NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Household spending exceeds income in June 2024 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): June 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Household spending exceeds income in June 2024 quarter – 10 October 2024 – New Zealand household saving decreased to -$479 million in the June 2024 quarter as household spending increased while net disposable income fell, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    Seasonally adjusted household spending increased 1.0 percent to $60 billion in the June 2024 quarter. The increase in household expenditure was driven by spending on services and non-durable goods like groceries, partly offset by a decrease in spending on durable goods like motor vehicles.

    Household net disposable income decreased 0.9 percent to $59 billion in the June 2024 quarter. Total household income decreased 0.2 percent, falling for the first time since the start of the reported series in 2016.

    Household net disposable income is the amount of money a household has once all income such as wages, interest, and child support, and income payable such as taxes have been accounted for. It represents the money available for a household to save, spend, or invest.

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

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon’s Value Brands offers support to customers impacted by Hurricane Milton

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon’s Value Brands offers support to customers impacted by Hurricane Milton

    ALPHARETTA, GA – In response to Hurricane Milton’s forecasted impact on Florida, Verizon’s Value brands, including Straight Talk, Tracfone, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile, Net10, GoSmart, Page Plus, and Verizon Prepaid are providing an initial relief offer to help affected customers.

    We are extending service end dates to October 23, 2024 for customers in the following Florida counties using Straight Talk, Tracfone, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile, Net10, GoSmart, and Page Plus:

    Alachua, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, DeSoto, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia.

    Verizon will also waive domestic call, text, and data usage for Verizon Value Prepaid customers in the same counties.

    Customers do not have to take any action to take advantage of the offer.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Speech – Australian Technology Network 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Rankings are in the media today. And I have said this before, but I will say it again.

    When I think about the best universities in Australia, I don’t look at rankings.

    I look at what they do.

    And when I do that I see universities like you.

    Universities that are the real deal when it comes to fairness and opening the doors of opportunity.

    When it comes to helping more people from poor families and the regions to get a crack.

    Things that are important to me.

    On average only about 15 per cent of university students are from poor families.

    Across your six universities combined, it’s much higher than that.

    At universities like Newcastle, it’s as high as 24 per cent. At the University of South Australia, 25 per cent.

    That sort of university doesn’t just change the lives of the students they teach.

    It ricochets through generations.

    They transform communities.

    And I am going to give Newcastle a plug again, because there is no better example of that than their Open Foundation program.

    It’s been running now for 50 years.

    A free program that helps people who aren’t ready for uni to be ready.

    About 70,000 people in the last 50 years.

    One in five people who get a degree from Newcastle Uni today start with one of these free courses.

    People like Jennifer Baker.

    Jennifer was a mum at 19. She worked in hospitality for 10 years. One day, just by chance, she saw an ad in the paper for one of these free courses.

    Now she’s got a science degree, an honours degree, a PhD and a Fulbright scholarship.

    She’s a computational medicinal chemist.

    That’s what these courses do. That’s what I call a great university.

    And that’s what I am trying to replicate across the country with the legislation in the Parliament right now, that massively expands these Fee-Free Uni Ready Courses.

    This is supported by a funding injection in the Budget of an extra $350 million.

    I know you are doing a lot of the heavy lifting already.

    Reforms like this, and the ones to come, are because I want you to do even more.

    Of course, it’s not just equity that binds you together or makes you great.

    You can see it in your name.

    The ATN was formed 25 years ago from the five largest Institutes of Technology. And you are still focused on that mission.

    Still doing the heavy lifting when it comes to producing engineers in this country.

    But what makes you great in my eyes isn’t just what you are doing here at home.

    It’s what you are taking to the world.

    I am talking about the campuses you have set up around the world – from India to Vietnam, Singapore to Malaysia to Indonesia.

    You get that international education isn’t a one way street.

    That it shouldn’t just be about students coming here to study, but it can also be about taking what we do to them.

    Almost every one of you are doing this.

    And that tells me this a group of universities that doesn’t just expect things to happen, you go out and make it happen.

    There’s a bit happening at the moment.

    The international education legislation is being debated in the Senate this week.

    The first of the Accord Bills is being debated in the House.

    That’s the one that uncaps funding for those free university ready courses. It also wipes about $3 billion of student debt for three million Australians and introduces the Commonwealth prac payment.

    The second of the Accord Bills – the Bill that establishes a National Student Ombudsman, has just passed the House.

    I will also introduce legislation to establish a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

    And before the end of the year I will also set out the details of the next stage of the Accord.

    What the Australian Tertiary Education Commission will look like. And the details of managed growth and needs based funding.

    And that’s just higher ed.

    There is also legislation in the House to implement the 15 percent pay rise we announced for early educators a few weeks ago.

    And tomorrow I will introduce legislation to increase funding to our public schools.

    To remove the ceiling that stops the Australian government providing more than 20 percent of the funding needed for public schools, and make it a floor.

    To help finish the job that David Gonski started more than a decade ago.

    And to tie that funding to the sort of reforms that are needed to help more young people from poor families and from the regions to finish school and knock on your door.

    None of these reforms are easy.

    All of them are hard.

    And all of them are necessary.

    If we are going to really build a better and a fairer education system, these are the sorts of things we have to do.

    And you are an important part of that.

    You know like I do how important all of this is.

    That education is the most powerful cause for good in this country.

    That it’s the greatest tool we have to build a country where your chances in life don’t depend on who your parents are, where you live or the colour of your skin.

    A country that the Prime Minister describes as a place where no one is held back and no one is left behind.

    We can be that country.

    And our education system can make it real.

    But that means serious reform.

    The sort we are doing now.

    And more.

    And it will be better because of your input.

    Thank you for the work you do and for the constructive role you have played for the last 25 years.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you as we build a better and a fairer education system for all Australians.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Opinion piece: Modernising Merger Approvals to bring them into the 21st century

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Boosting competition has been one of the cornerstones of the Albanese government’s economic plan ever since we came to office.

    This week we’re taking another big step towards making our economy more competitive, by introducing the single biggest reform to Australia’s mergers law in 50 years to parliament.

    Our new merger rules will improve how these types of deals are approved across the board.

    They will make the system faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and more transparent.

    They will also create certainty for businesses that have been forced to navigate an unclear and antiquated merger system for decades.

    Under our current merger approvals regime, businesses that are looking to merge don’t know if they need to notify the competition regulator, when they need to notify the competition regulator and how to best go about it.

    This will all change under the new regime.

    We will set clearly defined monetary thresholds that will determine whether a merger needs ACCC approval before proceeding.

    There will be 3 key thresholds.

    Firstly, any merger will be looked at if the Australian turnover of the combined businesses is above $200 million, and either the business or assets being acquired has Australian turnover above $50 million or global transaction value above $250 million.

    Secondly, the ACCC will look at any merger involving a very large business with Australian turnover more than $500 million buying a smaller business or assets with Australian turnover above $10 million.

    Finally, to target serial acquisitions, all mergers by businesses with combined Australian turnover of more than $200 million where the cumulative Australian turnover from acquisitions in the same or substitutable goods or services over a 3-year period is at least $50 million will be captured, or $10 million if a very large business is involved.

    Land acquisitions involving residential property development and certain commercial property acquisitions won’t be included to avoid clogging up the system with simple land acquisitions unless they are captured under other notification requirements.

    In addition, the legislation provides flexibility to allow the Treasurer to adjust and calibrate the thresholds to respond to evidence-based concerns from the ACCC about high-risk mergers, like in the supermarket sector.

    These thresholds are all about striking the right balance between creating a rigorous and robust regime that can capture all risky mergers without calling in every merger. The thresholds will be reviewed 12 months after coming into effect, to ensure they are working as intended.

    The new system will allow the ACCC to review all the mergers that they have been typically concerned about, not just some.

    It will take a more targeted approach that allows the ACCC to focus its efforts on the mergers that really matter.

    We want to see the majority of mergers approved quickly, so the ACCC can focus on the minority that give rise to competition concerns. The ACCC has committed to this, with an expectation around 80 per cent of mergers will be approved in 15 to 20 business days.

    That’s because we understand that most mergers have genuine economic benefits and are an important feature of any healthy, open financial system.

    Last year, over 1,400 mergers were recorded, at a value of around $300 billion.

    They can attract capital, re‑tool businesses and improve the uptake of new technologies.

    They can allow businesses to achieve greater economies of scale and scope, to access new resources, technology and expertise.

    This can flow through to consumers via greater product choice and quality as well as lower prices.

    But some mergers can cause serious economic harm.

    This can happen when businesses are not interested in improving profitability by lifting productivity.

    When they’re solely focused on squeezing out competitors to capture a larger percentage of the market.

    This can strangle innovation, reduce productivity in our economy and punish consumers with reduced choice.

    We’ve developed this legislation and these thresholds through detailed consultation.

    We’re especially grateful for the input from the Expert Advisory Panel, comprising Kerry Schott, David Gonski, John Asker, Sharon Henrick, John Fingleton, Danielle Wood and Rod Sims.

    We’re also genuinely thankful for all the discussions and consultation we have held with businesses, the competition regulator, and the broader community, about the legislation.

    As an example, we heard concerns about aspects of our draft legislation from the business community, including that parts of the review process were still too time‑consuming, and businesses wouldn’t be able to access the evidence the ACCC relied on when making its decision.

    We’ve addressed these issues in the updated Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024 we will introduce into Parliament on Thursday.

    The Bill clarifies and provides certainty on timelines for ACCC assessment and limits the ability of the ACCC to stop the clock at various stages of the assessment process.

    The Bill also now allows discretion for the Australian Competition Tribunal to permit parties to provide new information if relevant to the ACCC determination and they didn’t have a reasonable opportunity to make submissions during the ACCC’s review.

    These new targeted and balanced merger rules are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s substantial and broad competition reform agenda, which is all about creating a more dynamic, more productive and resilient economy.

    They build on actions we’ve already taken, like revitalising National Competition Policy with states and territories, abolishing 500 nuisance tariffs, our reforms to boost competition in the supermarket sector, and productivity enhancing reforms to planning and zoning around the country.

    This agenda will help expand choices, lift living standards and grow our economy.

    It will help ensure that our people, businesses and industries are beneficiaries of the opportunities before us in the defining decade ahead.

    This article was first published as Government has listened to concerns on merger law reform in The Australian Financial Review.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – TODAY Show

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    ALEX CULLEN: The New South Wales and South Australian Government will today hold a Social Media Summit focusing on the danger it poses to younger users.

    Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Education Minister Jason Clare and 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe. Good morning lads, thank you so much for being with us.

