukraine requires to secure a just and lasting peace.
We are closely monitoring what Russia provides to the DPRK in return for its provision of arms and military personnel, including Russia’s possible provision of materials and technology to the DPRK in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives. We are also deeply concerned about the possibility for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to the DPRK, which would jeopardize the international non-proliferation efforts and threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the globe. We take note that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic are more closely intertwined than ever, and commit ourselves to closely monitoring the situation and actively pursuing necessary measures together with the international community to deter further unlawful, reckless and destabilising behaviour.
Source: United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
The Senator’s bill would transfer 3,060 acres of culturally significant land to the Tonto Apache Tribe
WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly introduced legislation to transfer 3,060 acres of U.S. Forest Service land to the Tonto Apache Tribe, located near Payson, Ariz., to be held in trust as part of their existing reservation.
“My legislation transferring culturally significant land to the Tonto Apache Tribe represents our continued work honoring and respecting Tribal sovereignty and protecting culturally significant land,” said Sinema.
“Transferring this land to the Tonto Apache Tribe is about respecting their history and ensuring their community has the resources to grow and thrive,” said Kelly. “This bill will give them more control over land that holds deep cultural significance, strengthening their community and their connection to their heritage.”
Sinema’s legislation supports the Tonto Apache Tribe’s proposal to expand their reservation. This land is culturally significant to the tribe and will enable them to build additional housing for community members to reside on the reservation.
Throughout her time in Congress, Sinema has worked to expand the growth and prosperity of Arizona tribal communities. While in the U.S. House, Sinema championed a La Paz County Land Transfer of 5,900 acres. In 2019, Sinema helped pass that land transfer into law. Sinema’s direct negotiations ensured passage of the Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act and the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act – two pieces of legislation increasing land rights for the Gila River Indian Community and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe – increasing economic opportunities for both tribal communities.
Sinema also secured bipartisan passage of critical land and water rights bills for tribes across Arizona, including in part the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act and the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act – legislation helping secure tribal communities’ and Arizona’s water future.
Supporters of the Tonto Apache Land Transfer Act are the Tonto National Forest, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Gila County, and the City of Payson.
Safety upgrades to the Great Eastern Highway are continuing with a $23 million contract awarded for works in the Wheatbelt Region.
The upgrades form part of the Australian and Western Australian Government’s $250 million Great Eastern Highway Upgrades, delivering improvements to various sections of the highway through the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance Regions.
Fulton Hogan received the contract to deliver three sections of road reconstructions, widenings and sealings including:
4.4km between Carrabin and Bodallin
4.6km between Nulla Nulla South Road and approximately 700m west of Liddell Road (west of Moorine Rock)
2.4km between Liddell Road and Granich Road (west of Moorine Rock)
The project also includes upgrades to the intersections of Great Eastern Highway with Smyth Road, Nulla Nulla North Road, Bin Road and Granich Road and the installation of new safety barriers, kerbs, signs and audible edge and wide centre line road markings.
The upgrades follow the completion of major works on the highway including:
Widening and sealing between Stephen Road and Noongar South Road
Realignment through the Bodallin townsite
Intersection upgrades at Penton Road, Ivey Road, Blyth Road, Bodallin South Road and Bodallin North Road
Construction of an eastbound passing lane between Bodallin and Moorine Rock
Construction of a westbound rest area between Bodallin and Moorine Rock
The works funded under the $23 million contract are expected to be completed in late 2025 with the staged upgrade program continuing along the highway until 2028.
Quotes attributed to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“Investment in the Great Eastern Highway is essential to keep communities in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields thriving.
“Our Government understands the critical importance of road transport for our freight industry and its many workers.
“From the Bass Highway in Tasmania, to the Bruce Highway in Queensland, and the Great Eastern Highway in Western Australia – we’re prioritising upgrades that keep Australians safer and the economy moving.”
Quotes attributed to WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“This $250 million joint project between the State and Australian Governments is helping to improve road safety along this critical road.
“The Great Eastern Highway is an important transport link to the eastern states, as well as for local communities in the Wheatbelt, which makes this program of work absolutely critical.
“The works are also providing a critical source of employment in these local communities, helping drive economic growth in Wheatbelt towns.
“Our Government will continue to invest in initiatives that improve the safety of our road network, make them more efficient and cut down travel times for road users.”
Quotes attributed to Senator for Western Australia Glenn Sterle:
“The Great Eastern Highway upgrades continue to deliver the improvements that will keep locals, tourists and truckies safe on our roads.
“This $23 million is part of a much larger investment across numerous programs that prove to Australian drivers that we’re invested in their safety.
“Whether it’s rest stops, guardrails, or wider bridges, we’re working with state and local governments across the country to make each drive as safe as possible.”
Quotes attributed to WA State Member for Kalgoorlie Ali Kent:
“Kalgoorlie locals and businesses use the Great Eastern Highway every day to commute to and from Perth, so it’s fantastic to see this significant investment to make the journey safer.
“These upgrades will make the trip to and from Perth easier, faster and safer for Kalgoorlie residents long into the future.”
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
22 October 2024
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Yanette Bautista was just 27 when her sister Nydia was forcibly disappeared in 1987. Three years later, Yanette found Nydia’s remains – she had been murdered by state authorities and her whereabouts concealed to her family. It was the first time she learnt about enforced disappearances, an issue that is rife in Colombia – even today – with an estimated 200,000 people disappeared between 1985 and 2016 according to the 2022 Final Report of Colombia’s Truth Commission.
Since her sister’s enforced disappearance, Yanette, now 66, has dedicated her life to supporting Colombian women to search for their loved ones without fear. She has set up her own organization, as well as spearheaded a new bill that became a law in 2024, calling for better protection for women searchers. In honour of the bill, Colombia has recently introduced International Women’s Searchers Day, which takes place on 23 October.
