NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

    Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more than 330 million Americans.

    As health secretary, Kennedy will be involved in overseeing federal health agencies that regulate medical research, disease prevention, drug approvals and health-care programs.

    This includes oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, which are among the most crucial public health agencies in the country.

    Reports suggest he’ll oversee a budget in the order of US$1.8 trillion (A$2.8 trillion) annually.

    In the era of Trump 2.0, there’s little that shocks me anymore. But Kennedy would have to be the most unqualified person ever to hold this crucial role of protecting the health of the American people.

    A history of discounting science

    The absolute minimum requirement for someone occupying such as role should be an understanding of science and respect for scientific evidence and expertise. Yet, Kennedy fails spectacularly in this regard.

    Here are just some of the false claims he has made over the years:

    None of these positions has even the smallest amount of scientific support.

    It’s hard to predict what Kennedy will do as health secretary, especially given his confirmation hearings looked to be an exercise in being vague, evasive and denying or downplaying his prior controversial statements to secure support.

    But there are three areas where his views are fairly clear and his appointment could be expected to have a significant impact. These are water fluoridation, infectious diseases research and vaccines.

    Fluoridation of water

    Kennedy has been a long-term opponent of water fluoridation, despite its proven benefits in preventing tooth decay. He has consistently questioned its safety and claimed it’s linked to a range of illnesses such as arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.

    While a recent review suggested a link between water fluoridation and lower IQ in children, the levels of fluoride in the water in countries included in this review were generally several times higher than the levels in public water fluoridation programs in countries such as the US and Australia. There were also other limitations that make interpreting these findings challenging.

    The CDC has identified community water fluoridation as as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. And it continues to benefit dental health today, without any convincing evidence of possible harms.

    Nonetheless, it seems likely that in keeping with his longstanding views one of Kennedy’s first priorities will be to try to halt water fluoridation in the US.

    Infectious diseases

    Alongside his confirmation as health secretary, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing “The President’s Commission to Make America Healthy Again”, with Kennedy as the chair.

    The Make America Healthy Again movement (MAHA) is an initiative driven by Kennedy focusing on improving nutrition, increasing transparency in medical practices and reducing the corporate influence in health.

    Though premised primarily on combating chronic diseases, the movement also embraces scepticism of established medical practices, unproven alternative therapies and a general mistrust of institutions.

    What’s more, Kennedy’s focus on chronic diseases seems to be coming at the expense of continued work on infectious diseases.

    He has proposed directing the National Institutes of Health to pause infectious disease research for eight years to prioritise research into chronic diseases and alternative treatments.

    As health secretary, Kennedy has the power to shift research priorities. If he were to effectively halt infectious diseases research – in the wake of COVID and with a looming threat of future pandemics – this would be catastrophic for the US and global health.

    Vaccine scepticism

    Related to infectious diseases, there’s little doubt the area in which Kennedy has done the most damage relates to vaccines.

    He has dedicated a large part of his life to undermining public confidence in vaccines. This is despite overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, and the millions of lives they’ve saved.

    Although he has subsequently denied it, Kennedy is on record as falsely stating there is no such thing as a safe and effective vaccine. Notably, he has continued to push the debunked claim that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to autism, despite the single study finding this having been widely discredited.

    Kennedy’s frequent assertion that he’s not anti-vaccine, but “pro-safety”, is also deeply disingenuous. Being “pro-safety” is a deliberately vague notion designed to appear reasonable while at the same time undermining the scientific evidence.

    The impact of Kennedy’s appointment as health secretary on vaccine confidence will not just be limited to the US. Vaccine hesitancy has been recognised as one of the greatest threats to public health. Having a vaccine sceptic leading the US health agencies has the potential to harm vaccine uptake worldwide.

    As we’ve seen during the COVID pandemic, producing a vaccine is only half the battle. Convincing people to take it is just as important. There’s no doubt Kennedy’s influence on public health messaging could further erode vaccine confidence at a time when vaccine messaging must be clear.

    It’s bad news for the US and the world

    One of the reasons Kennedy poses such a threat to public health in the US and globally is his lack of trust in science. He believes a narrative can be crafted by picking and choosing any study that fits with his world view, regardless of its quality.

    In addition, he personifies the bad-faith tactics of conspiracy theorists globally, “selling” the flawed premise that any assertion is valid until others prove it false.

    What the world needs now is a safe pair of hands leading public health in the US. Someone who is guided by evidence – not someone who promotes anti-science propaganda and conspiracy theories.

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

    – ref. In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health – https://theconversation.com/in-robert-f-kennedy-jr-the-us-has-put-a-conspiracy-theorist-in-charge-of-public-health-249601

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 39-2025: List of treatment providers: treatment provider suspended – Real Port Lojistik limited sirketi (AEI: TR4032SB), Advancer IFM PTE LTD (AEI: SG4012SB), Chemifume Pte Ltd (AEI: SG4017SB)

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    14 February 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended Real Port Lojistik limited sirketi (AEI: TR4032SB), Advancer IFM PTE LTD (AEI: SG4012SB) and…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Property damage – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a property damage incident that occurred at a school in Tennant Creek this morning.

    About 6:45am, police received reports of unlawful entries to several buildings within a school on Stuart Street, resulting in substantial damage being sustained.

    Police responded and commenced forensic examinations. Investigations remain ongoing to identify those responsible for the damage and police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444. You can anonymously report crime on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ derivatives ride blockbuster wave, eye global market

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken on Feb. 13, 2025 shows a poster for the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” at a cinema in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Fans of record-breaking blockbuster Chinese movie “Ne Zha 2” are making significant waves in the derivatives market, clearing out retailer inventories and even creating DIY character-shaped dolls and food items.

    Since the film’s debut on the first day of the Chinese New Year, which was Jan. 29 this year, sales of its collectibles, ranging from mystery toy boxes and cards to fridge magnets and badges, have reportedly topped 50 million yuan (about 6.97 million U.S. dollars) on Taobao, a leading e-commerce platform in China.

    This sequel to the 2019 hit “Ne Zha,” with inspirations derived from Chinese mythological tales, has already drawn over 200 million cinema-goers, the highest number in the country’s film history.

    The film became an instant holiday box office hit thanks to its contemporary re-imagination of Ne Zha, a well-known mythical figure with extraordinary powers, and via its intriguing plot twists. As of Wednesday, it had grossed over 9 billion yuan, igniting high public enthusiasm for its collectibles.

    Customers inquiring about toys featuring characters from the film are often left disappointed at stores across China. A salesperson at a trendy toy store in downtown Nanjing in east China’s Jiangsu Province said even display samples were sold out. “We expect to restock items like laser cards later.”

    Notably, Hunan Sunny & Sandy Toys Manufacturer Co. Ltd., the film’s sole licensed manufacturer of 3D food-grade plastic toys in China, reported sales of over 450,000 mystery toy box sets through live-streaming in just 11 days — ranking first in terms of the sales of board-game merchandise on the video platform. In addition, more than 10 million of these sets have been sold through offline partnerships.

    Yang Zhenlin, assistant to the company’s chairman, said their factory workshops had to resume operations ahead of schedule after the Spring Festival holiday, with their hundreds of staff members working tirelessly to replenish inventory. “We had great confidence in the film even before its release, so we promptly secured the copyright,” Yang told Xinhua.

    This week, on e-commerce platforms, some stores have gradually restored supplies. Businesses in the second-hand market have remained brisk.

    Fans have also discovered that the gold bracelets they had purchased after the first Ne Zha film came out in 2019, with designs inspired by the “universe ring” on Ne Zha’s arm, have tripled in value on the second-hand market, thanks to both the success of “Ne Zha 2” and a higher gold price.

    Some fans have gone so far as to make their own versions of it, using wood, plasticine, flour and even thread. Coinciding with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12, netizens shared creative improvisations of Ne Zha-shaped glutinous rice dumplings, a festive food.

    Miao Lingyi, a 10-year-old girl living in east China’s Shanghai, expressed her admiration for the character Ao Bing, the son of the Dragon King, stating her desire to use her pocket money to buy a collectible featuring him. “I really love the character and I don’t mind waiting a while for the collectible,” she said.

    According to experts, the film’s huge success stemming from its captivating plot and stunning special effects, has evoked emotional attachment and resonance with characters among its audiences, while some related products feature limited edition designs — thereby enhancing their value as collectibles and stimulating consumer purchasing enthusiasm.

    Ye Guofu, founder of MINISO, a Chinese retailer known for its fashionable but affordable household products, said that Chinese consumers’ growing focus on emotional value attached to commodities, particularly among the younger generations, is expected to further drive the consumption of IP-featured products, such as those related to domestic animated films and games.

    With this lucrative market rapidly expanding, experts have stressed the importance of both IP innovation and product quality, while warning against risks of market irregularities and intellectual property rights violations.

    Law professor Zheng Ning with Communication University of China suggested that market regulators strengthen oversight to combat potential price gouging and the sale of substandard products — thereby ensuring a more orderly market environment.

    Zhao Liangshan, a lawyer in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, cautioned that handcrafted items made for personal use are not allowed for commercial purposes.

    As “Ne Zha 2” enters international markets, Hunan Sunny & Sandy Toys Manufacturer Co., Ltd. aims to target global markets — particularly in Asia, North America and Europe.

