Note 3: Fuel tax credit rates change for liquid fuels used in a heavy vehicle for travelling on a public road due to changes in the road user charge, which increases by 6% each year over 3 years, from:
28.8 cents per litre in 2023–24, to
30.5 cents per litre in 2024–25, and to
32.4 cents per litre in 2025–26.
Fuel tax credits are reduced to nil where the road user charge exceeds the fuel tax credit rate.
Note 4: Fuel tax credit rates change for gaseous fuels due to changes in the road user charge, which increases by 6% each year over 3 years, from:
38.5 cents per kilogram in 2023–24, to
40.8 cents per kilogram in 2024–25, and to
43.2 cents per kilogram in 2025–26.
Currently, the road user charge reduces fuel tax credits for gaseous fuels to nil.
Save this page to your favourites to make sure you use the correct rate for each product in every excise return you lodge.
The tables on this page are a simplified version of the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921. For terms, refer to Alcohol excise and key terms.
We express excise duty rates per litre of alcohol (LAL) for alcoholic products.
When rates change
The law indexes the excise duty rates for alcohol twice a year, based on the upward movement of the consumer price index (CPI). The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is responsible for determining and publishing the CPI on or before the last Wednesday of the month following the relevant quarter. The current schedule of release dates can be found on the ABS websiteExternal Link.
Usually, indexation occurs on 1 February and 1 August. However, when the ABS doesn’t publish the CPI figure at least 5 days before indexation day, under the law, indexation day is effectively pushed back to the fifth day after publication.
As the CPI for this quarter was published on 29 January 2025, indexation day is 3 February. Table 1 below reflects the release dates and the relevant indexation days.
Table 1: CPI publication dates for 2025
Date of CPI publication
Date of CPI publication + 5 days
Indexation day
29 Jan 2025
3 Feb 2025
3 Feb 2025
30 July 2025
4 Aug 2025
4 Aug 2025
The CPI indexation factor for rates from 3 February 2025 is 1.004. Find out how rates are determined.
The excise duty rates may also change due to other law changes. The items in the following tables don’t apply to beverages you make for personal use, using non-commercial facilities and equipment, except for distilled spirits and beverages containing distilled spirits.
There are different excise duty rates for your alcoholic products depending on the alcohol content.
For beer, it also depends on the size and design of the container you package it in and if you produce it in commercial premises or a brew on premises shop.
Remember to apply the right rate to product that is delivered before and from the effective date (that is, the date the excise duty rate changes) when you lodge your return.
Excise duty on beer is payable on the alcohol content above 1.15% by volume in your finished product.
Table 2: Alcohol rates – beer
Tariff subitem
Unit: $ per litre of alcohol
Description
From 5 Aug 2024 to 2 Feb 2025
From 3 Feb 2025 to 3 Aug 2025
1.1
Alcohol volume not exceeding 3%, individual container:
less than 8 litres
8–48 litres (inclusive), and not designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
52.66
52.87
1.2
Alcohol volume not exceeding 3%, individual container over 48 litres.
10.53
10.57
1.2
Alcohol volume not exceeding 3%, individual container of 8–48 litres (inclusive) and designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
10.53
10.57
1.5
Alcohol volume exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5%, individual container:
less than 8 litres
8–48 litres (inclusive) and not designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
61.32
61.57
1.6
Alcohol volume exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5%, individual container over 48 litres.
32.98
33.11
1.6
Alcohol volume exceeding 3% but not exceeding 3.5%, individual container of 8–48 litres (inclusive) and designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
8–48 litres (inclusive) and not designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
61.32
61.57
1.11
Alcohol volume exceeding 3.5%, individual container over 48 litres.
43.22
43.39
1.11
Alcohol volume exceeding 3.5%, individual container of 8–48 litres (inclusive) and designed to connect to a pressurised gas delivery system or pump delivery system.
43.22
43.39
1.15
Produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment, alcohol volume not exceeding 3%.
3.70
3.71
1.16
Produced for non-commercial purposes using commercial facilities or equipment, alcohol volume over 3%.
4.26
4.28
Alcohol rates for spirits and other excisable beverages
Table 3: Alcohol rates – Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol
Tariff item
Unit: $ per litre of alcohol
Description
From 5 Aug 2024 to 2 Feb 2025
From 3 Feb 2025 to 3 Aug 2025
2
Other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol.
103.89
104.31
Table 4: Alcohol rates – Spirits and other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol
Tariff subitem
Unit: $ per litre of alcohol
Description
From 5 Aug 2024 to 2 Feb 2025
From 3 Feb 2025 to 3 Aug 2025
3.1
Brandy (a spirit distilled from grape wine in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to brandy).
97.02
97.41
3.2
Other excisable beverages exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol.
103.89
104.31
3.5
Spirit that you have approval from us to use for fortifying Australian wine or grape must under section 77FD of the Excise Act 1901.
Free
Free
3.6
Spirit purchased in quantities by particular groups or professions we specified (such as pharmacists and universities) for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose under section 77FE of the Excise Act 1901.
Free
Free
3.7
Spirit that you have approval from us to use for an industrial, manufacturing, scientific, medical, veterinary or educational purpose under section 77FF of the Excise Act 1901.
Free
Free
3.8
Spirit denatured according to the formula we determined (except spirit used as fuel in an internal combustion engine).
Free
Free
3.10
Spirit not elsewhere included.
103.89
104.31
How rates are determined
We determine the new rates by applying the indexation factor to the most recently published rates.
The indexation factor is calculated by dividing the most recent June or December quarter CPI number (determined and published by the ABSExternal Link) by the previous highest June or December quarter CPI number occurring after the June 1983 quarter.
For example, the indexation factor for February 2025 was determined by dividing the December quarter 2024 (most recent to February 2025; 139.4) by the June quarter 2024 (June or December quarter with the highest value prior to December 2024; 138.8) to get 1.004.
Table 5: Calculating indexation factor for February 2025
Most recent CPI number
Highest previous June or Dec quarter
Indexation factor
December 2024 quarter
June 2024 quarter
February 2025
139.4
138.8
1.004
This indexation factor is applied to the current duty rate to determine the new duty rate.
For example, the duty rate for tariff item 2 ‘other excisable beverages not exceeding 10% by volume of alcohol’ was $103.89 for the period 5 August 2024 to 2 February 2025. This rate of $103.89 is multiplied by the indexation factor of 1.004 to determine the rate of $104.31 applicable from 3 February 2025.
Table 6: Calculating the new duty rate for February 2025 for tariff item 2
You don’t need to include the rates in your claim. We will work out the amount of your fuel tax credit for your claim based on the date you acquired the fuel.
Rates are indexed twice a year – in February and August – in line with the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI indexation factor for rates from 3 February 2025 is 1.004.
Fuel excise duty was temporarily reduced from 30 March 2022 to 28 September 2022. This reduction applied to excise and excise equivalent customs duty rates for petrol, diesel and all other fuel and petroleum-based products (except aviation fuels). This affected the fuel tax credit rates during that period.
You need to claim your fuel tax credits within 4 years of the due date of the earliest fuel tax return in which you could have made your claim. If you don’t claim the credits within that time, you’ll no longer be eligible to claim them.
You can access historical fuel tax credit rates by downloading the data file on the Australian Government data.gov.au website at Historical FTC ratesExternal Link.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sara Hughes, Adjunct Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
Las Vegas’ water supplier offers rebates to residents who tear out their grass lawns to save water.LPETTET/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Water scarcity is often viewed as an issue for the arid American West, but the U.S. Northeast’s experience in 2024 shows how severe droughts can occur in just about any part of the country.
Cities in the Northeast experienced record-breaking drought conditions in the second half of 2024 after a hot, dry summer in many areas. Wildfires broke out in several states that rarely see them.
Parts of the Northeastern U.S. were so dry in summer 2024 that several large wildfires burned in New Jersey, as well as in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and even in New York City. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP
Before the drought, many people in the region weren’t prepared for water shortages or even paying much attention to their water use.
As global temperatures rise, cities throughout the U.S. are more likely to experience hotter, drier conditions like this. Those conditions increase evaporation, drying out vegetation and soil and lowering groundwater tables.
The Northeast drought was easing in much of the region in early 2025, but communities across the U.S. should take note of what happened. They can learn from the experiences of cities that have had to confront major water supply crises – such as Cape Town, South Africa; São Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Las Vegas; and New Orleans – and start planning now to avoid the worst impacts of future droughts.
Lessons from cities that have seen the worst
Our new analysis of these five cities’ experiences provides lessons on how to avoid a water supply crisis or minimize the effects through proactive policies and planning.
Many cities have had to confront major water supply crises in recent years. Perhaps the most well-known example is Cape Town’s “Day Zero.”
After three years of persistent drought in the region, Cape Town officials in fall 2017 began a countdown to Day Zero – the point at which water supplies would likely run so low that water would be turned off in neighborhoods and residents would need to fetch a daily allocation of water at public distribution points. Initially it was forecast to occur in April 2018.
Residents in Cape Town, South Africa, line up to fill water jugs during a severe drought in 2018. AP Photo/Bram Janssen
Water rates were raised, and some households installed flow restrictors, which would automatically limit the amount of water that could be used. Public awareness and conservation efforts cut water consumption in half, allowing the city to push back its estimate for when Day Zero would arrive. And when the rains finally came in summer 2018, Day Zero was canceled.
A second example is São Paulo, which similarly experienced a severe drought between 2013 and 2015. The city’s reservoirs were reduced to just 5% of their capacity, and the water utility reduced the pressure in the water system to limit water use by residents.
Water pricing adjustments were used to penalize high water users and reward water conservation, and a citywide campaign sought to increase awareness and encourage conservation. As in Cape Town, the crisis ended with heavy rains in 2016. Significant investments have since been made in upgrading the city’s water distribution infrastructure, preventing leaks and bringing water to the city from other river basins.
Planning ahead can reduce the harm
The experiences of Cape Town and São Paulo – and the other cities in our study – show how water supply crises can affect communities.
When major changes are made to reduce water consumption, they can affect people’s daily lives and pocketbooks. Rapidly designed conservation efforts can have harmful effects on poor and vulnerable communities that may have fewer alternatives in the event of restrictions or shutoffs or lack the ability to pay higher prices for water, forcing tough choices for households between water and other necessities.
Planning ahead allows for more thoughtful policy design.
Lake Mead, a huge reservoir on the Colorado River that Las Vegas relies on for water, reached record low levels in 2022. AP Photo/John Locher
Since 2023, the Las Vegas Valley Water District has implemented water rates that encourage conservation and can vary with the availability of water supplies during droughts. In its first year alone, the policy saved 3 billion gallons of water and generated US$31 million in fees that can be used by programs to detect and repair leaks, among other conservation efforts. A state law now requires businesses and homeowner associations in the Las Vegas Valley to remove their decorative grass by the end of 2026.
Since 2002, per capita water use in Las Vegas has dropped by an impressive 58%.
Solutions and strategies for the future
Most of the cities we studied incorporated a variety of approaches to building water security and drought-proofing their community – from publishing real-time dashboards showing water use and availability in Cape Town to investing in desalination in Melbourne.
But we found the most important changes came from community members committing to and supporting efforts to conserve water and invest in water security, such as reducing lawn watering.
