NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Canberra on screen

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The ABC series Austin was filmed in Canberra.

    In brief:

      • Canberra has featured in Australian and international films and television series.
      • These are some of the iconic locations that have featured on screen.

    As a local, there’s nothing quite like seeing Canberra on screen.

    Whether it’s a spot in your neighbourhood, a cultural institution or our bushland, Canberra has been a backdrop to several films and television shows.

    Here are some of the locations that have been featured on screen:

    The Hyatt Hotel Canberra

    This is one of many Canberra locations used to film the ABC comedy series, Austin. The Hyatt is a regular feature and appears as the ‘Canberra Hotel’ in the show.

    Some of the other Canberra locations that were used for filming include:

    • Book Lore and The Front in Lyneham
    • The Marion
    • The National Library of Australia
    • Rebel Rebel.

    Constitution Avenue

    Blacklight is an action film starring Liam Neeson and set in Washington DC. During 2021, an action scene was filmed on the streets of Canberra. Despite being edited to look as though the scene took place in DC, Canberra residents will recognise some familiar scenery.

    Notable locations include:

    • the underground carpark at the National Gallery of Australia
    • Glebe Park and the surrounding area.

    The Parliamentary Triangle

    The political thriller television series Secret City was filmed inside of Parliament House. You’ll see the prime minister’s office, the Press Gallery, and the building’s exterior to name a few.

    Some other Canberra locations you’ll spot include:

    • Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
    • Lake Burley Griffin
    • Australian National University
    • Ovolo Canberra
    • The National Gallery of Australia.

    Other TV shows and films that feature Parliament House include:

    • Total Control
    • The Hollowmen.

    Kambah Inn

    Somersault is a 2004 drama film starring Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington. Most of the film is set in Jindabyne, but some of it was filmed in Canberra. Kambah Inn is featured, and some Canberrans will recognise the old Belconnen Interchange.

    The High Court of Australia

    Mabo tells the life story of Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo and his part in the landmark case that overturned the doctrine of terra nullius. It starts Jimi Bani and Deborah Mailman and The High Court of Australia is visible in the film.

    The High Court of Australia also featured briefly in film The Castle. It is the setting for Darryl Kerrigan’s (played by Michael Caton) legal battle to protect his family home.

    Gungahlin Skate Park

    Skate parks and Kingsley’s Chicken are two of Canberra’s most popular locations for teenagers. It’s fitting that they are featured in the 2013 film Galore. The film is set in suburban Canberra and tells the story of a group of teenagers in the lead up to the 2003 bushfires. Scrivener Dam is also visible in part of the film.

    Black Mountain Tower

    Blue World Order is a 2017 film directed by Ché Baker and Dallas Bland. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world and stars Titanic actor Billy Zane. There is even a cameo from ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

    The iconic Black Mountain Tower is visible in the film. Scenes were also shot at the Australian National University and Wee Jasper Caves.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Greens’ election hubris – how the minor party lost its way and now its leader

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josh Holloway, Lecturer in Government in the College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University

    The Greens’ federal election result has been widely condemned as a “disaster”.

    The party has been all but wiped out in the House of Representatives. It has lost three of its four members, including leader Adam Bandt, who has just conceded his once safe seat of Melbourne. This leaves the Brisbane electorate of Ryan as the Greens’ only remaining seat in the lower house.

    Yet the tired explanations being rolled out – the party is too extreme, too obstructionist, too distant from a mythical single-issue environmentalist past – misidentify the party’s dilemmas.

    And they overlook the fact the Greens’ influence will be greater in the new parliament, at least in the Senate.

    Under-delivering

    The Greens share the blame for the tone of these election post-mortems.

    This is a party of campaign hubris, consistently over-promising and under-delivering.

    Bob Brown’s “green government” is yet to emerge. Christine Milne’s aspirations of gains in the bush barely materialised. And the “small-l liberals” chased by Richard Di Natale now prop up independents.

    Bandt’s list of new target seats appears to have stretched resources too thin and underscored the challenges of taking a Senate party into the House.

    The campaign narrative of “keeping Dutton out and getting Labor to act” may have suited a time when either a Labor or Coalition minority government was a possibility. But it did little to distinguish the Greens as Labor gained momentum.

    Many voters may have thought kicking Peter Dutton out was best done by voting for Labor, backed up by supporting the Greens in the Senate to encourage more ambitious Labor action.

    National vote holds up

    And yet – is the election result all that bad?

    Despite a small negative swing, the Greens’ nationwide primary vote was still above 12%. This election sits alongside 2010 and 2022 as among the party’s largest ever share of votes.

    Support ticked up in seats as divergent as Lalor, Fraser, Macarthur, Barton, Newcastle, Page, Spence, and Swan. Even in divisions lost to Labor, such as Griffith and Brisbane, voters did not abandon the party in large numbers.


    aec.gov.au, CC BY

    The Greens will also maintain their Senate numbers. This gives them sole balance of power, making them pivotal to Labor’s legislative success.

    Clearly, if the Greens are too “extreme”, it’s an extremism shared by a significant and relatively stable share of Australians.

    Lower house obstacles

    So, what explains this mix of loss and achievement?

    The Greens routinely highlight the barriers of the lower house electoral system. They have a point. Single member districts tend not to produce a chamber that reflects primary vote share.

    Preferential voting can be a boon to minor parties. But it also makes the outcomes of tight, multiparty electoral contests – the kind the Greens relied on to win in 2022 – susceptible to even slight shifts in voters’ preferences.

    Given the Nationals and a slew of independents held their seats, this may read like a cop out.

    But unlike the Nationals, the Greens lack a clear geographic cleavage that corrals large numbers of electors their way. And contrary to vaguely centrist independents, the Greens occupy ideological space where most voters don’t reside – even if many of the Greens’ “social democratic” policy positions have broad support when considered individually.

    This is hardly new. The party is no more stridently left-wing than in 2022. But even in the country’s most progressive seats, there is always a conservative rump. If the Liberal Party is knocked out of a race, most of their preferences will flow to Labor, which can be decisive.

    Senate obstruction

    Much has been made of the Greens’ legislative obstruction in the Senate. Delaying Labor’s housing agenda is one such example.

    Dabbling in opposition before ultimately capitulating for minor concessions may have dampened Greens support.

    The Greens reaped neither the benefits of opposition nor those of compromise, but instead the costs of both. It’s hard to see crucial segments of voters in lower house seats not being repulsed by this, even as the party finds sufficient support to meet Senate quotas.

    Way forward

    The future requires serious internal reflection on who the party appeals to, and how.

    A new parliamentary strategy is needed to leverage Senate balance of power for progressive outcomes and electoral growth. Greens also need to navigate a relationship with the government that is seemingly hostile to the very existence of the party (has anyone mentioned the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme yet?).

    With the loss of Bandt from parliament, the party’s leadership – spilled following an election, regardless of outcome – is now wide open.

    Who will lead the Greens now?

    Bandt’s replacement will need to balance electoral appeal with an ability to contain internal ructions that have diminished, not disappeared.

    Senator Larissa Waters ought to be a frontrunner. She has held leadership positions for 10 years and is popular, both electorally and internally. Crucially, she represents Queensland, a state where the Greens need to regain votes.

    Another option is Senator Nick McKim, who would return the party’s centre of gravity to Tasmania, and offer previous state party leadership experience.

    Another candidate could be Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who has long held leadership aspirations.

    In a party where members are stridently advocating for greater say in leadership selection, the process could open up and be unpredictable.

    All is not lost

    The Greens do best when voters turn away from Labor.

    As the government advances an unambitious agenda of, at best, “thin labourism”, the number of disappointed and disaffected voters will grow.

    Even a modest swing against Labor at the next election puts several House seats back in play, alongside the Greens’ ongoing presence in the Senate.

    Josh Holloway 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. Greens’ election hubris – how the minor party lost its way and now its leader – https://theconversation.com/greens-election-hubris-how-the-minor-party-lost-its-way-and-now-its-leader-255954

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Scaling up our new GST return for large businesses

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Last year we announced the introduction of the Supplementary annual GST return for large businesses that have had a GST assurance review. The return will allow us to better tailor our engagement with taxpayers and will enable more targeted justified trust reviews requiring less resource investment for many taxpayers. Taxpayers who have high levels of assurance are expected to benefit the most as they’ve already adopted good practice governance and systems practices.

    To support the implementation of the return, we conducted a pilot program with a small number of Top 100 and Top 1,000 taxpayers. The focus of the pilot was on the clarity and functionality of the questions. Feedback from taxpayers helped us refine the return to enhance its overall effectiveness, while ensuring that it’s straightforward and user friendly.

    If you need to lodge a Supplementary annual GST return, we’ll have notified you via email late last year. You’ll also receive a notice to lodge by email and post approximately 4 months before the lodgment due date. For early December balancers, this means you’ll receive your notice to lodge in May, with the return being due on 21 August. All due dates are available on our website at Supplementary annual GST return.

    If your contact details have changed recently, make sure you update your details so you don’t miss our correspondence.

    A copy of the Supplementary annual GST return 2025 and instructions for completing the return are available on our website.

    Keep up to date

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Bellerive man faces grooming charges

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    A Bellerive man has been arrested and charged with grooming offences, police alleging he used social media to entice a person aged under 16 to self-produce child abuse material.
    The 34-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after members of the Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed a search warrant as part of the team’s investigation into the detection of a child being groomed via social media.The Tasmanian JACET is comprised of members of the High-Risk Child Exploitation Unit (Tasmania Police) and the Australian Federal Police.
    During the search, police located and examined numerous mobile devices.
    As a result, a 34-year-old man was arrested and charged with using a carriage service to groom persons under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). 
    The man appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday night and has been bailed, with strict conditions, to reappear in court in late June.
    Online child abuse is a serious crime type. Tasmania Police, with the support of its partners, is committed to stopping these crimes and keeping our children safe.
    If you have seen inappropriate behaviour online that you suspect is child abuse, report it:
    •             If the child is in immediate danger, call 000.
    •             Call 131 444
    •             Report online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) https://www.accce.gov.au/report

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a blood cholesterol ratio? And what should yours be?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle

    Shutterstock

    Have you had a blood test to check your cholesterol level? These check the different blood fat components:

    • total cholesterol
    • LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is sometimes called “bad cholesterol”
    • HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is sometimes called “good cholesterol”
    • triglycerides.

    Your clinician then compares your test results to normal ranges – and may use ratios to compare different types of cholesterol.

    High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is a broad term that includes disease of blood vessels throughout the body, arteries in the heart (known as coronary heart disease), heart failure, heart valve conditions, arrhythmia and stroke.

    So what does cholesterol do? And what does it mean to have a healthy cholesterol ratio?

    What are blood fats?

    Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat made in the liver and gut, with a small amount of pre-formed cholesterol coming from food.

    Cholesterol is found in all cell membranes, contributing to their structure and function. Your body uses cholesterol to make vitamin D, bile acid, and hormones, including oestrogen, testosterone, cortisol and aldosterone.

    When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it gets deposited into artery walls, making them hard and narrow. This process is called atherosclerosis.

    High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
    Halfpoint/Shutterstock

    Cholesterol is packaged with triglycerides (the most common type of fat in the body) and specific “apo” proteins into “lipo-proteins” as a package called “very-low-density” lipoproteins (VLDLs).

    These are transported via the blood to body tissue in a form called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

    Excess cholesterol can be transported back to the liver by high-density lipoprotein, the HDL, for removal from circulation.

    Another less talked about blood fat is Lipoprotein-a, or Lp(a). This is determined by your genetics and not influenced by lifestyle factors. About one in five (20%) of Australians are carriers.

    Having a high Lp(a) level is an independent cardiovascular disease risk factor.

    Knowing your numbers

    Your blood fat levels are affected by both modifiable factors:

    • dietary intake
    • physical activity
    • alcohol
    • smoking
    • weight status.

    And non-modifiable factors:

    • age
    • sex
    • family history.



    Read more:
    Got high cholesterol? Here are five foods to eat and avoid

    What are cholesterol ratios?

    Cholesterol ratios are sometimes used to provide more detail on the balance between different types of blood fats and to evaluate risk of developing heart disease.

    Commonly used ratios include:

    1. Total cholesterol to HDL ratio

    This ratio is used in Australia to assess risk of heart disease. It’s calculated by dividing your total cholesterol number by your HDL (good) cholesterol number.

    A higher ratio (greater than 5) is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, whereas a lower ratio is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

    A study of 32,000 Americans over eight years found adults who had either very high, or very low, total cholesterol/HDL ratios were at 26% and 18% greater risk of death from any cause during the study period.

    Those with a ratio of greater than 4.2 had a 13% higher risk of death from heart disease than those with a ratio lower than 4.2.

    2. Non-HDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR)

    Non-HDL cholesterol is the total cholesterol minus HDL. Non-HDL cholesterol includes all blood fats such as LDL, triglycerides, Lp(a) and others. This ratio is abbreviated as NHHR.

    This ratio has been used more recently because it compares the ratio of “bad” blood fats that can contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries) to “good” or anti-atherogenic blood fats (HDL).

    Non-HDL cholesterol is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than LDL alone, while HDL is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk.

    Because this ratio removes the “good” cholesterol from the non-HDL part of the ratio, it is not penalising those people who have really high amounts of “good” HDL that make up their total cholesterol, which the first ratio does.

    Research has suggested this ratio may be a stronger predictor of atherosclerosis in women than men, however more research is needed.