    Minister, let’s start with you. This as new data revealed almost every Aussie primary school student is on social media. They love it, it’s extremely concerning.

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: It really is, and anyone who’s a mum and dad with children in primary school or high school knows the damage that this social media cesspit can do to our kids. I see it as a parent as well. We’ve seen already the difference that we can make when you ban a mobile phone in schools. We banned mobile phones in schools starting this year right across the country, and it’s having a massive impact, you know, kids are more focused in the classroom, they’re having more fun in the playground.  

    Alex, teachers are telling me that the playgrounds are noisier at lunchtime this year than they were last year because kids don’t have their heads down looking at phones like zombies in the playground, they’re playing with their friends, they’re running around.

    But when the school bell rings at the end of the day, the phones are turned back on and they’re back in that cesspit of social media that has all of that mental health impact on our kids, as well as I’ve got reports that tell me it has a massive impact on their studies as well, if you spend a lot of time on social media after school, then it affects how you go at school.

    And so that’s why the work that Michelle Rowland is doing, the Minister for Communications, in setting a national minimum age for access to social media’s so important, and the work that New South Wales and South Australia are doing today is an important part of that.

    CULLEN: Yeah, too right. Minimum age limit, Chris, at 18, what do you think?  

    CHRIS O’KEEFE: That’s probably a bit high, but, well, 14, 16, whatever it is, just go and do it, they don’t need to do a summit, a victory lap, keep talking about it, getting everyone around tables and, you know, the Labor Governments all around Australia effectively saying, “How good are we, we’re cracking down on social media?” That’s what this is about.

    There would be no parents, no teachers, very few people in society who believes what we’re doing with social media now is the right way forward. There needs to be a minimum age limit. Just get on and do it.

    CULLEN: Yeah, too right. My kids especially, I don’t want them on social media until they’re a lot older, let me tell you.

    But the Australian Education Union has been accused of putting kids last after imposing an immediate ban on the roll out of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.

    Minister, let’s bring you in. The AEU says your reforms will short change public schools and increase teachers’ workload. What do you say to that?

    CLARE: Today I’m going to introduce legislation into the Parliament, Alex, to increase funding for public schools, but I want to tie that funding to real and practical reforms to help our children.

    The crux of this is that at the moment the percentage of young people finishing high school’s going backwards, and it’s particularly happening in our public schools. Seven or eight years ago, 83 per cent of students finished high school, now it’s dropped to 73 per cent, and if we’re going to fix that, we’ve got to go all the way back to the start when kids are really young when they’re starting primary school, identify children who are starting behind or falling behind and make sure that we intervene with practical reforms like catch up tutoring. So you get children out of a classroom of 25 or 30, put them in a classroom with three or four, and we know that if you do that right, then children can catch up, they can learn as much in six months as they’d normally learn in 12 months.

    I’ve got $16 billion I want to invest to increase funding for our public schools, but I want to invest it in these practical reforms so we can help children right across the country to catch up when they’re little, and keep up, have more people go on and finish high school and go on to TAFE or go to uni.

    CULLEN: Okay, Chris, just as we [indistinct].

    O’KEEFE: Can we just be honest here for a second, and people might not want to hear this, but at what point are teachers going to hang a big mirror in their staff rooms and think, are we the problem here?

    Because there’s got to be some accountability. You’ve never had children dumber. You’ve got one in three kids who are failing NAPLAN when it comes to numeracy and literacy. That’s not good enough in a country like Australia. The classrooms have never had more money in them. The Governments have never spent more on education, yet our kids have never been dumber.

    So you can draw a straight line and say to yourselves, okay, who is responsible for this? It’s not the Government. Is it the parents? Well, the teachers like to say so, but maybe it’s the teachers.

    So at what point is the union movement and the teachers’ cohort more broadly going to sit with themselves and look, and say, well, are we going to take some accountability here?

    Is it have we got something to answer for? Whenever you raise that, “Oh, no, no, no, but teachers are hard working”. I’m not saying they’re not hard working; I’m just saying they might not be doing a very good job.

    CULLEN: Jason?  

    CLARE: I’m not going to attack our teachers, they do the most important job in the world.

    O’KEEFE: No, of course you’re not, but it’s true. Nobody wants to confront this problem, Minister.

    CLARE: No, and Chris, don’t talk down our kids either, they’re not dumb. But the challenge that we’ve got here, and NAPLAN data shows it, is that one in 10 children are below the minimum standard we set for literacy and numeracy, but kids from poor families and kids from the bush, and Indigenous kids, it’s one in three.

    Now here’s a statistic that will scare you: only 20 per cent of those kids that are behind when they’re little, when they’re eight, have caught up by the time they’re 15. That’s why I say you need practical reforms here that we know work.

    O’KEEFE: And the teachers are holding you over a barrel and trying to stop these reforms from happening, and I think it’s shameful.

    CLARE: Well, and I’m determined to act, and I’ve got $16 billion to invest in these reforms to help to make sure that more children catch up and keep up    

    O’KEEFE: But then why   but why as a government and a Minister are you not going to call out the teaching profession, and more broadly the unions, and say, “Hey guys, not good enough”.

    CLARE: I disagree fundamentally with what the union is arguing, but I back our teachers every single day, because they do such an important job. Many teachers out there, if you ask them, will back these reforms. They grab me every single day and say, “Keep going mate”.

    CULLEN: It’s tough, I know, it’s tough for teachers.

    O’KEEFE: [Indistinct] though don’t they?

    CULLEN: Thank you, you two, always interesting. Jason, Chris, thanks so much, boys

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACCC welcomes introduction of merger reform bill, prepares for implementation

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC today welcomed the introduction of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024 into the Australian Parliament, which if passed through the Parliament will provide the ACCC with fit for purpose tools targeted at identifying and preventing anti-competitive mergers.

    “This marks a significant milestone in the process of reforming Australia’s merger laws,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

    If passed by the Parliament, the new legislation will represent a major change for the ACCC, business and the Australian community. In anticipation of the new legislation coming into effect, the ACCC has today issued a statement of goals to outline its approach to implementing the new regime and to reduce uncertainty during the transition.

    “The ACCC is committed to the successful implementation of these reforms, if passed by parliament, to ensure that transactions that may adversely affect competition are subject to adequate scrutiny based on the risks raised, and to provide a more efficient and transparent process for businesses and for the wider community,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    This contrasts to the current situation where only a small proportion of the estimated 1,000 – 1,500 mergers that occur each year are notified to the ACCC and around 93 per cent of those that are voluntarily notified are assessed on a confidential basis.

    “Part of making these reforms a success will be ensuring businesses have clarity on their obligations, the timeframes they can expect, and other key aspects of the process,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Our statement of goals is the first step in signalling how we will implement these reforms and outlines what merger parties and stakeholders, including customers and suppliers to merger parties, should expect.”

    The new system will provide for greater transparency of the mergers the ACCC is reviewing and the reasons on which decisions are based. This will enable the wider community, including consumers and small businesses, to comment on mergers relevant to them.

    It will also result in a more efficient and faster process and more certain timelines for businesses seeking clearance, with new obligations on the ACCC to complete decisions within legislated timeframes.

    The ACCC expects about 80 per cent of mergers will be cleared within 15 to 20 business days.

    Under the new regime, the ACCC will enhance its economic and data analysis to further drive and inform its decision making.

    “The ACCC will take a risk-based approach, with resources prioritised to acquisitions more likely to harm the community,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    Subject to the passage of the legislation, the new regime will come into effect from 1 January 2026 but will also allow for merger parties to start using the new merger regime on a voluntary basis from 1 July 2025.

    The ACCC will consult on and publish guidelines on the transition period to ensure stakeholders are well informed about the options available to them during this period and have open channels available for merger parties to seek guidance.

    The ACCC has also previously announced it will renew and expand its Performance Consultative Committee to advise on the ACCC’s merger review functions as well as the broad range of the ACCC’s responsibilities.

    The committee will consist of a range of stakeholders including consumer, business, and legal representatives.

    Background:

    Reforms to Australia’s existing merger laws were announced by the Treasurer in April 2024. The Treasurer’s announcement was welcomed by the ACCC.

    The ACCC first released proposed merger reforms at the Law Council in 2021. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb commenced her term in 2022 and has continued to advocate for merger reform including at the National Press Club in April 2023.

    The ACCC’s submissions to the Treasury Competition Review, which includes detailed analysis and argues the case for reform can be found here: https://www.accc.gov.au/inquiries-and-consultations/accc-submissions-to-external-consultations#toc-mergers-

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Historic reforms for a more competitive economy enter Parliament

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Today the Government will introduce landmark reforms to Parliament to overhaul Australia’s merger rules, another big step towards further boosting competition and productivity in our economy.

    This legislative package is the biggest reform to Australia’s merger settings in almost 50 years.

    It will create a regime that more efficiently and effectively targets mergers that are anti‑competitive, while allowing mergers that are pro‑competitive to proceed faster.

    The Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024 delivers the merger reforms we announced in April, and will make our merger approval system faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and more transparent.

    This Bill will bring Australia’s merger system into the 21st century and make it easier for the majority of mergers to be approved quickly, so the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) can focus on the minority that give rise to competition concerns.

    We understand that most mergers have genuine economic benefits and are an important feature of any healthy, open financial system but some mergers can cause serious economic harm.

    Under the new regime, there will be a mandatory notification system for mergers above certain thresholds and the ACCC will be the decision maker on approvals.

    There will be three key thresholds:

    1. Any merger will be looked at if the Australian turnover of the combined businesses is above $200 million, and either the business or assets being acquired has Australian turnover above $50 million or global transaction value above $250 million.
    2. The ACCC will look at any merger involving a very large business with Australian turnover more than $500 million buying a smaller business or assets with Australian turnover above $10 million.
    3. To target serial acquisitions, all mergers by businesses with combined Australian turnover of more than $200 million where the cumulative Australian turnover from acquisitions in the same or substitutable goods or services over a 3 year period is at least $50 million will be captured, or $10 million if a very large business is involved.

    These thresholds will allow the ACCC to focus its efforts on the mergers that really matter. The thresholds will be reviewed 12 months after coming into effect, to ensure they are working as intended.

    Land acquisitions involving residential property development and certain commercial property acquisitions won’t be included to avoid clogging up the system with simple land purchases unless they are captured by additional targeted notification requirements.

    In addition, the legislation provides flexibility to allow the Treasurer to adjust and calibrate the thresholds to respond to evidence‑based concerns from the ACCC about high‑risk mergers, like in the supermarket sector.

    This power, combined with the thresholds, will allow the ACCC to review all the mergers that they have been typically concerned about.

    Using this provision, the Government intends to make sure the ACCC is notified of every merger in the supermarket sector.

    Reviewing every supermarket merger is part of the decisive action our Government is taking to help Australians get fairer prices at the checkout. We want to make sure supermarket mergers don’t come at the cost of Australians, families and pensioners getting a fair price on their grocery bills.

    The Government intends to use this designation power to get the competition regulator to review purchases of an interest above 20 per cent in an unlisted or private company, if one of the companies involved in the deal has turnover more than $200 million.

    The Government will also consider targeted notification requirements for sectors such as fuel, liquor and oncology radiology.

    We consulted widely on these thresholds and the legislation, including with consumers, businesses, the agriculture sector, legal practitioners, investors, academics and industry associations.

    Subject to the passage of legislation, the new system will come into effect from 1 January 2026, with businesses able to make voluntary notifications under the new regime from 1 July 2025.

    This legislation will improve competition in our economy, which means higher quality choices for consumers and fairer prices.

    It builds on our substantial competition agenda including revitalising National Competition Policy with the states and territories, abolishing 500 nuisance tariffs, our reforms to the supermarket sector, and productivity enhancing reforms to planning and zoning around the country.

    The Albanese Government is focused on tackling cost of living pressures now and building a more dynamic, more productive, and more resilient economy. Making our economy more competitive is critical to these goals.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government introduces legislation to increase funding for public schools

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    The Albanese Government has today introduced legislation to increase funding to public schools across Australia.

    This legislation is all about enabling governments to fully fund our public schools and tie that funding to reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.

    Over the last eight years the percentage of students finishing high school has declined, from 83 per cent to 73 per cent in public schools.

    We need to turn around and that’s what this legislation is about.

    At the moment, non-government schools are funded at the level David Gonski set, or they are on track to get there, or they are above it and coming back down to it.

    But most public schools aren’t.

    The Commonwealth Government provides 80 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) funding for non-government schools and the State and Territory Governments provide the other 20 per cent.

    For public schools it’s the reverse. The Commonwealth provides 20 per cent of the SRS funding, and the States and Territories are supposed to provide another 75 per cent. That means there is at least a five per cent gap.

    The Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024 amends the Australian Education Act 2013 (the Act) and enables the Commonwealth to lift its share of funding to public schools above 20 per cent.

    The legislation removes the funding ceiling that stops the Commonwealth providing more than 20 per cent of funding to public schools and turns that into a funding floor.

    This means the 20 per cent will become the minimum, not the maximum, the Commonwealth contributes to public schools.

    This legislation will enable the Government to fully fund public schools in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and any other jurisdictions that sign on to the Albanese Government’s public school funding offer in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (BFSA).

    The BFSA is a 10-year agreement that ties new funding to practical reforms to help lift student outcomes, sets targets and improves school funding transparency.

    Greater funding certainty will be provided to jurisdictions and public schools by:

    •    setting a minimum ‘funding floor’ for Commonwealth funding contributions to public schools at 20 per cent from 2025, and 40 per cent for the Northern Territory from 2029
    •    locking in Commonwealth funding for public schools so it cannot go backwards
    •    increase transparency and accountability of how school funding is being spent 
    •    requiring the Minister to report each year to Parliament on the progress of national school education reform.

    The Albanese Government has put $16 billion of additional investment for public schools on the table.

    If delivered, this would represent the biggest extra investment in public education by the Australian Government in this country’s history.

    This legislation will enable additional funding to flow to the states and territories who have signed up to the BFSA.

    The Albanese Government will continue to work with the remaining states and territories to fully fund government schools across Australia.

    If a state or territory does not sign on to the Government’s public school funding offer, the current funding arrangements will continue for another 12 months.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “At the moment, the maximum the Commonwealth Government can provide to public schools is 20 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard.

    “This Bill turns that maximum into a minimum. It turns that ceiling into a floor.

    “It enables the Commonwealth government to ratchet up funding for public schools.

    “This important legislation allows the Albanese Government to deliver more funding to public schools and tie that funding to practical reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Announces Five New System-in-Package Solutions Powered by Qualcomm for AI/ML and Video Solutions at the Edge

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions, today announced its powerful new System-in-Package (SiP) solutions powered by Qualcomm® Technologies’ chipsets that reinforce Lantronix’s position in industrial and enterprise IoT innovation, bringing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities to the edge.

    “Qualcomm Technologies and Lantronix have had strong relationships for more than 15 years,” stated Dev Singh, vice president of Business Development and head of Industrial Automation at Qualcomm Technologies Inc. “Utilizing Qualcomm Technologies’ cutting-edge processors, Lantronix enables its customers to seamlessly deploy AI solutions at the edge, bringing its expertise in embedded computing and IoT to deliver reliable, industrial-grade systems.”

    With a combination of leading-edge performance and cost efficiency, Lantronix’s five new SiP families are set to accelerate the development of AI-driven applications in industrial and enterprise use cases, including robotics, industrial automation, video surveillance, video collaboration and drones. The new SiP modules are compliant with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

    “With the addition of these five new SiP solutions, we continue our strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies that has enabled Lantronix to build a proven track record of successfully delivering integrated, collaborative solutions that are driving forward IoT and AI/ML technologies to meet the evolving needs of today’s advanced-edge applications,” said Mathi Gurusamy, chief strategy officer for Lantronix.

    Lantronix enables the creation of superior, high-performance AI-driven applications by integrating AI capabilities from the Qualcomm® AI Hub. The Qualcomm AI Hub provides a reference base of more than 100 AI models and a simplified model optimization process to efficiently utilize AI capabilities (3.5 to 100 INT-8 TOPS) in these SiP families.  

    IQ9 Series SiPs for Industrial and Robotics Applications

    Lantronix’s pin-compatible 9100IQ and 9075IQ SiPs, powered by the Qualcomm® IQ-9100 and IQ-9075 processors, provide scalable, power-efficient and robust computing to autonomous devices and next-generation Industry 4.0 designs using advanced AI. The new IQ9 Series can enable:

    • Robust safety functions in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) or platforms with functional safety (FuSa) up to level SIL-3 level (IQ-9100-based SiPs only)
    • Device robustness with fault tolerance Error Correction Code (ECC) memory support and system cost savings by leveraging an integrated, dedicated safety island (IQ-9100) or real-time subsystem (IQ-9075) with four dedicated independent processing cores supporting real-time operating systems for system error monitoring and other critical functions.
    • Robot perception, navigation and versatility improvement through a powerful Qualcomm® Adreno™ 663 GPU and support for up to 16 concurrent cameras.
    • Interactive industrial edge AI systems utilizing up to 100 TOPS by integrating Large Language Model (LLM) support at the edge. The IQ9 Series Hexagon tensor processor can achieve a generation rate of 12 tokens per second when running the Llama 2 13B parameter mode.
    • Fanless systems to enhance operating temperature with the SiP family supporting a -40°C to 115°C junction temperature range.

    Learn more about Lantronix’s 9100IQ and 9075IQ SiP families here. 

    Lantronix’s Open-Q 8550CS for Advanced Video and AI Applications

    Building on the success of its existing Open-Q SiP portfolio, Lantronix’s Open-Q 8550CS family, powered by Qualcomm® Technologies’ QSC8550 processor, delivers high AI performance, power efficiency and advanced Wi-Fi® 7 and Bluetooth® 5 connectivity, making it ideal for long-term, high-demand edge computing applications. Benefits include the abilities to:

    • Enhance video conferencing meeting experiences, automated guided vehicle pathing, smart camera image quality and edge AI box scalability with the family’s octal-core computing capabilities and 48 AI TOPS tensor performance.
    • Perform complex 3D rendering and computer vision tasks with a powerful Adreno 740 GPU supporting ray tracing, Open GL ES, Vulkan and Open CL profiles and 4K240/8K60 video decoding and 4K120/8K30 encoding.
    • Connect edge AI boxes leveraging high-speed 2.5G and 10G Ethernet ports.

    Learn more about Lantronix’s Open-Q 8550CS SiP family here. 

    Lantronix’s Open-Q 6490CS and 5430CS for Scalable AI Solutions

    Lantronix’s pin-compatible Open-Q 6490CS and Open-Q 5430CS families, powered by Qualcomm® Technologies’ QCS6490 and QCS5430 processors, allow customers to scale their product lines with minimal development effort while benefiting from low-power AI performance, Wi-Fi 6E and BLE 5+ connectivity as well as flexible peripheral expansion. Features include:

    • Real-time machine learning on 6th-generation AI engine, delivering 3.5 to 13 AI TOPS and complemented with up to octal-core CPU and Adreno 640 class GPU. 
    • Advanced multimedia and AI powered camera support through up to three concurrent ISPs supporting up to 192MP cameras, 4K30 encoding and 4K60 decoding, sufficient to handle up to 8 camera streams simultaneously for video-intensive applications.
    • Percepxion™ device management for over-the-air (OTA) upgrades for performance, security and software feature improvements. 

    Learn more about Lantronix’s Open-Q 6490CS here and 5430CS families here.

    About Lantronix   

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth industries including Smart Cities, Automotive and Enterprise. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that address each layer of the IoT Stack. Lantronix’s leading-edge solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. 

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to our Open-Q SIP solutions for Qualcomm developers. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024; as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. 

    © 2024 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

    Qualcomm-branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm and Adreno are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. 

    Lantronix Media Contact:         
    Gail Kathryn Miller 
    Corporate Marketing & 
    Communications Manager 
    media@lantronix.com
    949-212-0960 

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:         
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release, fatal crash, SH73, Kirwee

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are now in a position to release the names of the two people who died following a crash on West Coast Road, Kirwee on Thursday 3 October 2024.

    They were Anna Brenmuhl, 74 and Francis Brenmuhl, 75 of Kirwee.

    Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with their family at this extremely difficult time.

    The driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision remains in Christchurch Hospital in a stable condition.

