Source:
The attached Incoming Government Brief for the mental health portfolio outlines the mental health sector’s priorities for the Albanese Government in the first 100 days and first year, as well as the ongoing reforms the sector is keen to see the government continue to deliver.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 20/05/2025
The ACT Government is delivering the health infrastructure our growing city needs with construction beginning on the Watson Health Precinct redevelopment.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the renewed Watson Health Precinct will enable delivery of better health services for young people and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Canberra.
The upgrades will provide new purpose-built facilities to support alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services, as well as residential mental health care for young people.
The precinct will also expand to include a new residential rehabilitation facility specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – designed, constructed and operated by Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
Minister Stephen-Smith welcomed the milestone as a key step toward delivering a modern, inclusive and culturally safe environment that will support recovery and wellbeing.
“With new and upgraded facilities, the Watson Health Precinct will continue to provide live-in alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services for young people through the Ted Noffs Foundation, alongside residential care for young people experiencing mental health challenges, provided by Marymead CatholicCare,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“The establishment of a residential alcohol and other drug facility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people fills a service gap in the ACT and increases culturally appropriate treatment options in the territory.
“Winnunga Nimmityjah has led the design of this new facility and will also be responsible for its construction and operation. This partnership ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive culturally safe and appropriate care to support their recovery journey.”
The ACT Government has worked closely with each organisation to ensure the new infrastructure meets the unique needs of their clients and supports their critical work.
“Community health organisations play a vital and trusted role in delivering these essential services for the Canberra community. The upgraded facilities will enable our community partners to provide a welcoming, secure and inclusive environment that will support positive clinical and therapeutic outcomes,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT Government committed $49 million in the 2023-24 ACT Budget to upgrade the Watson Health Precinct to support these vital community organisations to continue delivering essential health services to young people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
The ACT Government is making record investments in public healthcare to ensure Canberrans can access the right care, when and where they need it.
You can find out more about the government’s health projects at builtforcbr.act.gov.au/projects/health.
Quotes attributable to Julie Tongs, CEO at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services:
“The new residential rehabilitation facility is designed to support the need for both cultural and therapeutic programs specifically designed indoor and outdoor spaces to allow for a holistic approach for all programs to be deliver seamlessly.”
Quotes attributable to Anne Kirwan, CEO at Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn:
“At STEPS, (Supporting Young People through early intervention and prevention strategies) we know that a young person’s environment plays a vital role in their mental health recovery. We’re thrilled about the ACT Government’s multi-million dollar investment into youth services at The Watson site. This redevelopment will allow us to create a welcoming, therapeutic space surrounded by nature and designed with the comforts of home where young people can feel safe, supported, and empowered to work towards their wellbeing goals.”
Quotes attributable to Lachlan Dean, National Programs Manager at Ted Noffs Foundation:
“Seeking support for drug and alcohol treatment is a massive step for any young person to undertake. Having a space that is designed and created to allow for young people to feel safe, comfortable and promotes treatment removes one barrier to young people accessing support. We welcome the ACT Government’s commitment to improve the treatment options for young people in the ACT.”
– Statement ends –
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
When considering trustee resolutions in the lead up to 30 June, it’s important for trustees of family trusts who have made a Family Trust Election (FTE), or entities with an Interposed Entity Election (IEE) to:
This is critical to help lower the risk of any FTDT liabilities arising.
Once a valid FTE or IEE is made, it’s important to be mindful of who the specified individual is (for each election). This is because there is a strict legal definition of family group, and it’s based on who the members of the ‘specified individual’s’ family group are. Often in private groups, there may be multiple family trusts with different specified individuals (which means there will be differences in who is in the ‘family groups’). There may have also been expansion of the business with new entities or changes in family members (e.g. if there was a divorce). While the election is in effect, FTDT will apply if any distributions are made outside the family group. FTDT is a 47% tax, payable by a trustee, director, or partner.
To ensure you don’t trigger FTDT liabilities, before making distributions, trustees should:
Trustees should review this information on an annual basis and keep these elections front of mind when administering their tax affairs.
The Commissioner has no discretion to ignore the application of FTDT, cannot limit the period FTDT applies and has no power to extend the time to revoke or vary elections.
If you’ve not made an FTE or IEE before, or are considering making one at the end of the financial year, it’s important to consider both the current and future impacts of making the election. While the concessions from making elections can be advantageous, there can be future limitations, constraints and potentially significant financial impacts for the private group for generations to come.
We’re seeing an increase in FTDT issues due to inadequate record keeping, succession planning, intergenerational expansion of businesses and evolving private groups. We encourage trustees and their advisers to review now.
If you’re unsure about any matters related to FTE or IEEs you should speak to your registered tax agent.
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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
[embedded content]
To watch Chairman Capito’s remarks, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, delivered remarks during the weekly Senate GOP Leadership Press Conference on the joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that she introduced to repeal California’s EV waiver that prohibit the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035.
HIGHLIGHTS:
LEADERSHIP AT EPW: “As Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I am the one who is leading the California waiver Congressional Review Act.”
ON THE CALIFORNIA WAIVER: “The onerous quality of this of this rule is just beyond description, not just the penalties, forcing certain states and certain consumers to purchase a vehicle that they may not want or that they can’t find. It really eliminates what I think our country was built on, which is individual choice and making the decisions for yourselves.”
DELAY FROM BIDEN ADMIN: “I think the one thing that’s interesting about this mandate is the Biden administration – California asked for this waiver in May of 2023. It was not granted until the very end of December of 2024. You know why? Because they know the American people reject this handily.”
THE CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT: “The Trump administration, under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, submitted it as a rule, it is a rule submitted to [Congress], it is within the boundaries of the Congressional Review Act.”
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Kathryn Locke, Associate Researcher in Digital Disability, Centre for Culture and Technology, Curtin University
Since the recent explosion of widely available generative artificial intelligence (AI), it now seems that a new AI tool emerges every week.
With varying success, AI offers solutions for productivity, creativity, research, and also accessibility: making products, services and other content more usable for people with disability.
The award-winning 2024 Super Bowl ad for Google Pixel 8 is a poignant example of how the latest AI tech can intersect with disability.
Directed by blind director Adam Morse, it showcases an AI-powered feature that uses audio cues, haptic feedback (where vibrating sensations communicate information to the user) and animations to assist blind and low-vision users in capturing photos and videos.
The ad was applauded for being disability inclusive and representative. It also demonstrated a growing capacity for – and interest in – AI to generate more accessible technology.
AI is also poised to challenge how audio description is created and what it may sound like. This is the focus of our research team.
Audio description is a track of narration that describes important visual elements of visual media, including television shows, movies and live performances. Synthetic voices and quick, automated visual descriptions might result in more audio description on our screens. But will users lose out in other ways?
AI-powered accessibility tools are proliferating. Among them is Microsoft’s Seeing AI, an app that turns your smartphone into a talking camera by reading text and identifying objects. The app Be My AI uses virtual assistants to describe photos taken by blind users; it’s an AI version of the original app Be My Eyes, where the same task was done by human volunteers.
There are increasingly more AI software options for text-to-speech and document reading, as well as for producing audio description.
Audio description is an essential feature to make visual media accessible to blind or vision impaired audiences. But its benefits go beyond that.
Increasingly, research shows audio description benefits other disability groups and mainstream audiences without disability. Audio description can also be a creative way to further develop or enhance a visual text.