    Another study followed more than 10,000 adults with type 2 diabetes from the United States and Canada for about five years. The researchers found that for each unit increase in the ratio, there was around a 12% increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke or death.

    They identified a risk threshold of 6.28 or above, after adjusting for other risk factors. Anyone with a ratio greater than this is at very high risk and would require management to lower their risk of heart disease.

    The greater this ratio, the greater the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
    Alex Yeung/Shutterstock

    3. LDL-to-HDL cholesterol ratio

    LDL/HDL is calculated by dividing your LDL cholesterol number by the HDL number. This gives a ratio of “bad” to “good” cholesterol.

    A lower ratio (ideal is less than 2.0) is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

    While there is lesser focus on LDL/HDL, these ratios have been shown to be predictors of occurrence and severity of heart attacks in patients presenting with chest pain.



    Read more:
    Health Check: five food tips that could save your life after a heart attack

    If you’re worried about your cholesterol levels or cardiovascular disease risk factors and are aged 45 and over (or over 30 for First Nations people), consider seeing your GP for a Medicare-rebated Heart Health Check.

    Clare Collins AO is a Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Newcastle, NSW and a Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) affiliated researcher. She is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow and has received research grants from NHMRC, ARC, MRFF, HMRI, Diabetes Australia, Heart Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, nib foundation, Rijk Zwaan Australia, WA Dept. Health, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Greater Charitable Foundation. She has consulted to SHINE Australia, Novo Nordisk, Quality Bakers, the Sax Institute, Dietitians Australia and the ABC. She was a team member conducting systematic reviews to inform the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines update, the Heart Foundation evidence reviews on meat and dietary patterns and current Co-Chair of the Guidelines Development Advisory Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Obesity.

    Erin Clarke is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Newcastle, and an affiliated researcher with Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). She is also an Accredited Practising Dietitian working in private practice. She is currently supported by L/Prof Clare Collins’ National Health and Medical Research Council Leadership Fellowship. She has received funding from the New South Wales Ministry of Health, University of Newcastle, HMRI, Hunter New England Health and has an industry grant with Honeysuckle Health Pty Limited. She also holds positions on the Nutrition Society of Australia Council as Co-Chair of the Newcastle Regional Group, she is an early career representative for the HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program and the University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing ECR Research Sub-Committee. She is also a member of the Nutrition Society of Australia Precision and Personalised Nutrition Special Interest Group and the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network.

    – ref. What is a blood cholesterol ratio? And what should yours be? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-blood-cholesterol-ratio-and-what-should-yours-be-253126

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Explore the new House of Representatives

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation

    Are you keen to know how many women there are in the new House of Representatives? And how the parties fare on gender balance?

    What about how many young people will have a vote in the parliament, given they’re such a big voting bloc?

    We’ve pulled together information from the Australian Electoral Commission, the ABC and some party websites to give you the most complete picture of the new parliament.

    Digital Storytelling Team 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. Explore the new House of Representatives – https://theconversation.com/explore-the-new-house-of-representatives-256214

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘These violations should never have occurred’: the troubled history of intercountry adoption

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samara Kim, PhD Candidate & Researcher, Southern Cross University

    Korean adoptees worldwide are grappling with a devastating possibility: they were not truly orphans, but may have been made into orphans.

    For decades, adoptees were told they were “abandoned”, “rescued” or “unwanted”. Many were told their Korean families were too “poor” or “incapable” to raise them – and they should only ever feel grateful for being adopted.

    But these long-held stories are now under scrutiny.

    Our recent research interrogates the narratives that have obscured the darker realities of intercountry adoption. Rather than viewing adoption solely through the lens of “rescue”, our work examines the broader power structures that facilitated the mass migration of Korean children to western countries, including Australia.

    South Korea’s reckoning with its adoption history

    In March, South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its preliminary findings after collecting records and testimony from a coalition of overseas Korean adoptee-led organisations (including the Australia–US Korean Rights Group).

    The preliminary report revealed a disturbing pattern of human rights violations in the country’s adoption industry, including:

    • forced relinquishments
    • falsified records
    • babies switched at adoption
    • inadequate screening processes, and
    • deep-rooted institutional corruption.

    The commission’s chair described finding

    serious violations of the rights of adoptees, their biological parents – particularly Korean single mothers – and others involved. These violations should never have occurred.

    The commission is expected to release its final report soon, but due to the upcoming presidential election and political uncertainty in South Korea, the timeline remains unclear.

    Chilling cases

    This is not the first time intercountry adoption has made headlines for irregularities, human rights abuses, or illicit and illegal practices.

    While Australia was expanding the number of children for intercountry adoption from South Korea in the 1980s, Park In-keun – director of South Korea’s infamous Brothers Home, an illegal detention facility that sent children overseas for adoption – was arrested for embezzlement and illegal confinement.

    He was ultimately acquitted of the most serious charges in South Korea before escaping to Australia. He was then charged again in 2014 for embezzlement, including government subsidies and wages of inmates forced into slave labour in South Korea. He died two years later.

    Other allegations of human rights violations and abuses came to light around the same time with the arrest of Julie Chu.

    She was accused of facilitating a “baby export” syndicate. Children were believed to have been kidnapped from Taiwan to send to Western countries, including Australia, in the 1970s and 80s. She was convicted of forgery, but denied being involved in trafficking.

    Since then, other cases have continued to emerge involving countries such as Chile, Sri Lanka, India, Ethiopia and Guatemala.

    What is the adoption industrial complex?

    Intercountry adoption is not just a social practice. It’s also an economic and political system sometimes known as the transnational adoption industrial complex.

    This network of organisations, institutions, government policies and financial systems created a globalised adoption economy worth billions of dollars. According to numerous investigations, Western nations, as “receiving” countries, drove the demand for the continuous sourcing of children.

    As Park Geon-Tae, a senior investigator with South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said:

    To put it simply, there was supply because there was demand.

    Australia received an estimated 3,600 Korean children from the 1970s to the present, as part of more than 10,000 intercountry adoptions.

    Prospective parents typically paid between US$4,500 and $5,000 to facilitate acquiring a child in Australia in the 1980s, equivalent to A$21,000 today.

    Since colonisation, Australia has had a long and painful history of child removal. From the Stolen Generations involving First Nations children to the forced adoption of children born to unwed mothers, child separation has been deeply embedded in the nation’s social policy.

    While national apologies have acknowledged the irreparable harms caused by these policies, the same ideologies and structures were repurposed as the blueprint for intercountry adoption.

    In recent years, other western nations, such as Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, have begun to investigate their own roles in the intercountry adoption industry. These nations have either suspended their adoption programs, issued formal apologies or launched formal investigations.

    Thus far, Australia and the United States have not.

    Challenging the ‘rescue’ myth

    Intercountry adoption has long been framed as a humanitarian act. The central idea was that children needed “rescuing” and any life in a Western country would be “better” than one with their families in their home country.

    Many adoptees and their original families were expected to just move on or be grateful for being “saved”.

    However, research shows this gratitude narrative disregards the deep trauma caused by forced separation.

    Studies have reported that adoptees experience lifelong ruptures due to cultural, familial and ancestral displacement. Forced assimilation makes reconnection with family and culture complex or nearly impossible.

    Many intercountry adoptees have also voiced concerns about abuse, violence and mistreatment in adoptive homes.

    Questioning the ‘orphan crisis’ myth

    The myth of a global orphan crisis has also been a powerful driver of intercountry adoption.

    Adoption groups often reference outdated UNICEF estimates that there are 150 million orphans globally. However, this figure obscures the fact most of the children classified as “orphans” are children of single parents, or children currently living in homes with extended family or other caregivers.

    This was the case in South Korea. Most children sent for adoption were not true orphans, but children who had at least one parent or extended family they could have stayed with if they were adequately supported.

    The belief that millions of children of single parents were “orphans” in need of “rescue” was used to justify calls for faster, less regulated adoptions.

    Labelling these children as “orphans” also helped attract millions of dollars in philanthropic donations. However, donors were rarely interested in supporting children to stay with their families and communities in their home countries.

    Instead, the focus was often on removing and migrating them for the purpose of intercountry adoption.

    The question then emerges: was this about finding families for babies or finding babies for Western families?

    Samara Kim is a founding member of KADS Connect, an advocacy organisation for South Korean adoptees.

    Kathomi Gatwiri and Lynne McPherson 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. ‘These violations should never have occurred’: the troubled history of intercountry adoption – https://theconversation.com/these-violations-should-never-have-occurred-the-troubled-history-of-intercountry-adoption-254200

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PM’s Science Council to set direction for science

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has today announced the new Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, and the members of the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council.

    “We have world-class scientists in our universities and research institutes, but they’re working in a system held back by outdated settings. To unlock the full potential of science and technology, we need a sharper focus on commercialisation, better access to global investment, and clearer priorities at home,” Mr Luxon says. 

    “This Council is a new initiative to get clear, independent advice to ensure our investments in science and technology are delivering real outcomes for New Zealanders.

    “The Council will provide advice on long-term priorities for government-funded science and innovation. They will help identify areas of focus that will have the greatest benefit for Kiwis and our economy. 

    “I also expect them to provide bold and courageous advice about those areas that aren’t delivering value for New Zealanders and may need to be deprioritised. It’s about making sure we are investing in what will have the greatest impact for New Zealanders.”

    Members of the Council bring a strong mix of scientific, commercial and strategic expertise. They include:

    Sir Peter Gluckman
    Craig Piggott
    Professor Merryn Tawhai
    Komal Mistry-Mehta
    Malcolm Johns
    Dr John Roche

    “I am also pleased to announce that Dr John Roche has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. In this role, John will support robust decision making by providing high quality, independent scientific advice. John, in his capacity as my science advisor, will also be a member of the council.”

    Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti, will chair the Council, with Dr John Roche as deputy chair.

    “These are highly capable individuals who understand both the science and the economic imperatives. They are prepared to make the bold calls needed to ensure the system is future-focused, outcome-driven and aligned with our economic goals,” Mr Luxon says.

    “A strong, well-directed science and innovation sector is critical to lifting productivity, creating high-value jobs and supporting a more resilient and competitive economy.”

    The Council will provide its first formal advice to the Prime Minister and Minister Reti later this year.

    Biographies of Council members:

    Sir Peter Gluckman 
    Professor Sir Peter Gluckman ONZ KNZM FRSNZ FMedSci FRS trained as a paediatrician and biomedical scientist. He is Director of Koi Tu- Centre for Informed Futures and holds a Distinguished University Professorship at the University of Auckland. He is currently the chair of the Science System Advisory Group. Sir Peter is President of the International Science Council (ISC, 2021-2026). From 2014-2021 he was the inaugural Chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA), and from 2009-2018 he was the first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was also Science Envoy for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and coordinated the secretariat of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative. He has written and spoken extensively on science-policy and science-diplomacy and science-society interactions. He has received the highest scientific and civilian honours in New Zealand and numerous international scientific awards. 
    Craig Piggott
    Craig Piggott is the founder of Halter. The company’s solar-powered collar for dairy and beef cows, pairs with an app for farmers and allows cows to respond to guidance cues, enabling virtual herding and fencing while monitoring health 24/7. This innovation helps farmers increase milk and protein production propelling the company to become one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing businesses with a thriving international customer base. Craig brings experience in innovation, agriculture and business.  
    Merryn Tawhai
    Merryn Tawhai graduated from the University of Auckland with a PhD in Engineering Science in 2001. She leads a research programme at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) in applied computational physiology of the respiratory system. Merryn is the Director of the ABI and sits on the Board of Directors for Cure Kids Ventures and the Virtual Physiological Human Institute. She was ABI’s Deputy Director for 10 years, Director of the Medical Technologies Centre of Research Excellence (MedTech CoRE), and an independent Director for Izon Science. Merryn was awarded the 2016 MacDiarmid Medal by the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) Te Apārangi, is a Fellow of the RSNZ, a Fellow of IAMBE and AIMBE, and an elected member of the Fleischner Society.
    Komal Mistry-Mehta
    Komal is Chief Innovation & Brand Officer at Fonterra and Managing Director of the Ki Tua Fund, Fonterra’s corporate venture capital arm. She leads global innovation, research and development, digital, brand and marketing functions for New Zealand’s largest company. Prior to joining the Fonterra Executive Team, Komal led Fonterra’s global health and nutrition business based in Singapore. With experience across Asia, the America’s and Europe, she has led major transformations in sales, innovation, digital enablement and technology. Komal was named New Zealand’s Young Executive of the Year in 2017 and serves on several international boards. Komal has completed the Executive Program at Stanford University School of Business and holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Management degrees from the University of Waikato. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand as well as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
    Malcolm Johns
    Malcolm is the Chief Executive of Genesis Energy. Previously he was the Chief Executive of InterCity Group and held several governance roles within New Zealand’s transport, infrastructure and tourism sectors. He is Convenor of the Climate Leaders Coalition and served as Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council leading the regional trade policy task force for climate change. Malcolm has extensive business acumen and understanding of Government systems

    John Roche 
    John was appointed MPI’s Chief Science Adviser in June 2018 to provide an independent science perspective. He leads MPI’s Science Forum, chairs the Science Governance Group at MPI and the independent Mycoplasma bovis Strategic Science Advisory Group. John is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser’s forum and is an adjunct professor in University of Auckland’s School of Biological Sciences. John was previously DairyNZ’s Principal Scientist for Animal Science. He has held science appointments in Ireland and Australia. He is also Managing Director of Down to Earth Advice Ltd. Widely published and a regular contributor to international science and farming conferences, John has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science, a Masters in Farm Systems and Pasture Management, and a PhD in Animal Nutrition.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 8, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 8, 2025.

