NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: $2m destination playground on the horizon for Barry Curtis Park

    Source: Auckland Council

    A spectacular nearly $2m playground designed to offer an exciting range of play options for all tamariki (children), is coming to Barry Curtis Park, after Howick Local Board approved the concept designs.

    The Barry Curtis Park playground needs renovation and improvement to serve a large and growing geographic area, and the upgraded playground will include accessible and inclusive play elements to ensure that all children feel included in the play space.

    Artist impression.

    Board chair Damian Light says, “We’re excited to confirm that we have signed off the concept plans so staff can get underway with delivery of this incredible design. This popular playground was due for renewal so we’re taking the opportunity to give it the overhaul it deserves.”

    The concept design was put together following consultation in 2023.

    “Thank you to everyone who contributed to the public consultation – this is a significant investment, and we want to make sure we get it right. Insights from the public, including local tamariki, has helped create an exciting new design that includes a wider range of play opportunities and caters for a wider range of tamariki.”

    The approved concept design has been developed, incorporating feedback from the community, iwi, accessibility representatives and the local board.

    The project team is working closely with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki to capture and deliver on their aspirations, values and priorities for Barry Curtis Park including the playground.

    Map of destination playground.

    “As the concept designs show, the playground will have the native wetlands theme enhanced. Having mana whenua involved has helped create a more authentic and interesting concept, with a stronger connection to the whenua (land) and environment it sits in.”

    The playground renewal includes plans to increase tree planting to mitigate wind channelling through the park, aligning with the Howick Urban Ngahere Action Plan 2021, which aims to increase tree canopy coverage on public land by three per cent.

    A fence is strategically placed within the planting to partially enclose the playground, providing a more secure space, providing the option of full fencing remained available for future consideration.

    Shade sail structures have been included over the junior play equipment, picnic tables, and water play area, providing shade in areas where children are likely to spend extended periods of time.

    The site features accessible ramps from the car park, benefiting those who use walking aids or wheelchairs. Several accessible parking spaces are located near the main play area entrance.

    “Great care has been given to ensure that this new playground will provide more accessible, inclusive and sensory play opportunities. We can’t wait to see this playground completed and open for the public to enjoy”, says Damian.

    Construction is expected to occur between February and June 2025, with an official opening once it’s completed.

    The board is also looking at a significant overhaul of the nearby Wetlands Building to work better with the new playground – look out for an update on this soon.

    Stay connected

    Sign up to receive our Howick Local Board monthly e-newsletters.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ must urgently help whanau in Lebanon

    Source: Green Party

    The Government must immediately help evacuate New Zealanders and Lebanese whanau caught up in the current conflict unfolding across south Lebanon. 

    “The crisis in Lebanon is deepening by the day. We must act and evacuate our Lebanese whanau out of harm’s way,” says the Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono.

    “Aotearoa is home to a strong Lebanese community. We owe it to them to offer their families caught up in the unfolding crisis a lifeline with evacuation and a humanitarian visa pathway.  

    “Yesterday, almost 500 people were killed in south Lebanon where last week civilians were killed and maimed by indiscriminate terror attacks through tech devices. Hundreds of thousands of people in this region have been harmed by bombing that is destroying homes and targeting civilian populations. 

    “The Government has told New Zealanders to leave Lebanon, the least it could do is help before things escalate to a point where we are unable to assist. 

    “Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Gaza must be met with consequences. Israel is actively fanning the flames of war. Our Government must issue Israel with sanctions. 

    “This Government has been incredibly slow to respond to the crisis in Gaza, it cannot afford to make the same mistake twice and allow the window for evacuations to close. 

    “It’s unacceptable to simply look on while innocent civilians lose their lives in this escalating conflict. Aotearoa must play its part in the international community in promoting peace and protecting human rights,” says Teanau Tuiono. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health leads delegation to visit Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Secretary for Health leads delegation to visit Beijing
    Secretary for Health leads delegation to visit Beijing
    ******************************************************

         ​The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, will lead a delegation for a two-day visit to Beijing this afternoon (September 25) to call on relevant Mainland ministries to introduce the latest developments of and seek support for various healthcare reforms of Hong Kong, with a view to further deepening exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland on healthcare-related areas.     Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong on September 27. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, will be the Acting Secretary for Health.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Red flags hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Red flags hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach
    Red flags hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach
    ***************************************************************************

    Attention TV/radio announcers:Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 25) that according to the Beach Water Quality Forecast System of the Environmental Protection Department (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/beach_quality/forecast_system.html), the Beach Water Quality Forecast Index for Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District is 4, which means the predicted water quality at these beaches is “Very Poor” due to potential transient water quality fluctuations caused by heavy rain. Red flags have been hoisted, and beachgoers are advised not to enter the water to safeguard their health.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 10:58

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Crown should prove their rights to Foreshore & Seabed – Te Pāti Māori

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading.

    “Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and any law that this House has ever made. That right still exists today,” said Tākuta Ferris.

    “It should always have been the Crown coming to Māori to prove the rights they believe they have to the foreshore, not the other way around.

    “Let’s not forget that Labour are complicit in this crime. In 2004, they passed the Foreshore and Seabed Bill, directly extinguishing the pre-existing rights Māori had to the takutai moana and enacting the largest land grab in Aotearoa’s history—a whopping 333,000 square kilometres of area.

    “What this Government is doing today is reverting to Labour’s intent of confiscating the takutai moana. It is disgusting that they think their sovereignty of Parliament trumps Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    “The Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill shifts the goalposts for Māori to prove customary marine title to something that is near impossible, thus slamming the door shut on hapū and iwi and confiscating the takutai moana.

    “It is a disgusting breach of Te Tiriti. This Government is bold in their deliberate reassertion of white dominance.

    “The Government should be considered the applicant to hapū and iwi. I invite them to put their case forward to prove ownership of the takutai moana to us as tangata whenua,” said Ferris.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Five property owners fined over $63,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Five property owners fined over $63,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions
    Five property owners fined over $63,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions
    ******************************************************************************************

         Five property owners were convicted and fined over $63,000 in total at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on September 10 for failing to comply with fire safety directions issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572).     The Buildings Department (BD) issued fire safety directions under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to five owners of the respective three domestic flats in a 44-year-old composite building on Yan Hing Street, Tai Po, requiring them to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing fire-rated doors and modifying metal gates at the unit entrances, which open directly to a staircase.     Failing to comply with the statutory directions, the five owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted by the court. Two co-owners were each fined about $11,060, another two co-owners were each fined about $12,560, and a single owner was fined about $16,580.     “According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner”, a spokesman for the BD said today (September 25).     Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why is the Reserve Bank independent from government, and why does it matter?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

    Negotiations over reforms to the Reserve Bank of Australia this week took an unprecedented turn when the Greens demanded the government use its reserve powers to immediately cut interest rates.

    Labor had initially hoped to pass the reforms with the support of the Coalition. However, after a year of negotiations, they decided against it. Labor’s attempts to salvage the reforms by negotiating with the Greens now seem doomed to failure.

    The Greens’ proposal that the government immediately cut interest rates might sound attractive, especially to the millions of mortgage holders struggling to service loans amid a cost-of-living crisis.

    Yet government taking direct control of setting interest rates would run contrary to both long-standing historical trends and international financial norms, including the independence of the central bank.

    Where did this independence come from?

    The idea of central bank independence has a long history.

    The classical political economist David Riccardo warned as early as 1824 that:

    government could not be safely entrusted with the power of issuing paper money; that it would most certainly abuse it.

    Even the authoritarian French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte claimed in creating the Banque de France that:

    I want the bank to be more in the hands of the government but not too much.

    However, for most of the 20th century, the commonsense view was that monetary policy was an important tool for government management of the economy. According to the Keynesian worldview of the time, it would be absurd for governments to give up such an important economic lever as control over interest rates.

    Even Napoleon Bonaparte thought some degree of separation between the central bank and the government was a good idea.
    Shutterstock

    The prevailing wisdom began to change following the stagflation crisis of the 1970s. Stagflation is the term for high inflation at the same time as high unemployment.

    Neoclassical economists such as Milton Friedman argued that only repeated and long-term increases to interest rates could end the stagflation crisis.

    However, Friedman suggested governments could not be trusted to maintain high interest rates because they would also cause unemployment. Accordingly, an independent central bank was needed. It would be insulated from partisan political control and could do what was necessary to stabilise the economy.

    What about in Australia?

    In Australia, central bank independence emerged slowly and informally.