Prioritizing green infrastructure, such as retention ponds and bioswales, that help absorb rain when it does fall and investing in water recycling can also diversify water supplies.
Taking these steps now, ahead of the next drought, can prepare cities and lessen the pain.
Michael Wilson is an employee of RAND, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization. This research was funded by the RAND Center for Climate and Energy Futures.
Sara Hughes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
On Jan 26, 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned away American military planes carrying people being deported from the United States. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 25% tariffs and travel bans on Colombian government officials. Despite insisting that “the U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals” and needed to “establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them,” Petro’s government backed down and resumed cooperation with U.S. immigration officials.
All this took place in the span of just a few hours. But “migration diplomacy” – the use of diplomatic tools and threats to control the number and flow of migrants – isn’t new. Indeed, it was a feature of Trump’s first administration. And it is not unique to Trump; it has been in the foreign policy playbook of previous U.S. presidents as well as the European Union and governments around the world.
Richer countries with increasingly populist, nationalist bases are putting in place anti-migrant policies. But these same nations depend on poorer countries to accept deportations and host the majority of the world’s refugees – governments can’t unilaterally “dump” deported immigrants back into the home country, or in a third country.
And while migration diplomacy can be cooperative, there’s always the possibility a disagreement will spiral into diplomatic spats or outright conflict.
Threats to control migration
Migration diplomacy is a relatively recent academic term. But the practice of using foreign policy tools to control migration is centuries old. Common tools of migrant diplomacy fall between the “carrots” of bilateral treaties, development aid and infrastructure investment, and the “sticks” of tariffs, travel bans and sanctions.
Trump, during his first term, focused more on the sticks, frequently threatening tariffs or cuts in aid to push through deals on migration. For example, in 2018, Trump posted on Twitter that if Honduras and other Central American governments did not stop migrant caravans to the U.S., he would cut all aid: “no more money or aid will be given … effective immediately!”
A few months later, Trump followed through with the threat, suspending US$400 million in aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Trump then upped the ante, posting: “Now we are looking at the ‘BAN,’ … Tariffs, Remittance Fees, or all of the above. Guatemala has not been good.”
Within three days, Guatemala signed a deal with the U.S. to cooperate on asylum and deportations. Honduras and El Salvador followed suit two months later.
Similarly, in 2019, Trump threatened Mexico that the U.S. would impose a 5% tariff on goods “until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP.”
Within 11 days, Mexico signed the Migrant Protection Protocols, known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, institutionalizing what human rights groups called “illegal pushbacks” that put people at risk of torture, sexual violence and death.
And during his first term, Trump imposed visa restrictions on people from Cambodia, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sierra Leone because those countries were deemed to be not cooperating with deportations.
Nations also use migration policy as tools to push other foreign policy goals not necessarily related to migration. As political scientist Kelly Greenhill explored in her book “Weapons of Mass Migration,” governments are using coercive engineered migration to create pressure against other rival nations. This was seen in 2021 when Belarus bused asylum seekers to the Polish border in an apparent effort to overwhelm the EU’s asylum system.
Similarly, Trump used migration policies to bully other nations into cooperating with the United States. The “Muslim ban” of his first administration – rebranded in later iterations as travel bans – banned entry of citizens from Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. While the first executive order pertaining to the ban was immediately criticized as Islamophobic, the administration changed legal reasoning in front of the Supreme Court, arguing that the ban stemmed from nations not sharing information about potential terrorists and due to their passports being vulnerable to fraud.
The travel bans were an attempt to coerce nations into sharing information with the U.S. and enforcing U.S. standards of identity documents. Indeed, Chad was later removed from the ban when it adopted these standards.
The use of migration diplomacy by the U.S. government predates Trump. Tit-for-tat restrictions on travel were common throughout the Cold War. In 2001, President George W. Bush applied visa sanctions to Guyana when its government refused to cooperate on deportations. In 2016, President Barack Obama also applied retaliatory visa restrictions on Gambia for failing to accept U.S. deportation flights.
Conditional aid from EU
The European Union tends to use carrots rather than sticks to encourage cooperation on deportations. For example, a 2016 EU-Turkey deal provided 6 billion euros (US$6.25 million) in aid for refugees in Turkey in exchange for accepting the deportation of what the EU describes as “irregular migrants.” In 2023, the EU also struck a 105 million euro ($109 million) deal with Tunisia in return for the North African country’s cooperation on preventing irregular migration.
Trump’s threats and EU migration deals reveal a type of migration interdependence: Rich states in the Global North don’t want to host large numbers of migrants and refugees and need willing partners in the Global South to accept deportations, enforce emigration restrictions and continue hosting the majority of the world’s refugees.
This interdependence is typically balanced by rich countries footing the bill and poor countries accepting deportations. But migration diplomacy is also used by less powerful nations aware of the opportunity of exacting concessions out of countries, blocs or international bodies. For example, the Kenyan government repeatedly threatened to close the Dadaab refugee camp and expel all Somali refugees unless it received more international aid. Similarly, Pakistan threatened to deport Afghan refugees unless the international community did more, but backed down after significant increases in aid.
Similarly, the small South Pacific island nation of Nauru was paid more than $118 million with the aim of hosting all asylum seekers to Australia. The policy broke down after reports of abysmal conditions in Nauru’s detention facilities.
While migration diplomacy does work both ways, richer countries by and large have the upper hand. And Trump’s threats against Colombia – and others – are just one example of this hardball migration diplomacy.
Nicholas R. Micinski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
GOUVERNEUR, N.Y., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQB Marketplace: GOVB) (the “Company”), the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, announced today that the two leading proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”), have both recommended that Company stockholders vote “FOR” the Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held on February 10, 2025.
“We are pleased that ISS and Glass Lewis have both recommended that our stockholders vote in favor of the equity incentive plan at our upcoming annual meeting,” said Robert W. Barlow, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our Board of Directors believes that the approval of the plan will provide the Company with the ability to retain, reward, attract and incentivize employees and directors in order to promote growth, improve performance and further align their interests with those of the stockholders of the Company.”
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
The Company’s annual meeting of stockholders will be held at the Company’s office located at 20 John Street, Gouverneur, New York 13642 on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., local time.
Stockholders are encouraged to read the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 2, 2025 for additional information.
About Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc.
Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association, which is a New York chartered savings and loan association founded in 1892 that offers deposit and loan services for businesses, families and individuals. At December 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of $196.8 million, total deposits of $159.7 million and total stockholders’ equity of $31.7 million.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or similar expressions, including those with respect to the Company’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders, the approval and implementation of the Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan and the other benefits associated with the proposed equity incentive plan. Such forward-looking statements and all other statements that are not historic facts are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors. These factors include, among others, the following: the ability to successfully integrate acquired entities and realize expected cost savings associated with completed mergers and acquisitions; changes in interest rates; national and regional economic conditions; legislative and regulatory changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; the size, quality and composition of the loan or investment portfolios; demand for loan products; deposit flows and our ability to effectively manage liquidity; competition; demand for financial services in our market area; changes in real estate market values in our market area; changes in relevant accounting principles and guidelines; and our ability to attract and retain key employees. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Should one or more of these risks materialize, actual results may vary from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT:
Robert W. Barlow President and Chief Executive Officer (315) 287-2600
TORONTO and NEW YORK, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX: ILLM) (OTCQB: ILLMF) (“illumin” or “Company”), a leader in digital marketing technology, today announced that Simon Cairns, Chief Executive Officer, and Elliot Muchnik, Chief Financial Officer, will present live at the Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on February 6th, 2025.
DATE: February 6th TIME: 10:00 am ET LINK:https://bit.ly/40Wa3fj Available for 1:1 meetings
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the Company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
Partnership with Adsquare to Deliver Advanced Footfall Attribution
Record Third Quarter 2024 Revenue of $36.3 Million, up 23% YoY
Self-Service Revenue Rose 64% YoY in Q3 2024 to $8.4 Million
About illumin illumin is evolving the digital advertising landscape by empowering marketers to achieve transformative results through its customer-centric approach. Featuring a unified canvas built around the open web, illumin lets brands and agencies seamlessly plan, build, and execute campaigns across the entire marketing funnel—connecting programmatic channels, email, and social media within a single platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit illumin.com.
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
CONTACTS: Steve Hosein Investor Relations illumin Holdings Inc. 416-218-9888 x5313 investors@illumin.com
David Hanover Investor Relations – U.S. KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1220 dhanover@kcsa.com
Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com
COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) today announced expanded distribution of its premium cold pressed oils at Woolworths, a major retailer in Australia with over 1,000 locations across the country. Four SKUs of the Company’s cold pressed GEO Extra Virgin Non-GMO Canola oil and its cold pressed GEO Non-GMO Extra Virgin Vegetable oil are now available at Woolworths locations in pack sizes ranging from 750ml to 4L.
“We are very pleased to partner with Woolworths to provide consumers greater access to our high-quality, sustainable and locally sourced oils,” said Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited. “Our GEO brand exemplifies our mission by offering a unique range of products that significantly reduce the use of chemicals in farming and food production systems, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all. This agreement, coupled with our recently announced expansion in China, demonstrates significant progress on our key strategic initiatives along with helping to accelerate our growth trajectory. We look forward to increasing our range of healthier GEO oils in Woolworths supermarkets throughout 2025.”
Australian oilseed investments is also in discussions with other retail chains in both Australia and the United States for supply of its unique range of non-GMO cold pressed extra virgin vegetable oils.
About Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd. Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd. is an Australian proprietary company that, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, is focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited 126-142 Cowcumbla Street Cootamundra New South Wales 2590 Attn: Bob Wu, CFO Email: bob@energreennutrition.com.au
Investor Relations Contact Reed Anderson (646) 277-1260 reed.anderson@icrinc.com
FifeScreen+TayScreen is pleased to announce the release of its annual report for 2023/24, showcasing a successful year for the screen industry in the Fife Tay region with figures showing the media industry’s multi-million pound contribution to the economy of the Fife and Tay region. The office also supported ground-breaking work that was a finalist in the Screen International Global Production Awards at the Cannes Film Festival for a UK first – virtual production over 5G between Dundee and Manchester.
The figures show continuing resilience for film and TV production in 2023-24 despite challenges such as writer and actor strikes in the USA that have directly affected production in the UK and employment of freelance crew. Production spend reached £2.3 million, generating economic impact of approximately £4.6 million. This highlights the significant contribution that the screen industry makes to the local economy and the wider region.
Key Achievements in 2024
Production Activity: the office facilitated over 100 productions, contributing an estimated £2.4 million to the local economy. The office recorded a total of over 400 filming days at locations across the region. Projects ranged from feature films and television dramas to commercials and independent productions.
Diverse Locations Utilised: The region’s stunning landscapes, historic sites, and urban settings attracted high-profile projects. These productions not only boosted the local economy but also showcased the region’s unique character on the global stage.
Support for Regional Business: the office connected regional businesses with opportunities in the screen industry.
Sustainability: the office implemented eco-friendly production guidelines towards support Scottish and UK initiatives to ensure the industry’s growth aligns with environmental goals.
The sector supports jobs and livelihoods including freelance crew and services that are integral to production such as hospitality and accommodation. It plays a major part in promoting the region for economic and social development and attracting tourism.