    Women’s sports are fighting an uphill battle against our social media algorithms
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business, Head of Sport Business Insights Group, Victoria University Women’s sport is more and more getting the attention it deserves. Stadiums are filling, television ratings for many sports are climbing and athletes such as the Matildas’ Mary Fowler, triple Olympic gold

    New taxes on super didn’t get much attention in the election campaign. But they could be tricky to implement
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Melatos, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney Poetra.RH/Shutterstock The re-election of the Albanese government has led to renewed concern about planned changes to the taxation of investment returns in superannuation funds. Labor’s emphatic victory on Saturday night, including what looks like an increased presence in

    New Caledonia’s political talks – no outcome after three days of ‘conclave’
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific Desk After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia’s political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory’s future status. The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister’s special advisor Eric Thiers, have since

    Forest home of ‘polar dinosaurs’ 120 million years ago in southern Australia recreated in detail for the first time
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vera Korasidis, Lecturer in Environmental Geoscience, The University of Melbourne Artwork © Bob Nicholls 2024 Roughly 140 million to 100 million years ago, the piece of land that is modern day Australia was located much further south on Earth. In fact, what is now Victoria was once

    Ovarian cysts can be painful when they burst. When do you need to see a doctor?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Chruścik, Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Cysts are small pockets of fluid that form inside the body. Ovarian cysts are common, affecting around one in ten women. But sometimes they can cause pain – especially when they burst. You

    Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – International Trade over time: gifts with strings
    Analysis by Keith Rankin. The ‘see-saw’ chart above shows the accumulated ‘excess benefits’ that Aotearoa New Zealand, and a few other countries, have enjoyed from international trade over the last 40 years. These are benefits arising from ‘unbalanced trade’ which are in addition to the regular benefits – arising from efficient specialisation – of ‘balanced’

    ‘Utu’ as foreign policy: how a Māori worldview can make sense of a shifting world order
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicholas Ross Smith, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury Getty Images There is a growing feeling in New Zealand that the regional geopolitical situation is becoming less stable and more conflicted. China has ramped up its Pacific engagement, most recently with

    While the Liberals haemorrhaged, the Nationals held their own. Is it time to break up the Coalition?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Botterill, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Among the notable features of this year’s election campaign was that Australia’s second-oldest political party was apparently missing in action. At the same time, it managed to avoid the rout inflicted on its coalition partner.

    Why is hospital parking so expensive? Two economics researchers explain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Farrell, Professor of Economics (Health Economist), RMIT University ThirtyPlus/Shutterstock Imagine having to pay A$39 dollars a day to park your car while visiting your sick child in hospital. For families already struggling in a cost-of-living crisis, hospital parking fees are not just another expense. They can

    Vietnam is poised to become a top 20 economy, so why is Australia taking so long to make trade and investment links?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Vo, Senior lecturer in Vietnamese culture and politics, University of Wollongong Aritra Deb/Shutterstock At a time of widespread global trade instability, Australia should be expanding and diversifying its economic partnerships. Supply chains remain fragile, and protectionist rhetoric is once again gaining traction in major Western economies.

    Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shines a light on men’s mental illness – but falls down with this outdated plotline
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Baulch, Research Associate, Discipline of Media and Communications, University of Sydney Marvel Studios This piece contains spoilers. Marvel’s men are sad. And that’s a good thing. Thor’s depressed in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark has panic attacks in Iron Man 3. Peter grieves in Spider-Man: No Way

    Australia is set to be a renewables nation. After Labor’s win, there’s no turning back
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney bmphotographer/Shutterstock An emphatic election victory for the incumbent Labor government means Australia’s rapid shift to renewable energy will continue. As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday: In 2022, the Australian people

    Financial Times: The West’s shameful silence on Gaza – do more to restrain Benjamin Netanyahu
    EDITORIAL: The Financial Times editorial board After 19 months of conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and drawn accusations of war crimes against Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is once more preparing to escalate Israel’s offensive in Gaza. The latest plan puts Israel on course for full occupation of the Palestinian territory and would

    ‘Under no illusions’ about France, says author of new Rainbow Warrior book
    Pacific Media Watch The author of the book Eyes of Fire, one of the countless publications on the Rainbow Warrior bombing almost 40 years ago but the only one by somebody actually on board the bombed ship, says he was under no illusions that France was behind the attack. Journalist David Robie was speaking last

    Australia doesn’t have a federal Human Rights Act – but the election clears the way for overdue reform
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Maguire, Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle Master1305/Shutterstock The Albanese government has achieved an historic re-election, substantially building its majority in the House of Representatives. Much has already been written about the potential for a more ambitious legislative program on the back

    Samoa down in RSF media freedom world ranking due to ‘authoritarian pressure’
    Talamua Online News Samoa has dropped in its media and information freedom world ranking from 22 in 2024 to 44 in 2025 in the latest World Press Freedom Index compiled annually by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF). For the Pacific region, New Zealand is ranked highest at 16, Australia at 29, Fiji at 40,

    How maximum security prison inmates and officers worked together to create a farm behind bars
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Tietz, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, UNSW Sydney Macquarie Correctional Centre Media Unit At Macquarie Correctional Centre in western New South Wales, a story of collaboration and persistence is unfolding. Inmates and prison officers are farming commercial quantities of fresh food in a purpose-built indoor facility.

    Can what you eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect whether your child develops food allergies?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Evidence and Translation Lead, National Allergy Centre of Excellence; Chief Investigator, Centre of Food Allergy Research; Associate Professor and Group Leader, Childhood Allergy & Epidemiology Group, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland Maria Evseyeva/Shutterstock Many questions pop up when you’re growing or raising

    How do you put a tariff on movies? Here’s what Trump’s plan could mean for Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark David Ryan, Professor, Film, Screen, Animation, Queensland University of Technology Kirk Wester/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a plan to impose a 100% tariff on movies “produced in foreign lands” could have a massive impact on the global entertainment industry. Film and television production

    Labor says its second term will be about productivity reform. These ideas could help shift the dial
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy Green, Emeritus Professor of Innovation, University of Technology Sydney Summit Art Creations/Shutterstock In his victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted social policy as a major factor in Labor’s electoral success, particularly Medicare, housing and cost of living relief. He was justified in doing so. But

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Supplementary annual GST return

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    About the Supplementary annual GST return

    We’re working to better tailor our engagement with taxpayers under our Top 100 and Top 1,000 justified trust programs for GST. To facilitate this, we’re introducing the Supplementary annual GST return for large businesses that have received a GST assurance rating through a GST assurance review.

    The information provided in your annual return will enable more tailored and less resource investment for justified trust reviews for many taxpayers. The return is straightforward to complete and targeted at understanding key governance and GST changes during the year. Taxpayers who have achieved high levels of assurance are expected to benefit most as they’ve already adopted better practice governance and systems practices.

    We’re introducing the supplementary return for the 2024–25 financial year, for taxpayers who received a GST assurance report on or before 30 June 2024 with a GST assurance rating.

    We’ll notify you directly if you’re required to lodge the return.

    The supplementary return covers:

    • how you’ve actioned recommendations, areas of low assurance or red flags outlined by us in your most recent GST assurance review (including subsequent interactions with us)
    • whether you’ve maintained or increased your level of GST governance and if you’ve had any material business or systems changes that impact your GST control framework since your last GST assurance review
    • the reconciliation between your audited financial statements and your annualised business activity statements
    • whether you’ve taken any material uncertain GST positions in the period
    • whether you’ve identified any material GST errors in the period and how these have been rectified, and whether you claimed any material amounts of credits in the period that were referable to earlier periods.

    You should keep objective evidence to support your responses in the return.

    Who is required to lodge a supplementary return

    Public and multinational businesses that have received a GST assurance rating through a Top 100 or Top 1,000 assurance review are required to lodge a Supplementary annual GST return.

    You’ll be required to lodge a supplementary return for the 2024–25 financial year if you received one of the following on or before 30 June 2024:

    • Top 100 GST assurance report
    • Top 1,000 combined assurance review report with a GST assurance rating
    • Top 1,000 GST streamlined assurance review.

    If you haven’t yet received a GST assurance rating, you’re not required to lodge a supplementary return.

    You’ll need to complete a supplementary return starting from the financial year following the financial year you received your GST assurance report.

    For example, if you received your first GST assurance rating in a Top 1,000 combined assurance review report issued after 30 June 2024, but before 30 June 2025, you’ll need to complete a Supplementary annual GST return for the 2025–26 financial year onwards.

    Examples of lodging a supplementary return

    Example 1: GST assurance rating received in September 2024

    Titmus Forestry received an initial Top 100 GST assurance report in September 2024, with its first GST assurance rating. Titmus Forestry is an early December balancer.

    As Titmus Forestry received the report prior to 30 June 2025, it needs to complete a Supplementary annual GST return for the 2025–26 financial year onwards (that is, for the period 1 January to 31 December 2025).

    End of example

    If an entity that has been previously assured is no longer a GST reporting entity (that is, no longer lodges business activity statements) but instead is part of a new GST reporting group, then the new GST reporting group must lodge a supplementary annual GST return. This is if the previously assured GST reporting entity (or entities) contributes 50% or more of the GST throughput reported by the new GST reporting group.

    Example 2: changes in GST reporting entity

    Attia Media Co. received a GST assurance rating in its combined assurance review report in August 2022. In April 2024, Attia Media Co. ceased being a GST reporting entity as it was acquired by another entity and is now a member of a new GST group. Attia Media Co. contributes 75% of the GST throughput reported by the new GST group, Saniel Communications.

    Despite Saniel Communications not having had an initial GST assurance review itself, the ATO advises Saniel Communications that it will need to lodge a Supplementary annual GST return for the 2024–25 financial year onwards. This is because Attia Media Co. contributes over 50% of the GST throughput reported by Saniel Communications.

    End of example

    When the supplementary return is due

    Taxpayers who received a GST assurance review report on or before 30 June 2024 will need to lodge a return annually from the 2024–25 financial year, according to the due dates shown in Table 1.

    Table 1: Due dates for the 2024–25 financial years

    Financial year end

    Due date

    December 2024

    21 August 2025

    January, February, March 2025

    21 November 2025

    April, May, June 2025

    21 February 2026

    July, August, September 2025

    21 May 2026

    October, November 2025

    21 August 2026

    The Supplementary annual GST return is a further return that we require certain taxpayers to lodge under Division 31 of the GST Act. If you need to lodge the supplementary return, you’ll receive a notice under section 31-20 of the GST Act to lodge the return by the specified due date.

    Division 31 enables us to require taxpayers to lodge a fuller or further GST return for a tax period or a specified period. It enables us to require information to be provided relating to the tax period to which the return relates, or one or more preceding tax periods, or to both.

    The Supplementary annual GST return has a due date that aligns with an existing return due at least 7 months after the end of the financial year.

    For instance, for June balancers, the 2024–25 Supplementary annual GST return will be an additional return for the January 2026 period, due by 21 February 2026. You will need to provide information about the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

    The supplementary return does not replace any other GST return required. This return has no effect on the due dates for any other returns. It does not affect the 4-year entitlement period to input tax credits under Division 93 of the GST Act, in any way.

    Penalties can apply if you fail to lodge the supplementary return on time.

    How we use the information you provide

    The information provided in the supplementary return will help us:

    • assess the extent to which we have confidence that GST has been correctly reported
    • determine the level of ongoing investment in GST governance.

    Generally, our future engagement with you will depend on a number of factors, including:

    • the level of assurance obtained in our most recent GST assurance review
    • our monitoring and analytics during the periods between assurance reviews
    • the information provided in your return.

    The return collects information relevant to your continued investment in GST governance and correct reporting. It includes the work you’ve undertaken to address previous ATO recommendations or areas of low assurance or red flags, and whether you have completed the GST analytical tool or similar reconciliation for the period.

    We’ll also use the information provided to identify and monitor GST risks. We’ll differentiate our approach where we identify specific issues that require further engagement with you.

    Taxpayers in the Top 100 program

    We complete an initial Top 100 GST assurance review for each Top 100 taxpayer and continue annual reviews until overall high or medium assurance is attained.

    Once a taxpayer has attained an overall medium or high level of assurance in a Top 100 GST assurance review, they can expect tailored engagement. We review on a periodic basis at least once every 4 years, taking a monitoring stance during the intervening 3-year period. We may conduct targeted assurance activities during this time.

    We use the information you provide in the Supplementary annual GST return for Top 100 taxpayers to:

    • monitor your GST disclosures and outcomes in the intervening 3 years
    • inform the scope and intensity of our GST assurance reviews, including refresh reviews.

    The return also provides information for the refresh review period that is relevant to each of the 4 focus areas under justified trust. We’ll use this information, in conjunction with our earlier assurance review and what has since been disclosed in real time, to target our focus on the key areas where we need to refresh our assurance base.

    Our Top 100 Pre-lodgment disclosure framework sets out our existing expectations for real-time disclosures by Top 100 taxpayers. If you disclose something in real time that needs to be included in your Supplementary annual GST return, you can provide a brief explanation in the return and refer to the date of the prior disclosure for further context.