Here she tells her incredible story, spanning three decades…
I found my sister three years after she was taken away and disappeared. I knew it was her. She was wearing the same clothes she had on the day she disappeared. It had been a day of celebration, the day our children received their first communion. When we found Nydia, she was still wearing the same dress and a jacket I had lent her. The only thing missing was her underwear. There was no reason for her underwear to be missing. I had to beg the authorities to hand her body over. I even threatened to go on hunger strike. When they eventually agreed to give me Nydia’s body, they handed it over in a trash bag.
My sister was forcibly disappeared when I was 27. At the time, I didn’t know enforced disappearances existed. She was studying economics at university. We knew she was part of an opposition guerrilla group, M-19, that signed a peace agreement and became a legal political party a couple of years later. We thought that the worst that could happen was for her to be sent to jail by a judge for her political activities. It felt shocking to learn that we lived in a country where there was a huge lack of human rights. If you supported the opposition, you paid for it. It was a situation of desperation and confusion.
My father and I started searching together – we went to hospitals, to military brigades, to the police intelligence, the secret police and the jails to see what could have happened. It was dangerous from the beginning as I started to be threatened many times just for asking for her. Eventually I was forcibly displaced. I left my home, sent my children to live elsewhere and I moved to another location. I soon started receiving anonymous calls. On one occasion, someone said: ‘Don’t look for her, she’s fine.’ It wasn’t a comforting call, and I knew I had to continue searching.
Yanette Bautista is the founder of Nydia Erika Bautista Foundation, created to fight against impunity in enforced disappearance in Colombia.
I sought help from the Colombian NGO Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP) and we were provided with legal assistance, while the Association of Family Members of Disappeared Detainees (ASFADDES) shared advice. While I searched for my sister, I started working with other families and we eventually got in touch with Colombia’s Inspector for Human Rights – he was determined to help. He somehow found a witness who claimed to know where Nydia was. By that point I didn’t have hope we would find her alive. I’d come to realize that those searching for their loved ones, were searching for people who had been murdered.
A case was opened, and the well-known lawyer Eduardo Umaña took it on. I was told the witness was part of the Colombian military. He wanted to confess and said Nydia had been murdered and was buried in a rural town near Bogota. Together, with the inspector, forensic experts and our lawyer, we exhumed the body. I immediately knew it was her, even though she had been buried under NN (No Name).
Life changed dramatically
After Nydia disappeared, my life changed. I used to be an executive secretary for an important CEO, but it felt artificial after I started searching. I found it impossible to continue in this bubble, while people were being forcibly disappeared. That’s why I took off my heels and put on my shoes so I could start searching.
After my sister disappeared, life changed. So I took off my heels and put on my shoes so I could start searching for her.
Yanette Baustista
Even though we found Nydia’s body, we have never got the justice we deserve. The inspector for human rights sanctioned in 1995 one general and four military officials – a first in our country. However, two months later, he had to flee because he started receiving threats. During that time, I was calling for a change in law, speaking out about the military – and I was eight months pregnant. I was under constant surveillance. Eventually the four sanctioned men were set free even though it was clear it was the military committing these crimes.
By this time, it was too dangerous for me to stay in Colombia. Following a trip to Germany I just couldn’t come home. In 1997, I was forced into exile for seven years. During this time, I worked for Amnesty International, writing and researching about violence against women. I also became President of Federation of Family Members of Disappeared Persons (FEDEFAM), working with victims of forced disappeared in different countries.
Returning home
When I eventually returned to Colombia in 2007, I started my own organization. I’d met people from the Philippines, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey. We had so much collective knowledge. I wanted to empower families to search for their loved ones, so we started our organisation in my living room, with a small group of families.
Our collective, Nydia Erika Bautista Foundation, is designed for women to help one another. There’s no hierarchy. It is an exchange of knowledge. We provide legal support, document stories and advocate. We have a leadership school to empower the women searching in different parts of the country. We work in eight regions of Colombia and we are supporting 519 cases.
Our collective is mostly women – our research has revealed 95% of those searching for their loved ones are women – they’re mothers, sisters and wives. In a patriarchal society, it’s a task handed to the caregivers. But to me, we’re more than caregivers. When women start searching, we become human rights defenders – searching fearlessly, we challenge the rules of silence and oppression imposed by those who disappeared our loved ones, and we end up defending the rights of everyone.
Yanette leads a workshop with women searchers in Bogotá, Colombia.
The women who search are incredibly brave, even though there is no support from the authorities and no political will to investigate these crimes. In fact, enforced disappearance isn’t seen as a crime – it’s normalized; sometimes it’s even justified by the Colombian authorities.
Moving forward
As a collective, we want to turn our pain into rights. That’s why we wrote a law in a bid to empower women searching for the forcibly disappeared and to promote the rights of these women. It was signed into law in 2024.
However, our next task is to ensure it is implemented and becomes a reality. We have so many allies supporting us, including Amnesty International, and it is spurring us on every day.
While I have hope going forward, advocating for this law brings fear. As I continue to call for change, enforced disappearances are continuing, women searchers are suffering violence, and our funds are decreasing – making our work even tougher.
However, in my darker moments, I remember Nydia. Nydia dreamt of an army of women, who were armed with voices, not guns. I am determined to pursue her dream, so women can search without fear of suffering violence or of not having food at their family’s table, so women can search with freedom and dignity.
This piece is part of Amnesty International’s new campaign#SearchingWithoutFear, supporting women across the Americas searching for their loved ones.
Police, Coastguard and Surf Life Saving New Zealand have commenced a water and shoreline search for a missing man in Onerahi, Northland.