    The film is set to be screened in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, Singapore, Japan and the Republic of Korea, with premieres in Los Angeles and Sydney having received positive responses from professionals and fans alike.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Appointment to Old Parliament House Board

    Source: Australian Ministers for Infrastructure and Transport

    The Albanese Labor Government has appointed Lenda Oshalem as Deputy Chair of the Board of Old Parliament House and Warren Snowdon as a member of the Board.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated Ms Oshalem on her appointment and welcomed Mr Snowdon to the Board. 

    “Lenda has been a valuable member of the Board for more than four years, and I trust she will draw on her skills and experience to make an excellent Deputy Chair. 

    “Warren has dedicated a large part of his life to the Australian Parliament, and we are lucky to have someone with his experience to help guide the national institution that tells the story of our democracy.”

    Old Parliament House was the home of the Federal Parliament from 1927 to 1988.

    It is home to the Museum of Australian Democracy, which provides an enriched understanding of the political legacy and value of Australian democracy. 

    Ms Lenda Oshalem has been a member of the Board since 2021 and was reappointed for a second term in 2024. She is the Executive Director of Advocacy and Engagement at the Minderoo Foundation, and the Chair of Minderoo Pictures.

    Ms Oshalem’s previous roles include Board member of Auspire – the Australia Day Council Western Australia Board, Management Committee Member at the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre, National Campaigns Director and Partner at SEC Newgate, and Assistant State Secretary and Assistant State Campaign Director for  WA Labor. 

    The Hon Warren Snowdon is a former Federal Minister and longtime Member of the House of Representatives, elected initially as Member for the Northern Territory from 1987-1996 and from 1998-2001, then as Member for Lingiari from 2001-2022. 

    A Government Relations Advisor for Diabetes Australia, Mr Snowdon also sits on the Board of Soldier On Australia. Since 2022, he has served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at the University of Melbourne. 

    In 2024, Mr Snowdon was appointed as Chair of the independent review of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Act 2016 and was appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council.

    More information about the Old Parliament House Board can be found here: www.moadoph.gov.au/about/board-old-parliament-house

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

    Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades.

    The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after just two hours of debate on amendments agreed to earlier by the Coalition. In blatant disregard for democracy, the government refused to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee for proper scrutiny.

    The amendments fail to address numerous deficiencies in the original bill that was introduced last November. Transparency has been wound back and hollow contribution caps have been locked in.

    In significant respects, however, the package is an improvement on the status quo, which has seen unrestricted donations and spending flourish. So, too, secrecy.

    We need to penetrate the sound and fury of partisanship and assess the substance of these laws. This will yield a much more nuanced picture than conveyed by cross bench claims of a major party stitch up.

    Some improvement to transparency

    The government originally proposed lowering the disclosure threshold for donations from $16,000 to $1,000. The revised bill settles on a new threshold of $5,000.

    The amendments fail to plug a loophole that allows a donor to give separately to all of the branches attached to a political party if each individual contribution is just under the threshold. For example, a donor could spread almost $45,000 to the nine state and federal branches of the ALP without being required to declare the amounts.

    But the new laws will usher in near-real time disclosure and substantially reduce “dark money”, a seismic shift from the secrecy and lack of timeliness in the regime it replaces.

    Hollow donation caps

    Under the reforms, a series of contribution caps have been introduced to curb the influence of big money in politics.

    In my assessment of the original bill, I highlighted how the caps would prevent multi-million dollar contributions from cashed-up individuals.

    The amendments go further by closing a number of sizeable loopholes. Self financing candidates, such as Clive Palmer and Malcolm Turnbull will be subject to the contribution caps. The current exclusions for membership and affiliation fees to associated entities – “disguised donations” – will also be caught by the caps.

    But any positives are emphatically outweighed by the “annual gift cap” more than doubling to $50,000. The same “spreading” loophole that applies to the disclosure obligations would allow a donor to to give just shy of this amount to each of a party’s state and federal branches across the country. The major parties could reap up to almost $450,000 per annum from a single donor.

    And the “overall gift cap” on total donations made to political parties and candidates is a generous $1.6 million, which means large contributions will still be permissible under the new framework.

    The government has also failed to remove the patently unfair provisions relating to “nominated entities”, which are likely to be used by the major parties as investment vehicles.

    As the Victorian Electoral Review Expert Panel has rightly noted, such entities:

    provide some (parties) with significantly more funds, creating a risk that those (parties) drown out other voices.

    Election spending contained and fairer

    The spending caps in the new finance laws are fundamentally unaltered by the government’s amendments.

    The $800,000 per electorate limit, and $90 million per party nationally, will contain the “arms race” that has necessitated “big money” fundraising and fuelled unfair contests.

    However, the limits are set too high and will benefit the established parties due to the narrow scope of the spending caps in individual electorates. This means the major parties will be able to shift funding to must-win seats without being caught by the electorate caps.

    This shortcoming has been seized upon as clear evidence that Labor and the Liberals are seeking to kneecap Teal election campaigns. While having some force, these criticisms should be viewed in the context of the current situation where the major parties have an unfettered ability to direct spending to marginal seats, a situation which the Teals are ironically defending with their opposition to spending caps.

    The importance of public funding

    The new regime includes a substantial jump in public funding from $3.50 to $5 per vote.

    Crossbenchers, such as Kate Chaney, are opposed, to the increase, saying it will entrench the might of the majors while making it harder for new independents:

    The effect of increasing public funding is that political parties don’t have to fundraise because they’ve got their war chests. But any challengers do have to fundraise.

    While there is a clear risk of unfairness, the crossbench position throws the baby out with the bathwater. It romanticises the role of private funding, skating over the risks of corruption and undue influence via large donations.

    The public funding of political parties and candidates is warranted. But there should be a conversation about the design and scope of taxpayer support.

    The political finance laws could be made considerably fairer by fixing the structural bias that favours incumbents, including teal MPs. And they don’t need to be as generous given the large flows of private funding that will continue under the shallow contribution caps.

    Unfinished business

    Bad processes tend to make bad laws. The government’s actions have cast a pall of illegitimacy over its political finance regime. The new framework is unfair and ineffectual in significant ways and yet democracy enhancing in others.

    We are all trustees of democracy, with an obligation to protect and deepen democratic practices. An urgent task in that continuing struggle is to protect the strengths of these laws while jettisoning the elements that are egregiously bad.

    Joo-Cheong Tham has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, European Trade Union Institute, International IDEA, the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Electoral Commission. He is a Director of the Centre for Public Integrity; Expert Network Member of Climate Integrity; a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; and the Victorian Division Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) of the National Tertiary Education Union.

    – ref. Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stitch up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy – https://theconversation.com/parliament-has-passed-landmark-election-donation-laws-they-may-be-a-stitch-up-but-they-also-improve-australias-democracy-249588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    Juris Teivans/Shutterstock

    In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers remain stubbornly high.

    Strategies to reduce the road toll have largely focused on speeding, distractions and enforcement gaps, such as roadside drug testing.

    But hidden in these statistics is a lesser-known, deeply troubling reality: some of these crashes are not unintentional at all.

    A difficult area to explore

    A portion of road fatalities each year are deaths by suicide.

    For some, cars and trucks are not just modes of transport – they become a means to intentionally end their lives.

    The true scale of this issue is difficult to determine, as coroners and crash investigators often struggle to distinguish suicide from accidental death.

    The phenomenon is not confined to Australia – it has been studied and documented in several countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and the United States.

    International research suggests driver suicides may account for up to 8–9% of all fatal road crashes. But studies indicate up to half of these cases may go unreported.

    So what do we know about these cases? Why are they so difficult to identify and what patterns exist in these incidents?

    How bad is the problem?

    Between 2001 and 2017, the rate of suicide involving a road vehicle collision in Australia nearly doubled from 0.125 per 100,000 people to 0.25 per 100,000.

    These suicides take several forms.

    Some involve single-vehicle crashes, where a driver deliberately collides with a tree, pole, or concrete barrier.

    Others are multiple-vehicle collisions, where a driver or rider intentionally steers into oncoming traffic, often targeting trucks.

    There are also pedestrian suicides, where people step or lie in front of moving vehicles.

    Among driver suicides, single-vehicle crashes are the most common, with studies estimating more than half of driver suicides involve collisions with fixed objects (some studies suggest the figure is more than 70%).

    For multiple-vehicle collisions, almost 82% of cases involve colliding with an oncoming truck.

    More than half of pedestrian deaths by suicide also involve trucks.

    While there are variations in research findings, current evidence suggest males make up between 78% and 91% of those who die by road transport suicide.

    Certain demographics have been found to be more likely to die in a road suicide in Australia compared to other methods of suicide:

    This includes those who are:

    • male (15% more likely than females)
    • younger than 25 (nearly five times more likely than those older)
    • non-Indigenous (three times more likely than First Nations people)
    • born overseas (40% more likely than those born in Australia)

    The ripple effects

    Unlike most other suicide methods, road vehicle collisions pose a significant risk to others.

    Intentional crashes can involve unsuspecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians, turning a personal act of self-harm into a broader public safety issue.

    Studies show that when a suicide collision involves vehicles with a large weight disparity — such as a car colliding with a truck — nearly 30% result in injury to another person and almost 4% result in the death of another person.

    Beyond the immediate loss of life or injury, these incidents leave lasting psychological scars on the drivers involved.

    Why is it difficult to establish suicide on the road?

    Determining whether a fatal road crash was intentional or unintentional is fraught with challenges. Unlike other suicide methods, there is often no definitive proof of intent.

    Coroners and crash investigators rely on a patchwork of evidence: eyewitness accounts, vehicle behaviour before impact, the driver’s psychological history and physical crash characteristics.