    Example 3: taxpayer in the Top 100 program

    Layoun Minerals is a Top 100 taxpayer that has had a GST assurance review and receives an overall high assurance rating and a Stage 2 governance rating. There were no areas of low assurance or red flags in the assurance report.

    Our assurance report recommends that Layoun Minerals:

    • create a procedure document in relation to issuing recipient created tax invoices
    • implement a documented procedure to undertake the GST analytical tool (GAT) or similar reconciliation on an annual basis to understand variances between their financial statements and GST reporting
    • evidence independent testing of their GST control framework.

    Layoun Minerals actively implements our recommendations. It also makes real-time disclosures when applicable in accordance with the Top 100 Pre-lodgment disclosure framework.

    When completing the Supplementary annual GST return for the 2024–25 financial year, Layoun Minerals provides the following responses:

    • Section B – there were no outstanding actions in relation to recommendations or areas of low assurance or red flags from its most recent GST assurance review (including subsequent ATO interactions) as it has
      • implemented a procedure document for recipient created tax invoices
      • a documented process to undertake the GAT annually
      • conducted the first phase of internal controls testing in line with its testing plan, with an independent tester conducting the testing of some specific controls and providing a report outlining the findings.
    • Section C – during the period the return covers, it considers it meets the criteria to maintain the GST governance rating given in the most recent GST assurance review, based on the criteria set out in our GST governance, data testing and transaction testing guide. There have not been any material business changes or material systems changes that impact its GST control framework since the earlier assurance review.
    • Section D – it had completed the GAT for the period the return covers with the following rates provided
      • effective GST rate on sales of 10.03%
      • effective GST rate on expenses of 9.72%
      • net effective GST rate of 9.84%.

    It considers that the remaining variance could only be resolved through a transactional-level analysis.

    • Section E – it did not take any material uncertain GST positions in the period the return covers.
    • Section F – during the period the return covers, it has not identified any material GST reporting errors or claimed material input tax credit amounts referable to earlier periods.

    Layoun Minerals retains objective evidence to support its responses.

    Layoun Minerals has a refresh GST assurance review of the 2024–25 financial year.

    We take a tailored approach in determining the scope and intensity of the refresh review. We leverage existing information, evidence and knowledge from our earlier assurance review, in combination with the information provided in Layoun Minerals’ Supplementary annual GST return for the refresh period and any real-time disclosures.

    The information indicates that Layoun Minerals has maintained a high level of GST compliance and governance. This enables us to reduce the scope and intensity of the refresh review.

    Layoun Minerals has already completed the GAT and can readily provide the objective evidence used to support its calculations.

    When considering all the relevant information, including the Supplementary annual GST return, we determine that there will be no requirement to conduct comprehensive data testing in the refresh review.

    End of example

    Taxpayers in the Top 1,000 program

    Under our differentiated approach to combined assurance reviews, we’ll assess the responses to the returns to determine the level of intensity for your next GST assurance review. This may result in a less intensive GST assurance review, or we may decide a GST assurance review is not required, where:

    • you have obtained an overall medium or high assurance rating for GST and a Stage 2 or Stage 3 GST governance rating in your most recent assurance review, with no unresolved ATO or client next actions
    • the information you provide in the return enables us to maintain confidence that your investment in GST governance is maintained and that GST is correctly reported.

    Taxpayers who obtained an overall low GST assurance rating or a Stage 1 GST governance rating will continue to be assured as part of their combined assurance review, however our review will be tailored based on the assurance already attained and the responses provided in the return.

    For taxpayers with significant systems changes (for example, implementing a new IT system) since their most recent GST assurance review, generally we would need to consider the impacts of these on GST governance through our assurance programs. There may also be taxpayers where specific engagement is required due to GST risks in their business.

    We may take a tailored approach to reviewing objective evidence to support responses in the return as part of a combined assurance review. This approach will vary based on the assurance previously attained and the responses in the return. For example, this may include reviewing evidence where a taxpayer indicates it has:

    • increased a rating to Stage 3 for governance
    • addressed recommendations in relation to a specific risk identified in the earlier assurance review
    • GAT workpapers.

    Example 4: taxpayer in the Top 1,000 program

    Timlin Manufacturing is a Top 1,000 taxpayer that has had a combined assurance review and received an overall high GST assurance rating and a stage 2 GST governance rating. There were no areas of low assurance or red flags in the assurance report.

    Our assurance report recommended that the taxpayer:

    • evidence independent testing of their GST control framework
    • document a process to periodically review whether it exceeds the financial acquisitions threshold
    • implement a documented procedure to undertake the GST analytical tool or similar reconciliation on an annual basis to understand variances between their financial statements and GST reporting.

    Timlin Manufacturing has actively implemented our recommendations from its assurance review.

    When completing the Supplementary annual GST return for the 2024–25 financial year, Timlin Manufacturing’s responses were:

    • Section B – there are no outstanding actions in relation to recommendations or areas of low assurance or red flags relating to its most recent GST assurance review (including subsequent ATO interactions).
      • Timlin Manufacturing has implemented documented procedures to undertake the GST Analytical Tool (GAT) on an annual basis and has introduced documented processes to regularly review whether the financial acquisitions threshold has been exceeded.
      • Timlin Manufacturing has commenced some controls testing in line with its testing plan, however it will not complete the testing until 2025–26 because the testing occurs over a 3 to 5-year rolling audit period.
    • Section C – it considers it meets the criteria to maintain the GST governance rating obtained in the most recent GST assurance review. That is, it considers it has maintained a Stage 2 rating, based on the criteria set out in our GST governance, data testing and transaction testing guide.
    • Section D – it has completed the GAT and considers that all variances can be explained. The following rates were provided:
      • effective GST rate on sales of 9.96%
      • effective GST rate on expenses of 9.94%
      • net effective GST rate of 9.82%.

    It considers that the remaining variance can reasonably be explained by timing differences.

    • Section E – it has not taken any material uncertain GST positions in the period the return covers.
    • Section F – it has not identified any material GST reporting errors or claimed material input tax credit amounts referable to earlier periods.

    Timlin Manufacturing retains objective evidence to support the responses.

    Based on the information provided in the return, we were able to assess Timlin Manufacturing’s GST compliance position and determine that it has actioned our recommendations and the responses provided us with confidence that the level of investment in GST compliance has been maintained.

    If Timlin Manufacturing is selected for a combined assurance review in the 2024–25 financial year, we would expect to either:

    • not undertake a GST assurance review as part of the combined assurance review
    • take a tailored approach to reviewing objective evidence to support responses in the return.

    End of example

    Completing and lodging the supplementary return

    To get a copy of the return, go to Supplementary annual GST return 2025. You can also read Instructions to complete the Supplementary annual GST return 2025.

    Email the completed Supplementary annual GST return to SAGR@ato.gov.au.

    If additional lodgment methods are available, we’ll let you know when we issue your notice to lodge.

    You should have objective evidence to support your responses in the return. However, you do not need to provide any documentation when lodging your return. We may ask you for supporting evidence later.

    More information

    If you have any questions about the Supplementary annual GST return, you can email us at SAGR@ato.gov.au.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tax Ombudsman

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The Tax OmbudsmanExternal Link is an independent statutory office that strives to improve the administration of the tax laws for the benefit of the community.

    It provides independent advice and assurance to individual taxpayers and the community, government, parliamentary committees and ministers (as appropriate), through investigations, reviews and reports. This helps to ensure that Australian taxation administration laws are operating effectively and consistently and align with community expectations.

    Potential review topics for investigation are identified from:

    • engagement with stakeholders
    • themes raised in complaint cases
    • representations made to the Tax Ombudsman’s office.

    The Tax Ombudsman publishes information about current investigationsExternal Link and reports of completed investigationsExternal Link.

    Guidelines and protocols

    The Protocol between the ATO and Tax Ombudsman (PDF, 2.4MB)This link will download a file outlines the nature of the co-operative working relationship between the agencies.

    The Tax Ombudsman and the ATO are currently in the process of updating the operational guidelines for both the review and complaint handling processes.

    Individual clients are able to lodge complaints with the Tax Ombudsman if they have been unable to resolve a complaint directly with the ATO.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Instructions to complete the Supplementary annual GST return 2025

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Our commitment to you

    We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations.

    If you follow our information and it turns out to be incorrect, or it is misleading and you make a mistake as a result, we will take that into account when determining what action, if any, we should take.

    Some of the information on this website applies to a specific financial year. This is clearly marked. Make sure you have the information for the right year before making decisions based on that information.

    If you feel that our information does not fully cover your circumstances, or you are unsure how it applies to you, contact us or seek professional advice.

    Copyright notice

    © Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia

    You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Supplementary annual GST return 2025

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Who needs to complete the Supplementary annual GST return

    The Supplementary annual GST return must be lodged by public and multinational businesses who receive a GST assurance rating through a Top 100 or Top 1,000 assurance review.

    We’ll notify you if you are required to lodge the supplementary return.

    Read more about the Supplementary annual GST return, when it’s due and how we use the information reported to us.

    How to get the return

    You will need to download and complete the Supplementary annual GST return 2025 (NAT 75615, PDF 242KB)This link will download a file form. The return uses scrollable fields, so you can expand the amount of text in your responses. You may need to select ‘enable all features’ to complete the form. To ensure that your complete response is captured, do not print the return once you have completed it.

    Use the Instructions to complete the Supplementary annual GST return 2025 to help you complete the return.

    How to lodge the return

    Email the completed Supplementary annual GST return to SAGR@ato.gov.au.

    If additional lodgment methods are available, we’ll let you know when we issue your notice to lodge.

    How to complete the return

    For help preparing the return, see Instructions to complete the Supplementary annual GST return 2025.

    You should have objective evidence to support your responses in the return. You don’t need to provide any documentation when lodging your return. However, we may ask you for supporting evidence later.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New taxes on super didn’t get much attention in the election campaign. But they could be tricky to implement

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Melatos, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney

    Poetra.RH/Shutterstock

    The re-election of the Albanese government has led to renewed concern about planned changes to the taxation of investment returns in superannuation funds.

    Labor’s emphatic victory on Saturday night, including what looks like an increased presence in the Senate, suggests the legislation is likely to become law in the near future.

    Retirement income in Australia

    Australia’s retirement income system comprises two pillars: a government-funded age pension as well as private superannuation.

    Super includes compulsory employer-funded contributions as well as additional personal contributions.

    These two pillars are complementary; a person can receive a pension even if they have private super. But the more super they have, the less pension they are eligible for.

    About 70% of superannuation assets are held in Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)-regulated funds and 25% are held in self-managed super funds (SMSFs).

    There are two types of tax – and tax concessions – on super. First, employer contributions and capped personal contributions are taxed at a concessional rate of 15%. Second, income earned by a super fund is taxed at 15% for balances in the accumulation phase (when contributions are being made). Income earned in the pension phase is tax-free.

    So what does the proposed reform entail?

    Starting July 1, the government proposes to increase the concessional tax rate on super account earnings in the accumulation phase from 15% to 30% for balances above A$3 million.

    Those affected – about 80,000 super account holders, or 0.5% of the total – will continue to benefit from the existing 15% concessional tax rate on earnings on the first $3 million of their super balance.

    They will also be able to carry forward any loss as an offset against their tax liability in future years.

    The proposed increase in taxes would affect about 80,000 account holders.
    Fizkes/Shutterstock

    Concerns with the proposed reform

    Concerns have been raised this reform implies the taxation of unrealised capital gains on assets held in super accounts, such as shares or property, even if they have not been sold.

    This is, indeed, a significant departure from the status quo. Both APRA-regulated funds and SMSFs are currently only required to pay capital gains tax once the asset is sold and the gain is crystallised.

    The move to tax unrealised capital gains is likely to prove particularly onerous for SMSFs. The typical industry super fund has a diversified portfolio of assets of varying liquidity, including significant cash holdings. But SMSF portfolios are often dominated by a large and illiquid asset (ones that cannot be easily sold and converted into cash) such as a farm or business property.

    As a result, an SMSF facing a large unrealised capital gain, say from an increase in property values, may not have sufficient cash flow to pay the associated tax bill. The SMSF trustee might be forced to prematurely sell assets to meet the fund’s tax liability.

    In the United States, President Joe Biden’s 2025 budget included a similar proposal to tax unrealised capital gains for households with more than US$100 million in wealth.

    Purpose of the proposed reform

    In announcing this initiative, Treasurer Jim Chalmers suggested the motivation was two-fold.

    First, the federal government is facing pressure on the budget bottom line and generous tax concessions for super are becoming expensive.

    Second, current super tax concessions are highly regressive. This means most benefits of the concessions flow to the wealthiest households which, in any case, will not be eligible for the pension.

    The cost of current super concessions to the federal budget is about $50 billion in foregone revenue, according to Treasury. That is almost the cost of the age pension.

    The Grattan Institute argues superannuation has become a “taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme”. A Treasury review found most Australians die with large outstanding super balances.

    The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard calculates that, for a comfortable retirement, a couple needs a super balance of about $700,000 if they retire at age 67. The $3 million threshold is out of the ballpark. However, if the threshold is not indexed more people will be affected over time.

    So, is this reform useful?

    According to the government’s Retirement Income Review, the objective of Australia’s super system should be to “deliver adequate standards of living in retirement in an equitable, sustainable and cohesive way”.