Some production highlights
The report features several exciting highlights. Time-travel romantic drama series ‘Outlander’, returned for Season 8 and Prequel, Blood of My Blood that filmed across the region. There was filming for the final series of Netflix show, The Crown. The region’s attraction for crime on screen continued with production of Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie Season 2. James McAvoy, star of productions such as X-Men and Atonement, made his directorial debut in Dundee with California Schemin’. Iconic, global fashion brand, Christian Dior brought an A-list event and fashion shoots to Perthshire. This further solidifies the Fife Tayside region’s position as a preferred destination for high-profile productions, drawing attention and visitors from around the world.
Studios/Virtual Production and Remote Broadcasting
FifeScreen+TayScreen has continue to collaborate with the Tay Cities Deal project, Tay5G Virtual Production and Julie Craik has been appointed to the national board of the £76m CoSTAR programme supported by the UK Government. Virtual Production is an exciting evolution of greenscreen. Real environments or digitally created experiences are projected in specialist studios so that cast and crew can see and interact with them in real time. The office also supported the Tay5G project that saw Neutral Wireless and QTV advancing 5G enabled, live production technology in the region.
Dundee’s Fair Work, Economic Growth & Infrastructure Convener, Steven Rome says: “As a city renowned for its creativity and innovation, Dundee is proud to support the ongoing success of Tayscreen in showcasing our region as a vibrant hub for film, television, and creative production. This year’s Tayscreen annual report highlights the collaborative spirit that make our area such an attractive destination for production. Dundee continues to play a vital role in this industry, bringing economic opportunities and raising our profile on the global stage.”
Cllr Altany Craik, Spokesperson for Fife Council Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning says: “The film industry continues to play a vital role in Fife’s economy. The support that FifeScreen provides makes it easy for production companies to choose Fife as a location to film audience favourites such as Outlander and The Crown. The effects of having Fife showcased in this way must not be underestimated in terms of the visitor economy and inward investment. Embracing new technology will ensure that FifeScreen+TayScreen continues to be relevant and attractive to this vibrant industry.”
Councillor Eric Drysdale, Convener of Perth & Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, says: “Perth & Kinross is proud to be a part of the TayScreen network, which continues to shine a spotlight on our region’s stunning landscapes, historic landmarks, and thriving creative industries. This year’s Tayscreen annual report underscores the significant contribution our area has made to the screen sector, attracting high-profile productions and delivering economic benefits to local communities. From our picturesque countryside to our vibrant towns, Perth & Kinross offers a wealth of opportunities for filmmakers and content creators. We remain committed to supporting the creative industries, recognising their vital role in driving cultural and economic growth in our region.”
The report also emphasises the positive impact of screen tourism on the local economy. While tourism services faced challenges due to increased operating costs and the cost-of-living crisis, screen tourism continued to play a crucial role in raising awareness and influencing destination and economic development decisions. The allure of seeing Scotland on screen remains a significant factor for up to 40% of visitors to the region with the impact reported to last for at least four years.
FifeScreen+TayScreen is committed to supporting and promoting the region as a premier filming location, as well as leveraging the power of screen tourism to boost the local economy. As part of its mission, the office continues to collaborate with industry partners, local businesses, and stakeholders to create a ‘film-crew friendly’ environment for filmmaking. The success of the past year reflects the continued collective effort and dedication of all engaging with the screen industry in the Fife Tay region.
Looking forward, TayScreen remains determined to build on this success and further solidify the region’s reputation as a vibrant hub for screen production. By attracting more high-profile productions, nurturing local talent, and fostering collaborations, TayScreen aims to continue driving economic growth and showcasing the unique charm and beauty of the region to audiences worldwide.
PARIS, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus has announced the strengthening of its strategic partnership with Cogito Software, a leading software distributor in China with over 400,000 customers and an importer of TeamViewer. This development marks a significant milestone in the companies’ collaboration, which originally began with a sales agreement signed in January 2019.
This renewed collaboration was formalized during a productive meeting on November 18, 2024, in Beijing between Dominique Benoit, Founder and President of TSplus, Rich Yu, President of Cogito Software, and Henri Merlin, COO of TSplus. The discussions, which took place over a successful business lunch, focused on advancing mutual growth opportunities and enhancing local support for TSplus’ Chinese partners and customers.
Expanding TSplus China Operations
Dominique Benoit stated, “With our local presence in Shanghai, my goal is to deliver the best possible support to our Chinese partners and customers. I am convinced that we are providing the opportunity to develop Cogito Software’s sales in 2025. The cybersecurity market is a necessity today. All of Cogito’s customers need to shield their application servers. TSplus Advanced Security is affordable, user-friendly, and already available in Chinese. Furthermore, TSplus Remote Support is the best alternative to TeamViewer, complementing our position as the world’s leading alternative to Citrix.”
As part of TSplus’ expansion strategy, a local subsidiary has been established in Shanghai with a dedicated operational team:
Neo Chen — Leading sales and business development.
Shen Xu — Managing marketing efforts.
Yi Zheng — Ensuring optimal communication and collaboration between the headquarters in France and the local team.
“The creation of TSplus China and our commitment to providing local sales and marketing support is a testament to our dedication to the Chinese market,”Dominique Benoit added. “This is just the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership between our two companies. I am extremely pleased with our decision to enhance Cogito’s capabilities for success with TSplus products.”
Future Prospects for TSplus China and Cogito Software
Looking ahead, Neo Chen and his team will intensify prospecting efforts from Shanghai, including an upcoming meeting with Rich Yu to further strengthen the partnership. Dominique Benoit and Rich Yu are also scheduled to meet again in April when Dominique travels to Shanghai before attending the TSplus International Meeting 2025 in Bali.
This strengthened alliance signals TSplus’ commitment to bringing top-tier remote access and cybersecurity solutions to the dynamic and rapidly evolving Chinese market.
Become an official TSplus partner: Discover ourPartner Program.
About TSplus: TSplus is a leading provider of remote access, cybersecurity, and IT management solutions, helping businesses around the world simplify secure access to business applications. For more information, http://www.tsplus.net
About Cogito Software: Cogito Software is a premier distributor of software products in China, serving over 400,000 customers. The company is a trusted importer of TeamViewer and other leading IT solutions, driving digital transformation across industries.
Former NTS tenants will now become tenants of the Council and will enjoy a range of associated benefits as a result, including reduced rent levels and a 24-hour emergency repairs service.
Council Leader, Councillor Grant Laing, visited Dunkeld today and met some of the tenants to mark the handover of their tenancy.
The National Trust for Scotland, which cares for and shares Scotland’s heritage, has been responsible for the management of the residential homes, an office and two commercial units in Dunkeld since the 1950s.
The charity stepped in to save the 17th and 18th century buildings, which were at risk of demolition, taking ownership, restoring the buildings and then letting them to tenants, preserving the unique historic character of Dunkeld town centre which is widely regarded as one of the most attractive in Scotland.
The charity and Perth and Kinross Council have been working to transfer the homes into the ownership of the Council’s Housing Revenue Account since October 2024.
Councillor Laing said: “I am delighted that the Council has taken ownership of these homes in a historic part of Dunkeld, securing their future and providing the local community with social housing for affordable rent. We have worked very hard with the National Trust for Scotland to make the transfer as seamless as possible for tenants. I would like to thank the National Trust for Scotland and the tenants for working positively and constructively with us over the last few months.
“As a large social landlord we will be able to offer tenants lower levels of rent and access to the wide range of Council services enjoyed by all our other tenants, including 24-hour emergency repairs and a programme of investment that will see regular improvements made to the homes.
“These properties will be a fantastic addition to the stock social housing for the people of Dunkeld, now and into the future.”
Housing and Social Wellbeing Convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, also attended today. He added: “The tenants here will enjoy a secure tenancy that they can enjoy for as long as they want to, with regular investment to improve their homes to the highest standard possible.
“I am very happy that we can now offer our services to our new tenants. We have also put arrangements in place that will see people with a connection to Dunkeld given priority consideration should a vacant tenancy arise in one of the properties.”
Stuart Maxwell, Regional Director for Edinburgh & East said: “The National Trust for Scotland has been proud to play a part in protecting Dunkeld for many decades and we are confident that these new arrangements will ensure the continued protection of this beautiful town and provide benefits to its tenants. Our conservation charity will continue to take an active role in ensuring that Dunkeld retains the nature, beauty and heritage that makes it so special.”
Headline: Guest blog: The role of litigation funding in advancing international arbitration in MENA
In this guest blog, sponsor of the 13th ICC MENA Conference, WinJustice, explains how litigation funding, an innovative financial solution, is now bridging this gap, transforming arbitration into a more accessible and equitable process for all parties.
As a leading funding firm in the UAE, WinJustice is at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for broader adoption of litigation funding to strengthen the region’s arbitration ecosystem.
The benefits of litigation funding in arbitration
Litigation funding has become a game-changer in international arbitration. By covering the legal and procedural costs of arbitration, it provides claimants with the financial support needed to pursue meritorious claims. This is especially vital in the MENA region, where many businesses face significant financial constraints when initiating or defending claims in arbitration.
Key benefits of litigation funding include:
Reducing financial barriers: Claimants no longer need to rely solely on their financial resources to engage in arbitration, enabling fairer access to justice.
Promoting high-quality representation: Litigation funding ensures that claimants can access top-tier legal counsel and expert witnesses, significantly enhancing the quality of arbitration proceedings.
Risk mitigation: Funders typically work on a no-win, no-fee basis, assuming the financial risk of unsuccessful claims, thereby offering claimants peace of mind.
Case studies: Global lessons for the MENA region
In jurisdictions where litigation funding is well-established, such as the UK and Australia, the positive impact on arbitration proceedings is evident. For instance, a funded claimant in a high-profile cross-border dispute in London successfully recovered damages after overcoming significant financial hurdles.
Drawing on such global experiences, WinJustice believes that the adoption of litigation funding in the MENA region will similarly empower businesses to seek justice. By levelling the playing field, litigation funding fosters a more inclusive and robust arbitration environment.
Impact on the MENA region
The MENA region is witnessing rapid economic growth and diversification, leading to an inevitable increase in commercial disputes. As arbitration becomes the preferred method for resolving these disputes, litigation funding serves as a catalyst for the region’s legal and economic development.
Enhancing trust in arbitration: By providing financial solutions, litigation funding strengthens trust in arbitration as a fair and efficient dispute resolution mechanism.
Attracting international investors: A robust arbitration framework supported by litigation funding reassures investors about the region’s commitment to the rule of law and dispute resolution.
Accelerating economic growth: With greater access to arbitration, businesses can resolve disputes more effectively, contributing to overall economic stability.
WinJustice’s commitment to driving these outcomes highlights the transformative role of litigation funding in the MENA arbitration landscape.
Conclusion
Litigation funding is revolutionising international arbitration by ensuring that financial constraints no longer hinder access to justice. As a pioneer in this field, WinJustice is proud to lead the conversation at the 13th ICC MENA Conference, showcasing how litigation funding can accelerate arbitration proceedings and foster a fairer dispute resolution process in the region.
The future of arbitration in the MENA region lies in innovative solutions like litigation funding, which not only empower claimants but also strengthen the overall arbitration ecosystem.
