NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-Evening Report: Peter Dutton strongly hints he’ll sack 36,000 public servants. Voters deserve to know what services will be affected

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

    Peter Dutton and his Coalition colleagues have dithered for several weeks on their plans for the Commonwealth public sector.

    While being upfront that public service jobs would be targeted, they’ve made numerous contradictory statements about the number of public servants who would be sacked if the Coalition wins the coming election.

    But Peter Dutton’s most recent comments confirm that he clearly wants to make significant cuts.

    And it’s hard to see how the sackings wouldn’t erode important front line services that many Australians depend on for help and support.

    36,000 jobs on the line

    This week the opposition leader declared the Coalition would achieve A$24 billion dollars in savings by reducing the size of the public service.

    He was unequivocal. The money would be clawed back over four years and would more than cover the Coalition’s promised $9 billion injection into Medicare.

    Dutton explicitly tied the $24 billion in savings to the 36,000 Commonwealth public servants who have been hired since the last election

    Under the Labor Party, there are 36,000 additional public servants, that’s at a cost of $6 billion a year, or $24 billion over the forward estimates. This program totals $9 billion over that period. So, we’ve well and truly identified the savings.

    While still not nominating a precise number of job cuts, it’s Peter Dutton’s clearest statement of intent to date. By “truly” identifying the savings, 36,000 jobs are on the line. And it accords with Dutton’s earlier comments that the extra workers are not providing value for money for Australian taxpayers.

    (They have) not improved the lives of Australians one iota

    While this sounds like he wants to dismiss them all, senior colleagues are more circumspect.

    According to Nationals leader David Littleproud, the number of job cuts has not yet been decided. Shadow Public Service Minister Jane Hume further muddied the waters by referring to the cuts being by attrition, and excluding frontline services.

    Frontline services

    The public service head count has grown to 185,343, as of June 2024. So cutting 36,000 staff, or even a large proportion of that number, would be a very significant reduction.

    The agencies that added the most public servants between June 2023 and June 2024 were the National Disability Insurance Agency (up 2,193), Defence (up 1,425), Health and Aged Care (up 1,173) and Services Australia (up 1,149).

    Many of these extra staff would be providing invaluable front line services to clients and customer who are accessing essential support.

    And some of the new public servants replaced more expensive outsourced workers. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has claimed the Albanese government has saved $4 billion of taxpayers’ money by reducing spending on consultants and contractors.

    Rather than the alleged explosion in the size of the bureaucracy, the growth in public service numbers has closely matched the increase in the population. Last year, they accounted for 1.36% of all employed persons, up by only a minuscule degree on the 1.35% in 2016.

    Canberra bashing

    According to Dutton, the 36,000 additional public servants hired under Labor all work in Canberra. It was not a slip of the tongue. The claim is also in the Liberal Party’s pre-election pamphlet.

    But only 37% of the public service workforce is located in the national capital. Half are based in state capitals. A full quarter of those involved in service delivery work in regional Australia.

    The Liberals clearly think they have nothing to lose among Canberra voters, given they have no members or senators from the Australian Capital Territory.

    The coming election will no doubt tell us if Canberra bashing still resonates with voters elsewhere in the country. Dutton has clearly made the political judgement that it does.

    Another night of the long knives?

    A change of government often precipitates a clean out at the top of the public service.

    When the Howard government was elected in 1996, no fewer than six departmental secretaries were sacked on the infamous night of the long knives. Then prime minister Tony Abbott dismissed four departmental chiefs in one fell swoop after taking office in 2013. He didn’t even consult his treasurer before dumping the head of Treasury.

    This pattern of culling senior public servants represents a chilling risk to good policy development. Departmental secretaries concerned about losing their jobs may be reluctant to give the “frank and fearless advice” their positions demand.



    Read more:
    After robodebt, here’s how Australia can have a truly ‘frank and fearless’ public service again

    Spending cuts after the election

    Voters are entitled to know what the Coalition has planned for the public service before they cast their ballots.

    The lack of detail on job losses is matched by a reluctance to outline spending cuts elsewhere. Dutton has ruled out an Abbott-style audit commission. He is prepared to cut “wasteful” spending, but won’t say if it may be necessary to also chop some worthwhile outlays to dampen inflationary pressures.

    Dutton is adamant that any spending cuts by a government he leads will be determined after the election, not announced before it. This does nothing for democratic accountability. It does not give the electorate the chance to cast their votes on the basis of an alternative vision from the alternative government.

    All Australians, not just public servants, deserve to know before polling day just how deep Dutton and the Coalition are really planning to cut.

    John Hawkins is a former public servant and lives in Canberra.

    – ref. Peter Dutton strongly hints he’ll sack 36,000 public servants. Voters deserve to know what services will be affected – https://theconversation.com/peter-dutton-strongly-hints-hell-sack-36-000-public-servants-voters-deserve-to-know-what-services-will-be-affected-250797

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Operating outside the system

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    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: SMSF auditor compliance focus for 2025

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Last year we had over 32,000 new funds enter the sector. This was an increase of 21% from 2022–23. The population of SMSFs has grown to over 625,000 and now holds over $1 trillion in assets.

    SMSF auditors have a critical role in maintaining the health and integrity of the sector, so it’s important you understand your obligations and where we consider the biggest risks exist in 2025. Where we find that auditors are not complying with their obligations, we may refer them to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) for further action.

    Market valuations

    Approved SMSF auditors are responsible for verifying and retaining sufficient audit evidence to support the market value of assets. Where there’s insufficient evidence you must consider modifying the independent auditor’s report (IAR). You must also lodge an auditor contravention report (ACR) where the reporting criteria is met.

    In 2024, the ATO contacted auditors where SMSFs they audited reported unchanged values for certain assets across several income years. In 2025, we will continue this program, including reviewing auditors where asset values remain the same and no ACR is lodged.

    High volume auditors

    In 2025, we will continue our focus on auditors who audit a large number of SMSFs. This includes auditors that regularly undertake over 1,000 audits per year or who have had a rapid increase in their audit numbers in recent years. We will be visiting auditors at their offices to review their audit process.

    Disqualified trustees

    Auditors must confirm that the trustees of the SMSF are not acting as a trustee or director of a corporate trustee while a disqualified person. In 2025, we are reviewing auditors where our information indicates trustees have acted while a disqualified person and no ACR has been lodged.

    High risk auditors

    We collect a range of data and intelligence about the SMSF auditor population. We use this information to identify auditors we consider high risk. We will continue to conduct audits of high-risk auditors and refer them to ASIC when they have not complied with their obligations.

    Auditors with low fixed price business models continue to be a concern for the ATO. These models inherently restrict the amount of time an auditor can spend on an audit and can lead to lower quality audits, particularly where the SMSF has more complex investments.

    Independence

    As an approved SMSF auditor, you’re required to comply with independence requirements as part of your professional obligations.

    Following an increase of referrals to ASIC in the last financial year that included independence issues, we’ll be focusing on auditors we consider high risk. This includes auditors:

    • conducting in-house audits
    • with reciprocal auditing arrangements
    • that have a long association with clients and
    • have a large proportion of their client base come from a single referral source.

    You need to ensure you’re meeting the independence requirements set out in APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional AccountantsExternal Link (including Independence Standards).

    For more information, see ato.gov.au/smsfauditors.

    Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ATO welcomes ANAO audit report on Governance of AI

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) welcomes the release of the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO’s) report on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the ATO. The ANAO’s report provided 7 recommendations, which the ATO agrees with in full, supporting our commitment to managing taxpayer data with integrity and ensuring ethical decision making in everything we do.

    Noting the rapidly changing nature of data and analytics, the ATO recognises the importance of robust governance, oversight, and accountability to support the development and use of analytical models that are ethical, safe and deliver fit for purpose outcomes.

    We take our responsibility around data ethics and data stewardship extremely seriously. The ATO only uses AI technologies in limited ways that recognise the importance of security, privacy, transparency and the ethical use of data with appropriate human oversight.

    The ATO appreciates the opportunity to assist the ANAO benchmark its approach to conducting similar AI use and governance audits in the future, as well as providing insights to other Australian Public Service (APS) agencies.

    We acknowledge what is considered leading practice for AI use and governance is still evolving and we will continue to not only strive to achieve leading practice, but also assist the broader APS. We are expanding our policies and guidance to reference AI more explicitly, noting our existing data and analytics (including data governance and ethics) and IT policies already broadly apply to our use of AI.

    Our approach will always focus on ensuring we have human oversight over our use of AI, and decision making that adversely impacts taxpayers is always made by a human.

    The ANAO report includes 7 recommendations which will assist the ATO in further strengthening our AI governance. The ATO has agreed to all 7 recommendations in full, and will continue to enhance our AI frameworks, focusing on:

    1. Improving alignment between our automation and AI (A&AI) strategy to meet enterprise-wide program and project management requirements.
    2. Clearly defining and communicating enterprise-wide organisational structures and governance arrangements supporting our adoption of AI, including defining accountabilities and responsibilities at the model and system level.
    3. Reviewing our ‘misuse of data and analytics’ enterprise risk and the associated controls, and explicitly incorporating controls relating to the impact of AI on this risk.
    4. Improving our arrangements in support of the design, development, deployment and use of AI that aligns with ethical principles.
    5. Progressing the development and implementation of AI specific policies and guidance to support the effective design, development, deployment and assurance of AI models.
    6. Establishing performance measurement and evaluation arrangements for our automation and AI strategy.
    7. Ensuring our approach to managing information supports transparency and accountability with respect to its adoption of AI.

    We will continue to implement and build on the recommendations identified to help us evolve and remain current in the face of rapidly advancing AI capability, and ensure we leverage AI in a safe way to create a better tax system for all Australians.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Creating a new USI

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Fund trustees, through a digital service provider, should submit the new product details as soon as possible before the new data is to take effect.

    When submitting details for a new USI, or updating bank details, it’s important to first lodge a Financial institution account verification contact details template through Online Services for Business. Once approved you’ll then be able to submit the details through the portal.

    Ensure all information is accurate and complete to avoid any processing delays. After submission, it’s important you verify the new USI has been correctly registered and is active.

    If you’re updating critical data, it’s best practice to provide these details immediately but at least 28 days before they become effective. This lead time allows gateways and clearing houses to adequately reflect the updated information.

    Updates to critical data include changes to:

    • bank details
    • end-point service address
    • end-dating.

    For more detailed information, refer to our Fund Validation Service User Guide

    Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroomOpens in a new window and subscribingOpens in a new window to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Small business boost measures risks

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Our focus

    If your business meets the standard aggregated annual turnover rules (with an increased $50 million threshold), you may be eligible to claim an additional 20% tax deduction under the:

    Small business skills and training boost

    The small business skills and training boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred from 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 until 30 June 2024. The expenditure must be for the provision of external training courses delivered to your employees by registered training providers.

    Small business technology investment boost

    The small business technology investment boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023. The boost is for business expenses and depreciating assets to help digitise your small business. It is capped at $100,000 of expenditure per income year. You can receive a maximum bonus deduction of $20,000 per income year.

    How to get it right

    We are seeing some small businesses incorrectly claim the boost measures due to errors or misunderstanding of the law.

    If you claimed either boost measure and believe you don’t meet the eligibility criteria or have made an error, we encourage you to amend your tax return.

    If you incorrectly claim, we may get in contact with you or your tax professional. If no action is taken, we may conduct a review and audit of your business.

    See how to avoid errors and claim correctly for the:

    Skills and training boost

    The errors we are seeing some small businesses make when claiming the skills and training boost include:

    If you are planning on claiming, ensure you meet the skills and training boost eligibility criteria, and check:

    • it’s for an expense that was incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2024
    • it’s for expenditure with a registered external training provider that is not you or an associate of yours
    • it’s for the provision of training to employees of your business, either in-person in Australia, or online
    • where you are a sole trader, the training is for your employees not yourself
    • the training is already deductible for your business.

    Example: claiming skills and training boost

    Maya and Jackson are directors and shareholders of Sports Academy Pty Ltd. The company has no employees.

    Sports Academy Pty Ltd spend $6,240 on a bookkeeping training course with a registered training provider for Maya. Sports Academy Pty Ltd claim a 20% ($1,248) skills and training boost deduction on its 2022–23 company tax return.

    However, because Maya is not an employee of the company, Sports Academy Pty Ltd is not eligible to claim the skills & training boost deduction. The deduction they claimed is disallowed.

    Sports Academy Pty Ltd must amend their company tax return to exclude the skills and training boost deduction. This adjustment increases the company’s taxable income, leading to a higher tax liability for the 2023 income year.

    Sports Academy Pty Ltd lodge an amended company tax return. It reflects the corrected taxable income. They later receive a notice of assessment, which shows an adjusted tax liability for the 2023 income year.

    End of example

    Technology investment boost

    The errors we are seeing some small businesses make when claiming the technology investment boost include:

    • expenses not meeting definition of eligible digital expenditure
    • exceeding annual turnover threshold requirement
    • claims exceeding the cap on expenditure
    • claims by businesses with no reported depreciating assets
    • incorrectly claiming over multiple years.

    If you are planning on claiming, ensure you meet the technology investment boost eligibility criteria, and check:

    • it’s for an expense that was incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023.
    • it’s for expenditure of business expenses or depreciating assets (or both) to help digitise your small business
    • the expense is already deductible for your business.

    Example: claiming technology investment boost

    Sami, Omar and Leila are directors of a private company. It supplies pharmaceutical products to retailers and other businesses.

    In May 2022 the directors of Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd decide to:

    • purchase an electronic point-of-sale system and accounting software, at a cost of $30,000. This is to improve record keeping and better understand their business. It will be used from 1 July 2022
    • invest in a cyber security system and plan from 1 July 2022 to move to a digital record keeping system. It will cost $40,000 to start and $5,000 a year for updates and maintenance
    • modernise their website and implement a mobile app, which will go live in September 2022, at a cost of $40,000.

    Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd has spent $110,000 on eligible costs in the 2023 income year. Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd claims a $22,000 tech investment boost deduction for 2022–23.