    Even when red flags are present — such as high-speed impacts with no signs of braking, the driver not wearing a seat belt, collisions with trucks, or cases where drivers abruptly veer into oncoming traffic — these alone are not always enough to confirm intent.

    Investigators must also navigate the cultural and social sensitivities surrounding suicide, which can lead to hesitation in formally classifying a death as intentional. Families, religious beliefs and even financial factors such as life insurance claims can influence how these cases are handled.

    In many instances, those who use this method do so in a way that obscures their intent, deliberately staging a crash to appear unintentional.

    Without conclusive evidence, such as a documented history of suicidality or a suicide note, these cases often remain in statistical limbo — unconfirmed, unclassified, and possibly unreported.

    What can be done?

    While broader suicide prevention efforts are always relevant, reducing suicide-related road crashes requires targeted, practical interventions that make vehicles less likely to be used for suicide. Some ideas include:

    1. Vehicle safety features that reduce lethality, such as automatic emergency braking and collision avoidance systems, can make intentional high-speed crashes less likely to be fatal. As such, they could discourage the use of vehicles as a suicide method. Airbags, in particular, can play a crucial role, as they can make the outcome of a crash less predictable for people attempting suicide.

    2. A national standardised process for classifying intentional crashes would improve detection and data accuracy. Incorporating psychological autopsies and mandating coroners consider behavioural indicators (such as lack of evasive action) could help identify cases that currently go unreported.

    3. Heavy vehicle drivers and first responders should receive specialised training to recognise potential suicide crash indicators and manage the psychological toll of being involved in such incidents.

    Together, these measures can make vehicle-related suicide, as a very complex issue, less likely and more detectable.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for confidential support.

    Angela J Clapperton receives funding from Suicide Prevention Australia.

    Lay San Too receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for a fellowship.

    Matthew J. Spittal receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for an Investigator Grant (GNT2025205).

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

    – ref. Suicide or accident? The hidden complexities of intentional road crashes in Australia – https://theconversation.com/suicide-or-accident-the-hidden-complexities-of-intentional-road-crashes-in-australia-248673

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Chief Officer of NTES appointed

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Wayne Snell as Chief Officer of NT Emergency Service (NTES), following an extensive merit-based selection process.

    Mr Snell’s appointment brings stability and renewed energy to NTES, particularly following its transition to NTFES in 2024.

    With over 35 years of emergency management and leadership experience, Mr Snell has held senior management roles both nationally and internationally for more than 20 years. His career includes prominent positions at the Australian Civil Military Centre, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and as Commander of the New South Wales State Emergency Service, State Operations.

    Additionally, Mr Snell has worked with leading state, national, and international policing organisations, including INTERPOL and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

    His qualifications span emergency management, human resources, law enforcement, training, fire investigation, and forensic science.

    Mr Snell succeeds Ms Fleur O’Connor, who has made invaluable contributions to NTES during her time as Chief Officer. NTFES thanks Ms O’Connor for her dedication and service and wishes her all the best.

    Quotes from Commissioner, NT Fire and Emergency Services, Andrew Warton:

    “I am pleased to welcome Wayne into the role of Chief Officer with NTES. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his extensive career in emergency management both in Australia and internationally.”
    “I also want to express my sincere thanks to Ms. Fleur O’Connor for her significant contributions to the service.”

    Quotes from incoming Chief Officer, NTES, Mr Wayne Snell:

    “It is an honour to join the NT Emergency Service at such a pivotal moment, as it transitions into the NFES standalone agency.”

    “My focus will be on ensuring the safety of our communities, supporting our dedicated staff and volunteers, and strengthening our operational capabilities to respond effectively across the Territory.”

    “I look forward to bringing my leadership and experience to the Northern Territory and collaborating with the NTES team and the broader NTFES agency to enhance our community safety and capability.”

    Media contact
    Rickie Abraham

    8923 9803 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Funded annual health checks would prevent 100+ deaths a year – IHC

    Source: IHC New Zealand

    Funded annual health checks for people with intellectual disability will prevent more than 100 deaths a year and significantly reduce hospital admissions, saving $16.5 million annually – more than enough to cover the $13 million cost of the checks themselves, says IHC New Zealand.

    In a New Zealand Medical Journal article released today, IHC Advocate Shara Turner says it’s unacceptable that intellectually disabled New Zealanders should die much earlier than other New Zealanders, for preventable reasons.

    “Intellectually disabled people have the highest mortality risk of any group, with a life expectancy of up to 22 years shorter than the general population,” says Shara.

    “They are 2.7 times more likely to be admitted to the emer­gency department, 3.6 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for a condition that could have been avoided and have higher rates of lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health conditions.

    “We are urging the Government to see that annual health checks could lower the risk of early mortality for intellectually disabled people by up to 35 percent.”

    IHC’s own cost-benefit analysis using Treasury’s CBAx tool for healthcare costs shows that annual health checks would be fiscally positive and viable.

    Shara says there is robust international evidence about the benefits of the annual health check for this population.

    “Universal health checks for intellectually disabled people have been implemented in Australia and the United Kingdom since 2007, providing a proven and pragmatic model that could be adapted for Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Shara. “These checks would not only improve health outcomes but also relieve pressure on emergency departments and cut healthcare costs.”

    “Now is the time to act – investing in annual health checks can help close the health gap and ensure better, longer lives for one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most vulnerable populations.”

    About IHC New Zealand

    IHC New Zealand advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community. IHC provides advocacy, volunteering, events, membership associations and fundraising. It is part of the IHC Group, which also includes IDEA Services, Choices NZ and Accessible Properties.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In the quest to appease Israel, the media undermine our basic rights

    In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.

    COMMENTARY: By Bernard Keane

    Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ABC, insofar as they demonstrate how power works in Australia — and especially in Australia’s media.

    The first is how the ABC’s senior management abandoned due process in the face of a sustained lobbying effort by a pro-Israel group to have Lattouf taken off air, under the confected basis she was “antisemitic”.

    Managing director David Anderson admitted in court that there was a “step missing” in the process that led to her sacking — in particular, a failure to consult with the ABC’s HR area, and a failure to discuss the attacks on Lattouf with Lattouf herself, before kicking her out.

    To this, it might be added, was acting editorial director Simon Melkman’s advice to management that Lattouf had not breached any editorial policies.

    Anderson bizarrely singled out Lattouf’s authorship, alongside Cameron Wilson, of a Crikey article questioning the narrative that pro-Palestinian protesters had chanted “gas the Jews”, as basis for his concerns about her, only for one of his executives to point out the article was “balanced and journalistically sound“.

    That is, by the ABC’s own admission, there was no basis to sack Lattouf and the sacking was conducted improperly. And yet, here we are, with the ABC tying itself in absurd knots — no such race as Lebanese, indeed — spending millions defending its inappropriate actions in response to a lobbying campaign.

    The second moment that stands out is a decision by the court early in the trial to protect the identities of those calling for Lattouf’s sacking.

    Abandoned due process
     The campaign that the group rolled out prompted the ABC chair and managing director to immediately react — and the ABC to abandon due process and procedural fairness. Yet the court protects their identities.

    The reasoning — that the identities behind the complaints should be protected for their safety — may or may not be based on reasonable fears, but it’s the second time that institutions have worked to protect people who planned to undermine the careers of people — specifically, women — who have dared to criticise Israel.

    The first was when some members — a minority — of a WhatsApp group supposedly composed of pro-Israel “creatives” discussed how to wreck the careers of, inter alia, Clementine Ford and Lauren Dubois for their criticism of Israel.

    The publishing of the identities of this group was held by both the media and the political class to be an outrageous, antisemitic act of “doxxing”, and the federal government rushed through laws to make such publications illegal.

    No mention of making the act of trying to destroy people’s careers because they hold different political views — or, cancel culture, as the right likes to call it — illegal.

    Whether it’s courts, politicians or the media, it seems that the dice are always loaded in favour of those wanting to crush criticism of Israel, while its victims are left to fend for themselves.

    Human rights lawyer and fighter against antisemitism Sarah Schwartz has been repeatedly threatened with (entirely vexatious) lawsuits by Israel supporters for her criticism of Israel, and her discussion of the exploitation of Australian Jews by Peter Dutton.

    Targeted by another News Corp smear campaign
    She’s been targeted by yet another News Corp smear campaign, based on nothing more than a wilfully misinterpreted slide. She has no government or court rushing to protect her.

    Meanwhile, Peter Lalor, one of Australia’s finest sports journalists (and I write as someone who can’t abide most sports journalism) lost his job with SEN because he, too, dared to criticise Israel and call out the Palestinian genocide. No-one’s rushing to his aide, either.

    No powerful institutions are weighing in to safeguard his privacy, or protect him from the consequences of his opinions.

    The individual cases add up to a pattern: Australian institutions, and especially its major media institutions, will punish you for criticising Israel.

    Pro-Israel groups will demand you be sacked, they will call for your career to be destroyed. Those groups will be protected.

    Media companies will ride roughshod over basic rights and due process to comply with their demands. You will be smeared and publicly vilified on completely spurious bases. Politicians will join in, as Jason Clare did with the campaign against Schwartz and as Chris Minns is doing in NSW, imposing hate speech laws that even Christian groups think are a bad idea.

    Damaging the fabric of democracy
    This is how the campaign to legitimise the Palestinian genocide and destroy critics of the Netanyahu government has damaged the fabric of Australia’s democracy and the rule of law.