*Disclaimer: The content of this article may not reflect the official views of the International Chamber of Commerce. The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and other contributors.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2025 Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2025 **********************************************************************
The Transport Department (TD) today (February 3) reminded members of the public that, to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Marathon 2025 this Sunday (February 9), temporary road closures will be implemented at various locations in phases from Saturday (February 8) at 11.30pm and will be reopened subject to the progress of the race. It is anticipated all closed roads will be reopened by about 2pm on Sunday. This year, the full and half marathon races will start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. The full marathon race will route through major road sections including Nathan Road (from Granville Road to Argyle Street), Argyle Street, Lin Cheung Road, West Kowloon Highway, Stonecutters Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Tsing Kwai Highway, the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC), Connaught Road West flyover, Lung Wo Road, Expo Drive, Hung Hing Road, Lockhart Road, Percival Street, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street and Sugar Street, and finish at Victoria Park. The half marathon race route will follow that of the full marathon race from the starting point at Nathan Road to Lin Cheung Road with the turning point at Tsing Kwai Highway and then rejoin the full marathon race route at West Kowloon Highway. As for other races, the starting point will be set at different locations on Hong Kong Island while all the finishing points will be set at Victoria Park. The 10-kilometre race will start at the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) near the exit/entrance of Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel (CWBT) and run along the IEC eastwards to the turning point near Oi Tak Street and then return to the finishing point. The 10-kilometre wheelchair race will start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road, Expo Drive, Lung Wo Road and Central Ferry Piers area and then return to run along Lung Wo Road, Hung Hing Road, Marsh Road, Lockhart Road and Hennessey Road heading for the finishing point. The Wheelchair Trial and Leaders Cup will also start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road and Marsh Road and then rejoin the 10-km wheelchair race route heading for the finishing point. According to the arrangements for the full and half marathon race routes, temporary closures of major road sections and their vicinities in Yau Tsim Mong area will be implemented extensively, including (i) the whole section of Nathan Road (in both directions) between Salisbury Road and Gascoigne Road, (ii) the northbound carriageway of Nathan Road between Gascoigne Road and Argyle Street, and (iii) the westbound carriageway of Argyle Street between Nathan Road and Tong Mi Road. The above road sections will be reopened at or before about 10.30am in phases, subject to the progress of the races. At the same time, public transport services in this area will also be subject to extensive adjustments. Members of the public heading to this area are advised to use railway services. Moreover, since the full marathon will use the Kowloon-bound carriageways of Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel as the race route, vehicles on Lantau Link (Tsing Ma Bridge) heading to Kowloon will be diverted to use North West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsuen Wan Road, Kwai Chung Road, Cheung Sha Wan Road and Lai Chi Kok Road. It is anticipated that traffic congestion along North Lantau Highway, Tsing Ma Bridge and the vicinity of North West Tsing Yi Interchange may occur. The above road closures will not affect vehicles from Hong Kong Island/Kowloon/New Territories East heading for Hong Kong International Airport and Lantau Island. Vehicles from the New Territories West to the airport and Lantau Island could travel via Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel. Due to the closure of the Kowloon-bound carriageway of Ting Kau Bridge, vehicles travelling via Tuen Mun Road or Tai Lam Tunnel to the airport and Lantau Island will be diverted to use Tsuen Wan Road, Tsuen Tsing Interchange, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsing Tsuen Bridge and Tsing Yi North Coastal Road to enter Tsing Ma Bridge. During the races, the Kowloon-bound tube of the WHC will remain opened, while the Hong Kong-bound tube of the WHC will be temporarily closed from 0.45am on Sunday till about 1.15pm, subject to the progress of the races. Motorists in Kowloon West heading for Hong Kong Island are advised to use the Cross-Harbour Tunnel or Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC). For the race routes in Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Street eastbound will be temporarily closed to serve as a race route. Most of the public transport services operating along Yee Wo Street (in the direction of North Point) will be diverted to use Percival Street, Leighton Road and Pennington Street during the closure period. According to the arrangements for the 10-km race, both bound carriageways of the IEC between Victoria Park Road and Shau Kei Wan, and the CWBT linking to and from the IEC will be closed from 1.15am on Sunday in phases, and traffic will be diverted via appropriate alternative routes such as Connaught Road Central, Gloucester Road, King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, etc. Traffic to and from the EHC will be diverted to the Sai Wan Ho or Kornhill exit/entrance. Depending on the progress of the races, different sections of the CWBT will be reopened in phases to minimise the impact on traffic. Upon the anticipated reopening of the IEC before noon, the section of the CWBT between Central and North Point will be reopened while the Wan Chai North exit from and entrance to the CWBT will be closed for most of the race time. In connection with the road closure arrangements, starting from 11.15pm on Saturday until the reopening of the roads, 211 daytime bus routes and 33 daytime green minibus (GMB) routes will be subject to suspension, truncation or diversion, and the stopping points concerned of the affected bus and GMB services will be relocated accordingly in phases. Also, 49 overnight bus routes and six overnight green minibus routes to be affected by the road closures will be subject to the associated service adjustments. These affected bus routes include the cross-harbour routes and bus services operating in the following areas: Hong Kong Island – bus routes operating along the IEC, the CWBT, in Central and Western District, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay areas; Kowloon – bus routes operating along Nathan Road, Argyle Street, Shanghai Street, Jordan Road and Yau Tsim Mong areas; and New Territories – bus routes operating along Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel. The following bus termini and public transport interchanges on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon will be suspended: Hong Kong Island – Tin Hau Station Public Transport Interchange, Expo Drive East Bus Terminus, Central Ferry Piers Bus Terminus and Whitfield Road Bus Terminus; and Kowloon – China Ferry Terminal Public Transport Interchange and Star Ferry Bus Terminus. To enable participants of the full/half marathon and 10-km races that start in the early morning to go to Tsim Sha Tsui or Causeway Bay, the first departures of eight rail lines of MTR services will be advanced suitably on Sunday, with the first departures on the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line to be operated at 3.25am. In addition, 28 special bus routes will also be operated to serve participants going to Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay on Sunday. During the road closure period, bus stops, taxi stands, taxi pick-up/drop-off points, public light bus/GMB stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks within the closed roads and their vicinities may be suspended subject to the situation. The commencement time of the pedestrian precinct on Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street in Causeway Bay will be postponed to 3pm on Sunday subject to the road reopening situation in the vicinity of Causeway Bay. Members of the public and tourists heading for Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express Line, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, China Ferry Terminal (China Hong Kong City) or Ocean Terminal are advised to plan their journeys early to avoid any delays caused by road closures and traffic diversions. The TD anticipates that the traffic at various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories will be more significantly congested when compared with normal Sundays, including: Hong Kong Island – King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, Victoria Park Road, Leighton Road, Hennessy Road, Gloucester Road, Queensway, Connaught Road Central, Aberdeen Tunnel (Wan Chai bound) and Central Ferry Piers areas; Kowloon – Nathan Road and its vicinity, Argyle Street, Wylie Road, Gascoigne Road flyover, West Kowloon Corridor and Cross-Harbour Tunnel (both bounds), with a higher chance of long traffic queues along Gascoigne Road flyover and West Kowloon Corridor; and New Territories – Lantau Link (Kowloon bound) and North West Tsing Yi Interchange. Motorists should avoid driving to the above affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on-site. Members of the public should plan their journeys early and use alternative routes to avoid unexpected delays, and take railway services as far as possible. Public transport users are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and changes of stop locations. Other ad-hoc traffic and public transport measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures, traffic diversions, alterations and suspensions of public transport services, may be implemented by the Police on-site at short notice depending on the actual traffic and crowd conditions. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media. For information about the above special traffic and transport adjustments, members of the public may browse the TD’s website at www.td.gov.hk or the “HKeMobility” mobile application.
Controversy over land clearing at the Lee Point (Binybara) housing development site, near Darwin, highlights the urgent need for environmental law reform.Euan Ritchie
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shelved the proposed reforms to Australia’s 25-year-old environment laws, citing a lack of parliamentary support for the changes.
The decision breaks Labor’s 2022 election commitment to overhaul the protections. The Albanese government is now the latest in a string of governments that have tried and failed to reform the law known formally as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Labor’s capitulation does not, however, change the facts. Australia’s natural environment is deteriorating rapidly. Laws are urgently needed to protect our nation’s valuable natural assets.
Establishing effective laws is an investment that will benefit Australia’s biodiversity, economy, cultural values, health and wellbeing. Nature is now a key 2025 election issue.
How did we get here?
An independent review of the EPBC Act, known as the Samuel Review, was completed in 2020 under the former Coalition government. It found that without urgent changes, most of Australia’s threatened plants, animals and ecosystems will become extinct.
The centrepiece of reform is to set national environmental standards that would be overseen by an independent regulator and watchdog called Environmental Protection Australia (EPA). But reform was split into three stages.
Stage one legislated for national markets in nature repair and expanded the requirement to assess potential impacts on water resources under the EPBC Act. The so-called “water trigger” now captures “unconventional gas” projects such as shale gas recovery in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin. The law passed in December 2023, but the markets are not yet functioning.
Stage two of the reforms, including establishing a federal EPA, came before the Senate in late 2024. Plibersek had reportedly made a deal with the crossbench to secure passage. But this deal was scuttled by Albanese at the eleventh hour.
Stage two was relisted for discussion in the upcoming first parliamentary sitting week of 2025, this week. But on Saturday, Albanese told The Conversation the government would, again, not be proceeding with the reform this term.
The reforms have been delayed for so long that we are now closer to the next statutory review of the laws, due in 2029, than to the last one.
Stage three, which covers the bulk of substantive reform recommended in the Samuel Review, is yet to be seen publicly.
What will happen after the next election?
Albanese must go to the polls by May 17, but there is speculation the election may be as early as March. So what is the likely fate of these environmental reforms in the next term?
A Roy Morgan poll on Monday found if a federal election were held now, the result would be a hung parliament. So the result is looking tight.
Government control of the Senate is rare. So whoever is in power after the election is very likely to rely on crossbench support for any reforms.
Albanese has ruled out forming a coalition with the Greens or crossbenchers in the event of a hung parliament. However, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he would negotiate with independents to form government.
A returned Albanese majority government would probably revisit the scuttled deal on stage two. With elections in the rear-view mirror, Albanese may be prepared to wear some political pain early in the next term to secure a deal. He would also still need to roll out the bulk of the Nature Positive reforms, the detail of which remains hidden behind a vague “stage three” banner.
A minority Albanese government may face a tougher ask: demands from an environmentally progressive crossbench for major commitments to environmental reform in return for promises of support on budget and confidence.
A Coalition government would be coming from a very different angle. Dutton has painted Nature Positive as a
“disaster” for the economy, expressing particular concern about impacts on the mining sector.
The Coalition’s environmental agenda is increasingly focused on “cutting green tape” – in other words, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for developers – and repealing bans on nuclear power stations. Finding crossbench support in the Senate for this agenda could be challenging.
The Greens have vowed to make environmental protection a key election issue, urging voters to cast their ballot for nature this election.
A recent poll published by the Biodiversity Council shows 75% of Australians support strengthening national environmental law to protect nature. Only 4% are opposed and the rest are undecided.
But converting a high level of broad support into votes is another thing altogether – especially during a cost-of-living crisis.
Crystal clear consequences
The political crystal ball remains cloudy. But when it comes to the state of Australia’s environment, the picture is clear.