    However, due to the $100,000 cap on eligible business expenses and depreciating assets, or $20,000 per income year, Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd has incorrectly claimed $2,000 more than allowed.

    Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd must amend its 2022–23 company tax return. It must reduce the technology investment boost deduction. This adjustment increases the company’s taxable income, leading to a higher tax liability for the 2023 income year.

    Pharmacy Supplies Pty Ltd lodges an amended company tax return, reflecting the corrected taxable income. They later receive a notice of assessment, which shows an adjusted tax liability for the 2023 income year.

    End of example

    Keep up to date

    Learn more by taking our free self-paced online courses at:

    You can also:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Statement on Reckless Firings at Togus Medical Center

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the following statement following the termination of seven employees at Togus Medical Center; five of whom are veterans themselves:
    “I am deeply troubled by the news from Togus that seven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Maine probationary staffers were terminated yesterday — five of whom are veterans themselves. These firings appear arbitrary and without any strategic thinking; these men and women were fired simply because of their probationary status, not because of their job performance. These employees worked as police dispatchers, managed logistics, and served in the Veterans Experience Office. All these roles play a critical part in delivering the care and support our veterans earned and deserve. Without a police dispatcher, there will not be someone to connect police and first responders as they respond to emergencies at Togus. Without logistics staff, there will not be anyone to distribute incoming supply orders; meaning medical departments across the hospital won’t have timely access to the supplies they need.
    “At a time when Maine’s veteran population needs are on the rise, now is not the time for us to ask the hard working staff of the VA to do more with less. The fact that the majority of the Togus firings are veterans themselves adds insult to injury as they work to deliver care to those who served.”
    The news comes as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has dismissed 1,000 probationary federal employees and announced plans to cut an additional 1,400 probationary employees in a second round of layoffs — all part of the current Administration’s efforts to trim the federal workforce. Additionally, job cuts across federal agencies are disproportionally impacting veterans who make up nearly 30% of the federal workforce. In back-to-back joint hearings this week of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), Senator King sounded the alarm on the detrimental impact these reckless firings will have on veteran care and support.
    Earlier today at the joint House/Senate hearing, Senator King voiced his wider concern of the VA purge in his opening comments before laying out his policy priorities to The American Legion witness, urging veterans to report of any shortcomings that arise due to the firings:
    “We have had 2,400 firings in the last two weeks. Do not forget we had a hiring freeze and with normal attrition, we probably lost another 2,000 people, so we are talking about almost 5,000 people out of the VA Service. It bothers me when people talk about bureaucrats. They say we will protect the doctors and the direct service workers, but if nobody is in there to answer the phone when a veteran calls for an appointment, that is a denial of benefits. And so this idea that bureaucrats are not important really galls me. The Secretary said, ‘after all of these cuts, veterans will notice a change for the better.’ It reminds me of the old country song, ‘who will you believe, me or your own lying eyes.’ I want you to tell us what is actually happening.”
    Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Earlier this month, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. Previously, Senator King introduced the Lethal Means Safe Storage for Veteran Suicide Prevention Act to provide firearm storage to veterans in an effort to reduce suicides among the veteran population. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. This week, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Young creative and artists invited to enter 2025 Raw Arts Awards

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    Entries are now open for the 2025 RAW Arts Awards aimed at young people living, studying, or working primarily in Greater Bendigo who are aged 25 and under.

    The awards are offered across four categories: Visual Arts, Literature, Performing Arts and Short Film, with prizes of $1,500 for winners and $500 for highly commended.

    Works submitted for the awards will also be featured in an exhibition and showcase.

    Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the RAW Arts Awards first started 28 years ago.

    “The awards illustrate the City of Greater Bendigo’s commitment to fostering the talents and artistic pursuits of young people in the region,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “RAW is a great platform to encourage and support artmaking so that talented young artists, writers, performers, and film makers can explore and grow their creativity.

    “Many past winners are now practising professionals in the creative arts industries.”

    Last year’s RAW Awards attracted 88 entries from artists aged from 7 to 25. Over 200 people attended the presentation and showcase at The Capital, and 270 people visited the RAW Arts exhibition at Dudley House.

    Entries for the RAW Arts Awards close on Monday May 5, 2024. The awards will be announced and presented on Thursday June 5 at The Capital.

    For any queries about the application requirements, please email:

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Quantum navigation could transform how we travel. So what is it, and how does it work?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allison Kealy, Director, Innovative Planet Institute, Swinburne University of Technology

    Triff/Shutterstock

    Quantum technology is no longer confined to the lab – it’s making its way into our everyday lives. Now, it’s about to transform something even more fundamental: how we navigate the world.

    Imagine submarines travelling beneath the ocean, never needing to surface for location updates. Planes flying across continents with unshakeable precision, unaffected by signal disruptions.

    Emergency responders could navigate smoke-filled buildings or underground tunnels with flawless accuracy, while autonomous vehicles chart perfect courses through dense urban environments.

    These scenarios might sound like science fiction, but they can all be made possible with an emerging approach known as quantum navigation.

    This game-changing tech will one day redefine movement, exploration and connectivity in ways we’re only just beginning to imagine. So, what is it?

    Satellite navigation is at the heart of many things

    Global navigation satellite systems, like GPS, are deeply embedded in modern society. We use them daily for navigation, ordering deliveries and tagging photo locations. But their impact goes far beyond convenience.

    Timing signals from satellites in Earth’s orbit authenticate stock market trades and help balance the electricity grid. In agriculture, satellite navigation guides autonomous tractors and helps muster cattle.

    Emergency services rely on navigation satellite systems for rapid response, reducing the time it takes to reach those in need.

    Despite their benefits, systems like GPS are quite vulnerable. Satellite signals can be jammed or interfered with. This can be due to active warfare, terrorism or for legitimate (or illegitimate) privacy concerns. Maps like GPSJAM show real-time interference hotspots, such as those in the Middle East, areas around Russia and Ukraine, and Myanmar.

    The environment of space isn’t constant, either. The Sun regularly ejects giant balls of plasma, causing what we know as solar storms. These emissions slam into Earth’s magnetic field, disrupting satellites and GPS signals. Often these effects are temporary, but they can also cause significant damage, depending on the severity of the storm.

    An outage of global navigation satellite systems would be more than an inconvenience – it would disrupt our most critical infrastructure.

    Estimates suggest a loss of GPS would cost just the United States economy about US$1 billion per day (A$1.5 billion), causing cascading failures across interconnected systems.

    Quantum navigation to the rescue

    In some environments, navigation signals from satellites don’t work very well. They don’t penetrate water or underground spaces, for example.

    If you’ve ever tried to use Google Maps in a built-up city with skyscrapers, you may have run into issues. Tall buildings cause signal reflections that degrade accuracy, and signals are weakened or completely unavailable inside buildings.

    This is where quantum navigation could step in one day.

    Quantum science describes the behaviour of particles at scales smaller than an atom. It reveals mind-boggling effects like superposition – particles existing in multiple states simultaneously – and entanglement (when particles are connected through space and time in ways that defy classical understanding).

    These effects are fragile and typically collapse under observation, which is why we don’t notice them in everyday life. But the very fragility of quantum processes also lets them work as exquisite sensors.

    A sensor is a device that detects changes in the world around it and turns that information into a signal we can measure or use. Think automatic doors that open when we walk near them, or phone screens that respond to our touch.

    Quantum sensors are so sensitive because quantum particles react to tiny changes in their environment. Unlike normal sensors, which can miss weak signals, quantum sensors are extremely good at detecting even the smallest changes in things like time, gravity or magnetic fields.

    Their sensitivity comes from how easily quantum states change when something in their surroundings shifts, allowing us to measure things with much greater accuracy than before.

    This precision is critical for robust navigation systems.

    Our team is researching new ways to use quantum sensors to measure Earth’s magnetic field for navigation. By using quantum effects in diamonds, we can detect Earth’s magnetic field in real time and compare the measurements to pre-existing magnetic field maps, providing a resilient alternative to satellite navigation like GPS.

    Since magnetic signals are unaffected by jamming and work underwater, they offer a promising backup system.

    A quantum magnetometer used in our research.
    Swinburne University/RMIT/Phasor

    The future of navigation

    The future of navigation will integrate quantum sensors to enhance location accuracy (via Earth’s magnetic and gravitational fields), improve orientation (via quantum gyroscopes), and enable superior timing (through compact atomic clocks and interconnected timekeeping systems).

    These technologies promise to complement and, in some cases, provide alternatives to traditional satellite-based navigation.

    However, while the potential of quantum navigation is clear, making it a practical reality remains a significant challenge. Researchers and companies worldwide are working to refine these technologies, with major efforts underway in academia, government labs and industry.

    Startups and established players are developing prototypes of quantum accelerometers (devices that measure movement) and gyroscopes, but most remain in early testing phases or specialised applications.

    Key hurdles include reducing the size and power demands of quantum sensors, improving their stability outside of controlled laboratory settings, and integrating them into existing navigation systems.

    Cost is another barrier – today’s quantum devices are expensive and complex, meaning widespread adoption is still years away.

    If these challenges can be overcome, quantum navigation could reshape everyday life in subtle but profound ways. While quantum navigation won’t replace GPS overnight, it could become an essential part of the infrastructure that keeps the world moving.

    Allison Kealy is affiliated with Quantum Australia as a board member.

    Allison Kealy is a research collaborator with RMIT University and Phasor Quantum.

    – ref. Quantum navigation could transform how we travel. So what is it, and how does it work? – https://theconversation.com/quantum-navigation-could-transform-how-we-travel-so-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work-250285

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ACCC authorises major supermarkets to continue cooperation on soft plastics recycling

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC has granted authorisation with conditions to the major supermarkets Coles Group, Woolworths Group and ALDI Stores, to continue their collaboration to recycle stockpiled soft plastics and implement the pilot in-store collection program until 31 July 2026.

    The ACCC first authorised this collaboration granting interim authorisation in November 2022, following the collapse of REDcycle, which operated a nationwide soft plastics collection and recycling program.

    “Our decision today allows the supermarkets to continue working together to process the remaining REDcycle legacy stockpiles,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

    “Whilst it is encouraging to see that some progress is now being made as processing capacity improves, the ACCC expects that the supermarkets will continue to prioritise stockpile remediation efforts to prevent further delays.”

    The ACCC has decided to impose the same reporting conditions as the previous authorisation, requiring the major supermarkets to provide the ACCC with quarterly progress reports and minutes of each meeting of the Soft Plastics Taskforce. These reports and minutes will be published on the ACCC’s public register.

    It is also a condition that all arrangements must immediately stop when the authorisation expires or is revoked.

    “This is a significant issue for many consumers, so continued transparency about what progress the supermarkets are making in their processing of the soft plastic stockpiles is important,” Mr Keogh said.

    Authorisation will also allow the soft plastics instore collection pilot program to continue operating in Victoria and New South Wales and expand to other areas.

    “It has been encouraging to see the pilot program expand under the current interim authorisation,” Mr Keogh said.

    “Whilst we recognise that further expansion needs to be in line with available processing capacity, the ACCC expects that the supermarkets will continue with some urgency to expand these operations so that more consumers have the option of recycling their soft plastics.”

    The ACCC’s authorisation is also subject to a new condition to prevent the major supermarkets from restricting recycling or logistic providers from supplying services to another customer.

    Following the ACCC’s draft determination proposing to grant authorisation in December 2024, the ACCC received a small number of submissions, some of which were supportive while others called for broader involvement of the supermarkets in developing industry solutions to soft plastics.

    The ACCC understands that any long-term soft plastics solution, whether in the form of an industry-led stewardship scheme or otherwise, is likely to be the subject of a separate, future application for authorisation and considers that the proposed conditions by interested parties are outside the scope of this authorisation.

    Today’s authorisation does not include authorisation for any conduct of the supermarkets and their program partners with respect to any proposed stewardship scheme.

    More information about the application including a copy of the decision is available here on  the ACCC’s website.

    Note to editors

    ACCC authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act (CCA).

    Section 91 of the CCA allows the ACCC to grant interim authorisation when it considers it is appropriate and in the public benefit. This allows the parties to engage in proposed conduct while the ACCC is considering the merits of the substantive CCA authorisation application.

    Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.

    Background

    REDcycle was an industry-led return-to-store soft plastics collection and recycling program developed and operated by RG Programs and Services Pty Ltd. The major supermarkets partnered with REDcycle to provide collection points for consumers to return their soft plastics instore for collection by REDcycle for processing into durable recycled plastic products.

    On 8 November 2022, REDcycle announced the indefinite suspension of its soft plastics collection program as its recycling partners had temporarily stopped accepting and processing soft plastics. Following REDcycle’s announcement, Coles and Woolworths each announced the suspension of soft plastic collections from their stores until further notice.

    The supermarkets sought authorisation from the ACCC in November 2022 to enable them to collaborate to consider and develop solutions for the recycling of soft plastics. The ACCC’s interim authorisation on 25 November 2022 led to the establishment of the Soft Plastics Taskforce, chaired by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    On 26 February 2023, the supermarkets assumed responsibility for the REDcycle stockpiles. It was later reported that approximately 11,000 tonnes of soft plastics had been stockpiled in over 44 locations. REDcycle’s parent company was declared insolvent on 27 February 2023 with a liquidator appointed.

    The ACCC granted authorisation on 30 June 2023 for a period of 12 months to allow the supermarkets to collaborate with the Soft Plastics Task force to process the soft plastic stockpiles.

    On 18 July 2024, the ACCC granted interim authorisation for substantially the same conduct authorised on 30 June 2023 while the ACCC considered the merits of the substantive application.

    As part of the authorisation the supermarkets must submit a quarterly progress report to the ACCC. The 22 January 2025 Progress Report provided by the supermarkets details the level of stockpiles remaining in each state and territory:

    • Victoria current stockpiles are approximately 2,200 tonnes
    • NSW current stockpiles are approximately 1,700 tonnes
    • South Australia current stockpiles are approximately 3,500 tonnes

    Processing of stockpiles in Queensland and Western Australia has been completed.