    The basic rights and protections that Australians should have under a legal system devoted to preventing discrimination can be stripped away in a moment, while those engaged in destroying people’s careers and livelihoods are protected.

    Ill-advised laws are rushed in to stifle freedom of speech. Australian Jews are stereotyped as a politically convenient monolith aligned with the Israeli government.

    The experience of Palestinians themselves, and of Arab communities in Australia, is minimised and erased. And the media are the worst perpetrators of all.

    Bernard Keane is Crikey’s politics editor. Before that he was Crikey’s Canberra press gallery correspondent, covering politics, national security and economics. First published by Crikey.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

    Federal parliament has passed the biggest changes to Australia’s electoral funding laws in decades.

    The Albanese government’s Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024 cleared the Senate on Wednesday night after just two hours of debate on amendments agreed to earlier by the Coalition. In blatant disregard for democracy, the government refused to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee for proper scrutiny.

    The amendments fail to address numerous deficiencies in the original bill that was introduced last November. Transparency has been wound back and hollow contribution caps have been locked in.

    In significant respects, however, the package is an improvement on the status quo, which has seen unrestricted donations and spending flourish. So, too, secrecy.

    We need to penetrate the sound and fury of partisanship and assess the substance of these laws. This will yield a much more nuanced picture than conveyed by cross bench claims of a major party stitch up.

    Some improvement to transparency

    The government originally proposed lowering the disclosure threshold for donations from $16,000 to $1,000. The revised bill settles on a new threshold of $5,000.

    The amendments fail to plug a loophole that allows a donor to give separately to all of the branches attached to a political party if each individual contribution is just under the threshold. For example, a donor could spread almost $45,000 to the nine state and federal branches of the ALP without being required to declare the amounts.

    But the new laws will usher in near-real time disclosure and substantially reduce “dark money”, a seismic shift from the secrecy and lack of timeliness in the regime it replaces.

    Hollow donation caps

    Under the reforms, a series of contribution caps have been introduced to curb the influence of big money in politics.

    In my assessment of the original bill, I highlighted how the caps would prevent multi-million dollar contributions from cashed-up individuals.

    The amendments go further by closing a number of sizeable loopholes. Self financing candidates, such as Clive Palmer and Malcolm Turnbull will be subject to the contribution caps. The current exclusions for membership and affiliation fees to associated entities – “disguised donations” – will also be caught by the caps.

    But any positives are emphatically outweighed by the “annual gift cap” more than doubling to $50,000. The same “spreading” loophole that applies to the disclosure obligations would allow a donor to to give just shy of this amount to each of a party’s state and federal branches across the country. The major parties could reap up to almost $450,000 per annum from a single donor.

    And the “overall gift cap” on total donations made to political parties and candidates is a generous $1.6 million, which means large contributions will still be permissible under the new framework.

    The government has also failed to remove the patently unfair provisions relating to “nominated entities”, which are likely to be used by the major parties as investment vehicles.

    As the Victorian Electoral Review Expert Panel has rightly noted, such entities:

    provide some (parties) with significantly more funds, creating a risk that those (parties) drown out other voices.

    Election spending contained and fairer

    The spending caps in the new finance laws are fundamentally unaltered by the government’s amendments.

    The $800,000 per electorate limit, and $90 million per party nationally, will contain the “arms race” that has necessitated “big money” fundraising and fuelled unfair contests.

    However, the limits are set too high and will benefit the established parties due to the narrow scope of the spending caps in individual electorates. This means the major parties will be able to shift funding to must-win seats without being caught by the electorate caps.

    This shortcoming has been seized upon as clear evidence that Labor and the Liberals are seeking to kneecap Teal election campaigns. While having some force, these criticisms should be viewed in the context of the current situation where the major parties have an unfettered ability to direct spending to marginal seats, a situation which the Teals are ironically defending with their opposition to spending caps.

    The importance of public funding

    The new regime includes a substantial jump in public funding from $3.50 to $5 per vote.

    Crossbenchers, such as Kate Chaney, are opposed, to the increase, saying it will entrench the might of the majors while making it harder for new independents:

    The effect of increasing public funding is that political parties don’t have to fundraise because they’ve got their war chests. But any challengers do have to fundraise.

    While there is a clear risk of unfairness, the crossbench position throws the baby out with the bathwater. It romanticises the role of private funding, skating over the risks of corruption and undue influence via large donations.

    The public funding of political parties and candidates is warranted. But there should be a conversation about the design and scope of taxpayer support.

    The political finance laws could be made considerably fairer by fixing the structural bias that favours incumbents, including teal MPs. And they don’t need to be as generous given the large flows of private funding that will continue under the shallow contribution caps.

    Unfinished business

    Bad processes tend to make bad laws. The government’s actions have cast a pall of illegitimacy over its political finance regime. The new framework is unfair and ineffectual in significant ways and yet democracy enhancing in others.

    We are all trustees of democracy, with an obligation to protect and deepen democratic practices. An urgent task in that continuing struggle is to protect the strengths of these laws while jettisoning the elements that are egregiously bad.

    Joo-Cheong Tham has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, European Trade Union Institute, International IDEA, the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Electoral Commission. He is a Director of the Centre for Public Integrity; Expert Network Member of Climate Integrity; a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; and the Victorian Division Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) of the National Tertiary Education Union.

    – ref. Parliament has passed landmark election donation laws. They may be a ‘stich up’ but they also improve Australia’s democracy – https://theconversation.com/parliament-has-passed-landmark-election-donation-laws-they-may-be-a-stich-up-but-they-also-improve-australias-democracy-249588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: ​’Ne Zha 2′ hits staggering 10B yuan milestone, climbs global box office chart

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    After breaking all box office records in China, including hitting the 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) milestone on Thursday, the Chinese smash animated film “Ne Zha 2” has now set its sights on shattering records worldwide.

    The characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing are projected on the towers of the Tianfu International Financial Center in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Feb. 13, 2025. The film’s director and his company are based in Chengdu, and two cities in the province claim to be the birthplace of the Ne Zha legend. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    When the historic moment arrived for the film to become the first to surpass 10 billion yuan at China’s box office, it was more than a filmmaking achievement or cultural phenomenon — it was a source of national pride for Chinese filmmakers, the industry and the public. 

    The China Film Association promptly issued a congratulatory message, stating: “This film has created a box office miracle, promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture and the modern zeitgeist, innovating the form of contemporary Chinese cinema, showcasing the relentless artistic pursuit of Chinese filmmakers, and greatly boosting the film industry’s confidence. The glory of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is a highlight for Chinese cinema and, more importantly, a significant moment marking its rise from plateau to peak.”

    Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows the mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in bodies formed from lotuses after a catastrophe and must team up to face threats from vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. It combines visually spectacular animation with a folklore-inspired narrative, delivering a blend of action, humor, heart and traditional Chinese culture. It involved five years of meticulous efforts from a 4,000-strong crew, as well as the combined forces of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

    During the Spring Festival holiday, the film grossed nearly 5 billion yuan in seven days, but its momentum shows no signs of slowing, thanks to the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences. It surpassed the previous record holder “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which took 5.77 billion yuan, on Feb. 6 to become the highest-grossing domestic film of all time. Since then, it has gone on to quickly set several other records. It is now the most-watched film ever by total viewers in Chinese box office history, with more than 200 million admissions registered by Feb. 13.

    For the premium large format market, IMAX reported Thursday that “Ne Zha 2” had earned 562 million yuan in IMAX box office revenue within just 15 days of its release, surpassing “Avengers: Endgame” to become the highest-grossing IMAX release ever in China.

    Audience members attend the premiere of “Ne Zha 2” in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    Meanwhile, “Ne Zha 2” has also broken several records on the world stage. According to Maoyan Pro, the film is now the highest-grossing film in a single market worldwide, surpassing the $936.66 million record set by “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” in North America. On Feb. 8, it became the world’s first film to break into the $1 billion club in a single market, showcasing the immense potential of the Chinese market.

    Besides setting the single-market record, it is also the third-fastest film to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide, achieving the feat in just 12 days, following “Avengers: Endgame” (five days) and “Avengers: Infinity War” (11 days). By Feb. 14, with its China-only total, it became the third-highest-grossing animated feature worldwide in history and has already climbed to 17th on the global box office chart, including both animated and live-action films.

    A trailer for “Ne Zha 2” is displayed in Times Square, New York, Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    Closely following its staggering box office growth has become a daily source of interest and entertainment for many fans, while analysts, big data algorithms and AI models continue to revise their projections daily. The latest projection, released Tuesday night by Maoyan Pro, suggests the film could reach 16 billion yuan for its entire run in the Chinese mainland alone — a figure beyond even the wildest imagination of those in the Chinese film industry. If it manages to reach this milestone, it would become the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the fifth-highest-grossing film in history, behind only the two “Avatar” installments, “Avengers: Endgame” and “Titanic.” These achievements would be remarkable for a Chinese film in a ranking dominated by Hollywood juggernauts. Notably, all of this would be accomplished solely with its China total, without contributions from overseas markets, unlike other global top-grossers that rely heavily on international markets.

    The potential for the film’s worldwide earnings is also being unleashed. “Ne Zha 2” began its global rollout on Feb. 13 through distributor CMC Pictures in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, followed by the United States and Canada on Feb. 14, with reports that most showings are selling out quickly. The film will also be released in other international territories, including Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Greece later this year.