    The Reserve Bank of Australia was separated from the Commonwealth Bank and started independent operations in 1960. It set up its headquarters in Sydney to increase its autonomy from politicians in Canberra.

    The RBA gained de facto independence from the government following financial deregulation under the Hawke government in the early 1980s. Subsequent declarations from federal treasurers Peter Costello and Wayne Swan affirmed the government’s recognition of RBA independence.

    The government still maintains the power to overrule the RBA on interest rates, but this “emergency power” has never been exercised.

    Why independence matters

    Though central bank independence is generally associated with lower inflation, the historical performance of independent central banks is not without blemish.

    For example, unemployment rates in Australia were historically lower prior to RBA independence. This reflects the willingness of the RBA to use higher unemployment as an inflation-busting mechanism.

    Independent central banks were also partly responsible for the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2007. Many commentators have suggested the then US Federal Reserve Governor Alan Greenspan’s decision to hold interest rates at artificial lows was responsible for the US sub-prime housing bubble. That eventually unravelled into a global recession.

    However, the Greens’ attempt to use an interest rate cut as a negotiating chip ironically reinforces the importance of central bank independence. Were governments to take direct control of setting interest rates, we might expect monetary policy to be influenced by short-term electoral concerns, rather than the long-term health of the economy.

    Creating a precedent that interest rates could be cut to suit the government of the day would also have long-term inflationary effects.

    Further, it would likely continue to drive up house prices. This would exacerbate the housing crisis.

    In contrast, the initial reforms proposed by Labor look to strike a balance. They recognise the competing political interests involved in the development of monetary policy while avoiding partisan interference in the day-to-day running of the RBA.

    Though the Coalition has raised concerns about Labor using the reforms to stack the RBA board, both the governor and board are already appointed by the government of the day, acting on the advice of the RBA.

    Finding a workable compromise that improves the bank while preserving political independence should be possible.

    If the alternative is the complete abrogation of central bank independence, the Coalition would do well to return to the negotiating table.

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

    – ref. Why is the Reserve Bank independent from government, and why does it matter? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-reserve-bank-independent-from-government-and-why-does-it-matter-239717

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers opening remarks at the ASEAN-Plus Three Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Partnering Conference

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today addressed the ASEAN-Plus Three Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Partnering Conference held in Nanning, China. In his remarks, Dr. Kao strongly emphasized the implementation of the RCEP agreement and the implementation of Industrial Project-based Initiative (AIPBI) as the priorities for advancing industrial competitiveness and supply chain connectivity.

    Download the full opening remarks here.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers opening remarks at the ASEAN-Plus Three Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Partnering Conference appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on September 24, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 574,172.54 6.68 5.10-6.95
         I. Call Money 11,157.67 6.69 5.10-6.80
         II. Triparty Repo 397,183.95 6.66 6.20-6.77
         III. Market Repo 164,382.92 6.74 6.25-6.95
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,448.00 6.85 6.80-6.90
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 97.25 6.18 5.95-6.50
         II. Term Money@@ 575.00 – 7.05-7.10
         III. Triparty Repo 3,300.00 6.74 6.67-6.80
         IV. Market Repo 1,395.96 6.71 6.70-6.77
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Tue, 24/09/2024 2 Thu, 26/09/2024 50,003.00 6.62
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 24/09/2024 1 Wed, 25/09/2024 1,424.00 6.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 24/09/2024 1 Wed, 25/09/2024 62,381.00 6.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -10,954.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo Fri, 20/09/2024 14 Fri, 04/10/2024 25,002.00 6.52
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    5. On Tap Targeted Long Term Repo Operations€ Mon, 27/09/2021 1095 Thu, 26/09/2024 600.00 4.00
    Mon, 04/10/2021 1095 Thu, 03/10/2024 350.00 4.00
    Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 250.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 2,275.00 4.00
    6. Special Long-Term Repo Operations (SLTRO) for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)£ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 105.00 4.00
    Mon, 22/11/2021 1095 Thu, 21/11/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 29/11/2021 1095 Thu, 28/11/2024 305.00 4.00
    Mon, 13/12/2021 1095 Thu, 12/12/2024 150.00 4.00
    Mon, 20/12/2021 1095 Thu, 19/12/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 255.00 4.00
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,844.29  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*    

    37,336.29

    		  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     26,382.29  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on September 24, 2024 1,023,321.84  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending October 04, 2024 1,005,433.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ September 24, 2024 50,003.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on September 06, 2024 427,689.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    € As per the Press Release No. 2020-2021/520 dated October 21, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/763 dated December 11, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/1057 dated February 05, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/695 dated August 13, 2021.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    £ As per the Press Release No. 2021-2022/181 dated May 07, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/1023 dated October 11, 2021.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad            
     Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/1157

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man arrested over death of infant

    Source: South Australia Police

    A man has been arrested after the death of an infant in July.

    It will be alleged that about 4pm on Wednesday 24 July, a 7-week-old male infant was conveyed by ambulance to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital as a result of injuries sustained that day at a northern suburbs address.

    The infant sadly died from these injuries six days later, on Tuesday 30 July.

    On 31 July 2024, the death of the infant was declared a major crime.

    Today (Wednesday 25 September), Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives arrested a 50-year-old Parafield Gardens man for the manslaughter of the infant.

    It will be alleged the arrested man inflicted the injuries to the infant while in his care on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 July.

    The man was charged with manslaughter and has been refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

    CO2400038901

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New yearbook “Hong Kong 2023” goes on sale (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    New yearbook “Hong Kong 2023” goes on sale (with photo)
    New yearbook “Hong Kong 2023” goes on sale (with photo)
    *****************************************************************

         The Government’s latest yearbook, “Hong Kong 2023”, went on sale today (September 25). The online version is available for free at www.yearbook.gov.hk.     The publication provides readers with an overview of life in Hong Kong in the year 2023, covering the administration, legislature, legal system and economy, detailing the Government’s policies and achievements as well as the development of Hong Kong.     The cover illustration shows the National Day Fireworks over Victoria Harbour, held for the first time in five years. There are 10 photo sections with more than 100 pictures in the yearbook, exploring different aspects of Hong Kong in 2023, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region search and rescue team’s heroic operation in quake-stricken areas in Türkiye, a glimpse into the Sha Tau Kok Frontier Closed Area that has been gradually opening up to tourists, the beautification of the cityscape of Hong Kong, visits of the home-developed aircraft C919 and ARJ21 and a look at a China Manned Space delegation.     “Hong Kong 2023”, priced at $450, is available at the online Government Bookstore at www.bookstore.gov.hk and the Information Services Department’s Publications Sales Unit at Room 626, 6/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point. Orders can also be placed by: 

    calling the Publications Sales Unit on 2537 1910;
    filling in an order form from the department’s website and submitting it online or by fax to 2523 7195; or
    emailing puborder@isd.gov.hk.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 11:03

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are ‘rent tech’ platforms? Action on reining in these exploitative tools is long overdue

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Przhedetsky, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney

    Bernard Hermant/Unsplash

    This week the New South Wales government announced it would introduce legislation that ensures renters are offered convenient, fee-free options to pay their rent.

    The announcement is just one of many state and territory reforms that aim to address issues arising from the use of rental technology platforms.

    In recent years these platforms and the landlords who use them have come under fire for intruding on renters’ privacy and charging additional fees. While practices such as “rent bidding” have already been outlawed around Australia, governments are now starting to turn their attention to other harmful practices facilitated by new technologies.

    Action on these issues is long overdue, and there’s much more that needs to be done to ensure rental technology platforms actually benefit consumers.

    An expanding industry

    A wide range of digital technology platforms are used to facilitate the use, trading, operation and management of real estate assets. A well-known example is AirBnb, a technology platform that facilitates short-term rentals by connecting hosts with guests.

    The property technology industry in Australia is rapidly expanding. In 2023, there were more than 478 products, start-ups and established companies ranging from marketing tools to data analytics platforms. This was up from 188 in 2019.

    A portion of these companies make services typically designed to be used by renters, real estate agents or landlords.

    A major selling point of rental technology platforms is that they promise to streamline a range of processes. To renters, these technologies are billed as quick, easy and effective ways to submit property applications, request maintenance or pay rent.

    If designed well, these platforms can certainly offer convenience. But many have expressed dissatisfaction with rental technology businesses that pressure renters to pay for costly background checks, collect too much personal data, or use opaque algorithms to “score” applicants.

    People who struggle to access or use technologies may also find these platforms difficult to use. This makes it harder for them to access an essential service.

    Some 41% of renters report feeling pressured to use a third-party rental technology platform to apply for a property. And 29% say they have opted not to apply for particular rentals because they do not trust rental technology platforms. This suggests that the use of these technologies may sometimes deter, rather than attract, applicants.

    Additional fees

    Over 30% of Australians rent their homes, a figure that continues to grow as people find themselves priced out of home ownership. Rising rents and the overall increase in the cost of living have put many renters under substantial financial pressure.

    With this in mind, it’s concerning that some renters have found themselves with little choice but to use rental technology platforms that charge fees to process rental payments.

    For example, renters using a popular platform called Alio are typically charged between 0.25% to 1.50% to make automated rental payments, depending on the method of payment they use. A rough estimate shows that a household paying the median weekly rent (A$627 per week) on a fortnightly basis might see themselves paying between $81.51 and $489.06 in additional fees each year.

    As required by law, Alio does offer a fee-free option to pay rent. But this option is highly inconvenient: it requires renters to enter their bank details anew every month.

    The fee-free options offered by some other rental technology platforms are equally inconvenient. They include paying rent in cash at the local post office.

    For renters who have been asked to use a rental payment platform, this may mean spending additional time and effort every time they pay their rent to avoid paying additional fees.

    The NSW government already requires lessors to offer fee-free ways to pay rent (similar protections are legislated in other states and territories). However, the key element of this week’s announcement is a commitment to making sure these fee-free methods are actually convenient. This should hopefully close the legislative loophole that is enabling these rental technologies to unfairly profit at renters’ expense.

    While the draft legislation is yet to be seen, these reforms might see renters reverting to tried and tested payment methods such as bank transfers and bypassing rental technology payment platforms altogether.

    Effective enforcement

    Introducing laws that ensure renters have access to convenient, fee-free ways to make rental payments is a no-brainer. The next step is ensuring these laws are enforced effectively.

    To achieve this, the regulator must be well resourced to carry out compliance and enforcement activities that ensure lessors and rental technology businesses comply with these protections.

    Beyond these reforms, there is more work to be done to ensure renters are effectively protected from a range of harms that are created or exacerbated by rental technology platforms.

    Issues such as discrimination and unfair treatment through rental technology platforms warrant further attention.

    The key challenge for governments and regulators is to keep up with technological developments so they can identify and address issues as they arise.

    Linda Przhedetsky is a Board Member at the NSW Tenants’ Union, and is a member of the NSW Fair Trading’s Industry Reference Group on Protecting Renter Information. She receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

    – ref. What are ‘rent tech’ platforms? Action on reining in these exploitative tools is long overdue – https://theconversation.com/what-are-rent-tech-platforms-action-on-reining-in-these-exploitative-tools-is-long-overdue-239602

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: One person dies following avalanche

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    One person has died following an avalanche in the Arrowsmith Range area today.

    Police were notified of the avalanche at 12.25pm.

    One person was trapped in the avalanche and was in a critical condition when recovered at around 1pm.

    Tragically they died a short time later.

    Nobody is unaccounted for following the avalanche.

    Details of the deceased cannot be provided until all necessary next of kin notifications have taken place.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Company and director of nursery fined $42,500 for breaking plant import quarantine rules

    Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

    The company and director of a nursery who illegally took 220 imported plants out of quarantine after just one day, has been fined $42,500.

    Elliott Wholesale Nursery Limited is a Ministry for Primary Industries registered Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility. Under the Biosecurity Act, imported plants should be in quarantine for 3 months.

    Jeffrey Wayne Elliott (65) and Elliott Wholesale Nursery Limited were sentenced in the Christchurch District Court today on one charge under the Biosecurity Act. They earlier pleaded guilty following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

    “Mr Elliot is highly experienced and knew the quarantine regulations. These rules are there for a reason – to protect New Zealand from any potential pests and diseases which could be a risk to our biosecurity,” says MPI regional manager, investigations south, Gerald Anderson.

    In September 2022, Elliott’s Wholesale Nursery imported 600 Nandina domestica tissue culture – an evergreen shrub from Australia. The plants were unpacked and placed in a Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility quarantine, where they needed to remain for 3 months. However, after just one day, Mr Elliot removed 220 of these plants, placing them in a non PEQ area.

    “To avoid detection and to circumnavigate the biosecurity rules designed to protect New Zealand from potentially unwanted pests and diseases – he replaced these plants with similar looking domestic plants, which he admitted doing to an employee who questioned him.

    “When an MPI inspector conducted an audit – the nursery passed because at the time, the inspector believed the swapped plants were the imported nandina plants from Australia.

    While Mr Elliot declined to be formally interviewed by MPI, he admitted to MPI investigators that he knew he had broken the law.

    No pests or diseases were found on the plants that were taken out of the quarantine facility.

    For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

    For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN addresses the 8th Jakarta Geopolitical Forum

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delivered pre-recorded remarks on “ASEAN’s perspective on maritime whole-of-government approach in the region” at the 8th Jakarta Geopolitical Forum 2024, which is being convened from 25-26 September 2024 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Hosted by the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional RI/LEMHANNAS RI), the Forum this year is held under the theme “Addressing Geo-Maritime Resilience Challenges in the Indo-Pacific.” The Forum serves as a platform for relevant stakeholders, including government officials, diplomats, academics, and industry leaders, for exchanging views on maritime issues in the Indo-Pacific region and exploring ways to address them.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN addresses the 8th Jakarta Geopolitical Forum appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Hawksbill turtle beached on Aotea, brought to Auckland Zoo

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  25 September 2024

    Locals Karen Lombard and Fraser Munroe came across the live sea turtle yesterday and alerted DOC staff member Sarah Dwyer, who sprang into action for the protected species.

    “Sea turtles forage around New Zealand but do not nest here. We hear about sightings in the water every summer around Aotea, but their presence on land is normally an indication of poor health. That’s why we don’t try to refloat turtles, but instead take them into care for a medical assessment.

    “A huge thank you to Karen and Fraser for their quick response and transporting the turtle to us at the airport. We ensured it was dry, to avoid any further heat loss, and comfortable in a crate. We got it on the first flight to Auckland mainland and into the expert care of Auckland Zoo’s veterinary team,” says Sarah.

    “While this hawksbill has no external injuries, it is extremely underweight and remains in a critical condition, so its future remains uncertain,” says Auckland Zoo vet, Dr Adam Naylor.

    “We are administering supportive treatments, such as intravenous fluids, and given its low body temperature, slowly and very carefully increasing the water temperature of its tank to the preferred optimal temperature range for this species.”

    Rodney Ngawaka, a kaumatua of Ngāti Rehua-Ngātiwai ki Aotea says spring brings in many species, but a turtle is unusual for Aotea.

    “We see tohorā (whales), whai repo (rays), manu (birds) all moving into these waters, Te Moananui ō Toi Te Huatahi, through the mauri of our currents and winds during this time of year. These invisible lines guide relationships that are thousands of years old, but it’s unusual to see a honu (turtle). It has possibly come into this beach from the water space of the Waitemata, Tīkapa Moana.

    “This taonga is a gift and it’s our responsibility to stay connected to its future.”

    If you spot turtles on the beach or see beached whales or dolphins, call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) and follow the advice.

    Across the country in spring, DOC receives reports of sick marine animals that come ashore after losing condition over winter.

    On Aotea there have been two dead sea turtles found on the shores in the last five years: one hawksbill and one green turtle.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand welcomes United Arab Emirates Trade Minister

    Source: New Zealand Government

    United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi will visit New Zealand this week, Trade Minister Todd McClay has today announced. 

    “I’m delighted to welcome my colleague and friend, Minister Al Zeyoudi to New Zealand. The UAE is one of our closest partners and a key export destination in the Gulf region, and we are focused on deepening our connections across a range of areas,” Mr McClay says.

    “Two-way trade with the UAE amounts to NZ$1.3 billion per year. We want to grow that figure together.”

    H.E. Al Zeyoudi will arrive in Wellington on 25 September and will have a number of engagements over his three-day visit, including with the Parliamentary and business communities. The visit will also be an opportunity to take forward trade negotiations launched on 7 May 2024. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Two-day Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Symposium 2024 of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival to be staged in Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    　　The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will host the Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Symposium 2024, one of the highlight events of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, on October 25 and 26 (Friday and Saturday). The Symposium, organised by the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong), brings together industry leaders from across the Bay Area and other Mainland cities to explore the latest trends in arts and cultural developments in the region. It aims to provide an interactive platform to promote close co-operation among arts and cultural practitioners, organisations and performing art venues in the Bay Area.　　The Symposium will feature a diverse range of free activities for public participation, including public seminars and a roundtable conference. Details are as follows: Public Seminars———————Date: October 25 (Friday)Venue: Auditorium of Ko Shan Theatre New WingPublic Seminar 1 Topic: Co- Creation: Cultural Integration and Creative CollaborationTime: 2.45pm to 4pmSpeakers: Chen Rui, General Manager, Zhuhai Jinwan Art Center and Producer of Musical “I Am What I Am”                Naomi Chung, Head of Xiqu, Performing Arts, West Kowloon Cultural DistrictModerator: Tseng Sun-man, Chairman of Advisory Group, University Arts Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen　　Artists and producers from different cities are together exploring their creativity and producing new works. This kind of collaboration has become a new trend in the creation of performing arts. Speakers will share their valuable experiences and insights and reflect on the possibilities of co-production in the future. Public Seminar 2 Topic: Sustainability: Cultural Tourism and Audience DevelopmentTime: 4.45pm to 6pmSpeakers: Chang Hsien Ching, Director, Shekou Theatre Festival                Benny Lim, Associate Professor of Practice in Cultural Management and Director of the Master of Arts in Cultural Management Programme at The Chinese University of Hong KongModerator: Anna Chan, Dean, School of Dance, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts　　Speakers will share how to transform cultural resources into sustainable tourism experiences, attract more audiences and stand out from the competition as well as their views on the benefits and challenges of integrating culture and tourism. Roundtable Discussion——————————Date: October 26 (Saturday)Time: 10am to 1pmVenue: Auditorium of Ko Shan Theatre New WingModerator: Louis Yu, Veteran Arts Administrator Part 1: Cultural Space: Cross-boundary Exploration of Memory and CreativitySpeakers: Annie Feng, Consultant of Beijing Nanyang Theatre and Suzhou Suyi Show Zone               Mok Sio Chong, President, Macao Theatre Culture Institute               Liu Hankun, Founder and CEO of Focustage               Liu Xiaoyi, Artistic Director, Emergency Stairs in Singapore　　The four speakers will discuss the operational strategies of emerging cultural spaces in Mainland China in recent years, the advantages and challenges of site-specific creations and mobile performances in Macau, the production and theatre operation of cultural spaces, as well as the benefits of combining culture and space for cultural development from different perspectives. Part 2: Strategies and Perspectives on Audience DevelopmentSpeakers: Li Siyao, Founder and Artistic Director of “Yao Theatre”, drama educator                Joe Li, Producer of Frankenstein by Nick Dear, President of Beijing ATW Culture Media                Mia Shen, Founder of Mad Attic                Yang Xiaoluan, Founder of the drama self-media “Theater Ferris Wheel”                Erik Kuong, Managing & Creative Director, Creative Links Limited　　Based on their own experiences, the five speakers will share strategies for expanding the audience for children’s theatre, analyse the shift in Mainland audience consumption patterns before and after the pandemic and share how producers respond to the shift, as well as how specific themes can stimulate audience reflection and development. The speakers will also analyse the characteristics of Mainland audiences and the role of self-media in audience development, and discuss the characteristics of the Greater Bay Area audience and share how to introduce programmes to target audiences.　　Admission to the above-mentioned public seminars and roundtable discussion is free and members of the public are welcome to join. Online registration is required (www.art-mate.net/doc/77002) with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. For programme details, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk/en/programmes/greater-bay-area-culture-and-arts-symposium-2024. For enquiries about event registration arrangements, please contact the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong) at 2974 0542. 　　The Symposium has also invited industry practitioners to participate in workshops and city walks, with a view to enhancing exchanges among participants and showcasing the unique cultural expressions of Hong Kong. The four topics of the workshops are “Latest Development of Performing Arts Spaces”, “Promotional Collaboration and Social Media”, “Arts Festivals and Exploration of Cultural and Creative Development” and “Art Organisation in Rural Areas and the Revitalisation of Art Space”. The instructors include Drama Producer and Production Director of Real Atypical Omnipotent Theatre, Wang Ruipu; Head of Marketing and Development of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Tracy Huang; Founder and Manager of Xixi and Vice President of Hangzhou Binjiang District Drama Association, Dong Yunyan; and Producer of Ergao Dance Production Group Pan Xiong. The city walks will explore four communities – Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Central and Sheung Wan, and To Kwa Wan – examining Hong Kong’s cultural strategies for conservation, revitalisation and community innovation from different perspectives. 　　Hong Kong is the host city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival for the first time this year. It organises and co-ordinates over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held across the “9+2” cities of the Greater Bay Area. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchange and co-operation among the cities. For detailed information about the festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointment to the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government has today announced the appointment of Ms Amanda Heyworth as a member of the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council for a three-year term.

    The National Archives is Australia’s federal government record collecting agency, preserving and managing documents and other evidence that record important events in Australian history, and making them available to the public. 

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said Ms Heyworth would be a valuable addition to the Council. 

    “The National Archives holds some of our most important records dating back to Federation in 1901, helping to tell the story of our nation. 

    “Amanda’s experience in digital transformation and service design will benefit the National Archives as it works to make collections more digitally available and improve information management.”

    Ms Amanda Heyworth is a professional company director, with expertise in governance, strategy and innovation. Ms Heyworth currently holds Chair positions at UniSA Ventures Pty Ltd and the Centennial Park Cemetery Authority, and is a non‑executive Director at People First Bank and Commissioner of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia. 

    Ms Heyworth has previously held senior executive positions in the venture capital, technology and finance sectors. Early in her career, she served as an economist with the Federal Treasury and as Adjunct Faculty in the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Heavy rain warnings for Te Wai Pounamu/parts of the West Coast and South Island

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    People driving through Fiordland, along the West Coast of the South Island and around the Canterbury high country and alpine passes are warned to be ready for heavy rain overnight tonight and into Thursday, says MetService and NZTA.

    Although the amounts are not predicted to be huge at this stage, combined with recent heavy rain, snowmelt and spring conditions, there is more potential for slips and rockfalls.

    Drivers need to be on the lookout, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    “Given recent rockfalls on the Haast Pass (SH6), and avalanches on the Milford Road (SH94), we are not out of winter yet,” says NZTA Journey Manager Nicole Felts. “Drivers should be prepared for changeable conditions and possible road closures.”

    From bottom to top

    There are heavy rain watches in place for Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound and the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers from tonight into Thursday lunchtime.

    The Westland Ranges may catch heavy rain from the early hours of Thursday to later Thursday.

    A heavy rain warning also covers the Canterbury lakes and rivers headwaters from 9 am Thursday to later Thursday night, with a nor-westerly gale warning for the Canterbury high country. People driving high-sided vehicles (campervans, towing caravans) and motorcyclists need to be aware of the danger and the potential for powerline damage/ tree branches over roads.

    There is also a heavy rain watch for Buller and Grey Districts from Thursday afternoon to the early hours of Friday.

    “Check highway traffic real time updates before you head out tomorrow,” says Miss Felts.

    Journey Planner – Highway conditions(external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drivers warned to expect delays on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill this Thursday

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    Drivers travelling between Wellington and Wairarapa must be ready for delays tomorrow (Thursday, 26 September), with two stop-go sites operating on the route.

    One is an existing 24/7 stop/go at an underslip site due to be repaired within the next six weeks.

    The other is temporary and will be in place tomorrow between 10 am and 3 pm to allow road crews to install safety barriers alongside the closed slow vehicle bay at a nearby overslip site.

    The two slips are approximately half a kilometre apart and require separate stop/go controls to allow traffic to flow efficiently.

    This means drivers can expect delays of up to five minutes when travelling over Remutaka Hill. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for your journeys.

    NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and understanding while this work is underway.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth Brisbane press conference

    Source: Australian Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    Topics: Autism; Autistic women; Connections4Women; Strong and Resilient Communities; Disability; Negative gearing; Housing.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: It’s been wonderful to visit Autism Queensland today, also with our candidate, Julie-Ann Campbell, the candidate for Moreton. But it’s been wonderful to hear about the large array of really important support services that Autism Queensland does offer to autistic people here in Queensland. Particularly, I’m very pleased to announce today that Autism Queensland is receiving a grant of $360,000 to run a program called Connections4Women. And that’s particularly designed for autistic women to connect up with other autistic women. This is a really innovative program, and I very shortly will ask Dr Caitlin Taggart to explain the process of, and what this program will offer. But I did want to say that this program very much aligns with the outcomes that we want to see through our Strong and Resilient Community grants. This is all about ensuring the social inclusion of people that may be disconnected or isolated from community. But it’s also really in line with the Commonwealth Government’s National Autism Strategy. Our National Autism Strategy is a strategy looks at how we make sure Autistic children and Autistic adults are better included in our community, are better supported, that their wellbeing is considered, that their health is considered, and indeed their social and economic inclusion is forefront to that strategy. This program is so important in ensuring that there’s social connection. I understand it will be run in three areas: South Brisbane, Toowoomba and Gladstone. And I’m really, really excited to see the outcomes of this program. I might now hand over to Dr Caitlin Taggart to talk more about the program.

    DR CAITLIN TAGGART, AUTISM QUEENSLAND: Thanks very much. So the program is called the Connecting4Women group, and the main aim of the group is to enable and empower Autistic women to connect with other Autistic women. We will be in the group exploring topics like Autistic self-identity and connecting to our local community. So connecting into services and support and online spaces. We want the group to be a really safe and supportive space for Autistic women to connect with other women and feel that sense of belonging and connection to others. The ultimate aim of the group would be that Autistic women would be the key drivers to continuing that social ecosystem expanding into their local community. The group is co-designed. So we were really fortunate last year to receive a Supporting Women Queensland Government grant. And in through that grant, we met with 22 Autistic women, where we co-designed the group, and we were exploring topics with these women about what they would like the group to be. How would they like it to be facilitated? The location? How do we maintain that psychological safety within the group? And using that information that we gathered from these 22 Autistic women, this has now informed this connections for women group this SARC grant. So we’re really fortunate and really excited to be offering this group to Autistic women across those three locations. So South Brisbane, Gladstone and Toowoomba. The reach and the scope that we have, you know, can be up to 192 Autistic women, which we’re really excited to be offering, and particularly since this group, it is co-designed by Autistic women for Autistic women. So this group is meaningful to the needs and the users of this group. So we’re really excited and really fortunate to be to be offering this this group.

    JOURNALIST: Do you think the additional funding will help the stigma around autism in women, especially since it’s so under diagnosed?

    DR CAITLIN TAGGART: Great question. There is a gender bias and unfortunately, for a lot of Autistic women, they struggle, really find it challenging to find a diagnosis, because there is that lack of understanding and lack of awareness and in the health professional sector community. So we are hoping that this will increase awareness. And for Autistic women, the group is not just for those who have a formal diagnosis of autism, but those who self-identify as Autistic, because we do recognise that there are the challenges in receiving a formal diagnosis, not just from the lack of awareness, but also financially as well, it can be quite challenging.

    JOURNALIST: And what specific programs and services would the funding enhance?

    DR CAITLIN TAGGART: We’re hoping that the Autistic women will then be able to connect into their local communities or online community spaces and learn about other services and support that have that understanding of autism. It is a small community, and if we can connect together and learn from each other about those services and spaces that do have that awareness of autism, in particular Autistic females, we’re hoping that then we can spread awareness and Autistic females will be able to connect into those services and support and receive the right kind of
    support.

    JOURNALIST: And how would the funding help women, Autistic women who are from different backgrounds. I know there’s specific locations around Queensland, but how would that offer them the safe space?

    DR CAITLIN TAGGART: Again, really great question. So when we co-designed the group, that was something that we did discuss, because we want this group to be really inclusive and welcoming to a very wide diverse range of people. The group is participant-led. So we want participants to come to the group, and we want to understand from them what they want to get out of the group, and what their needs are to feel safe and welcomed and included in that group. So we’re not coming in with our own agenda. It’s not prescriptive at all. It was co designed, and it’ll continue to be co designed even as we continue to run the group.

    JOURNALIST: Minister Rishworth, we were wondering about the negative gearing information that has come out earlier today. If you had any comments on that?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Just to be really clear, we’ve got a very comprehensive housing policy – $32 billion worth of housing investment to increase supply. Negative gearing is not a proposal that is part of that housing policy. But what I would say is that there are two really important pieces of legislation in the Parliament, both our Build to Rent scheme, and, of course, our Help to Buy scheme. One that helps new homeowners get their foot into the market, the other, which puts more supply of affordable rental into the market. At the moment, we’ve got the Coalition and the Greens in there, the Coalition blocking this important piece of legislation, and we are focused on getting on the on with the job of actually building those houses. I might also just add one more thing about the autism funding. The funding will actually enable these groups to be facilitated and run for ten weeks, and so that is what the funding goes to. But as Caitlin was saying, it’s really important that there’s the potential for the ongoing benefit after these groups, of the social connection, bringing people together and feeling like you’re not alone. I think listening to the description of the program and listening to some of the comments coming back of what women really wanted, and this is what they told Autism Queensland. That’s what was so strong about this application is that this is what they said. They don’t want to feel alone, and so the funding to facilitate, to bring people together, to have a facilitator, as well as it be co-led with an Autistic woman, is really critical in ensuring that the ongoing connection continues.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Symposium 2024

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Thank you very much for the generous welcome Reverend Reihana.

    Thank you to Alcohol Healthwatch and your organising committee, including representatives from: FASD-CAN Aotearoa; Te Iho Tātai-ā-Rongo (the Māori FASD Coalition); Hauora Māori Services and Health Promotion Directorates, Health New Zealand; Oranga Tamariki; and the Centre for Addiction Research, University of Auckland, for inviting me to this important event.

    Alongside the organising committee, I would also like to acknowledge Raawiri Ratuu, from Kookiri ki Taamakimakaurau Trust, and the advice and practical support he has provided in preparation for this symposium.

    I am very pleased to be addressing the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) community today. 

    I would like to take this moment now to recognise all of you and your tireless efforts and commitment. 

    FASD has gone under-recognised and under-supported for too long in New Zealand, but you have remained strong and dedicated as we now stand on the precipice of meaningful change. 

    I acknowledge that you have had to navigate difficult spaces, motivated by the love of family and community. Ngā mihi ki a koutou.

    I would also like to acknowledge Alcohol Healthwatch for leading engagements with their community across New Zealand over the past two months. You have gathered valuable insights that will inform the revitalisation of the Government’s FASD Strategic Action Plan.

    Along with FASD-CAN, Kookiri ki Taamaki Makaurau Trust, the Māori Coalition for Te Iho Tātai-ā-Rongo, Village Collective, and the whole FASD community, you have built a foundation upon which we can set our collective direction for FASD.

    I believe families, whānau, professionals at the frontline and communities are best placed to know how to support people impacted by FASD. 

    I acknowledge the range of experiences and strengths you bring to this work, and this is is reflected in the approach we are taking to develop the new FASD Strategic Action Plan. 

    I am committed to keeping people at the front and center of this mission. 

    Only with the experiences, opportunities and solutions from people within and outside of the health system will we develop services truly respond to the needs of people affected by FASD. 

    Comments from FASD providers highlighted the importance of listening to communities, when they expressed, “the very first thing that this is about – is being heard and seen, that your story is true, valid and important. Just that, I reckon just that. I call it deep listening.”

    I used to similarly observe as a GP, that often people just want to hear and be heard, see and be seen. 

    That’s what an engagement process is about. Listening to whānau. Listening to community. 

    I intend to continue listening to all voices. Even when it is hard. Even when it is challenging. I will listen.

    In April this year, I committed this Government to taking meaningful, tangible action to address FASD in New Zealand. 

    I announced a first tranche of initiatives, with $2 million of funding across five key initiatives:

    1. Publishing the first New Zealand-specific FASD diagnostic guidelines. 
    2. Training up to 30 health professionals from Child Development Services to use these new guidelines.
    3. Launching A nationwide FASD prevention campaign.
    4. Establishing an FASD pilot programme to support Māori communities and whānau living with FASD, and 
    5. Revitalising the FASD Strategic Action Plan. 

    We are already seeing considerable progress on these actions. 

    Publication of the new FASD guidelines occurred in April and diagnostic training has already started, in collaboration with Hāpai Te Hauora, and the first group of 30 clinicians will have completed their training by the end of the year. 

    This will further grow a health workforce that is better equipped to understand and support the needs of people with FASD and their families.

    Health New Zealand are now co-designing the prevention campaign with a group of young people who represent the next generation of parents, as well as their support people, whānau, hapū and iwi. 

    The campaign focuses on preventing and raising awareness about FASD and its effects on communities and will launch before the end of this year. 

    The FASD community pilot programme started in May this year and is being delivered by the Māori Coalition for Te Iho Tātai-ā-Rongo (FASD). 

    This is a comprehensive programme that includes a series of regional wānanga with communities that have been identified with FASD high needs.

    These wānanga focus on whānau living with FASD, health professionals and has a particular focus in setting up peer support. 

    In addition, they have completed a national online conference bringing together Māori researchers, policy makers, clinicians and representation from Te Kāhui Taurikura. 

    The coalition is building FASD capacity within regions with stakeholder hui with workforce and whānau living with FASD. 

    They have Te Whare ō Oro training that is in alignment with the wānanga which introduces neurodiversity training into these pilot areas.

    Finally, the revitalisation of the FASD Strategic Action Plan is well underway. Community engagement was completed at the end of August, and health agencies are now actively developing the priorities that will make up the plan. 

    I know health agencies will be further consulting key FASD organisations and networks, as well as clinicians and sector experts, in the first quarter of 2025 on the draft plan. 

    I expect groups that led the community engagement will be able to see their contributions reflected in that draft plan, which will outline a phased and coordinated approach to addressing FASD over the coming years.

    As I said in April, these are only the first steps the Government is taking to drive action on FASD. I signaled a clear intention to introduce further initiatives that will build momentum and further our knowledge and understanding of FASD.  

    I reflect again on the voices of the community in setting further FASD priorities today. 

    One FASD observer has noted, “Pretty much every professional group would gain hugely from understanding and then reframing their responses as a result… It seems to me that actually our whole society needs education on what FASD is and its impacts.”

    I agree. 

    An important part of advancing FASD is lifting literacy and actions across all areas where there are opportunities to prevent FASD or provide support to people with FASD. 

    This includes in the community, in healthcare settings, the education system, children’s system and the justice system. 

    That’s why today I am confirming $4.85 million of funding, for a second tranche of three more key FASD initiatives. 

    I expect to make further announcements on FASD in the build up to the release of the FASD Strategic Action Plan next year. 

    This funding is made possible through a lift to the Alcohol Levy that Cabinet agreed to in July.

    This took the levy from approximately $11.5m to $16.6m – a boost of more than $5 million this year.

    There were criticisms that the levy was not actually raised high enough, and I understand this. 

    However, it demonstrates a willingness on the part of the Government to fund our priority actions that deliver tangible outcomes, and given this is the first rise in the alcohol levy in 15 years. 

    We have taken a microscope to what the levy is being spent on and it is not clear to me that all the initiatives have delivered tangible, positive health outcomes for New Zealanders. 

    Evidence-based outcomes is a key principle of this Government’s investments – every initiative must provide clear, demonstrable value to communities. 

    That is the challenge I put to you, as together we design the FASD Strategic Action Plan. Demonstrate how your initiatives and proposals will make a tangible difference for New Zealanders.

    $4.85 million is a sizeable commitment to the FASD work programme and builds on the $2 million I announced for tranche one initiatives in April – bringing our total investment in FASD support and prevention to date, to $6.85 million. 

    The tranche two initiatives announced today are: 

    1. Undertaking an FASD prevalence study, to understand the true nature of the challenge FASD presents in New Zealand, rather than relying on extrapolated overseas data. We will have our own, New Zealand data.
    2. Growing FASD awareness and capacity across communities and a range of health, disability, and social services, with formal, structured education. 
    3. Supporting initiatives that promote alcohol-free pregnancies and reduce the stigma of FASD.

    The three year prevalence study will start in mid-2025. It will focus on both the prevalence and impact of FASD in New Zealand, and how demographic, socio-economic, and maternal factors influence the occurrence and diagnosis of FASD among different populations. 

    The aim is for this study to screen a minimum of 2500 children, in line with World Health Organization FASD prevalence research protocols. Children will be identified through targeted school settings in high-risk locations. 

    Growing FASD awareness and capacity within communities and across a range of health, disability, and social services professionals will occur through a range of training opportunities being made available. 

    These will include: 

    • Developing a new micro-credential training programme for the recently developed NZQA-approved unit standards. Development and delivery of this training will be undertaken in close collaboration with subject matter experts and will be relevant and accessible for a range of different audiences and training cohorts, including families and carers.
    • Developing and implementing non-clinical training for communities to increase FASD awareness. This training will align to current activities with the FASD community pilot programme and other localised support programmes.
    • Funding a second clinical cohort of 30 Child Development Services professionals to undertake training based on New Zealand’s FASD diagnostic guidelines.

    Supporting prevention and reducing stigma around FASD will include: expanding our evaluation cohort for the nation-wide prevention campaign which will provide insights into the campaign messaging and implementation. In collaboration with sector partners we have supported with resource to highlight FASD awareness month.

    These priorities are direct responses to community-led efforts and demonstrate the importance of community advocacy and voice in all parts of the health system. 

    For instance, the new FASD micro-credential training that includes NZQA unit standards will support best practice for people working alongside and engaging with people living with FASD. These unit standards were developed collaboratively by Hayley Semenoff and the team at Toitū te Waiora workforce development council and FASD-CAN Aotearoa.

    This training will reflect a shared aspiration with the FASD community for a workforce with an FASD-informed lens, who will be our frontline change agents. They will be competent and confident supporting people impacted by FASD across their lifespan and in different settings, including health, education, disability, and justice systems.

    Health NZ is still in the early stages of work on these priorities. I expect to continue to update the FASD community as they progress in the lead up to the launch of the FASD Strategic Action Plan next year.

    We remain committed to driving change and improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders, and particularly those who experience the worst health outcomes.

    That won’t come without its challenges. Achieving change has been hard for previous governments and will be hard for me too. But these challenges provide opportunities. Opportunities to sharpen our focus on what matters most and actions that will make the biggest impacts on people’s lives.

    I believe in bringing care and decision making close to the home and closer to the hapū, and I recognise the unique qualities Māori health providers bring and the importance of local providers delivering services within their communities. 

    I look forward to seeing what opportunities there are for local and community initiatives to better support people with FASD, to consider as part of the refreshed FASD Strategic Action Plan.

    One of the greatest challenges is in fully understanding the prevalence and extent of FASD in New Zealand. This is, in part, due to complexities and barriers to formal diagnosis and national data collection. These barriers limit our ability to intervene effectively and tailor supports to local needs.

    We need to better understand FASD prevalence across New Zealand, which means we can deliver more effective and targeted prevention and early intervention activities and then measure their impact. 

    This is why the announcements I have made today are so important. But I want to make clear that gaps in what we know about the prevalence of FASD does not distract from its very real impacts. 

    We must remember our context, where an estimated three to five children in New Zealand are born with FASD every day. 

    We know we must address this and the primary mechanism we have is through the refreshed FASD Strategic Action Plan. 

    Over the next 12 months, I hope to build an approach that will further support the prevention of FASD and identify critical points in the lifespan of individuals with FASD where we can make the greatest difference. 

    The community voices and insights captured over the past two months will be vital to that, and I acknowledge the wider alcohol prevention work that Rawiri and his team have undertaken with the Kaupapa Te Ropū report on alcohol harm for Māori. 

    However, until the long-term action plan is published next year, we have listened to the best community and expert advice and have already made a start, with an investment of over $6.85 million across eight initiatives aimed at better understanding the impact of FASD, promoting better education in community and clinical settings and supporting women to stay alcohol free during pregnancy. 

    Three to five children are born with FASD every day – that’s why there’s no time to wait. 

    We want New Zealand to be a country where people are supported to have alcohol-free pregnancies, where the prevalence of FASD is well understood, where quality FASD diagnostic tools and training are widely used, and people living with FASD and their families are well supported.

    Finally, I would like to reflect on the theme of this conference, ‘Ko te FASD kei a hau, ehara i a hau. FASD is what I have NOT who I am’.

    To me, this is a powerful message which tackles both the issues of stigma, and most importantly, aspiration.

    The aspirations of individuals, families, carers, and the whole FASD community, to lead thriving lives. Lives in which people with FASD, can pursue education, employment, and meaningful connections with friends, families, and communities.

    While FASD might have lifelong impacts, it should not be a life sentence. We have the chance to change that. To build on our strengths and not be defined by a diagnosis. 

    That’s my vision for the future.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Active Chlorine Component of Hypochlorous Acid Solution Volatilized in the Air Eliminates Over 99% of Group A Streptococci

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Active Chlorine Component of Hypochlorous Acid Solution Volatilized in the Air Eliminates Over 99% of Group A Streptococci

    [Figure 1. Amount of bacteria adhered (group A streptococci) by time elapsed]

    Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (https://www.panasonic.com/global/home.html) today announced that its Heating & Ventilation A/C Company (hereinafter referred to as Panasonic) verified that the active chloride component volatilized from the hypochlorous acid solution, produced by electrolysis of salt water, effectively eliminates over 99% of group A streptococci (GAS) adhered in a space of approx. 25 m3 within 60 minutes(*2).
    The hypochlorous acid solution is produced through the electrolysis of salt water and demonstrates high efficacy in sterilization and deodorization. Since adopting the hypochlorous acid solution for the hygiene maintenance system of cup-dispensing vending machines in 1987(*3), Panasonic has been researching hypochlorous acid technology for over 30 years. The company verified in the past few years that the solution is effective in suppressing viruses, including the influenza virus (H1N1), novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, and enterovirus and coxsackievirus, which can cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease, as well as herpangina.
    GAS is mainly transmitted via droplet infection (coughing and sneezing) and direct contact. These bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, such as strep throat and skin infections, and in severe cases, necrotizing fasciitis. Specifically, they are responsible for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, which primarily affects children with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, reddened tongue, and a red rash on the body. It can also cause sepsis and multiple organ failure, as exemplified by the streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which has shown an increasing trend in recent years.
    Based on the current verification results, the active chloride component volatilized from the hypochlorous acid solution is expected to eliminate GAS adhered to tables, railings, and other objects.
    ■Verification methodTwo cases were verified: one by soaking the rotary sterilization filter in a hypochlorous acid solution of approx. 100 mg/L, exposing the filter to a given amount of wind (3.8 m3/min) to volatilize the active chloride component, and then exposing the specimens with GAS to the volatilized substance; and the other by not exposing the specimens to the active chloride component (natural attenuation).
    ■Verification resultsThe effect of suppressing 99% of GAS within 60 minutes was confirmed (Figure 1).

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Impact Webinar 79: Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2024 Launch

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Video | 25 September 2024

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    Climate change poses a growing threat to people and their livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Yet critical data gaps hinder our understanding of climate impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations in developing Asia. Drawing on insights from Key Indicators 2024: Data for Climate Action, panelists highlight the importance of granular data in capturing the nuanced effects of climate change on different regions and communities. Additionally, the discussion will explore policies and strategies aimed at enhancing data systems to foster inclusive and sustainable development.

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    Climate change poses a growing threat to people and their livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Yet critical data gaps hinder our understanding of climate impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations in developing Asia. Drawing on insights from Key Indicators 2024: Data for Climate Action, panelists highlight the importance of granular data in capturing the nuanced effects of climate change on different regions and communities. Additionally, the discussion will explore policies and strategies aimed at enhancing data systems to foster inclusive and sustainable development.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: HK rises to 3rd place in global financial centers index

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Photo taken on June 22, 2022 shows the view at the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Hong Kong moved up one place to rank third globally and first in the Asia-Pacific region in a global financial centers index, showing the city’s status and strengths as a leading global financial center.

    The Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) 36 Report was published Tuesday by British think tank Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute in Shenzhen.

    A spokesperson from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that Hong Kong’s scores were rated among the top in various areas of competitiveness, including business environment, human capital, infrastructure, as well as reputational and general.

    Hong Kong’s rankings in various financial industry sectors also rose significantly, including investment management, insurance, banking and professional services. Among them, the ranking in investment management advanced to first globally.

    In addition, the report assessed the financial centers’ fintech offerings, and Hong Kong’s ranking rose five places to ninth, making it among the top 10 fintech hubs.

    The spokesperson said that Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management business is booming, with assets under management growing by about 2 percent from the previous year to more than 31 trillion Hong Kong dollars by the end of 2023.

    Net fund inflows reached 390 billion Hong Kong dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of over 3.4 times. The development of the family office business in Hong Kong continues to gain momentum. The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has continued to receive overwhelming responses since its launch in March, with more than 550 applications received so far. It is expected to bring in more than 16.5 billion Hong Kong dollars in investments to Hong Kong.

    The spokesperson said that the HKSAR government will continue to actively understand, respond to and embrace changes to promote high-quality development of the financial sector. In the stock market, it is proactively enhancing its breadth and depth as well as boosting market efficiency and competitiveness, while endeavoring to deepen financial mutual access between the mainland and Hong Kong so as to further strengthen Hong Kong’s role in connecting the mainland and international capital markets.

    The GFCI Report is released in March and September every year since 2007. In GFCI 36, 121 financial centers were assessed, and Hong Kong ranked third globally with an overall rating of 749. (1 Hong Kong dollar equals 0.1284 U.S. dollars) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch, Grassley Call Out Abuses in the Biden-Harris Unaccompanied Migrant Children Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 41 bicameral Republican colleagues in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to root out abuses in their administration’s unaccompanied migrant children program and stop the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s cover-up of the crisis.
    The lawmakers are urging Biden and Harris to “make changes to [their] policies and procedures” in order to “end this public safety crisis.”  They are specifically calling on the Biden-Harris administration to enhance information-sharing with law enforcement and Congress, fully cooperate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) child exploitation investigation and thoroughly respond to all congressional oversight requests.
    “[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people,” the lawmakers concluded.
    More than 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southwest border under the Biden-Harris administration, while cartel trafficking activity surged an estimated 2,500 percent.  Amid this crisis, the lawmakers note the Biden-Harris administration limited background checks for sponsors of unaccompanied children, cut back on familial DNA testing at the border and decreased information sharing with law enforcement.
    Joining Crapo, Risch and Grassley on the letter are U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina),  John Thune (R-South Dakota), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) and 15 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland on track to meet critical water targets

    Source: Auckland Council

    Tāmaki Makaurau is on track to meet its targets to reduce water consumption  and the water supply target for recycled water capacity. That’s according to the annual progress report for the Auckland Water Strategy.

    The Auckland Water Strategy (2022 – 2050) is Auckland Council’s 30-year approach to water, guided by the vision te mauri o te wai – that the life-sustaining capacity of Auckland’s water is protected and enhanced.

    The Policy and Planning Committee heard a progress report in its recent meeting. Chair of the committee, Councillor Richard Hills, welcomed this report and acknowledged our complex relationship with water.

    “We’ve seen the extremes of our relationship with water in recent years, from severe flooding to drought and water restrictions. The Auckland Water Strategy provides us with a guiding vision while ensuring that strategic direction is being progressed through efforts across the organisation to enhance our resilience to water-related natural hazards, improve our partnership with mana whenua, and improve our planning framework,” says Cr Hills.

    “There have been some notable milestones achieved in the last year, especially around enhancing our resilience to water-related natural hazards and updating our planning framework. Through the Storm Response Fund and Making Space for Water programme, there’s been some great mahi to empower communities to prepare for a changing water future and enhance the uptake of resilient infrastructure.

    “There’s more work to be done and it’s great to have a guiding vision as we continue to protect and enhance our relationship with, and management of, water in Tāmaki Makaurau.”

    Highlights from the report

    Highlights from the report included that Tāmaki Makaurau is still on track to achieve the strategy’s water consumption targets to reduce consumption below 253 litres per person per day by June 2025. This is despite a slight increase in per capita consumption in the 2023/2024 financial year.

    Additionally, Tāmaki Makaurau has already exceeded its supply target of having at least 20M litres per day of recycled water capacity (that can be used in a productive way) by 2030. This is due to re-using purified wastewater in Watercare’s wastewater treatment plants as well as some major construction projects.

    The report also noted that, of the 34 actions outlined by the strategy indicatively scoped for delivery by the end of June 2025, 15 are on track or complete, 16 are at risk of not being delivered within the envisioned timeframe, and three are behind schedule at the time of reporting.

    “Strategic direction is being progressed through efforts across the organisation to enhance our resilience to water-related natural hazards, improve our partnership with mana whenua, and improve our planning framework,” says Dave Allen, Auckland Council’s Manager Natural Environment Strategy.

    “However, resource constraints mean that delivering all 34 actions identified for delivery by 30 June 2025 will be a challenge. To support implementation, we’ve prioritised actions in the strategy to better support resource allocation over the next year and will be working closely with the leadership and staff in key departments across the organisation to enhance commitment to achieving delivery of the strategy’s actions.”

    About the Water Strategy

    The Auckland Water Strategy ensures that the protection and enhancement of water is a priority in our decision making. The strategy helps us ensure that all our future decision making, and investments will contribute to improving the health of our waters.

    The Water Strategy framework centres around eight strategic shifts:

    • Te Tiriti Partnership
    • Empowered Aucklanders
    • Sustainable Allocation and Equitable Access
    • Regenerative Water Infrastructure
    • Water Security
    • Integrated Land-Use and Water Planning
    • Restoring and Enhancing Water Ecosystems
    • Pooling Knowledge.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: At 2.7%, Australian inflation is back within the RBA zone. Here’s why that matters

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    Jeremy Ng/Shutterstock

    A closely watched measure of Australian inflation dived in the month of August, plunging from 3.5% in July to just 2.7%.

    The dip below 3% puts the monthly measure of annual inflation back within the Reserve Bank’s target band of 2-3% for the first time since August 2021.

    The longer-running quarterly measure of annual inflation is also likely to be back within the 2-3% band when the September-quarter figure is released next month.

    The dramatically lower inflation rate puts Australia in the same league as the United States, whose inflation rate is 2.5%, and the United Kingdom, whose inflation rate is 2.2%.

    The US and the UK have inflation targets of 2%, meaning their inflation rates are still somewhat above target. Australia’s monthly measure of inflation is on target, close to the middle of the band.

    Electricity prices down 17.9%

    Inflation has been trending down since late 2022, as shown on the graphs, but the sharp drops in the past two months are largely due to electricity rebates offered by the federal and state governments.

    The rebates will be applied automatically to electricity bills in this and each of the next three quarters. A staged rollout means they hit bills in only Queensland and Western Australia in July and hit other states in August.

    The Bureau of Statistics says these rebates took 6.4% off the average national power price in July and a further 14.6% off in August.

    Household electricity prices were down 17.9% over the year to August. The Bureau of Statistics describes this as the largest annual fall on record.

    Also helping bring down inflation were lower petrol prices and cheaper public transport, aided by Brisbane’s pre-election six-month trial of 50 cent fares.

    The jump in the monthly measure to 4% in May, which had excited some commentators, now looks like a misleading blip.

    A takeaway is to be cautious in interpreting the less-comprehensive monthly indicator, as is the Reserve Bank, which puts it in small print at the top of its website under the quarterly index, which it headlines in big print.

    For what it’s worth, I am expecting the quarterly index to show annual inflation of 2.8% in the year to September, down from 3.8% for the June quarter.

    Governor Bullock isn’t impressed

    Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock says that at the moment she is paying more attention to the “underlying” rate of inflation, which looks through temporary measures such as subsidies.

    But the Reserve Bank’s preferred measure of underlying inflation, the so-called trimmed mean, also fell in August, to 3.4%, down from 3.8% in July.

    Australia’s weak economy – right now it’s the weakest outside of a recession – means the underlying measure of inflation is likely to continue to fall, unless the tax cuts that started in July have a big effect.

    Why do we target 2-3% anyway?

    Reserve Bank set its target of 2-3% inflation in the early 1990s without a lot of science. It was about where inflation was, close to the targets adopted by other countries, and was a range rather than a specific number in order to give the authorities some flexibility.

    But it happens to be a sensible target, as last year’s independent review of the Reserve Bank confirmed.

    The bank wants to target an inflation rate low enough to not be noticed much and to not much distort decisions.

    Evidence from Google searches suggests that when inflation is around the 2-3% range, people don’t much notice it, but when it climbs up to 4% or 5%, they notice it a lot and search for the word a lot.

    Although zero is (literally) a round number, zero inflation would be too low a target. It would mean deflation (prices falling) as often as not to balance out the prices that were climbing. Deflation is associated with recessions and poor economic performance.

    An inflation rate of 2-3% also allows some real wages to fall (because they can increase by less than the inflation rate), which can be useful in encouraging workers out of declining industries into ones that are expanding.

    In particularly bad times, the Reserve Bank might want to push interest rates down below the inflation rate. This is hard to do if the inflation rate is zero.

    In theory, there is a case for increasing Australia’s inflation target to about where inflation is at the moment, but if that happened, Australia’s inflation target and future inflation targets would have less credibility.

    And in any event, we are moving quickly back towards the target, and on Wednesday’s measure have already hit it.



    Read more:
    No RBA rate cut yet, but Governor Bullock is about to find the pressure overwhelming

    John Hawkins was formerly a senior economist and forecaster in the Reserve Bank and the Australian Treasury.

    – ref. At 2.7%, Australian inflation is back within the RBA zone. Here’s why that matters – https://theconversation.com/at-2-7-australian-inflation-is-back-within-the-rba-zone-heres-why-that-matters-237650

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Swing and a miss? Why golf in Australia is struggling to attract women and girls

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University

    kasakphoto/Shutterstock

    Prestigious Victorian golf club 13th Beach Golf Links, famed for award-winning courses and hosting the Victorian Open, has found itself in the middle of a controversy.

    In a bid to bolster membership, diversity and revenue, the club has introduced additional membership categories for women. These memberships form part of a dedicated campaign to get more women on the greens, following a member and board supported strategic plan to grow women’s membership from 18% to 30% by 2027.

    Despite the club’s commitment to gender representation, its status as a signatory to The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A)’s Women in Golf Charter and recognition as a 2023 Visionary of the Year by Golf Australia for its “whole-club approach to gender equity”, support among some members remains wanting.

    A stunt that made waves

    Controversy erupted at 13th Beach after its new women’s memberships were launched.

    One male member, wearing a blonde wig and skirt, was captured approaching club staff to inquire about the new women’s membership options, remarking:

    I’m identifying as a female now and I’m just about to inquire about the new membership deal.

    The male member, and two others who filmed and shared the footage, were temporarily suspended from the club.

    A key element to the controversy is the discounted membership compared to male golfers.

    After the stunt, some men and women claimed:

    [The club] openly discriminates against males […] it is both fair and just for female members to pay the same subs as their male counterparts, as equality is a fundamental principle that we should uphold.

    However, this statement conveniently denies the sport’s current and past issues with gender, race and class.

    Historical and current barriers

    Globally year-on-year, the growth of male golf participation outnumbers women, with women making up 23% of adult registered golfers worldwide.

    In Australia, golf participation rates continue to rise. Among women and girls, Golf Australia reported a near 13% increase from 2022–23.

    Despite this rise, access issues and barriers to full participation for women and girls run deep.

    A lack of visibility of female golfers can reinforce stereotypes of golf as a men’s game, while women can struggle with amenities and equipment designed for men.

    Golf is steeped in gendered, raced and classed exclusion, and was traditionally a sport for men of similar social standing.

    Women were confined to secret games or putting activities, away from the “real” golf played by men.

    Women were banned from golf’s spiritual home, St Andrews in Scotland, for 260 years – until a 2014 vote when female membership was finally permitted.

    Two years earlier, premier United States course Augusta National welcomed its first women members.

    Golf Australia is trying to attract more women and girls to the sport.

    An uneven playing field

    Despite recent improvements, women’s golf participation and membership access frequently remain conditional.

    Traditionally in Australia, women and girls have been restricted to “associate” or “lady” memberships – which often have lower status and fewer benefits.

    Course access can also be problematic, with Saturdays often reserved for male players.

    At many Australian clubs, Tuesdays are often referred to as “ladies day” which assumes women don’t have work or other commitments.

    A poster on the Reddit forum, r/WomenGolf, has queried the different options for men and women’s golfers.
    Reddit

    Women members are often allotted less popular tee times while overall, some club cultures can render golf courses chilly climates for women.

    Being scrutinised and surveilled on the greens by male golfers is reported by women as a barrier – feelings of hyper-visibility, being mocked for their play and their bodies frequently undermines women’s enjoyment.

    At the professional level, while the women’s game is increasing in prize money, media coverage and sponsorship, there is still significant room for change.

    For female professional golfers, research also highlights a male-dominated and “sexist environment”.

    Inclusivity is good for everyone

    In a bid to increase participation among more diverse groups, Golf Australia is inspiring people to “go play and enjoy golf in their own way”.

    As part of its “own way campaign,” programs have been designed for seniors, women and disabled players.

    Recognising how differences such as race and culture shape golf participation, more community-facing programs are targeting improved diversity.

    Off the greens, golf leadership and administration is also under the spotlight.

    Including women’s voices in decision making is key to realising meaningful change – research clearly finds boards with diversity of thought and representation perform better.

    Beyond the important inclusivity debates, there are clear commercial reasons to enable women’s participation.

    Very recent industry research states there are an estimated 36.9 million latent women golfers around the world, and this group may be worth up to US$35 billion (A$51 billion) to the golf industry should they take up the sport more permanently.

    Golf has a lucrative opportunity.

    Valuing and enabling diversity in all areas should fill the coffers and genuinely position golf as a sport for all.

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

    – ref. Swing and a miss? Why golf in Australia is struggling to attract women and girls – https://theconversation.com/swing-and-a-miss-why-golf-in-australia-is-struggling-to-attract-women-and-girls-239202

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –