Listening to music can enhance our lives in all kinds of ways – many of us use it during exercise, to regulate our mood, or in the workplace.
But can listening to background music while you work really make you more productive?
It’s a controversial topic. Some people swear by it, others find it painfully distracting. The research agrees there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
The best way to use music in the workplace depends on several factors, including your personality traits, what you’re doing, and what kind of music you’re listening to.
Here’s how to find out what works best for you.
Who you are
Your personality has a key influence on whether background music can boost productivity or be distracting in the workplace, which relates to your unique optimal level of arousal.
Arousal in this context relates to mental alertness, and the readiness of the brain to process new information. Background music can increase it.
Research suggests that being at an optimal level of arousal facilitates a state of “flow”, enhancing performance and productivity.
However, if you’re doing a simple or repetitive task such as data entry or a manual task, having music on in the background can help with performance – particularly upbeat and complex music.
These findings could be related to music’s effects on motivation and maintaining attention, as well as activating reward networks in the brain.
One important and often overlooked influence is what kind of music you choose to listen to.
Research has shown that fast and loud music can be more detrimental to complex tasks, such as reading comprehension, than soft and slow music.
Other research found that listening to calming music can have benefits for memory, while aggressive and unpleasant music can have the opposite effect.
However, these effects also depend on your personality, your familiarity with the music, and your musical preferences, so the type of music that works best will be different for everyone.
Music can be very rewarding and can benefit attention, mood and motivation.
Choosing music that is meaningful, rewarding and makes you feel good will likely help boost your performance, especially when performing simple tasks.
It largely seems that the more complex or demanding the task is, the more distracting background music can be.
One way to harness the motivational and mood-boosting effects of music to help with your workplace productivity is to play music before doing your work.
Using music to boost your mood and enhance attention before starting a work task could help you be more productive in that task.
Playing music right before a task can provide benefits while reducing the risk of distraction. XiXinXing/Shutterstock
So if you’re about to do a cognitively demanding task involving reading and writing, and you feel that music might distract you if played at the same time, try listening to it just before doing the task.
Find what works for you
Music can be both helpful and detrimental for workplace productivity – the best advice is to experiment with different tasks and different types of music, to find out what works best for you.
Try to experiment with your favourite music first, while doing a simple task.
Does the music help you engage with the task? Or do you get distracted and start to become more absorbed in the music? Listening to music without lyrics and with a strong beat might help you focus on the task at hand.
If you find music is distracting to your work, try scheduling in some music breaks throughout the day. Listening to music during breaks could boost your mood and increase your motivation, thereby enhancing productivity.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE-supported Organic Expo 2024 fosters sustainable agriculture in Central Asia
Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bihskek speaks at the Organic Expo 2024. (OSCE) Photo details
20 – 22 September, Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek hosts the Organic Expo 2024 – a significant milestone in Central Asia’s agricultural development. This regional event aimed to promote sustainable practices, organic farming, and preservation of biodiversity in mountainous areas.
The Organic Expo brought together over 200 farmers, entrepreneurs, government officials along with 50 experts and speakers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Russia, and Germany to take active part in a diverse agenda encompassing organic agriculture, ecology, climate change, and sustainable development.
To enhance regional organic agriculture and strengthen co-operation among Central Asian countries a practical three-day Regional Forum was conducted as a side event to the Expo. Keynote speakers underscored that organic farming is crucial for food security, boosting export potential, and combating climate change.
Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Ambassador Alexey Rogov stated, “This forum is a vital step toward promoting organic agriculture as the backbone of a sustainable economy in Central Asia.”
Organic Expo 2024, supported by the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, the Secretariat of the Special Representative of the President for the Implementation of the Five-Year Programme for Mountain Region Development, and international organizations, contributed to the exchange of agricultural practices in the region. The Expo fostered a unified approach to achieving sustainable development goals by promoting innovative, eco-friendly farming methods and strengthening collaboration across the region.
Ashley Rakahuri School, an Enviroschool for 14 years, first partnered with their Enviroschools facilitator, Siobhán Culhane, Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust (WBT), and Daiken last year to connect the students to this area.
This year, they took it further by investigating the terrestrial invertebrates and planting native seedlings, which Daiken generously provided.
These native seedlings were specially chosen to restore this area to being a wetland.
The year three to five students tried out three fun activities:
planting native trees along Saltwater Creek to create this wetland environment
recording the bugs, worms and creepy crawlies living under logs, and in the grasses and bushes.
looking at the mayflies, caddis larvae, snails and flatworms that live in the creek.
The students were engaged, eager, and enthusiastic to get planting and reporting!
The 46 ākonga/students, with help from kaimahi/staff from Daiken and other organisations, planted 630 native seedlings, including kahikatea, tōtara, and mataī in just over three hours!
New Zealand’s fuel resilience is being strengthened to ensure people and goods keep moving and connected to the world in case of disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.
“Fuel security is a priority for the Coalition Government. We are acutely aware of how important engine fuels are to our economy and the impacts a fuel disruption would have on New Zealanders. New Zealand imports nearly all of its engine fuels, making us particularly vulnerable to international and domestic supply disruptions,” Mr Jones says.
“Ensuring we hold enough reserve stocks in the right place to ride out possible disruptions is a key pillar of fuel security. It is a critical insurance policy needed to safeguard against the potentially devastating impacts that a severe and sustained fuel disruption might have.
“The previous government introduced a minimum stockholding obligation, which means from 1 January 2025 fuel importers will be required to hold 28 days’ cover for petrol, 24 days for jet fuel and 21 days for diesel.
“Importantly, the minimum stockholding obligation regulations introduce a new information disclosure rule which enables government to have much clearer oversight over how much fuel is held in New Zealand.
“However, I am not satisfied that 21 days’ cover for diesel is enough, nor is the jet fuel stockholding rule sufficient to avoid disruptions to international aviation such as that we experienced in 2017.
“Diesel is our most important fuel – it keeps food and people moving through our country. Without it, New Zealanders would struggle to access everything they need. We need to hold enough diesel onshore to keep essential goods moving through the country and vital services running, even if fuel supply chains have been disrupted.
“For this reason, I am seeking feedback on increasing diesel reserves to 28 days’ stock to help reduce any potential impact of a disruption to supply.
“I am also concerned about security of supply of jet fuel at Auckland Airport. In September I informed the fuel companies which own the jet fuel infrastructure at the airport of my plan to seek Cabinet agreement on regulations that would mandate sufficient jet fuel to be held near Auckland Airport.
“Auckland Airport is New Zealand’s gateway to the world – 75 per cent of all international seat capacity into New Zealand and 90 per cent of all long haul flights come into Auckland.
“New Zealand found out the hard way in 2017 when jet fuel supply was disrupted, forcing planes to be diverted and reducing our connection with the world. Further issues with jet fuel quality in 2022 reinforce the need for action.
“Despite the 2019 Government Inquiry into the 2017 Auckland Fuel Supply Disruption recommending jet fuel companies urgently increase their jet fuel holdings near Auckland airport, little progress has been made. Establishing a location-specific jet fuel stockholding requirement would ensure the jet fuel companies act to secure enough fuel is on hand to ride out any disruption to supply.
“Along with reversing the ban on oil and gas exploration, these actions will further strengthen New Zealand’s resilience and self-determination to ensure disruptions to our energy supply do not halt the economy,” Mr Jones says.
Nearly a year on from its formation, it’s clear a three-party coalition is not quite the same as the two-party versions New Zealand is accustomed to.
Normally, the primary dynamic has been clear: the major party sets the pace while the smaller governing partner receives a bauble or two for supporting the lead act. There may be occasional concerns about tails wagging dogs, but the dog is clearly in charge.
With the present National-ACT-NZ First coalition, however, things are more complex and less predictable. The dog has two tails, both of which are more than capable of vigorous wagging.
On the anniversary of the 2023 election, which produced the first three-party coalition government since the MMP system was adopted in 1996, we are perhaps beginning to get a picture of where dog ends and tails begin.
Speed wobbles
If that picture has been a little blurry until now it’s partly because of the speed with which the government has moved – not always to its own advantage.
In the process of ticking off the 49 items on its plan for the first 100 days, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s administration has kept some election promises but broken or fudged others, having to backtrack as a result.
It has delivered tax cuts, but been forced to trim and cap spending in areas (like health and infrastructure) crying out for extra investment.
It has given the impression of urgency and action with its Fast-track Approvals Bill. But it had to scrap the policy’s core element of granting three ministers unprecedented constitutional authority over which projects to fast-track.
This sense of a government somewhat at odds with itself extends to the swingeing cuts made to the public service workforce. Marketed as freeing up resources for front-line staff, the cuts are increasingly likely to be affecting actual service delivery in health, police, defence and elsewhere.
Executive overreach? A protest march in Auckland against the government’s fast-track consenting legislation. Getty Images
An ‘executive paradise’
Some of this can be put down to a new government’s distrust of a public service inherited from its predecessor, and a desire to make the most of its first year before the shadow election campaign kicks off mid-term.
But the coalition’s vigorous embrace of the executive authority baked into New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements has still been something to behold. As constitutional lawyer and former prime minister Geoffrey Palmer put it, the fast-track legislation risked turning New Zealand into “an executive paradise, not a democratic paradise”.
Submitters on the Māori wards legislation, for example, were given just three working days to prepare their arguments. Those wanting to comment on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill had four days.
And the government has been making less use of parliament’s expert select committees than is standard practice. This has limited public participation and constrained scrutiny of proposed legislation.
Ministers have also been prepared to ignore public service advice while paying plenty of attention to operational matters in the departments that furnish that advice.
New Zealand’s system of public management distinguishes between ministers’ responsibility for policy outcomes and senior officials’ responsibility for the operational decisions required to deliver those outcomes.
Nonetheless, Cabinet has commandeered oversight of operational matters in Whaikaha/Ministry of Disabled People, following botched communications over changes in disability funding. And civil servants have recently been told to stop working from home and return to the office.
The government will be betting this tactical disposition bolsters its “getting stuff done” narrative. But no one wants a concern with short-term operational details to come at the expense of long-term policy thinking.
Treaty principles pantomime
Nowhere is the coalition’s internal tension more evident, however, than in its confrontational approach to Māori and te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi issues.
Having courted voters already sceptical or disgruntled about Māori cultural assertiveness, the coalition moved fast to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora/Māori Health Authority, repeal legislation supporting Māori wards in local government, row back on official use of te reo Māori, and cut funding for Māori language revitalisation.
National and NZ First have indicated they will not support the bill beyond its first reading, but have agreed it will receive a full six months in front of a select committee.
This only raises the question of why any parliamentary time and money should be spent on the proposal at all – especially given the government’s supposed “laser focus” on cost and efficiency elsewhere.
Can the centre hold?
The politics around the Treaty Principles Bill also reveal just how much the prime minister has had to cede to ACT, for whom the proposed legislation was a bottom line during the government formation process.
And it inevitably casts doubt on the extent and exercise of prime ministerial authority under three-way governing arrangements. ACT leader and soon-to-be deputy prime minister David Seymour has questioned Christopher Luxon’s authority more than once.
And Luxon’s apparent unwillingness to at least censure an under-performing minister from another party (NZ First’s Casey Costello, for example) contrasts starkly with his firmer treatment of those in his own National Party (Melissa Lee and Penny Simmons, both demoted).
One year into a three-year term, these issues can perhaps be dismissed as part of the process of bedding down a new government. But politics never rests. Winston Peters hands the deputy prime minister role to David Seymour at the end of next May. Both NZ First and ACT will want to distinguish themselves from National.
As the next election nears and the jockeying for attention begins, the prime minister’s authority over his administration, and the coalition’s coherence, will be tested further.
Richard Shaw 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.
When you hear about “science focused on how dogs can live their best lives with us” it sounds like an imaginary job made up by a child. However, the field of animal welfare science is real and influential.
As our most popular animal companion and coworker, dogs are very deserving of scientific attention. In recent years we’ve learned more about how dogs are similar to people, but also how they are distinctly themselves.
Here are five tips to keep the tails in your life wagging happily.
1. Let dogs sniff
Sniffing makes dogs happier. We tend to forget they live in a smell-based world because we’re so visual. Often taking the dog for a walk is our daily physical activity but we should remember it could be our dogs’ only time out of the home environment.
Letting them have a really good sniff of that tree or post is full of satisfying information for them. It’s their nose’s equivalent of us standing at the top of a mountain and enjoying a rich, colour-soaked, sunset view.
Dogs live in a world of smells, so it’s important to let them sniff until their heart’s content. Pawtraits/Shutterstock
2. Give dogs agency
Agency is a hot topic in animal welfare science right now. For people who lived through the frustration of strict lockdowns in the early years of COVID, it’s easy to remember how not being able to go where we wanted, or see who we wanted, when we wanted, impacted our mental health.
We’ve now learned that giving animals choice and control in their lives is important for their mental wellbeing too. We can help our dogs enjoy better welfare by creating more choices and offering them control to exercise their agency.
This might be installing a doggy door so they can go outside or inside when they like. It could be letting them decide which sniffy path to take through your local park. Perhaps it’s choosing which three toys to play with that day from a larger collection that gets rotated around. Maybe it’s putting an old blanket down in a new location where you’ve noticed the sun hits the floor for them to relax on.
Providing choices doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
3. Recognise all dogs are individuals
People commonly ascribe certain personality traits to certain dog breeds. But just like us, dogs have their own personalities and preferences. Not all dogs are going to like the same things and a new dog we live with may be completely different to the last one.
One dog might like to go to the dog park and run around with other dogs at high speed for an hour, while another dog would much rather hang out with you chewing on something in the garden.
As well as noticing what dogs like to do as individuals, it’s important not to force dogs into situations they don’t enjoy. Pay attention to behaviour that indicates dogs aren’t comfortable, such as looking away, licking their lips or yawning.
Even in our homes, we can provide options if our dogs don’t want to share in every activity with us. Having a quiet place that dogs can retreat to is really important in enabling them to opt out if they want to.
If you’re watching television loudly, it may be too much for their sensitive ears. Ensure a door is open to another room so they can retreat. Some dogs might feel overwhelmed when visitors come over; giving them somewhere safe and quiet to go rather than forcing an interaction will help them cope.
Dogs can be terrific role models for children when teaching empathy. We can demonstrate consent by letting dogs approach us for pats and depart when they want. Like seeing exotic animals perform in circuses, dressing up dogs for our own entertainment seems to have had its day. If you asked most dogs, they don’t want to wear costumes or be part of your Halloween adventures.
5. Opportunities for off-lead activity – safely.
When dogs are allowed to run off-lead, they use space differently. They tend to explore more widely and go faster than they do when walking with us on-lead. This offers them important and fun physical activity to keep them fit and healthy.
Demonstrating how dogs walk differently when on- and off-lead.
A recent exploration of how liveable cities are for dogs mapped all the designated areas for dogs to run off-leash. Doggy density ranged from one dog for every six people to one dog for every 30 people, depending on where you live.
It also considered how access to these areas related to the annual registration fees for dogs in each government area compared, with surprising differences noted across greater Melbourne. We noted fees varied between A$37 and $84, and these didn’t relate to how many off-lead areas you could access.
For dog-loving nations, such as Australia, helping our canine friends live their best life feels good. Science that comes from a four-paw perspective can help us reconsider our everyday interactions with dogs and influence positive changes so we can live well, together.
Mia Cobb 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.
It’s one year since the failed referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution.
The vote represents a moment of deep sadness and frustration for many First Nations people for the lost opportunity to move towards meaningful change in our lives, communities and for our futures. Many elders and old people will likely not live to see change.
To my mind, no single thing doomed the Voice. It was a mix of a lot of the above.
Albanese treating the referendum like an election campaign but without the usual level of resourcing and advocacy. The Coalition’s outright opposition to the idea (despite previous indications of support). The media’s failure to grapple with Indigenous issues and dogmatic insistence on giving prominence to “both sides” of the debate.
The YES23 organisation was also disorganised from the start. Yes campaigners were forced onto the back foot daily by relentless misinformation, seemingly deliberate, from the No campaign.
It was further amplified by the No campaign’s very successful “If you don’t know, vote no” slogan – the idea being that their untruths warranted little scrutiny.
That’s on top of a large undercurrent of racism that was never properly called out, and which has never been properly addressed.
Campaigns like this are something we as a nation haven’t come to terms with. We’ve seen in the United States how effective misinformation can be at confusing people, creating false senses of reality and distorting public perception.
Even if Australians supported the ideas behind the Voice in the abstract, neither they nor the media were prepared for the level of dishonesty and bad dealing from the No campaign. It was never a fair fight.
No, no, and no again
The Voice to Parliament represented a consensus plea from Indigenous communities for systemic reform. The idea was that the structure of the Australian political system was, either by design or outcome, causing many of the social and economic issues that we face, and therefore a structural solution was needed.
The No campaign claimed after the referendum that the result was a rejection of this idea of a Voice to Parliament as a solution to issues in Indigenous communities or among Indigenous peoples more generally, “because it wasn’t going to fix the things that needed to be fixed”.
Prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine even called the referendum the “most divisive, most racially charged attack on Australia I’ve ever seen”.
I am not bringing up these issues again to relitigate the issues of the referendum. Instead, I want to ask a very important question: the Voice to Parliament was designed to address our systemic disadvantage, so what solutions to these serious structural issues have any of the No campaigners offered in the past 12 months?
We have seen some policies from the Coalition. Plans to reduce “fly in, fly out” workers in remote communities. Reforming land rights and native title. A royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities. Less need for programs with “a specific Indigenous focus” in urban areas, where most First Nations people live.
Some of these are just a rehash of failed Coalition policies of the past, as many others have mentioned. Some appear to have come personally from Senator Jacinta Price and are seemingly not backed by experts (or many people in Indigenous communities). Others appear to be tied directly into conservative political talking points, rather than really addressing Indigenous need.
The Coalition also abandoned its plan for an alternative second referendum almost immediately after the failed vote.
The Coalition and other leading No campaigners clearly have no plans to address the structural issues facing our peoples. They’re only offering more of the regular policy tinkering and seesawing we have seen far too often before.
Abandoning the cause
The same is true of the government. I have already written for this masthead about the government’s abject failures at implementing the Closing the Gap targets and its lack of meaningful consultation.
The government’s current attempts at Indigenous policy remain exercises in seeking consent over genuine consultation. Its proposed “economic empowerment” agenda for First Nations peoples is a perfect example.
Aside from the lack of codesign and meaningful engagement, such policies have been bandied about for the better part of two decades and still have not substantively moved the dial.
The pursuit of market-based wealth for some privileged few First Nations peoples and communities, under the guise of closing the gap, as well as focusing on the overexaggerated benefits of renewable energy as a driver of Indigenous economic power, is not “economic development” for all mobs.
The policy focus was also announced as Albanese abandoned his commitment to a Makaratta Commission – the Treaty and Truth components that were meant to follow the Voice to Parliament.
These ideas fall into the same tired policy stereotypes of throwing money at some of the usual organisations and peoples who have long benefited, and claiming this solves the systemic problems we face. The problem isn’t money, it’s the very rules of the game.
Charting a way forward
Research following the referendum shows that 87% of Australians think First Nations peoples should be able to decide for ourselves about our way of life. Moreover, 64% think the disadvantages faced by our communities warrant extra government attention, and 68% believe this disadvantage comes from “past race-based policies”.
Only 35% believe Indigenous peoples are now treated equally to other Australians, and only 37% believe injustices faced by our community are “all in the past”.
This clearly shows a level of recognition by the Australian people that something needs to be done about Indigenous policy and the structural issues in this country.
According to the same data, 87% of Australians agree it is “important for First Nations peoples to have a voice/say in matters that affect them”. This jumps to 98.5% among Yes voters, but also is true of 76% of No voters.
This suggests that Australian people see the problem and can identify the structural issues.
The real work, then, is on civics education, getting people to understand that the structural issues they can see need structural change; but also making them more aware of the effects of misinformation. It’s not right that proposals that should get the support of the Australian people can be derailed the way this was.
But what also isn’t right is the current abdication of Indigenous policy by both major parties and their abandonment of any attempt to remedy structural issues. Following the referendum, the major parties have given up.
To paraphrase myself from February’s Closing the Gap announcement: the next time you run into an MP, ask them what their plan for Indigenous people is. Ask them not just about closing the gap, but to fix the structural issues that so clearly disadvantage our people.
That’s the question no one wants to answer, but it’s what we need to do if we are to move on from the 2023 referendum in a positive direction.
James Blackwell is a member of the Uluru Dialogue at UNSW. He is also an Independent Councillor for Hilltops Council in NSW.
In response, the Australian government has organised evacuation flights for Australian citizens and is urging all Australians in Lebanon to take the earliest available flights due to the unpredictable nature of the conflict.
For the more than 248,000 Australians with Lebanese ancestry, and others, this has been a deeply distressing time.
Escalating violence in Lebanon has also resonated deeply with other diasporas in Australia, such as those from Palestine and Ukraine. These scattered communities share similar experiences of conflict and displacement.
So how do Australians with links to Lebanon, Gaza or other conflict zones look after their mental health at this time? And how can you support others who may be struggling?
Identifying with pain and suffering
People with emotional ties to conflict zones overseas identify with the pain and suffering they see and hear. Australians with shared cultural heritage may be living in the shadow of homeland events and experiencing what research has called “push-pull” dynamics.
This may be experiencing periods of calm and ease mixed with intermittent periods of intense fear, uncertainty and emotional pain as upsetting events unfold.
For some, sleeplessness, irritability, fear, frustration, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion combine. People are no longer isolated from their country of origin. Rather, global events influence their personal and social life, and mental health.
The way people manage the interplay between homeland events, sense of powerlessness, and mental health in Australia are complex. It is easy to be rapidly consumed by what is happening. Events are graphic, compelling and fast moving.
How to look after yourself
So what can you do if you notice yourself or someone close to you is becoming impacted?
Know your distress triggers. For some, this might be witnessing violence on television news or social media. For others, this might be stories about children and young people who have been killed. Seeing and hearing images and stories can be distressing if they are repeated across multiple platforms. Some people may need to minimise their media exposure.
Talk to people you trust about how you are feeling. Describe what is happening and what you notice about yourself. If you are feeling fragile or concerned about your mental health, or the mental health of a loved one, seek support from your health-care provider.
Reconnect with and strengthen personal support networks. Supportive cultural connections and family members, and other supports including friends and colleagues, can protect against the onset or worsening of mental distress.
Getting help early can create more options for support. It can also make it easier to accept help in the future.
Refer to trusted sources of information and calibrate media exposure. While many people need to know about events, news stories and imagery are distressing.
Incorporate activities that comfort and distract you, and make your situation feel safer. This can include:
spending time with family members or friends
spiritual, faith or religious reconnecting
distraction through music or food.
Avoid taking devices to bed to protect your sleep and your mental health.
How to support others
If you work with or support someone who is impacted, recognise this is a time for sensitivity and compassion. Show you are concerned and, at the same time, check they’re OK. Ask:
What would be most helpful in our support for you?
What is the best way for me/the team at work to be supportive and alongside you?
It is also important to ask about someone’s mental health. You can ask:
With events unfolding, how are things at home for you right now?
When validating a person’s experience, remember it is not always important to know personal detail or circumstances in fine detail. What is important is to demonstrate genuine interest, create trust and psychological safety. Aim to really listen, rather than listening so you can respond.
As a friend, colleague or manager, offering support and listening without judgement may help a person impacted by global catastrophic events.
In times like these, validation, human connection and support are some of the best things you can do to protect your own and other people’s mental health.
Sometimes it can be hard to find the words. Here’s what we know helps.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Nicholas Procter currently receives funding from Overseas Services to Survivors of Torture and Trauma, Foundation House and SA Health. He has previously received sitting fees from the Department of Home Affairs.
Mary Anne Kenny has previous received funding from the Australian Research Council and sitting fees from the Department of Home Affairs.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn Savage, Associate Professor of Education Policy and the Future of Schooling, The University of Melbourne
As Australian students begin the final term of 2024, governments are in the middle of a bitter standoff over public school funding for next year.
The federal government has offered states and territories a 2.5% funding increase for schools to the tune of A$16 billion, but some are demanding 5%.
The deadline for states and territories to sign the proposed new school funding agreement ended on September 30, leaving the future of Australian school funding beyond 2025 in limbo.
On top of ongoing funding uncertainty, there are also significant issues with how the proposed new agreement is designed. How can we fix this?
How does school funding work?
Federal, state and territory governments each contribute to public school funding.
The federal government currently contributes 20% of the schooling resource standard. This is the estimate of how much public funding a school needs to meet students’ educational needs.
The Commonwealth ties this funding to reforms and targets aimed at improving equity and learning outcomes for students. The remaining 80% is up to states and territories to fund.
The new agreement provides some important opportunities to improve schools and student outcomes, including measures to enhance student wellbeing, increase attendance, strengthen the teacher workforce, and increase the proportion of students who leave school with a Year 12 certificate.
The current round of funding negotiations has been plagued by sour politics and persistent roadblocks.
The new national agreement was originally due to begin in 2024, but was delayed after a damning December 2022 Productivity Commission review. This found the current agreement had “done little” to lift student outcomes.
The federal government then commissioned an expert review panel (of which one of us, Pasi Sahlberg, was a member) to inform a new agreement. This year, we have seen negotiations with states and territories over funding and details of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement were released in July.
But progress has been painfully slow. While Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have signed on, other states and territories are holding out.
In August, federal Education Minister Jason Clare issued an ultimatum: sign the agreement by September 30 or forgo the 2.5% funding increase. The federal government has since downplayed the missed deadline while critics suggest it was always an “arbitrary” ultimatum.
Ambiguous equity targets
The political theatre and inability to find consensus raises major concerns about how effective the national reform agenda can be.
A closer look at the targets also raises questions about how they might work in practice.
For example, the new agreement is supposed to have equity at its core (it claims to be “better and fairer”) but it lacks a clear definition of equity. It also lacks specific equity targets to narrow achievement gaps between students from low and high socioeconomic backgrounds.
The new agreement has “learning equity targets”. This includes measures to reduce the proportion of students in the “needs additional support” NAPLAN category for reading and numeracy by 10% and increase those in the “strong” and “exceeding” categories by 10% by 2030.
The only specific target for disadvantaged students is there is a “trend upwards” of the proportion in higher NAPLAN proficiency levels.
Past experience suggests schools will likely “triage” students to reach these targets. This means they will focus more on students who are just below or above the target levels, and less on those unlikely to make the mark. This is what happened when similar targets were set in Ontario in the 2000s.
So, even if overall average NAPLAN scores improve, achievement gaps (between advantaged and disadvantaged students) could grow. This will not improve equity – it will do the opposite.
Toothless targets
There are also no mechanisms to hold states and territories accountable for meeting targets until schools are “fully funded” under the agreement.
Fully funded means states and territories are receiving 100% of the schooling resource standard. To make matters worse, even when jurisdictions are fully funded, there are no penalties or sanctions for failing to cooperate with the agreement.
Timelines to reach full funding in the bilateral agreements already signed are years away. For example, it is 2026 for Western Australia and 2029 for the Northern Territory.
This means states and territories can choose whether they meet the targets or not.
3 ways to fix school funding
Failure to fully and fairly fund schools, mixed with an inability to set meaningful targets, creates deep uncertainty for schooling systems as a new year approaches.
For example, last week the Australian Education Union placed a nationwide ban on the implementation of the new agreement, including “unfunded” reforms that would increase teachers’ workloads.
This is not a sustainable situation. So, how can we fix it?
1. Set meaningful targets: it is not enough to have ambiguous goals for improvement that might improve test scores for some but also worsen inequities. At a minimum, we need to rethink targets to ensure they narrow achievement gaps between equity groups. Without this, education systems will continue to fail those who need the most support.
2. Ensure accountability for the targets: we need to make sure states and territories cannot escape or delay their obligations to improve equity and learning outcomes. To do this, schools should be fully funded from 2025, so current (not future) education ministers are compelled to act.
3. Distance the politics from school funding: schools need stability and consistency to plan effectively. The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement has a helpful ten-year term but reforms are needed to ensure funding decisions remain fair and consistent across the nation. Instead of messy and protracted political negotiations between governments, we could instead set up a national agency to oversee the distribution of school funding.
These measures would help avoid political interference and ensure funding is allocated in line with student needs, national reform priorities and agreed targets.
It’s time to address the deeper issues
The ongoing failure to fairly resource and set meaningful reforms for our schools is a symptom of a broken national funding system.
Unless we address its foundational issues, Australian teachers and students — particularly those in disadvantaged schools — will continue to be short-changed.
Glenn C. Savage receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Pasi Sahlberg was a member of the Australian Government’s Expert Panel to inform a better and fairer education system in 2023.
Battery electric vehicle sales in Australia have flattened in recent months. The latest data reveal a sharp 27.2% year-on-year decline (overall new vehicle sales were down 9.7%) in September. Tesla Model Y and Model 3 cars had an even steeper drop of nearly 50%.
Sales also fell in August (by 18.5%) and July (1.5%). There’s a clear downward trend.
Before this downturn, electric vehicle sales had been rising steadily, supported by increased choices and government incentives. In early 2024, year-to-date sales continued to grow compared to the same period in 2023. Then, in April, electric vehicle sales fell for the first time in more than two years.
Australia isn’t simply mirroring a broader global trend. It’s true sales have slowed in parts of Europe and the United States — often due to reduced incentives. But strong sales growth continues in other regions, such as China and India.
A range of factors or combinations of them could help explain the trend in Australia. These include governments axing incentives, concerns about safety and depreciation, and misinformation.
Federal, state and territory governments also provide financial incentives to buy electric vehicles. These have been among the main drivers of sales in Australia.
Nationally, incentives include a higher luxury car tax threshold and exemptions from fringe benefits tax and customs duty. But several states and territories have scaled back their rebate programs and tax exemptions in 2023 and 2024.
New South Wales and South Australia ended their $3,000 rebates on January 1 this year. At the same time, NSW ended a stamp duty refund for new and used zero-emission vehicles up to a value of $78,000. Both incentives had been offered since 2021.
Victoria ended its $3,000 rebate, also launched in 2021, in mid-2023.
Buyers are increasingly opting for hybrid vehicles instead. In September, sales of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles were up by 34.4% and 89.9%, respectively.
These sales trends reflect other consumer concerns beyond just the upfront cost.
Resale value worries buyers
One major issue for car buyers in Australia, and globally, is uncertainty about their resale value. Consumers are concerned electric vehicles depreciate faster than traditional cars.
These concerns are particularly tied to battery degradation, which affects a car’s range and performance over time. And batteries account for much of the vehicle’s total cost. Potential buyers worry about the long-term value of a used electric vehicle with an ageing battery.
For example, a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus with nearly 85,000km currently lists for about $34,000. It has lost roughly half its value in just three years.
While Tesla offers transferable four-year warranties and software updates, the rapid evolution of EV technology also makes older second-hand models less desirable, further reducing their value.
Fires raise fears about safety
Electric vehicle fires have made headlines globally. This has created doubts among consumers about the risks of owning them.
Incidents of electric vehicle fires have increased along with vehicle numbers. Statistically, these vehicles are not more prone to fires than conventional cars – in fact, the risk is clearly lower.
For example, analysis of publicly available statistics from South Korean government agencies, one of the early adopters of electric vehicles, show the number of fires per registered electric vehicle is steadily increasing. Fire risk remains lower than for traditional vehicles, although the gap is shrinking as the electric vehicle fleet ages. And the highly publicised nature of their fires is a source of growing buyer hesitancy.
The full environmental benefits of electric vehicles depend on widespread adoption. However, there is a wide gap between early adopters’ experiences and potential buyers’ perceptions.
The politicisation of green initiatives adds to the challenge. When electric vehicles become associated with a specific political ideology, it can alienate large parts of the population. Adoption then becomes slower and more divisive.
Green transition is a work in progress
The electric vehicle market in Australia is facing challenges, despite the growing variety of models and price cuts.
The EV sales trend signals deeper issues in the market. Broader trends, such as the dominance of SUVs and utes, underscore the fact that while the transition to greener vehicles is progressing, it remains uneven.
Further efforts will be needed to reduce misconceptions and misinformation, and bridge the gap between owners’ experience and potential buyers’ perceptions. Only then can Australia enjoy the environmental benefits of widespread EV adoption.
Hadi Ghaderi receives funding from the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre, Transport for New South Wales, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, IVECO Trucks Australia limited, Victoria Department of Education and Training, Australia Post, Bondi Laboratories, Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre, Sphere for Good, Australian Meat Processor Corporation,City of Casey, 460degrees and Passel.
Milad Haghani 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.
ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton is urging Wellington City Council to dig deep on cuts to wasteful spending as it revisits its long-term plan following the cancellation of the sale of the Council’s airport shares this week.
“With or without the sale, it’s clear that that the council is spending far too much, hiking rates too far, and strangling the life out of the city,” says Mr Luxton.
“It is a failure of governance that the Mayor and those councillors in favour of the sale were not able to convince their colleagues that the proceeds from the sale would not be wasted.
“No council should own an airport, but equally, no council should be spending as recklessly as Wellington is.
“Looking at the previously approved long-term plan, and related documents, obvious areas for savings include:
$112.9m to remove car access along the Golden mile
At least $104.4m on rescuing the city library
$115.2m on cycle lanes
$114m on a food waste recycling scheme and wheelie bins for general rubbish to be collected less frequently than the status quo
“These obvious areas for savings just scratch the service but collectively would far outstrip the roughly $321 million value of the airport shares.
“With the dire state of the council’s finances, even sacred cows like the wrecked Town Hall and the zoo should be on the table for sale.
“This week’s decision was a scathing indictment on the Council’s ability to serve the people on Wellington. But if the failure to sell airport shares forces the Council to take a hard look at its spending, that’s a silver lining.
“The introduction of unelected commissioners, as we saw in Tauranga, would be a disastrous outcome. Wellington’s council must urgently demonstrate its competence, dig deep to cut low-value spending and liquidate assets, and finally show some respect to ratepayers.”
The closure of a satellite medical practice at Waikanae Beach is the latest symptom of a growing crisis in primary healthcare caused by years of inadequate funding.
“Waikanae Beach patients, many of whom are elderly and high needs, will now have to travel much further to access medical help at Waikanae Health. This puts more even pressure on this health provider,” said Angus Chambers, Chair of the General Practice Owners Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (GenPro).
“In addition to closing its satellite practice, Waikanae Health also says it has stopped taking on new patients, withdrawn from delivering care at four rest homes, and quit almost all out-of-hours and home consultations. All would have been difficult decisions for the owners of the practice.
“The biggest concern is the impact on patients. But it’s also sad that this, and other closures and reductions in services, elicit no response from the government or Te Whatu Ora, which seem resigned to the gradual erosion of primary healthcare”.
“The state is disinterested in these closures and appears to expect general practice care to be replaced by pharmacies and telehealth, as they are cheaper options. Government is either unconcerned or ignorant to the fact that outcomes will suffer and cost more in the long term,” Dr Chambers said.
General practices are in crisis due to years of under-funding by government and are constrained by out-of-date rules which limit patient charges. They’re also struggling with higher costs, greater patient need, and shortages of medical professionals.
The pressures facing general practices are well documented. Barely a month goes by without a general practice closing, ceasing patient enrolments, or reducing services such as after-hours care.
“Waikanae’s issues are also reflective of the national trend for hospitals to push more and more patients back to GPs, and the impact of changes in eligibility for Community Services Cards that disadvantaged some practices with a high proportion of card holders with high health needs, such as Waikanae.
“The result of this cocktail of problems is that practices are struggling to stay afloat and retain and recruit GPs, meaning long days and staff burn out. Early retirement, reduction in services and, as we regrettably see again today, practice closures are logical consequences. “
“The government must as a matter of urgency increase its support of primary healthcare, overhaul the current out-of-date funding model, and help increase the supply of medical professionals into primary healthcare,” said Dr Chambers.
GenPro, which represents about half of all general practices in Aotearoa, is ready to work with the Minister of Health and the Health NZ Commissioner to develop the solutions needed.
Electronic card transactions: September 2024 – information release – 14 October 2024 – The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.
Key facts All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.
Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.
September 2024 month Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the September 2024 month (compared with August 2024) were:
spending in the retail industries was unchanged
spending in the core retail industries increased 0.3 percent ($19 million).
Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:
14 October 2024 – New Zealand needs a system-wide approach to improving Māori access to capital to unlock economic potential, Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua Governor Adrian Orr says in a speech delivered today.
In his speech, Governor Orr discusses the recognition across the financial system that more needs to be done to enable Māori access to capital and participation in investment opportunities.
“Improving Māori access to capital is a powerful enabler we all need to collectively prioritise,” Mr Orr says.
With Māori projected to make up 20 percent of New Zealand’s labour force by 2040, the Governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to ensuring that the financial system is inclusive.
“We will continue to highlight the importance of collaboration and the need to focus on improving Māori access to capital,” Mr Orr says.
The Governor acknowledged recent progress made across the financial system, reflecting on the efforts from iwi, the private and public sector, and within Te Pūtea Matua.
“Despite the great work that is already happening in this space, there are signs that more effort is needed,” Mr Orr says.
“My hope is that equity funding does more to improve Māori access to capital and unlock investment opportunities and choices to provide real benefits to all of Aotearoa,” Mr Orr says.
Auckland, New Zealand — Sovtech, a leading Australian cybersecurity firm, is proud to announce its official launch in New Zealand this October, marking a new chapter in its expansion across the Tasman.
Known for its innovative ‘profit for purpose’ business model, Sovtech combines cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions with a strong social mission, including partnerships with significant causes such as Cure Kids – a leading charity dedicated to improving child health in New Zealand.
As part of the New Zealand launch, Sovtech’s Founder and Director, Neil Templeman, will be visiting Auckland on 15 and 16 October to meet with clients, partners, and government officials. Templeman brings a personal connection to New Zealand, having lived here for seven years. His goal is to establish a local presence, creating new jobs and building a robust team to serve New Zealand businesses.
“Launching in New Zealand has been driven by strong demand from customers and our partners. We see a great opportunity to help businesses here enhance their cybersecurity posture while making a positive social impact and we have recently signed our first contract in NZ with a large enterprise customer,” says Templeman.
Sovtech’s unique approach to cybersecurity sets it apart from other providers. The company offers services such as advanced email security, data protection and third-party risk management, but with a difference – profits are reinvested into causes that matter. In Australia, Sovtech has supported First Nations health and education initiatives, and with its New Zealand expansion, it has chosen to align with Cure Kids, a charity focused on funding medical research to improve the health of children.
Cure Kids is enthusiastic about this collaboration. Brendon Pongia, Head of Engagement, commented, “We are excited to have the support of Sovtech, an organisation with a strong social mission and a shared commitment to improving the health of children in New Zealand.”
By launching in New Zealand, Sovtech aims to create a lasting social impact while providing the country’s businesses with industry-leading cybersecurity solutions. Its goal is to offer both private and public sector organisations the tools they need to improve their cyber resilience, while simultaneously contributing to a broader societal mission.
“We believe technology should be a force for good, creating ripple effects that transcend borders and generations,” adds Templeman. “With our Procurement for Purpose model, New Zealand businesses have a unique opportunity to strengthen their security while driving meaningful change.”
Sovtech’s launch in New Zealand is more than just business – it’s about community, sustainability, and making a difference where it counts.
Neil Templeman will be available for interviews during his visit to New Zealand on 15-16 October. To schedule a meeting or interview, please contact him directly at the number above.
About Sovtech: Sovtech is a cybersecurity provider offering comprehensive solutions to help businesses safeguard against modern threats. Their profit for purpose model reinvests profits into social causes, aligning technology with positive global change. https://sovtech.com.au/
About Cure Kids: Cure Kids is New Zealand’s largest charitable funder of child health research committed to finding better treatments and preventative strategies for a wide range of serious child health conditions. Cure Kids has invested more than $65 million in New Zealand research since it formed over 50 years ago, which has helped to shape and vastly improve the way children who live with serious diseases and health conditions are diagnosed and treated. Cure Kids is currently funding around $8 million in child health research across 60+ projects. Red Nose Day is their biggest annual fundraising campaign and makes a significant contribution to this work. For more information visit: http://www.curekids.org.nz
Over the next few months, Auckland Council will take the first steps to engage and consult Aucklanders on work to strengthen how theAuckland Unitary Planaddressesnatural hazards, including flooding, erosion and landslides.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, explains how a process known as deliberative democracy will be used to consult with a representative sample of Aucklanders.
“The deliberative democracy process allows us to gain insights from Aucklanders on what can be quite a complicated subject. We’re early in the engagement and consultation process for the plan change, but doing this work means we’re able to capture the views of Aucklanders as it shapes up. As a result, our communities’ views are considered at different stages, rather than just through the Resource Management Act submissions process.
“It’s also one of the steps we can take to get feedback from Aucklanders while we wait for changes that the government is making to legislation, so we can change the Auckland Unitary Plan to better deal with natural hazards. Even though we’ve heard loud and clear our communities want urgent action since our devastating floods and storms in 2023, we cannot move forward on this until the government changes the law to allow us to do so.”
What is deliberative democracy?
Deliberative democracy allows a diverse group of people to learn about a topic in detail, before coming to a collective decision to answer a question. Aucklanders will take part in this process, and will represent the demographics, needs and interests of those living in the region.
Participants are randomly selected beforehand, so they represent the wide-ranging views of Aucklanders. The process is often used to gain views on complex topics. It allows participants to have fair and reasonable discussions, share their views, hear the views of others and deliberate before coming to a collective view at the end of the process.
These views are then collated with others gained from across Auckland’s communities to give direction on the next stages of the plan change.
What is being asked?
Phill Reid, Manager Aucklandwide Planning, explains that participants will get an overview of why the work to strengthen the Unitary Plan is needed and what it could entail, saying that they will also discuss changing the Auckland Unitary Plan to better address the risks that natural hazards pose.
“While the Unitary Plan can’t stop natural hazards from happening, there are rules and regulations we can add or change to strengthen it against the risks from those hazards. Before we can do this work, we need to understand the level of risk that Aucklanders feel is tolerable or intolerable – this will influence any new rules or restrictions that are brought in and this is what participants will be asked to come to a consensus on.
“For example, should new homes be able to be built in areas subject to flooding at all? If the group decides they should, then we need to look at what changes we can make to planning rules that don’t negatively impact those living there, their neighbours and their properties.
“We know Aucklanders would like the Unitary Plan to address natural hazards – and we were given this direction by the council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee in mid-2023. The insight we get from this type of engagement will help shape up the next steps.”
Would you liketake part in future deliberative democracy processes?
Deliberative democracy is a form of engagement Auckland Council uses on different topics ahead of a full consultation or submissions process. If you’d be interested in taking part in this kind of process, you canlet us know here.
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced the establishment of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to drive better outcomes from the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Registry.
“We are committed to working with the forestry sector to provide greater transparency and engagement on the forestry ETS registry as we work to reduce costs.
“This group will help the Government to restore confidence and certainty for Forestry”, Mr McClay says.
The establishment of the Reference Group follows an independent review of the operational costs of the forestry ETS Register announced earlier this year.
“Forest owners have raised concerns about the excessive costs that had been imposed upon them by the previous Labour government who put a $30.25 per hectare annual levy for participation in the Registry.
“I agree with the sector that this cost is unreasonable – the Reference Group is part of our response to reduce costs and drive greater efficiency.
“In response, the Government has cancelled the 2023/24 annual charge that forest owners were required to pay to participate in the ETS Registry.
“Today I am releasing the independent report that outlines where the current system fell short of the Coalition Government and sector’s expectations.
“The 4,000 plus forestry participants deserve to have confidence in the system designed to manage their ETS obligations. There is a cost to the register, but they shouldn’t have to pay for the last government’s mistakes,” Mr McClay says.
“any of the issues identified in the report have now been addressed, and the Reference Group will help prioritise work that can reduce the cost and unnecessary regulatory duplication in the ETS Registry. The Government will shortly consult on a new Forestry ETS Registry Levy for the 2024/2025 financial year.
“Forestry plays an important role in helping New Zealand meet its emissions reductions obligations and grow our economy.”
The independent review of the Forestry ETS Operational Costs report is available HERE
A 50-year-old man is facing the court, after he allegedly failed to stop for Police on the North Shore last night.
Just before 9.30pm, a Police unit saw a vehicle being driven well over the legal speed limit on the Northern Motorway.
Waitematā Road Policing Manager, Senior Sergeant Andrew Hawkins, says the driver was signalled to stop. He slowed down but did not pull over.
“As Police pulled alongside this vehicle, the driver has sped up again, and fled. We did not pursue and followed the vehicle’s movements on traffic cameras.
“The vehicle exited the motorway at Onewa, and officers soon found it abandoned on Tarahanga Street in Northcote.
“The alleged driver was quickly located nearby but claimed to have no knowledge of the vehicle. Its keys were found in his pocket, and after declining breath and blood tests, he was arrested.”
The 50-year-old man is scheduled to appear in the North Shore District Court today facing charges of failing to stop, reckless driving, driving contrary to a zero-alcohol limit and refusing to give blood.
The man’s vehicle was also impounded.
“This was great work from our staff to bring the incident to a safe and satisfying conclusion,” Senior Sergeant Andrew Hawkins says.
“We won’t tolerate this abhorrent and reckless driving behaviour. The alleged offender’s actions put other motorists at great risk, and we are happy his vehicle is now off the road.”
Contractors will carry out essential maintenance work on State Highway 1 Weld Pass next week as Marlborough’s summer maintenance season continues.
Night works are planned from 20 to 23 October (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights) between 7pm and 5am. These times have been brought forward by one hour from original plans following feedback from the community and freight industry.
State Highway 1 Weld Pass will be closed to all traffic while the work is completed.
Contractors will replace culverts and carry out drainage, guardrail and pre-seal repairs and stabilisation. They will install raised line markings, clear surface water channelling and shoulder edge breaks, and complete other general works.
Because of the work involved and the narrowness of the highway through Weld Pass, night closures are the best way to get the work done as quickly and safely as possible.
While there will be a midnight opening each night to allow queued traffic through the work site, the closure will create delays for people travelling between Blenheim and Christchurch.
Drivers must factor it into their travel plans. This is especially critical for people with ferry connections as the inland route is a significantly longer trip.
Every effort is being made to reduce the impact on road users. Maintenance is done at night when there is less traffic on the road. It has been timed to avoid upcoming public holiday weekends, including Labour and Marlborough Anniversary weekends.
Road users are reminded of other minor summer maintenance and resilience works around the region, including daytime works on State Highway 63 in the Wairau Valley and State Highway 6 at Rai Saddle.
Further maintenance work and night closures are planned for Weld Pass over the next six to nine months. Additional updates will be provided ahead of planned works in January/February and late April/May next year.
Works schedule
Sunday, 20 October, Monday 21 October, Tuesday 22 October and Wednesday 23 October. 7 pm to 5 am.
Full road closure – no suitable local road detours available. An alternative route to Christchurch is via the inland route – St Arnaud, Murchison, Lewis Pass. This is a significantly longer route and has much longer travel times.
There will be one opening each night at midnight to let queued traffic through the work area. The northbound lane will travel first, followed by the southbound lane.
If works are delayed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, Thursday 24 October will be a contingency night.
Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.
The State Highway summer maintenance programme will be in full swing in Tasman in October with new chipseal to be laid on the State Highway 60, Mariri Causeway (south of Motueka).
A daytime road closure will occur this coming weekend Saturday, 19 October, from 7am to 5pm when road workers will chipseal a one-kilometre section of the highway.
The work has been planned for a Saturday to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. It is outside of school hours, there are fewer trucks on the road, and no public transport will be operating
A local road detour will be available via Robinson Road, Main Road Lower Moutere, Wildman Road, and Quayle Street (otherwise known as High Street South). The same detour will apply in reverse for motorists travelling from Motueka to Richmond.
This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time. Drivers travelling between Richmond and Motueka must allow extra time for their journeys.
The Great Taste Cycle Trail will remain open, but the detour route means it will be affected by increased traffic.
Drivers and cyclists must share the road with care. Cyclists need to be aware there will be more vehicles around them, and drivers must look out for cyclists as well.
Once the chipsealing is completed, the Mariri Causeway will reopen under a temporary speed limit of 50km/hr to give the chipseal time to bed in. Road workers will then sweep clear any loose chip and re-apply road markings.
Drivers must follow all temporary speed limits. They are there to protect the road and vehicles from damage, and to keep people safe. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or bad weather this work will be postponed.
Works schedule
Saturday, 19 October from 7am – 5pm
Detour for traffic travelling from Richmond to Motueka is via Robinson Road, Main Road Lower Moutere, Wildman Road and Quayle Street. The reverse will apply for traffic travelling from Motueka to Richmond.
The Great Taste Trail will remain open during the works.
Update 1:40 pm: State Highway 2 is now open to one lane under stop/go temporary traffic management.
Drivers can expect delays and should allow extra time for their journeys. They should also take extra care when travelling through the crash site.
12 October, 1:15 pm:
Drivers are asked to delay their travel and avoid the area as emergency services attend a serious crash at Mount Bruce, north of Masterton, on State Highway 2.
The single vehicle crash was reported around 12:45 pm. The highway is currently blocked at the intersection of Hiwitoru Road.
Drivers travelling between Masterton and Eketahuna can expect travel delays until the crash scene is cleared and the incident is resolved.
Drivers travelling between Masterton and Eketahuna can expect delays until the crash scene is cleared and the incident is resolved.
Road users must follow the instructions of emergency services and contractors and obey all traffic management instructions.
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
A major state-of-the art cyber and digital forensics training facility will soon call South Jerrabomberra home following the Minns Labor Government’s $23 million investment in enabling infrastructure within the South Jerrabomberra Regional Jobs Precinct in southern NSW.
CBIT Digital Forensics Services (CDFS), an Australian supplier of digital forensic tools, industry training and certification, has chosen the precinct to establish its first tactical training facility.
Digital forensics focuses on identifying, acquiring, processing, analysing, and reporting on data stored electronically.
CDFS anticipates it will almost double its workforce from nine to 18 over the next few years and plans to invest $11.7 million in a new building on the site, creating additional jobs for local construction and building workers.
The construction of the NANGU Cyber Forensics Facility is expected to be completed by March 2025 and aiming to have the facility ready for training and operations for the second semester.
The company has provided hi-tech services to organisations including law enforcement and government department to help deal with digital forensic and investigative issues including electronic evidence handling.
CDFS joins a growing number of investors setting up in the South Jerrabomberra Regional Jobs Precinct. Further blocks within the precinct will become available for investors in early 2025.
The precinct is supported by a $23 million contribution by the NSW Government for essential infrastructure including roads, footpaths, upgraded electricity, natural gas, water, and access to NBN Enterprise Ethernet services.
Strategically located on Canberra’s doorstep, the precinct’s infrastructure and proximity to universities, world-class research and development facilities and a skilled workforce makes it a highly attractive opportunity for investors.
With the wider region already home to more than 90 companies specialising in technology, cybersecurity and defence, the precinct development will help nurture high-tech careers in engineering, programming and science, specialising in cyber, space, AI, and defence.
The site’s proximity to government agencies and the nation’s decision-makers, an international airport and major road networks puts new and emerging businesses in a prime position to thrive.
To activate this investment-ready precinct in regional NSW, the NSW Government is working closely with the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, the ACT Government and federal agencies.
CDFS was supported by $3 million in Australian Government funding to establish the NANGU Cyber Forensics Facility.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
“It is important that we empower regional people and communities to prosper through a boost in skills, wages and opportunities. Through Regional Job Precincts like South Jerrabomberra, the NSW Government is providing this opportunity.
“This precinct gives investors access to a highly skilled and educated local workforce. It aims to build a sustainable business hub offering fast-tracked planning approvals.
“This investor-ready precinct has the advantage of proximity to key decision-makers in Canberra, and I am really proud that the NSW Government is giving businesses this opportunity to establish and grow in regional NSW.”
Member for Monaro, Steve Whan said
“With the rapid growth of areas like Jerrabomberra, Tralee, and Googong, precincts like this are ensuring we can keep highly qualified and skilled workers in their local area, and not lose their talents to the ACT or other major cities.
“The investment in modern and specialised industries like cyber security, space, AI, and research is creating a sustainable and competitive workforce for regional NSW which will attract new people to our area.
“I look forward to touring the precinct and learning about the work being done there.”
CDFS CEO Zoran Iliev said:
“The Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the lands where the NANGU Cyber Forensics Facility will stand, have recognised that these lands have always been places of teaching and learning. We deeply respect their traditions and are grateful to have NANGU in this beautiful area with a unique position near Queanbeyan, the Canberra airport, and our nation’s capital.
Our facility, the NANGU Cyber Forensics Facility, will not only be a hub for technology and science but also a preserver of traditions. The forensic scientists trained here will not only be guardians of the truth but also guardians of the rich traditions of the Ngunnawal people.
“As an independent RTO, we are proud to bring this training facility to South Jerrabomberra and offer young Australians a unique chance to get the qualifications to help them get not just a job but a career to be proud of.
“The CDFS team and I are very proud and grateful for the opportunity to help this region by providing top-notch Cyber Forensics training and creating the much-needed new workforce in Cyber.”
Released by: Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Transport
The NSW Government is investing $10 million to make it safer and easier to walk and ride to 11 Illawarra stations.
The planned initiatives will include things like footpath upgrades, better lighting, new bicycle storage around stations for people who choose to walk or cycle to and from their homes and to other modes of transport.
More than $3 million of the investment will be used to build a two-way shared cycleway at Corrimal, which would stretch nearly one kilometre along Murray Road between Corrimal Station and Cawley Street. Corrimal will also see a new pedestrian refuge installed and additional bicycle racks outside the station.
Other stations to benefit from proposed upgrades include:
Helensburgh will see existing bicycle storage upgraded and bicycle racks replaced, a footpath upgrade and new lighting. Footpaths will also be improved between the station and nearby bus stop, with a new refuge crossing installed across Lawrence Hargrave Drive between school and railway station.
Stanwell Park will see new lighting and CCTV installed and footpaths upgraded.
Scarborough will see including a new pedestrian refuge across Lawrence Hargrave Drive between the station and nearby school, improved footpath access between the station and bus stop and improvements to station stairs.
Coledale will see stairs replaced with a ramp.
Austinmer will see two pedestrian refuge crossings installed across nearby streets and a new sheltered bicycle storage space at both station entrances.
Thirroul will see existing bicycle storage upgraded and bicycle racks replaced, a footpath upgrade and new lighting. The nearby bus stop will be improved so vehicles can overtake waiting buses.
Bulli will see new sheltered bicycle storage installed, existing bicycle racks upgraded and more lighting.
North Wollongong will see a new secure bicycle shed with CCTV installed.
Coniston will see sheltered bicycle storage installed, new lighting and upgraded footpaths. Design work is also underway to make Coniston fully accessible.
Dapto will see new sheltered bicycle stalling installed.
Twenty-eight projects have been identified and prioritised following extensive consultation with the community and other stakeholders.
Further consultation will take place with the community as the projects progress, with all of them expected to be completed between early next year and the first half of 2026.
The Transport Integration and Placemaking projects are being delivered through Transport for NSW’s Rail Service Improvement Program, in partnership with Wollongong City Council and Sydney Trains.
This announcement comes as Transport for NSW has approved an extension of Wollongong City Council’s shared e-scooter trial until 30 June 2025.
In the first 12 months of the trial with operator Neuron Mobility, 165,000 e-scooter trips were taken in the Wollongong local government area – with riders collectively clocking up over 316,000 kilometres, enough to ride around Australia over 20 times.
In addition to extending its trial, the council is also exploring options to expand the trial footprint, to support more people riding shared e-scooters to reach their destinations.
Quotes attributable to Transport Minister Jo Haylen MP:
“This is an exciting and incredibly important investment for the people of Wollongong.
“Given there are 25 train stations in the Wollongong Local Government area, there is a growing need to ensure pedestrians and cyclists can connect to these public transport hubs as safely and easily as possible.
“Sheltered bicycle storage, new refuge crossings and street lighting with CCTV are just some of the many projects we will be rolling out to support the community.
“We know people in the Illawarra love active transport, so making it easier for people to make the most of these last mile connections is essential.
“Extending the Wollongong e-scooter trial until June next year is a big added bonus too.
“All of these small but meaningful investments dotted along the coast will make neighborhoods across the Illawarra better connected.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park MP:
“It’s not every day that 11 trains stations receive much needed upgrades, but that’s exactly what is happening here in the Illawarra.
“These small and important investments will make it so much easier for families to access their station, and safely lock their bike up there for the day.
“Upgrades to lighting, footpaths and crossings will also go a long way to improving the overall safety and access for commuters and tourists alike.”
Quotes attributable to the Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP:
“I’ve said before Wollongong is the best city in the world to ride a bike, now it’s the best place to ride an e-scooter.
I am pleased that council is also exploring expanding the eScooter trial zone to potentially include Port Kembla and that’s really exciting.
“The upgrades to stations and improved connections to Corrimal Station will make for a better public transport experience for current and future residents.”
Quotes attributable to the Member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson MP:
“After its recent accessibility upgrade, it’s exciting to see Dapto Station is once again receiving welcome investment from the Minns Labor Government. The new sheltered bike racks are a big win for our community and will make it easier to ride to the station, for those who want to.”
Quotes attributable to the Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart MP:
“Lawrence Hargrave Drive is the main artery connecting the villages along the coast. As a result, it’s incredibly busy and a challenge for pedestrians to cross. I really welcome the new pedestrian refuges that will make it safer for people to cross the road, as well as the other investments being made for our local stations.
“Works being undertaken at our train stations and roadways are crucial after they were neglected by the former Liberal National State government. The upgrades at Austinmer in particular, are changes I have campaigned on, I am thrilled the Minns Labor Government will be delivering these upgrades!”
Quotes attributable to the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tania Brown:
“Projects like these upgrades to Murray Road, and other locations around Wollongong, will assist people to comfortably and safely walk, roll, cycle or scoot to and from train stations that link our city.
“We welcome the grant funding from the NSW Government and will continue to look for ways to collaborate with Transport for NSW to improve the public and active transport system across Wollongong.
“We’re pleased to see an extension of the trial to 30 June 2025 to allow Council to work with Transport for NSW to continue to learn about e-scooter use and the further opportunities the shared scheme offers to support e-micromobility across Wollongong.”
Released by: Minister for Health, Minister for Multiculturalism
The Asylum Seekers Centre will be able to expand primary care clinics and meet the increasingly complex health needs of some of Sydney’s most vulnerable residents, thanks to a grant of more than $1 million from the NSW Government.
Minister for Health Ryan Park today announced funding of $1.07 million over three years for the Centre, which will help employ more clinical staff to manage the growing number of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the asylum seeker community.
The funding will also help the Centre address the increasing need and cost of medicine for members of the community without access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The Asylum Seekers Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 1993 and offers practical and personal support to people seeking asylum. The Centre also provides primary healthcare services for people seeking asylum with limited Medicare eligibility through a specialist nurse-led health service with volunteer GPs and other specialists.
The Centre’s health service runs four GP clinics per week and has seen an 81 per cent increase in visits since June 2022. The complexity of visits has increased due to growing mental health presentations, an ageing population, and increased demand for pharmaceuticals, compounded by rising costs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“This funding will allow people seeking asylum to access critical healthcare services they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
“Without access to the valuable work of the Asylum Seekers Centre, patients would often have nowhere else to turn but to our already busy emergency departments.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper:
“NSW settles a significant proportion of people fleeing conflicts in Australia. They are an important part of the NSW community and we must ensure they have access to the services they need.
“We are proud to support the Asylum Seekers Centre to facilitate access to essential primary health care to those who need it most.”
Quotes attributable to Asylum Seekers Centre CEO Frances Rush OAM:
“The Asylum Seekers Centre Health Clinic relies on the support of the state government, as well as the generosity of our GPs, physiotherapists, and others who provide their services for free, including partner organisations that provide free access to optometry and dentistry.”
“The Asylum Seekers Centre is appreciative of both the Minister’s support for the Centre’s Health Clinic and the recognition of the often-precarious plight that people seeking asylum in our state face.”
“Without access to the Centre’s pharmaceutical services, many people seeking asylum would not have the means to access life-saving medication – a priority healthcare right for all.”
“This funding will go a long way to help address the great need in our community, enhancing the health and lives of people seeking asylum.”
Following the introduction of the Try-a-Trade pilot in March, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa is excited to again offer the programme and encourage members of their community to consider pathways into further education or employment via trades training.
Thanks to initial funding received from Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa was able to co-design a pilot Try-a-Trade programme with WelTec which was delivered through March, April and May this year.
We were thrilled to receive initial funding for the pilot and run the first Try-a-Trades programme, says Wirangi Luke, Te Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive) of Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa. “Feedback from those who took part in the pilot indicated that the training gave them more confidence in their skills and abilities and supported several of them to step into work.”
“We heard from participants that they valued seeing what trades training was like, and that the programme developed skills they felt would help them into employment. Feedback indicated that it built self-awareness and confidence and participants said they felt more ready to gain experience through voluntary work or work placements, and plan for their future.”
A second Try-a-Trade programme delivered by WelTec kicks off on 17 October and will run for 7 weeks. The programme is for those who are not currently working, studying or in training and offers the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in foundational trades training. It is designed to give participants a snapshot of what training in different trades would be like, with workshops covering mechanical engineering, plastering, plumbing, carpentry, tiling, painting and electrical.
Mark Oldershaw, Executive Director for Whitireia and WelTec, welcomes those who would like to give the Try-a-Trade programme a try. “We value our partnership with Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and this is an important way we can support their educational goals and our local Lower Hutt community.”
The NSW Government is honoured to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Sydney during their first official visit to Australia this month and is inviting NSW residents to join the celebration.
NSW Premier Chris Minns is inviting members of the public to join Their Majesties at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday, 22 October, which will be followed by with an impressive Fleet Review and fly past by the Australian Defence Force on Sydney Harbour.
Members of the public are invited to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for the special event and the chance to meet The King and Queen. The afternoon event [at 4.20pm] will be followed by a Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour including an Australian Defence Force fly-over. Their Majesties, accompanied by the Governor-General, Chief of the Defence Force and Chief of Navy, will conduct a review of His Majesty’s Australian Ships Hobart, Warramunga,Arunta, Gascoyne, and Yarra, which will be anchored in the Harbour.
In celebration of regional NSW, Their Majesties will also attend a Premier-hosted community BBQ in Parramatta, which will showcase the cultural diversity of modern Australia, in particular Western Sydney. Invited guests include community leaders, volunteers, and individuals who have excelled in their field. The event will also showcase produce from NSW with support from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
As part of His Majesty’s engagements, The King will have the opportunity to meet current Australians of the Year (also NSW Australians of the Year 2024), Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, to hear firsthand about their world-leading cancer research and treatment.
The Queen will visit a Sydney library and meet students participating in a series of writing workshops, esteemed authors, and recipients of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.
The King’s visit to Australia will be His Majesty’s first to a Realm as Monarch. After Australia, Their Majesties will undertake a visit to Samoa and will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
“I look forward to hosting Their Majesties at the Western Sydney community BBQ to showcase this state’s rich culinary and cultural diversity, where they will also meet with a range of community organisations and outstanding Australians.
“It is wonderful His Majesty is taking the time to meet with current Australians of the Year (also NSW Australians of the Year 2024), Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO.
“I invite everyone to head to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on the afternoon of Tuesday 22 October to attend this special event.”
Source:Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in public hospitals are estimated to have cost the health care system $955 million in 2021 and to have caused more disability than road traffic crashes.
These infections can have a significant impact on patients and their whānau, causing longer hospital stays, delaying return to work or normal activities and, in severe cases, can lead to death. There are also additional costs for primary and community-based care, such as follow up GP visits and rehabilitation.
A paper produced by Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission on the annual economic burden of HAIs in terms of cost, deaths and disability has now been published in the Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology journal.
It highlights this national burden and will inform a strategy to reduce HAIs across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Clinical lead of the surgical site infection improvement programme at Te Tāhū Hauora and clinical microbiologist, Dr Arthur Morris, says that understanding the burden infections have on the health care system is an important step toward making positive change.
Dr Morris says, ‘Our data from 2021 shows that the burden of infections on the health care system is high. However, there are already quality improvement activities underway in districts to reduce them happening.
‘One example is the Surgical Site Infection Improvement Programme, which has achieved and sustained 20 and 25 percent reductions in infections following orthopaedic and cardiac surgery respectively.
‘Our goal is to identify which of those activities will have the biggest impact and then roll them out on a national level.’
Dr Morris says our rate of healthcare-associated infections is not unusual internationally.
‘It’s difficult to compare the rate of healthcare-associated infections in New Zealand with those of other countries because there are differences in the surveillance methods.
‘However, reviewing other countries using similar methodology showed the prevalence of these infections in adult patients in New Zealand was comparable to Europe, Wales and Switzerland and less than that of Australia and Singapore.’
Te Tāhū Hauora is working with the health care sector to identify the priorities for improving infection prevention and control practices to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
Background
Te Tāhū Hauora, in partnership with district health boards, carried out Aotearoa New Zealand’s first national point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in public hospitals in 2021.
A report was published by Te Tāhū Hauora in 2022 and the findings were published in Journal of Hospital Infection in 2023.
The data from the national point prevalence survey has now been used to calculate the annual economic burden of HAIs in terms of cost, deaths and disability. These findings are detailed in the paper published in the Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology journal, ‘The burden of healthcare-associated infections in New Zealand public hospitals 2021’.