    Performers stage a dragon dance outside the TCL Chinese Theatre at the premiere of “Ne Zha 2” in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    A grand North American premiere of “Ne Zha 2” was held at the fully packed landmark TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 8, receiving rave reviews. Hollywood producer Robert King praised the film’s quality and scale, noting that Chinese films have made significant strides in storytelling in recent years. Georges Chamchoum, executive director of the Asian World Film Festival, expressed deep appreciation for the cultural evolution of Chinese cinema. Meanwhile, Oscar-winning producer Andre Morgan, known for producing “Million Dollar Baby,” described the movie as “unbelievable.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New appointments to the National Film and Sound Archive board

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government has appointed Mrs Lucinda Brogden AM as Deputy Chair of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Board.

    Mr Joseph Thorp, Ms Caroline Lilley and Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe have also been appointed as members of the Board, each for a term of three years.

    A treasured national collecting institution, the Archive collects, preserves and shares Australia’s audiovisual culture – providing an unbroken record of Australian creativity and diversity.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointments would strengthen the governance and strategic direction of the National Film and Sound Archive. 

    “Lucinda, Joe, Carol and Jackie have accomplished and varied careers in their respective fields with valuable experience working in Australia’s arts industry. 

    “Protecting our beloved cultural institutions for future generations means having the best leadership in place to safeguard them.”

    Mrs Lucinda Brogden AM has been a member of the Archive Board since December 2021 and has more than 30 years’ experience in accounting, finance and organisational psychology. She currently serves on a number of boards including as Chair of the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, Director of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance, Director at Australian Unity, and a Director of Be Kind Sydney. 

    In 2019, Mrs Brogden was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to workplace mental health and wellbeing. 

    Mr Joseph Thorp is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. Following a career in international business, Mr Thorp serves as Secretary of Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide and Director of professional advisory services firm Slingsby Taylor Pty Ltd. Mr Thorp sits on a variety of other boards including the Governance and Nominations Committee at AnglicareSA, and as a Director of the Anglican Representative (National Redress Scheme) Limited. Mr Thorp has also served as Chairman and member of different boards including Chair of the Council of Governors of St Peter’s College, and Chair of Guide Dogs South Australia and Northern Territory.

    Ms Carol Lilley has over 25 years’ experience in financial statement audit, governance and assurance, internal audit and project and risk management, with a particular focus on government. She is currently a member of the Treasury, Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Aged Care Quality Safety Commission Audit and Risk Committees. Ms Lilley is also on the Financial and Performance Reporting Sub Committee and Chair of the Financial Statements Sub Committee. Previously Ms Lilley has been a member of the Audit and Risk Committees’ for Services Australia and for the National Library of Australia. She’s also previously served as Chair of the Department of Home Affairs Audit and Risk Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee of the Archive from 2014 to 2021. 

    Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe has more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing and digital transformation roles across the media and entertainment, financial services, telecommunications, technology and aviation sectors. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of Football Australia, Co-Chair of the Local Operating Entity Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Board Director of Hayes Theatre Co, and an External Member of the University of Sydney’s Risk and Performance Senate Committee. Prior to this, Ms Lee-Joe has worked as an advisor and manager at multiple media and communications companies including Netflix, BBC, Canva, Skype, K-Box Global and Virgin Mobile. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 38-2025: *Update* Scheduled Outage: Saturday 15 February to Sunday 16 February 2025 – Multiple Systems

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    14 February 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who are required to book and manage requests for inspections through the Biosecurity Portal.

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

    Approved arrangement operators attempting to access online…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH2 Waipawa road rebuild taking shape

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Roading crews are making good progress on the SH2 road rebuild (rehabilitation) in Waipawa between Victoria Street and Tamumu Road.

    The first stage of work, installing kerb and channel, has now been finished with more than 360 metres of concrete poured in the installation.

    The focus now shifts to the rebuild of this stretch of road. Crews will begin from next Monday (17 February), working at night for approximately 4 weeks.

    The work will be carried out under stop/go traffic management between 8pm and 5am Mondays to Fridays (finishing each week at 5am on Saturday).

    The rebuild will be done section by section to reduce traffic impacts and during the work, access for residents and businesses will remain and there will be on street parking – just not on the section of state highway being worked on.

    Rebuilding the road will involve recycling the existing road materials with cement added to the road, to extend the life of the road and provide a smoother surface, improving the journey through this stretch of road.

    At the same time, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council was scheduled to complete work on the southbound footpath this year, which was beside the area of State Highway 2 that NZTA is working on. The two organisations aligned on this renewal, with NZTA contractors completing the road and Council-funded footpath construction work at the same time– minimising costs and disruptions to ratepayers.

    “State Highway 2 is the road that keeps us connected to each other, and the rest of the country,” says the council’s Community Infrastructure and Development General Manager Mark Kinvig.

    “The road’s part to play in the economic growth of the district and the accessibility it creates, allowing people to move around, cannot be underplayed.

    “Working together delivers what the community wants and needs, but for a lot less money. 

    “This translates into better roads for everyone,” says Mr Kinvig.

    At this stage, the rebuild project is expected to be complete mid-March, slightly earlier than initially planned.

    “We know this work has already involved some disruption to businesses and the community and we’re grateful for people’s support – without it, the works would undoubtedly take longer to complete,” says NZTA Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani.

    SH2 resealing between Waipukurau and Takapau – day work

    Starting this week, a stretch of SH2 between Takapau and Waipukurau will be resealed over the next 6 weeks.

    Crews will be working onsite Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm each weekday.

    The road will be under stop/go traffic management and road users should expect possible delays of up to 20 minutes.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Deputy PM: Holey Dollar returned to Polish Government

    Source: Minister of Infrastructure

    A rare silver coin has been returned to Republic of Poland representative, Deputy Minister, Marta Cienkowska at a ceremony in Canberra.

    Dating back more than 200 years, the coin was bought lawfully by a collector in the early 20th century and donated to a museum in Toruń where it became a protected object of Poland.

    It was stolen from the museum’s collection between 2011 and 2016, sold in two auctions in Europe, and then made its way to Australia through unlawful export.

    Acting on advice from the Office for the Arts and a restitution request from the Republic of Poland, the coin was seized by the Australian Federal Police under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 in August 2024, enabling its return.

    The 1813 Holey Dollar is an example of coins used in the colony of New South Wales to address a currency shortage.

    Originally a Charles III Spanish Silver Dollar minted in Mexico in 1777, it was one of 40,000 Spanish reales imported by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The centre was cut out to create two new coins and the outer ring became known as the ‘Holey Dollar’.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the handover showed Australia was serious about upholding diplomatic and international treaty commitments.

    “I want to recognise the expertise of everyone involved in this great outcome for both countries, from tracking this object to seizing it.

    “It’s important that we continue to work together to return culturally significant objects to their rightful homes. Their value can be expressed not only in monetary terms but through telling our shared history and stories.”

    For images of the coin, visit: Returns of foreign cultural property | Office for the Arts.

    For more information, visit: Movable cultural heritage | Office for the Arts.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regeneration and regrowth in Aceh: 20 years on from the Indian Ocean Tsunami

    Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

    Working with women 

    Working with ACIAR, Dr Malem McLeod, a soil scientist with the NSW DPRID, highlighted the kelompok wanita tani (KWT) women’s farming groups as a particularly successful initiative that grew organically from local efforts. 

    ‘In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, we met a group of women, of all ages, who were coming together, gardening using a vacant village land. It was a kind of a healing forum to recover from the loss of people and livelihoods and share the challenges of recovery while growing food for family consumption,’ said Dr McLeod. ‘It was also a place for socialisation and information exchange.’  

    The ACIAR-supported project tapped into this by facilitating the creation of around 30 women’s farming groups across the 4 regions of Aceh. Training was provided for local leaders and extension officers to help the women learn improved techniques for growing vegetables and engage with local business and government, leveraging the support from ACIAR.  

    In Aceh farming families, the man in the family is the main income earner through growing food crops such as rice and legumes. ‘Although the women contribute significantly to the work on growing the crops, the results are managed by the husband and most women are financially dependent on men,’ explained Dr McLeod. 

    By growing vegetables in groups, women were able to improve their household food security and generate their own income, which increased their confidence and independence.  

    Dr Malem McLeod, soil scientist
    NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

    ‘Some of the women’s group members became business-minded, even pre-selling their produce to wholesalers. The women also reported that working in the garden with the groups enhanced their physical health and wellbeing.’ 

    Technical training was provided for 245 women and agricultural extension officers, with about 750 women in farmer groups collectively benefitting by A$297,000 a year.  

    ‘The women’s groups facilitated a shift from financial dependence to self-reliant entrepreneurship,’ said Dr McLeod.  

    She noted that when new farming practices were introduced to men, they used it to improve their own food crop growing. But when new practices were shared with women, they brought them to the whole family and shared it with other women, effectively changing their whole community. ‘The information exchange and improvements became contagious,’ said Dr McLeod. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Holey Dollar returned to Polish Government

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    A rare silver coin has been returned to Republic of Poland representative, Deputy Minister, Marta Cienkowska at a ceremony in Canberra.

    Dating back more than 200 years, the coin was bought lawfully by a collector in the early 20th century and donated to a museum in Toruń where it became a protected object of Poland.

    It was stolen from the museum’s collection between 2011 and 2016, sold in two auctions in Europe, and then made its way to Australia through unlawful export.

    Acting on advice from the Office for the Arts and a restitution request from the Republic of Poland, the coin was seized by the Australian Federal Police under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 in August 2024, enabling its return.

    The 1813 Holey Dollar is an example of coins used in the colony of New South Wales to address a currency shortage.