Traditionally, audio description has been created using human voices, script writers and production teams. However, in the last year several international streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Prime have begun offering audio description that’s at least partially generated with AI.
Yet there are a number of issues with the current AI technologies, including their ability to generate false information. These tools need to be critically appraised and improved.
There are multiple ways in which AI might impact the creation – and end result – of audio description.
With AI tools, streaming services can get synthetic voices to “read” an audio description script. There’s potential for various levels of automation, while giving users the chance to customise audio description to suit their specific needs and preferences. Want your cooking show to be narrated in a British accent? With AI, you could change that with the press of a button.
However, in the audio description industry many are worried AI could undermine the quality, creativity and professionalism humans bring to the equation.
The language-learning app Duolingo, for example, recently announced it was moving forward with “AI first” development. As a result, many contractors lost jobs that can now purportedly be done by algorithms.
On the one hand, AI could help broaden the range of audio descriptions available for a range of media and live experiences.
But AI audio description may also cost jobs rather than create them. The worst outcome would be a huge amount of lower-quality audio description, which would undermine the value of creating it at all.
Industry impact and the technical details of how AI can be used in audio description are one thing.
What’s currently lacking is research that centres the perspectives of users and takes into consideration their experiences and needs for future audio description.
Accuracy – and trust in this accuracy – is vitally important for blind and low-vision audiences.
Cheap and often free, AI tools are now widely used to summarise, transcribe and translate. But it’s a well-known problem that generative AI struggles to stay factual. Known as “hallucinations”, these plausible fabrications proliferate even when the AI tools are not asked to create anything new – like doing a simple audio transcription.
If AI tools simply fabricate content rather than make existing material accessible, it would even further distance and disadvantage blind and low-vision consumers.
AI is a relatively new technology, and for it to be a true benefit in terms of accessibility, its accuracy and reliability need to be absolute. Blind and low-vision users need to be able to turn on AI tools with confidence.
In the current “AI rush” to make audio description cheaper, quicker and more available, it’s vital that the people who need it the most are closely involved in how the tech is deployed.
Kathryn Locke is employed as a researcher on the Australian Research Council’s discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”.
Tama Leaver receives funding from the Australian Research Council. This work is supported by the discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”. He is a chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
– ref. AI is now used for audio description. But it should be accurate and actually useful for people with low vision – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-now-used-for-audio-description-but-it-should-be-accurate-and-actually-useful-for-people-with-low-vision-256808
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HONG KONG, May 20 — China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday announced nine projects to be implemented by the city’s working group on developing tourist hotspots.
The nine projects to be implemented are: Hong Kong Industrial Brand Tourism, Victoria Park Bazaar, Creating a Pink Trumpet Tree Garden, Featured community: In-depth travel in Old Town Central, Featured community: In-depth travel in Kowloon City, Disciplinary Services Pioneer Tours, Opening of the Former Yau Ma Tei Police Station, “Four Peaks” Tourism, and Revistalizing the Former Hung Hom Railway Freight Yard Pier.
The hotspots span across the territory, underlining the concept of “tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong.” There are indoor and outdoor hotspots, locales for visits and explorations, as well as places for enjoying the ecology and scenery.
Cheuk Wing-hing, deputy chief secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government, said that new travel patterns and tourists’ preferences increasingly value hotspots with unique features that are part of the flavor of Hong Kong. The nine projects will bring tourists new experiences that are more in-depth and fascinating.
The HKSAR government proposed in the 2024 Policy Address to set up a Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots, aiming to identify and develop tourist hotspots of high popularity to enhance the travel experience for tourists.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology
If you’re browsing the supermarket fridge for reduced-fat milk, it’s easy to be confused by the many different types.
You can find options labelled skim, skimmed, skinny, no fat, extra light, lite, light, low fat, reduced fat, semi skim and HiLo (high calcium, low fat).
So what’s the difference between two of these common milks – skim milk and light milk? How are they made? And which one’s healthier?
Skim milk
In Australia and New Zealand, skim milk is defined as milk that contains no more than 1.5% milk fat and has at least 3% protein. On the nutrition information panel this looks like less than 1.5 grams of fat and at least 3g protein per 100 millilitres of milk.
But the fat content of skim milk can be as low as 0.1% or 0.1g per 100mL.
Light milk
Light milk is sometimes spelled “lite” but they’re essentially the same thing.
While light milk is not specifically defined in Australia and New Zealand, the term “light” is defined for food generally. If we apply the rules to milk, we can say light milk must contain no more than 2.4% fat (2.4g fat per 100mL).
In other words, light milk contains more fat than skim milk.
You can find the fat content by reading the “total fat per 100mL” on the label’s nutrition information panel.
The main nutritional difference between skim milk and light milk, apart from the fat content, is the energy content.
Skim milk provides about 150 kilojoules of energy per 100mL whereas light milk provides about 220kJ per 100mL.
Any milk sold as cow’s milk must contain at least 3% protein (3g protein per 100mL of milk). That includes skim or light milk. So there’s typically not much difference there.
Likewise, the calcium content doesn’t differ much between skim milk and light milk. It is typically about 114 milligrams to 120mg per 100mL.
You can check these and other details on the label’s nutrition information panel.
Skim milk and light milk are not made by watering down full-cream milk.
Instead, full-cream milk is spun at high speeds in a device called a centrifuge. This causes the fat to separate and be removed, leaving behind milk containing less fat.
Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend we drink mostly reduced-fat milk – that is, milk containing no more than 2.4g fat per 100mL. Skim milk and light milk are both included in that category.
The exception is for children under two years old, who are recommended full-cream milk to meet their growing needs.
The reason our current guidelines recommend reduced-fat milk is that, since the 1970s, reduced-fat milk has been thought to help with reducing body weight and reducing the risk of heart disease. That’s because of its lower content of saturated fat and energy (kilojoules/calories) than full cream milk.
However, more recent evidence has shown drinking full-cream milk is not associated with weight gain or health risks. In fact, eating or drinking dairy products of any type may help reduce the risk of obesity and other metabolic disorders (such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes), especially in children and adolescents.
The science in this area continues to evolve. So the debate around whether there are health benefits to choosing reduced-fat milk over full cream milk is ongoing.
Whether or not there any individual health benefits from choosing skim milk or light milk over full cream will vary depending on your current health status and broader dietary habits.
For personalised health and dietary advice, speak to a health professional.
Margaret Murray 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. What’s the difference between skim milk and light milk? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-skim-milk-and-light-milk-255608
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Raw, Lecturer, Sport Management, Swinburne University of Technology
Australia’s underwhelming performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympics has raised serious questions about how well our adaptive sport system is working. The Paris games returned our lowest medal tally since 1988, from our smallest team since 2004.
This result hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Ahead of the 2032 Brisbane games, now is the time to rebuild and strengthen grassroots disability sport across the country.
To do this, we must focus on inclusive, sustainable and community-driven approaches that truly support people with disabilities from the very start.
Grassroots disability clubs are vital to the health of para sports in Australia.
These local clubs give people with disabilities the chance to be active, which supports both physical and mental wellbeing.
Just as importantly, they provide places where people can build friendships, feel included and develop a sense of belonging.
Many paralympians start their journey in these environments; they’re not just places to play sport, they’re key to developing future talent.
Current and former athletes have called for more and better participation opportunities in adaptive sport.