The environment continues to decline and the consequences are increasingly serious. These consequences extend beyond further irreversible loss and the increasing cost of environmental repair, to include the economic and social consequences of losing more of the natural assets on which our quality of life depends.
Peter Burnett is affiliated with the Biodiversity Council, an independent expert group founded by 11 Australian universities to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis.
Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australian Mammal Society, and President of the Australian Mammal Society.
Jaana Dielenberg was employed by the now-ended Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, which led an earlier stage of this research. She is a Charles Darwin University Fellow and is employed by the University of Melbourne and the Biodiversity Council.
Meet Sage, the star of WGEA’s new campaign to increase awareness and understanding of Australia’s gender pay gap.
Because it is your gender pay gap.
Perhaps you’re a woman earning, on average, $550 a week less than men in your workplace.
Or maybe you’re a man who is finding it hard to access paid parental leave or flexible working arrangements which would significantly help improve you and your family’s wellbeing.
These are some of the contributors to the gender pay gap, which ripples throughout Australian life and impacts every one of us.
And we need to work together to help fix it and help make workplaces fairer.
On March 4, WGEA will publish the gender pay gaps of over 9,200 private sector employers.
Many companies are making progress, but it’s slow. Far too slow for the many women and men disadvantaged by it.
Did you know only 56% of employers improved their gender pay gap over the past 12 months?
Men made up just 17% of people who took up primary carer’s parental leave.
And 1 in 4 boards still don’t have a single woman on them.
The evidence shows fixing these imbalances is possible. It leads to greater productivity and profitability, and healthier, happier workers. Which means a happier, more productive, Australia.
In the lead up to the publishing of gender pay gaps, we all need to work together to speed up change.
At the centre of this campaign is an interactive game – hosted by our friendly and hopeful quizmaster Sage – to encourage Australians to test your knowledge and learn more about gender equality in the workplace.
We hope it will spark conversations, and we encourage you to share your experiences with us through our social channels, as well as with your colleagues, family and friends.
Play the game and inform yourself of the facts.
You can then check your employer’s data – everything from the gender pay gap, the demographics of who is employed in what roles, to their policies on parental leave and flexible work.
If you want to take it further you can talk to your manager or HR. Ask questions. What is causing your employer’s gender pay gap? How does it affect you? And what steps are they taking to improve it?
Dig into the data. Find the causes. And help to end the gender pay gap. #sageadvice
Currently, women in Australian earn, on average, just 78 cents for every $1 men earn.
WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge invites Australians to join the campaign, take the quiz and help mobilise their employers to take action to address the issues that create the gender pay gap.
“We encourage everyone to work with our quizmaster Sage and learn about Australia’s gender pay gap and help share that knowledge – as well as their own experiences – with their colleagues, family and friends.
“We hope this campaign prompts a conversation, and encourages employees to seek answers for themselves about where their employer stands on gender equality.
“Every conversation reminds managers and executives of the importance of a workplace where people are fairly represented and equally valued.”
WGEA supports employers to help them work towards this goal.
“WGEA has lots of tools and resources on the Take Action page of our website to help employers investigate and act on their gender pay gaps,” Ms Wooldridge says.
“The first step is to conduct a gender pay gap analysis to see where inequalities exist and WGEA has masterclasses, guides and advice to help employers to do this.
“Once they have identified any gaps in their composition or pay, they can use our Action Planning Playbook which will help them work towards a solution.”
One in three employers have not yet done a gender pay gap analysis to find out where their inequalities exist.
And too many people are still confused and conflate the gender pay gap with equal pay.
Equal pay is the legal requirement to pay people the same amount for doing the same job, or a job of similar value. This has been the law for over 50 years.
The gender pay gap, meanwhile, shows the difference between the average or median amount men earn in a workplace compared with women.
From the moment you open your social media feed, you’re stepping into a digital battleground where not all political messages are what they seem.
The upcoming federal election will see an influx of deepfakes, doctored images, and tailored narratives that blur the line between fact and fiction.
Last week, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) relaunched its Stop and Consider campaign. The campaign urges voters to pause and reflect, particularly regarding information about how to vote. But its message applies to all forms of misinformation.
AEC Commissioner Jeff Pope warns:
A federal election must be held in the next few months, so now is the perfect time to encourage all Australians to have a healthy degree of scepticism when it comes to what they see, hear or read.
The simple directives outlined in this campaign are designed to slow the spread of misleading information in a digital age where algorithms boost engagement at speed.
So how effective is it likely to be in helping voters sift the real from the fake? While the campaign benefits from the AEC’s credibility and its accessible message, it also faces significant hurdles.
Digital deception in action
In 2024, AI made a notable impact on international political campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Australian Labor Party deployed an AI-generated video of opposition leader Peter Dutton as part of its online efforts.
Additionally, the Liberal Party has again engaged duo Topham Guerin, who are known for their use of AI and controversial political tactics.
Political leaders are increasingly turning to platforms like TikTok to attract votes. But one of the problems with TikTok for users is that it encourages endless scrolling and can cause users to miss subtle inaccuracies.
Adding to these concerns is a recent scam in which doctored images and fabricated celebrity headlines were circulated. It created the illusion of legitimacy and defrauded many Australians of their money.
These incidents are a stark reminder of how quickly digital manipulation can mislead, whether in commercial scams or political messaging.
But are we taking it seriously?
South Korea has taken a decisive stance against AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns by banning them outright. Penalties include up to seven years in prison or fines of 50 million won (A$55,400). This measure forms part of a broader legal framework designed to enforce transparency, accountability, and ethical AI use.
In Australia, teal independents are calling for stricter truth in political advertising laws. The proposed laws aim to impose civil penalties for misleading political ads, including disinformation and hate speech.
All of this is unfolding at a time when the approach to fact-checking is itself in flux. In January, Meta made headlines by scrapping its third-party fact-checking program in the US. This was done in favour of a “community notes” system. The change was championed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg as a way to reduce censorship and protect free expression.
However, critics warn that without independent oversight, misinformation could spread more easily, potentially leading to a surge in hate speech and harmful rhetoric. These shifts in digital policy only add to the challenge of ensuring that voters receive reliable information.
The campaign is a positive step, offering guidance in an era of rapid digital manipulation. The simple message – to pause and verify political content — can help foster a more discerning electorate.
However, given the volume of misinformation and sophisticated targeting techniques, the campaign alone is unlikely to be a silver bullet. Political campaigns are growing ever more sophisticated. With the introduction of anonymous deepfakes, voters, educators, regulators, and platforms must work together to ensure the truth isn’t lost in digital noise.
A robust foundation in digital literacy is vital. Not only for this campaign to work but to help society distinguish credible sources from deceptive content. We must empower future voters to navigate the complexities of our digital world and engage more fully in democracy.
Globally, diverse strategies provide valuable insights.
While Australia’s “Stop and Consider” campaign takes a reflective approach, Sweden’s “Bli inte lurad” initiative is refreshingly direct. It warns citizens: “Don’t be fooled.”
This no-nonsense strategy reinforces digital literacy efforts. It also highlights that safeguarding the public from digital manipulation requires both proactive education and robust regulatory measures.
It may be time for Australian regulators to act decisively to protect the integrity of democracy.
Susan Grantham 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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University
The brittle Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues against all odds, given the depth of distrust and animosity between the warring parties.
Since its enactment nearly three weeks ago, Hamas has released more than a dozen Israeli hostages captured on October 7 2023, in return for some 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Should the process move forward as relatively smoothly as it has so far, more hostages and prisoners are set to be freed during the remainder of the first stage of the truce.
This is cause for a degree of optimism. However, negotiating the length, terms and implementation of the second and third stages of the ceasefire will prove very rocky.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for instance, has already declared the ceasefire to be “temporary”.
During the second stage, all Israeli hostages (alive and dead) are supposed to be freed in exchange for hundreds of prisoners. Israel is also expected to withdraw all its forces from Gaza as a prelude to the reconstruction of the coastal enclave in the final stage of the ceasefire.
There are many issues that could derail the process, two of which are crucial:
Israel’s unrealised goal of wiping out Hamas and securing Gaza for itself
Hamas’ resolve to regain sovereign control over Gaza.
Another factor is the influence of the new US president, Donald Trump. While
Netanyahu has the full support of Trump, it remains unclear how much appetite the US leader has for more conflict in the Middle East.
A meeting between the two in Washington this week could be pivotal to the success of the next phase of the ceasefire – or the resumption of the Gaza war.
Hamas’ survival at odds with Israel’s war aims
Israel has certainly degraded Hamas over the past 15 months of its scorched-earth operations in Gaza, which it launched in response to Hamas’ attacks on October 7 2023. However, it has not eliminated the group.
The appearance of well-armed and well-composed Hamas fighters in the choreographed three rounds of hostage transfers in the areas that Israel has demolished testifies to the group’s survival.
It essentially signals the failure of Netanyahu and his extremist supporters to achieve their main goals of uprooting Hamas and securing the release of the hostages through military action.
Netanyahu’s acceptance of the ceasefire at this point clearly underlines the futility of the use of force as the only means to seek vengeance against Hamas. With the conflict in a stalemate for months, he could have embraced the ceasefire much earlier, thereby securing a quicker hostage release without more lives lost or more damage to Israel’s already-tarnished international reputation.
Hamas’ survival means it is still a dangerous force, former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in mid-January. He said the group has “recruited almost as many new militants as it has lost” in the war.
Reports also indicate Hamas has also maintained its control over Gaza’s administration and security forces, despite Israel’s efforts to destroy it.
If that is the case, Israeli citizens – who have been highly polarised between those wanting the return of the hostages via a ceasefire and those backing Netanyahu’s government to continue the war – have the right to seriously question the prime minister’s leadership.
The same applies to Israel’s outside supporters, especially the United States.
Yet, this may not happen. The war-makers may win over the peace aspirants. For Netanyahu and his backers, the job is not finished. Many observers believe the very survival of Hamas can only motivate them further to resume the war once all the hostages are freed.
What does Trump want?
The future of the ceasefire now seems to hinge on Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump in Washington. According to media reports, the Israeli leader is keen to see where Trump stands on the second phase of the deal before negotiations continue.
Trump recently doubled down on his suggestion to “clear out” Gaza’s 2.3 million citizens – though he has mentioned a figure of 1.5 million – by relocating them to Egypt and Jordan. Given the previous statements of the extremists in Netanyahu’s shaky coalition, nothing would please them more than a depopulated and annexed Gaza.
Cairo and Amman, as well as other Arab countries, have firmly rejected the idea. Hamas and the enfeebled Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have outrightly condemned it.
But Trump has insisted the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders would eventually come around because the US does a lot for them – referring presumably to their dependence on substantial annual American aid.
If this plan were to transpire, it would not only be a recipe for more bloodshed and instability in the Middle East, but also more betrayal of the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution by the international community.
While a ray of hope exists for the continuation of the ceasefire and the implementation of the ceasefire’s second stage, it is still very possible that Netanyahu will return to military action to destroy Hamas and annex part or all of Gaza along the lines of what Trump has suggested.
The Trump-Netanyahu bond is so strong that it could even enable the Israeli leader to declare sovereignty over the West Bank.
Given these uncertainties, the third stage of the ceasefire regarding the reconstruction of Gaza, which is estimated to be upwards of US$80 billion (A$1.3 trillion), is at this point nothing more than words on a piece of paper.