    Originally a Charles III Spanish Silver Dollar minted in Mexico in 1777, it was one of 40,000 Spanish reales imported by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The centre was cut out to create two new coins and the outer ring became known as the ‘Holey Dollar’.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the handover showed Australia was serious about upholding diplomatic and international treaty commitments.

    “I want to recognise the expertise of everyone involved in this great outcome for both countries, from tracking this object to seizing it.

    “It’s important that we continue to work together to return culturally significant objects to their rightful homes. Their value can be expressed not only in monetary terms but through telling our shared history and stories.”

    For images of the coin, visit: Returns of foreign cultural property | Office for the Arts.

    For more information, visit: Movable cultural heritage | Office for the Arts.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged over Mowbray incident

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Man charged over Mowbray incident

    Friday, 14 February 2025 – 11:52 am.

    A man has been charged following an incident at Mowbray overnight.
    Police were called about 9pm Thursday after a person reportedly entered a vehicle on Invermay Road while the driver and a passenger were inside.
    The man allegedly threatened the driver while in possession of a small knife.
    The victim drove the alleged offender to a location on George Town Road where he exited the vehicle.
    Nobody was physically injured during the incident. 
    Police quickly responded and located a 32-year-old Mayfield man a short time later at an address in Mayfield.
    He was arrested and has since been charged with trespass, assault, and possess a dangerous article.
    He will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court in April.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre to get new home

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 14 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

    The Tweed Heads community will soon enjoy an enhanced customer experience while completing NSW Government transactions when the new Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre opens. 

    The Centre is relocating to a larger site, still within the Tweed Mall shopping centre, providing a larger space and an improved layout for customers.  

    Due to open mid-2025, the new centre will be located opposite the current site, ensuring a modern, purpose-built facility for people to complete the 1300 NSW Government services and transactions available at Service NSW.  

    The new centre will include a dedicated space for one-on-one appointments where customers can receive cost of living support in-person or over the phone with a Service NSW team member.  

    The team will also be able to connect business owners with the Service NSW Business Bureau for free, ongoing and personalised support for every stage of their business.  

    There were more than 77,000 customer visits to Tweed Heads Service Centre last year with people appreciating the efforts of the team, giving them a 97% satisfaction rating.  

    Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre is open Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm and Saturdays 8:30am – 12:30pm. For more information, visit the Service NSW website.  

    Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said: 

    “Service NSW is a vital part of our lives whether transacting individually or as a business, so we want the people of Tweed Heads to have an enhanced experience when requiring NSW Government services. 

    “This move ensures Service NSW can support the customer demand in Tweed Heads and provide people with a welcoming space to complete government transactions. 

    “Whether applying for a Seniors Card, renewing a driver licence or looking for cost of living support, Service NSW is a one-stop-shop for NSW Government services and transactions.” 

    Duty MLC for Tweed, Emily Suvaal said: 

    “The Minns Labor Government is focused on delivering essential services like the Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre. 

    “This new site will better serve the community, the location within Tweed Mall is bigger and better and only steps away from the current location. 

    “The new centre makes life easier for locals now and will cater to their needs into the future.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Turkish Airlines goes daily at SYD

    Source: Sydney Airport

    Friday 14 February 2025

    Less than three months after commencing their inaugural Sydney-Istanbul service Turkish Airlines is planning to ramp up to daily services from 12th January 2026.

    The airline will progressively increase the number of services throughout 2025, with the current four-weekly service to increase to five-weekly from mid-June, and six-weekly from the end of October.

    The route will be flown using the Airbus A350-900 via Kuala Lumpur, with TK174 arriving in Sydney at 1935hrs and departing as TK175 at 2115hrs. Pending aircraft delivery schedules, in 2026 the service will be operated as a non-stop service to Istanbul.

    Greg Botham, Sydney Airport’s Group Executive, Aviation Growth and Group Strategy, said:

    “Turkish Airlines’ decision to ramp up to daily services so soon after launching in Sydney is a tremendous vote of confidence in the strength of the market.

    “This expansion will provide even greater connectivity between Australia and Türkiye, benefiting both business and leisure travellers.

    “It confirms Sydney Airport as Turkish Airlines’ leading gateway in Australia, reinforcing our position as the country’s premier international hub.

    “We’re also excited by the prospect of a future non-stop service to Istanbul, which will make travel between our two countries even more seamless.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Operation Storm continues to reduce domestic violence harms

    Source: South Australia Police

    78 domestic violence offenders have been arrested for domestic violence related and other criminal offences as a result of an ongoing dedicated statewide anti-domestic abuse operation.

    Operation STORM is a state-wide operation designed to focus on domestic abuse offenders identified as having ‘risk indicators’ which create an elevated level of threat to victims.   The primary goal is to take action against offenders who pose a threat to victims, resulting in a safer community.

    During February 2025 SA Police conducted Operation Storm which involved 372 police officers across all policing areas in South Australia.

    Police targeted 374 offenders and attended 437 addresses issuing 25 intervention orders and 7 stalking cautions, executed 17 warrants for various domestic abuse offences, and laid 143 criminal charges.  Further, SA Police undertook 52 bail compliance checks and conducted two firearm prohibition compliance searches to ensure domestic abuse offenders were compliant with legislation.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Linda Williams said since the commencement of Operation Storm in July 2024, 1012 offenders have been targeted and 1228 addresses attended resulting in the arrest of 245 domestic violence offenders, the laying of 485 charges and the issuance of 73 intervention orders.

    “South Australia Police is dedicated to a proactive approach to domestic abuse and providing victims with the reassurance that we hold offenders accountable by conducting compliance checks and searches to detect offences and deter ongoing offending,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.

    “An offender focus approach, saw 127 support referrals made for offenders to access rehabilitation services, to curb or prevent further offending.

    “This prevention approach has resulted in 123 perpetrators accessing the SAPOL website to access this material. It is a step in the right direction for these offenders to show they are willing to seek assistance to stop their abusive behaviour.”

    “South Australia Police will continue to take actions against offenders who pose a threat to victims and hold them accountable, as well as taking opportunities to refer offenders to behaviour change programs.”

    A 24 year old Fregon male was arrested after a high risk incident when police were confronted with a metal pole and axe. The man was arrested for multiple aggravated assaults on his partner and breaching his Intervention Order.  The victim is now safe and receiving assistance. The man was refused bail and is remanded in custody.

    “Our aim is to stop the violence toward victims,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.

    “All members of our community have a right to be safe. Contact police or go to a family violence provider if you or someone you know if experiencing family violence.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Strand Arcade opens an elegant new food and beverage chapter

    Source: Auckland Council

    Heritage architects describe Strand Arcade as one of the grandest surviving shopping arcades in New Zealand. Some of the ornate elements present today were part of the earliest purpose-built arcade in the country dating back to 1899.

    A jewel of Auckland’s retail heritage at 233 Queen Street, the arcade has caught the eye of a young Korean chef turned coffee innovator who is bringing new energy and artistry to the historic Strand Arcade.

    Appreciating the potential of the site and the building itself – located between two City Rail Link station entrances / exits in the heart of midtown – Blues Shim (26) has plans to reinvigorate the 125-year-old arcade.    

    “I always wanted to be an artist. For me food and beverage creativity is the best art form as it inspires all five senses. Food is my art and at Slow Koi our baristas are artists,” he says.

    Recently opened with jet black interior, relaxed vibe and tranquil aquarium, Blues Shim’s new coffee brewing shop Slow Koi is expanding Aucklanders’ coffee repertoire and bringing people back to midtown.

    “I want to express my art with a gallery of brands in Strand Arcade, painting a different brand on each shop. Our group’s plan is to have seven shops here by the end of this year; maybe as many as twelve,” Blues says.

    Born in South Korea in the city of Busan, Blues came to Auckland as a teenage chef. We sat down to chat with Blues in his stylish new store and soon discovered that there is much more to the art of coffee than a flat white and long black.     

    Councillor Richard Hills says it’s exciting to see so many fantastic businesses coming into midtown, with the city centre feeling alive and bustling again.

    “The council team has put a lot of effort and resources into attracting people back into the city through redeveloped public spaces, pedestrian-friendly walkways, better public transport networks and activations like our Lunar New Year festival.

    “We’re thrilled businesses like Slow Koi are seeing the positive future of this area as a great place to open a business. We’re looking forward to seeing what else is in store for the historic Strand Arcade,” Councillor Hills says.

    This Q&A is not an endorsement or paid partnership. It is part of an occasional series shining light on the regeneration of midtown and some of the people who are playing a part in it. The Auckland Council group announced an investment of $155million in multiple projects to regenerate midtown in September 2021. Many are delivered already.

    Our Q&A with Blues Shim:

    What does Slow Koi mean?

    Koi is a Japanese fish. I had to have it for the name. I love taking care of fish. I love to watch fish swim. It relaxes me a lot. Coffee in Japanese is the word ‘kohi’. So coffee and koi have a good similarity for me. We wanted to show coffee can be a good slow drink. Coffee gives joy and helps you chill and heal from hard work. Thankfully a lot of people love the vibe. They love the concept. It’s going really well. I feel very happy that people are coming to midtown to find Slow Koi and discover Strand Arcade. They relax. Just chill.

    Blues Shim creating his coffee blends at Slow Koi.

    Why did you choose Strand Arcade for Slow Koi?

    There are already a lot of good streets in the city centre – Lorne Street, High Street, Britomart, Chancery – but I thought Elliott Street had potential. I just thought ‘wow!’ when I saw this building. This is such a beautiful building; one of New Zealand’s heritage buildings. I saw tourists taking photos. I couldn’t believe it was empty. It was sad. I wanted to do something here.

    What was the potential you saw?

    When I first saw Elliott Street, businesses were having a hard time due to many pressures including construction. But we could see a big potential here. Auckland Council’s regeneration of midtown really excites me. I was looking for a place. I want to open different food and beverage outlets here. We are excited about what midtown is going to look like in two or three years after the City Rail Link is established.

    What is the vibe of the midtown food and beverage scene?

    Midtown is packed with different cultures from different countries. A lot of small, passionate, authentic restaurants serve great food here. And I love the midtown street parties. A new series is starting this month and we’ll have them on every third Thursday of every month. I DJ through the window of Slow Koi and I see a lot of people from many cultures getting involved and joining together, eating great food, hearing live music and having fun. It has a unique kind of energy.

    What are some of the other brands you plan to bring to Strand Arcade?

    You’ll soon see ‘Hi Toastie’, which brings coffee and toasties together from many cities across Asia. I’m hoping to bring ‘My Mura’ which means ‘eat a lot’ in Korean. ‘Yooa & Tako’ is another brand we’re developing, and an Argentinian brand ‘Asado’. Our food and beverage will be authentic flavours from many different Asian cities, and all over the world.

    For more stories about midtown’s change makers and change embracers, visit ProgressAKL. You’ll meet passionate Aucklanders who are giving midtown a new burst of energy. Hear their stories. Feel their optimism. Join midtown’s new momentum.

    Like Blues, they are excited to see how the Auckland Council group is transforming midtown ahead of 2026 when the City Rail Link’s Te Waihorotiu Station opens. The station will bring thousands of people into midtown’s renewed laneways, streets and spaces every day. 

    Inside Te Waihorotiu Station; photo supplied by City Rail Link; taken in February 2025.

    Read about the recent delivery of the first stage of a redesigned Victoria Street at OurAuckland.

    Victoria Street is one of three east-west streets in the Te Waihorotiu Station neighbourhood undergoing a major transformation to create a new gateway for the city centre. Before the regeneration of midtown, Victoria Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive were dense traffic routes carrying more than four lanes of cars, trucks and buses, with cyclists hugging the edges, pedestrians vying with scooters along narrow footpaths and a noisy environment for businesses.

    Victoria St.

    In the regeneration, Wellesley Street will become an important central city bus interchange, and the upgraded Victoria Street will make connecting between walking, cycling, high frequency bus routes, and the train station easier and safer.

    Jenny Larking Auckland Council Head of City Centre Programmes says: “We recognise that beautiful public spaces encourage social interaction, creating a strong sense of community and belonging. These spaces become the stages where city life unfolds, memories are made, and a city’s identity is forged. We are creating streets and spaces that are authentic, safe, sustainable and reflective of our place in the world, with mana whenua-led expression woven throughout, while continuing to support the operations of a busy city centre.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Annature partners with Collins SBA to provide integrated eSigning solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian eSigning innovator Annature today announced a significant partnership with Hobart-based accounting, financial planning and business coaching firm Collins SBA. This partnership sees Annature’s industry-leading eSigning and identity verification solutions integrated into the tech stack for Collins SBA’s custom Salesforce functionality.

    Having dramatically improved their own internal procedures, Collins SBA is now offering this capability to other partner firms as an innovative Shared Services Centre. By centralising core functions like technology, HR, compliance, financial management, and marketing, the Shared Services Centre provides partner firms with the ready-built tools and capabilities to scale effectively and maximise high-value time.

    As one of 12 custom integrations chosen for the Salesforce implementation, Collins SBA cited Annature’s clearly designed and documented API, flexible integration capability and affordable pricing structure. Annature is also fully integrated with SharePoint within the Shared Services Centre, resulting in a superior experience for the firm’s internal team, clients and other partners who adopt the technology.

    In transitioning from their previous provider Docusign to Annature, Collins SBA has saved 78% per annum in eSigning costs, while sending 250 envelopes for internal and external eSigning each month. Annature’s on-shore support team was readily available to migrate the firm quickly and efficiently over from Docusign before its contract expired.

    “In transitioning to Annature, we’ve won on every front in terms of client and team member experience, while also benefiting from their flexibility and fair pricing,” said Collins SBA Head of Technology Patrick Gardner. “Annature made the migration seamless, and we’ve found we’re using eSigning more, as it is so much easier and simpler than the Docusign experience. We believe Annature has the best and most adaptable solutions for our needs, and we’re very proud to partner with such a trusted Australian success story.”

    Gardner also highlighted Annature’s key role in the Shared Services Centre, including its trusted status with other external product providers and platforms, such as Netwealth, and the value of its identity verification technology for accounting firms to verify customers.

    “As an integrated accounting and financial planning firm, we only need to do the identity verification once, which reduces the burden on the client,” explained Gardner. “What’s most impactful is that we now have a ‘day one’ solution for when a new firm comes on-board the Shared Services Centre, with Annature as a core component.”

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Collins SBA, as we share a passion for innovation that improves the client experience,” said Annature founder and CEO Corey Cacic. “We immediately saw the value that Annature’s eSigning and identity verification solutions could bring to the Shared Services Centre. We look forward to other firms using what Collins SBA has built to streamline their processes, automate core functions and fuel their growth.”

    Contact information:
    Corey Cacic
    corey@annature.com.au

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1aab4a8-5df2-4c7e-8449-f4de446eab77

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon provides update on heap leach failure at Eagle Gold Mine

    Government of Yukon provides update on heap leach failure at Eagle Gold Mine
    jlutz

    Keeping with the commitment to communicate openly and transparently about the aftermath of the heap leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, the Government of Yukon is informing the public that the Receiver for Victoria Gold Corp., appointed by the court to oversee remediation work at the mine site, has advised the Government of Yukon and other stakeholders of their intention to begin discharging water which began yesterday to proactively prepare for the spring snowmelt.

    There is a limit to how much water can be treated on a daily basis and technical advisors working with the Receiver have advised that it is necessary to begin the process of discharging water now to ensure there is enough storage during spring melt. This is critical to avoid the uncontrolled discharge of untreated water containing cyanide.

    Currently, discharged water has elevated levels of total copper and is not fully compliant with federal regulations or the site’s amended water licence. The water being discharged is in compliance with the cyanide requirements. Work is underway by the Receiver to build a settling pond to reduce copper in the treated water to reach licensed limits. In the coming weeks, once the settling pond is completed, water discharge is expected to meet all required conditions.

    The Receiver plans to release up to approximately 3,000 cubic metres of water per day – just over one Olympic-sized swimming pool’s worth of water – until the settling pond is available for use. This action is considered the safest option currently available to ensure water levels on site remain at manageable levels during the spring snow melt.

    Daily water samples are being collected and a comprehensive environmental monitoring program is underway. The Government of Yukon will continue to provide information on the Receiver’s activities on site.

    Water quality update

    Separate from the recent discharge event, water quality monitoring downstream of the mine site now indicates that contaminated water flowing from the suspected leak in the newly constructed containment pond is entering Haggart Creek. Water quality data following the suspected containment pond leak shows contaminants, such as cyanide, cobalt, chloride and nickel have increased in Haggart Creek since the suspected leak. These contaminants may negatively impact fish health in the downstream environment where exceedances above aquatic life guidelines are found, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring of water quality and fish health downstream of the site.

    Information about the suspected leak was reported to the Government of Yukon and relevant stakeholders on December 28, 2024, by the Receiver. Information about the suspected leak was shared publicly by the Government of Yukon on January 3, 2025.

    Water quality data showing trends since the heap leach failure is available at yukon.ca/environmental-monitoring.

    The next technical briefing will be held by the Government of Yukon on February 18, 2025.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Revitalising family support services in Shellharbour

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government is supporting safe and connected communities throughout the Illawarra by providing $851,279 for the Shellharbour Integrated Child and Family Precinct.

    The funding for planning is the first step in making this important project a reality. It will support a comprehensive business case, master plan and detailed designs for a holistic services hub to provide early childhood and family support services in one accessible location.

    The planning work will consider the revitalisation of the site and connections to nearby services as well as parking and public transport. Local families and community stakeholders will be an integral part of designing the precinct to ensure that it is fit for purpose.

    The project is being delivered by Karitane with Barnardos Australia and the University of New South Wales.

    Planning for the Shellharbour Integrated Child and Family Precinct will consider options to provide a wide range of health, education and social care services in one accessible location.

    This support is being provided through the Government’s $400 million regional Precincts and Partnership Program, which provides investment to transform regional, rural and remote places.

    The program is investing $47.9 million to support the transformation of seven precincts across New South Wales. For more information, visit: infrastructure.gov.au/regional.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

    “This project demonstrates how my Government is building Australia’s future and strengthening regional communities.

    “Having support services, education facilities and social care options all under one roof in the middle of Shellharbour will make a big difference to this beautiful and growing region.

    “We want to support regional communities to grow and thrive, for our youngest and eldest Australians and everyone in between.”

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

    “We’re proud to partner with communities to bring important projects like this to life.

    “Being a new parent is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be really challenging. A central hub for early childhood and family support will help new parents in the Shellharbour region get the services they need close to home.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones

    “This precinct is a game changer for our community.

    “It will help connect people to vital support services they need in an easy to access way.

    “Labor is delivering for our regions and building a stronger Illawarra.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: An unexpected anomaly was found in the Pacific Ocean – and it could be a global time marker

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University

    View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station. NASA

    Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found a strange increase in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 during that time.

    This finding, now published in Nature Communications, opens new pathways for geologists to date past events gleaned from deep within the oceans.

    But the cause of the beryllium-10 anomaly remains unknown. Could it have been major shifts in global ocean currents, a dying star, or an interstellar collision?

    Extremely slow rocks deep in the ocean

    I am on a hunt for stardust on Earth. Previously, I’ve sifted through snow in Antarctica. This time, it was the depths of the ocean.

    At a depth of about 5,000 metres, the abyssal zone of the Pacific Ocean has never seen light, yet something does still grow there.

    Ferromanganese crusts – metallic underwater rocks – grow from minerals dissolved in the water slowly coming together and solidifying over extremely long time scales, as little as a few millimetres in a million years. (Stalactites and stalagmites in caves grow in a similar way, but thousands of times faster.)

    This makes ferromanganese crusts ideal archives for capturing stardust over millions of years.

    The age of these crusts can be determined by radiometric dating using the radioactive isotope beryllium-10. This isotope is continuously produced in the upper atmosphere when highly energetic cosmic rays strike air molecules. The strikes break apart the main components of our air – nitrogen and oxygen – into smaller fragments.

    Both stardust and beryllium-10 eventually find their way into Earth’s oceans where they become incorporated into the growing ferromanganese crust.

    Ferromanganese crust sample VA13/2-237KD analysed in this work. The anomaly was discovered in this crust at a depth of about 30mm – representing 10 million years.
    Dominik Koll

    One of the largest ferromanganese crusts was recovered in 1976 from the Central Pacific. Stored for decades at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources in Hanover, Germany, a 3.7kg section of it became the subject of my analysis.

    Much like tree rings reveal a tree’s age, ferromanganese crusts record their growth in layers over millions of years. Beryllium-10 undergoes radioactive decay really slowly, meaning it gradually breaks down over millions of years as it sits in the rocks.

    As beryllium-10 decays over time, its concentration decreases in deeper, older sediment layers. Because the rate of decay is steady, we can use radioactive isotopes as natural stopwatches to discern the age and history of rocks – this is called radioactive dating.

    A puzzling anomaly

    After extensive chemical processing, my colleagues and I used accelerator mass spectrometry – an ultra-sensitive analytical technique for longer-lived radioactive isotopes – to measure beryllium-10 concentrations in the crust.

    This time, my research took me from Canberra, Australia to Dresden, Germany, where the setup at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf was optimised for beryllium-10 measurements.

    The results showed that the crust had grown only 3.5 centimetres over the past 10 million years and was more than 20 million years old.

    However, before I could return to my search for stardust, I encountered an anomaly.

    Initially, as I searched back in time, the beryllium-10 concentration declined as expected, following its natural decay pattern – until about 10 million years ago. At that point, the expected decrease halted before resuming its normal pattern around 12 million years ago.

    This was puzzling: radioactive decay follows strict laws, meaning something must have introduced extra beryllium-10 into the crust at that time.

    Scepticism is crucial in science. To rule out errors, I repeated the chemical preparation and measurements multiple times – yet the anomaly persisted. The analysis of different crusts from locations nearly 3,000km away gave the same result, a beryllium-10 anomaly around 10 million years ago. This confirmed that the anomaly was a real event rather than a local irregularity.

    Ocean currents or exploding stars?

    What could have happened on Earth to cause this anomaly 10 million years ago? We’re not sure, but there are a few options.

    Last year, an international study revealed that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current – the main driver of global ocean circulation – intensified around 12 million years ago, influencing Antarctic ocean current patterns.

    Could this beryllium-10 anomaly in the Pacific mark the beginning of the modern global ocean circulation? If ocean currents were responsible, beryllium-10 would be distributed unevenly on Earth with some samples even showing a lack of beryllium-10. New samples from all major oceans and both hemispheres would allow us to answer this question.

    Another possibility emerged early last year. Astrophysicists demonstrated that a collision with a dense interstellar cloud could compress the heliosphere – the Sun’s protective shield against cosmic radiation – back to the orbit of Mercury. Without this barrier, Earth would be exposed to an increased cosmic ray flux, leading to an elevated global beryllium-10 production rate.

    A near-Earth supernova explosion could also cause an increased cosmic ray flux leading to a beryllium-10 anomaly. Future research will explore these possibilities.

    The discovery of such an anomaly is a windfall for geological dating. Various archives are used to investigate Earth’s climate, habitability and environmental conditions over different timescales.

    To compare ice cores with sediments, ferromanganese crusts, speleothems (stalagmites and stalactites) and others, their timescales need to be synchronous. Independent time markers, such as Miyake events or the Laschamp excursion, are invaluable for aligning records thousands of years old. Now, we may have a corresponding time marker for millions of years.

    Meanwhile, my search for stardust continues, but now keeping an eye out for new 10-million-year-old samples to further pin down the beryllium-10 anomaly. Stay tuned.

    This research was conducted at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Dominik Koll received funding from AINSE.

    – ref. An unexpected anomaly was found in the Pacific Ocean – and it could be a global time marker – https://theconversation.com/an-unexpected-anomaly-was-found-in-the-pacific-ocean-and-it-could-be-a-global-time-marker-249695

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Taskforce Raven charge two people after targeted search

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Taskforce Raven charge two people after targeted search

    Friday, 14 February 2025 – 10:47 am.

    Two people have been charged with multiple offences following a targeted search by Taskforce Raven yesterday.
    Members of the taskforce searched a Kings Meadows residence on Thursday 13 February and located and seized approximately $1000 worth of stolen property and a quantity of GHB. 
    A 32 year old man and 33 year old woman  – both of Prospect – were arrested for being in possession of property believed to be stolen.
    Both were charged and will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date.
    The taskforce has been operating for almost two weeks, with members continuing to focus on recidivist offenders.
    Anyone with information about recidivist offending or anti-social behaviour in the Northern District should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $3 million boost for palliative care research

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: $3 million boost for palliative care research

    Published: 14 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Health, Minister for Medical Research

    The Minns Labor Government is committing $3 million to improve health outcomes for patients, carers and families with end of life and palliative care needs in NSW.

    The funding for The End of Life and Palliative Care Research Grant Program aims to translate research projects into practical benefits and support collaboration between NSW Health, research institutes, community organisations, non-government organisations and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

    Eligible agencies will receive up to $300,000 over three years for smaller scale research projects, and up to $600,000 for larger scale research activity.

    Recipients of the funding will conduct research in the following priority areas:

    • Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management for patients
    • Collaborative care models to improve experience
    • Culturally and socially inclusive care for Aboriginal, culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTIQ+ patients, carers, families and communities
    • Psychosocial support for grief, loss and bereavement for patients, carers, families and communities. 

    The Program will run a competitive application process to identify research projects. Expressions of Interest applications open on 14 February 2025 and will close on 23 March 2025.

    More information can be found on the NSW Health website.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving the comfort and experience of people with life-limiting illnesses during what is an extremely challenging time for patients and their families.

    “I am proud to announce this initiative which reaffirms our commitment and aims to translate projects into tangible benefits for people with end of life and palliative care needs in NSW.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Medical Research David Harris:

    “I am pleased our government is committing funding for research and innovation that is so critical to improving the experiences of palliative care and end of life patients and the community. 

    “I appreciate all the hard work and collaboration efforts to implement this fantastic initiative.

    “Importantly, these priority research areas have been informed through extensive consultation with the NSW palliative care sector, including clinicians, policy managers, academics and advocacy groups.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: It’s a full House this Valentine’s Day

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: It’s a full House this Valentine’s Day

    Published: 14 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

    Love takes centre stage at the Sydney Opera House today, with a record 40 couples sharing their vows in one of the world’s most iconic settings on the most romantic day of the year.

    This Valentine’s Day, the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages will host 40 intimate ceremonies at the Sydney Opera House, turning dream weddings into an affordable reality.

    Pairs getting hitched on Valentine’s Day will exchange vows in the Yallamundi Rooms, the Opera House’s stunning events space with spectacular harbour views, surrounded by up to 35 of their closest family and friends starting from $1399.

    The romance does not stop at the Opera House, with 14 loved-up couples set to make it official in the picturesque Pyrmont Registry wedding rooms, bringing the tally to 53 Registry marriages and one vow renewal on Valentine’s Day.

    To make their day even more special, many couples have added extras such as photography, flowers, and an on-site reception to continue the celebrations.

    All year round, couples can wed at the beautiful Pyrmont Registry from $479, or further south in the historic charm of the Old Wollongong Courthouse, with ceremonies starting from $659.

    The number of couples choosing to celebrate their love with a Registry wedding each year is steadily rising, with 2024’s figure a 32 per cent increase on the 2500 registry weddings held in 2023.

    To find out more or to book your own dream wedding, visit the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages web page.

    Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said:

    “Love is in the air today as we celebrate 40 couples exchanging their vows right here in this beautiful setting at the Sydney Opera House.

    “The NSW Government is working to ease cost-of-living pressures, offering couples the chance to marry at an iconic location like the Opera House for a fraction of the cost of a typical wedding.

    “Congratulations to all the couples getting married on Valentine’s Day, I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness together.”

    Registrar for NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages, Theresa Fairman said:

    “While Valentine’s Day is hugely popular, our Pyrmont and Wollongong venues offer stunning, budget friendly options all year round.

    “The demand for our ceremonies shows that couples are choosing the Registry for a memorable and unique wedding experience.”

    MIL OSI News –