    Our investigation into the crash remains ongoing. No charges have been laid at this stage.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects

    Source: Australia Government Statements 4

    10 10 2024 – Media release

    L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching You creators Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk, and Arisa Trew from online development project, Level Up (photo credit: Mathias Scherrer).
    Screen Australia has announced over $8.1 million in production funding for 15 projects spanning feature film, television and online content. This significant investment reflects Screen Australia’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovative storytelling and content that engages audiences across genres and platforms.
    Among the funded projects are Zac Power, a new animated family feature from Flying Bark Productions and Cheeky Little Media, based on the popular book series of the same name; Leviticus, the latest feature from Causeway Films, the production company behind the global breakout success Talk to Me; romantic comedy Love Adjacent; Stan’s psychological thriller series Watching You; and online series Hoops, from the creative team behind the popular TikTok documentary Transathletica.
    Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said, “These latest projects reflect the depth of creative storytelling that defines the Australian screen industry. We support projects that entertain and resonate with audiences. Our aim is to champion authentic local voices and ensure our sector remains at the forefront of global storytelling.”
    “For the 2023/24 financial year, Screen Australia invested over $85 million across all 57 funding programs, including over $5.5 million through the First Nations Department, and issued 205 final certificates through the Producer Offset with a total value of $413 million. Demand on Screen Australia support remained high, with the agency supporting just under a third of all applications received. We’ll continue to seek ways to provide impactful support within our limited capacity, prioritising audience connection, industry value and cultural relevance.”
    Over the past year, Australian projects demanded global attention with 61 Australian projects selected for international film festivals and events. Amongst those titles, online series Videoland took out Best Comedy series at the prestigious Festival Series Mania, critically acclaimed debut feature Shayda won the Sundance Audience Award, and Furiosa and Australia/Ireland Co-production The Surfer starring Nicholas Cage led the Australian contingent hosting World Premieres at Cannes Film Festival. Funding stories that reflect and connect remains a focus and in 2023/24, the agency supported a breadth of titles that highlight local screen talent including drama series Top End Bub, feature film JIMPA and a new slate of children’s content including DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW, an animated adaptation of the popular children’s book series by comedian and author Andy Lee.
    “Our focus is firmly on the future. We’re building a sustainable screen economy that both adapts and inspires. I’m thrilled by the international recognition of our stories and excited for the pipeline of projects set to release before the end of the year including films Memoir of a Snail and The Moogai, along with series’ Thou Shalt Not Steal, Four Years Later and Plum – I can’t wait for Australians to experience them,” continued Brennan.
    The projects funded for production include:

    Chasing Millions: A crime drama set in Belfast 2004, where Northern Ireland has been at peace for six years, but old enmities and mistrust remain. Chasing Millions tells the story of the biggest bank heist in Irish, British (and Australian) history making reluctant partners of ambitious Australian police officer, Diana, with gruff, veteran Northern Irish detective, Crawford, as they investigate and seek to solve the crime while navigating their way through the minefield of a fragile peace. An official Irish-Australian co-production with Irish director Stephen Burke (Maze) at the helm, based on a script by Stephen Burke and Katherine Thomson (Schapelle, House of Hancock). Producers are Jane Doolan (Maze, Wolf) of Mammoth Films, Ireland and Michael Wrenn (Audrey) of Invisible Republic, Australia. It has received major production investment from Screen Ireland, with local distribution by Bonsai Films and international sales by Level K.
    Displaced: A six-part comedy sci-fi series for YouTube that follows a dysfunctional physicist who is accidentally sent back in time and in the process, tries to fix her future by mentoring her younger self. Displaced is a comedy about depression, queerness, making trouble, healing an inner child, and being seen. It is from writer/director Molly Daniels (The InBESTigators, Wispy), writer/producer Jem Splitter (Galacticare) and producer Rachael Morrow. Displaced is produced and developed in association with VicScreen and financed with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
    Hoops: From the team behind Transathletica on TikTok, Hoops documents the journey of Transgender Basketballer Lexi Rodgers and her fight to be ruled eligible to play with a NBL1 South team. After a major setback in 2023, Lexi spends the year jumping through hoops – determined against all odds to play in the 2024 season. Hoops is from writer/director Hannah McElhinney, writer Rudy Jean Rigg and executive producer Jamie Searle of Transathletica, with Eliza Bone (Letter for the King) producing.
    Leviticus: The latest horror feature film from the production company behind box office hit Talk to Me, Leviticus is the story of two teenage boys living in a conservative Christian community in regional Victoria, Naim and Ryan. When their attraction to each other is identified by the local pastor, the pair are subjected to a conversion ritual which unknowingly releases an entity that terrorises the town. Leviticus is from writer/director Adrian Chiarella (Totally Completely Fine), and producers Hannah Ngo (Latecomers) and Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton of Causeway Films. It is financed in association with Salmira Productions, and developed and produced in association with VicScreen, who is also supporting post, digital and visual effects (PDV). PDV is also supported by Kojo Studio, with local distribution by Maslow Entertainment and international sales by Studio 301 Films.
    Love Adjacent: When food critic Maggie writes a review that causes top chef Ryan’s restaurant to go under, he is forced to retreat back home and start again from scratch. Coincidentally in the same town for her sister’s wedding, Maggie is determined to continue taking down what Ryan is serving up, that is until catastrophe strikes and Maggie desperately needs Ryan’s help to make her sister’s wedding happen. Love Adjacent is a romantic comedy feature film directed by Louise Alston (Back of the Net) and written by Sarah Mayberry (Neighbours) and Christopher Gist (The Broken Shore), with Kate Whitbread (The Caterpillar Wish) and Spencer McLaren (This Little Love of Mine) producing. It is produced in association with VicScreen, with Umbrella Entertainment distributing locally and Film Seekers managing international sales.
    Posthumous: In this drama, horror feature film, Zoe returns to her family home and estranged father to find some semblance of comfort after her life falls apart, but the discovery of a mysterious videotape threatens to undo everything she knew about her deceased mother’s final days and her own birth. Amidst their shared grief, Zoe and her father face a powerful supernatural force as long-buried events are exposed, and must be reckoned with. Posthumous is from writer/director/producer Josh Tanner (Wandering Soul) and writer/producer Jade van der Lei (6 Festivals), with Joel Anderson (Lake Mungo) executive producing. It is funded in association with Screen Queensland. Financed with support from the Gold Coast Screen Incentive, with local distribution by Kismet Movies.
    Saccharine: In this psychological horror feature from Carver Films (Run Rabbit Run), a lovelorn medical student becomes terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze: eating human ashes. Saccharine is from writer/director/producer Natalie Erika James and producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, the team behind Relic. It is produced in association with VicScreen, with local distribution by Maslow Entertainment and international sales by XYZ Films.
    Watching You: A six-part gripping psychological thriller for Stan based on J.P Pomare’s novel The Last Guests. Watching You is created for television by Alexei Mizin and Ryan van Dijk and produced by Jason Stephens and Bree-Anne Sykes. Helen Bowden, Cailah Scobie and Alicia Brown are executive producing. It has received major production investment from Stan and is financed with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW Fund. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Financed in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.
    Zac Power: Based on the popular book series of the same name, Zac Power is an animated family feature from Flying Bark Productions (200% Wolf, 100% Wolf) and Cheeky Little Media (Kangaroo Beach, Ginger and the Vegesaurs). Zac Power’s position as the top teenage spy is compromised after a brilliant new agent arrives. When his recklessness allows an ostentatious supervillain to steal a high-tech weapon, Zac is forced to confront his own flaws and team up with his rival. The film is directed by Alexs Stadermann and David Webster and written by Fin Edquist, John Armstrong, Lawrence Leung and Erica Harrison. It is financed in association with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

    Also announced today are 27 television dramas, 23 feature films and six online projects that will share in over $1.7 million of development funding. Of these, 24 projects have been supported through the Generate Fund, 26 through the Premium Fund and six through the Online Development Fund.
    The projects include online action adventure series Amy the Pirate; family music drama feature Piano Mums, following a promising teenage pianist and exploring the power of music and love of family; Skip Ahead project Life of Kea that has been developed into a television drama series; and a second season of the TikTok docuseries Sextistics, which continues to explore the statistics to create a snapshot of gender, sexuality and identity within Australia.
    For the list of projects funded across scripted feature films, scripted television, online and development in the 2023/24 financial year, visit:

    For full details on feature films funded for production so far in the 2024/25 financial year, click here.
    Download PDF
    Media enquiries
    Maddie Walsh | Publicist
    + 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
    Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
    + 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
    All other general/non-media enquiries
    Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meaningful connections take centre stage on World Mental Health Day

    Source: Mental Health Australia

    On World Mental Health Day, Mental Health Australia is urging policymakers to recognise that meaningful connections are critical to mental health.

    10 October is not just a date on the calendar. It’s an opportunity to spotlight mental health, challenge stigma, and push for real change. This year, Mental Health Australia’s World Mental Health Day campaign focusses on why meaningful connections are so important for good mental health.

    “At the heart of our campaign are the powerful voices of people in Australia with lived and living experience of mental ill-health,” said Mental Health Australia CEO, Carolyn Nikoloski.

    “Twelve advocates from across the country have shared their personal stories, demonstrating how meaningful connections transformed their mental health journeys and helped them find a path to recovery.”

    From Outback Queensland to Australia’s capital, these stories remind us that mental health affects everyone, regardless of income or postcode.

    “World Mental Health Day reminds us to connect—to loved ones, our communities, colleagues, and to Country. It’s a call to reach out for support and, just as importantly, to reconnect with ourselves for better mental health,” Ms Nikoloski urged.

    This message was reflected to policymakers yesterday at Mental Health Australia’s Mental Health Sector Expo, which was co-hosted with the Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health and the Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health.

    The event united over 120 mental health professionals from 45 member organisations at Parliament House, with the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care addressing the audience about the vital importance of this year’s theme – the power of meaningful connections – by highlighting the valuable contribution of the mental health sector.

    Mr Butler said, “I want to thank all of you for the work that you do. These are really tough times. We’ve gone through an incredibly traumatic period with the pandemic that really impacted people’s mental health…you have the best ideas of how we can do better to support people in mental distress, whether that’s relatively temporary mental distress or whether it’s lifelong relatively severe mental illness.”

    As one of the final parliamentary sitting weeks of 2024 unfolds, Australia’s leading mental health organisations showcased their critical work and achievements, calling attention to the mental health services available in local communities across the country.

    “This event was an important opportunity for mental health professionals, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience of mental ill-health and their family, carers and supporters to connect and unite in a bipartisan effort to continue building a mental health system that supports every person in Australia,” Ms Nikoloski said.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – Doorstop, Canberra

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    JOURNALIST: As for school funding legislation going to Parliament. How are you expecting that debate to play out?