    The supermarkets report that as at end of December 2024, 45 tonnes of soft plastics have been collected through the instore collection pilot program, which is now operating in 107 stores across New South Wales and Victoria.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Independent experts selected to advise Government on investments from Regional Development Trust

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Independent experts selected to advise Government on investments from Regional Development Trust

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional NSW

    Six independent experts across regional and rural economics, primary industries, natural resources, and Aboriginal economic development have been appointed to help guide the NSW Government as it invests in new regional businesses and job creation projects throughout NSW.

    The NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust and its Advisory Council are part of the Minns Labor Government’s long-term commitment to regional NSW, jobs creation and businesses development and a direct response to a decade of pork barrelling and poor decision making by the previous National Liberal Government.

    The 2025 Regional Development Advisory Council has been appointed by the Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, to ensure regional and rural communities continue to be placed at the centre of government investment decision making.

    Through the Advisory Council the Minns Government has restored integrity to how government funds are used, ensuring they reflect the needs of regional communities and deliver real outcomes.

    The Council provides independent and strategic advice to support investment decisions made from the Regional Development Trust, ensuring independent oversight and transparency for the allocation of public funds.

    Since the Regional Development Trust was announced in September 2023 more than $37 million has been invested in strategic initiatives that are evidence-based, meet regional needs and achieve real outcomes for communities, including:

    • $15 million to upgrade airstrips in Deniliquin, Bourke and White Cliffs to future proof access to essential services in these communities.
    • $10 million to improve workforce participation in Western NSW by supporting increased childcare availability and service upgrades in Bourke, Broken Hill and Cobar.
    • $5 million to support Aboriginal businesses and organisations in regional NSW to expand and reach their potential, delivering improved economic and employment outcomes.
    • $5 million for alow interest loans pilot program to enable eligible small and medium enterprises in the food and beverage manufacturing sectors to increase productivity and create jobs in regional NSW.
    • $2 million to support the continuation of subsidised commercial flights to Cobar, Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge.

    In addition, a further $50 million is currently being assessed to fund regional projects and programs. Successful applicants will be announced within the coming months following advice from the new Advisory Council.

    The 2025 Advisory Council members have been appointed for a 12-month term following an extensive public expression of interest process.

    Regional Development Advisory Council members

    Professor Alison Sheridan – Chairperson  

    Professor Alison Sheridan is Emeritus Professor at the University of New England (UNE). Professor Sheridan holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney and PhD in Management from the University of New England (UNE).

    Professor Sheridan has been based in regional NSW for 35 years and was previously head of UNE’s Business School. In this role, she led the establishment of the UNE Smart Region Incubator and co-led the development of the Master of Economic and Regional Development course.

    Alison Stone – Member

    Alison Stone is an executive leader with 40 years’ experience working across rural and regional communities in the public sector, board and advisory roles. Ms Stone specialises in land and infrastructure management and development, fire and emergency management and primary industries at state and national levels. Ms Stone is also the first statutory Agriculture Commissioner for NSW.  

    David Harding – Member

    David Harding is Executive Director at Business NSW. In this role, he provides leadership and a voice to businesses across metropolitan and regional NSW.  Mr Harding is experienced in policy and major projects development working with all three levels of government.

    Dianna Somerville – Ex-Officio member

    Dianna Somerville is Chairperson of Regional Development Australia Riverina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian Defence Force Academy University of New South Wales.

    Mrs Somerville has extensive experience working across the public and not-for-profit sectors including with defence industries.

    Phil Usher – Member

    Phil Usher is a Wiradjuri man, born and raised on Gomeroi Country. 

    Mr Usher is the CEO of First Nations Foundation, which works to build capacity and financial prosperity of Aboriginal organisations, businesses and communities. 

    Thomas McKeon – Member

    Thomas McKeon is an accomplished professional with over 40 years of experience in the agriculture, asset, and investment management industries.

    Based in South East NSW, and having strong connections to regional areas and communities, Mr McKeon has an extensive background in senior and executive management roles both in Australia and internationally.

    For more information visit the Regional Development Advisory Council webpage.

    Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

    “The Regional Development Advisory Council and the Regional Development Trust Fund ensure NSW Government investments are made where they are needed most in regional NSW.”

    “The 2025 Advisory Council members have been appointed following an extensive public expression of interest process. I congratulate all the members on their appointment and look forward to working with them for the next year.”

    “I’d also like to congratulate the Interim Council who helped steer the Trust investment decisions over the course of its 12-month term.”

    “The Regional Development Trust and its Advisory Council marks a completely new direction in the way the NSW Government supports rural and regional development in NSW.”

    “After a decade of waste and poor decision making by the former Government, the establishment of the Regional Development Advisory Council is an important step towards the provision of independent and expert advice on what projects and programs should be funded.”

    “Our intention is to ensure rural, remote and regional communities receive their fair share and money is spent on projects that are actually needed and will be delivered.”

    Advisory Council Chairperson Professor Alison Sheridan said:

    “This is a wonderful opportunity to deliver robust and sustainable investment for regional and rural NSW, knowing how important strategic investment is for achieving real outcomes for our communities.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: People before private health funds

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: People before private health funds

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Statement by: Treasurer

    I congratulate Federal Health Minister Mark Butler for delivering a health insurance premium decision that puts people before private health funds.

    The Minister has rejected the private health insurers’ wild bid to slug their own members with a 6 per cent premium hike during this cost-of-living crisis.

    These funds made record profits in recent years while campaigning for endless subsidies from NSW taxpayers.

    Last year the government took action to make sure private insurers paid their bills in full when using public hospitals – saving NSW $140 million per annum.

    The NSW Liberal and National Parties backed the big health insurers as they tried to continue avoiding paying their bills.

    Mark Speakman should now either promise to reintroduce taxpayer subsidies for the big health insurers, or he should instead apologise for aiding and abetting their disgraceful misinformation campaign.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Opportunity for Young Australians to continue shaping Government decisions

    Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements

    The Albanese Labor Government is ensuring young people are shaping government policies and programs that matter to them. 

    Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly today invited young people from across Australia to apply to join the Government’s Youth Steering Committee. 

    “I encourage young people from across Australia to apply to be part of this important Committee,” Dr Aly said.

    “Committee members are in a unique position to help shape solutions to the problems facing young people. 

    “It’s important for governments to work with young people to build a better future for us all.” 

    The Youth Steering Committee works closely with Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly to help the Australian Government embed the role of young people in policy development. 

    The Committee members will provide advice across government, including on the implementation of Engage! A strategy to include young people in the decisions we make. 

    Informed by consultation with more than 4,600 young people from across Australia, Engage! sets out how the Government will ensure young people are empowered, valued, and included in the development of policies and programs that impact them.

    With no experience working with government required, applicants aged between 12 and 24 are encouraged to apply for one of at least seven two-year positions, alongside continuing members reappointed to the 14 person Youth Steering Committee. 

    To ensure the Committee represents the diversity of young people in Australia, applications are sought from young people with a range of backgrounds and experiences including First Nations young people, young people with a disability, young people with lived experience of mental ill-health and young people from rural, regional and remote Australia. 

    As well as developing Engage!, the Committee has worked across Commonwealth departments to provide advice on a range of issues including housing and homelessness, gender equality, esafety and health policy. 

    Applications to join the Youth Steering Committee close on Thursday 20 March 2025. More information is available at youth.gov.au/office-youth/get-involved.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Manipulated media: The weapon of the Right

    The re-election of Donald Trump is proof that the Right’s most powerful weapon is media manipulation, ensuring the public sphere is not engaged in rational debate, reports the Independent Australia.

    COMMENTARY: By Victoria Fielding

    I once heard someone say that when the Left and the Right became polarised — when they divorced from each other — the Left got all the institutions of truth including science, education, justice and democratic government.

    The Right got the institution of manipulation: the media. This statement hit me for six at the time because it seemed so clearly true.

    What was also immediately clear is that there was an obvious reason why the Left sided with the institutions of truth and the Right resorted to manipulation. It is because truth does not suit right-wing arguments.

    The existence of climate change does not suit fossil fuel billionaires. Evidence that wealth does not trickle down does not suit the capitalist class. The idea that diversity, equity and inclusion (yes, I put those words in that order on purpose) is better for everyone, rather than a discriminatory, hateful, destructive, divided unequal world is dangerous for the Right to admit.

    The Right’s embrace of the media institution also makes sense when you consider that the institutions of truth are difficult to buy, whereas billionaires can easily own manipulative media.

    Just ask Elon Musk, who bought Twitter and turned it into a political manipulation machine. Just ask Rupert Murdoch, who is currently engaged in a bitter family war to stop three of his children opposing him and his son Lachlan from using their “news” organisations as a form of political manipulation for right-wing interests.

    Right-wingers also know that truthful institutions only have one way of communicating their truths to the public: via the media. Once the media environment is manipulated, we enter a post-truth world.

    Experts derided as untrustworthy ‘elitists’
    This is the world where billionaire fossil fuel interests undermine climate action. It is where scientists create vaccines to save lives but the manipulated public refuses to take them. Where experts are derided as untrustworthy “elitists”.

    And it is where the whole idea of democratic government in the US has been overthrown to install an autocratic billionaire-enriching oligarchy led by an incompetent fool who calls himself the King.

    Once you recognise this manipulated media environment, you also understand that there is not — and never has been — such as thing as a rational public debate. Those engaged in the institutions of the Left — in science, education, justice and democratic government — seem mostly unwilling to accept this fact.

    Instead, they continue to believe if they just keep telling people the truth and communicating what they see as entirely rational arguments, the public will accept what they have to say.

    I think part of the reason that the Left refuses to accept that public debate is not rational and rather, is a manipulated bin fire of misleading information, including mis/disinformation and propaganda, is because they are not equipped to compete in this reality. What do those on the Left do with “post-truth”?

    They seem to just want to ignore it and hope it goes away.

    A perfect example of this misunderstanding of the post-truth world and the manipulated media environment’s impact on the public is this paper, by political science professors at the Australian National University Ian McAllister and Nicholas Biddle.

    Stunningly absolutist claim
    Their research sought to understand why polling at the start of the 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum showed widespread public support for the Voice but over the course of the campaign, this support dropped to the point where the Voice was defeated with 60 per cent voting “No” and 40 per cent, “Yes”.

    In presenting their study’s findings, the authors make the stunningly absolutist claim that:

    ‘…the public’s exposure to all forms of mass media – as we have measured it here – had no impact on the result’.

    A note is then attached to this finding with the caveat:

    ‘As noted earlier, given the data at hand we are unable to test the possibility that the content of the media being consumed resulted in a reinforcement of existing beliefs and partisanship rather than a conversion.’

    This caveat leaves a gaping hole in the finding by failing to account for how media reinforcing existing beliefs is an important media effect – as argued by Neil Gavin here. Since it was not measured, how can they possibly say there was no effect?

    Furthermore, the very premise of the author’s sweeping statement that media exposure had no impact on the result of the Referendum is based on two naive assumptions:

    • that voters were rational in their deliberations over the Referendum question; and
    • that the information environment voters were presented with was rational.

    Dual assumption of rationality
    This dual assumption of rationality – one that the authors interestingly admit is an assumption – is evidenced in their hypothesis which states:

    ‘Voters who did not follow the campaign in the mass media were more likely to move from a yes to a no vote compared to voters who did follow the campaign in the mass media.’

    This hypothesis, the authors explain, is premised on the assumption ‘that those with less information are more likely to opt for the status quo and cast a no vote’, and therefore that less exposure to media would change a vote from “Yes” to “No”. What this hypothesis assumes is that if a voter received more rational information in the media about the Referendum, that information would rationally drive their vote in the “Yes” direction. When their data disproved this hypothesis, the authors used this finding to claim that the media had no effect.

    To understand the reality of what happened in the Referendum debate, the word “rational” needs to be taken out of the equation and the word “manipulated” put in.

    We know, of course, that the Referendum was awash with manipulative information, which all supported the “No” campaign. For example, my study of News Corp’s Voice coverage — Australia’s largest and most influential news organisation — found that News Corp actively campaigned for the “No” proposition in concert with the “No” campaign, presenting content more like a political campaign than traditional journalism and commentary.

    A study by Queensland University of Technology’s Tim Graham analysed how the Voice Referendum was discussed on social media platform, X. Far from a rational debate, Graham identified that the “No” campaign and its supporters engaged in a participatory disinformation propaganda campaign, which became a “truth market” about the Voice.

    The ‘truth market’
    This “truth market” was described as drawing “Yes” campaigners into a debate about the truth of the Voice, sidetracking them from promoting their own cause.

    What such studies showed was that, far from McAllister and Biddle’s assumed rational information environment, the Voice Referendum public debate was awash with manipulation, propaganda, disinformation and fear-mongering.

    The “No” campaign that delivered this manipulation perfectly demonstrates how the Right uses media to undermine institutions of truth, to undermine facts and to undermine the rationality of democratic debates.

    The completely unfounded assumption that the more information a voter received about the Voice, the more likely they would vote “Yes”, reveals a misunderstanding of the reality of a manipulated public debate environment present across all types of media, from mainstream news to social media.

    It also wrongly treats voters like rational deliberative computers by assuming that the more information that goes in, the more they accept that information. This is far from the reality of how mediated communication affects the public.

    The reason the influence of media on individuals and collectives is, in reality, so difficult to measure and should never be bluntly described as having total effect or no effect, is that people are not rational when they consume media, and every individual processes information in their own unique and unconscious ways.

    One person can watch a manipulated piece of communication and accept it wholeheartedly, others can accept part of it and others reject it outright.

    Manipulation unknown
    No one piece of information determines how people vote and not every piece of information people consume does either. That’s the point of a manipulated media environment. People who are being manipulated do not know they are being manipulated.

    Importantly, when you ask individuals how their media consumption impacted on them, they of course do not know. The decisions people make based on the information they have ephemerally consumed — whether from the media, conversations, or a wide range of other information sources, are incredibly complex and irrational.