The 83-year-old man has not been seen since Saturday and was reported missing yesterday evening.
The man typically goes for a daily swim in the Whangārei Harbour and wears a wet suit and pink swim cap.
Police, Search and Rescue (SAR) squads from Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club, Whangārei Heads Volunteer Surf Life Saving Patrol, along with volunteers from Northland Coastguard Air Patrol and Coastguard Whangarei are involved in the search.
If you have seen anything, or have any information that could help our search, please update us online now or call 105.
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel
Reviewed: 18 November 2022, 08:21 NZDT
Still current at: 22 October 2024
Related news features
If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.
We advise New Zealanders to exercise increased caution in the Slovak Republic (level 2 of 4).
Slovak Republic
Widespread military action is underway in neighbouring Ukraine. You should not attempt to cross into Ukraine from the Slovak Republic. If you have arrived in the Slovak Republic from Ukraine and are in need of consular assistance, contact the New Zealand Embassy in Austria which is accredited to Hungary at nzviennaconsular@aon.at or on +43 1 505 3021, or phone the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 Consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20 (outside of New Zealand).
Terrorism Terrorist groups, individuals returning to Europe from areas of conflict, and individuals adhering to various forms of extremist ideologies, continue to make threats to conduct attacks across Europe. Groups adhering to various ideologies have conducted attacks in the past.
New Zealanders in the Slovak Republic are advised to keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. We recommend following any instructions issued by the local authorities and exercising vigilance in public places.
Crime Petty crime such as bag snatching, passport theft and pickpocketingoccurs and is more common in tourist areas, in larger cities and in and around transport hubs, particularly in Bratislava. Thieves often work together, sometimes involving children, and may distract victims and rob them while their attention is diverted. We advise New Zealanders to be alert to their surroundings at all times and take steps to safeguard and secure their personal belongings.
Car thefts and break-ins also occur. Do not leave belongings in view in your car, make sure it is locked and be wary of others offering help. Criminals sometimes puncture tyres when they are stopped and proceed to follow the vehicle to offer ‘help’ and then rob the target while they are distracted.
Some clubs and restaurants overcharge. Always ask to see the menu and price list before ordering drinks or food, and check your bill carefully before paying. Avoid disputes about overcharging, as they can lead to violence.
There have been incidents of drink spiking followed by robbery and assault reported in the Slovak Republic. Extra care should be taken to ensure your food and drink is never left unattended. We recommend against accepting drinks from strangers or recent acquaintances.
Civil unrest Protests and demonstrations occur on occasion in the Slovak Republic and may disrupt local public services and transport. New Zealanders are advised to avoid all demonstrations, protests and large public gatherings as even those intended as peaceful have the potential to turn violent with little warning. Follow any advice from local authorities.
General travel advice You should carry a photocopy of your passport or another form of identification at all times.
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe and can include lengthy imprisonment.
Same-sex relationships are legal but public displays of affection may be frowned upon or attract unwanted attention.
New Zealanders travelling or living in the Slovak Republic should have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
New Zealanders in the Slovak Republic are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Travel tips
The New Zealand Embassy Vienna, Austria is accredited to Slovak Republic
Street Address The ICON Vienna, Tower 24, Level 15, Suite 15.02, Wiedner Gürtel 13, 1100 Vienna, Austria Telephone +43 1 505 3021 Emailnzconsular-vienna@mfat.netWeb Sitehttp://www.mfat.govt.nz/austriaHours Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and from 1400-1600 Note Notarial Services (by appointment only): 0900-1200 Monday & Friday; 1230-1400 Wednesday
New Zealand Honorary Consulate Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Street Address Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovak Republic Telephone + 421 2 5941 8211 Emailnzconsulate-slovakia@nzconsulate.sk
Finance Ministers from the 21 APEC member economies released a joint statement at the conclusion of their meeting in Lima on Monday under the theme, “Sustainable + Digital + Resilient = APEC.”
The statement reflects the outcomes of the 2024 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting chaired by José Arista Arbildo, Peru’s Minister of Economy and Finance. It describes joint actions to be taken forward by APEC member economies in the following priority areas:
Global and Regional Economy
Sustainable Finance
Domestic Carbon Pricing and Non-pricing Measures
Sustainable Energy Transitions
Sustainable Infrastructure Financing
Open Finance to Enhance Competition and Foster Innovation
Finance Ministers also launched the Sustainable Finance Initiative for the coordination and promotion of voluntary information sharing and capacity building on sustainable finance issues. They further welcomed the adoption of the guidance document for developing a new roadmap and endorsed a strategy to modernize the Finance Ministers’ Process.
Read the accompanying annexes to the joint statement:
The Government will move to add an amendment to the Resource Management Act Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, which will restrict councils’ ability to notify freshwater plans before the gazettal of the replacement National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds say.
“The Government is taking this step to provide farmers the clarity they need around freshwater management, and to minimise inefficiencies and duplication for councils, and prevent unnecessary costs for ratepayers,” Mr McClay says.
“Labour’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (the NPS-FM) is extremely complex and expensive for farmers and councils to implement – and despite that it won’t deliver the outcomes for freshwater that New Zealanders would expect,” Mr Bishop says.
“That’s why late last year the Government legislated so that councils would have an additional three years to notify their freshwater plans and why this Government is committed to reviewing and replacing the NPS-FM.”
“Regional councils must be equipped to manage freshwater resources in a way that is efficient, effective, and aligned with the Government’s future-focused goals. This amendment ensures the primary sector has clarity over regulations and that councils don’t waste time and resources developing plans that will soon be superseded by the new NPS-FM,” Mr McClay says.
“This is about protecting the interests of the primary sector, resource users, and ratepayers. Ratepayers and farmers need certainty, and they don’t deserve to have their money wasted.
“By delaying plan notifications, we are providing certainty to farmers, that their planning efforts will be in sync with national direction.”
“Councils will still have an avenue to progress their freshwater plans in some circumstances – for example, where doing so would more quickly enable key housing or infrastructure projects to go ahead – by applying for approval from the Minister for the Environment,” Ms Simmonds says.
“We look forward to working alongside councils as we develop the replacement NPS-FM. We will have more to say about it early next year.”
ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron is welcoming the Government’s proposed amendment to the Resource Management Act that would restrict councils’ ability to notify freshwater plans prior to the replacement of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM).
“Farmers have been under real pressure from Labour’s NPS-FM and ACT has consistently argued for its full repeal,” says Mr Cameron.
“I have heard the concerns from farmers about the proposed changes to the Otago Regional Council’s freshwater rules, which are being drafted in accordance with the previous Labour Government’s policies.
“Labour’s NPS-FM is already set to be repealed. Yet some councils continue to trudge ahead with new freshwater plans, wasting ratepayer money and resources on something that will soon be redundant and have to be reworked anyway.
“The proposed amendment will stop ratepayer money being wasted and restore certainty for farmers and other resource users.
“Labour’s policy centralised control in Wellington, allowing bureaucrats to impose strict rules that don’t respect the practical realities of farming. The amorphous concept of ‘Te Mana o te Wai’, the mana of the water, was elevated above all else leading to even more restrictive red tape being imposed on farmers by regional councils.
“Concepts relating to spirituality or the meta-physical have no place in laws or regulations. Rules should be clear, reasonable and workable, but with Te Mana o te Wai having no clear meaning or environmental limits, farmers and councils were left clueless about what was required. A clear, science-based approach is needed.
“During Labour’s six years in Government, farmers faced a tsunami of red tape and costs adding unnecessary pressure on top of the day-to-day challenges of farming.
“Today’s announcement will relieve what was a significant headache for many farmers, delivering on this Government’s mandate to slash unnecessary red tape.
“ACT will continue to fight for farmers and rural New Zealand. Labour’s war on farmers is over and we’re restoring confidence so rural communities can get on with doing what they do best.”
At Janette’s new apartment complex, there are nooks in the entrance space where neighbours can gather, with lounge chairs and built-in window seats.
Janette noticed open storage spaces beneath the window seats and immediately visualised them filled with books. She thought how nice it would be for neighbours to lounge in the light-filled spaces reading or for them to borrow books to read back in their apartments.
A month on, Janette’s vision has become a reality thanks to her enterprise and with support from the local library.
“I’m an avid reader and I saw the opportunity for us to have a little library,” says Janette.
“I popped into the public library and asked if they had any old books for sale. They gave me 20 used books, but they refused to take any money for them.”
Library staff said the books were a welcome gift to their new neighbours and soon followed up with a further 10 books.
Janette is modest about her effort, saying it’s all part of being in a community.
“One of my neighbours helped me get my washing machine plumbed in, and another showed me how to work the heat pump. Organising a little library is a way that I can contribute.”
The complex is designed for ease of community building, with all customers having access to resident lounges, where they meet weekly to chat and often bring food to share.
“I’m very happy here,” says Janette. “The location is fantastic with easy access to shops and amenities, my apartment is secure, quiet and sunny, and my neighbours are great.”
An independent panel has approved resource consent, subject to conditions, to construct a mixed-use development on Peachgrove Road and Emmadale Lane, Hamilton East.
Hamilton Campground Limited applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. The project involves subdividing land for a residential housing development, hotel, gym and dairy.
The resource consent conditions are in the decision report on the page linked below.
The decision comes 167 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making. We provide procedural advice and administrative support to the panel convenor, Judge Laurie Newhook, and the expert consenting panel he appoints.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is asking people in Canterbury not to light outdoor fires over the next few days.
District Commander Dave Stackhouse says higher temperatures (26 – 30 degrees centigrade) and gusty north westerly winds are forecast for Canterbury and people need to be alert to the fire danger.
“I urge people to hold off lighting outdoor fires for the next few days while the weather is warm and windy,” he says.
“While Canterbury, north of the Rakaia River, remains in an open fire season due to overall fire danger conditions which dictate fire seasons, vegetation fires will still occur if people don’t heed the advice.
“Recently we declared a total fire ban in Canterbury under section 52 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 which stayed in place for a week.
“During this time Fire and Emergency crews responded to 23 vegetation fires. Of these incidents 78 per cent were caused by outside fires or burn offs or previous fires reigniting,” Dave Stackhouse says.
“We need people not to light outdoor fires. If you’ve already completed a burn, it is important to continue to check it as the chance of reignition is high,” he says.
“Burying embers under dirt is the right thing to do but may not extinguish the fire. If winds pick up, this can disturb the soil, pick the embers up, and carry them in the wind to into dry vegetation.
“Remember to alwaysCheck It’s Alrightfor information about open air fires.
ASSISTANT SPEAKER (TeanauTuiono): E te Atua kaha rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou, mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi mātou ki te Kīngi, me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga, kia mōhio ai, kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei, mō te oranga, te maungārongo, me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene.
[Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the welfare, peace, and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
ASSISTANT SPEAKER (TeanauTuiono): E te Atua kaha rawa, ka tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou, mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha. Ka mihi mātou ki te Kīngi, me te inoi atu mō te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga, kia mōhio ai, kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei, mō te oranga, te maungārongo, me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene.
[Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility, for the welfare, peace, and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs has even labelled it a “triple win”, for the workers, their hosts and for their home nations who receive remittances.
But beneath the surface serious questions are being asked about the safety of workers denied the right to leave their employers.
A report by the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner entitled Be Our Guests has identified signs of debt bondage, deceptive recruiting, forced labour and, in extreme cases, servitude, sexual servitude and human trafficking.
The workers hired do not have the right to change employers while in Australia, even for contracts of up to four years, except via a request from their original employer or a direction from the Department of Employment.
This means workers who abandon their employers for reasons including underpayment of wages, excessive deductions and overcharging for accommodation become absconders and lose their rights.
The NSW Modern Slavery Commissioner says there are several thousand absconded PALM workers in Australia, without access to health insurance and formal income. Among them are women with unplanned pregnancies denied antenatal care due to ineligibility for Medicare.
The Commissioner says crisis accommodation services in the NSW Riverina report having exhausted all available resources, including tents, for PALM workers who have left their employers and are sleeping rough.
Australia had 30,805 PALM workers at the end of August, one-third of them (11,420) in Queensland. Most work in farming (52%) and 39% in meat processing. The accommodation and care industries between them account for 6%.
For many of these workers, the income is life-changing. An I-Kiribati worker I interviewed recently told me she makes more money cleaning hotel rooms in Queensland than is paid to the president of her country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says between July 2018 to October 2022 PALM workers sent home a total of A$184 million, but their employers made profits of $289 million and charged them a further $74 million in rent.
Unable to switch employers, their bargaining power is weak.
An estimated 45 workers on the PALM scheme died between June 2022 and June 2023. Nineteen deaths remain under investigation.
After a Fijian abattoir worker died of a brain tumour in June, Fiji raised with Australia claims of racism, bullying, excessive workloads, unfair termination and unsafe working conditions under the program.
Minimum pay, but no right to move
Reforms introduced last year guaranteed workers a minimum of 30 hours per week and a minimum weekly take-home pay (after deductions) of $200.
But until PALM workers are able to move freely between approved employers they will remain at risk of what the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Michele O’Neil calls modern-day slavery.
O’Neil wants the government to blacklist bad employers and identify ethical ones in consultation with unions and civil society organisations. But she says until PALM workers can move, they risk being treated as disposable labour.
Many employers treat their PALM workers well, but the current design of the scheme leaves that outcome to chance, and leaves badly-treated workers trapped.
It’s time to give them the same sort of right to move between employers as the rest of us.
Matt Withers 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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elba Ramirez, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader BA International Studies, Auckland University of Technology
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), foreign language learning can seem like it’s becoming obsolete. Why invest the time and effort to learn another language when technology can do it for you?
There are now translation tools to understand song lyrics, translate websites and to enable automated captions when watching foreign videos and movies. Our phones can instantly translate spoken words.
But while technology can translate messages, it misses an important component of human communication – the cultural nuances behind the words.
So, while AI translation might bridge language barriers and promote communication because of its accessibility, it’s important to be clear about the benefits and challenges it presents. Merely relying on technology to translate between languages will ultimately lead to misunderstandings and a less rich human experience.
The rise of translation technology
Translation technology has rapidly grown since its emergence between the 1950s and 1960s. This progress was bolstered by the commercialisation of computer-assisted translation systems in the 1980s.
But recent advances in generative AI have led to significant breakthroughs in translation technologies.
Google Translate has dramatically changed since its launch in 2006. Initially developed as a limited statistical translation machine, it has evolved into a “portable interpreter”.
Translation technology may even play a role in the preservation of Indigenous and minority languages on the verge of disappearing by supporting online collections of literature. Incorporating AI-powered technology in these digital libraries can help users access and understand these texts.
But the new technology also comes with limitations.
In 2019, staff at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in the United States used AI translation to process an asylum application. The voice-translation tool was unable to understand an applicant’s regional accent or dialect, leading to the asylum seeker spending six months in detention without being able to meaningfully communicate with anyone.
In 2021, a court in the US determined Google Translate wasn’t reliable enough to ensure someone’s consent. A trooper had used the translation app to ask a Spanish-speaking suspect if he could search her car. Google Translate used the word “registrar” (which translates as “register” but can be used to say “examine”) when, in fact, the word “buscar” (to search) would have been more appropriate.
Brain health and other benefits
Learning additional languages also stands out as one of the best ways to improve ourselves, with benefits for brain health, social skills, cultural understanding, empathy and career opportunities.
An analysis of studies from 2012 to 2019 found speaking more than one language can enhance the brain’s flexibility, delay the onset of dementia, and improve cognitive health later in life. The analysis also recommended starting language learning early.
And this year, the council launched the “Language education at the heart of democracy” programme. The goal is to highlight the importance of learning language for a fairer society.
Lost in translation
In Aotearoa New Zealand, English is widely used. Te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are also recognised as official languages. Some 29% of citizens are born overseas. There are more than 150 languages spoken, with at least 24 spoken by more than 10,000 people.
But interest in learning languages has fallen. In 2021, 980 full-time equivalent students studied a language other than Māori or New Zealand Sign Language at one of the country’s eight universities, falling from 1,555 less than a decade earlier.
As a consequence, a number of universities have closed, or announced plans to close, their language programmes.
While AI-powered translation technology has its uses, a great deal can be lost if we rely solely on it to communicate. The nuances of languages, and what they say about different cultures, are difficult to communicate via translation tools.
And the benefits of being bilingual or multilingual – both personally and for the wider community – risk being lost if we don’t support second language learning.
Elba Ramirez 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.
Rotorua Police have today charged a man in relation to the death of Michael William Bennett, who was fatally shot while hunting in the Te Urewera Ranges on 1 December 2023.
Mr Bennett, aged 63, had been located deceased by a hunting companion and a personal locator beacon was activated at around 2am that day.
A 50-year-old man has been charged with careless use of a firearm causing death and recklessly discharging a firearm.
He is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court on Thursday 24 October.
Police would like to take this opportunity to again extend our condolences to Mr Bennett’s family for their loss.
“The young offenders involved in the rooftop incident at an Oranga Tamariki youth justice residence in Auckland need to know there will be consequences for their actions, Children’s Minister Karen Chhour says.
“Last night, 13 young people gained access to the roof of the Korowai Manaaki residence at about 6.30pm.
“All of them are now down and I witnessed the final two come down late this morning.
“I have been assured by Oranga Tamariki there were no demands made by the young people and no demands would have been met, as this wasn’t a negotiation.
“There is no excuse for this totally unacceptable behaviour and there will be consequences for their actions.
“I want to thank all the Oranga Tamariki staff as well as Police and Corrections, FENZ and Health NZ for their support.
“At no time did any of the young people leave the property and there were no concerns for public safety.
“The facility has done what it was supposed to do – none of these young offenders have been able to leave the premises,” Karen Chhour says.
This is the first rooftop incident at an Oranga Tamariki youth justice residence this year, compared to 15 similar incidents in 2023
It comes after significant changes had been made to the operation of the youth justice residences since the release in September last year of the Independent, External Rapid Review of Oranga Tamariki Secure Residences by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush.
That work programme included improvements designed to lift the safety and security of residences.
It also involved improving recruitment for staff, training for staff and assessment of staff.
Other aspects of the work programme have included strengthening and maintaining infrastructure including target hardening rooftop access points and installing reinforced window frames and more secure ceiling fittings.
“Work has already begun on assessing how this incident was able to happen and what else can be done to prevent them in future.”
The Albanese Labor Government is delivering more support to help small businesses prevent and recover from cyber incidents with today’s launch of the new Small Business Cyber Resilience Service.
IDCARE, the provider of the Service, will deliver free, tailored one‑on‑one assistance to help small businesses navigate cyber challenges, bolster their cyber resilience and recover from a cyber incident.
Small businesses across Australia, in both regional and metropolitan areas can access the Service by calling 1800 595 170, or by submitting a request through the online form at http://www.idcare.org/smallbusiness.
Case management support can also be accessed, including mental health support, to help small businesses bounce back after a cyber incident.
Nearly 94,000 cyber crimes were reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre in the 2022–23 financial year.
The average cost of those crimes to a small business is $46,000 with small businesses having limited ability to absorb these losses and the reputational damage they bring.
The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service is a key initiative under the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and is part of the Government’s investment of over $60 million to help small businesses uplift their cyber and digital capabilities.
This includes $23.4 million for the Cyber Wardens program which provides small businesses with free online training to help identify cyber safety practices they can implement to prevent and protect against digital threats.
The Government is also investing $7.2 million to establish a voluntary cyber health check program which will allow businesses to undertake a free, tailored self assessment of their cyber security maturity.
And the $18.6 million for the Digital Solutions program, which helps small businesses adopt digital tools and grasp the opportunities that going online offers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Julie Collins MP:
“I know how critical it is for Australia’s small businesses to have the help they need to prevent and recover from cyber incidents.
“Cyber crimes can have devastating impacts for small businesses, with the average cost of a cyber incident around $46,000.
“That’s why it’s a pleasure to launch the Albanese Labor Government’s new Small Business Cyber Resilience Service.
“Australia’s small businesses are now able to contact the service by calling 1800 595 170, or by submitting a request through the online form at http://www.idcare.org/smallbusiness when they are looking to protect themselves from a cyber incident or recovering from one.
“This is just one way our Government is helping Australia’s 2.5 million small businesses.
“The Government’s Small Business Statement outlines more than $640 million in targeted supports for small businesses to ease pressure, support small businesses to grow, and level the playing field.”
Quotes attributable to IDCARE Managing Director, Dr David Lacey:
“We are enormously grateful for this investment from the Federal Government into cyber resilience for small businesses.
“For the past 10 years, our team has been working with small businesses across the country after they’ve experienced a scam, identity theft or cyber incident.
“These are the people who have taken a risk and put their blood, sweat and tears into their idea which forms the backbone of the Australian economy.
“Being able to further assist these small businesses with their cyber resilience is vitally important and we look forward to providing tailored assistance.”
The Albanese Government has today reappointed Ms Nerida O’Loughlin PSM as a part‑time associate member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Ms O’Loughlin is the Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and has been reappointed as an ACCC associate member until 13 October 2027.
Cross appointments between the ACMA and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commenced in 2007 to help ensure a consistent approach is taken when competition and communications matters intersect.
Ms O’Loughlin commenced as Chair of the ACMA on 14 October 2017 and was previously a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Communications from 2011. Ms O’Loughlin led the Digital Television Switchover Program until 2013 and has been responsible for a diverse range of policy, program and project areas.
This reappointment will continue the high level of skills and experience available to the ACCC, to ensure that the key sectors of our economy are effectively regulated.
Ms O’Loughlin’s reappointment also continues the Government’s strong record of identifying capable women for senior public sector roles.
The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has today published his 2023/2024 Annual Report.
“In 2023/24 I completed the highest number of complaints and protected disclosures ever,” Mr Boshier says.
“I completed 6,269 complaints, eight percent more than the number completed last year and 58 percent more than the average number completed in each of the five years prior to the pandemic. I also completed 220 protected disclosures and enquiries, a 159 percent increase from the previous year.
“Both complaints and protected disclosures have been at historically high levels over the last three years, which shows that this sustained high level may be becoming the new normal.”
Mr Boshier also received 38 percent more official information complaints (2,222 complaints) related to both the Official Information Act and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act than the average number received in each of the five years prior to the pandemic.
He also received 98 percent more Ombudsmen Act (OA) complaints than the average number received in each of the five years prior to the pandemic.
The Chief Ombudsman has also made every effort to help improve good practice across government, including in his recommendations to agencies where he has considered it is needed.
“It has been a busy period in other respects as well. Over the past year I have made comment and submissions on 35 legislative, policy, or administrative proposals, provided advice to public sector agencies on 356 occasions and visited 108 places of detention.
“I also published Open for business, a report on my investigation into meeting and workshop practices of eight councils. My call for greater openness and accountability has resonated across the country with a number of councils considering and many changing their meeting policies.
“Another major report was Children in care: complaints to the Ombudsman 2019-2023, which called for the government and Oranga Tamariki to make profound changes to the way the Ministry operates.
“I also continued my community outreach and engagement work which allows me to meet people face-to-face to talk about my work and how I can help them.
“My overall goal is that people are treated fairly. I have continued to work to ensure that the public understands its rights and options, has reasonable expectations about what the public sector should provide, and understands what it can expect from me and my office.”
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Tasmania’s largest cargo port has doubled its loading capacity, supporting 500 jobs and boosting the state’s economy.
The Albanese Government provided $82 million to fully fund the new Shiploader and expanded bulk minerals export facility at the Port of Burnie, which opens today.
This is a significant investment in North-West Tasmania, strengthening supply chains, reducing operating costs and increasing freight productivity.
The project has installed a new Shiploader along with a new wharf gallery conveyor that connects the existing Bulk Minerals Export Facilitiy (BMEF) to rail and road networks for the transfer of products for export.
These upgrades enable the handling of increasing freight volumes, securing the state’s export supply chain for the future.
The old Shiploader at the Port of Burnie was built in 1969 and had been operating for well over 50 years, making a new structure vital.
The upgraded shiploader is now operational and has loaded over 40,000 tonnes of freight.
Expansion of the BMEF will be the final component of works to complete the upgrades, planning for which is well underway.
The project is creating over 140 direct and indirect jobs during construction and will support an estimated 425 ongoing jobs in related industries.
The Australian Government’s $82 million investment includes an extra $16 million from the 2024-25 Budget.
While this is fully funded by the Australian Government, it is the culmination of many years of hard work and strong collaboration with TasRail.
It is one of a number of projects that the Australian Government and TasRail have worked effectively on in recent times.
Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“Replacing aging infrastructure at the Port of Burnie will dramatically boost ship loading rates, creating jobs across Tasmania.
“The vital upgrades will make port operations more reliable and cost effective, securing the State’s minerals export supply chain.
“Investments like these deliver on our commitment to building strong and sustainable regions through support for local industries.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart:
“Today’s official opening of the Shiploader is testament to the importance of collaboration, with this opening marking the culmination of many years of hard work and strong collaboration between TasRail and the Australian Government.”
“This project will see Tasmania’s largest cargo port doubling its loading capacity in a major boost for the State’s economy, thanks to the Australian Government that fully funded the $82 million project.”
Quotes attributable to TasRail CEO Steven Dietrich:
“TasRail is proud to have facilitated this project for the Tasmanian mining industry. Our facility at the Port of Burnie has been the primary export gateway for many of the West Coast mines for more than 50 years.
“In the last financial year, TasRail shiploaded 575,047 thousand tonnes of concentrate for export.
“Our new shiploader provides certainty to TasRail’s existing customers and will help to attract investment into new mining projects in Tasmania.
“We thank the Australian Government for its on-going support for rail infrastructure in Tasmania and all of the contractors and stakeholders who have helped to ensure the project’s success.”
E tū members will join the wider union movement and our community allies at the ‘Fight Back Together – Maranga Ake’ hui happening nationwide tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October 2024.
E tū is the biggest private sector union in Aotearoa New Zealand, covering a huge variety of workers including in aviation, communications, community support services, manufacturing, food, engineering, infrastructure, extractions, property services, and in many other industries.
E tū National Secretary, Rachel Mackintosh, says E tū members will be out in force.
“The hui are one part of the union movement’s mobilisation in the face of attacks from a shockingly anti-worker coalition Government,” Rachel says.
“The Government has already cancelled Fair Pay Agreements, re-introduced 90-day ‘fire at will’ trials for all workplaces, and increased the minimum wage below the inflation rate – effectively giving Aotearoa’s lowest paid workers a pay cut during a cost-of-living crisis.
“They aren’t stopping there. The Government has plans to remove the rights of workers to challenge their status as contractors, robbing them of an important legal protection. We’re deeply concerned about their proposals to meddle with health and safety legislation. They have deprioritised pay equity. We’re calling on the Government to reverse their dangerous agenda in workplace relations.”
Rachel says E tū members are troubled by the Government’s actions and plans beyond workplace relations as well.
“Luxon’s Government is overseeing a deliberate weakening of our public services, particularly in healthcare. They are stoking upsetting divisions in our society with their attacks on te Tiriti and te ao Māori. They have mucked up our social housing programme and cancelled modern transport solutions. It’s a Government of profits for rich mates ahead of people and the environment. Workers are angry, and they have every reason to be.
“We have a vision for something better for working people in Aotearoa. This can be a place where we have decent work, good social and physical infrastructure to support communities, justice under Te Tiriti, an end to inequality and hope for the future.”
Rachel says tomorrow will be a landmark event for E tū and the wider union movement’s activities to demand better for all, not just for a few.
“This isn’t the start, nor the end, of our campaign to protect workers and our communities from the harms of bad political leadership. However the hui will be a significant milestone, and I am proud that E tū members’ voices will join the chorus tomorrow and beyond.”
Work has begun on one of the last recovery projects in the White Pine Bush area on State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa.
Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, have been working to restore access through the area after Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage to the road and numerous sites alongside it.
Tangoio Falls Reserve Underslip – Active
Crews have started work just south of White Pine Bush above Tangoio Falls Reserve.
There, Cyclone Gabrielle damaged two retaining walls on the steep slope: a small timber crib wall and a mortared rock wall. During the next few weeks, crews will be stabilising sections of the retaining walls with ground anchors and shotcrete.
Much of this work will be done by workers abseiling, using the guardrails to abseil down to the site beneath the road. This site will be down to a single lane under a short stop/go until the work is finished, with the aim to have it back to two lanes for this Christmas.
White Pine Bush Underslip – Active
Crews have been working at a large retaining wall job since March this year. This new wall consists of 220 ground anchors and will be sprayed with concrete once testing is completed. This is expected to be finished before Christmas this year.
Watch this video for more information about this site:
White Pine Bush North – Complete
Two-lane access was recently restored at another site, just north of the White Pine Bush carpark entrance.
There, Cyclone Gabrielle floodwaters had scoured away the ground under the road shoulder, undermining the outside lane. The repair was a retaining wall and rock rip rap to stabilise the ground.
With the site down to one lane while the repair was underway, TREC took the opportunity to work at nights to speed up delivery.
The local contractors all had the capacity and people to work both day and night shifts. From start to finish, the wall was built in a month, halving the expected timeframe.
TREC Hawke’s Bay Project Manager Chris Mahoney says work through the White Pine Bush section means this stretch of road is still down to one-lane.
“We know it’s frustrating seeing those traffic lights, and having to wait. We know it’s been a frustrating time on this stretch of road since the cyclone and we want to reassure people we are working to restore two-lane access as quickly as possible through this area of State Highway 2.
“It’s a priority to ensure disruption is minimised for vital sectors like farming, horticulture and tourism, to connect with local and export markets.
“We are grateful to communities for their support, crews for their hard work and road users for their understanding. We know it hasn’t been easy with so many worksites in operation and we do want to reiterate our thanks to people for their patience,” says Mr Mahoney.
Attached is a map of the worksites at White Pine Bush, Tangoio Falls Reserve Underslip infographic and a before and after of the repair at White Pine Bush North.
An independent panel has approved resource consent, subject to conditions, for the Ōtaki Māori Racecourse housing development.
Ōtaki Revisited Limited applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020.
The project includes subdividing approximately 59.8 hectares of land to construct a housing development at 143 Rahui Road and 49 Te Roto Road in Ōtaki.
The resource consent conditions are in the decision report on the page linked below.
The decision comes 155 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
The Environmental Protection Authority is not involved in the decision-making. We provide procedural advice and administrative support to the panel convenor, Judge Laurie Newhook, and the expert consenting panel he appoints.
Greenpeace says the Government’s move to remove local government power to protect fresh water is an underhanded overreach that undermines democracy and puts vital fresh water at risk.
The Government has signalled that it will introduce an amendment to the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to prevent local councils from notifying their freshwater plans until the Government replaces the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management.
Greenpeace spokesperson Sinead Deighton-O’Flynn says, “The anti-nature Luxon Government is stripping control from local and district councils who want to protect lakes, rivers, and drinking water for generations to come.
“Christopher Luxon’s government has declared war on nature, but that should not stop responsible local governments from putting in place their own protections to safeguard their constituents’ access to safe, healthy drinking water.
“Rural communities are suffering the consequences of nitrate-contaminated drinking water, lakes and rivers across Aotearoa are unswimmable, and the state of freshwater is getting worse. We need more protection of fresh water, not less,” says Deighton-O’Flynn.
“We know that everyone, no matter where they live or who they voted for, wants and deserves access to safe, healthy drinking water, but right now, central government is stripping away the rules that ensure drinking water quality through this bill – and now they’ve gone one step further.
“It’s clear that this amendment is a reaction to regional and district councils pushing for more effective freshwater policies rather than bowing down to Luxon’s push to strip back water protections.”
The Otago Regional Council has been in the news recently over criticism from Luxon’s government due to plans to continue with notifying their freshwater plan, with farming industry lobby group Federated Farmers calling on the Government to stop this from happening.
“Luxon must keep his hands off the freshwater protections and allow local councils to set strong and ambitious freshwater protections that safeguard lakes, rivers, and drinking water,” says Deighton-O’Flynn.
The $4.18 million project to transform the heritage listed Medical Superintendent’s House at Baillie Henderson Hospital into a museum has been completed, and now features medical and healthcare artefacts that tell the rich history of the Darling Downs Health Service.
The Australian Government committed nearly $1.17 million to the project, with the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation contributing nearly $1.17 million, and the Health Sustaining Capital Program providing almost $1.85 million.
The Museum of Health project is vital to preserving history of the Darling Downs region, and when fully complete, is estimated to attract 8,000 people annually and will serve as a hub for healthcare history, education, and community engagement.
The museum’s collection is also arranged to tell the history of mental health developments at Baillie Henderson Hospital and aims to de-stigmatise the public’s understanding of those who suffer from a mental illness.
Construction works included repairing damage to the heritage listed structure as well as building a new courtyard, amphitheatre and car park.
Later stages of work will include the construction of a café, gift shop and open plan office space for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation.
Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:
“Informing the hundreds of museum visitors each year of the selfless service these frontline healthcare workers undertook will be a fitting tribute to their generous character, and the care they gave to this region’s most vulnerable.
“The Museum of Health will offer locals and tourists a great opportunity to discover and learn more about the intricate medical history of the Baillie Henderson Hospital and Darling Downs region, while also providing a place to preserve its historical healthcare artefacts.
“This is yet another demonstration of the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitment to investing in local priority infrastructure and community projects that enhance regional centres like Toowoomba.”