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Today I’ll introduce legislation to increase funding for our public schools. Education is the most powerful force for good in this country and the truth is our public schools do most of the heavy lifting. But most public schools across the country at the moment aren’t funded at that David Gonski level, apart from the ACT, no other state or territories funded at that David Gonski level called the Schooling Resource Standard. 
    I’ve done deals with Western Australia and with Tasmania and the Northern Territory to get public schools in those jurisdictions to that level and I’m hoping to do deals with other jurisdictions as well. But at the moment, the Australian Education Act prohibits the Commonwealth Government from providing more than 20 per cent of that funding to the States and the Territories for our public schools. So, the legislation turns that maximum into a minimum or turns that ceiling into a floor so that funding can flow to children who really need it.

    JOURNALIST: The cash is now tied to teaching reforms. The union’s not happy. Where are you at with negotiations with the union to try to get them over the line, on you know, removing that boycott that they’ve put in?

    CLARE: I think most people who look at this, whether it’s the States or the unions, know how important these reforms are. In fact, many of the reforms have come at the recommendation of States, of Territories and of the union. In particular, things like catch-up tutoring, really practical, basic, important reforms that make sure that if a child falls behind when they’re little, they have the support that they need to catch up and then to keep up. I’ve got $16 billion on the table here. If delivered, it’ll be the biggest extra investment in public schools by the Commonwealth Government ever. Ever. And that’s on the table. But it’s not a blank cheque. It’s got to be tied to these practical reforms to make a difference for our children.

    JOURNALIST: When it comes to universities, the Senate inquiry handed down its recommendations last night. It’s saying that you can pass legislation with a few amendments. What did you make and what was your reaction to those proposed amendments, particularly removing the ministerial power for certain course caps?

    CLARE: We’ll look at that. I’ve said in the Parliament, and I’ve said in a recent conference that I’m very open to looking at any recommendations that are made by the committee to improve the Bill. We’ll go through that report now and have a look at that. In particular, the one you mentioned about whether you set caps for courses. I’ve described that in the past as a reserve power, but we’ll look carefully at the recommendations of that report. There’s certainly advice to me that that’s important in the VET sector, where it’s important to make sure that we’re not encouraging certain private providers in the VET sector to entice people into courses that don’t give them a real qualification. There is an equally powerful case set that may not be necessary at a university or TAFE level. So, we’ll look at that and give it due consideration.

    JOURNALIST: Is that something that you would look at amending, is the splitting that out to maybe quarantine that into a job?

    CLARE: It’s one of the things we’ll look at. But the report talked about a number of changes that could be made to the Bill, so we’ll go through that now. The Bill was introduced in May. It’s been the subject of a lot of consideration by that committee. The committee’s now recommended that the Bill be passed. I now hope that the Senate will get on with it and consider the Bill.

    JOURNALIST: Obviously, you know, it is a huge industry for Australia. It’s also a huge, you know, can be a strain, international students can be a strain on housing, especially at the current time. How important is it that you get these caps or this legislation through so that they can be capped for the new year, I guess, the new university year?

    CLARE: It’s really important to protect the integrity of our international education system, but it’s also important to protect public support for international education. I make no apology, the Government makes no apology for our commitment to return migration to pre-pandemic levels. And this is part of that. International education is really important. It makes us money as a country, it makes us friends as a country, because when people study here and they go home, they take their love for Australia back home with them. But it is also important that we return migration to pre pandemic levels, and this is one part of doing that.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Second reading speech, Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    I move that this Bill be now read a second time.

    Today I am proud to introduce the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024.

    I’m also introducing it on behalf of my colleague Andrew Leigh as the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and I’d like to acknowledge him and thank him for his contribution.

    This Bill is another big step towards reforming Australia’s merger rules and further boosting competition and productivity in our economy.

    It outlines the biggest reforms to Australia’s merger settings in almost 50 years.

    It will create a regime that more efficiently and effectively targets mergers that are anti‑competitive, while allowing mergers that are pro‑competitive to proceed faster.

    Speaker,

    We understand most mergers have genuine economic benefits and are an important feature of any healthy, open financial system.

    They can attract capital, re‑tool businesses and improve the uptake of new technologies.

    They can allow businesses to achieve greater economies of scale and scope, to access new resources, technology and expertise.

    This can flow through to consumers via greater product choice and quality as well as lower prices.

    But some mergers can cause serious economic harm.

    This can happen when businesses are not interested in improving profitability by lifting productivity.

    When they’re solely focused on squeezing out competitors to capture a larger percentage of the market.

    This can strangle innovation, reduce productivity in our economy and punish consumers with reduced choice.

    Treasury’s Competition Taskforce has spent a lot of its time hearing about and thinking about these issues.

    Andrew and I set up this Taskforce and its work has made plain that Australia’s approach to mergers is no longer fit for purpose.

    Speaker,

    The need for reform is clear.

    Australia is one of only 3 OECD countries that doesn’t require compulsory notification of mergers.

    Last year, over 1,400 mergers were recorded, at a value of around $300 billion.

    Meanwhile, the ACCC looked at an average of 330 mergers a year over the past decade.

    But we don’t know whether these are the right 330, or the mergers with the greatest potential to cause harm.

    When the ACCC does assess mergers, the current approach is not transparent for businesses or the community.

    Clearance can be too slow and cause expensive delays for some businesses as they wait.

    This legislation will bring our merger system into the 21st century.

    Speaker,

    This Bill enshrines our historic reforms into law.

    The legislation will improve our regime in 5 ways, by making the system faster, stronger, simpler, more targeted and more transparent.

    Approvals will be faster under the new system, with mergers ticked within 30 working days where the ACCC is satisfied they pose no threat to competition.

    The regime will be stronger thanks to a mandatory notification system and empowering the ACCC as the decision maker on all mergers.

    The system will be simpler, because we are reducing 3 streams to a streamlined path to approval that removes duplication and standardises notification requirements for mergers.

    It will be more targeted, because mergers that create, strengthen or entrench substantial market power will be identified and stopped while those consistent with our national economic interest will be fast tracked.

    Finally, the merger regime will be more transparent, by ensuring the ACCC has better visibility of merger activity.

    We are creating a public register of all mergers and acquisitions notified to the ACCC to promote this transparency and accountability.

    Reviews of ACCC decisions will be the responsibility of the Competition Tribunal made up of a Federal Court judge, an economist and a business leader.

    Under the strengthened system, not every merger will be captured.

    Only mergers above monetary thresholds will need to be notified to the ACCC and be approved before proceeding.

    The government intends to set these monetary thresholds in regulations following the passage of this Bill.

    There will be 3 key thresholds.

    Firstly, any merger will be looked at if the Australian turnover of the combined businesses is above $200 million, and either the business or assets being acquired has Australian turnover above $50 million or global transaction value above $250 million.

    Secondly, the ACCC will look at any merger involving a very large business with Australian turnover more than $500 million buying a smaller business or assets with Australian turnover above $10 million.

    Finally, to target serial acquisitions, all mergers by businesses with combined Australian turnover of more than $200 million where the cumulative Australian turnover from acquisitions in the same or similar goods or services over a 3‑year period is at least $50 million will be captured, or $10 million if a very large business is involved.

    Land acquisitions involving residential property development and certain commercial property acquisitions won’t be included to avoid clogging up the system with simple land purchases unless they are captured by additional targeted notification requirements.

    These thresholds have been developed in close consultation with industry and the community.

    The thresholds strike the right balance between creating a rigorous and robust regime without calling in every merger.

    These thresholds will allow the ACCC to focus its efforts on the mergers that really matter.

    We want to see the majority of mergers approved quickly, so the ACCC can focus on the minority that give rise to competition concerns.

    The thresholds will be reviewed 12 months after coming into effect, to ensure they are working as intended.

    In addition, the legislation provides flexibility to allow the Treasurer to adjust and calibrate the thresholds to respond to evidence‑based concerns from the ACCC about high‑risk mergers, like in the supermarket sector.

    This power, combined with the thresholds, will allow the ACCC to review all the mergers that they have been typically concerned about.

    Using this provision, the government intends to make sure the ACCC is notified of every merger in the supermarket sector.

    Our intention to mandate this approach is based on evidence provided by the competition regulator.

    Reviewing every supermarket merger is all part of the decisive action our government is taking to help Australians get fairer prices at the checkout.

    We want to make sure supermarket mergers don’t come at the cost of Australians, families and pensioners getting a fair price on their grocery bills.

    Our merger reforms will help ensure our supermarkets are as competitive as they can be so Australians get the best prices possible.

    On the advice of the ACCC Chair, the government also intends to use this power to get the competition regulator to review purchases of an interest above 20 per cent in an unlisted or private company, if one of the companies involved in the deal has turnover more than $200 million.

    This is all about lifting the level of scrutiny and transparency for private markets transactions, which have boomed in Australia in the past decade.

    It will give the ACCC the ability to analyse changes of control in private companies to ensure negative competition effects are avoided and to scrutinise these deals in more detail.

    The government will also consider designation requirements for sectors such as fuel, liquor and oncology‑radiology.

    These merger laws will take effect from 1 January 2026 and apply voluntarily from 1 July 2025.

    Speaker,

    This Bill has been developed through detailed consultation and we’d like to take a moment here to thank everyone for their contributions.

    We’re especially grateful for the input from the Expert Advisory Panel, comprising Kerry Schott, David Gonski, John Asker, Sharon Henrick, John Fingleton, Danielle Wood and Rod Sims.

    I’m also thankful for all the discussions and consultation we have held with businesses, the competition regulator, and the broader community.

    That input and those views helped shaped this legislation.

    This Bill builds on the Albanese Labor government’s substantial and broad competition reform agenda, which is all about creating a more dynamic, more productive and resilient economy.

    This includes revitalising National Competition Policy with all state and territory governments.

    Abolishing around 500 nuisance tariffs to cut compliance costs, reduce red tape, make it easier to do business, and boost productivity.

    Helping Australians get a fair price at the checkout with a new mandatory Food and Grocery Code, an ACCC inquiry and more funding for its investigations, reforming planning and zoning regulations and funding for CHOICE for price transparency reports.

    Promoting competition in our financial system, including in payments, financial market infrastructure and through the introduction of a financial services regulatory grid.

    Helping bank customers find and follow better deals on their mortgages and higher interest rates on their savings accounts.

    This agenda will help expand choices, lift living standards and grow our economy.

    It will help ensure that our people, businesses and industries are beneficiaries of the opportunities before us in the defining decade ahead.

    The legislation I introduce today forms a key part of these competition reforms.

    And we are proud to introduce it to the House.

    Full details of the measure are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Suspect arrested after break-in at Gulfview Heights

    Source: South Australia Police

    One suspect has been arrested following investigations into an incident at Gulfview Heights overnight.

    About 3.45am on Wednesday 9 October, police were called to a home on Nelson Road after reports that a group of armed males forced entry into the property and stabbed two occupants.

    The group left the scene in a vehicle which was last seen turning on Yulinda Terrace.

    A 53-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were both taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A third person was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after being assaulted.

    Following investigations by Operation Meld and Northern District CIB detectives, a 16-year-old boy from Pennington was arrested this afternoon.

    He was charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and cause serious harm.  He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court tomorrow.

    Investigations are continuing.  Police do not believe this to be a random incident.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.

    CO2400040844

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drugs and firearm found in vehicle

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have made an arrest after locating a shotgun and cannabis inside a vehicle in Māngere last night.

    Counties Manukau West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey, says Police carried out a vehicle stop on Greenwood Road just after 10.30pm.

    “Police had sighted the driver using nitrous oxide, before stopping the vehicle,” he says.

    “There was a strong odour of cannabis coming from the vehicle and a further search was carried out.

    “They located over 160 grams of cannabis plant in the boot, as well as a loaded and cut down semi-automatic shotgun and ammunition.”

    The sole occupant was arrested.

    A 21-year-old man is scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court today charged with possessing an offensive weapon, unlawfully possessing ammunition, possessing cannabis for supply, and breaching the medicines act.

    “We’re very happy to have a dangerous weapon off the street, and a considerable amount of cannabis that was set for sale,” Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey says.

    “This was a good example of proactive Police work that resulted in a safer community.”

    ENDS.

    Tony Wright/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Confirmation of Payee service to improve payment security

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A new confirmation of payments system in the banking sector will make it safer for Kiwis making bank transactions, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. 

    “In my open letter to the banks in February, I outlined several of my expectations of the sector, including the introduction of a Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system. I am pleased to see this being implemented and look forward to continued progress in this area.

    “This new system will give Kiwis greater peace of mind by allowing them to confirm that the name of the person they’re paying matches the bank account details before they send any money.

    “The CoP service is a practical step towards making payments more secure, reducing the chances of errors or potential fraud where funds are mistakenly sent to the wrong person.”

    New Zealand’s retail banks will begin a phased rollout of the CoP service from November 2024, with full implementation across all digital banking platforms, including mobile apps, expected by Easter 2025.

    “Banks are working to ensure the service is carefully tested and integrated across different platforms to guarantee a smooth implementation for customers. This phased approach ensures consumers will experience the benefits without any disruptions.

    “CoP is part of a broader effort by government and the banking sector to enhance security and protect New Zealanders from financial crime.”

    Notes to editor: 

    • More information on the Confirmation of Payee service can be found at: getverified.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Kim Wlliams to deliver intersection of leadership and truth and Menzies Oration in Ballarat

    Source: Federation University

    Renowned media executive and chair of the ABC, Kim Williams AM, will be in Ballarat on Wednesday 30 October to deliver a though-provoking speech on the importance of clarity, transparency, trust and accountability in leadership in an era of misinformation, propaganda and sensationalism. 

    A former Chief Executive of News Corp Australia, FOXTEL, Fox Studios Australia, the Australian Film Commission, Southern Star Entertainment and Music Viva Australia, Williams is the guest orator at this year’s Menzies Oration – an annual event delivered by The Menzies Foundation – which will be hosted by Federation University Australia for the third consecutive year. 

    The livestreamed event titled Intersection of Leadership and Truth Williams will delve into the vital connection between leadership and truth, shedding light on how these elements shape the fabric of Australian leadership and public perception. He will share his extensive insights and experiences, highlighting the essential qualities that underpin effective and ethical leadership in the 21st Century. 

    Liz Gillies from the Menzies Foundation will host the event, Federation University Australia Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Duncan Bentley serving as the Master of Ceremonies.  

    The Menzies Oration is free to the public and will take place at the Emerging Technologies Hub at Federation’s SMB Campus on Wednesday October 30 from 6:00pm.  

    The session can also be viewed online, and tickets are available on the Eventbrite by searching for ‘Menzies Oration’ or via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/menzies-oration-intersection-of-leadership-and-truth-kim-williams-am-tickets-1014287670727 

    Quotes attributable to Federation University Australia Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Duncan Bentley 

    “It is exciting to be hosting the Menzies Oration at Federation University again this year, where we will be setting the stage for Kim Williams to share his expertise in the media landscape, detailing his extensive insights and experiences that mould quality leadership in an era where it is challenging to cut through misinformation.” 

    “We are privileged to have Kim’s important voice at the event this year, who has been a longstanding figure in the media, with diverse knowledge of what it takes to be a good leader.” 

    Quotes attributable to Menzies Foundation CEO Liz Gillies 

    “As we navigate an era where truth is increasingly clouded by misinformation, the importance of trust and accountability in leadership has never been more critical.” 

    “The 2024 Menzies Oration will offer a powerful exploration of the nexus between leadership and truth, and we are honoured to have Kim Williams AM share his perspectives on how our response to this challenge will shape our society now and into an uncertain future.” 

    Quotes attributable to Chair of the ABC, AM Kim Williams  

    “It is a real honour to deliver the 2024 Menzies Oration. Named after one of the titans of Australian political leadership and history, the oration gives one time to reflect on issues that matter in the contemporary settings of Australian public life and discourse.” 

    “Sir Robert Menzies was a dauntingly fine orator matched by few others. He set a standard that demands real effort on the part of all who deliver the annual Menzies oration to meet.” 

    “In my own instance I intend to tackle the subject of the inextricable link between leadership and truth as the foundation stone of a good society and the base from which effective public policy and resilient institutions, core pillars to our democracy, follow.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Opinion piece: Albanese good for growth in the west

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The most recent growth statistics showed that the Australian economy faces some strong headwinds. In an environment where global growth is subdued, the national economy grew just 0.2 per cent in the June 2024 quarter. Yet Western Australia’s growth was considerably faster. With a quarterly growth rate of 0.9 per cent, Western Australia tied with South Australia as the fastest‑growing state in the nation.

    There are other positive signs. Investment in WA continues to grow, reflecting business confidence in WA’s future. In the past financial year, the value of new capital expenditure in Western Australia rose 18.5 per cent in the mining industry and 16.9 per cent in non‑mining industries. This new investment accounts for nearly a quarter of Australia’s new private investment, showing that WA continues to punch above its weight.

    As pro‑growth progressives, we recognise that government has a role to play in boosting the growth rate and continuing to build on WA’s economic success. Higher productivity also increases the speed limit of the economy, allowing Australians to live longer, and live better.

    What are the best policies to encourage growth? As the nation’s most export‑oriented state, international settings are of particular significance for Western Australia. Since coming to office, the Albanese government has sought to stabilise Australia’s relationships with our major trading partners.

    Under the former Coalition government, China effectively closed the door to many of our exports. Since May 2022, as a result of the Albanese government’s calm and consistent approach – in concert with a great deal of hard work and advocacy by industry – most of the Australian products previously subject to impediments have been able to re‑enter China’s market. That includes coal, cotton, timber logs, barley, and wine. Trade impediments imposed by China on around $20 billion of Australian exports remain on less than $1 billion.

    We have also worked to build stronger partnerships with countries throughout our region. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell have worked to diversify our trading relationships, by leading a diplomatic and business push into countries throughout the South East Asia and the Pacific.

    A key element is the development of a new South East Asia Economic Strategy, based on a report that the government commissioned from Nicholas Moore, the former CEO of the Macquarie Group, titled ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040’. This strategy aims to boost trade and investment by enhancing economic engagement and leveraging Australia’s strengths: a well‑capitalised corporate sector, sophisticated capital markets, and a substantial national savings pool.

    In the mining sector, the government’s production tax incentive scheme seeks to nurture the critical minerals and green hydrogen industries. These tax credits aim to secure Australia’s critical mineral supply chain and assist with the energy transition in economically productive ways. Yet, remarkably Peter Dutton has opposed production tax incentives. His position puts him at odds with both major parties in Western Australian – Liberal and Labor. As Resources Minister Madeleine King puts it, Dutton’s stance is ‘anti‑resources and anti‑WA’.

    Another important part of Labor’s pro‑growth productivity agenda is competition reform. The last big wave of national competition policy took place in the 1990s, when consumers were given more choice about their electricity provider and a host of unnecessary regulations were scrapped. During the 2000s and 2010s, Australia experienced a rise in market concentration and markups, and a drop in economic dynamism. Too many industries have become dominated by too few companies. Disappointing productivity performance in the 2010s is likely linked to the lack of competition in many Australian markets and Australian consumers have suffered.

    Last year, our government established a competition taskforce in the Australian Treasury, mandated to identify reforms that would create a more competitive economy that drives down costs. This year, the Albanese government has introduced the biggest shakeup of our merger laws in half a century, aiming to ensure that the merger control system is simpler, quicker, and more efficient. Our reforms will ensure quicker approvals for low‑risk mergers but that the competition watchdog sees all high‑risk mergers through mandatory reporting thresholds.

    Another priority of the competition taskforce is the reform of non‑compete clauses. One in 5 Australian workers have a clause in their employment contract that limits their ability to move to a competing company. Non‑compete clauses slow wage growth and impede new business formation. In the United States, the government has estimated that scrapping non‑compete clauses would boost wages by US$500 for the typical worker, and lead to the creation of 8,000 more businesses annually. In Australia, we are actively considering the best way to address the adverse effects of non‑compete clauses.

    These are just some examples of how the Albanese government, with the states and territories, is revitalising the National Competition Policy to deliver more jobs, more startups, and more prosperity. Western Australia is on board with National Competition Policy and stands to share the benefits.

    Being pro‑growth is not about being anti‑fairness. Indeed, the best way to deliver for the most vulnerable is through a growing economy, where everyone can share in the gains. By choosing openness, encouraging dynamism, and strengthening competition, we can get a better deal and expand opportunities for consumers, workers, and households in Western Australia.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release, water-related death, Southland

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are now in the position to name the man who died following a water-related incident in Milford Sound, Southland on Tuesday 8 October.

    He was 23-year-old Daymon Bill Nuhaj of Milford Sound.

    Police extend our sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese mainland, Hong Kong agree to promote services trade

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 9 — The Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have agreed to build closer ties in services trade, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

    Li Yongsha, an official with the ministry, and Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, signed a document on amending the service trade agreement under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

    The agreement will take effect from the date of signing and will be officially implemented as of March 1, 2025.

    According to the amendment, thresholds of market access for Hong Kong service providers in fields including finance, telecommunications, architecture and tourism, will be further lowered or removed.

    Signed between the mainland and Hong Kong in 2003, the CEPA has significantly facilitated trade liberalization in both goods and services.

    The amendment is an important measure to improve the mechanism for Hong Kong to play a better role in China’s opening-up, said the ministry, adding that it is the second time the CEPA service trade agreement has been amended, the first time being in 2019.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Clues left by the Alpine Fault’s last big quake reveal its direction – this will help NZ prepare for the inevitable next rupture

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Kearse, Postdoctoral Researcher in Seismology, Kyoto University

    Kate Clark, CC BY-SA

    One of the world’s most anticipated earthquakes is the next major surface rupture of the Alpine Fault in the South Island of New Zealand.

    With a 75% chance of it happening within the next 50 years, there is justified interest in the likely magnitude, extent and intensity of ground shaking and impacts on the landscape, infrastructure and buildings.

    A key – and so far unanswered – question is which direction the fault rupture will take.

    Our new research reveals for the first time that the Alpine Fault ruptured from south to north in the great magnitude 8+ earthquake of 1717.

    We developed our technique to determine rupture direction based on the Kekerengu Fault after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. But our method is globally applicable for use in realistic earthquake scenarios and thus can contribute to better societal preparedness.

    In an Alpine Fault earthquake, there’s no direction that’s good news for the West Coast of the South Island. But a north-to-south rupture would send excess seismic energy into the relatively unpopulated region of Fiordland and the Tasman Sea.

    A south-to-north rupture on the other hand is forecast to cause higher intensity shaking in the populated regions of Canterbury, Marlborough, Tasman and the northern West Coast.

    A simulation of the shaking of a south-to-north earthquake along the Alpine Fault. Credit: Brendon Bradley, University of Canterbury.

    In the Kaikōura earthquake, Wellingtonians experienced this influence of rupture direction on shaking intensity. The south-to-north rupture meant more seismic energy was focused towards the capital city than, for example, Christchurch.

    So, while rupture direction has been observed to make a big difference in modern earthquakes, it is not something geologists have been able to directly determine for past earthquakes.

    Markings in the rock face

    The Kaikōura earthquake was well documented by seismographs. We know it started near Waiau in the south and travelled northwards to Cook Strait over a period of two minutes.

    We observed markings that were scratched onto the fault plane. Like coarse sandpaper against wood, these scratches, or “slickenlines”, record movement as rock faces slipped past each other during the earthquake. Some of these markings were curved, and our method can tell us the direction the earthquake rupture was travelling.

    Slickenlines from the Kekerengu Fault, taken days after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.
    Kate Clark, CC BY-SA

    Using computer models to simulate how the earthquake unfolded moment by moment, we were able to replicate the curved slickenlines observed in the field and relate them to rupture direction. This gave us the framework we needed to investigate rupture direction for past earthquakes on the Alpine Fault.

    The Alpine Fault hasn’t had a major surface rupture since 1717. During field work, we visited three sites along the fault and examined natural outcrops, carefully exposing the fault plane using hand tools. We found 146 slickenlines, 30 of which were curved.

    Geologist Tim Little measuring slickenlines on the Alpine Fault.
    Nic Barth, CC BY-SA

    The curved geometry of slickenlines from the Alpine Fault’s most recent earthquake indicated it had travelled from the south towards the north. We also found evidence for rupturing in the opposite direction, suggesting that earthquakes can start both north and south.

    On one outcrop, we found evidence of slickenlines from multiple earthquakes – a rare and tantalising find suggesting development of a longer history of rupture direction may be possible.

    The technique we’ve applied is a novel, on-fault observational method for determining past rupture directions. Its full potential is yet to be tested, but already it’s applicable to faults worldwide.

    Our research shows that the last Alpine Fault rupture was from the south, and that both directions are possible. New information about past earthquakes like this helps the scientific community produce realistic scenarios for the next major earthquake.

    We now have direct evidence from the fault itself that we need to prepare for the scenario of very strong to severe shaking for the northern West Coast, Tasman, Marlborough and Canterbury regions in the next major Alpine Fault earthquake.

    Jesse Kearse receives funding from the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

    Nicolas Barth receives funding from the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

    – ref. Clues left by the Alpine Fault’s last big quake reveal its direction – this will help NZ prepare for the inevitable next rupture – https://theconversation.com/clues-left-by-the-alpine-faults-last-big-quake-reveal-its-direction-this-will-help-nz-prepare-for-the-inevitable-next-rupture-240879

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BNZ to provide Confirmation of Payee to customers in November

    Source: BNZ statements

    BNZ will be one of the first New Zealand banks to provide Confirmation of Payee when it rolls out the service at the end of November.

    “At BNZ we’re continuously looking for new ways to help protect customers from scammers,” says BNZ CEO Dan Huggins.

    “We’re pleased to be able to deliver Confirmation of Payee as quickly as possible after it becomes available in New Zealand, adding it to the suite of tools to help our customers be safer online.”

    BNZ’s other recent anti-scam features include:
    • An ‘online banking lock’ feature in the BNZ banking app which allows customers to disable all internet banking and BNZ mobile app activity and lock access to their accounts if they suspect a scammer has gained access to their online accounts.
    • Additional two-factor authentication (2FA) within internet banking for high-risk actions such as changing personal contact details, creating a new payee, editing an existing payee, or making payments to unsaved payees. This is required regardless of whether a customer has already completed 2FA in their current session.

    Confirmation of Payee will provide BNZ customers with an extra level of assurance when making payments from one bank account to another within New Zealand.

    It will help customers be confident that they are paying who they think they are before the payment is made, which will help reduce payment errors and stop some instances of scams and fraud.

    From next week, BNZ will start contacting customers to let them know Confirmation of Payee is coming, what it is and how it will work.

    “BNZ invests tens of millions of dollars in scam, fraud and anti-money laundering protection each year. As always, we encourage our customers to get in touch with us straight away if they think they may be being scammed,” says Huggins.

    The post BNZ to provide Confirmation of Payee to customers in November appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No savings? No plans? No Great Australian Dream. How housing is reshaping young people’s lives

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Stone, Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    Australia’s housing crisis is dramatically reshaping the lives and hopes of young people, highlighted in a new report launched today in Canberra as part of World Homeless Day.

    The research, developed by Swinburne University of Technology and funded by YWCA Australia, provided a platform for young women and gender diverse people from around Australia to share their housing experiences and aspirations.

    Our research found many young people are frustrated about the affordability, quality and security of housing in Australia.

    These housing barriers are changing the traditional life course that many of these young people expected to follow, undermining their sense of what it means to be an “adult”.

    Louise, 26, told us, as part of our research:

    I don’t feel like an adult sometimes because of my living circumstances … I thought I’d be like ‘Sex and the City’, having my own apartment and going out for drinks with my friends. But none of us have time to do that.

    The report highlights how such housing barriers and frustrations are severely impacting young people’s relationships, health and wellbeing, education, employment, and ability to plan for the future.

    Housing dreams are ratcheted down

    Home ownership is still “the great Australian dream” for many. However, numerous young people feel buying a home is out of reach or impossible.

    Erin, a young woman in her late 20s, states:

    It feels like you have to buy a house to be in the game, but to get there it just feels completely out of our grasp. And that’s quite scary.

    For many, buying or even renting is seen as unattainable without a partner. This has gendered implications where young women need to depend financially on a partner, potentially leading to disadvantage in the future.

    Amy, 30, articulates:

    It’s very hard to get a rental as a single female […] the uncertainty of not getting another place keeps me here.

    Participants with hopes of having children express anxiety when their housing circumstances are unpredictable and/or unaffordable.

    Jamie, a non-binary person in their mid-20s, says:

    The biggest negative impact of being stuck on the lowest end of the rental market is that it severely limits my ability to plan to start a family. My partner and I both want a child but are terrified of the idea of not being able to afford rent with a new baby and limited family support.

    Health and wellbeing are undermined

    Young people describe feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, trapped and crushed by their housing situations. For some, this stems from the daily challenge of simply making ends meet.

    Celia, a woman in her late 20s, describes:

    The constant cycle of living in a place for a year, getting a massive rent increase, having to find a new place and move again is exhausting, financially unsustainable and demoralising. It feels pretty hopeless because I’m stuck in this cycle and I’ll never save for a house deposit because I’m losing it all on exorbitant rent.

    For other participants, the health and wellbeing impact stems from their less-than-ideal dynamics at home, with many living with family as adults to save on rent.

    As Zoe, a woman in her late 20s, describes:

    It’s like you don’t pay with money to live with family […] but you pay with your mental health.

    Relationships and safety are affected

    Compromised safety is a concern among young women and gender diverse people we spoke with – whether it be escaping family and domestic violence, living in housing that is physically safe (such as with working locks on doors and windows), or sharing with others comfortably.

    Our research found gender has a material impact on housing experiences, and shaped young women’s and gender diverse people’s perceptions of safety.

    Julia, a woman in her early 20s, highlighted safety concerns:

    My family home was filled with a lot of domestic violence. And so when I left and now I have my own place, I feel very, very safe there in comparison. And also no one in my family knows where I live. So that makes me feel very safe.

    Some of the challenges of living with family were summarised by Ryde, a non-binary person in their early 20s:

    Even now I’m like learning how to like be my own person while still being under my parents’ roof […] like still living at home is a bit emotionally kind of weird.

    So what needs to change?

    Participants involved in the research provide a number of solutions for addressing their housing barriers, including:

    Beth told us:

    I feel like our education totally failed us. I always think there needs to be some kind of unit in Year 11 or 12, like a compulsory unit where it’s like just life skills. So taxes, superannuation, getting your first job, buying your first house, getting into the rental market. If we have the skills or knowledge from that education, we might be able to make more informed choices.

    Finally, young people urgently need a seat at the table when it comes to decisions about housing. They know what is needed and what politicians need to hear.

    In the words of Taylor, a 24-year-old woman:

    I think one thing that the politicians struggle to understand is that we’re not asking for, you know, four bedroom, three bathrooms at $400.00 a week. We’re asking for houses with working locks. No mould. And you know, we’re asking for very basic secure housing at affordable prices, it’s not a matter of us being picky. It’s a matter of health and safety.

    (All participants’ names have been changed).

    Wendy Stone receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Australian Research Council (ARC), the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation, Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), Kids Under Cover and YWCA Australia, the funder of the research this article reports on. She has previously received funding from the Victorian Government.

    Catherine Hartung received funding from YWCA Australia to undertake this research.

    Sal Clark received funding from YWCA Australia to undertake this research

    Zoe Goodall has received funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Victorian government, the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation, Kids Under Cover, and YWCA Australia. YWCA Australia funded the research this article reports on.

    – ref. No savings? No plans? No Great Australian Dream. How housing is reshaping young people’s lives – https://theconversation.com/no-savings-no-plans-no-great-australian-dream-how-housing-is-reshaping-young-peoples-lives-240435

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne

    Shutterstock

    Nature loss directly threatens half the global economy. The rapid destruction of biodiversity should alarm the many Australian businesses dependent on nature, such as those in agriculture, tourism, construction and food manufacturing. Yet nature considerations are often ignored in business decision-making.

    At the Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney this week, scientists, politicians, conservationists and business leaders have gathered to discuss ways to help nature in Australia – not just by protecting it from damage, but improving it. Getting more businesses interested in – and taking positive action on – nature conservation is key to the talks.

    Reducing the environmental impact of a business first requires measuring that impact. It might seem an impossibly difficult task. After all, nature is a diverse and intricate web of connections. How can we capture that in a number?

    After all, nature is complex – but measuring how a business intersects with it need not be.

    Uncovering impacts on nature

    The fishing industry depends directly on stocks of wild fish. And a housing developer has a direct impact on nature if they clear natural vegetation to build a new suburb.

    Businesses interactions with nature can be indirect, too – for example, a margarine producer who uses canola oil from a grower who depends on bees for pollination. Builders might indirectly harm rainforests in Indonesia by buying timber grown there. A superannuation company investing in that developer is also having an indirect negative impact.

    From next year, Australian companies will be required to measure and report their climate impacts. While businesses are not yet required to disclose their impacts on nature more broadly, many are moving in that direction – both in Australia and globally.

    For example in 2022, more than 400 of the world’s largest corporations called for mandatory disclosure of nature impacts. They included Nestlé, Rio Tinto, L’Oréal, Sony and Volvo. And many early-adopter businesses have begun voluntary disclosures.

    Guidelines are available to help businesses understand and measure their impacts, however progress is slow. This is partly due to a perception from business that the task is too complex.

    Nature assessment is challenging. Unlike identifying a company’s contributions to climate change – by measuring tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – there is no agreed single measure of impacts on nature.

    What’s more, different people ascribe different values to aspects of nature. Rightly or wrongly, for instance, most people would probably value a koala over a mosquito.

    What do you value more – a koala or a mosquito?
    Shutterstock

    Drawing on the expertise of ecologists

    Despite the difficulties, gauging the extent to which a business affects the environment can be done. Essentially, it involves three steps:

    1. understanding how a business broadly intersects with nature

    2. evaluating how specific business activities intersect with and put pressure on nature

    3. measuring and reporting the degree to which specific activities are impacting on the condition of nature. In other words, is the state of animals, plants and ecosystems improving or worsening?

    Online tools such as ENCORE can get businesses started on the first step – understanding a business’ broad impacts and dependency on nature.

    Many businesses are moving to the second stage – evaluating the specific business activities that put pressure on the environment, and determining the extent to which businesses depend on particular services ecosystems provide.

    The pressure a business places on nature can be measured via specific metrics, such as the amount of water consumed, air pollutants emitted, waste generated or area of land changed. Again, a suite of online tools and metrics can help with this.

    The next step is more complicated, yet essential. It requires businesses directly measuring their impacts on specific animals, plants and ecosystems. For this, we can turn to the expertise of ecologists.

    Individuals of a species can be hard to count, and extinction risk can be hard to measure. So ecologists often describe and monitor a species’ habitat – the environments in which a species can survive and reproduce – as a proxy for the fate of the species itself.

    Ecosystems – such as a rainforest, wetland or desert – can be described as being in good or poor condition. The rating depends on whether all the ecosystem’s plants, animals and other components are present, or whether unwanted components, such as weeds or invasive species, are found there.

    A graphic showing how ecologists measure the state of nature.
    TNFD

    In addition, maps, showing ecosystem condition and extent are available for much of Australia.

    Habitat mapping is also available for most threatened animals and plants, and thousands of other species. And mapping exists for World Heritage areas, important wetlands, national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and other environment types.

    These resources are not difficult or expensive to access, and people and organisations with the skills to interpret and use such data are becoming more common.

    Some businesses are attempting these measurements. For example, plantation forestry company Forico last year prepared a natural capital report on a range of nature metrics, including the extent of species habitats, and assessment of vegetation condition.

    But many businesses are not yet grappling with this deeper nature analysis.

    This map, from ecosystem research organisation TERN, is one of many freely available to businesses seeking nature data.
    TERN

    Looking ahead

    We have the information and metrics to help businesses measure their impact on nature.

    Collaboration is urgently needed between business and nature experts, so the data available can be tailored to the needs of businesses, and presented in a form they can use.

    Governments can support this – for example by establishing accessible and practical online data platforms, and funding training for more nature experts who understand business.

    A new federal government agency, Environment Information Australia, will also hopefully become an important hub for data and information.

    By measuring what might seem immeasurable, businesses can become part of the solution to the nature crisis. There is cause for optimism – but no time to waste.

    Brendan Wintle has received funding from The Australian Research Council, the Victorian government, the NSW government, the Queensland government, the Commonwealth National Environmental Science Program, the Ian Potter Foundation, the Hermon Slade Foundation and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Wintle is a Board Director of Zoos Victoria and a lead councillor of the Biodiversity Council.

    Sarah Bekessy receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Ian Potter Foundation and the European Commission. She is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, a board member of Bush Heritage Australia, a member of the WWF Eminent Scientists Group and an advisor to ELM Responsible Investment, the Living Building Challenge and Wood for Good.

    Simon O’Connor is affiliated with the Australian government as a member of the Minister for Environment and Water’s Nature Finance Council, and previously oversaw the national consultation group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures

    William Geary receives funding from the Victorian government and is associated with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

    – ref. Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it – https://theconversation.com/yes-nature-is-complex-but-saving-our-precious-environment-means-finding-ways-to-measure-it-240583

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China calls for peace, stability on Korean Peninsula

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday called on all parties to work together to uphold peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue.

    It is reported that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it will completely cut off roads and railways connected to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and fortify the relevant areas of its side with strong defence structures from Wednesday. The DPRK will take a substantial military step to completely separate the territory of the DPRK, where its sovereignty is exercised, from the territory of the ROK.

    In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing that China is following the developments on the Korean Peninsula and DPRK-ROK relations.

    “China believes that upholding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advancing the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue serves the common interests of all parties, and it is what the international community expects,” Mao said, adding all parties need to work together for this end. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Mixed weather to mark the end of the school holidays – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 10 – Monday 14 October – MetService is forecasting a mix of weather for Aotearoa New Zealand to start the weekend, with a wet Sunday set to close out the school holidays for much of the country. The trend of unsettled weather looks to continue into the start of the new week for the North Island and the eastern South Island, while other parts of the South Island can expect a more settled day.

    Thursday and Friday are a tale of two islands. Showers are expected across much of the North Island, some of which may be heavy on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the South Island enjoys clearer skies, apart from the odd shower at the top of the island. Friday brings a chilly start for both islands, with what could be the coldest morning of the month so far. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says “Many of us may be waking up to a frost.”

    Saturday offers a brief break for those looking to enjoy the final weekend of the school holidays outdoors, with mostly dry weather expected across the country. Western areas of both islands may see a few showers, while the lower South Island may experience some rain as a weak weather system passes through.

    However, this dry spell won’t last long. Rain and showers are expected to sweep across the South Island on Sunday, especially in the east, as chilly southerlies push through. The North Island is also in line for wet weather as the day goes on, something to keep in mind for anyone travelling home at the end of the holidays.

    The wet conditions persist into Monday for the North Island and eastern South Island. Eastern and central parts of the North Island could see particularly heavy rainfall. “As it’s still a few days away and the situation may be changeable, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the forecast for any updates,” Makgabutlane advises.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Australian Senate president to visit China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines will lead a delegation to visit China from Oct. 11 to 16, at the invitation of Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland, HK agree to promote services trade

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have agreed to build closer ties in services trade, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

    Li Yongsha, an official with the ministry, and Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, signed a document on amending the service trade agreement under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

    The agreement will take effect from the date of signing and will be officially implemented as of March 1, 2025.

    According to the amendment, thresholds of market access for Hong Kong service providers in fields including finance, telecommunications, architecture and tourism, will be further lowered or removed.

    Signed between the mainland and Hong Kong in 2003, the CEPA has significantly facilitated trade liberalization in both goods and services.

    The amendment is an important measure to improve the mechanism for Hong Kong to play a better role in China’s opening-up, said the ministry, adding that it is the second time the CEPA service trade agreement has been amended, the first time being in 2019. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New study reveals Australian honeybees’ favourite legume flowers

    Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

    10 Oct 2024

    The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) has released a new report revealing the pasture legume flowers that are the most attractive to Australian honeybees.

    NSW DPIRD senior research scientist and Clover4Bees project leader, Dr Richard Hayes said primary producers have always had the option to use forage legumes that support honey production, thereby enhancing resources for honeybees and fostering collaboration with apiarists. However, little was known of the relative value of the range of pasture legume species for honey bees – until now.

    The two-year pilot project, funded by AgriFutures Australia, evaluated 23 different pasture legume species across four NSW DPIRD research stations, focusing on their flower attributes, bee preferences, and nectar characteristics.

    “Out of 23 pasture legume species, six leading contenders were selected based on their flower attributes, bee preferences, and nectar characteristics,” Dr Hayes said.

    “Species like subterranean clover and biserrula were found to have low nectar yields and sugar concentrations, resulting in few bee visits.

    “Meanwhile, our top performers were woolly pod vetch and arrowleaf clover, which showed high potential due to their attractiveness to bees.”

    Balansa clover, gland clover, Persian clover, and crimson clover were also identified as highly enticing for honeybees, making them excellent candidates for supporting honey production and pollination.

    Dr Hayes said the Clover4Bees project highlights the need for further research and collaboration with other agricultural sectors to enhance the use of these legumes.

    “The results have come at a crucial time as environmental challenges and limited access to public lands have prompted the honeybee industry to explore alternative floral resources,” he said.

    “By creating a more pollinator-friendly landscape, all Australian agricultural industries can collectively ensure the sustainability of honey production and support the health of bee populations in the face of challenges like the varroa mite.”

    To view the report, please visit the AgriFutures website.

    For more information on NSW DPIRD Honeybee research, please visit our website.

    Images are available for download here

    Media contact:
    For more information, please contact: pi.media@dpird.nsw.gov.au

    MIL OSI News –