    Surely the re-election of Donald Trump for a second time, despite all the rational arguments against him, is proof that the manipulated media environment is an incredibly powerful weapon — a weapon the Right, globally, is clearly proficient at wielding.

    It is time those on the Left caught up and at least understood the reality they are working in.

    Dr Victoria Fielding is an Independent Australia columnist. This article was first published by the Independent Australia and is republished with the author’s permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New appointments to Australia Council Board and Maritime Museum

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The Australian Government is making appointments to arts bodies and collecting institutions to ensure they remain under strong leadership.

    Ms Lauren Moss has been appointed as a member of the Australia Council Board of Creative Australia for a four-year term, replacing Ms Christine Simpson Stokes AM.

    The Hon Don Harwin has been appointed as a member of the Council of the Australian National Maritime Museum for a three-year term.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointees would lend a deep well of expertise to guide the administration of these important organisations.

    “Lauren has extensive experience having previously worked in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for almost a decade. Her sound understanding of governance, arts and cultural issues within the Northern Territory will provide another great regional perspective to the Board.

    “Don served in the NSW Parliament for many years and his time spent as Minister for the Arts will be a great asset for the Council’s governance.”    

    Creative Australia plays a vital role in growing Australia’s cultural infrastructure, through investing in creative talent and stimulating the market for Australian stories to be told on a national and international scale.

    The Australian National Maritime Museum is dedicated to exploring Australia’s maritime history through topics of migration, archaeology, ocean science, commerce, culture and lifestyle, and  honours the stories of First Nations peoples’ living cultural connection to ancestral waters. 

    Ms Lauren Moss was elected at 27 years old as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, having served as the Member for Casuarina for almost ten years. She has held portfolio positions in Equality and Inclusion, Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Youth and Seniors, Education, Children, Women, Tourism, Sport and Culture, including the Arts. As Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Ms Moss was responsible for initiatives including the establishment of Arts Trail funding and the Street Art Festival, increased funding for the screen sector and promotion of the economic value of the Territory’s Creative Industries. Before entering Parliament, Ms Moss was involved in various roles focusing on youth advocacy, alcohol harm minimisation and mental health, and was involved as a Youth Ambassador, Advisor and member to a number of youth mental health and youth affairs organisations. 

    The Hon Don Harwin served in the New South Wales Parliament for 23 years in a range of roles, including five years as the Minister for the Arts and 6 years as President of the Legislative Council. Mr Harwin has considerable background and experience in leadership, governance, policy, and arts advocacy. Mr Harwin currently holds a number of Board memberships including Chair of Music in the Regions Ltd and as a director of the Australia Youth Trust which supports initiatives to secure better health and education outcomes for young people in developing Commonwealth countries. Mr Harwin previously served as a Member of the Australia Council for the Arts, now operating as Creative Australia.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointments to National Gallery of Australia Council

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The Australian Government has appointed Mrs Penny Fowler AM and Mr Jay Weatherill AO and reappointed Ms Ilana Atlas AO as members of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia for three-year terms.

    The Council is responsible for overseeing the Gallery’s strategic and organisational goals and positioning it for the future so it can continue to deliver on its aim to inspire all Australians through art.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the new and returning appointees.

    “Ilana has been serving on the Council since 2022 and was appointed as Deputy Chair by the Council in November 2023 and we’re thankful she’s agreed to continuing lending her talents. 

    “I’d also like to welcome Jay and Penny. As former Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay was a strong advocate for the sector and will be an excellent addition to the board. 

    “Penny has been the Chair of the National Portrait Gallery Board and understands the important role institutions have in preserving and showcasing some of our nation’s greatest treasures.”

    The National Gallery is dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world. It is home to the country’s most valuable collection of art, with 155,000 works worth around $7 billion. This includes the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

    Ms Ilana Atlas AO has served on the National Gallery of Australia Council since March 2022 and was elected Deputy Chair by Council members in November 2023. She is Chair of Jarwun Limited and Scentre Group Limited and is a non-executive director of Origin Energy Limited, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and is also a Panel Member of Adara Partners and a director of Adara Development. Her previous non-executive director roles include Chairman of the Bell Shakespeare Company and Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and Director of ANZ Banking Group and the Human Rights Law Centre. Prior to serving on these Boards, Ms Atlas had a 10 year career at Westpac. Ms Atlas was also a partner in law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now known as King & Wood Mallesons). In 2020 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the financial and manufacturing sectors, to education, and to the arts.

    Mr Jay Weatherill AO is the former Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018. He currently leads the Thrive by Five campaign within the Minderoo Foundation and is an Ambassador for Reggio Children. He will soon join the Susan McKinnon Foundation pursuing their democracy reform agenda. Previously Mr Weatherill worked as a lawyer between 1987 to 1995 becoming the founder and principal  of his own firm between 1995 and 2002. In 2002 he became a member for the Parliament of South Australia and later Premier where he oversaw various portfolios including Minister for the Arts. Following his term Mr Weatherill became an Industry Professor at the University of South Australia from 2019 to 2024. He serves on several government and industry and philanthropic boards. In 2021 Mr Weatherill was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, and to early childhood and tertiary education.

    Mrs Penny Fowler AM is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and is News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador. Mrs Fowler has been a member of the National Portrait Gallery Board since March 2016 and served as Chair since January 2022 (her term will end on 8 March 2025). She chairs the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Tourism Australia Board. She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy/Pratt USA and is a board member of Tech Mahindra & the Bank of Melbourne (St. George) Foundation. Mrs Fowler is a member of Chief Executive Women and an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and SecondBite. In 2024 Mrs Fowler was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Three people charged with perverting justice

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Three people charged with perverting justice

    Thursday, 27 February 2025 – 9:52 am.

    Police have charged three people with perverting justice in relation to a fatal incident in New Town in September last year.
    A man aged in his 50s was found unconscious and critically injured on Swanston Street about 2.50am on Friday, 6 September 2024.
    Sadly, he later died in hospital.
    Following an extensive investigation, three people – a 43-year-old woman, a 47-year-old man and a 38-year-old man – have each been summoned to appear in court, charged with perverting justice.
    They will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on 2 April.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Law Partners Calls for Independent Inquiry Into Deaths at Latrobe Regional Hospital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Michael Passaro, a Managing Solicitor at Law Partners in Victoria has written a letter to Mary-Anne Thomas, Victoria’s Minister for Health, calling for an independent inquiry into recently publicised deaths at Latrobe Regional Hospital in eastern Victoria. Michael is currently representing his client, Nadine Lont, in a related medical negligence matter.

    Contributing to a stronger and safer community
    This case directly relates to recent media coverage about three baby deaths which occurred within a six-week period at Gippsland’s Latrobe Regional Hospital in eastern Victoria. 

    (Coverage around this topic includes stories in the ABC news, Canberra Times, Herald Sun, and Latrobe Valley Express).

    Less than a week after giving birth at Latrobe Regional Hospital, Nadine lost her daughter, Lacey, in heartbreaking circumstances.

    We believe the care Nadine and her child received may not have been satisfactory, and we understand that Nadine’s experience may not have been an isolated case.

    Latrobe Regional Hospital is reviewing these deaths in consultation with Safer Care Victoria. However, Safer Care Victoria operates as an administrative office under the Victorian Department of Health and its independence and efficacy has recently been called into question.

    The benefits of an independent inquiry
    We believe further action is necessary to protect the health and interests of the Australian community in eastern Victoria.

    Michael Passaro, said, “The community is currently in the dark about what’s going on at Latrobe Regional Health, and this needs to change. We’re not saying what Latrobe Regional Hospital should have done differently, or what systemic changes need to take place. We don’t yet know, and that’s the point.

    “We believe an independent inquiry will help shine a light on the truth in an impartial manner, so the right changes can be made which help to safeguard the community and prevent more needless tragedies”, concluded Mr Passaro.

    Nadine Lont said, “Our beautiful girl Lacey Grace paid the ultimate price with her life, so the bare minimum she is owed is answers and accountability from Latrobe Regional Hospital. My family and I are grateful for the support and legal representation that Michael, Renee and the team at Law Partners are providing in helping us to seek these answers.”

    Advice and resources following medical negligence
    If you or someone you know has been impacted by potentially negligent medical care, contact Law Partners to discuss your options.

    For more information about birth injury legal representation, visit this page.

    You can also contact the Australian Patients Association based in Melbourne for additional information and guidance.

    About Law Partners
    Law Partners is more than just Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm. We’re a team of dedicated lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants who believe in personal service, asking more questions, and building deeper relationships to understand the true impact of injuries and illness. Our client-focused approach, combined with our legal expertise, has resulted in a case success rate of over 99%, more than 1,200 5-star Google reviews, consistent Doyle’s Guide awards and recognition, and the honour of being named Lawyer Monthly’s Australian Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year for three consecutive years (2022 to 2024).

    For more information or to arrange a media interview, visit Law Partners or contact Charlotte O’Brien at 02 9264 4474 or charlotte.obrien@lawpartners.com.au

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: New appointments to Australia Council Board and Maritime Museum

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    The Australian Government is making appointments to arts bodies and collecting institutions to ensure they remain under strong leadership.

    Ms Lauren Moss has been appointed as a member of the Australia Council Board of Creative Australia for a four-year term, replacing Ms Christine Simpson Stokes AM.

    The Hon Don Harwin has been appointed as a member of the Council of the Australian National Maritime Museum for a three-year term.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointees would lend a deep well of expertise to guide the administration of these important organisations.

    “Lauren has extensive experience having previously worked in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for almost a decade. Her sound understanding of governance, arts and cultural issues within the Northern Territory will provide another great regional perspective to the Board.

    “Don served in the NSW Parliament for many years and his time spent as Minister for the Arts will be a great asset for the Council’s governance.”    

    Creative Australia plays a vital role in growing Australia’s cultural infrastructure, through investing in creative talent and stimulating the market for Australian stories to be told on a national and international scale.

    The Australian National Maritime Museum is dedicated to exploring Australia’s maritime history through topics of migration, archaeology, ocean science, commerce, culture and lifestyle, and  honours the stories of First Nations peoples’ living cultural connection to ancestral waters. 

    Ms Lauren Moss was elected at 27 years old as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, having served as the Member for Casuarina for almost ten years. She has held portfolio positions in Equality and Inclusion, Environment, Climate Change and Water Security, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Youth and Seniors, Education, Children, Women, Tourism, Sport and Culture, including the Arts. As Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture, Ms Moss was responsible for initiatives including the establishment of Arts Trail funding and the Street Art Festival, increased funding for the screen sector and promotion of the economic value of the Territory’s Creative Industries. Before entering Parliament, Ms Moss was involved in various roles focusing on youth advocacy, alcohol harm minimisation and mental health, and was involved as a Youth Ambassador, Advisor and member to a number of youth mental health and youth affairs organisations. 

    The Hon Don Harwin served in the New South Wales Parliament for 23 years in a range of roles, including five years as the Minister for the Arts and 6 years as President of the Legislative Council. Mr Harwin has considerable background and experience in leadership, governance, policy, and arts advocacy. Mr Harwin currently holds a number of Board memberships including Chair of Music in the Regions Ltd and as a director of the Australia Youth Trust which supports initiatives to secure better health and education outcomes for young people in developing Commonwealth countries. Mr Harwin previously served as a Member of the Australia Council for the Arts, now operating as Creative Australia.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: Appointments to National Gallery of Australia Council

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    The Australian Government has appointed Mrs Penny Fowler AM and Mr Jay Weatherill AO and reappointed Ms Ilana Atlas AO as members of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia for three-year terms.

    The Council is responsible for overseeing the Gallery’s strategic and organisational goals and positioning it for the future so it can continue to deliver on its aim to inspire all Australians through art.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the new and returning appointees.

    “Ilana has been serving on the Council since 2022 and was appointed as Deputy Chair by the Council in November 2023 and we’re thankful she’s agreed to continuing lending her talents. 

    “I’d also like to welcome Jay and Penny. As former Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay was a strong advocate for the sector and will be an excellent addition to the board. 

    “Penny has been the Chair of the National Portrait Gallery Board and understands the important role institutions have in preserving and showcasing some of our nation’s greatest treasures.”

    The National Gallery is dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world. It is home to the country’s most valuable collection of art, with 155,000 works worth around $7 billion. This includes the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

    Ms Ilana Atlas AO has served on the National Gallery of Australia Council since March 2022 and was elected Deputy Chair by Council members in November 2023. She is Chair of Jarwun Limited and Scentre Group Limited and is a non-executive director of Origin Energy Limited, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and is also a Panel Member of Adara Partners and a director of Adara Development. Her previous non-executive director roles include Chairman of the Bell Shakespeare Company and Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and Director of ANZ Banking Group and the Human Rights Law Centre. Prior to serving on these Boards, Ms Atlas had a 10 year career at Westpac. Ms Atlas was also a partner in law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now known as King & Wood Mallesons). In 2020 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the financial and manufacturing sectors, to education, and to the arts.

    Mr Jay Weatherill AO is the former Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018. He currently leads the Thrive by Five campaign within the Minderoo Foundation and is an Ambassador for Reggio Children. He will soon join the Susan McKinnon Foundation pursuing their democracy reform agenda. Previously Mr Weatherill worked as a lawyer between 1987 to 1995 becoming the founder and principal  of his own firm between 1995 and 2002. In 2002 he became a member for the Parliament of South Australia and later Premier where he oversaw various portfolios including Minister for the Arts. Following his term Mr Weatherill became an Industry Professor at the University of South Australia from 2019 to 2024. He serves on several government and industry and philanthropic boards. In 2021 Mr Weatherill was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, and to early childhood and tertiary education.

    Mrs Penny Fowler AM is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and is News Corp Australia’s Community Ambassador. Mrs Fowler has been a member of the National Portrait Gallery Board since March 2016 and served as Chair since January 2022 (her term will end on 8 March 2025). She chairs the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Tourism Australia Board. She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy/Pratt USA and is a board member of Tech Mahindra & the Bank of Melbourne (St. George) Foundation. Mrs Fowler is a member of Chief Executive Women and an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and SecondBite. In 2024 Mrs Fowler was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Element Reports Fourth Quarter and Record 2024 Financial Results; Reaffirms Full-Year 2025 Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amounts in US$ unless otherwise noted
     
    • Record 2024 net revenue of $1.1 billion driving record adjusted operating income, adjusted earnings per share and adjusted free cash flow per share
    • Record performance in 2024 underpinned by an 18% year-over-year increase in services revenue, and a 9% year-over-year increase in net financing revenue associated with higher net earning assets
       
    • Strong performance allowed for acceleration of strategic investments to position us for future success while delivering full-year adjusted operating margins within guidance range
       
    • Robust client demand, strong and growing pipeline, and a high-recurring-revenue business model, combined with the benefits of investments made in 2024, to drive continued growth across key financial metrics
       
    • Reaffirming 2025 guidance for net revenue growth of 6.5 to 8.5%, positive adjusted operating leverage, and high single- to low double-digit growth in each of adjusted operating income, adjusted EPS, and adjusted free cash flow per share

    TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, today announced financial and operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and record results for full-year 2024.  The following table presents Element’s selected financial results.

      Q4 20241 Q3 20241 Q4 20231 QoQ YoY 2024   2023   YoY
    In US$ millions, except percentages and per share amount       % %     %
    Selected results – as reported                
    Net revenue 270.9   279.6   245.1   (3)% 11% 1,087.6   959.1   13%
    Pre-tax income 121.4   134.0   103.4   (9)% 17% 513.6   448.9   14%
    Pre-tax income margin 44.8 % 47.9 % 42.2 % (310) bps 260  bps 47.2 % 46.8 % 40  bps
    Earnings per share (EPS) [basic] 0.23   0.24   0.20   (1)% 3% 0.96   0.84   12%
    EPS [basic] [$CAD] 0.32   0.33   0.27   (3)% 19% 1.31   1.13   16%
    Adjusted results (excludes one-time strategic project costs in  2024)1                
    Adjusted net revenue2 270.9   279.6   245.1   (3)% 11% 1,087.6   959.1   13%
    Adjusted operating income (AOI)2 143.3   161.4   134.9   (11)% 6% 601.2   530.5   13%
    Adjusted operating margin2 52.9 % 57.7 % 55.0 % (480) bps (210) bps 55.3 % 55.3 % — bps
    Adjusted EPS2 [basic] 0.27   0.29   0.25   (7)% 8% 1.12   0.98   14%
    Adjusted EPS2[basic] [$CAD] 0.37   0.40   0.33   (8)% 12% 1.53   1.32   16%
    Other highlights:                
    Adjusted free cash flow per share2(FCF/sh) 0.30   0.36   0.29   (17)% 3% 1.38   1.24   11%
    Adjusted2 (FCF/sh) [$CAD] 0.41   0.49   0.40   (16)% 2% 1.89   1.67   13%
    Originations 1,498   1,716   1,490   (13)% 1% 6,732   6,340   6%
                               
    1. Strategic project costs totaled $20 million, of which $14 million was incurred in 2023 and $6 million in 2024, These costs were, attributable to leasing initiatives in Ireland, and were $2 million below planned investment as previously communicated. These costs for the quarterly periods in the above table were as follows: Q4 2023 ($11 million), Q3 2024 ($2 million), and Nil in Q4 2024. Additionally, Q3 2024 also included $7 million in acquisition-related costs, including severance, in connection with the Autofleet transaction.
    2. Adjusted results are non-GAAP or supplemental financial measures, which do not have any standard meaning prescribed by GAAP  under IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information, please see the “IFRS to Non-GAAP Reconciliations” section in this earnings release. The Company uses “Adjusted Results” because it believes that they provide useful information to investors regarding its performance and results of operations.

    “In 2024, we continued to execute our global growth strategy that builds on our considerable business momentum, delivering record results and value to clients, team members, and our shareholders. At the core of our efforts is a digital-first mindset and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence and prioritizing client success,” said Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Chief Executive Officer of Element. “Our robust performance relative to our plan allowed us to accelerate strategic investments aimed at enhancing our client experience, modernizing operations through digitization and automation, and strengthening our teams and culture. We achieved this while delivering within our full-year adjusted operating margin guidance and exceeding other key financial metrics. With these investments, we are building a stronger, more agile, and more innovative foundation to lead in defining the future of mobility. 

    Dottori-Attanasio continued, “We expect expense growth to moderate considerably in 2025 as the acceleration and benefits of this year’s investments begin to materialize. By optimizing costs and driving operational efficiencies through digital innovation, our disciplined approach to strategic investing in the areas that are critical to client success positions us well to both deliver on our financial targets and sustain success well into the future.”

    Net revenue growth

    Element grew 2024 net revenue 13% over 2023 (“year-over-year”) to $1.1 billion led largely by double-digit services revenue growth and higher net financing revenue.

    Q4 2024 net revenue increased $26 million or 11% on a year-over-year basis led largely by robust services revenue growth.  Q4 2024 net revenue decreased $9 million or 3% from a record Q3 2024 led largely by lower net financing revenue, lower syndication revenue and seasonal factors impacting Gains on Sale (“GOS”). This was partly offset by higher services revenue quarter-over-quarter.

    Service revenue

    Element’s largely unlevered services revenue is the key pillar of its capital-light business model, which also improves the Company’s return on equity profile.

    2024 services revenue increased a strong 18% year-over-year to $596 million driven primarily by higher penetration and utilization rates of our service offerings from new and existing clients and higher origination volumes.

    Q4 2024 services revenue grew a robust 25% year-over-year and  10% quarter-over-quarter driven primarily by higher penetration and utilization rates.

    Net financing revenue

    2024 net financing revenue grew $38 million or 9% year-over-year led largely by higher net earning assets resulting from higher originations across all geographies. This increase was partly offset by higher funding costs, including higher interest expense largely associated with financing the redemptions of our preferred shares (previously recorded below the AOI line). GOS was largely unchanged year-over-year, as increased volumes of vehicles for sale continue to mitigate used vehicle price normalization.

    Q4 2024 net financing revenue increased $1 million or 1% year-over-year led largely by the same reasons cited in the full-year 2024 explanation above. This increase was partly offset by a year-over-year decrease in GOS, and higher funding costs. A higher volume of vehicles for sale was more than offset by a decrease in used vehicle pricing in Mexico and ANZ.

    Q4 2024 net financing revenue decreased $13 million or 11% from Q3 2024. This quarter-over-quarter decrease was materially led by seasonal factors affecting GOS and for the same reasons cited directly above. Lower net earning assets and higher interest expense associated with financing the redemption of our preferred shares on September 30, 2024, and the impact of incremental debt due to the acquisition of Autofleet also contributed to the decrease.

    Syndication volume

    The Company syndicated a record $3.5 billion of assets in 2024, an increase of $984 million or 40% from 2023, and $1.0 billion in Q4 2024 – $330 million or 47% higher than Q4 2023. This growth was largely associated with higher origination volume, the Company’s ongoing focus on its capital lighter model, and management of its tangible leverage.  Overall, investor demand remains robust.

    2024 syndication revenue decreased $3 million or 6% year-over-year led largely by the bulk syndication of a Canadian lease portfolio in December 2024 (the “Bulk Sale”) in the amount of $346 million (CAD$474 million). This Bulk Sale further diversified our funding sources. Initial sale and setup costs impacted yields. Yields were further impacted by the Company’s syndication mix and scheduled reduction in bonus depreciation driving lower net yields. Gross yield, which is a measure of the value and demand for our core syndication product, was relatively unchanged from 2023. For further information on the Bulk Sale, please refer to the Element announces new strategic funding relationship section in this press release.

    Q4 2024 syndication revenue decreased $7 million or 55% year-over-year for the same reasons cited above for the full year 2024, and $11 million or 64% quarter-over-quarter largely due to lower net yields and setup costs associated with the sale of the Canadian portfolio. 

    Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margins

    AOI was a record $601 million in 2024, an increase of $71 million or 13% year-over-year. This resulted in adjusted EPS of $1.12 in 2024, which is a 14% increase year-over-year. 2024 adjusted operating margin was 55.3%, unchanged from last year and at the mid-point of the Company’s revised 2024 guidance range between 55.0 to 55.5%. Excluding Autofleet, adjusted operating margins would have expanded 30 basis points year-over-year to 55.6%.

    Q4 2024 AOI was $143 million, an increase of $8 million or 6% year-over-year. Q4 2024 adjusted operating margin was 52.9% influenced by accelerated strategic investments, seasonal factors impacting GOS, $3 million in Autofleet operating costs, and the impact of the bulk sale of a portfolio of Canadian leases, which the Company believes will benefit 2025 and beyond. Excluding Autofleet, Q4 2024 adjusted operating margin was 54.1%.  

    Q4 2024 AOI decreased $18 million or 11% quarter-over-quarter led largely by the same reasons cited in the preceding paragraph. 

    Originations

    Element originated $6.7 billion of assets in 2024, which is a $392 million or 6% increase year-over-year led by growth across all regions. 

    Q4 2024 originations of $1.5 billion increased $8 million or 1% year-over-year; however, originations decreased $218 million or 13% quarter-over-quarter led largely by seasonal factors including historically slower client order volume during the summer months.

    Order volumes increased significantly in the last four months of 2024, reaching a record monthly high in December. This momentum, bolstered by improvements made through our U.S. & Canada Leasing strategic initiative based in Ireland, is expected to drive solid origination volumes in the first half of 2025.

    The table below sets out the geographic distribution of Element’s originations for 2024 and 2023:

    (in US$000’s for stated values) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
      $ % $ %
    United States and Canada 5,206,339 77.34 % 4,850,411 76.50  %
    Mexico 1,035,249 15.38 % 1,028,165 16.22 %
    Australia and New Zealand 489,960 7.28 % 461,451 7.28 %
    Total 6,731,548 100.00 % 6,340,027 100.00 %
                 

    Adjusted free cash flow per share and returns to shareholders

    On an adjusted basis, Element generated $1.38 of adjusted free cash flow (“FCF”) per share in 2024; up 11% year-over-year driven by growth in net revenues and higher originations, while investing approximately $77 million in total capital investments during the year. In Q4 2024, Element accelerated approximately $47 million of tax payments to the Australian Tax Office relating to the 2025 to 2027 taxation years. The tax payments relate to cash tax timing benefits received due to temporary accelerated depreciation available during the pandemic, effectively providing the Company with a tax deferral. The accelerated payment allows for future adjusted free cash flow to better represent the cash taxes that would be paid in the normal course of operations during those future years. This acceleration of Australian cash taxes is excluded from adjusted free cash flow per share.

    Element returned $336 million of cash to shareholders through common share dividends, common share buybacks and preferred share redemptions in 2024.

    Common dividend and share repurchases

    On February 26, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized and declared a quarterly cash dividend of CAD$0.13 per common share of Element for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend will be payable on April 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as at the close of business on March 31, 2025.

    The Company’s common dividends are designated to be eligible dividends for purposes of section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

    In furtherance of the Company’s return of capital plan, Element renewed its normal course issuer bid (the “NCIB”) for its common shares. Under the NCIB, the Company has approval from the TSX to purchase up to 40,386,699 common shares during the period from November 20, 2024, to November 19, 2025. The Company intends to be more active under its NCIB in 2025. The actual number of the Company’s common shares, if any, that may be purchased under the NCIB, and the timing of any such purchases, will be determined by the Company, subject to applicable terms and limitations of the NCIB (including any automatic share purchase plan adopted in connection therewith). There cannot be any assurance as to how many common shares, if any, will ultimately be purchased pursuant to the NCIB. Any subsequent renewals of the NCIB will be in the discretion of the Company and subject to further TSX approval.

    During 2024, the Company purchased 630,657 Common Shares for cancellation under its normal course issuer bids, for an aggregate amount of approximately $11 million at a volume weighted average price of CAD$23.77 per Common Share. During Q4 2024, the Company purchased 175,357 Common Shares under its NCIB, for cancellation, for an aggregate amount of approximately $4 million at a volume weighted average price of CAD$28.51 per Common Share.  During January and February 2025, the Company purchased 1.1 million Common Shares under its latest NCIB, for cancellation, for an aggregate amount of approximately $22 million at a volume weighted average price of CAD $28.75 per Common Share.

    Element applies trade date accounting in determining the date on which the share repurchase is reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Trade date accounting is the date on which the Company commits itself to purchase the shares.

    Preparing Element for the future

    In 2024, Element was purposeful in accelerating strategic investments in support of future growth.  The Company prioritized initiatives that elevate the client experience, modernize operations through digitization and automation, strengthen its teams and culture, and emphasized these efforts through the acquisition of Autofleet. While pursuing these strategic advancements, the Company exercised operational discipline to ensure that financial targets were achieved, maintaining operating margins within its 2024 guidance range of 55.0 to 55.5%. The Company expects expense growth to moderate considerably in 2025 as the benefits of these investments begin to materialize.

    Notable achievements include:

    • Centralizing accountability for its U.S. and Canadian leasing operations in Ireland and establishing a strategic sourcing presence in Singapore, with these initiatives expected to generate between $30 – $45 million of run-rate net revenue, and between $22 – $37 million of run-rate adjusted operating income (“AOI”), by full-year 2028. Both units are fully operational with an expected payback period from the Company’s investments at less than 2.5 years. 
       
    • Acquiring Autofleet’s robust and highly scalable fleet optimization technology platform to substantially accelerate its digitization and automation initiatives, enhance the client experience and accelerate operational scalability, unlocking new growth and value creation potential.  The integration of Autofleet will enhance the Company’s position in the evolving mobility and vehicle connectivity landscape. Priorities include developing a Digital Driver Experience app, building a digital client reporting portal, and gradually migrating Element’s applications to Autofleet’s cloud and AI-based platform.
       
    • Launching an Acceleration Office, to fast-track and prioritize strategic initiatives like our holistic digital and data analytics transformation, and our expansion into both Insurance and the Small-to Medium-Sized Fleets space.
       
    • In January 2025, the Company expanded beyond its core by announcing a new Insurance Risk solution – a fully integrated insurance and risk management offering. This new service, launched in a strategic partnership with Hub International Limited (“HUB”), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm servicing commercial fleets, is designed to transform how clients insure and manage commercial fleets. The new service bundles insurance coverage solutions, including accident management, subrogation, driver safety programs, and telematics, to deliver a seamless, vehicle life-cycle experience for clients.

    Guidance

    Full-year 2024 Guidance

    Element delivered full-year 2024 results within or above the high end of its previously provided guidance ranges on key metrics, with the exception of originations. The following table highlights our full-year 2024 guidance (as was updated alongside its Q2 2024 results release) compared to the full-year 2024 results.

    In US$, except per share amounts Full-year 2024 Guidance Full-year 2024 Actuals
    Net revenue $1.060 – $1.080 billion $1.088 billion
    YoY Growth 11-13 % 13%
    Adjusted operating margin1 55.0% – 55.5% 55.3%
    Adjusted operating income $575 – 595 million $601 million
    YoY Growth 8-12 % 13%
    Adjusted EPS [basic] $1.07 – $1.11 $1.12
    YoY Growth 9-13 % 14%
    Adjusted free cash flow per share $1.32 – 1.36 1.38
    YoY Growth 6-10 % 11%
    Originations $7.0 – 7.4 billion $6.7 billion
    YoY Growth 11-17 % 6%

     1. Excluding Autofleet, adjusted operating margin was 55.6% in 2024; representing adjusting operating margin expansion of 30 basis points year-over-year.     

    Certain year-over-year growth amounts shown in this table may not calculate exactly due to rounding.

    Full-year 2025 Guidance

    The Company expects to see continued growth in its client base and net revenue, driven by the ongoing transition to self-managed fleets and robust demand for its services and solutions. Strong order volumes over the last four months of 2024, bolstered by enhancements made through our U.S. and Canada leasing initiative in Ireland, is expected to drive solid originations volume in the first half of 2025. Originations are preceded by vehicle orders, which are binding commitments by clients to lease or purchase vehicles from Element.

    Element is committed to generating positive operating leverage in 2025, and expects to begin realizing the benefits of the investments undertaken in 2024.

    In US$, except per share amounts Full-year 2025 Initial  Guidance Full-year 2025 Guidance
    Net revenue 6.5 – 8.5% $1.160 – $1.185 billion
    Adjusted operating income High-single to low-double digit $645 – $670 million
    Adjusted operating margins   55.5 – 56.5%
    Adjusted EPS [basic] High-single to low-double digit $1.20 – $1.25
    Adjusted free cash flow per share High-single to low-double digit $1.48- $1.53
    Originations Low- to mid-single digit $6.9 – $7.1 billion

    The Company’s guidance for 2025 incorporates the effects of several anticipated revenue headwinds, including the depreciation of the Mexican Peso (the Company has assumed an MXN-to-USD exchange rate of 20.5:1), higher interest expenses due to increased local Peso funding in 2025, and financing the redemption of the preferred shares. In addition, the scheduled reduction in bonus depreciation in the U.S. is likely to impact syndication yields. We also anticipate that our 2025 effective tax rate will average between 24.5% to 26.5%.

    The above ranges are prior to any further material foreign exchange fluctuations, and any adverse impact related to changes in the trade agreements between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

    Simplified capital structure

    To further optimize the Company’s balance sheet and simplify its capital structure, the Company redeemed the following during 2024: (1) all of its 5,126,400 issued and outstanding 6.21% Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares Series C (the “Series C Shares”) on June 20, 2024, at a price of CAD$25.00 per Series C Share for an aggregate total amount of approximately US$91.2 million; (2) all of its 5,321,900 issued and outstanding 5.903% Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares Series E (the “Series E Shares”) on September 30, 2024, at a price of CAD$25.00 per Series E Share for an aggregate amount of US$95 million approximately; and (3) all of its remaining outstanding 4.25% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures due June 30, 2024 for consideration of approximately 14.6 million Common Shares, issued from Treasury and delivered to beneficial holders.

    Following the redemption of its Series E preferred shares, the Company no longer has any preferred shares outstanding.

    As at December 31, 2024, total Common Shares issued and outstanding were 404.5 million.

    Element announces new strategic funding relationship

    In December 2024, Element established a new strategic funding relationship with affiliates of Blackstone’s Infrastructure & Asset-Based Credit Group (“Blackstone”) involving a portfolio of Canadian fleet lease receivables valued at approximately $346 million (CAD$474 million). This initial transaction, which took place on December 20, 2024, has characteristics similar to that of a bulk syndication. Through this arrangement Element benefits from substantial derecognition of these finance lease receivables, diversifying and optimizing its funding profile, validating the high-quality of its asset origination platform, and supporting the Company’s continued growth. 

    This transaction further assists in diversifying the Company’s funding sources, reducing leverage and driving our capital lighter model. However, due to the initial sale, overall yield was negatively impacted by setup costs. These costs are not expected to recur in future transactions. Consequently, the Company expects higher syndication yields in 2025, while also benefiting from the derecognition of finance lease receivables that similar transactions would offer.

    Transitioning to debt-to-capital vs. tangible leverage ratio (“TLR”)

    In Q4 2024, in collaboration with its partners, the Company changed its banking covenants from TLR to debt-to-capital, which the Company believes is a more meaningful measure of its leverage. Commencing in Q4 2024, the Company will prioritize the reporting and management of debt-to-capital metrics, though TLR will be still disclosed this quarter for consistency. The bank covenants are set at 80% of debt-to-capital, and the Company targets a range between 73% to 77%. The Company remains committed to maintaining a strong investment grade balance sheet and will continue to monitor TLR as a key internal metric, but it will be of reduced importance as an operating constraint.

    At December 31, 2024, the Company’s debt-to-capital ratio was 74.1% (December 31, 2023 72%) and its TLR was 7.56:1 (December 31, 2023 5.99:1).

    Conference call and webcast

    A conference call to discuss these results will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

    The conference call and webcast can be accessed as follows:

    A taped recording of the conference call may be accessed through March 27, 2025 by dialing 1-855-669-9658 (Canada/U.S. Toll Free) or 1-412-317-0088 (International Toll) and entering the access code 3917835.

    IFRS to Non-GAAP Reconciliations, Non-GAAP Measures and Supplemental Information

    The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and the accounting policies we adopted in accordance with IFRS. These audited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly our financial position as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three- and 12-month periods-ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

    Non-GAAP and IFRS key annualized operating ratios and per share information of the operations of the Company:

        As at and for the three-month
     period ended    		 For the year ended
    (in US$000’s except ratios and per share amounts or unless otherwise noted)   December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
                 
    Key annualized operating ratios            
                 
    Leverage ratios            
    Financial leverage ratio P/(P+R)   74.1 %   74.3 %   72.4 %   74.1 %   72.4 %
    Tangible leverage ratio P/
    (R-K)    		   7.56     7.00     5.98     7.56     5.99  
    Average financial leverage ratio Q/(Q+V)   75.0 %   75.1 %   72.6 %   74.7 %   71.6 %
    Average tangible leverage ratio Q/(V-L)   7.60     6.80     5.75     6.72     5.53  
                 
    Other key operating ratios            
    Allowance for credit losses as a % of total finance receivables before allowance F/E   0.08 %   0.08 %   0.08 %   0.08 %   0.08 %
    Adjusted operating income on average net earning assets B/J   7.31 %   8.01 %   7.20 %   7.53 %   7.57 %
    Adjusted operating income on average tangible total equity of Element D/(V-L)   39.34 %   37.91 %   29.34 %   35.76 %   30.08 %
                 
    Per share information            
    Number of shares outstanding W   404,502     403,609     389,169     404,502     389,169  
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding [basic] X   404,578     403,609     389,115     396,880     390,297  
    Pro forma diluted average number of shares outstanding Y   404,726     403,768     404,068     404,164     405,242  
    Cumulative preferred share dividends during the period Z   —     1,434     4,418     7,222     17,625  
    Other effects of dilution on an adjusted operating income basis AA $ —   $ 0   $ 1,184   $ 2,412   $ 4,859  
    Net income per share [basic] (A-Z)/X $ 0.23   $ 0.24   $ 0.20   $ 0.96   $ 0.84  
    Net income per share [diluted]   $ 0.23   $ 0.24   $ 0.19   $ 0.95   $ 0.82  
                 
    Adjusted EPS [basic] (D1)/X $ 0.27   $ 0.29   $ 0.25   $ 1.12   $ 0.99  
    Adjusted EPS [diluted] (D1+AA)/Y $ 0.27   $ 0.29   $ 0.24   $ 1.10   $ 0.96  
                                     

    Management also uses a variety of both IFRS and non-GAAP and Supplemental Measures, and non-GAAP ratios to monitor and assess their operating performance. The Company uses these non-GAAP and Supplemental Financial Measures because they believe that they may provide useful information to investors regarding their performance and results of operations.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of certain IFRS to non-GAAP measures related to the operations of the Company and other supplemental information.

                                For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s  except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted)   December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
    Reported results   US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Services income, net     161,461     146,903     129,657     595,540     502,659  
    Net financing revenue     103,453     116,090     102,211     449,130     410,853  
    Syndication revenue, net     5,976     16,643     13,261     42,890     45,587  
    Net revenue     270,890     279,636     245,129     1,087,560     959,099  
    Operating expenses     141,234     139,367     134,085     544,681     481,749  
    Operating income     129,656     140,269     111,044     542,879     477,350  
    Operating margin     47.9 %   50.2 %   45.3 %   49.9 %   49.8 %
    Total expenses     149,463     145,669     141,716     574,003     510,153  
    Income before income taxes     121,427     133,967     103,413     513,557     448,946  
    Net income     92,057     98,565     81,567     387,137     345,599  
    EPS [basic]   $ 0.23   $ 0.24   $ 0.20   $ 0.96   $ 0.84  
    EPS [diluted]   $ 0.23   $ 0.24   $ 0.19   $ 0.95   $ 0.82  
    Adjusting items            
    Impact of adjusting items on operating expenses:            
    Strategic initiatives costs – Salaries, wages, and benefits     —     4,633     5,329     5,593     5,329  
    Strategic initiatives costs – General and administrative expenses     —     4,283     5,437     7,806     8,342  
       Share-based compensation     13,687     12,242     12,346     43,435     36,429  
       Amortization of convertible debenture discount     —     —     772     1,517     3,038  
    Total impact of adjusting items on operating expenses     13,687     21,158     23,884     58,351     53,138  
    Total pre-tax impact of adjusting items     13,687     21,158     23,884     58,351     53,138  
    Total after-tax impact of adjusting items     10,265     15,667     17,667     43,763     27,478  
    Total impact of adjusting items on EPS [basic]     0.03     0.04     0.05     0.11     0.07  
    Total impact of adjusting items on EPS [diluted]     0.03     0.04     0.04     0.11     0.06  
                                     
                                For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s  except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted)   December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
    Adjusted results   US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Adjusted net revenue     270,890     279,636     245,129     1,087,560     959,099  
    Adjusted operating expenses     127,547     118,209     110,201     486,330     428,611  
    Adjusted operating income     143,343     161,427     134,928     601,230     530,488  
    Adjusted operating margin     52.9 %   57.7 %   55.0 %   55.3 %   55.3 %
    Provision for income taxes     29,370     35,402     21,846     126,420     103,347  
    Adjustments:            
    Pre-tax income     5,481     6,213     8,184     22,465     21,153  
    Foreign tax rate differential and other     985     275     5,092     1,474     5,607  
    Provision for taxes applicable to adjusted results     35,836     41,890     35,122     150,359     130,107  
    Adjusted net income     107,507     119,537     99,806     450,871     400,381  
    Adjusted EPS [basic]   $ 0.27   $ 0.29   $ 0.25   $ 1.12   $ 0.98  
    Adjusted EPS [diluted]   $ 0.27   $ 0.29   $ 0.24   $ 1.10   $ 0.96  
                                     

    The following table summarizes key statement of financial position amounts for the periods presented.

    Selected statement of financial position amounts                           For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s unless otherwise noted)   December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
        US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Total Finance receivables, before allowance for credit losses E 7,576,386   7,612,881   7,225,093   7,576,386   7,225,093  
    Allowance for credit losses F 6,168   6,069   5,539   6,168   5,539  
    Net investment in finance receivable G 4,968,294   5,251,679   4,964,175   4,968,294   4,964,175  
    Equipment under operating leases H 2,435,430   2,537,369   2,646,158   2,435,430   2,646,158  
    Net earning assets I=G+H 7,403,724   7,789,048   7,610,333   7,403,724   7,610,333  
    Average net earning assets J 7,848,023   8,059,992   7,494,361   7,980,144   7,008,655  
    Goodwill and intangible assets K 1,672,701   1,581,560   1,596,323   1,672,701   1,596,323  
    Average goodwill and intangible assets L 1,675,336   1,581,776   1,589,182   1,607,766   1,590,290  
    Borrowings M 8,463,789   8,472,130   8,018,132   8,463,789   8,018,132  
    Unsecured convertible debentures N —   —   127,816   —   127,816  
    Less: continuing involvement liability O (132,683 ) (125,225 ) (81,851 ) (132,683 ) (81,851 )
    Total debt P=M+N-O 8,331,106   8,346,905   8,064,097   8,331,106   8,064,097  
    Cash and restricted funds P1 408,621   337,247   350,637   408,621   350,637  
    Total net debt P2 = P-P1 7,922,485   8,009,658   7,713,460   7,922,485   7,713,460  
    Average debt Q 8,313,527   8,582,383   7,829,218   8,473,105   7,361,960  
    Total shareholders’ equity R 2,774,315   2,774,502   2,943,828   2,774,315   2,943,828  
    Preferred shares S —   —   181,077   —   181,077  
    Common shareholders’ equity T=R-S 2,774,315   2,774,502   2,762,751   2,774,315   2,762,751  
    Average common shareholders’ equity U 2,768,504   2,781,421   2,713,843   2,770,044   2,664,760  
    Average total shareholders’ equity V 2,768,504   2,843,024   2,949,789   2,868,593   2,921,281  
                           

    Throughout this press release, management uses the following terms and ratios which do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other organizations. Non-GAAP measures are reported in addition to, and should not be considered alternatives to, measures of performance according to IFRS.

    Adjusted operating expenses

    Adjusted operating expenses are equal to salaries, wages and benefits, general and administrative expenses, and depreciation and amortization less adjusting items impacting operating expenses. The following table reconciles the Company’s reported expenses to adjusted operating expenses.

                              For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted) December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
      US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Reported Expenses 149,463 145,669   141,716 574,003 510,153
    Less:          
    Amortization of intangible assets from acquisitions 7,819 6,970   6,971 28,734 27,912
    Loss (gain) on investments 410 (668 ) 660 588 492
    Operating expenses 141,234 139,367   134,085 544,681 481,749
    Less:          
      Amortization of convertible debenture discount — —   772 1,517 3,038
      Share-based compensation 13,687 12,242   12,346 43,435 36,429
      Strategic initiatives costs – Salaries, wages and benefits — 4,633   5,329 5,593 5,329
      Strategic initiatives costs – General and administrative expenses — 4,283   5,437 7,806 8,342
    Total adjustments 13,687 21,158   23,884 58,351 53,138
    Adjusted operating expenses 127,547 118,209   110,201 486,330 428,611
                 

    Adjusted operating income or Pre-tax adjusted operating income

    Adjusted operating income reflects net income or loss for the period adjusted for the amortization of debenture discount, share-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets from acquisitions, provision for or recovery of income taxes, loss or income on investments, and adjusting items from the table below.

    The following tables reconciles income before taxes to adjusted operating income.

                              For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted) December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
      US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Income before income taxes 121,427 133,967   103,413 513,557 448,946
    Adjustments:          
    Amortization of convertible debenture discount — —   772 1,517 3,038
    Share-based compensation 13,687 12,242   12,346 43,435 36,429
    Amortization of intangible assets from acquisition 7,819 6,970   6,971 28,734 27,912
    Loss (gain) on investments 410 (668 ) 660 588 492
    Adjusting Items:          
    Strategic initiatives costs – Salaries, wages and benefits — 4,633   5,329 5,593 5,329
    Strategic initiatives costs – General and administrative expenses — 4,283   5,437 7,806 8,342
    Total pre-tax impact of adjusting items — 8,916   10,766 13,399 13,671
    Adjusted operating income 143,343 161,427   134,928 601,230 530,488
                 

    Adjusted operating margin

    Adjusted operating margin is the adjusted operating income before taxes for the period divided by the net revenue for the period.

    After-tax adjusted operating income

    After-tax adjusted operating income reflects the adjusted operating income after the application of the Company’s effective tax rates.

    Adjusted net income

    Adjusted net income reflects reported net income less the after-tax impacts of adjusting items. The following table reconciles reported net income to adjusted net income.

                              For the three-month period ended For the year ended
    (in US$000’s except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted) December 31,
    2024    		 September 30,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023
      US$ US$ US$ US$ US$
    Net income 92,057   98,565   81,567   387,137   345,599  
    Amortization of convertible debenture discount —   —   772   1,517   3,038  
    Share-based compensation 13,687   12,242   12,346   43,435   36,429  
    Amortization of intangible assets from acquisition 7,819   6,970   6,971   28,734   27,912  
    Loss (gain) on investments 410   (668 ) 660   588   492  
    Strategic initiatives costs – Salaries, wages and benefits —   4,633   5,329   5,593   5,329  
    Strategic initiatives costs – General and administrative expenses —   4,283   5,437   7,806   8,342  
    Provision for income taxes 29,370   35,402   21,846   126,420   103,347  
    Provision for taxes applicable to adjusted results (35,836 ) (41,890 ) (35,122 ) (150,359 ) (130,107 )
    Adjusted net income 107,507   119,537   99,806   450,871   400,381  
                         

    After-tax adjusted operating income attributable to common shareholders

    After-tax adjusted operating income attributable to common shareholders is computed as after-tax adjusted operating income less the cumulative preferred share dividends for the period.

    About Element Fleet Management

    Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven company, we provide a full range of sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions to optimize and enhance fleet performance for our clients across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Our services address every aspect of our clients’ fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, route optimization, risk management, and remarketing, to advising on decarbonization efforts, integration of electric vehicles and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element’s expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency and performance. At Element, we maximize our clients’ fleet so they can focus on growing their business. For more information, please visit: https://www.elementfleet.com

    This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Element and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and views of future events. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “believe” or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements regarding Element’s financial performance, enhancements to clients’ service experience and service levels; expectations regarding client and revenue retention trends; management of operating expenses; increases in efficiency; Element’s ability to achieve its sustainability objectives; Element achieving its digital platform ambitions; the Autofleet acquisition enabling the Company to scale its business more quickly, achieve operational efficiencies, increase client and shareholder value and unlock new revenues streams; EV strategy and capabilities; global EV adoption rates; dividend policy and the payment of future dividends; the costs and benefits of strategic initiatives; creation of value for all stakeholders; expectations regarding syndication; growth prospects and expected revenue growth; level of workforce engagement; improvements to magnitude and quality of earnings; executive hiring and retention; focus and discipline in investing; balance sheet management and plans and expectations with respect to leverage ratios;  and Element’s proposed share purchases, including the number of common shares to be repurchased, the timing thereof and TSX acceptance of the NCIB and any renewal thereof. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Element’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Such risks and uncertainties include those regarding the fleet management and finance industries, economic factors, regulatory landscape and many other factors beyond the control of Element. A discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with this outlook can be found in Element’s annual MD&A, and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, each of which has been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Element undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cook Islands needs to ‘stand on our own two feet,’ says Brown – wins confidence vote

    RNZ Pacific

    Prime Minister Mark Brown has survived a motion in the Cook Islands Parliament aimed at ousting his government, the second Pacific Island leader to face a no-confidence vote this week.

    In a vote yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, Cook Islands time), the man who has been at the centre of controversy in the past few weeks, defeated the motion by 13 votes to 9. Two government ministers were absent for the vote.

    The motion was put forward by the opposition MP Teariki Heather, the leader of the Cook Islands United Party.

    Ahead of the vote, Heather acknowledged that Brown had majority support in Parliament.

    However, he said he was moving the motion on principle after recent decisions by Brown, including a proposal to create a Cook Islands passport and shunning New Zealand from deals it made with China, which has divided Cook Islanders.

    “These are the merits that I am presenting before this House. We have the support of our people and those living outside the country, and so it is my challenge. Where do you stand in this House?” Heather said.

    Brown said his country has been so successful in its development in recent years that it graduated to first world status in 2020.

    ‘Engage on equal footing’
    “We need to stand on our own two feet, and we need to engage with our partners on an equal footing,” he said.

    “Economic and financial independence must come first before political independence, and that was what I discussed and made clear when I met with the New Zealand prime minister and deputy prime minister in Wellington in November.”

    Brown said the issues Cook Islanders faced today were not just about passports and agreements but about Cook Islands expressing its self-determination.

    “This is not about consultation. This is about control.”

    “We cannot compete with New Zealand. When their one-sided messaging is so compelling that even our opposition members will be swayed.

    “We never once talked to the New Zealand government about cutting our ties with New Zealand but the message our people received was that we were cutting our ties with New Zealand.

    “We have been discussing the comprehensive partnership with New Zealand for months. But the messaging that got out is that we have not consulted.

    ‘We are not a child’
    “We are a partner in the relationship with New Zealand. We are not a child.”

    He said the motion of no confidence had been built on misinformation to the extent that the mover of the motion has stated publicly that he was moving this motion in support of New Zealand.

    “The influence of New Zealand in this motion of no confidence should be of concern to all Cook Islands who value . . . who value our country.

    “My job is not to fly the New Zealand flag. My job is to fly my own country’s flag.”

    Last week, hundreds of Cook Islanders opposing Brown’s political decisions rallied in Avarua, demanding that he step down for damaging the relationship between Aotearoa and Cook Islands.

    The Cook Islands is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. It is part of the Realm of New Zealand, sharing the same Head of State.

    This year, the island marks its 60th year of self-governance.

    According to Cook Islands 2021 Census, its population is less than 15,000.

    New Zealand remains the largest home to the Cook Islands community, with over 80,000 Cook Islands Māori, while about 28,000 live in Australia.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Over $250 million now allocated to Vic road safety projects

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    Additional funding is set to support 16 new life-saving projects across both metropolitan and regional roads in Victoria, under the Australian Government’s Road Safety Program. 

    The Federal Government is partnering with the Victorian Government to provide contributions of over $69.7 million each, for a joint investment of over $139.4 million, bringing the total joint investment by both governments under the Program to $259.5 million.

    This boost in funding will ensure greater levels of safety by targeting notorious crossing, intersections and thoroughfares across Victoria, further reducing the risk of crashes that cause fatal or serious injuries.

    For instance, traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Deakin Avenue (Sturt Highway) and Sixteenth Street in Mildura – a known black spot – and at Stud Road and McFees Road in Dandenong. 

    Upgraded traffic signals to boost pedestrian safety will also be rolled out at notorious intersections in Frankston, Banyule and Bayside, while dedicated right turns will be introduced at four intersections across Ararat, Ballarat, and Horsham. 

    In regional Victoria, a $22 million package of works will deliver line marking improvements at high-risk intersections across the Gippsland, Hume, Loddon-Mallee, Grampians, and Barwon South-West regions. $10 million will also be provided to improve safety for motorcyclists, through improved protections on barriers, skid resistance, shoulder sealing, and curve signage.

    Approximately 172 new construction jobs are expected to be created over the life of the Program across Victoria. Further information on the Road Safety Program can be found here. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm:

    “This additional funding is all part of our collective promise to do what we can to significantly reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and it’s great to see the Victorian Government come to the table and collaborate with us on this.

    “These projects won’t just improve safety, they’ll also provide those living in regional communities across Victoria with employment opportunities in the construction and planning industry.

    “The wider Road Safety Program forms part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitment to work with state and territory governments to fund the priority road safety works they identify.” 

    Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Local Government, Ports and Freight, Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne:

    “Any life lost on our roads is a tragedy, that’s why we’re working with the Federal Government to reduce road trauma – in the Albanese Government we have a partner in Canberra that backs infrastructure investment in Victoria.

    “These new projects build on our record investment in road safety infrastructure which is saving lives, reducing injuries and preventing crashes before they happen.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Consumer warning as NSW Fair Trading odometer tampering crackdown fines 28 sellers in one month

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading

    Used-car buyers are being urged to check a vehicle’s history before purchase after NSW Fair Trading issued 28 fines in a month and a man was sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections order for unlicensed motor dealing and odometer tampering.

    During the crackdown, NSW Fair Trading issued 54 penalty notices in relation to car sales and repairs valued at more than $100,000. While more than half were for odometer interference, other offences included the non-supply of goods and services, and unlicensed vehicles and sales.

    Additionally, Andrew Rodney Leech pled guilty to operating without a motor dealer’s licence and odometer tampering. Between 2020 and 2022 Leech sold 16 vehicles while unlicensed, online with one car having an odometer that had been wound back by more than 200,000 kilometres. 

    Buyers of used vehicles are being urged to research the car’s history to ensure it has no outstanding finance, has not been written off in a crash, and has accurate odometer readings. 

    The NSW Government offers a free vehicle registration check where prospective buyers have access to a NSW-registered vehicle’s previous three annual odometer readings, as well as basic details like vehicle make, registration and insurance history.

    Across the motor vehicle industry in 2024, NSW Fair Trading took disciplinary action against 21 licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers, resulting in 10 licence cancellations, 13 disqualifications including three permanent, and one suspension.

    For more information on consumer protections relating to purchasing a used vehicle visit the NSW Fair Trading website.

    To check registration, including odometer reading visit the website of Service NSW or the Service NSW App.

    Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:

    “Odometer tampering is used by unscrupulous sellers to increase the value of a vehicle leaving the buyer with a vehicle which is not in the condition advertised, and likely to require repairs at cost and inconvenience to the buyer.

    “Sellers of used cars who reduce the number of kilometres displayed on the vehicle can be fined $1,100 per offence, and if taken to court can receive a penalty of up to $55,000 per offence.

    “Any buyer of a used car from any source, whether that be online like Facebook Marketplace or through a licenced car dealer, should do their homework including visiting the Service NSW website to run a free history check on the car they wish to purchase.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Busiest hospitals in Australia reducing wait times

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Health

    Some of the busiest hospitals in Australia have significantly reduced the time people are waiting for treatment to commence in emergency departments.

    Liverpool ED – which receives more than  90,000 presentations each year – has halved average time to treatment for triage 2 emergency patients, from 18 minutes to 9 minutes over the past year.

    Westmead ED – which receives close to 80,000 presentations each year – has reduced average time to treatment for triage 2 emergency patients by over a third, from 15 minutes to 9 minutes.

    Nepean ED – which receives close to 90,000 presentations each year – has seen the percentage of patients transferred from paramedics to ED staff on time increase from 65.1 per cent to 82.2 per cent. This figure also indicates significant a improvement to ambulance access at the hospital.

    Triage 2 emergency cases are categorised as people with an imminently life-threatening condition.

    People in this category could be suffering from chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke, or severe fractures.

    Meanwhile, Gosford ED – which receives almost 80,000 presentations each year – has seen a reduction in wait times for non-urgent conditions from 86 minutes to 72 minutes.

    It follows the Minns Labor Government’s investment of half a billion dollars to relieve pressure on NSW EDs – designed to create more pathways to care outside the hospital, as well as improve patient flow inside the hospital – which includes:

    • $171.4 million to introduce three additional virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED;
    • $100 million to back in our urgent care services to become a mainstay and key instrument of the health system in providing a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients;
    • $70 million to expand ED short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours;
    • $15.1 million for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times;
    • $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed; and
    • $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identified  patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves because these figures while encouraging, will fluctuate.

    “Our EDs continue to grapple with record pressure and demand, and we mustn’t forget that.

    “These reduced wait times are a testament to the hard working health staff in some of the busiest hospitals in one of the busiest health systems in the world.

    “I want to remind people who struggle to find a GP, you can ring HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where you will speak with a registered nurse who can direct you to an urgent care service or clinic.

    “It’s free and it could save you waiting unnecessarily in an ED.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Housing Delivery Authority fast tracks 18 projects as State Significant Developments

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 27 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has declared a further 18 housing proposals State Significant Developments (SSDs) following the second round of recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority.

    The new housing proposals, if approved, could deliver more than 8600 much-needed new homes.

    At its first two meetings, the authority has declared 29 proposals with more than 15,000 potential homes as state significant.

    The Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has been established by the Minns Labor Government with a strong mandate to speed up assessment timeframes.

    This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose.

    The HDA is now accepting expressions of interest for major residential developments above $60 million in metropolitan areas and $30 million in regional NSW.

    To date, the authority has received over 200 expressions of interest since it first invited proposals in January 2025. At its latest meeting, a further 39 proposals were examined.

    The authority is prioritising high-quality housing projects with detailed plans that can be submitted within nine months and can begin construction within 12 months of approval.

    All proposals declared as an SSD will have their development applications assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

    Without needing to be approved by councils, this can cut approval times and speed up the delivery of new homes.

    These complex proposals often require greater resources and planning capabilities and as a result, the projects can get stuck in council planning systems for years.

    The HDA offers proponents a new State Significant Development pathway, with the option of concurrent rezoning and assessment.

    The SSD applications will be publicly exhibited before they are determined, and the planning department will seek input from councils.

    The HDA builds on the Minns Government’s recent reforms to the planning system to speed up the delivery of more homes, including:

    • The development of the NSW Pattern Book and accelerated planning pathway for those who use the pre-approved patterns.
    • The largest rezoning in NSW history around transport hubs.
    • The largest ever investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing in NSW.
    • $200 million in financial incentives for councils that meet the new expectations for development applications, planning proposals and strategic planning.
    • $450 million to build new apartments for essential workers including nurses, paramedics, teachers, allied health care workers, police officers and firefighters.

    Once a project has been declared SSD, the proponent will be issued Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEAR). Proponents then have nine months to prepare their Environmental Impact Statement or the SEARs will be revoked.

    Clear advice and guidance will be provided to all applicants by the department on the next steps to take with their development proposal. This advice includes an alternative planning pathway for major housing projects that may require a concurrent rezoning but do not satisfy the criteria of the HDA pathway.

    Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration. For more information visit the Housing Delivery Authority webpage.

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “We are fast-tracking quality housing proposals to help deliver homes our state desperately needs.

    “These major projects could deliver thousands of homes for young people, families and workers.

    “The Housing Delivery Authority is a major change that is already making it easier and faster to get started.

    “Without our changes to increase housing supply, Sydney risks becoming a city without a future because it’s simply too expensive to put a roof over your head.”

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The Minns Labor Government established the HDA to reduce the time it takes for proposals to progress through a planning pathway, and it is pleasing to see the that the first two HDA meetings have delivered quality proposals that will now develop detailed proposals.

    “So far, 29 proposals amounting to more than 15,000 potential homes have been declared state significant.

    “The quality of proposals recommended to me by the HDA shows that developers are hearing the message, we’re looking for major housing developments that can get out of the ground quickly.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Over $250 million now allocated to Victorian road safety projects

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Additional funding is set to support 16 new life-saving projects across both metropolitan and regional roads in Victoria, under the Australian Government’s Road Safety Program. 

    The Federal Government is partnering with the Victorian Government to provide contributions of over $69.7 million each, for a joint investment of over $139.4 million, bringing the total joint investment by both governments under the Program to $259.5 million.

    This boost in funding will ensure greater levels of safety by targeting notorious crossing, intersections and thoroughfares across Victoria, further reducing the risk of crashes that cause fatal or serious injuries.

    For instance, traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Deakin Avenue (Sturt Highway) and Sixteenth Street in Mildura – a known black spot – and at Stud Road and McFees Road in Dandenong. 

    Upgraded traffic signals to boost pedestrian safety will also be rolled out at notorious intersections in Frankston, Banyule and Bayside, while dedicated right turns will be introduced at four intersections across Ararat, Ballarat, and Horsham. 

    In regional Victoria, a $22 million package of works will deliver line marking improvements at high-risk intersections across the Gippsland, Hume, Loddon-Mallee, Grampians, and Barwon South-West regions. $10 million will also be provided to improve safety for motorcyclists, through improved protections on barriers, skid resistance, shoulder sealing, and curve signage.

    Approximately 172 new construction jobs are expected to be created over the life of the Program across Victoria. Further information on the Road Safety Program can be found here. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm:

    “This additional funding is all part of our collective promise to do what we can to significantly reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and it’s great to see the Victorian Government come to the table and collaborate with us on this.

    “These projects won’t just improve safety, they’ll also provide those living in regional communities across Victoria with employment opportunities in the construction and planning industry.

    “The wider Road Safety Program forms part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitment to work with state and territory governments to fund the priority road safety works they identify.” 

    Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Local Government, Ports and Freight, Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne:

    “Any life lost on our roads is a tragedy, that’s why we’re working with the Federal Government to reduce road trauma – in the Albanese Government we have a partner in Canberra that backs infrastructure investment in Victoria.

    “These new projects build on our record investment in road safety infrastructure which is saving lives, reducing injuries and preventing crashes before they happen.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Labor Government building Brisbane’s future

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government is building Brisbane’s future, investing over $200 million in transport projects that will revitalise the city and reshape the way we move. 

    People living in Brisbane will have more opportunities to walk, cycle and catch public transport through the city thanks to support from the Albanese Government.

    $50 million will support the delivery of a business case, in partnership with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, to expand the Brisbane Metro to the city’s northern suburbs. 

    This investment builds on $51.5 million of additional funding recently committed to Brisbane Metro to ensure the project’s delivery, taking the Australian Government’s total contribution to this transformative public transport project to over $400 million.

    The Government will also contribute to the development of business cases to improve important transport links and enhance infrastructure across the city, including: 

    • $2.25 million to investigate the cost and scope of works required for the restoration and future maintenance of the iconic Story Bridge.
    • $1 million to deliver an updated business case for the construction of a new active travel bridge from Toowong to West End. 

    The Albanese Government also recently committed $78.5 million towards cost pressures on the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade project, replacing the Indooroopilly roundabout with an overpass over Moggill Road, upgrading key intersections and providing new on-road cycling facilities and footpaths. This new investment takes the Government’s total contribution to this project to $128.5 million. 

    Brisbane City Council will also receive $5 million towards a $12 million project to construct the Sylvan Road Bikeway under the Albanese Government’s $100 million Active Transport Fund. This will complete the link between the Western Freeway Bikeway and the Bicentennial Bikeway – providing 20 kilometres of continuous dedicated cycling path between Brisbane’s west and the CBD. 

    The Albanese Government is also contributing a further $20 million for the Brisbane Valley Highway Safety Upgrades project, for a total Australian Government commitment of $40 million. This project will improve road safety and reduce road injuries and fatalities along this important highway. 

    In total, the Australian Government is investing $28.9 billion in transport infrastructure projects in Queensland over the next ten years. 

    Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “With southeast Queensland being one of the fastest growing regions in the country, we’re delivering the infrastructure Brisbane needs to be well connected – boosting the river city’s liveability and economic activity.

    “I’m proud to be part of a Government which is building this country’s future, partnering with local and state governments to invest in the infrastructure our communities need to thrive.”

    Quotes attributable to Senator the Hon Murray Watt:

    “With Brisbane continuing to grow at a rapid pace, it’s important we invest in projects that improve connectivity and build safe and active transport options for our residents – and that what this funding does.

    “Whether you’re jumping on the new metro, cycling out west or crossing the most quintessential of Brisbane of landmarks, the Story Bridge, the Albanese Government is contributing strongly to keeping this city moving.”

    Quotes attributable to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner: 

    “Better roads and better transport are critical to keeping Brisbane moving and we need all three levels of government working together to achieve this. 

    “With the Australian Government’s support, we can now progress a rapid business case to progress the expansion of Brisbane Metro to Carseldine, Capalaba, Springwood and out to the airport.

    “This funding will also help us progress a business case to ensure the Story Bridge continues to play a critical role in the national transport network for another 100 years.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann: 

    “The Brisbane Valley Highway is a busy highway with a significant number of vehicles using it to travel in and out of Ipswich every day, and I have been strongly advocating for action to address safety concerns. 

    “This additional funding boost to what we have already delivered in our community will greatly improve safety and connectivity along what is the main artery between the Somerset region and South East Queensland.” 

     

    New Projects

    Project name

    AG Commitment ($m)
    Brisbane Metro Expansion

    50.0
    Story Bridge Renewal Business Case

    2.25
    Sylvan Road Bikeway

    5.0
    Bridges for Brisbane

    1.0
    Total

    58.25

     

    Projects receiving additional funding

    Project name

    Additional AG Funding ($m)
    Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade (Indooroopilly Roundabout Project)

    78.5
    Brisbane Metro

    51.5
    Brisbane Valley Highway Safety Upgrades

    20.0
    Total

    150.0

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s Efforts To Strip Away Health Care Benefits From Veterans Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxic Substances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, author of the burn pits section of the PACT Act, issued the following statement about President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to cancel contracts for the PACT Act Enterprise Program Management Office as a part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) funding cuts. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law in 2022. The historic legislation established a presumptive service connection to certain illnesses for service members and veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins, eliminating many obstacles they had to go through to receive crucial health care and benefits.

    In August 2024, Gillibrand announced that more than 1 million veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins have been awarded care and benefits through the PACT Act. It is estimated that roughly 3.5 million military personnel could have been exposed to burn pits and are eligible to receive benefits.

    “The PACT Act ensures access to critical health care for the millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving abroad. This bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, demonstrating that Congress understood its responsibility to care for our veterans as they battle diseases related to their service,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It is outrageous that President Trump and Elon Musk would cancel funded contracts that enable proper implementation of the PACT Act. This important work ensures that eligible veterans are tracked and also monitors implementation so that veterans get the health care and benefits they earned. I am calling on them to immediately reverse these cuts.”

    Gillibrand first introduced the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act in September 2020, alongside a bicameral group that included Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), comedian Jon Stewart, activist John Feal, and a strong coalition of veterans service organizations. The group introduced an updated, bipartisan version in the spring of 2021 together with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). In May 2022, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran announced a bipartisan deal on toxic exposure legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Gillibrand’s Presumptive Benefits bill formed the cornerstone of the presumptive care section of the final package. The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11 and was signed into law by President Biden on August 10th, 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australians at risk: how deceptive online tactics are manipulating us

    Source: University of South Australia

    27 February 2025

    Australians are being manipulated online every day through digital tactics designed to trick them into handing over personal data, making unintended purchases and engaging with online platforms in ways they had never intended.

    A new report by the University of South Australia reveals that these deceptive patterns – also known as ‘dark patterns’ – are found in 95% of the world’s most popular apps, and more than 11% of major online shopping platforms.

    They are widespread across social media, e-commerce and mobile applications, posing significant risks to consumers’ autonomy, privacy and financial security.

    The report, commissioned by the Federal Treasury, highlights the deceptive patterns that influence and manipulate consumer behaviour.

    These include misleading countdown timers that create a sense of urgency, hidden fees, pre-selected consent options, and obstacles to unsubscribing from services and websites.

    Lead author of the report, Dr James Baumeister from UniSA’s Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE) says that deceptive patterns have become a major consumer protection issue, with Australians spending more time and money online.

    “These tactics are designed to manipulate users into actions they wouldn’t normally take, whether it’s making an unintended purchase, giving away more data than necessary, or simply struggling to cancel an unwanted subscription,” Dr Baumeister says.

    The report reveals that no one is immune to deceptive patterns, but some groups are more vulnerable than others.

    Older Australians and those with lower digital literacy are at higher risk, often failing to recognise misleading online tactics. Teenagers are also targeted through social media platforms, where deceptive engagement techniques keep them scrolling for hours longer than intended.

    “The financial impact is substantial,” Dr Baumeister says. “One in four Australians report difficulty understanding promotional price tags in physical stores and this issue is exacerbated online, with hidden fees and misleading sales tactics leading to unexpected costs.”

    Report co-author, UniSA Enterprise Fellow Dr James Walsh, says companies are using artificial intelligence profiling to predict and manipulate user behaviour with increasing accuracy.

    “Fake reviews, manipulative cookie consent pop-ups, and misleading product recommendations are all being enhanced through AI technologies, making consumers even more vulnerable,” Dr Walsh says.

    The report argues that awareness alone is not enough to protect consumers. Regulatory reform and enforcement are urgently needed to curb deceptive practices and hold companies to account.

    “While Australian consumer laws address some blatant deceptive patterns, many subtle tactics still fall through legal loopholes.

    “We need a multi-faceted approach. Regulators must act, companies need to be held accountable, and consumers should be equipped with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves,” Dr Walsh says.

    Note to editors

    The report, titled “Patterns in the Dark: Deceptive Practices in Online Interactions,” was prepared by IVE researchers Dr James Baumeister, Ji-Young Park, Dr Andrew Cunningham, Associate Professor Stewart Von Itzstein, Professor Ian Gwilt, Dr Aaron Davis and Dr James Walsh.

    For a copy of the report please email candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

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

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
    Research contact: Dr James Baumeister E: james.baumeister@unisa.edu.au

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