Amin Saikal 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.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris James, UQ Amplify Senior Lecturer, Centre for Hypersonics, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland
Rendering of Boom Supersonic’s proposed Overture supersonic airliner.Boom Supersonic
Late last week, American company Boom Supersonic flew faster than the speed of sound with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. It’s now the first piloted non-military aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde was retired from service in 2003.
But what exactly is supersonic travel? There are good reasons why it’s not more common, despite the hype.
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft during its 11th test flight where it became the first civilian aircraft to fly supersonically since the Concorde. Boom Supersonic
What is supersonic flight?
The Mach number is defined as a plane’s speed divided by the speed that sound waves move through the air. To “break the sound barrier” means to fly faster than the speed of sound, with Mach numbers greater than 1.
The Mach number is an important ratio: as a plane flies, it disturbs the air in front of it. These disturbances move at the speed of sound. In supersonic flight these disturbances combine to form shock waves around the vehicle.
For efficiency reasons, most passenger jets cruise slightly slower than the speed of sound, at around Mach 0.8 (this is subsonic flight).
Boom plans to build an airliner called Overture that can fly at Mach 1.7. Flying supersonically can drastically decrease flight times. The company claims a trip from New York to Rome on Overture could take just four hours and 40 minutes, instead of eight hours.
Boom isn’t the only company working on this lofty goal. American firm Spike Aerospace is also developing a supersonic business jet, with the tagline “delivering the world in half the time”.
This is the value proposition of supersonic passenger travel.
In limited ways, it did already exist in the 20th century. However, due to timing, bad luck and the laws of physics, it didn’t continue.
Remember the Concorde?
Designs for supersonic airliners began in the mid-20th century, and by the 1970s we had supersonic passenger flight.
There was the little-known Russian Tupolev-144 and Concorde, a Franco-British supersonic airliner operated by British Airways and Air France from 1976 to 2003.
Concorde had a capacity of up to 128 passengers and cruised at Mach 2. It regularly travelled from London to New York in around three hours. The flights were expensive, mainly shuttling business people and the rich and famous.
Concorde was designed in the 1960s when it seemed like supersonic passenger transport was going to be the next big thing.
Instead, the Boeing 747 entered commercial service in 1970. Cheap, large and efficient airliners like it blew Concorde out of the water.
Designed to cruise efficiently at supersonic speeds, Concorde was extremely fuel inefficient when taking off and accelerating. Concorde’s expensive, “gas guzzling” nature was a complaint levelled against it for most of its lifetime.
A catastrophic 1973 Paris air show crash of the competing Russian airliner, Tupolev Tu-144, also shifted public perception on supersonic flight safety at a time when many airlines were considering whether or not to purchase Concordes.
Illustration of a shock wave propagating from a supersonic aeroplane and hitting the ground to produce a sonic boom. Cmglee/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Noise is a real problem for supersonic flight
Remember the fighter jets? When a plane travels supersonically, its shock waves propagate to the ground, causing loud disturbances called sonic booms. In extreme cases they can shatter windows and damage buildings.
In the early 1970s, sonic boom concerns led the United States government to ban supersonic passenger flight over land in the US. This hurt the Concorde’s potential market, hence its only two regular routes were trans-Atlantic flights principally over the water.
The Concorde was also a very loud plane at take off, since it needed a lot of thrust to leave the ground.
Video footage of the final Concorde takeoff from New York’s JFK airport.
The future of supersonic travel
A future for supersonic travel relies on solving some or all of the issues Concorde faced.
NASA and Lockheed Martin’s Quesst project aims to show sonic boom can be dissipated to manageable levels. They plan to fly their X-59 supersonic aircraft over US cities and gauge responses from citizens.
Quesst aims to use the geometry of the X-59, with a long elongated nose, to dissipate sonic booms to a weak “thump”, hopefully allowing supersonic airliners to travel over land in the future.
Spike Aerospace’s Spike S-512 Diplomat concept also aims to be a “quiet” supersonic aircraft with a less disruptive sonic boom.
Can Boom surpass Concorde?
Boom Supersonic don’t plan to fly supersonically over land. Their plan is to fly over land at Mach 0.94, which they claim will allow 20% faster overland travel than standard passenger airliners, even subsonically.
Rendering of Boom Supersonic’s Overture supersonic airliner on the runway. Boom Supersonic
In terms of gas guzzling, they plan to use up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions and their carbon footprint.
Concorde was made of aluminium using design tools available in the 1960s. Modern design methods and modern aerospace materials such as titanium and carbon fibre should also allow Overture and similar craft to weigh much less than Concorde, improving efficiency.
Additionally, Concorde was the product of an analogue era when the idea of flying to London or New York for the day for an important business meeting seemed like a necessary thing. In a world of remote work and video meetings, is there still a need for a supersonic airliner in the 2020s?
For now, supersonic airliners like Overture are likely to remain in the realm of the rich and famous, like Concorde did. But with modern technological advances, it will be interesting to see whether supersonic passenger travel once again becomes reality – or even goes mainstream. Only time will tell.
Chris James receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and the US Office of Naval Research.
Millions of baits are laid annually. But we still don’t understand how effective baiting actually is. Current evidence paints a mixed picture. That’s a problem, because baiting can have unintended consequences, such as killing native animals we don’t want to target. Some research suggests baiting can actually increase attacks on livestock, or that poisoning dingoes can increase feral cat and fox numbers and worsen the damage to native wildlife.
We need better evidence on what baiting does and doesn’t do. Our new research draws on data from 34 previous studies assessing baiting effectiveness. In total, these largely Australian studies summarised the fate of more than 1,400 cats, foxes and dingoes. We used these data sets to conduct the most comprehensive analysis of baiting effectiveness to date.
Biosecurity officers drying meat baits for a baiting program in Broken Hill in 2019. NSW Government, Local Land Services, Western Region, CC BY
Baiting is ubiquitous
Baits can be purchased commercially or produced in-house. In some states, land managers can bring meat baits to government authorities to have poison added free of charge. They are then distributed by vehicle along tracks and roads or dropped from aircraft across vast areas of Australia, New Zealand and islands worldwide.
Single baiting programs can sometimes cover areas larger than 9,000 square kilometres – a land area similar to Puerto Rico or Cyprus.
So how can we best undertake these baiting programs?
1. Baiting does work
Across the 34 studies, baiting cut predator survival in half (51.7%) – substantially higher than the death rate in unbaited areas (16%).
This finding was broadly consistent regardless of whether baits were placed along tracks and roads or scattered over broader areas.
In some cases, predator numbers can recover rapidly following baiting. Under favourable conditions, feral cat and fox populations can double in a year, while dingo populations can grow 50% annually. But, under average conditions, such high rates of population increase are likely uncommon.
Predators from outside the control area can rapidly repopulate areas after a baiting program. For example, multiple studies have found no change in fox numbers even when baiting was conducted at monthly intervals. Similar results have been found after intensive fox shooting.
But there are also examples where prolonged, broad-scale baiting has worked well. To protect the threatened yellow footed rock wallaby, researchers baited around wallaby populations in New South Wales and South Australia and largely eliminated foxes from large areas. Wallaby numbers then increased.
Feral cats are silent, stealthy hunters who prefer to hunt rather than scavenge. Vanessa Westcott, CC BY
But our analysis doesn’t support this – feral cats appeared to be just as susceptible to baits as foxes and dingoes. That’s good news for wildlife.
Significant and ongoing work has been put into designing better baits for feral cats to increase consumption rates. The most widely known of these baits is Eradicat, a sausage-style bait.
While this bait is aimed at feral cats, our analysis didn’t provide strong evidence showing Eradicat actually killed more feral cats than other poison bait recipes. This suggests any bait is more effective than no bait when it comes to cat control.
Eradicat baits have to be sweated to bring out the oils and make them more appealing. Luke Bayley, CC BY
3. Blanket coverage works better
In land manager circles, there’s a long-running debate over how best to bait. Some advocate putting out more baits over the same area, while others suggest more frequent baiting is better.
So which is it? Our analysis shows more baits in an area is likely to equate to better control of predators, while distributing baits more frequently may not have the same effect.
Why is this? Like people, animals are individuals, with their own behavioural tendencies. Wary animals may never take baits. Some foxes are known to store baits to eat later, by which time the baits may be less toxic, sickening rather than killing the animal.
This is believed to lead to bait aversion, where foxes avoid baits in the future due to previous bad experiences – just as we might avoid foods which made us sick.
A single, more intensive application of bait is likely to work better because susceptible predators eat the bait and die, and there is limited opportunity for bait aversion to develop. In contrast, more frequent baiting in a short period of time are of limited benefit because animals learn to avoid them.
Dingoes have been routinely baited for decades. Ian Mayo, CC BY
Fresh baits have long been believed to be eaten more readily than dry baits.
But our analysis shows this may not always be true. Overall, the type of bait had little impact on whether or not it led to reduced predator survival.
Optimising baiting
More efficient control of predators will mean fewer baits are needed to achieve the same result. That, in turn, means less risk of harming other native animals, as well as reducing how much work and money it costs to control feral cats, foxes and dingoes.
Our research shows baiting does indeed cut the number of predators prowling an area. But it also shows many factors we thought were important in making a baiting program effective may only have a limited effect.
The goal of poison baiting is to reduce the damage predators do to livestock and wildlife. Baiting is an important and effective tool in reducing predator pressure on threatened species. But its efficacy – and the risk other animals could take the bait – means we have a responsibility to continually optimise its use and ensure its application is targeted.
Pat Taggart receives funding from the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Daniel Noble receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Yong Zhi Foo receives funding from the the Australian Research Council.
When you’re in a car, train or bus, do you choose a seat to avoid being in the sun or do you like the sunny side?
You can definitely feel the sun’s heat through a window. But can you get sunburn or skin damage when in your car or inside with the windows closed?
Let’s look at how much UV (ultraviolet) radiation passes through different types of glass, how tinting can help block UV, and whether we need sunscreen when driving or indoors.
What’s the difference between UVA and UVB?
Of the total UV radiation that reaches Earth, about 95% is UVA and 5% is UVB.
All glass used in house, office and car windows completely blocks UVB from passing through.
But only laminated glass can completely block UVA. UVA can pass through other glass used in car, house and office windows and cause skin damage, increasing the risk of cancer.
Car windscreens block UVA, but the side and rear windows don’t
A car’s front windscreen lets in lots of sunshine and light. Luckily it blocks 98% of UVA radiation because it is made of two layers of laminated glass.
But the side and rear car windows are made of tempered glass, which doesn’t completely block UVA. A study of 29 cars found a range from 4% to almost 56% of UVA passed through the side and rear windows.
The UVA protection was not related to the car’s age or cost, but to the type of glass, its colour and whether it has been tinted or coated in a protective film. Grey or bronze coloured glass, and window tinting, all increase UVA protection. Window tinting blocks around 95% of UVA radiation.
In a separate study from Saudi Arabia, researchers fitted drivers with a wearable radiation monitor. They found drivers were exposed to UV index ratings up to 3.5. (In Australia, sun protection is generally recommended when the UV index is 3 or above – at this level it takes pale skin about 20 minutes to burn.)
So if you have your windows tinted, you should not have to wear sunscreen in the car. But without tinted windows, you can accumulate skin damage.