Paralympian Leanne Del Toso called for more support for women’s wheelchair basketball after Australia missed qualification for the Rio and Paris Olympics.
It shouldn’t be about funding, it shouldn’t be about access, it should be about equality.
The message is clear: we need to rebuild from the ground up, starting with a stronger and more supportive grassroots system.
Read more:
If we truly want our Paralympic athletes to shine, their coaches need more support
Australia’s para sports system is often fragmented and inconsistent, especially compared to mainstream sports such as swimming or athletics, which usually have national pathways, structured support and a clear line from beginner to elite.
But adaptive sports are often run in disconnected ways across different states, clubs or organisations.
This system is often difficult to navigate for aspiring athletes.
Another big part of the problem is the “mainstreaming” of adaptive sport: instead of creating separate systems designed specifically for people with disabilities, many sports fold disability sport into their existing structures.
While this can sound inclusive, it often creates problems.
Research shows this approach can actually narrow who gets to participate.
Many organisations and leagues tend to follow a standard competitive model that doesn’t work for everyone, especially those with more complex needs.
Even well-meaning attempts at inclusion can backfire if they don’t involve people with disability.
That’s why researchers now believe adaptive sport only works when paired with real disability-specific knowledge, community consultation and strong systems of accountability.
Without that, we risk reinforcing the very inequalities we’re trying to fix.
Another problem is the lack of participation data.
One of the main sources of sports participation data in Australia is the AusPlay survey.
This gives some insight into who is playing sport and being active, but it doesn’t give enough detail when it comes to disability sport.
For instance, while the AusPlay survey indicates 51% of adults with a disability engage in physical activity once per week, it lacks specificity regarding the activities these people participate in.
This makes it hard for policymakers, funders and sport organisations to make smart decisions, as they don’t have enough information about who is participating, where the gaps are or how things are changing over time.
With better data, we could target resources where they’re needed most, especially in communities that currently miss out.
If we want to fix these problems, we need a different approach.
That starts with co-design: involving people with disabilities in designing the systems, programs and policies that affect them.
It’s not just about asking for feedback, it’s about giving real decision-making power.
A great example of this is Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT, which has embraced co-design and made it a core part of its programs.
This has led to a 380% increase in membership over five years, and a record number of affiliated clubs across their network.
This success shows what’s possible when sport organisations stop designing systems for people with disabilities and start designing with them.
When people feel valued and heard, they are more likely to get involved and stay involved.
Recent initiatives, such as the new para unit launched by the Western Australian Institute of Sport (the original home of Australia’s Paralympic movement), demonstrate promising steps towards a more cohesive para sport system.
But grassroots sport isn’t about medals. While we all love to celebrate paralympic success, local sport has a much bigger role to play.
It helps people with disabilities stay healthy, feel included and connect with their communities. It can change lives on and off the field.
As we look to Brisbane 2032, it’s clear paralympic success doesn’t start at the top. It starts in the community and on local fields.
If we invest now in grassroots sport and centre people with disabilities in the design and delivery of programs, we can create a stronger and more inclusive future for para sport in Australia.
The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of Mick Garnett to discussions on the future of adaptive sport in Australia.
Katherine Raw 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. Australian para sport has issues everywhere – here’s what must be fixed ahead of the Brisbane Paralympics – https://theconversation.com/australian-para-sport-has-issues-everywhere-heres-what-must-be-fixed-ahead-of-the-brisbane-paralympics-256450
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a 45-year-old male with murder following the death of a 62-year-old male in Palmerston on 19 February 2025.
Following the incident the male was arrested and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious injuries.
The 45-year-old male was initially charged with recklessly endanger serious harm and aggravated assault and was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on the 14 April 2025.
Over a week later on 2 March 2025, the victim passed away.
Serious Crime detectives upgraded the 45-year-old males charges to murder on the 14 April 2025 and he was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Canberra has plenty of shared paths for cycling, running and walking.
Want to move more without spending more?
Here are 10 ideas for increasing your activity levels while spending little to no extra money.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better city for running. Canberra boasts beautiful scenery and plenty of footpaths weaving through the city.
No matter which side of the lake you live on, there’s a beautiful route near you.
The bridge-to-bridge run around Lake Burley Griffin is a popular choice. Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong are also great options.
Read the Canberran’s guide to running.
Hiking/bushwalking
All the above routes are excellent for walking, as are mountains including Mount Ainslie, Mount Taylor and Mount Majura.
To really make the most of the outdoors, why not visit one of the ACT’s 90 parks? They range from urban parks to the great Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Outdoor fitness stations
There is free fitness equipment available across Canberra.
You’ll find most of them in public parks. Locations include:
Our bike-friendly city offers an excellent network of shared paths and on-road bike lanes.
Incorporating bike riding into your daily commute is an environmentally friendly, affordable and easy way to increase your fitness.
Over 90 per cent of Transport Canberra buses have bike racks. There are also four bike racks in each light rail vehicle, so you can easily combine cycling with other transport methods.
You may have spotted the elevated metal baskets in parks across Canberra. These are part of a disc golf course and are available for public use.
Disc golf is like a cross between frisbee and golf using a flying discs.
There are courses in Belconnen’s John Knight Memorial Park, Eddison Park in Woden and Weston Park in Yarralumla.
Skateboarding
Whether you’re skating through the streets or doing tricks at a skatepark, skateboarding is a fun hobby that will keep you active.
There are seven major skate parks across Canberra suitable for all levels:
There are an additional 12 parks that offer skate features, so you’ll never be short of locations to practice.
If you like the idea of skating but aren’t quite ready to invest in a skateboard, you can drop into a free Learn to Skateboard session.
These are hosted by the Canberra Skateboarding Association with the help of local volunteer skateboarders.
Helmets and boards are provided, and all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Your local library might not be the first place you consider for trying out yoga, but perhaps it should be.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of yoga books available to borrow from Libraries ACT.
With this large collection, you can find a type of yoga to meet your needs, including:
There are also e-books, audio books and DVDs available to borrow.
Northside Community Service also run free community yoga classes at the Salthouse Community Centre in Braddon.
The classes run for five weeks at a time.
Find out more and register your interest.
Many of Canberra’s tennis clubs are private and require a fee. However, some of Canberra’s parks do have tennis courts and tennis practice walls.
You can find tennis facilities at:
Game On is a program run by the Physical Activity Foundation and supported by the ACT Government.
The initiative is run in suburbs across the ACT to get as many Canberrans participating as possible.
It is free and family-friendly, and includes activities like walking, ball skills, bike skills, navigation and athletics.
Dog walking
If you’re someone who needs a friend to keep you accountable to your exercise goals, there is no one better for the job than a dog.
Your furry friend needs to stay as active just as much as you do, and upping your walks together is sure to get their tail wagging.
Find ideas for where to take your dog for exercise and socialisation.
If you don’t have your own dog, and aren’t ready to commit to adopting one, you could volunteer at Domestic Animal Services.
You need to have previous experience with dogs, and you’ll need to undertake some training.
It’s a great way to help some hounds and increase your activity levels.
Bonus entry: find a sport
Archery, pickleball, boxing, jujitsu… there are so many sporting groups in the ACT.
Canberra’s sporting community is large, inclusive and always looking for new members.
Many sporting organisations host ‘come and try’ days or similar programs where you can get a taste of the sport before committing to a season.
It also includes a list of specific sports/organisations for people with a disability.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
From 1 July 2025, the ATO will pay super on government-funded Parental Leave Pay – known as a Paid Parental Leave Super Contribution (PPLSC). To be eligible, each person must receive Parental Leave Pay from Services Australia for a child born or adopted from 1 July 2025. PPLSC is:
We’ll pay the first PPLSC in the 2026–27 financial year.
If Parental Leave Pay is shared with another person, a superannuation contribution will be paid to each person’s superannuation fund, based on their portion of the Parental Leave Pay.
It’s important that an eligible person:
For more information about PPLSC, visit ato.gov.au/PPLSC
Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Locke, Associate Researcher in Digital Disability, Centre for Culture and Technology, Curtin University
Since the recent explosion of widely available generative artificial intelligence (AI), it now seems that a new AI tool emerges every week.
With varying success, AI offers solutions for productivity, creativity, research, and also accessibility: making products, services and other content more usable for people with disability.
The award-winning 2024 Super Bowl ad for Google Pixel 8 is a poignant example of how the latest AI tech can intersect with disability.
Directed by blind director Adam Morse, it showcases an AI-powered feature that uses audio cues, haptic feedback (where vibrating sensations communicate information to the user) and animations to assist blind and low-vision users in capturing photos and videos.
The ad was applauded for being disability inclusive and representative. It also demonstrated a growing capacity for – and interest in – AI to generate more accessible technology.
AI is also poised to challenge how audio description is created and what it may sound like. This is the focus of our research team.
Audio description is a track of narration that describes important visual elements of visual media, including television shows, movies and live performances. Synthetic voices and quick, automated visual descriptions might result in more audio description on our screens. But will users lose out in other ways?
AI-powered accessibility tools are proliferating. Among them is Microsoft’s Seeing AI, an app that turns your smartphone into a talking camera by reading text and identifying objects. The app Be My AI uses virtual assistants to describe photos taken by blind users; it’s an AI version of the original app Be My Eyes, where the same task was done by human volunteers.
There are increasingly more AI software options for text-to-speech and document reading, as well as for producing audio description.
Audio description is an essential feature to make visual media accessible to blind or vision impaired audiences. But its benefits go beyond that.
Increasingly, research shows audio description benefits other disability groups and mainstream audiences without disability. Audio description can also be a creative way to further develop or enhance a visual text.
Traditionally, audio description has been created using human voices, script writers and production teams. However, in the last year several international streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Prime have begun offering audio description that’s at least partially generated with AI.
Yet there are a number of issues with the current AI technologies, including their ability to generate false information. These tools need to be critically appraised and improved.
There are multiple ways in which AI might impact the creation – and end result – of audio description.
With AI tools, streaming services can get synthetic voices to “read” an audio description script. There’s potential for various levels of automation, while giving users the chance to customise audio description to suit their specific needs and preferences. Want your cooking show to be narrated in a British accent? With AI, you could change that with the press of a button.
However, in the audio description industry many are worried AI could undermine the quality, creativity and professionalism humans bring to the equation.
The language-learning app Duolingo, for example, recently announced it was moving forward with “AI first” development. As a result, many contractors lost jobs that can now purportedly be done by algorithms.
On the one hand, AI could help broaden the range of audio descriptions available for a range of media and live experiences.
But AI audio description may also cost jobs rather than create them. The worst outcome would be a huge amount of lower-quality audio description, which would undermine the value of creating it at all.
Industry impact and the technical details of how AI can be used in audio description are one thing.
What’s currently lacking is research that centres the perspectives of users and takes into consideration their experiences and needs for future audio description.
Accuracy – and trust in this accuracy – is vitally important for blind and low-vision audiences.
Cheap and often free, AI tools are now widely used to summarise, transcribe and translate. But it’s a well-known problem that generative AI struggles to stay factual. Known as “hallucinations”, these plausible fabrications proliferate even when the AI tools are not asked to create anything new – like doing a simple audio transcription.
If AI tools simply fabricate content rather than make existing material accessible, it would even further distance and disadvantage blind and low-vision consumers.
AI is a relatively new technology, and for it to be a true benefit in terms of accessibility, its accuracy and reliability need to be absolute. Blind and low-vision users need to be able to turn on AI tools with confidence.
In the current “AI rush” to make audio description cheaper, quicker and more available, it’s vital that the people who need it the most are closely involved in how the tech is deployed.
Kathryn Locke is employed as a researcher on the Australian Research Council’s discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”.
Tama Leaver receives funding from the Australian Research Council. This work is supported by the discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”. He is a chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
– ref. AI is now used for audio description. But it should be accurate and actually useful for people with low vision – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-now-used-for-audio-description-but-it-should-be-accurate-and-actually-useful-for-people-with-low-vision-256808
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Ban Birth Tourism Act to eliminate loopholes that foreign nationals exploit to become U.S. citizens. This follows President Trump’s swift action to protect the meaning and value of American citizenship.
“Foreign nationals have been exploiting our nation’s immigration laws for far too long, taking advantage of the system to come to the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Ban Birth Tourism Act would prevent foreign nationals, including those from adversaries like Communist China and Russia, from buying American citizenship for their children. As President Trump works to end birthright citizenship, we need to get this bill to his desk.”
BACKGROUND
THE BAN BIRTH TOURISM ACT
Click here for bill text.
RELATED
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
If you’ve moved recently, make sure to let Access Canberra know.
If you’ve moved recently, make sure you let Access Canberra know about your address change.
Anyone who has an ACT driver licence, or an ACT registered vehicle must advise Access Canberra of their new address within 14 days of moving.
If you’ve moved from interstate, you have three months to update your details.
Providing Access Canberra with your up to date details means you’ll receive important information – such as licence and registration reminders – promptly.
All address updates can be done online or by calling 13 22 81, you don’t need to visit a service centre.
When updating your details, you can sign up for SMS reminders by providing your mobile number.
When your licence or car registration is up for renewal, Access Canberra will text you directly to remind you to renew.
Remember most Access Canberra services – like renewing your licence – can be completed online at a time that suits you.
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Source: New South Wales – News
A man will appear in court on firearm and drug charges following the search of a Paradise home yesterday.
About 1pm on Tuesday 20 May, Detectives from Eastern District CIB searched a Paradise residence and located a loaded firearm and a clandestine laboratory.
A 45-year-old male from the address, has been arrested and charged with possessing a firearm without a licence, possessing an unregistered firearm, possessing ammunition without a licence, trafficking a controlled drug, manufacturing a controlled drug, possessing prescribed equipment to manufacture controlled drug. The man did not apply for bail and will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
CO2500020672
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
Our March 2025 quarterly statistical report on the self-managed super fund (SMSF) sector is now live. Visit our Self-managed super fund statistics page to access the report and explore the latest insights.
Highlights include:
Read the full report for further statistics about:
Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
You may decide to close an entity in your private group or your entire business.
The disposal of assets, liquidation or vesting of entities may have tax consequences.
Effective tax governance when closing a business will help mitigate risk and provide practical certainty for stakeholders.
For more information, see Changing, selling or closing your business.
When a company is wound up, liquidated or deregistered, you should retain documentation for tax governance purposes. This may include:
In some cases, you may be legally required to retain this information.
Spin Records has been a profitable company for many years. However, due to a change in consumer demand and the economy, its company directors believe it is no longer viable to continue to carry on the business.
The directors decide to liquidate and deregister Spin Records before it becomes unprofitable, rather than dispose of the business. They agree to engage a liquidator to start winding up the company in 3 months. This allows it to fulfil its final contracts with customers.
Before commencing liquidation, a dividend is declared and paid to the shareholders. The assets of the company are then sold. The proceeds and cash reserves are used to pay creditors. Loans provided to shareholders are forgiven. A final dividend is declared by the liquidator and paid to shareholders before the company is deregistered with ASIC.
Spin Records needs to retain the following documentation for tax purposes:
The company’s shareholders also need to keep documentation to substantiate the cost base of shares in the company for capital gains tax purposes.
End of example
Where a trustee is intending to vest a trust, they should carefully examine the trust deed to ensure adherence to its terms.
The trustee should:
Where a partnership ends, a final partnership distribution will be necessary.
Each partner will need to retain documentation to substantiate the cost base of their respective interest in the partnership for capital gains tax purposes.
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
For most private groups, succession planning may involve:
We understand that every private group is different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to succession planning. It may include restructuring, realising assets, retirement planning and estate planning.
A sound tax governance framework can help you manage tax issues arising from succession planning. We recommend that you put a succession plan in place. You should review your succession plan regularly, particularly when circumstances change. The size of your private group, business activities and structure will mean that every succession plan is unique.
Though succession planning may not have an immediate tax impact, it’s important to include tax considerations in your plan. You may also need to consider the tax consequences for others that may be impacted by your succession plan, for example the next generation. This will reduce the risk of unintended tax consequences when implementing your plan.
We encourage you to:
You should seek advice from a tax adviser if you are unsure of the tax consequences of your succession plan or the tax treatment of specific transactions.
You may wish to engage with us for advice directly when tax issues are more complex and require certainty.
You can also obtain tax certainty on significant commercial deals (for example, restructures and sale of business or business assets) through early engagement and pre-lodgment agreements.
For more information, see:
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
The sale of a business generally occurs through the disposal of either:
When preparing to dispose of your business, we encourage you to consider your tax governance for the transaction and the tax consequences.
For more information, see:
Both the vendor and purchaser need to retain documentation evidencing the transactions, including:
Where you dispose of an asset, you need to determine whether it should be treated as a revenue or capital transaction.
You can find relevant information and views in documentation, such as minutes of meetings, business plans, documented discussions with stakeholders and consultants and financial statements.
Where you dispose of the business to a related party, you should get an independent valuation of the business, including the goodwill, assets and contractual rights being disposed of.
There may be an impact on the interest expense that can be deducted if the disposal of an ownership interest in a business results in a change to the entity’s debt to equity ratio. You may need to recalculate this at the relevant time.
You may partially dispose of your business by:
As a result of the above changes, you may need to amend key documents such as the company’s constitution, trust deed, or partnership agreement.
The rights of the existing shareholders or unitholders may also be affected. Where this occurs, the existing shareholders, unitholders and partners should consider any tax consequences, such as capital gains, value shifting and limitations on future deductions or capital losses.
More complex or non-traditional business disposals often give rise to a range of tax issues and require risk mitigation. Good tax governance will ensure that you identify, assess and manage these issues.
You should carefully consider and document transactions and the commercial business drivers.
Some of the more complex business disposals that may require additional tax governance include:
We encourage you to seek advice from a tax adviser if you are unsure of the tax consequences.
You may also wish to engage with us for advice directly before entering the transaction. We can help reduce uncertainty by clarifying how the tax law relates to your particular circumstances.
The disposal of a business that includes an earn-out arrangement can take several forms. Good governance practices include:
When you have a CGT event that results in a capital gain, a rollover may be applied, for example, a scrip-for-scrip rollover. Generally, this occurs where a seller exchanges a share in a company (or trust interest in a trust) for a share in another company (or trust interest in another trust).
Effective governance involves retaining key documentation to provide you with certainty. It should be readily accessible if we review the transaction.
Key documentation to retain may include:
Where a business owner is looking to dispose of the shares in a business via listing on a stock exchange through an initial public offering (IPO), back-door listing or reverse take-over, good tax governance practices may include:
A back-door listing generally involves the disposal of an entity’s shares or assets to a company that is currently listed on the ASX. Interests sold between related parties through back-door listings should be subject to independent market valuations.
Where a consolidated group disposes of a partial or the full interest in a subsidiary member, resulting in it leaving the group, effective governance practices include:
For more information, see Consolidation.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Bedding retailer Bedshed Franchising Pty Ltd has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with two infringement notices for allegedly making false or misleading representations to consumers through advertising that suggested certain products it sold had been evaluated or approved by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
This action comes after the ACCC put businesses on notice of its focus on problematic advertising practices targeting NDIS participants in November 2024.
The ACCC alleges that Bedshed advertised on its website and Google Ads that some of its mattresses, furniture and bedding accessories were ‘NDIS approved’ and ‘NDIS permitted’.
“The NDIS does not approve any specific goods or services and to suggest otherwise is misleading and risks taking advantage of vulnerable consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Each NDIS participant has unique needs, and what’s funded under their plan is determined individually, not through a list of approved products. Targeting consumers experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage with misleading advertising is particularly concerning, and we are continuing to investigate companies making similar claims.”
“These infringement notices should serve as a warning to all businesses that advertise their products or services to NDIS participants – your advertising must reflect the facts,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.
In December 2023, the Australian Government established the NDIS (Fair Price and Australian Consumer Law) Taskforce, which comprises of the ACCC, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The taskforce was established to address concerns that NDIS participants were being charged more for goods and services than other consumers, and to address potential breaches of Australian Consumer Law.
If an NDIS participant thinks a business has made false or misleading statements about products or services, including whether they are endorsed or approved by the NDIS, or if they consider their consumer rights have not been met, they can make a report to the ACCC.
Further information for NDIS participants is available on the ACCC website.
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Consumer Law sets the penalty amount.
Examples of concerning advertising that may be false, or misleading include:
Bedshed is a franchise that supplies mattresses, bedding, furniture and related accessories to consumers. The business operates at a retail level with an online store and 43 brick-and-mortar stores in locations across WA, Victoria, Queensland, ACT and NSW. Of the 43 brick-and-mortar stores, 11 are registered NDIS providers.
In December 2024, the ACCC instituted proceedings against registered NDIS provider Ausnew Home Care Service Pty Ltd, for alleged false and misleading representations, including statements that certain products were ‘NDIS approved’, relating to aged care and disability products. The matter remains before the Court.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
A lack of strategy and research funding – by both the current and previous governments – has been well documented, most comprehensively in the first report by the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG), released late last year.
If there is one word that sums up the current state of New Zealan’s research sector, it is scarcity. As the report summarises:
We have an underfunded system by any international comparison. This parsimony has led to harmful inter-institutional competition in a manner that is both wastefully expensive in terms of process and scarce researcher time, and is known to inhibit the most intellectually innovative ideas coming forward, and of course it is these that can drive a productive innovation economy.
The government expects research to contribute to economic growth, but policy and action undermine the sector’s capacity to do so.
The latest example is last week’s cancellation of the 2026 grant application round of the NZ$55 million Endeavour Fund “as we transition to the science, innovation and technology system of the future”. Interrupting New Zealand’s largest contestable source of science funding limits opportunities for researchers looking for support for new and emerging ideas.
Changes to the Marsden Fund, set up 30 years ago to support fundamental research, removed all funding for social science and the humanities and shifted focus to applied research. This is despite fundamental research in all fields underpinning innovation and the international ranking of our universities.
New Zealand has an opportunity to change its economy based on the potential of emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cleantech and quantum technologies. Other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, already consider quantum technologies a priority and fund them accordingly.
But when it comes to strategy, the composition of the boards of new Public Research Organisations, set up as part of the government’s science sector reform, are skewed towards business experience. Where there is scientific expertise, it tends to be in established industries. The governance of the proposed new entity to focus on emerging and advanced technologies is yet to be announced.
Scientists have been calling for a science investment target of 2% of GDP for a long time. It was once – roughly a decade ago – the average expenditure within the OECD; this has since increased to 2.7% of GDP, while New Zealand’s investment remains at 1.5%.
The SSAG report repeatedly refers to the lack of funding, and it would be the obvious thing to see addressed in this year’s budget. But expectations have already been lowered by the government’s insistence there will be no new money.
The report’s second high-level theme is the engagement of government with scientific strategy. Government announcements to date seem focused on attracting international investment through changes to tax settings and regulation. I would argue this is a matter of focusing on the wrapping rather than the present: the system itself needs to be attractive to investors.
Creating a thriving research sector is also a matter of scale. International cooperation is one way for New Zealand to access efficiencies of scale. And work on building international partnerships is one area of positive intent. But we need to look at our connectivity nationally as well, and use investment to build this further.
Countries with greater GDPs than New Zealand’s invest much more in research as a proportion of GDP. It means the size of these other countries’ scientific ecosystems – if measured by total expenditure – is three to four times New Zealand’s on a per capita basis.
Per-capita scale matters because it tells us how easy it is for researchers to find someone else with the right skillset or necessary equipment. It tells us how likely it is for a student to find an expert in New Zealand to teach them, rather than needing to go overseas.
And it tells us how quickly start-up companies in emerging technologies will be able to find the skilled employees they need. A thriving university system that attracts young people to develop the research skills needed by advanced technology companies is a key part of this challenge.
The government’s science sector reform aims to increase its contribution to economic growth. But research contributes to economic growth when scientists can really “lean in” with confidence to commercialising and translating their science.
That can’t happen if budgets don’t fund the critical mass, connectivity and resources to stimulate the transition to a thriving science system.
Nicola Gaston receives funding from the Tertiary Education Commission as the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. She also receives funding from the Marsden Fund. All research funding goes to the University of Auckland to pay the costs of the research she is employed to do.
– ref. NZ Budget 2025: science investment must increase as a proportion of GDP for NZ to innovate and compete – https://theconversation.com/nz-budget-2025-science-investment-must-increase-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-for-nz-to-innovate-and-compete-255591
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL8
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 308
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
725 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
Northern Georgia
Eastern Kentucky
Far Southwest North Carolina
Eastern Tennessee
Far Southwest Virginia
* Effective this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from 725 PM
until 200 AM EDT.
* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…A mix of supercell thunderstorms and clusters will spread
generally eastward this evening into the early overnight hours. A
few tornadoes may occur with this activity, and a strong tornado and
isolated very large hail will also be possible with any sustained
supercell. Otherwise, an increasing threat for scattered to numerous
damaging winds appears likely as thunderstorms attempt to organize
into a line later this evening. Peak gusts may reach up to 60-70
mph.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
east and west of a line from 35 miles north northeast of London KY
to 20 miles southeast of Rome GA. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 303…WW 304…WW
305…WW 306…WW 307…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
storm motion vector 26030.
…Gleason
SEL8
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 308
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
725 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
Northern Georgia
Eastern Kentucky
Far Southwest North Carolina
Eastern Tennessee
Far Southwest Virginia
* Effective this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from 725 PM
until 200 AM EDT.
* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…A mix of supercell thunderstorms and clusters will spread
generally eastward this evening into the early overnight hours. A
few tornadoes may occur with this activity, and a strong tornado and
isolated very large hail will also be possible with any sustained
supercell. Otherwise, an increasing threat for scattered to numerous
damaging winds appears likely as thunderstorms attempt to organize
into a line later this evening. Peak gusts may reach up to 60-70
mph.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
east and west of a line from 35 miles north northeast of London KY
to 20 miles southeast of Rome GA. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 303…WW 304…WW
305…WW 306…WW 307…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
storm motion vector 26030.
…Gleason
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW8
WW 308 TORNADO GA KY NC TN VA 202325Z – 210600Z
AXIS..50 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
35NNE LOZ/LONDON KY/ – 20SE RMG/ROME GA/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 45NM E/W /34NNE LOZ – 39NW ATL/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 26030.
LAT…LON 37548292 34148405 34148580 37548475
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU8.
Watch 308 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Mod (40%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
High (70%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Low (20%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
Mod (40%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Mod (40%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (80%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in BMJ Open looks at the association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK:
“There’s an increasing amount of evidence that suggests our body’s response to certain viruses could put us at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life.
“These recent findings from a large study using US health records propose that infection with HSV-1 – a common virus that causes cold sores – may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also state that taking medicines to treat HSV-1 infections could reduce the risk, but this is still very early work and needs more investigation.
“Despite the large sample size, this research has limitations partly due to only using health records and administrative claims data. Most people infected with HSV-1 don’t have any symptoms so some infections might not have been recorded. Infections predating the information recorded are also not available. Although cases were matched with controls, diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stages, remains a challenge.
“The study authors found that some people receiving medicines to treat HSV-1 infections had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, however a lot more work is needed to unpick this.
“We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there’s not enough evidence to include infections in this list. This study doesn’t tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.”
Prof Cornelia van Duijn, Professor of Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, said:
“Again a carefully conducted study adding to the growing evidence that various common viruses may determine the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, in particular in the elderly (70+ years).
“Matching Alzheimer’s patients carefully with controls in the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database, the study further shows that treating those with an active herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) infection with antiherpetic medication reduces the risk and postpones the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Smaller but significant effects are also seen for HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus (VZV). With many GPs and the population being unaware of the dementia related benefits of treating HSV infections and preventing VZV activation through vaccination, it is time to call for actions informing those working in primary care as well as the population at large.”
Dr David Vickers, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, said:
“Declining HSV-1 rates in the U.S. since the late-70’s challenge the authors’ claim that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will surge without intervention. This pharma-funded research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of AD cases. The observed 17% hazard reduction with antiherpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in AD onset, offering no meaningful relief to the US$305 billion costs for treatment.
“The study’s data source makes its findings ungeneralisable, and it overstates a minor infection as a ‘public health priority’ to justify unnecessary treatment.”
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“This study reports that diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is associated with increased risk of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. Scientists examined data from almost 700,000 people in a medical insurance claims database and found that in addition to an increased proportion of people with Alzheimer’s disease having a diagnosis of HSV-1, people with HSV-1 who were treated for the viral infection with “antiherpetic” medication were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not have treatment.
“This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer’s.
“Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation. More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer’s disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer’s risk.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“This study adds to the growing interest in a possible link between the virus that causes cold sores and Alzheimer’s disease. Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk.
“But this doesn’t prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer’s disease, or that antivirals prevent it. The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn’t track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication.
“Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions. It is critical we explore every avenue to understand the complex causes of the diseases which cause dementia – infections are a growing area of interest.
“If you are worried about a cold sore or your general health, be sure to seek the appropriate help from a health professional.”
From the Spanish SMC:
Prof Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (United States) and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said:
“This is a high-quality study that stands out mainly for its sample size. The results confirm previous findings that people with a history of cold sores have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and that this risk appears to be reduced in people who receive antiviral treatment.
“This is an observational study based on electronic data of varying quality, so the conclusions cannot be considered definitive. For example, the vast majority of cold sore episodes are not reported in medical records, so the study’s conclusions apply to a highly selected subgroup of individuals with clinical episodes of cold sores, perhaps due to clinical severity or the presence of other factors. For this reason, it would be premature for people with cold sores to worry about having an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is growing evidence that viral infections may affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and it is important to initiate more definitive research.”
From the Australian SMC:
Prof Ashley Bush, Clinical Lead Mental Health Mission at The Florey, Australia, said:
“This is an important, large, case-control epidemiology study that shows that people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease or with other Alzheimer-like dementia (e.g. fronto-temporal dementia) are substantially (about 80%) more likely to have been infected with the viruses that cause cold sores, genital herpes, chicken pox or shingles. Further, people who were taking antivirals for cold sores were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over a 15 year period.
“These findings come in the wake of another recent report1 that showed that shingles vaccination decreased the probability of a new dementia diagnosis during the follow-up period of 7 years by 2%. Some scientists like Prof Ruth Itzhaki in Manchester and the late Rob Moir at Harvard have proposed that dementias like Alzheimer’s are provoked by viral infection. Herpes virus lives dormant in nerve cells, and it is thought that the pathology of the dementia is brought about by a defence to these infection gone wrong.
“It is unlikely that viral infection can explain all causes of dementia, but these recent papers implicate the infections are playing a role in accelerating these diseases. It certainly encourages more research in this direction and as to whether lifelong antivirals should be considered as preventive therapy for people who have had one of these infections.”
1 (Pomirchy M, Bommer C, Pradella F, Michalik F, Peters R, Geldsetzer P. Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Dementia Occurrence. JAMA. 2025 Apr 23; Epub 2025 Apr 23)
Prof Brenda Gannon, Professor of the Health Economics of Ageing at the University of Queensland, said:
“This research provides further evidence for the link between the common cold sores from HSV1 and Alzheimer’s Disease. The study now proposes that people with HSV who are treated with anti-viral medicine are less likely to develop AD. Using large scale administrative data from the US, the findings are suggestive of a protective effect of anti-viral treatment. This could be beneficial for Australians who suffer from the common cold sores and who would benefit from anti-viral treatment for their cold sores. It does not mean it could reduce the probability of AD.
“Further research would be required to ensure the study is more widely representative, since the authors note that not all populations are included in the data, e.g. those over 65 who receive free health care (Medicare). The study does not provide detail on who may benefit, for example does it help disadvantaged groups more, and who does it work together with other non-pharmacological treatments for lifestyle improvement.
“Overall, the study indicates some potential, but much more research would be required to determine if the anti-viral therapies for people with cold cores, is in fact going to reduce their probability of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
“As the authors state, it does not indicate cause and effect, but they do find it a potential avenue to explore further.
“The study did not include public involvement – but inclusion of the public, even on an advisory capacity would be useful, to help design the research questions and relevant factors included in the study.
“From a health economics perspective, it is unlikely that anti-viral therapy would be funded for the Australian population, until further evidence on effectiveness in prevention and then cost-effectiveness overall, including additional use of health care resources, is provided. More details on the health and socio-economics status of individuals are also warranted, to help determine who may benefit from the therapy.”
‘Association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective case control study’ by Yunhao Liu et al. was published in BMJ Open at 23.30 on Tuesday 20 May.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093946
Declared interests
Cornelia van Duijn: “I receive funding from GSK (related to VZV vaccination) and NovoNordisk (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention), and have received funding from JNJ/Jansen Pharmaceutics (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention).”
David Vickers: “I have no interests or conflicts, financial or otherwise, to declare.”
Tara Spires-Jones: “I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.”
Ashley Bush: “I have no relevant conflicts.”
Brenda Gannon: “No COI”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A 65-year-old female has now died in hospital following a pedestrian strike in Palmerston on Thursday last week.
The 43-year-old male allegedly driving the vehicle is assisting police with enquiries and charges are expected to follow.
The lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 16.
Source:
21 May 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in human resources (HR) to streamline processes and enhance decision-making by helping employers efficiently sift through large volumes of job applications.
However, relying on AI tools alone to screen candidates isn’t enough to improve diversity outcomes in workplaces, according to new research by the University of South Australia.
Human resource management expert Associate Professor Connie Zheng, co-director of UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, has conducted research into how AI can affect hiring decisions when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion by reaching gender quotas, having racially diverse teams and recruiting LGBTIQA+ employees or people with disabilities.
AI tools are being used by some HR professionals to assist in the recruitment process by screening job candidates, responding to applicant emails, or focusing on specialised tasks such as CV screening, job matching or voice and video analysis.
Assoc Prof Zheng says two separate studies into the use of AI to enhance diversity and inclusion in hiring decisions looked beyond whether humans or AI make better choices.
“We explored what conditions help AI tools to actually support more diverse hiring as we found that simply having a reliable AI tool isn’t enough to improve diversity in workplace recruitment,” she says.
“Diversity only improves when the AI system can explain its decisions in terms of diversity, when hiring focuses on qualitative goals and not just numbers, and when an organisation has clear diversity guidelines.
“These factors encourage HR professionals and decision-makers to reflect more carefully on their choices. In short, AI can help improve diversity in hiring, but only when used under the right conditions and organisational support for the application of new technology, as well as clear diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.”
Despite the growing popularity of AI in many fields including education, health care, manufacturing and finance, many HR professionals are hesitant to adopt the tools.
Assoc Prof Zheng says some companies have several concerns and are reluctant to invest in AI for hiring decisions because they’re apprehensive about the limitations of the technology, particularly in terms of biased data.
She says many also feel their existing HR teams are competent enough to manage recruitment without AI, despite these concerns shifting if HR departments face staffing reductions, increased workloads or heightened demands for efficiency.
“Despite these reservations, many organisations view AI as a way to significantly save costs by streamlining manual processes. Some companies have the mindset that using AI in HR is efficiency driven – it will make them work faster. The main goal of using AI is to expedite the process, particularly when dealing with large volumes of job applications,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.
“With AI, a hirer can use the technology to filter appropriate applicants rather than sifting through hundreds of CVs and job applications manually. The problem when the main goal is efficiency is that diversity issues often then take a backseat.”
Whether the use of AI tools in recruiting helps reduce discrimination or instead intensifies the problem remains a subject of controversial debate. Assoc Prof Zheng’s ongoing collaborative research with HUMAINE – Human Centred AI Network led by Professor Uta Wilkens at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany – has revealed that simply providing a reliable, AI support tool that is considerate of diversity needs doesn’t automatically lead to diversity enhancement.
“Unless the organisation and its hirers are conscious about diversity and justice issues, using AI for talent acquisition isn’t going to lead to more diverse and inclusive outcomes,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.
To access the research papers:
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Contact for interview: Connie Zheng, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management, Co-Director, Centre for Workplace Excellence, UniSA, E: Connie.Zheng@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au
Jerusalem, 21 May 2025 – An insufficient amount of aid is being allowed into the Strip, merely a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over.
“The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving”, says Pascale Coissard, MSF emergency coordinator in Khan Younis. “This plan is a way to instrumentalise aid, making it a tool to further Israeli forces’ military objectives.”
Before October 2023, 500 aid trucks were entering Gaza every day, according to the UN. The current authorisation for 100 per day, when the situation is so dire, is woefully inadequate.
Meanwhile, evacuation orders are continuing to uproot the population, while Israeli forces are still subjecting health facilities to intensive attacks.
On 19 May, between 6am to 6.30, MSF teams reported hearing almost one strike per minute in Khan Younis. One of these strikes hit Nasser hospital compound, 100 metres away from the intensive care unit and the inpatient department that are run by MSF. This is the third time in two months that Nasser hospital compound has been struck, once again depriving people of treatment and care. To reduce exposure, our teams were forced to temporarily close both the outpatient department and sedation room for patients awaiting or recovering from surgery, as well as suspend physiotherapy and mental health activities, which are essential for burn patients – most of whom are children.
Yesterday’s strike also severely damaged the Ministry of Health pharmacy store in Nasser Hospital. This puts additional pressure on supplies at a time when medical stocks are running critically low due to the siege.
As part of the expansion of their ground operations, Israeli forces have issued widescale evacuation orders, further limiting people’s access to medical care and MSF’s ability to provide it. On 19 May, for example, an evacuation order covering almost the entire eastern part of Khan Younis, at the edge of Nasser hospital, forced people to immediately move towards Al Mawasi area.
The Site Management Cluster estimates that over 138,900 people were forcibly displaced between 15-20 May. The intensified Israeli bombardments and evacuation orders across Khan Younis have forced MSF to maintain only lifesaving activities in the emergency rooms of Al Attar and Al Mawasi clinics. Since yesterday, Al Hakker clinic, in Deir Al Balah, has also been closed. Before that, MSF teams had been providing more than 350 consultations per day for paediatric, antenatal and post-natal care, psychological first aid and ambulatory nutritional treatment among other things.
A few days earlier, on 15 May, Israeli authorities issued an evacuation order to Sheikh Radwan basic healthcare centre in Gaza City, which led to the closure of the facility. Before that, with MSF’s support, the Ministry of Health teams were providing around 3000 consultations per day in an area with estimated 250,000 people. This was the last fully functional public basic healthcare clinic in the area.
According to the Ministry of Health, following the besiege of the Indonesian Hospital, all public hospitals in North Gaza are now out of service The MSF field hospital in Deir Al Balah has seen its bed capacity rise to 150 per cent over the last few days, forcing them to add additional staff and increase their baseline by 20 beds. According to the UN, there are currently around 1,000 functional hospital beds across the Strip, while previously to the war the bed capacity was 3500.
Attacks on civilians and healthcare must stop now and aid must enter Gaza in sufficient quantities and in a way that allows it to reach those who need it. Israel’s allies must exert all their pressure to make this happen as a matter of extreme urgency. Every day that is lost reinforces their complicity in the annihilation of the people of Gaza.
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have seized over $48,000 in cash, along with quantities of kava, cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol during targeted traffic stops in the Central Arnhem Region.
On 19 May 2025, Ramingining Police intercepted a green Toyota Hilux on the Ramingining Access Road, approximately 20km from the community. During the traffic stop a passenger fled on foot into bushland nearby. Police conducted a lawful search of the vehicle and subsequently seized quantities of alcohol, cannabis, and kava. A 30-year-old man located in the vehicle tray was arrested and charged with Possess Property in relation to the Commission of an Offence after officers located over $48,000 in his possession. He was bailed to appear in Darwin Local Court on 8 July 2025.
Shortly after, police stopped a second vehicle on the same track. A search uncovered tobacco, kava, alcohol, and items indicative of drug supply. Three men and one woman, aged between 41 and 65, were arrested and charged with multiple offences including:
They were remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court yesterday.
Ramingining Police continue to target the unlawful supply of alcohol and drugs into remote communities.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
As the Government prepares to release a Budget that will deliver further cuts to public services an overwhelming majority of New Zealanders support increased spending on those services, according to a new poll commissioned by the Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign.
The Talbot Mills Research poll asked whether government spending on key public services such as hospitals, schools, and the police should increase (a lot or a bit), stay the same or decrease (a bit or a lot). 83% of respondents supported increases in public spending, and this support remained high across the political spectrum with even 62% of ACT supporters endorsing an increase.
“This poll shows that there is widespread support for greater investment in our public services to meet the needs of New Zealanders, such as in healthcare, and education,” says Glenn Barclay spokesperson for the Better Taxes campaign.
“It’s clear that, even in these tough economic times, people across the political spectrum realise investment in public services now is important to help build a better future.”
The poll also asked if wealthier New Zealanders (e.g.people who earn over $180,000 per year and/or have assets worth more than $5m) should pay more, the same, or less tax than they do at present. A majority (57%) supported the wealthy paying more tax.
“This may not be a surprising result for Labour, Green and Te Pāti Māori supporters, yet even a majority of National Party supporters favour the wealthy paying more tax,” says Glenn Barclay.
“The IR report into High Net Worth Individuals in 2023 demonstrated that the wealthiest 310 families in New Zealand had an effective tax rate of 9.4% compared to over 20% for the average New Zealander and it is clear that there is support for rectifying this imbalance,” says Glenn Barclay.
“The responses to these two questions send a clear message that New Zealanders don’t want to see cuts to essential public services, and the government needs to be looking at other ways to generate the revenue we need to provide services that will enable all New Zealanders to succeed,” says Glenn Barclay.
“We encourage the Government and opposition parties to be looking at tax changes that would ensure those that have more to contribute, make that contribution. Gathering more revenue from wealth and gains from wealth would put us in a better position to address the challenges we face in delivering public services, addressing poverty and climate change, and funding major infrastructure.”
The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.
We believe that tax reform is the only solution to the current challenges facing Aotearoa NZ. We need the tax system to:
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
For bidders
We inform you that, based on the letter of the Bank of Russia and in accordance with Part I. General Part and Part II. Stock Market Section of the Rules for Conducting Trading on the Stock Market, Deposit Market and Credit Market of Moscow Exchange PJSC, the order establishes the form, time, term and procedure for holding auctions for the placement and trading of the following federal loan bonds:
1.
| Name of the Issuer | Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation |
| Name of security | federal loan bonds with constant coupon income |
| State registration number of the issue | 26239RMFS from 11.06.2021 |
| Date of the auction | May 21, 2025 |
| Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form) | The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble) |
| Trade code | SU26239RMFS2 |
| ISIN code | RU000A103901 |
| Calculation code | B01 |
| Additional conditions of placement | The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%. |
| Trading time | Trading hours: bid collection period: 12:00 – 12:30; bid execution period: 13:00 – 18:00. |
2.
| Name of the Issuer | Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation |
| Name of security | federal loan bonds with constant coupon income |
| State registration number of the issue | 26246RMFS from 08.05.2024 |
| Date of the auction | May 21, 2025 |
| Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form) | The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble) |
| Trade code | SU26246RMFS7 |
| ISIN code | RU000A108EE1 |
| Calculation code | B01 |
| Additional conditions of placement | The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%. |
| Trading time | Trading hours: bid collection period: 14:30 – 15:00; bid execution period: 15:30 – 18:00. |
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