    While the proposed tax change aims to improve the equity and sustainability of Australia’s super system, it is not clear how it will work in practice.

    In response to SMSF concerns about the difficulty in paying tax bills, the government’s proposal gives taxpayers 84 days to pay the tax liability instead of the usual 21 days. This hardly mitigates the risk that SMSF trustees may have to liquidate the main asset in their fund.

    The Biden proposal had presented an alternative model, allowing for the tax liability to be paid over several years, not all at once. Alternatively, taxpayers could pay an interest-like charge while deferring their unrealised capital gains tax liability.

    Such alternatives do not appear to have been seriously considered in the Australian government’s proposal.

    Ultimately, though, the question must be asked: is taxing volatile unrealised capital gains really the most effective way to improve equity in, and the sustainability of, the superannuation system?

    Mark Melatos 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. New taxes on super didn’t get much attention in the election campaign. But they could be tricky to implement – https://theconversation.com/new-taxes-on-super-didnt-get-much-attention-in-the-election-campaign-but-they-could-be-tricky-to-implement-255871

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Women’s sports are fighting an uphill battle against our social media algorithms

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business, Head of Sport Business Insights Group, Victoria University

    Women’s sport is more and more getting the attention it deserves.

    Stadiums are filling, television ratings for many sports are climbing and athletes such as the Matildas’ Mary Fowler, triple Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox and star cricketer Ellyse Perry are becoming household names.

    Despite this progress, an invisible threat looms, one that risks undoing years of advocacy and momentum.

    That threat is the algorithm.

    How sports consumption is changing

    As more fans consume sport through digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and increasingly, AI-curated streaming services such as WSC Sports, the content they see is being selected not by editors but by artificial intelligence (AI).

    Algorithms, trained to maximise engagement and profits, are deciding what appears in your feed, which video auto-plays next, and which highlights are pushed to the top of your screen.

    But here is the problem: algorithms prioritise content that is already popular.

    That usually means men’s sport.

    This creates what researchers call an echo chamber effect, where users are shown more of what they already engage with and less of what they don’t.

    In sport, this can be deeply problematic.

    If a user clicks on highlights from the AFL men’s competition for example, the algorithm will respond by serving up more men’s footy content.

    Over time, content from women’s competitions risks being squeezed out, not because it is unworthy but because it has not yet achieved the same levels of engagement.

    This is not a glitch, it is a structural flaw in how digital platforms are designed to serve content.

    It means women’s sport, already underrepresented in traditional media, risks becoming all but invisible to many users in this AI-driven ecosystem.

    Also, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Sora and others don’t just curate content, they now create it.

    Match reports, fan commentary, video summaries and social posts are being generated by machines. But these systems are trained on historical data, which overwhelmingly favours men’s sport.

    So, the more content the algorithm generates, the more it reproduces the same imbalance. What was once human bias is now being automated and scaled across millions of screens.

    This may sound abstract, but it has real-world consequences.

    Young fans raised on algorithmically curated content are less likely to see women’s sport unless they actively search for it. And if they don’t see it, they don’t form emotional attachments to it.

    That has major implications for ticket sales, merchandise, viewership and sponsorship investment.

    An uphill battle

    In short, visibility drives viability. If women’s sport becomes digitally invisible, it risks becoming financially unsustainable.

    A 2024 study in Victoria shows only around 15% of traditional sports media coverage in the state goes to women’s sport. This mirrors a 2019 European Union study across 22 countries, which found 85% of print media coverage is dedicated to male athletes.

    And while progress has been made, particularly during events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup or the Olympics, regular, everyday visibility remains an uphill battle.

    AI threatens to compound these historic disparities. A 2024 study found algorithms trained on historical data reproduce and even amplify gender bias.

    The very systems that could democratise access to sport content may, in fact, be reinforcing old inequalities.

    What can be done?

    We can’t turn off the algorithm. But we can hold it to account.

    Platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Netflix should be required to undergo independent algorithmic audits.

    These would evaluate whether content recommendation engines are systemically under-representing women’s sport and propose changes.

    In Europe, the Artificial Intelligence Act, one of the world’s first comprehensive AI regulations, requires transparency and oversight for high-risk AI applications. Australia and other countries should consider similar obligations for content platforms.

    Sport organisations and broadcasters need to create intentional pathways for fans to discover women’s sport, even if they haven’t previously engaged with it.

    That means curated playlists, featured stories and digital campaigns that surface content outside the fan’s usual algorithmic bubble.

    Platforms must balance personalisation with diversity.

    We also need better media literacy, especially for younger audiences. Fans should be encouraged to explore beyond what’s served to them, seek out women’s sport channels, and recognise when the algorithm is reinforcing narrow viewing habits.

    Teaching this in schools, sport clubs and community programs could make a big difference.

    An opportunity for Australia

    Australia is well placed to lead this change because our women’s national teams are globally competitive, our domestic leagues are growing and fan appetite is rising.

    But without visibility, this momentum can fade. We must remember that algorithms don’t just reflect our preferences, they shape them.

    In an age where AI can dictate what we see, the battle for attention becomes even more crucial.

    If we want women’s sport to thrive every week, we need to ensure it is seen, heard and valued in the digital spaces where fandom now lives.

    Because in the age of AI, what we don’t see may be just as powerful as what we do.

    Hans Westerbeek 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. Women’s sports are fighting an uphill battle against our social media algorithms – https://theconversation.com/womens-sports-are-fighting-an-uphill-battle-against-our-social-media-algorithms-255001

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: First National Bank Alaska announces unaudited results for first quarter 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First National Bank Alaska’s (OTCQX:FBAK) net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $17.7 million, or $5.60 per share. This compares to a net income of $13.5 million, or $4.26 per share, for the same period in 2024.

    “The momentum we gained in 2024 propelled the bank to a very strong first quarter performance,” said First National Board Chair and CEO/President Betsy Lawer. “Our unrivaled 600-plus employees are delivering dynamic improvements to services across the bank. By focusing on improving our customer experiences whether in person or online, we are creating efficiencies in our operations, enhancing cybersecurity awareness and reducing the impact of fraud on the bank and our customers. Our balance sheet remains well positioned to support opportunities for Alaskans.”

    Loans totaled $2.6 billion as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $137.1 million during first quarter 2025, and an increase of $237.8 million compared to the same period in 2024. First quarter loan quality was strong with nonperforming loans of $4.2 million, 0.16% of outstanding loans compared to $4.3 million and 0.17% as of Dec. 31, 2024. The provision for credit losses totaled $1.5 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $0.9 million as of March 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses as of March 31, 2025 totaled $19.5 million, or 0.75% of total loans.

    First quarter total interest and loan fee income was $56.0 million, a 5.9% decrease from $59.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The bank repaid all borrowings in 2024 reducing earning assets. Interest income to average earning assets increased to 4.61% compared to 4.28% as of March 31, 2024.

    Assets totaled $4.9 billion as of March 31, 2025, decreasing $322.9 million primarily due to the repayments under the Federal Reserve Bank Term Funding Program during 2024. Return on assets as of March 31, 2025, increased to 1.42%, forty-seven basis points higher than first quarter 2024, on strong first quarter net income performance.

    Deposits and repurchase agreements totaled $4.3 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to $4.2 billion as of March 31, 2024, and $4.4 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024. First quarter activity represented normal seasonal outflow.

    Total interest expense for the quarter decreased $9.2 million compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2024 without interest incurred on borrowed funds. Interest expense to average earning assets decreased to 98 basis points compared to 1.52% as of March 31, 2024. Net interest margin through March 31, 2025, was 3.63% compared to 2.76% for the year ended March 31, 2024.

    Noninterest income for first quarter 2025 was $6.8 million, an increase of 3.5% compared to first quarter 2024. Quarterly improvement occurred in fiduciary, mortgage loan servicing, and bankcard activities. Noninterest expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased 1.0% compared to the same period in 2024. The efficiency ratio for March 31, 2025, was 49.70% and remains better than First National’s peer groups, both in Alaska and across the nation.

    Shareholders’ equity was $535.1 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $516.6 million as of Dec. 31, 2024. This $18.5 million increase resulted from a decrease in the net unrealized loss position of the securities portfolio and net income retained in excess of dividends paid. Return on equity as of March 31, 2025, was 13.49% compared to 13.60% as of Dec. 31, 2024. Book value per share increased to $168.98, compared to $163.11 as of Dec. 31, 2024. The bank’s March 31, 2025, Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 11.72% remains above well-capitalized standards.

    ABOUT FIRST NATIONAL BANK ALASKA

    Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.

    In 2025, Forbes selected First National as the sixth best bank on their America’s Best Banks list, and Newsweek recognized the bank as one of the nation’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions. In 2024, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the ninth year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fourth time, and Best Customer Service. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in 2024 in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the sixth year in a row. American Banker again recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” in 2024, for the seventh consecutive year.

    For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

    First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.

    CONTACT: Marketing, 907-777-3451

       
      Quarter Ended ($ in thousands)
    Financial Overview (Unaudited)
      3/31/2025 12/31/2024 9/30/2024 6/30/2024 3/31/2024
    Balance Sheet          
    Total Assets $ 4,890,081   $ 4,997,767   $ 5,557,306   $ 5,116,066   $ 5,212,976  
    Total Securities $ 1,882,332   $ 1,928,625   $ 2,602,519   $ 2,197,788   $ 2,404,078  
    Total Loans $ 2,607,081   $ 2,469,935   $ 2,445,596   $ 2,391,593   $ 2,369,282  
    Total Deposits $ 3,580,147   $ 3,679,155   $ 3,728,181   $ 3,698,631   $ 3,665,066  
    Repurchase Agreements $ 716,908   $ 743,193   $ 647,043   $ 615,096   $ 571,463  
    Total Deposits and Repurchase Agreements $ 4,297,055   $ 4,422,348   $ 4,375,224   $ 4,313,727   $ 4,236,529  
    Total Borrowing under the Federal Reserve Bank Term Funding Program $ –   $ –   $ 249,868   $ 249,868   $ 430,000  
    Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax $ (49,465 ) $ (62,985 ) $ (52,020 ) $ (86,857 ) $ (95,809 )
    Total Shareholders’ Equity $ 535,148   $ 516,562   $ 527,864   $ 485,167   $ 470,702  
               
    Income Statement          
    Total Interest And Loan Fee Income $ 56,005   $ 63,439   $ 64,615   $ 56,773   $ 59,493  
    Total Interest Expense $ 11,956   $ 18,591   $ 21,319   $ 16,521   $ 21,168  
    Provision for Credit Losses $ 1,535   $ (118 ) $ (432 ) $ 318   $ 953  
    Total Noninterest Income $ 6,768   $ 7,011   $ 7,293   $ 7,389   $ 6,540  
    Total Noninterest Expense $ 25,334   $ 27,696   $ 25,928   $ 25,637   $ 25,085  
    Provision for Income Taxes $ 6,214   $ 4,350   $ 7,099   $ 6,039   $ 5,351  
    Net Income $ 17,734   $ 19,931   $ 17,994   $ 15,647   $ 13,476  
    Earnings per common share $ 5.60   $ 6.29   $ 5.68   $ 4.94   $ 4.26  
    Dividend per common share $ 4.00   $ 6.40   $ 3.20   $ 3.20   $ 3.20  
               
    Financial Measures          
    Return on Assets   1.42 %   1.22 %   1.15 %   1.08 %   0.95 %
    Return on Equity   13.49 %   13.60 %   12.90 %   12.30 %   11.52 %
    Net Interest Margin   3.63 %   3.12 %   3.04 %   2.98 %   2.76 %
    Interest Income to Average Earning Assets   4.61 %   4.57 %   4.51 %   4.40 %   4.28 %
    Interest Expense to Average Earning Assets   0.98 %   1.45 %   1.47 %   1.42 %   1.52 %
    Efficiency Ratio   49.70 %   53.51 %   53.59 %   54.94 %   56.00 %
               
    Capital          
    Shareholders’ Equity/Total Assets   10.94 %   10.34 %   9.50 %   9.48 %   9.03 %
    Tier 1 Leverage Ratio   0.98 %   1.45 %   1.47 %   1.42 %   1.52 %
    Regulatory Well Capitalized Minimum Ratio – Tier 1 Leverage Ratio   5.00 %   5.00 %   5.00 %   5.00 %   5.00 %
    Tier 1 (Core) Capital $ 584,613   $ 579,547   $ 579,884   $ 572,024   $ 566,511  
               
    Credit Quality          
    Nonperforming Loans and OREO $ 4,243   $ 4,313   $ 4,186   $ 4,731   $ 28,634  
    Nonperforming Loans and OREO/Total Loans   0.16 %   0.17 %   0.17 %   0.20 %   1.21 %
    Nonperforming Loans and OREO/Tier 1 Capital   0.73 %   0.74 %   0.72 %   0.83 %   5.05 %
    Allowance for Loan Losses $ 19,500   $ 18,025   $ 18,550   $ 19,000   $ 18,800  
    Allowance for Loan Losses/Total Loans   0.75 %   0.73 %   0.76 %   0.79 %   0.79 %
               
    Net interest margin, yields, and efficiency ratios are tax effected.      
    Financial measures are year-to-date.          
    Per common share amounts are not in thousands.        
               

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Historic victory returns some of Chinese snooker’s lost luster

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

    In a moment that will reverberate far beyond the walls of the Crucible Theatre, China’s Zhao Xintong etched his name into sporting history by becoming the first Asian to win the World Snooker Championship.

    With a commanding victory over three-time world champion Mark Williams, 28-year-old Zhao not only claimed his first world title, but also redefined the global landscape of a sport long dominated by British players.

    “I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream,” said Zhao, his voice trembling as he raised the Chinese national flag beside the table.

    Zhao Xintong celebrates with the trophy after claiming the title by defeating Mark Williams of Wales in the final at World Snooker Championship 2025 in Sheffield, Britain, May 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Just months earlier, Zhao had rejoined competitive events as an amateur following a 20-month suspension for his involvement in match-fixing. His success at the Crucible was more than a win. It was a moment of arrival for himself, for Chinese snooker, and for the global game.

    A MILESTONE FOR ASIA

    Zhao’s win marks the first time in snooker’s modern history since 1969 that the world title has been won by an Asian player. He becomes the fourth champion from outside the United Kingdom and Ireland, following Canada’s Cliff Thorburn (1980), Neil Robertson of Australia (2010), and Belgium’s Luca Brecel (2023).

    Yet Zhao’s victory added symbolic weight: it is the culmination of China’s decades-long effort to develop snooker from a niche interest to a national movement.

    “I once said, ‘I’m glad to see that the threshold I shattered back then has become a runway for everyone.’ Today someone has finally crossed the finish line on that runway,” wrote Chinese icon Ding Junhui, who reached the World Championship final in 2016.

    “He has achieved the dream that generations of Chinese snooker players have shared,” Ding added.

    Zhao’s triumph echoed another landmark moment for Chinese snooker two decades ago. In the 2005 China Open final, Ding, then just 18 and playing as a wildcard, stunned the snooker world by defeating legend Stephen Hendry to claim China’s first ranking title.

    However, the sport itself faced a turning point. At that time, snooker was struggling in its traditional heartland. A European Union ban on tobacco advertising had stripped the sport of long-time sponsors, and its unpredictable match durations made broadcasting inconvenient. By the 2005-06 season, the snooker calendar had shrunk to just six ranking events.

    At that critical juncture, China’s interest in the game, backed by a vast population, emerging media market and surging youth participation, proved to be a lifeline. Ding’s victory helped ignite a snooker boom in China that would change the sport’s future.

    In the 2024-25 season, snooker has nearly 20 ranking tournaments, a dramatic revival made possible, in large part, by China’s sustained investment and growing influence.

    Once there was only Ding as an elite Chinese player; now there is a whole generation. A record 10 Chinese players qualified for the main draw at this year’s World Championship, six of whom reached the last 16. Moreover, nine Chinese players are currently ranked inside the world’s top 32.

    This depth of talent is no accident. Over the past two decades, China has invested heavily in snooker infrastructure from grassroots clubs to elite academies. In cities like Dongguan, Guangzhou and Beijing, children learn the sport in specialized training centers, guided by a growing network of coaches, many of them trained overseas.

    “Snooker used to be seen as just a hobby,” said Huang Zhufeng, head of the World Snooker Academy’s Guangdong branch. “Now it’s a real career path — a sport the country is proud of.”

    FROM CHINA TO WORLD

    As the talent pool expanded, so did the calendar. China now hosts nearly one-third of professional ranking events each season, far more than any other country outside the U.K..

    Tournaments in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and the small but iconic town of Yushan are now fixtures on the global snooker circuit. The Yushan International Billiards Culture Center, home to the World Snooker Hall of Fame and Museum, has been dubbed “the second Crucible” by players.

    Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, said the sport’s growth in China has reshaped its global future.

    “China has developed its own history in the sport. It’s no longer a U.K.-based sport, and it’s no longer just U.K. players. We’ve learned a lot in China of how to develop snooker, and some of those things we’ve learned, we are now taking them to new countries and helping those to develop as well,” Ferguson said.

    The sport also has a fast-growing fanbase in China. A report shows that by 2022, China’s billiards and snooker enthusiasts have surpassed 210 million, with an increase of 180 percent year-on-year. According to a survey from data analysis provider iiMedia Research, more than 100,000 billiards-related businesses were registered in China in 2023 alone. In April 2024, the number of 24-hour self-service snooker halls grew by 25 percent year-on-year.

    Millions of Chinese fans tuned in to Zhao’s final late at night, with their excitement visible in the fast-scrolling comments flooding livestream platforms.

    For a long time, snooker was a sport of British tradition. Zhao’s victory symbolized the start of a new chapter: one that reflects a more global, diverse, and dynamic future for the sport.

    “I did realize that my victory is important for Chinese snooker,” Zhao said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    “Zhao’s title highlights China’s 40-year resilient snooker journey on the global stage. What we’re seeing now is just the beginning,” Huang noted. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Quan faces growing challenge head on

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

    Taller, heavier and tougher — China’s diving sensation Quan Hongchan is embracing new challenges brought by her growing pains, with the three-time Olympic champion poised to regain her competitive edge.

    Quan Hongchan remains upbeat, despite missing out on gold at the World Cup season finale. XINHUA

    Dubbed as the master of the “splash-disappearing technique”, Quan has twice redefined the benchmark of elite diving by winning back-to-back 10m platform golds at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, leaving the judges stunned, commentators speechless and fans in awe with full-mark dives defining her early career.

    As almost invincible as she appeared in the buildup to Paris, Quan has recently been dealt a tricky challenge from within — the rapid growth of her body frame — as the 18-year-old now measures at least 15 centimeters taller and 10 kilograms heavier than the diminutive prodigy who made some of the world’s most difficult dives look effortless at her breakout Games debut in Tokyo.

    The pull of gravity, now, feels much stronger, while the control of her spins, velocity and entry angle takes more training and greater strength to perfect, Quan admitted. Errors on dives she never messed up before now happen more frequently, she added.

    “I’ve lost the feeling that I was used to when performing my dives,” Quan confessed last week during the World Aquatics Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing.

    It’s nothing new for teen talent in sports such as diving, gymnastics and artistic swimming. It’s just the resilience to accept it, embrace it and beat it that sets consistent, true winners apart from the short-term bloomers.

    Quan has braced herself for perhaps the biggest challenge of her career with a positive mindset.

    “I’ve grown a lot physically. The way my body moves has changed, so, naturally, I cannot re-adapt as quickly as I need to,” Quan said after finishing runner-up, beaten by her teammate Chen Yuxi, on the 10m platform at the Beijing super final.

    “I am OK with that, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job today.

    “I will work harder and add more fitness and strength training to my daily routine in order to help myself get used to my changing size. And, from there, I will try to perfect my dives again.”

    The silver finish at the Cup series’ season finale at the Water Cube on Saturday was Quan’s third consecutive loss to her close friend Chen, who is also her synchro event partner, since she outscored Chen by a small margin of merely 4.9 points from five rounds to retain her Olympic gold in Paris.

    In fact, since her international debut in 2021, Quan had never finished runner-up three times in a row across all the meets she’s ever contested in the Cup, world championships and Olympics.

    The flaw that cost Quan a career-first Super Final gold in Beijing remained the same 207C routine — a dive involving three-and-a-half backward flips — that has forced her to misjudge her entry angle twice before at the earlier Mexico and Canada legs of Cup series.

    Her coach Chen Ruolin, though, wasn’t so concerned about Quan’s ability to readjust.

    “It’s the natural process of puberty development that every teen athlete has to experience. She’s so talented, so demanding on herself, and always works harder.

    “I have full confidence in her ability to navigate through it,” said the coach, herself a legendary five-time Olympic champion, who overcame the same challenge.

    The healthy competition with her biggest rival and bestie outside the pool is helpful as well.

    Whatever happens in an individual competition, Quan said she feels free to always seek advice and comfort from Chen Yuxi whenever she has a bad day.

    And Chen Yuxi, who is two years Quan’s senior, feels likewise.

    “We are close to each other and talk about everything all the time. We always have each other’s back and support each other, no matter what,” said Chen Yuxi, who claimed three titles in a row on the Cup series to be named the “Best Female Diver of 2025”.

    Youth surge celebrated

    Boasting a strong roster of multiple Olympic and world champions, the host contingent completed a clean sweep of all nine gold medals up for grabs at the Super Final in Beijing, with the rise of some next-generation divers stealing the show at the iconic Olympic arena.

    In women’s 3m springboard, 20-year-old Chen Jia continued her winning streak from two earlier Cup legs, and clinched the title in Beijing with 382.05 points, edging her Olympic champion teammate Chen Yiwen into second place. Maddison Keeney of Australia and Chiara Pellacani of Italy followed as the third and fourth finishers.

    As a rookie to the Cup series, Chen Jia wrapped up her fruitful campaign with a huge confidence boost.

    “I am really happy with the gold, but I still need to learn a lot from others. I should say I was a slow learner to the new format of head-to-head competition. I found my familiar pace only during the final,” said the Sichuan province native, who was only selected into the national team at the end of last year.

    Young men’s 10m platform combo Zhu Zifeng and Cheng Zilong have emerged as surprising crowd pleasers, as they both scored perfect 10s in their attempts in the men’s individual final.

    Zhu earned five 10s from seven judges on his opening dive, and collected five 90-plus scores in six dives to win his first Super Final title and the Best Male Diver award.

    “I didn’t expect to win this gold medal, because I finished second at the two previous legs, but I also learned from that. I told myself to concentrate on my own techniques,” said the 22-year-old Zhu, who also bagged the synchronized gold with partner Cheng.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest made after firearms search in Risdon Park South

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A man has been arrested and woman reported after police located illicit drugs and a firearm.

    Around 11am on Wednesday 7 May, Port Pirie police attended a house in Risdon Park South and conducted a search.

    During this search, patrols located methamphetamine, GHB, drug paraphernalia, ammunition and a 3D printed firearm.

    A 42-year-old man from Risdon Park South was arrested and charged with possess a firearm without a licence and possess an unregistered firearm and his bail was refused.

    A 26-year-old woman from Risdon Park South was reported for possess ammunition without a licence, possess controlled drug and possess equipment to use with a controlled drug.

    She will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

    CO2500018788

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Haiti – MSF trauma hospital in Port-au-Prince nears its limits as fighting intensifies in Haiti’s capital

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Port-au-Prince, May 6, 2025 – Port-au-Prince is undergoing extremely high level of violence as armed groups are coordinating attacks on several areas of the city that were previously beyond their control.

    Plagued by years of political instability and an alarming humanitarian situation, Haiti has been experiencing a new upsurge in violence since mid-February as armed groups, united in a single coalition, attempt to increase their control of Port-au-Prince. Fighting is intensifying and the front lines are shifting, squeezing the last remaining districts of the capital.

    Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is warning that its Tabarre trauma hospital – one of the last in the capital is nearing the limits of its capacity. This would create an even more desperate situation for the city’s residents, whose access to surgical care would be considerably reduced.

    MSF’s Tabarre hospital is under great pressure, having already increased its capacity by half. The hospital is strained by the growing number of seriously injured people requiring treatment. Although the number of trauma beds is officially 50, the hospital regularly has over 70 trauma patients. Beyond the 75-patient limit, it will be virtually impossible to accept new cases.

    “The number of seriously injured patients has risen steadily over the past four weeks. Nearly 40% of them are women and children,” said Dr Seybou Diarra, coordinator of MSF’s Tabarre hospital. “We’re already overloaded, and we can’t push the walls. We are now creating hospital rooms in the meeting rooms. The medical teams are exhausted, and the intensification of violence around the hospital complicates the conduct of our activities, as we are located next to areas that are regularly under attack, with a high risk of stray bullets.”

    In this unprecedented context, where over 60% of health facilities in Port-au-Prince are closed or non-functional according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, those that remain open are facing severe shortages of human resources, equipment and specialized services. In just one month, the number of hospitals able to treat trauma cases has fallen from four to two.The Mirebalais University Hospital, one of the last hospitals capable of providing trauma care, suspended its activities on April 23 due to insecurity in the area, as it is located on a road now controlled by armed groups. MSF had to suspend its activities at its trauma center in Carrefour, following a security incident in March, while the Hôpital Universitaire de la Paix, which remains open, is overloaded.

    “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Haitians to access health facilities, and nearly impossible for those requiring trauma care,” explains Dr Diarra. “If the situation doesn’t calm down, I fear that many of the wounded will die for lack of available treatment.”

    MSF calls for the protection of civilians and respect for health facilities in combat zones.

    For over 30 years, MSF has been responding to the urgent medical needs of vulnerable populations in Haiti. In 2024, our teams carried out more than 72,000 consultations, treated 31,500 emergencies,performed 7,400 surgical procedures and assisted 1,300 births. Located in the most vulnerable areas of Port-au-Prince and beyond, we provide essential care, particularly in trauma, maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, and support for survivors of sexual violence.

    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  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Southern road police targeting red lights and mobile phones

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Southern road police targeting red lights and mobile phones

    Thursday, 8 May 2025 – 11:55 am.