UV exposure while driving increases skin cancer risk
Many people spend a lot of time in the car – for work, commuting, holiday travel and general transport. Repeated UVA radiation exposure through car side windows might go unnoticed, but it can affect our skin.
Indeed, skin cancer is more common on the driver’s side of the body. A study in the United States (where drivers sit on the left side) found more skin cancers on the left than the right side for the face, scalp, arm and leg, including 20 times more for the arm.
Another US study found this effect was higher in men. For melanoma in situ, an early form of melanoma, 74% of these cancers were on the on the left versus 26% on the right.
Earlier Australian studies reported more skin damage and more skin cancer on the right side.
Single-pane glass lets through the most UVA, while thicker, tinted or coated glass blocks more UVA.
The best options are laminated glass, or double-glazed, tinted windows that allow less than 1% of UVA through.
Skylights are made from laminated glass, which completely stops UVA from passing through.
Most office and commercial window glass has better UVA protection than residential windows, allowing less than 25% of UVA transmission. These windows are usually double-glazed and tinted, with reflective properties or UV-absorbent chemicals.
Some smart windows that reduce heat using chemical treatments to darken the glass can also block UVA.
So when should you wear sunscreen and sunglasses?
The biggest risk with skin damage while driving is having the windows down or your arm out the window in direct sun. Even untinted windows will reduce UVA exposure to some extent, so it’s better to have the car window up.
For home windows, window films or tint can increase UVA protection of single pane glass. UVA blocking by glass is similar to protection by sunscreen.
When you need to use sunscreen depends on your skin type, latitude and time of the year. In a car without tinted windows, you could burn after one hour in the middle of the day in summer, and two hours in the middle of a winter’s day.
But in the middle of the day next to a home window that allows more UVA to pass through, it could take only 30 minutes to burn in summer and one hour in winter.
When the UV index is above three, it is recommended you wear protective sunglasses while driving or next to a sunny window to avoid eye damage.
Theresa Larkin 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.
As federal parliament reconvenes this week, the pre-election buzz is palpable. When will the election be called? Which policies are on the table? And who’s backing whom in this election campaign?
While the first two questions are yet to be answered, we ought to have a better sense of the third with the release of the annual political donations data.
There’s plenty to unpick in the new data but there’s one glaring problem: we are only just now learning about donations made in 2023–24. Australians are left in the dark about who is donating right now.
Here’s what happened in 2023–24
In 2023–24, Australia’s political parties collectively raised $166 million, with most of the money (85%) flowing to the major parties. In federal election years the totals can be more than double this, and donations at the past two federal elections have been heavily dominated by Clive Palmer giving to his own party (in 2019 and 2022).
The Coalition raised $74 million in 2023–24, with Labor not far behind on $68 million. The Greens were a distant third, with $17 million. Independents collectively declared just $2 million. In the lead-up to the last federal election, Labor raised $124 million, and the Coalition raised $115 million, so we would expect the major parties are raising much more right now.
The big donors
A few big donors dominate the $12 million in donations to political parties that are on the public record.
Billionaire Anthony Pratt donated $1 million to Labor (through Pratt Holdings), while the Coalition was supported by billionaires Harry Triguboff (through Meriton Property Services) and Gina Rinehart (Hancock Prospecting), to the tune of around half a million dollars each. Both Labor and the Coalition also received major donations from their investment arms (Labor Holdings and Cormack Foundation, respectively).
Other major donations included $575,000 to the Greens from Duncan Turpie, a longtime backer of the party; $474,000 from Climate 200 backing several independents (mainly Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan); and $360,000 to the Greens from Lisa Barlow’s conservation trust.
The big donor missing here is Clive Palmer. The size of his donations – $117 million in 2022 and $84 million in 2019 – blow everyone else out of the water, but he tends only to donate in election years. We won’t know how much he’s spending on the current election campaign until February 2026.
What needs to change
Money matters because it helps spread political messages far and wide. But when political parties are highly dependent on a small number of powerful individuals, businesses, and unions, to fund their campaigns, this dependence creates enormous risks of private influence over decision-making in the public interest.
That’s why Australians need to know – in real time – who’s funding election campaigns.
Under the current rules, it takes at least seven months and sometimes up to 19 months for a large federal donation to be made public. Yet at state level, donations must be made public within a month during election campaigns, and within six months at other times.
Introducing quicker disclosure requirements at the federal level would mean Australians would know who’s donating while policy issues – and elections – are still “live”.
The donations disclosure threshold should also be lowered to give Australians better visibility of substantial donors. In 2023–24, declared donations made up only 7% of political parties’ total income. There are other sources of income on the public record (including public funding), but about 45% of party income remains hidden because the disclosure threshold is so high.
There is no exact science to choosing a threshold, but the current level of $16,900 is well above the amount an ordinary Australian could afford to contribute to a political cause.
This high threshold is made much worse by the fact that political parties are not required to aggregate multiple donations from the same donor. That means, for example, one donor could make many donations of $15,000, but because each is below the threshold, the party doesn’t need to declare them. The donor is expected to declare themselves to the Australian Electoral Commission, but this is almost impossible to police.
The federal government has a bill before the Senate that would reduce the donations disclosure threshold to $1,000, and make release of donations data more timely. These changes would substantially improve transparency around money in politics. But the bill also includes more complex reforms that may stall the progress of these transparency measures.
Better and more timely information on political donations is urgently needed as a public check on the influence of money in politics.
Let’s hope this is the last election Australians are left in the dark on who funds our political parties.
The Grattan Institute began with contributions to its endowment of $15 million from each of the Federal and Victorian Governments, $4 million from BHP Billiton, and $1 million from NAB. In order to safeguard its independence, Grattan Institute’s board controls this endowment. The funds are invested and contribute to funding Grattan Institute’s activities. Grattan Institute also receives funding from corporates, foundations, and individuals to support its general activities as disclosed on its website.
Jessica Geraghty 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.
As Australia gears up for the election, the incoming government’ Labor or Coalition, will face global challenges, geo-political and economic, especially with Donald Trump starting to impose tariffs on selected countries including China,
To discuss where Australia is placed to meet new circumstances we’re joined by two experts.
John Blaxland is Director of the ANU North America Liaison Office, based in Washington, and Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies. Richard Holden is Professor of Economics at UNSW.
Blaxland outlines how Australia should continue to support the current international norms, and how changing norms could spell trouble,
The rules based international order is something that we are going to feel the absence of quite keenly. For small and middle powers like Australia the reliance on that order has obviated the need to spend up a lot on military capabilities and that’s going to shift.
We’ve seen the United States walking away from COP-related agreements but these arrangements still have global momentum and I would contend that Australia has an interest in continuing to support them as best as possible, particularly for the sake of our partners in the Pacific, but also just for our own sake.
On who could deal with Trump better, Blaxland doesn’t think it would make a lot of difference,
I don’t think the United States pays much attention to what happens internally in Australian politics and I think the Albanese government and Penny Wong and Richard Marles and others are wise to present as small a target as possible. The ALP is playing a difficult hand well in bilateral relations with the United States. Broadly it is still strongly in our interests to make that work as best we can.
There’s no question there’s a closer Liberal-Trump alignment, and that may make it easier. But the economic and security relations are key and here it’s important to remember that the United States has a trade surplus with Australia and so that means we’re not in his [Trump’s] crosshairs immediately for having the opposite, and America is the biggest foreign direct investor in Australia by a country mile.
Holden says of the economy internationally,
The global economy is well on the way to recovering from the post-pandemic inflation, the associated increases in most advanced economies and interest rates in most of those jurisdictions, are coming down. In some of those, New Zealand is an example there’s been a real hit to the economy. But it’s generally looking reasonably positive with the one big looming thing, which is what happens to international trade as a result of the Trump tariff threats that are now starting to be put into action.
But Holden is a bit more pessimistic about Australia’s economy,
Not to be too gloomy about things, I think the news is a little less good. So the Prime Minister I heard on your podcast recently and the Treasurer talking about their last two budgets, and while they’re right that there has been two small budget surpluses, that’s really off the back of just an extraordinary windfall in terms of tax revenue.
On debt,
If you look going forward, even so far government decisions have added $78 to $80 billion to that debt and the recent mid-year update, MYEFO reports the cumulative debt for the next four years will be over $140 billion of the increase.
I think there’s a sense that our fiscal house is really being put into really good shape and I don’t think that’s accurate.
Michelle Grattan 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.
SYDNEY, Monday 3 February 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Albanese government and WA Cook government for quashing promised national nature law reforms this term, a move it says is caving to mining and fossil fuel interests.
Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:
“Australia’s environment is in serious decline; we have one of the worst rates of deforestation in the world, and we are sending our wildlife extinct, including the iconic koala.
“The Albanese government promised to end the extinction crisis and deliver a strong new nature law this term backed by an independent environment watchdog with teeth. The crossbench and environment groups stood ready to support a compromise deal to deliver part of the reforms through the Senate this week. It is deeply disappointing that the government has now walked away.
“Rather than standing up for nature and wildlife, Prime Minister Albanese and Premier Roger Cook have caved to big fossil fuel and mining executives railing against environmental protection in the interest of profits. The outcome will be devastating — more forest and habitat destruction, more wildlife killed, and a diminished natural environment for all Australians.
“As it heads into the next election, it’s critical the Albanese government makes it clear that these reforms will be a priority in the first 100 days of parliament if elected. We cannot have another wasted three years as wildlife continues to go extinct and our forests keep getting bulldozed.”
—ENDS—
High res images and footage of deforestation can be found here
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) was joined today by Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) on a letter to Directors Flaherty-Oxler and Harkins of the Philadelphia and Coatesville Veterans Administration medical centers, respectively, to ascertain the impact of the Trump Administration’s Hiring Freeze on regional VA medical center operations.
The members seek information to ensure that the White House decision to freeze federal hiring does not prevent the VA from meeting the mandates of the recently passed PACT Act (which expanded access to care for service members exposed to toxic substances) or otherwise providing necessary veterans’ services. On January 23, 2025, the Trump Administration clarified that some VA positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, but concerns remain.
The members have requested a response by February 13, 2025.
Find the full text of the letterhereand below.
Ms. Karen Flaherty-Oxler
Director, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
3900 Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ms. Jennifer Harkins
Director, Coatesville VA Medical Center
1400 Black Horse Hill Road
Coatesville, PA 19320
Dear Director Flaherty-Oxler and Director Harkins:
We are writing to learn how President Trump’s recent hiring freeze on federal employees is impacting the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers and our community of veterans in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We would greatly appreciate your response to the following questions by February 13, 2024.
Are the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers affected, or likely to be affected, by the hiring freeze?
On January 23, 2025, the VA released a memo on hiring freeze guidance, which included a list of positions exempt from the freeze. Are any positions that the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers were planning to fill excluded from that list? If so, what positions are the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers now unable to fill? Please also describe how many positions are affected.
The VA memo on hiring freeze guidance implements a new “request for exemption” requirement to hire positions subject to the freeze. Do the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers intend to submit requests for exemption for every position that they are no longer able to hire? How will this new requirement make it easier or harder for the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers to fill positions?
Do the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers have contingency plans to address critical staffing shortages during the hiring freeze? Are there long-term plans being considered to mitigate the impact of the hiring freeze?
Do you expect that this hiring freeze will affect the Philadelphia and Coatesville VA Medical Centers’ ability to provide direct VA care for eligible veterans?
Thank you for your continued service to our nation and the veterans of Southeastern Pennsylvania. We look forward to your timely response.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force have seized a large quantity of illegal nicotine vapes.
Around 12pm on Friday 31 January 2025, police received intelligence of illicit substances at a residence in the Palmerston area.
Detectives from the Serious Crime Squad attended the location and conducted a lawful search of the premises which resulted in the seizure of numerous illicit substances .
The seizure included a quantity of cannabis and 2335 units of nicotine vapes, with an estimated street value of $140,000.
A 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman have each been issued with a Notice to Appear at Darwin Local Court on 29 May 2025.
Detective Sergeant Alicia Harvey said “These seizures are the result of the collaborative actions of Serious Crime Squad detectives and members of the Dog Operations Unit and Drug and Organised Crime Section.
“Intelligence received from members of the community assisted with this result and we continue to urge anyone with information on the supply of illegal substances to contact Police on 131 444 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
The much-anticipated Regional Skate and Play Precinct at Newland Park has officially broken ground, marking a major milestone in a game-changing project for the Alice Springs community.
Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour was joined by Northern Territory Government Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan MLA, Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson, and representatives from MPH Construction to kick off the project with a sod-turning ceremony today. The sod-turn officially started construction on the development.
The precinct will include a regional level skate park that has been designed with thorough community consultation, as well playground equipment, green spaces and ample shading.
It will also include a pump track, 3×3 basketball court, dog park and expanded car parking to enhance opportunities for recreation and social connection.
The state-of-the-art facility is a joint project between three levels of government, with a $4 million commitment from the Australian Government under its Priority Community Infrastructure Program, $1.8 million from the Northern Territory Government and $2.8 million from Alice Springs Town Council.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“This project is a fantastic example of the incredible benefits that can be delivered for communities when all three levels of government work together.
“Our joint funding will see the existing parkland get a much-needed upgrade and a range of brand-new amenities, to provide a bigger community and play hub for residents, community groups and visitors to Alice Springs to enjoy.”
Quotes attributable to Northern Territory Government Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan:
“Our CLP government is proud to back the development of Newland Park as part of our $27 million infrastructure plan to make Alice Springs an even better place to live.
“This plan is all about delivering better sporting facilities that support the well-being of our community, especially for our kids. We can’t wait to see the skate park finished and watch the Alice Springs community enjoy the benefits it’ll bring.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour:
“This project will deliver a modern skate and play park for people to enjoy. I am excited about the benefits these upgraded facilities will provide local residents and visitors to Alice Springs. It will also be good for local businesses.
“Additionally, construction on the project will provide critical local employment opportunities by supporting 31 jobs.”
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Alice Springs Town Council Matt Paterson:
“With the ribbon just cut on the new Adventure Park, it’s fantastic to turn our attention to another project that will be a gamechanger for families in Alice Springs.
“This is such an important investment in our community’s future and we can’t wait to see this come to life. The Regional Skate and Play Precinct is something that will benefit young people for generations to come and it’s exciting to begin work so quickly to have this project completed in 2025.
“I’d like to thank the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government for their significant contributions to this project. This shows how the community can benefit when all three levels of government work together.”
The City of Greater Bendigo is calling for expressions of interest from members of the community who live with disability, care for someone who does, or who work with people living with disabilities to join its Disability Inclusion Reference Committee (DIRC).
City Manager Community Partnerships Andie West said the City established the DIRC in 2016 to provide advice to Council that supports greater social inclusion of people with disability.
“The DIRC acts as a central point for City staff and Councillors when advice is sought on matters relating to the needs and requirements of people living with disability,” Ms West said.
“The Committee assists the City to consider all types of access and inclusion when developing policies and strategies and undertaking projects, so it is an important role.
“Committee members will be appointed for a two-year term and meetings will be held every two months.
“Some preparation and reading will be required prior to meetings and at times Committee members may be required to visit sites within Greater Bendigo to provide consultation and advice on City projects or major developments.
“We are looking for people with lived experience, unpaid carers of people who live with disability, representatives from local disability-specific agencies, and representatives from local organisations or networks that have influence on social inclusion for people living with disability to join the Committee.”
Applications from people with diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all ages and abilities, as well as past and outgoing members of the Committee are welcomed.
Applications close Friday April 4, 2025.
For more information, please contact Jessica Currie via phone or email:
Pill testing, also known as drug checking, aims to reduce harms from illicit drug use and save lives.
Victoria’s pill testing service started at Beyond the Valley (BTV) festival from 28 December 2024 to 1 January 2025.
The Victorian Government has announced the next festivals and events to have pill testing during the 2024-25 music festival season. Victoria’s pill testing service will operate at:
Hardmission at Werribee Racecourse on 8 February 2025
Pitch Music & Arts Festival in Moyston from 7 to 11 March 2025
Ultra at Flemington Racecourse on 12 April 2025
The Warehouse Project at Port Melbourne Industrial Centre for the Arts (PICA) on 25 April 2025
The drug checking service is free, confidential and anonymous. It will attend up to 10 festivals and events during an 18-month implementation trial. A fixed-site service is due to open in inner Melbourne in mid-2025.
During the 4 day BTV festival, the mobile drug checking service tested more than 600 samples.
Harm reduction workers at the service spoke to 700 festivalgoers. For more than 70%, it was the first time they had ever had an open, judgement-free conversation with a health professional about drug and alcohol safety.
Nearly 40% of those using the service said they intended to use a smaller amount of their drugs following a conversation with a healthcare worker.
The guide is intended to alert businesses of when competition law risks may arise when considering sustainability collaborations (and when they are unlikely to do so), as well as the exemptions that may be available for collaborations in the public interest.
The ACCC has sought to clarify its views on the operation of competition laws for such collaborations, acknowledging the importance of ensuring that businesses do not unnecessarily limit participation in lawful sustainability collaborations.
The guide includes a 5 step checklist for businesses considering sustainability collaborations to help assess whether competition laws are likely to apply.
The updates are intended to increase transparency about how the Immunity Policy is administered by the ACCC, and to update and clarify the requirements for immunity applicants.
It is now a criteria for corporate conditional immunity (and corporate derivative conditional immunity) from ACCC-initiated civil proceedings that the corporation has implemented measures, or undertaken to implement measures, to mitigate the risk of future non-compliance with the CCA.
The updated policy also confirms that, at the proffer stage, the ACCC will not generally permit representatives of an immunity applicant to attend ACCC interviews with a derivative immunity applicant. The ACCC will provide the immunity applicant with sufficient information to enable it to:
understand how its immunity application is progressing; and
identify and provide further material relevant to its immunity application.
However, the ACCC will not otherwise disclose to the immunity applicant or its legal representatives the questions asked or the evidence given by a derivative immunity applicant.
ACCC alleges price fixing cartel against Defence contractors and senior executives
In December 2024, the ACCC commenced civil cartel proceedings in the Federal Court against Spotless Facility Services (Spotless), Ventia Australia (Ventia) and four senior executives for alleged price fixing in relation to the supply of estate maintenance and operation services to the Department of Defence (Defence).
Spotless and Ventia provide services to major Defence force bases under billion-dollar contracts. The ACCC alleges that, on three occasions between April 2019 and August 2022, Spotless and Ventia made or attempted to make arrangements or understandings containing provisions that had the purpose, effect or likely effect of fixing, controlling or maintaining the price at which Spotless, Ventia and a third company, BGIS, would supply these services to Defence. Spotless and Ventia are also alleged to have given effect to some of these arrangements or understandings.
The three arrangements or understandings are alleged to have involved:
the exchange of text messages about what BGIS and Spotless would charge Defence;
communications between Spotless, Ventina and BGIS regarding seeking additional compensation from Defence; and
meetings in which one of the senior executives said words to the effect that Spotless, Ventia and BGIS should jointly ask Defence to pay a project management fee.
The ACCC is seeking declarations, civil penalties, and costs against Spotless and Ventia and the four senior executives, as well as qualification orders against three of the senior executives.
Viva Energy’s proposed acquisition of LOC Global not opposed subject to divestiture
On 12 December 2024, the ACCC confirmed that it will not oppose (subject to undertakings) Viva Energy Group’s (Viva) proposed acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in LOC Global (LOC) from New World Corporation (NWC).
LOC is a joint venture between Viva and NWC (with a 50% stake each) that operates over 100 ‘Liberty’ branded retail fuel and convenience sites across Australia. Viva conducts downstream fuel refining, importing, distribution and marketing in Australia. It is also the exclusive supplier of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Australia. Viva Energy and LOC overlap in the supply of retail fuel across metropolitan and/or regional locations in local markets across SA, Victoria, WA, NSW, Queensland and NT.
In the absence of the undertaking, the ACCC was concerned that the proposed acquisition would reduce competition in certain local areas in Adelaide, Darwin, regional Queensland and regional Victoria, where LOC and Viva Energy compete closely and where there are few remaining competitors to constrain Viva.
Viva committed to divest 14 retail fuel and convenience sites to Solo Oil Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of NWC).
Furniture frenzy: Koala Living fined for false and misleading statements about consumer rights
Koala Living has paid a $56,340 fine after being issued three infringement notices by the ACCC for making false and misleading statements regarding consumers’ rights under the consumer guarantees and available remedies for faulty products.
Koala Living has admitted to incorrectly informing consumers that:
remedies for faulty products were only available within a 72-hour period after purchase or the period of the manufacturer’s warranty;
Koala Living could independently determine the type of remedy provided for minor or major faults; and
delivery charges were not refundable.
The ACCC’s investigation was initiated in response to consumer complaints. Koala Living has given a court-enforceable undertaking under which Koala Living has committed to:
provide additional compensation (amounting to 20% of the purchase price) to consumers to whom Koala Living represented that a consumer’s right to seek remedies for faulty products was limited to 72 hours and have not yet received a remedy;
establish a competition and consumer law compliance program and review and update its internal policies, procedures, complaints handling practices and training to ensure ACL compliance; and
publish corrective notices.
Cleared for takeoff: Virgin and Qatar granted ACCC interim authorisation for cooperative conduct
On 29 November 2024, the ACCC granted interim authorisation to Virgin Australia (Virgin) and Qatar Airways (Qatar) to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance. Subject to certain exceptions:
Qatar will become Virgin’s exclusive interline, codeshare and loyalty partner headquartered in the Middle East or Türkiye; and
Virgin will become Qatar’s exclusive interline, codeshare and loyalty partner headquartered in Australia.
The ACCC has granted interim authorisation to allow Virgin and Qatar enough lead time to undertake the necessary planning discussions, marketing, selling and system alignment to permit Virgin to commence flying the new services by June 2025 if authorisation is ultimately granted.
Virgin and Qatar have provided a court-enforceable undertaking under which they have committed to:
offering tickets to the new service as ‘subject to regulatory approval’ to ensure consumers are made aware of the nature of the tickets they are purchasing; and
if authorisation is not ultimately granted, re-accommodate passengers who purchased tickets for the new service during the period of interim authorisation.
Interim authorisation remains in place until it is revoked, the application for authorisation is withdrawn, or the date the ACCC’s final determination comes into effect. A draft determination from the ACCC is expected in February 2025, with the final determination expected in March-April 2025. The parties are seeking authorisation for five years.