    Southern Road Policing Services conducted a targeted traffic operation in central Hobart yesterday, focusing on road safety offences, including drivers disobeying red lights and using mobile phones while driving.
    Inspector Kathy Bennett said police were disappointed at the number of drivers who appeared to push the limits of red and orange traffic lights, failing to recognise the importance of stopping safely.
    “We remind all motorists that they have a brake pedal as well as an accelerator, and the decision to rush through a changing light could have serious consequences,” she said.
    Throughout the operation, officers detected and issued infringements for multiple offences:
    • 22 people were caught using mobile phones
    • 14 people were caught disobeying red lights
    • One driver was caught not wearing a seatbelt
    Inspector Bennett said these sorts of operations will continue to target dangerous driving behaviours.
    “We will continue conducting targeted operations to ensure motorists adhere to the law and prioritise safety,” she said.
    “If you’re on the roads, please follow the road rules, and avoid distractions while behind the wheel.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Wang falls to Rakhimova in Italian Open first round

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

    Chinese tennis player Wang Xinyu suffered a straight-set loss to Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova in the first round of the WTA Italian Open on Wednesday.

    According to the original draw, Wang was scheduled to face former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round. However, Vondrousova withdrew ahead of the match due to a shoulder injury, and her spot was taken by Rakhimova.

    Wang and Rakhimova had previously met in January during the final round of qualifying at the WTA 500 Adelaide, where Wang claimed victory. This time around, it was Rakhimova who came out on top, winning 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 32 minutes.

    In the first set, the two players exchanged breaks in the opening stage, leveling the score at 2-2. However, Wang then lost rhythm and ultimately dropped the set 6-3.

    In the second set, the players traded breaks early to reach 1-1 before Rakhimova took command, winning four consecutive games. Wang briefly halted her opponent’s momentum by holding serve in the seventh game to make it 5-2, but Rakhimova served out the match comfortably at 6-2.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia card acquiring market to hit $700 billion in 2025 as growth set to slow amid global uncertainty, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    The Australian card acquiring market is projected to grow by 5.5% to reach AUD1.1 trillion ($713.4 billion) in 2025. Despite this growth, global economic uncertainty linked to recent US tariffs may weigh on momentum, slowing the pace of expansion compared to previous years of stronger performance driven by cashless trends and consumer spending, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Merchant Acquiring Analytics reveals that the card acquiring value in Australia registered a growth of 7.5% in 2024, driven by the rise in consumer spending and increasing consumer preference for cashless transactions. However, the current global uncertainty because of latest US tariffs can pose a challenge for the Australia’s overall economic growth, which is expected to impact even payment industry resulting a slower growth in card acquiring value in 2025.

    Asha Lalitha, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Domestic transactions with Australian-issued cards dominate the acquiring space in the country, accounting for over 97% of the total value of acquiring transactions. Well-established card acceptance infrastructure, nearly-100% banking population, and the burgeoning e-commerce market are all contributing to this.”

    The number of POS terminals per one million inhabitants in Australia rose from 36,012 in 2020 to 40,055 in 2025. In addition to the traditional POS terminals, companies are offering POS solutions designed to target SMEs. For instance, Fiserv launched “Clover” POS solution in March 2025, especially targeting SMEs operating in the hospitality, service, and retail sectors.

    Debit cards accounted for 59% of the total domestic card acquiring value in 2024. Credit and charge cards, on the other hand, accounted for 75.3% share in the total foreign card acquiring value, supported by high usage of foreign issued credit and charge cards for purchases of goods and services in Australia both online and in-person.

    Traditional banks such as Commonwealth Bank (CommBank), Westpac, and National Australian Bank held significant share in Australia’s card acquiring space, accounting for around 60% of total acquiring value in 2024. CommBank is the leading operator in the Australian merchant acquiring market. The bank offers a wide range of POS terminals, including mobile POS terminals. In May 2023, CommBank rolled out the Smart Mini reader for small businesses, enabling them to accept all types of card payments. The terminals are equipped with features such as surcharging, tipping, and digital receipts.

    In addition to banks, non-bank financial institutions such as Tyro, Worldline, and Fiserv also have a presence in the acquiring space in the country.

    Asha concludes: “The Australian card acquiring market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%, reaching AUD1.3 trillion ($866.7 billion) by 2029. This growth is supported by strong consumer awareness of digital payments, wider merchant acceptance, and a rising preference for contactless and e-commerce transactions.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with ABC News Breakfast

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

    James Glenday, Host: On federal politics, Don Farrell joins us now from Parliament House. Don, good morning and welcome back to News Breakfast.

    Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Good morning, James.

    Glenday: On the final sitting day, could you have imagined returning to Canberra knowing that you’d knocked off the Liberal Party’s leader, Peter Dutton, and the leader of The Greens, Adam Bandt as well?

    Minister Farrell: Well, the truth is, James, I don’t think anybody could have predicted that. I was confident, based on the work that we’d done over the previous three years, especially in my space, of trade, that we would be returned and returned with a majority. But even I couldn’t believe the results as they came in on Saturday night. I think the Greens have suffered because so many times in the last Parliament they blocked sensible policies of the Albanese Government. They voted with the Coalition in the Senate to block, for instance, legislation on housing, sensible housing policy, and I think they’ve paid the political price for that.

    Glenday: This outcome must be deeply satisfying for you. Personally, I just wonder, have you ever felt so satisfied after an election win? Where does this rank? Is it the sweetest victory, almost a fairytale for Labor?

    Minister Farrell: Look, it doesn’t, doesn’t get any better than this, James. When you’ve been involved in politics as long as I have, this has to be the sweetest victory of all.

    Glenday: There you go. Now there’s a trade war happening. I’m not sure where you’re going to end up, but if you are reinstalled as Trade Minister, you’ll have a lot on your plate. Do you know where you’ll head?

    Minister Farrell: First of all, look, we’ve got a number of objectives that we will need to prosecute and prosecute very quickly. On election night I got messages from my European colleagues, they’re very keen to re-engage and have another crack at an EU free trade agreement. The EU has 450 million people, and a $17 trillion economy. They’ll be very important if we can get a breakthrough there. The Indians also contacted me. We were very close to a new free trade agreement with them and I think we can move very quickly now to finalise that agreement. And of course, in the next few weeks, our new free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, which sends all of our products into the UAE tariff free, will come into force and that will be important. And of course we, we want to continue discussions with the United States. We believe in free and fair trade and that’s the argument we’ll be prosecuting with them.

    Glenday: I think it’ll be closely watched. Do you expect to head to either China or to the States first?

    Minister Farrell: Look, we’ll worry about that after we know who the new Trade Minister is next week.

    Glenday: That’s fair.

    Minister Farrell: But we will move very quickly to ensure that Australia’s interests are protected here. China, of course, is our largest trading partner. We’re concerned about the tariff war between China and the United States. We believe in free and fair trade and we think that those tariffs should be removed on China.

    Glenday: Okay. You are a factional leader of the Labor right. You were once unkindly referred to as a faceless man. Of course you do have a face. And here you are speaking to us. What are you asking the Prime Minister for though? You’ve got a lot of influence as these Ministerial portfolios are carved up.

    Minister Farrell: A face that a mother could love. And they do call me other things too, by the way. That’s not the only thing they call me. Look, I’m not going to give the Prime Minister any advice on what he should do. He’s won a fabulous victory here. He ran a flawless campaign. His strategy throughout the whole of the last term was about getting reelected and continuing the policies that we took to the election. I’m very happy to leave it all to him and to accept whatever he might wish me to do in the new government.

    Glenday: Ok, just before I let you go, I want to get you on an international issue that’s been developing. Has the Albanese government made any contact with India or Pakistan regarding these cross border strikes we’re seeing?

    Minister Farrell: Look, that’s an issue of course, that is in the hands of our very competent and successful Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. But of course we don’t want to see any conflict in our region. We’d like to see an end to the conflict in the Middle East, the conflict in Ukraine, Russia, and we certainly don’t want to see any conflict in our own region.

    Glenday: And Don, just one last one. We saw smoke this morning from the Vatican. You went to the Pope’s funeral. I’m not sure what that was like, but do you have a personal preference of who the next Pope should be or the direction of the Catholic Church? I’m guessing this is outside the bounds of your factional influence.

    Minister Farrell: Well, as a matter of fact, James, I do have a personal favourite in the Conclave at the moment. And that is the Australian – Ukrainian Cardinal, Cardinal Bychok. I was lucky enough to meet with him twice while I was in Rome. He’s a very, very fine man. A very holy man. I’d like to see him as the next pope. My wife, on the other hand, who’s Filipino, she would like to see Cardinal Tagle as the next pope. And we also had the opportunity of meeting him at the Vatican. So, there’s a couple of candidates for you, James.

    Glenday: There you go. Well, we’ll have to wait and see if you’ve backed a winner there, Don Farrell, the Trade Minister. Perhaps the continuing Trade Minister. We’ll wait and see for that as well. Thank you so much for joining News Breakfast this morning.

    Minister Farrell: Thanks, James.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop, Canberra

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

    Journalist: Thank you for joining us. Congratulations on Labor’s win. Firstly, it’s removed two leaders, Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt, at the last count. How are you feeling about the landslide?

    Trade Minister, Don Farrell: Well, very positive. I think it’s a very positive endorsement of Prime Minister Albanese and the flawless campaign that he ran. He had a vision for Australia. I don’t think any of the other candidates from the other parties had that vision. I think the Australian people have now overwhelmingly endorsed Anthony Albanese’s vision for the future of Australia.

    Journalist: And the Labor caucus will meet here tomorrow. Will you remain as Trade Minister?

    Minister Farrell: Look, that’s entirely in the hands of the Prime Minister. I’ll be putting myself forward this afternoon and tomorrow for the ministerial positions. What job I get in that new ministry will be entirely in the hands of the Prime Minister. Obviously, I really like the job as Trade Minister and I’d like to continue. But I’m happy to serve Prime Minister Albanese in any way he thinks I should.

    Journalist: I believe you are safe. That has been confirmed as the leadership team will stay the same. Where would your first trip be?

    Minister Farrell: Well, that’ll be up to the Prime Minister. I know he has some plans to visit some countries and I’d be very happy to go with him if he wanted me to do that. On election night, I got messages from both the Europeans and the Indians indicating that they’re very keen to continue with the discussions to get free trade agreements. Obviously, we’ve got the UAE free trade agreement coming up in a few weeks that will allow all Australian products to go into the UAE tariff-free. So, we’re in the business of supporting free and fair trade and arguing wherever we can that the best interests of Australia and the rest of the world is served by free and fair trade.

    Journalist: How are we going securing a tariff carve out with the Trump administration?

    Minister Farrell: Look, we’re continuing to prosecute that argument. Obviously, we’ve been in caretaker mode for the last five weeks, but our Ambassador, of course, Kevin Rudd, is doing a really good job in the United States prosecuting the argument on our behalf and will continue to do that.

    Journalist: And a difficult time between the United States and China, are we making any headway? How do you plan to tackle that relationship going forward?

    Minister Farrell: Our argument is very simple. The way to prosperity is through free trade. Tariffs are the wrong way to go and I think we’ll quickly see in the United States that inflation goes up, unemployment goes up and the share market goes down. None of those are good for working people. We want to prosecute the argument with the United States with China that tariffs are not the way to go and both countries should remove their tariffs. Thank you.

    Journalist: Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Aggravated assault – Ludmilla

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a rock throwing incident in Ludmilla overnight.

    Around 10:20pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a brick had been thrown through a rear side window of a vehicle traveling outbound on Bagot Road near the entrance to Bagot Community.

    The vehicle was carrying 4 occupants, with a woman suffering a serious injury to her eye.

    Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the woman was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.

    The alleged offender is described as a male youth aged around 14-years-old. He allegedly fled with two other youths into Bagot Community.

    Patrols were conducted in the area and investigations into the identity of the offender remain ongoing.

    Detectives are urging anyone with information, particularly if you have dash-cam footage along Bagot Road yesterday evening , to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference number NTP2500047387. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Unemployment remains high under National

    Source:

    Job losses remain stubbornly high under National, as their attack on jobs, wages, and women rages on.

    “This is the cost of a Government that governs by cuts: more Kiwis out of work and leaving for Australia, crumbling hospitals, and a shortage of affordable housing,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “They’ve also completely abandoned women’s equality with their shameful move to scrap pay equity claims. Women still have more than double the rate of underemployment as men. National has betrayed women on both fronts: jobs and wages.

    “These weak workforce numbers are the result of Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon’s disastrous choices. They chose to scrap housing and infrastructure projects that our communities rely on. They chose to lay off thousands of public servants. They chose to weaken worker protections and cancel pay equity claims.

    “In the March 2025 quarter, 45,000 fewer New Zealanders were employed full-time, compared with the March 2024 quarter. We continue to lose thousands of construction jobs. Women’s unemployment also remains higher than the national average at 5.3%.

    “And as if high unemployment isn’t bad enough, Nicola Willis’ slash-and-burn Budget next week promises even more pain for Kiwis.

    “They’ve refused to rule out cuts to KiwiSaver and Best Start and they’re scrapping pay equity claims, all to fund tax cuts for landlords and handouts for tobacco companies. It’s outrageous that in their crusade for Budget surplus they’re taking it from women, families, and retirees.

    “Labour believes in rebuilding an economy that works for everyone, with well-paying jobs, quality healthcare, and affordable housing. We are fighting for equal pay and stronger protection for workers,” Barbara Edmonds said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New tool to fast-track ovarian cancer diagnosis

    Source:

    08 May 2025

    A woman’s chances of surviving ovarian cancer at least five years after diagnosis come down to the toss of a coin: just 49% will reach that milestone, making it one of the most lethal reproductive cancers worldwide.

    One of the reasons for the high mortality rate is late-stage diagnosis and delayed treatment due to nonspecific symptoms that are often missed by healthcare professionals and women themselves.

    University of South Australia postdoctoral researcher, Dr Amanda Lumsden, with a transdisciplinary team, is hoping to rectify this by co-designing a user-friendly symptom assessment tool for ovarian cancer, thanks to a $45,087 Catalyst grant from Health Translation SA (HTSA).

    Via an online ovarian cancer symptom scoping survey, researchers will gather feedback from people with lived experience of ovarian cancer (as well as clinicians) to help develop a prototype symptom assessment tool. The tool will detail potential symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer and will lay the groundwork for a larger study to test how well the prototype performs.

    Dr Lumsden, a Research Fellow based in UniSA’s Australian Centre for Precision Health, says that unlike mammograms and cervical screening tests that help detect breast and cervical cancer at an early stage, there are no public screening programs for picking up ovarian cancer early.

    “Women with ovarian cancer may experience nonspecific symptoms for up to two or more years before the tumour becomes clinically apparent, and often do not connect these symptoms with cancer,” Dr Lumsden says. “By then, the tumour has usually progressed to an advanced stage.”

    “Abdominal issues, including bloating, pain and loss of appetite are red flags. If there is a family history of ovarian cancer, this should also be considered. Some other factors are linked to lower risk, such as having children, and having ever used oral contraceptives.

    “We are hoping to identify common symptoms, patterns and themes experienced by people who have experienced an ovarian cancer diagnosis and use these findings to inform the development of the tool.”

    “This is a very exciting avenue of research, and an important first step in a larger program of work,” says Professor Elina Hyppönen, who leads the group. If we can find a way to identify high risk women at an earlier stage, this can increase the available treatment options, and hopefully help to ensure better treatment outcomes.”

    The online ovarian cancer symptom scoping survey is open until 20 June. Take the survey here:

     https://unisasurveys.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3KuR3ohn99UX48K

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au

    Researcher contact: Dr Amanda Lumsden E: amanda.lumsden@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Inside the ACT’s Traffic Management Centre

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Staff monitor traffic flow on 30 screens, from over 130 CCTV cameras across Canberra.

    In brief:

    • The ACT has a Traffic Management Centre.
    • Centre staff monitor traffic flow around the territory and make changes to traffic signals as needed.
    • This article contains more about the traffic management process.

    The ACT’s Traffic Management Centre is the nerve centre for the road network.

    For 12 hours a day, centre staff monitor traffic flow on 30 screens, from over 130 CCTV cameras.

    They make changes to traffic signals as needed. This helps reduce congestion and improve travel times for motorists.

    Staff work with a range of different people, including bus drivers and construction project managers, to do so.

    There are several major public and private construction projects underway in the city. The Centre plays an integral role in ensuring motorists, pedestrians and cyclists get where they need to safely and efficiently.

    Traffic Management Centre insights

    • Fewer people are on the roads on Mondays and Fridays.
    • Wednesdays are the busiest day on the roads.
    • Peak travel times on weekdays are from 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6pm. If you can, it’s best to try to travel outside of this time.
    • Routes into the western side of the city, including Edinburgh Avenue and Marcus Clarke Street, are particularly busy in the morning and evening peak times. Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes where possible.

    Keeping Canberrans informed

    Hundreds of Bluetooth ‘sniffers’ on the road network also give live anonymous travel time data to the centre.

    This data is then placed on variable message signs, including on the Monaro Highway and Tuggeranong Parkway.

    They state how long it will take to get to the city via different routes.

    Centre staff are always prepared to respond and coordinate with relevant agencies in case of:

    • an accident
    • a vehicle breakdown
    • a special event
    • congestion
    • debris on the road
    • hazards related to weather.

    Stay up to date on travel changes in the city at the Built for CBR website.

    Read more like this

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech at the AML Summit 2025

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Good morning and a warm welcome to everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here.

    Let me start by thanking AML Solutions for giving me the opportunity to speak on the 10th anniversary of the AML Summit. 

    I know you have a busy and interesting schedule to look forward to over the next couple of days.  This year’s conference theme is aptly named “The evolution of Risk”.  I understand that the presentations will focus on supporting reporting entities to understand what best-practice compliance looks like under a reformed risk-based and flexible AML/CFT system. 

    This theme is future-focused – and touches on issues I have spent a lot of time thinking about and planning for since becoming responsible for the AML/CFT portfolio in my role as Associate Minister of Justice. 

    You will likely know that last year Cabinet approved my plans for an AML/CFT reform programme.  The objectives of legislative reform are to meet the objectives this government committed to in our coalition agreement: and that is to tackle organised crime and cut red tape.

    How can New Zealand reform AML/CFT regulation to reduce burden on industry and support a common-sense approach to compliance; while still ensuring we are well placed to tackle organised crime and protect our international reputation as a trusted place to do business? 

    How do we equip ourselves to deal with new and emerging challenges and threats in this space?  How can we harness new technologies to help us fight crime more effectively and make it easier and cheaper for businesses to defend themselves against money laundering? 

    How will we ensure that we, as a country, are doing our part in this inherently global fight – in a fractious world where the nexus of organised crime and international conflicts is growing? 

    Over the last year I have taken advice and considered many of the challenges facing the sector in detail.  Many of you in this room, or online, will have been involved in and contributed to this advice.  I am so grateful for your hard work and specialist contributions.  Your expertise is invaluable – it enables robust discussion and informed decision-making. 

    Now is the time to deliver on our coalition commitments.  The Act has now been in force for 11 years and we know the current system is not delivering as well as it could for New Zealanders, businesses, or for law enforcement. 

    This is because the laws and requirements are highly complex and not sufficiently risk based.  As a result, they can be repetitive and unnecessarily burdensome.  I have heard from many New Zealanders that the requirements are confusing, obstructive, and costly.

    Some of the examples they have given me illustrate how absurd these requirements can be. I ’ve heard from mothers who’ve told me they cannot open bank accounts for their child unless they are able to prove where their child lives. I’ve heard from elderly widows, who had relied on their husbands to take care of bills and are now unable to have a bank account in their own name because they have no written proof to say they live in their own home.  These are clear indications of how the system is failing to take a properly risk-based approach.

    Multiple reviews of the current system have also identified deficiencies that make it harder for the system to effectively deter and combat the criminal activity that we know is taking place in New Zealand. 

    At New Zealand’s latest mutual evaluation, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) reported on several strengths in the New Zealand system but also highlighted that there is room for significant improvement. 

    I know you will be aware that compliance with international standards is incredibly important for New Zealand’s global reputation and financial standing.  We know that FATF recommendations are now tougher, and that there are still many actions from our last evaluation that we need to address.  Regulatory reform is needed to ensure we do well at our next evaluation. 

    But let’s not belabour what we already know about the deficiencies. Let’s instead focus on opportunities for the future and what we can achieve through this reform programme.  To me, reform presents a great opportunity to enhance the strengths of our system, and to address identified concerns. 

    We know, for example, that the wider Financial Crime Group do excellent work, especially relating to asset recovery.  We only need to cast our eyes to very recent news stories – I’m thinking of the announcement last September of the highly successful operation against the Comanchero gang which saw $5.8 million worth of assets restrained – to know law enforcement across the system is working hard and achieving remarkable successes through their work.  A look at the latest Police annual report shows that over $72 million of assets were restrained from organised and financial crime, and 379 money laundering investigations resulted in prosecution.

    We also know there is sound domestic cooperation and coordination on monitoring possible terrorist financing – the FATF told us so, at our latest mutual evaluation. 

    The FATF have also noted that we are known internationally for our high-quality responsiveness to cooperation requests. 

    In other words, New Zealand already does lots of things well.  Our focus is therefore on improving the AML/CFT system to enhance these strengths.  Let’s enable the system and its actors to achieve the intended outcomes: to detect and deter money laundering and terrorism financing.

    This Government is about quality regulation.  We want regulation that achieves intended outcomes, regulation that makes sense and is workable for all.  This means getting rid of unnecessary red-tape– if regulation isn’t providing the results we are after, there is no point to it. 

    In the case of the AML/CFT system, regulation needs to contribute to the fundamental purpose of the system: tackling crime.  To do that effectively, we need an agile, streamlined system that is laser focussed on real risk. 

    A truly risk-based system will better enable law enforcement to crack down on organised crime by providing the financial intelligence needed to go after criminal organisations.  A truly risk-based system is more aligned with international obligations and standards.  A truly risk-based system will provide regulatory relief for lower risk businesses and the public.

    My reform programme, therefore, will be undertaken in three parts.  The first phase is already well-advanced and will deliver immediate regulatory relief via two bills – the first, the Statutes Amendment Bill, has already been reported back from Select Committee to the House of Representatives, and is likely to come into effect in the coming months.  The second, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill, is currently before select committee. 

    The changes made through these bills include removing both address verification requirements for many customers, and relaxing enhanced customer due diligence requirements for lower-risk trusts.  This will help make it easier for mums and dads to set up bank accounts for their kids, and easier for vulnerable kiwis – including the elderly – to get access to essential financial services. 

    This first set of reforms aims to make immediate changes, to make the AML/CFT system more risk-based and ease the regulatory burden on businesses.

    These changes alone already represent the most significant regulatory relief in the history of the AML/CFT regime.  But we do not intend to stop there.

    The second phase of changes focuses on structural reforms for the regime. Cabinet has agreed that, as part of these structural reforms, we will be implementing a single AML/CFT supervisor structure within the Department of Internal Affairs.  This will replace the current three-supervisor model. 

    This move will create a more efficient, effective, and risk-based supervisory structure – one that reduces unnecessary compliance costs for lower-risk businesses and transactions, removes the need for multi-supervisor coordination efforts – thereby reducing costs – and streamlines decision-making.

    A single supervisor can be more resource responsive to the ever-changing risk environment.  A single supervisor will be better able to deliver consistent and timely guidance to support reporting entities. 

    This will help to ensure that businesses have the confidence to take a more flexible approach to implementing their AML/CFT obligations and lower the barrier to accessing financial services for low-risk customers. 

    A single supervisor with overview of the wider AML/CFT environment will also be better able to look for and realise opportunities as they arise.  For example, I’m sure we all agree that there are opportunities and benefits to be gained in the digital identity and open banking areas.  In addition, the emergence of AI could herald improved, and more cost effective, electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) functions, risk assessments, and suspicious activity reporting.

    Everyone here will be aware that in a world of increasing demands, the AML/CFT system in New Zealand is currently underfunded.  My phase two structural reforms will also see us work towards introducing a sustainable funding model for the system. 

    The new hybrid funding model will establish an industry-levy.  I will ensure that this levy is designed in a way that distributes the costs in a risk appropriate and equitable way, so that it targets the highest risk sectors – such as large international banks – and does not place an undue burden on small businesses. 

    This hybrid funding model will provide sufficient resourcing for core regulatory functions and deliver substantial savings to the Crown.  This approach is in line with what has been done in other like-minded jurisdictions, like Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

    As part of the work on the funding model, a work programme and a National Strategy will be developed in partnership with industry and agreed by Cabinet to ensure that the system is focussed on industry priorities.  Any changes to the levy will also need to be informed by the AML/CFT National Strategy. 

    Now, I know that many of you in this room will have opinions and views on the approach we have taken to these structural reforms.  I look forward to engaging with you and drawing on your sector expertise as we get stuck into the detail of this change process.

    The structural changes in phase two of my reforms will result in an amendment Bill that I aim to have introduced by the middle of this year.  Officials are currently working on the details of developing and implementing the levy, but I expect that the earliest it would be in place is by 2027.

    The third phase of these reforms will deliver wider legislative changes to implement international standards outlined by the FATF.  This Bill will be introduced later in this Parliamentary term.

    Doing this international compliance work will have a natural flow on effect that improves New Zealand entities’ ability to carry on with business and sharpens our law enforcement tools.  Importantly, it includes amendments to provide further flexibility for businesses to take a more risk-based approach to their AML/CFT obligations.

    The work programme was designed to address specific areas that were identified through robust stakeholder consultation during the 2022 Statutory Review of the AML/CFT Act and further targeted engagement has been undertaken since then.

    I am aware there is room for improvement in other areas as well – and some of you may be disappointed that more statutory reforms are not currently being progressed. 

    In arriving at my current statutory reform programme, I have taken a pragmatic approach – the current fiscal environment dictates that we are smart and outcomes-focused with our reforms.  Right now, this means prioritising the changes that will give us the biggest bang for our buck in terms of regulatory relief, while ensuring compliance with international expectations and supporting law enforcement to tackle organised crime and delivering regulatory relief. 

    We need to prioritise this legislative work programme first to ensure that changes to the law are made and the system is properly set up to take a risk-based approach in time for our next mutual evaluation in 2028.  I am excited and proud that this reform programme is on track to deliver the most significant regulatory relief since the Act came into force in 2013.

    But, like you, I want to do more, if I can.  I am committed to look for opportunities to do just that, not only through reforms to legislation, but also through considering potential exemptions and regulations that will support a more risk-based AML/CFT system.

    I look forward to working with you all as we move forward with all the parts of this reform programme.  To me, the key to successfully strengthening the AML/CFT system through these reforms is collaboration and leveraging expertise in the sector. 

    I encourage you all to participate in consultation when these opportunities come up.  We need people with experience and knowledge to get involved – we need you.  I look forward to hearing your views on how we can make the laws work for you. 

    Thank you for having me today, it’s a pleasure to be here with you all.  Enjoy your time here at the conference.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –