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Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heliostat Consortium Delivers New Tools To Ensure Quality of Precision Mirrors and Support the Concentrating Solar Industry

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    HelioCon’s 2024 Annual Report Details Its Advancement of a Technique To Improve Heliostat Accuracy and the Launch of an Open-Source CSP Platform

    Maintenance workers drive between the heliostats at the Ivanpah concentrating solar energy plant, where mirrors track the sun and reflect sunlight to boiler receivers on power towers. When the concentrated sunlight strikes the boiler pipes, it heats the water to create superheated steam. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    Large mirrors that track the sun to concentrate and capture thermal energy—heliostats—are a core component of every power-tower concentrating solar power (CSP) plant around the world. But the sheer variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations of these giant mirrors has created the need for new, adaptable testing and calibration methods, both on the assembly line and in the field, to maximize the potential output of these precision devices.

    The newly released HelioCon 2024 Annual Report highlights a host of new advances toward improving the cost and performance of heliostats, including a universally adaptable heliostat quality-control tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and an open-source platform developed at Sandia National Laboratories to share data, code, and workforce educational tools for the global CSP community.

    “HelioCon has made tremendous progress on developing, maturing, and validating third-party evaluation and testing capabilities to make them ready for industry,” said Guangdong Zhu, HelioCon executive director and a senior researcher at NREL. “This is exactly what the industry needs right now.”

    The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds the Heliostat Consortium for CSP (HelioCon), which is coled by NREL and Sandia, along with core members at the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI). HelioCon was founded in 2021 with a mission to develop and promote heliostat-based CSP technologies in the United States and advance the techno-economic performance of heliostats. Lowering the cost of producing, operating, and maintaining heliostats would ultimately lower the overall costs for CSP systems, which can provide clean long-duration energy storage and low-cost thermal energy for dispatchable electricity generation and high-heat industrial processes that have been difficult to decarbonize.

    “Concentrating solar has a unique role to play in our clean energy future,” said Matthew Bauer, SETO’s CSP program manager. “Not only can CSP complement other clean energy sources by providing long-duration energy storage, but it can also supply the high temperatures that tough-to-electrify industrial processes require. Heliostats are a key to lowering the overall costs of all of these applications, so improving heliostats can boost a range of decarbonization strategies.”

    Heliostats and a solar power tower operate at the Ivanpah CSP plant in California. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    The consortium’s online and in-person engagement efforts at seminars, events, and an annual workshop led to a growth spurt in 2024. HelioCon now includes 16 member institutions and more than 100 researchers, and it has developed partnerships with universities to prepare college students for work in the CSP field. HelioCon also awarded six new projects that are focused on workforce development, heliostat controls, and deployment, for a total of $3 million in its second-round funding request.

    The HelioCon 2024 Annual Report details members’ advances in preparing metrology, measurement, and heliostat control tools for commercial readiness. These advances include a solar field closed-loop wireless control system, Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) characterization tools, the Solar Optical Fringe Alignment Slope Technique (SOFAST), and composite mirror facets assessment. The report also announced that two major HelioCon projects are now being tested by industry partners:

    ReTNA: An Adaptable Commercial Quality-Control Tool for Heliostat Manufacturers

    An employee runs diagnostics on heliostats at the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project CSP facility. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    To tackle the question of how manufacturers can check the optics of heliostats before they are deployed in the field, NREL researchers used an existing tool they developed for testing heliostats outdoors—NIO measurement—as a starting point for developing a new measurement method for indoor use. The team, led by NREL researcher Devon Kesseli, set specifications to make the new optical measurement tool useful to industry: Regardless of the size and shape of the heliostats, the tool should be low cost, require minimal setup, measure a heliostat in less than a minute, and use the available lighting along the production line in a warehouse or laboratory.

    Reflected Target Non-Intrusive Assessment (ReTNA) measures slope and canting in heliostats by deflectometry, or deflected reflection, with a commercially available camera. The camera captures images of a printed target panel that can be mounted to a wall or even the ceiling, and computer vision stitches together multiple reflected images of the patterned target to create a precision measurement of each mirror. Because ReTNA is so easily adaptable, the tool can measure the surface slope and facet canting of heliostats of various sizes and in any orientation along an assembly line.

    Development of ReTNA under HelioCon began in 2022, and in 2024 it completed its proof-of-concept phase. ReTNA is now undergoing further testing by the consortium’s commercial partners.

    OpenCSP: An Open-Source Platform for Code and Data Sharing and Workforce Development

    Workers monitor system operations at Ivanpah’s control room. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    At the 2024 SolarPACES conference in October, HelioCon researcher Randy Brost, who leads the Optics Lab team at Sandia National Laboratories, announced the public launch of OpenCSP, an open-source platform that will serve as a collaborative environment where the CSP community can share code, data, and computer-aided design models, as well as tools for workforce education.

    Designed to grow as a repository of information, OpenCSP launched with a number of tools and datasets already in place, including optical targets for heliostat metrology testing and Sandia’s SOFAST 2.0 code in Python. SOFAST is an adaptable, low-cost tool that can be used across the industry to create high-fidelity slope maps of concentrating solar mirrors.

    Read the full HelioCon 2024 Annual Report.

    Learn more about HelioCon’s research and outreach efforts and visit the NREL CSP and Sandia CSP sites.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Outstanding service recognised at Wallan

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Deputy Group Officer Peter Roylance received the CFA Outstanding Service Medal (pictured with his wife Jenny)

    Wallan Fire Brigade Members and their families and friends gathered on Saturday 19 October to recognise more than 350 years of combined service to CFA and the community.

    More than 80 past and present CFA members, family and friends were joined by Interim CEO Robyn Harris and Acting Commander Paul Brislin at the Wallan Bowls Club for the annual Wallan Fire Brigade presentation dinner.

    Captain Tim Benetti thanked members for their tireless commitment to the brigade and acknowledged the family support that enables CFA volunteers to do what they do.

    “You are the lifeblood of the brigade and I’d like to thank all of you for the time you’ve given to helping protect our community over the past 12 months,” Tim said.

    “I’d like to thank the unsung heroes – the wives, husbands, partners, mums, dads, children and others…. a heartfelt thank you from a captain who’s job would be much more difficult if it wasn’t for your support.”

    Tim also spoke about the incredibly busy year for the brigade, responding to 336 calls last financial year – the busiest year in the brigade’s 87-year history – and the brigade’s achievements including the delivery of the new heavy tanker in May.

    Interim CEO Robyn Harris and Acting Commander Paul Brislin presented CFA service awards to Kacie Graham (five years), Brenton Allan and Chris Hill (10 years), Taylor Campbell, Chris Walker, Braydan Fletcher, Hayley Hanson, Justin Cardiff, Andrew South and Sue Howitt (15 years), Hayden McMennemin (20 years) and John Meldrum (35 years).

    National Emergency Medals for the 2019-20 bushfires were presented to Andrew South, Hayley Hanson, Peter Roylance and Nathan Anderson. 

    National Medals were presented to Justin Cardiff, Travis Gray, Andrew South, Allie Tuddin, John Tuddin, Nathan Anderson (1st Clasp), Deb Hanson (1st Clasp) and Colin Prentice (1st Clasp).

    Deputy Group Officer and Brigade President Peter Roylance, who MCd the evening, was presented with the CFA’s highest internal award, the Outstanding Service Medal to recognise his more than half a century dedicated to the protection of life and property from fire and other emergencies.

    Peter joined Epping Fire Brigade in 1971 at age 15 and has maintained an exceptional level of commitment to CFA throughout his volunteer service. He has held an elected leadership role in a brigade or group (often at the same time) for the past 49 years and has mentored countless volunteers on their CFA journeys.

    In accepting his award, Peter thanked his family and brigade members for their support and reflected on his years of service.

    “These things don’t happen without family support and that’s been a big part of my achievement throughout the years of service,” Peter said.

    “I just love being there and listening to the different opinions and the conversations, from the newest member of the organisation to the 70-year-old member. It all means something in the big mix of things.

    “The fire brigade became my real passion at age 15, because in those days you could become a senior firefighter at 15. From the word go, I was just totally dedicated totally to CFA and it has just been there all that time.

    “Thank you very much. I’m just absolutely stoked.”

    The evening’s formalities concluded with the presentation of internal brigade awards to Captain Tim Benetti, Firefighter Edward Martin and Firefighter Chris Answer, and the unveiling of a new Brigade Life Members honour board.

    Live music and raffles entertained members into the night.

    Photos courtesy of Uniform Photography.

    Submitted by Christopher Brockwell

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Superior Energy Services Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Superior Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”) filed its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024. In accordance with the Company’s Shareholders Agreement, it will host a conference call with shareholders on November 1, 2024.

    For the third quarter of 2024, the Company reported net income from continuing operations of $21.9 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, with revenue of $197.3 million. This compares to net income from continuing operations of $29.5 million or $1.46 per diluted share, with revenue of $201.1 million, for the second quarter of 2024.

    The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined on page 4) was $57.8 million compared to $60.0 million for the second quarter of 2024. Refer to pages 11 and 12 for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP results.

    Third Quarter 2024 Geographic Breakdown

    U.S. land revenue was $36.0 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 8% compared to revenue of $39.0 million for the second quarter of 2024. The decline in U.S. land revenue was primarily driven by decreased activity from our premium drill pipe and bottom hole accessories product lines within our Rentals segment, consistent with a reduced U.S. land rig count.

    U.S. offshore revenue was $49.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 8% compared to revenue of $53.8 million in the second quarter of 2024. U.S. offshore revenue decreased primarily in our Well Services segments, with the most significant decline coming from our project-based completion services product line.  U.S. Offshore revenue in the Rentals segment for the third quarter of 2024 was up $1.6 million versus the second quarter of 2024, despite approximately $1.0 million of revenue slipping to the fourth quarter of 2024 due to hurricane activity in September.

    International revenue was $111.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 3% compared to revenue of $108.4 million in the second quarter of 2024. International revenue was up across both our Rentals and Well Services segments, with the increase being driven by our hydraulic snubbing and well control services product lines.

    Third Quarter 2024 Segment Reporting

    The Rentals segment revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was $97.9 million, a 2% decrease compared to revenue of $99.9 million in the second quarter of 2024, primarily driven by reduced activity in U.S. land and hurricane disruptions in the U.S. offshore market. In the third quarter of 2024, Rentals segment income from operations was $43.9 million as compared to $44.1 million in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $55.9 million, a decrease from $56.0 million in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA Margin (a non-GAAP measure defined on page 4) was 57%, a 1% increase from the second quarter of 2024.

    The Well Services segment revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was $99.5 million, a 2% decrease compared to revenue of $101.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 and income from operations for the third quarter of 2024 was $3.8 million as compared to $10.7 million in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $15.4 million with an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 16%, as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $19.1 million with an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 19% in the second quarter of 2024. The Well Services segment sequential decline was primarily driven by lower activity in our project-based completion services product line.

    Liquidity

    As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of approximately $380.6 million.  As of September 30, 2024, our borrowing base, as defined in our credit agreement, was approximately $89.9 million, and we had $39.5 million in letters of credit outstanding which reduced the borrowing availability to $50.4 million. At September 30, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under our credit facility.

    During the third quarter of 2024, we utilized an indirect foreign exchange mechanism known as a Blue Chip Swap. The transactions were completed at implied exchange rates that were approximately 63.0% higher than the official exchange rate, resulting in a loss of approximately $5.1 million during the third quarter of 2024.

    During the third quarter of 2024, net cash from operating activities was $62.5 million. Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure defined on page 4) for the third quarter of 2024 totaled $50.5 million as compared to $39.0 million for the second quarter of 2024. Refer to page 8 for a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Cash from Operating Activities.

    Third quarter 2024 capital expenditures were $12.0 million. The Company expects total capital expenditures for 2024 to be approximately $100 to $110 million. Approximately 91% of total 2024 capital expenditures are targeted for the replacement of existing assets.  Of the total estimated 2024 capital expenditures, approximately 68% is expected to be invested in the Rentals segment.

    2024 Guidance

    Our full year 2024 guidance remains consistent from the second quarter 2024 guidance. We expect 2024 revenue to come in at a range of $780 million to $840 million with 2024 Adjusted EBITDA expected to be in a range of $235 million to $265 million.

    Conference Call Information

    The Company’s management team will host a conference call on Friday, November 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be available via live webcast in the “Events” section at ir.superiorenergy.com. To access via phone, participants can register for the call here, where they will be provided a phone number and access code. The call will be available for replay until November 1, 2025 on Superior’s website at ir.superiorenergy.com. If you are a shareholder and would like to submit a question, please email your question beforehand to Jamie Spexarth at ir@superiorenergy.com.

    About Superior Energy Services

    Superior Energy Services serves the drilling, completion and production-related needs of oil and gas companies worldwide through a diversified portfolio of specialized oilfield services and equipment that are used throughout the economic life cycle of oil and gas wells.  For more information, visit: www.superiorenergy.com.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement Superior’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company also uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin internally for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company also believes these non-GAAP measures provide investors useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not recognized measures for financial statement presentation under U.S. GAAP and do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other public companies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin should be considered as supplements to, and not as substitutes for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) from continuing activities before net interest expense, income tax expense (benefit) and depreciation, amortization, accretion and depletion, restructuring and transaction expenses, adjusted for other gains and losses and other expenses, net, which management does not consider representative of our ongoing operations. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA by segment as a percentage of segment revenues. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, please see the tables under “―Superior Energy Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA” and “—Superior Energy Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Segment” included on pages 11 and 12 of this press release.

    Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash from operating activities less payments for capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the SEC’s rules. Management believes, however, that Free Cash Flow is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the Company’s financial performance, as it measures our ability to generate additional cash from our business operations. Free Cash Flow should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income as a measure of our performance or net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Additionally, our definition of Free Cash Flow is limited and does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view Free Cash Flow as supplemental to our entire Statement of Cash Flows. Please see table under “—Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows” included on page 8 of this press release.

    The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, contained in this press release to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income, as the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to its respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not (and was not, when prepared) available to the Company without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent difficulty and impracticability of predicting certain amounts required by GAAP with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Net income includes the impact of depreciation, income taxes and certain other items that impact comparability between periods, which may be significant and are difficult to project with a reasonable degree of accuracy. In addition, we believe such reconciliation could imply a degree of precision that might be confusing or misleading to investors. The probable significance of providing this forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure without the directly comparable GAAP financial measure is that such GAAP financial measure may be materially different from the corresponding non-GAAP financial measure.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains, and future oral or written statements or press releases by the Company and its management may contain, certain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Generally, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks”, “will,” “could,” “may” and “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements other than statements of historical fact regarding the Company’s financial position and results, financial performance, liquidity, market outlook, future capital needs, capital allocation plans, business strategies and other plans and objectives of our management for future operations and activities are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company’s management in light of its experience and prevailing circumstances on the date such statements are made. Such forward-looking statements, and the assumptions on which they are based, are inherently speculative and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to conditions in the oil and gas industry, U.S. and global market and economic conditions generally and macroeconomic conditions worldwide (including inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions and capital and credit markets conditions) and other uncertainties (such as the war in Ukraine and conflict in Israel and broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and eastern Europe)  that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from such statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

    While the Company believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business.

    These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent reports on Form 10-Qs and those set forth from time to time in the Company’s other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.superiorenergy.com. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (in thousands, unaudited)
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                                 
    Rentals $ 97,857     $ 99,851     $ 113,201     $ 305,799     $ 334,433  
    Well Services   99,450       101,230       97,184       301,223       340,562  
    Total revenues   197,307       201,081       210,385       607,022       674,995  
                                 
    Rentals   35,227       36,596       37,769       109,589       109,258  
    Well Services   74,172       71,672       72,076       214,717       239,062  
    Total cost of revenues   109,399       108,268       109,845       324,306       348,320  
                                 
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   21,077       20,868       20,490       62,392       61,250  
    General and administrative expenses   33,458       33,404       30,089       101,837       92,256  
    Restructuring and transaction expenses   5,891       –       –       5,891       1,983  
    Other gains, net   (133 )     (614 )     (4,073 )     (1,829 )     (5,424 )
    Income from operations   27,615       39,155       54,034       114,425       176,610  
                                 
    Other income (expense):                            
    Interest income, net   5,032       5,760       6,629       17,632       18,581  
    Loss on Blue Chip Swaps   (5,113 )     –       (12,120 )     (5,113 )     (12,120 )
    Other income (expense)   979       (2,082 )     (4,520 )     (2,916 )     (8,508 )
    Income from continuing operations before income taxes   28,513       42,833       44,023       124,028       174,563  
    Income tax expense   (6,597 )     (13,370 )     (11,403 )     (34,754 )     (44,615 )
    Net income from continuing operations   21,916       29,463       32,620       89,274       129,948  
    Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax   –       1,896       128       1,896       408  
    Net income $ 21,916     $ 31,359     $ 32,748     $ 91,170     $ 130,356  
                                 
    Income per share – basic:                            
    Net income from continuing operations $ 1.09     $ 1.46     $ 1.62     $ 4.43     $ 6.46  
    Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax   –       0.09       0.01       0.09       0.02  
    Net income $ 1.09     $ 1.55     $ 1.63     $ 4.52     $ 6.48  
                                 
    Income per share – diluted                            
    Net income from continuing operations $ 1.09     $ 1.46     $ 1.62     $ 4.42     $ 6.45  
    Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax   –       0.09       –       0.10       0.02  
    Net income $ 1.09     $ 1.55     $ 1.62     $ 4.52     $ 6.47  
                                 
    Weighted-average shares outstanding                            
    Basic   20,177       20,172       20,136       20,170       20,123  
    Diluted   20,186       20,183       20,159       20,182       20,144  
                                           
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands, unaudited)
               
      September 30,     December 31,  
      2024     2023  
    ASSETS          
    Current assets:          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 325,881     $ 391,684  
    Accounts receivable, net   200,106       276,868  
    Inventory   70,293       74,995  
    Income taxes receivable   13,383       10,542  
    Prepaid expenses   23,363       18,614  
    Other current assets   7,765       7,922  
    Total current assets   640,791       780,625  
    Property, plant and equipment, net   306,285       294,960  
    Note receivable   72,694       69,005  
    Restricted cash   54,707       85,444  
    Deferred tax assets   59,555       67,241  
    Other assets, net   42,319       43,718  
    Total assets $ 1,176,351     $ 1,340,993  
               
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)          
    Current liabilities:          
    Accounts payable $ 38,897     $ 38,214  
    Accrued expenses   106,203       103,782  
    Income taxes payable   20,100       20,220  
    Decommissioning liability   30,747       21,631  
    Total current liabilities   195,947       183,847  
    Decommissioning liability   140,030       148,652  
    Other liabilities   38,599       47,583  
    Total liabilities   374,576       380,082  
               
    Total equity   801,775       960,911  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 1,176,351     $ 1,340,993  
     
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (in thousands, unaudited) 
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                                 
    Cash flows from operating activities                            
    Net income $ 21,916     $ 31,359     $ 32,748     $ 91,170     $ 130,356  
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:                            
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   21,077       20,868       20,490       62,392       61,250  
    Loss on Blue Chip Swaps   5,113       –       12,120       5,113       12,120  
    Washington State Tax Settlement   –       –       –       –       (27,068 )
    Decommissioning costs   (5,111 )     (143 )     (3,401 )     (5,684 )     (6,279 )
    Other non-cash items   (2,642 )     4,205       566       4,798       23,357  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   22,162       17,487       (10,112 )     67,396       (38,390 )
    Net cash from operating activities   62,515       73,776       52,411       225,185       155,346  
                                 
    Cash flows from investing activities                            
    Payments for capital expenditures   (12,005 )     (34,744 )     (21,592 )     (67,447 )     (67,218 )
    Proceeds from sales of assets   292       669       9,563       3,577       24,710  
    Proceeds from sales of Blue Chip Swap securities   8,121       –       9,656       8,121       9,656  
    Purchases of Blue Chip Swap securities   (13,234 )     –       (21,776 )     (13,234 )     (21,776 )
    Net cash from investing activities   (16,826 )     (34,075 )     (24,149 )     (68,983 )     (54,628 )
                                 
    Cash flows from financing activities                            
    Distributions to shareholders   –       –       –       (250,417 )     –  
    Repurchase of shares   –       –       –       (962 )     –  
    Other   (358 )     –       –       (1,363 )     (1,116 )
    Net cash from financing activities   (358 )     –       –       (252,742 )     (1,116 )
    Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   45,331       39,701       28,262       (96,540 )     99,602  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period   335,257       295,556       410,447       477,128       339,107  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 380,588     $ 335,257     $ 438,709     $ 380,588     $ 438,709  
                                 
    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow                            
    Net cash from operating activities $ 62,515     $ 73,776     $ 52,411     $ 225,185     $ 155,346  
    Payments for capital expenditures   (12,005 )     (34,744 )     (21,592 )     (67,447 )     (67,218 )
    Free Cash Flow $ 50,510     $ 39,032     $ 30,819     $ 157,738     $ 88,128  
                                 
    Free Cash Flow is a Non-GAAP measure. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for our definition of Free Cash Flow.  
       
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    REVENUE BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION BY SEGMENT
    (in thousands, unaudited)
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    U.S. land                            
    Rentals $ 28,934     $ 32,713     $ 37,478     $ 100,653     $ 127,341  
    Well Services   7,027       6,242       8,223       20,735       20,384  
    Total U.S. land   35,961       38,955       45,701       121,388       147,725  
                                 
    U.S. offshore                            
    Rentals   32,228       30,644       44,681       100,123       117,867  
    Well Services   17,489       23,125       14,459       69,486       54,185  
    Total U.S. offshore   49,717       53,769       59,140       169,609       172,052  
                                 
    International                            
    Rentals   36,695       36,494       31,042       105,023       89,225  
    Well Services   74,934       71,863       74,502       211,002       265,993  
    Total International   111,629       108,357       105,544       316,025       355,218  
    Total Revenues $ 197,307     $ 201,081     $ 210,385     $ 607,022     $ 674,995  
                                           
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS
    (in thousands, unaudited)
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Revenues                            
    Rentals $ 97,857     $ 99,851     $ 113,201     $ 305,799     $ 334,433  
    Well Services   99,450       101,230       97,184       301,223       340,562  
    Total Revenues $ 197,307     $ 201,081     $ 210,385     $ 607,022     $ 674,995  
                                 
    Income (loss) from Operations                            
    Rentals $ 43,856     $ 44,061     $ 56,253     $ 139,128     $ 167,373  
    Well Services   3,789       10,686       10,581       27,867       50,860  
    Corporate and other   (20,030 )     (15,592 )     (12,800 )     (52,570 )     (41,623 )
    Income from operations $ 27,615     $ 39,155     $ 54,034     $ 114,425     $ 176,610  
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA                            
    Rentals $ 55,915     $ 56,023     $ 68,791     $ 174,959     $ 204,632  
    Well Services   15,427       19,078       15,137       56,028       69,697  
    Corporate and other   (13,576 )     (15,078 )     (12,125 )     (45,096 )     (37,207 )
    Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 57,766     $ 60,023     $ 71,803     $ 185,891     $ 237,122  
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin                            
    Rentals   57 %     56 %     61 %     57 %     61 %
    Well Services   16 %     19 %     16 %     19 %     20 %
    Corporate and other n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a     n/a  
    Total Adjusted EBITDA Margin   29 %     30 %     34 %     31 %     35 %
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP measure.  See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and pages 11 and 12 for a reconciliation to income (loss) from operations.  
       
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (in thousands, unaudited)
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                                 
    Net income from continuing operations $ 21,916     $ 29,463     $ 32,620     $ 89,274     $ 129,948  
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   21,077       20,868       20,490       62,392       61,250  
    Interest income, net   (5,032 )     (5,760 )     (6,629 )     (17,632 )     (18,581 )
    Income tax expense   6,597       13,370       11,403       34,754       44,615  
    Restructuring expenses and other adjustments (1)   9,074       –       (2,721 )     9,074       (738 )
    Loss on Blue Chip Swap Securities   5,113       –       12,120       5,113       12,120  
    Other (income) expense, net   (979 )     2,082       4,520       2,916       8,508  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 57,766     $ 60,023     $ 71,803     $ 185,891     $ 237,122  
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP measure.  See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for our definition of Adjusted EBITDA.  
                                 
    (1) Restructuring expenses and other adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 relate to costs associated with changes in our executive management and other restructuring costs.  Adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 relate to exit and disposal activities related to non-core businesses and other restructuring costs.  
       
    SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA BY SEGMENT
    (in thousands, unaudited)
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
      September 30,     June 30,     September 30,     September 30,  
      2024     2024     2023     2024     2023  
    Rentals                            
    Income from operations $ 43,856     $ 44,061     $ 56,253     $ 139,128     $ 167,373  
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   12,059       11,962       12,538       35,831       37,259  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 55,915     $ 56,023     $ 68,791     $ 174,959     $ 204,632  
                                 
    Well Services                            
    Income from operations $ 3,789     $ 10,686     $ 10,581     $ 27,867     $ 50,860  
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   8,455       8,392       7,277       24,978       21,558  
    Restructuring expenses and other adjustments(1)   3,183       –       (2,721 )     3,183       (2,721 )
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 15,427     $ 19,078     $ 15,137     $ 56,028     $ 69,697  
                                 
    Corporate                            
    Loss from operations $ (20,030 )   $ (15,592 )   $ (12,800 )   $ (52,570 )   $ (41,623 )
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   563       514       675       1,583       2,433  
    Restructuring expenses and other adjustments (1)   5,891       –       –       5,891       1,983  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ (13,576 )   $ (15,078 )   $ (12,125 )   $ (45,096 )   $ (37,207 )
                                 
    Total                            
    Income from operations $ 27,615     $ 39,155     $ 54,034     $ 114,425     $ 176,610  
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion   21,077       20,868       20,490       62,392       61,250  
    Restructuring expenses and other adjustments (1)   9,074       –       (2,721 )     9,074       (738 )
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 57,766     $ 60,023     $ 71,803     $ 185,891     $ 237,122  
                                 
    Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP measure.  See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for our definition of Adjusted EBITDA.  
                                 
    (1) Restructuring expenses and other adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 relate to costs associated with changes in our executive management and other restructuring costs.  Adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 relate to exit and disposal activities related to non-core businesses and other restructuring costs.  
       

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Jamie Spexarth, Chief Financial Officer
    1001 Louisiana St., Suite 2900
    Houston, TX 77002
    Investor Relations, ir@superiorenergy.com, (713) 654-2200

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 695

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL5

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 695
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    435 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Eastern Kansas
    Western Missouri

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 435 PM
    until 1000 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible
    Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…Fast moving thunderstorms over eastern Kansas will track
    across the watch area through this evening. Damaging winds and a
    few tornadoes are the primary concerns with these storms.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 50 miles south southwest of Chanute KS
    to 60 miles north northeast of Saint Joseph MO. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU5).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW5
    WW 695 TORNADO KS MO 302135Z – 310300Z
    AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    50SSW CNU/CHANUTE KS/ – 60NNE STJ/SAINT JOSEPH MO/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM E/W /31WSW OSW – 64SW DSM/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 37009700 40569572 40569324 37009465

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU5.

    Watch 695 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Mod (40%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (30%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (30%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (10%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (80%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Groundbreaking Celebrates State-of-the-Art Nursing Building

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The University of Connecticut held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new School of Nursing Building on Wednesday, Oct. 30 amidst a crowd of students, benefactors, and University and state officials.

    Construction on the building will begin in November and is scheduled to be completed for the fall of 2026. It will be located on Bolton Road near the South Campus dormitories and strategically adjacent to existing clinical, academic, and research spaces.

    A $50 million gift from Elisabeth DeLuca ’69 (NUR) will support the construction of facility for the UConn School of Nursing along with generous state support.

    Inspired by her mother’s guidance, DeLuca pursued a degree in nursing and graduated from UConn. Her training and work experience as a nurse instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for both the professionalism and compassion that nurses provide. As her husband’s business grew over the next several years, she joined him in running what would ultimately become a global restaurant chain. Today, she serves as President of the Elisabeth C. DeLuca Foundation and the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, which are focused on access to education and health.

    “Nurses are a special breed, and if you ever have a chance to meet UConn nursing students, they are amazing and they get an education that will serve them well in life, not only in their profession, but in all aspects of life, and that’s what happened to me at UConn,” said DeLuca at the ceremony.

    Elisabeth DeLuca ’69 (NUR) speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new School of Nursing building on Oct. 30, 2024. (UConn Photo)

    “I have a passion for letting nurses be more prepared for when they enter the work force. We are working with curriculum ideas and other innovations to make them more ready to be practicing on patients and to face the real work of clinical practice,” she said. “I also think we have a responsibility to work with employers in the state to make the nursing profession be more respected and acknowledged, and have nurses be part of the collaboration with decision making in health care.”

    DeLuca’s gift is the largest in the history of the University for any purpose. $20 million of DeLuca’s gift will go directly to construction costs of the School of Nursing Building, while $5 million will fund equipment for the building, and the remainder of the gift will be used for student scholarships and programmatic support.

    The balance of the construction costs will be funded through UConn 2000 and State of Connecticut bonding.

    “I was reminded how important nurses were during the worst days of COVID – when no one was going to work, except for the nurses – everyday. They have heart, tenderness and save lives,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “After COVID, when things were settling down a little bit, I realized the long hours our nurses were still working.

    “I found out there were thousands of people applying to be nursing students at UConn and we weren’t able to place many of them. And Liz, that’s why you are here – because you are a nurse, and you know what it means. You are giving nursing students the tools to think about how they can perform their job in a patient-centric way. We desperately needed this in Connecticut, and thank you for stepping up and doing the right thing.”

    “UConn nurses have always been leaders and innovators who drive meaningful and important change in health care,” said UConn President Radenka Marick. “This facility will position them as national leaders in their discipline, at a time when skilled and educated nurses are needed more than ever.

    Victoria Vaughan Dickson, dean of nursing, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new School of Nursing building on Oct. 30, 2024. (UConn Photo)

    “Thanks to the transformative generosity of this gift, we will be able to provide scholarships and programmatic support for a dynamic nursing education that includes patient-centered practice, interdisciplinary research, and technological innovation.”

    The new building will be about 90,000 square feet and include the following program elements: instructional spaces, including a lecture hall and classrooms; simulation labsuite; human behavioral research lab; wet lab; student academic center; offices and support spaces.

    “Thousands of prospective nurses apply every year to join the School of Nursing, and in August we welcomed our largest ever incoming class. But as our School has developed and our national reputation has continued to grow, we once again find ourselves in need of a new home,” said Dean of the School of Nursing Victoria Vaughan Dickson. “Not surprisingly, it was a UConn nurse who came to the rescue. The tremendous generosity of alumna Elisabeth DeLuca is enabling us not only to move into the first-ever purpose-built home for the School of Nursing, but to greatly expand our programmatic offerings and scholarship assistance.”

    “My mom passed away when I was 14 from a long battle with cancer. I didn’t remember the medication or the treatments that she was getting, but the one thing I remember is the nurses who took care of her,” said Samuel Geisler ’25 (NUR), the vice president of the nursing senior class, who is from Newington and a member of the men’s track and field team. “When I saw nursing was a major offered at UConn, everything made sense. Nursing at UConn has done more for me as a person than I could ever imagine. The School of Nursing has not only given me the knowledge and critical thinking skills to become the best nurse I can possibly be, but it’s also given me the gift of compassion, ferocity and selflessness.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Five Men Arrested for Conspiring to Distribute Over 150 Kilograms of Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – On Oct. 29, five men, Carlos Manuel Velazquez Gomez, 43, David Martinez, 53, Juan Antonio Rivera Velasquez, 45, Onasis Lisandro Garcia, 49, and Richard John Sydney-Smith, 62, had their initial appearances on their respective federal criminal complaints which charge the defendants with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 150 kilograms of cocaine.

    On Oct. 27, Sydney-Smith and Garcia were traveling on a boat 2 miles east of Port Everglades, when they were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and found to be transporting over 150 kilograms of cocaine. The investigation further yielded the arrests of Rivera Velasquez, Velazquez Gomez, and Martinez on Oct. 28, who were waiting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for the cocaine delivery.

    Pre-trial detention hearings have been scheduled in these matters for Nov. 1 and Nov. 4.

    U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, made the announcement.

    HSI Miami investigated this case with invaluable assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Air and Marine Units. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown is prosecuting it. 

    A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 24-mj-6500, 24-mj-6501, 24-mj-6502, 24-mj-6504, and 24-mj-6505.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Northern Territory Police Arrest Absconded Prisoners

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have successfully apprehended two 17-year-old males who absconded from the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre on 29 October 2024.

    The escapees handed themselves in at the Alice Springs Police Station last night, bringing an end to the search.

    Both individuals have been charged with Escape from lawful custody and Damage to property and will attend court today.

    Police thank the community for their assistance during the search.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Proposed amendment on public exhibition for industrial land

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    Public exhibition has opened for Planning Scheme Amendment C282gben, which aims to provide a clearer policy for future industrial land use and concentration across Greater Bendigo.

    The preparation of Planning Scheme Amendment C282gben proposes to partially implement the Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy by making changes to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Planning Policy Framework of the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

    The amendment will also include the proposed draft Greater Bendigo Industrial Development Guidelines 2024 to replace the Good Design Guide for Industry 1997.

    The new guidelines provide clear directions to permit applicants on best practice industrial development and subdivision outlining how future industrial areas should look, function and perform in relation to the surrounding context and environment.

    Acting Manager Strategic Planning Bridget Maplestone said the proposed amendment responded to strong continued demand for larger scale industrial land.

    “The region needs to ensure an adequate pipeline of suitably located and adequately sized industrial land to meet long term needs of industry,” Ms Maplestone said.

    “This is not only about trying to attract new industry to Greater Bendigo but to retain the many businesses already here that provide local jobs and are looking to expand into the future.”

    Several changes are included in the proposed Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme Amendment to give effect to the strategy and the guidelines.

    The land affected by the amendment is all industrial-zoned land, land identified for the proposed Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct and land identified for the proposed Marong Business Park. At this stage, however, there is no change proposed to the zoning of the land north-west of the Marong township for the Marong Business Park, which has been identified as a potential future business park to meet longer term industry needs.

    The amendment also proposes the rezoning of 1029 Calder Highway, Maiden Gully from Industrial 1 Zone to Public Conservation and Resource Zone given it is no longer considered suitable for industrial use and development.

    The public can make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment during the exhibition period. The public exhibition closes on Thursday December 5.

    You may inspect the Amendment, any documents that support the Amendment and the explanatory report about the Amendment, free of charge in the following ways:

    • The Department of Transport and Planning website
    • The City website
    • Customer Service Reception at Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub

    To make a request to inspect the documents, please contact the City of Greater Bendigo via email or phone:

    [email protected]

    1300 002 642

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Warwick Lang, Victorian Country Hour, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    WARWICK LONG:

    Let’s talk competition in farming in Australia. A member of the federal government has identified farming as an area in dire need of competition reform in Australia. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition in the Labor government. He says this country’s small‑scale farmers are getting hammered at both ends by concentrated markets and at numerous points along the agricultural supply chain. I had a chat to him about improving the improving the competition playing field for farmers after he made a speech on such a topic to ABARES in Canberra.

    ANDREW LEIGH:

    Well, farmers are the meat in the sandwich when it comes to problems of competition in the Australian economy. We see too many farmers buying seed and fertiliser from concentrated markets and then getting squeezed by having to sell into concentrated markets for processors or in freight. And the effect is that farmers aren’t getting a fair deal. I’m talking about a lot of what we’re doing in the competition space through the lens of farming. Farming is a critical industry to the Australian economy, but it also illustrates some of the big competition problems that the Australian economy faces right now.

    LONG:

    Why is farming such an easy example to grasp about the lack of competition and what it does to markets?

    LEIGH:

    Compared to many industries, small‑scale farming is pretty easy to enter. It is not as easy to set up a tractor manufacturing business or to set up a freight distribution network. The result is that you get a lot of competition in farming across many commodities but not so much upstream and downstream. So if you’re looking at fertiliser, the big 4 fertiliser manufacturers in Australia have 62 per cent of the market between them. And then if you’re looking downstream, fruit and vegie processing, the big 4 have 34 per cent of the market. Meat processing, the big 4 have 44 per cent of the market. So there’s these really concentrated markets, and that’s before we’ve even gotten to the supermarkets where the supermarket duopoly does have the effect of squeezing farmers. Which, of course, is why, Warwick, we’re moving to make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct a mandatory code.

    LONG:

    What has failed in the past? So the meat industry is one of those that you’re using, particularly you cite its effect on small‑scale beef producers, for example, because there’s such market concentration. Now, I’ve been around for quite a long time, Assistant Minister, and I remember when the ACCC didn’t oppose JBS’s taking over of Primo, for example, because even though it meant a highly concentrated market in areas like New South Wales and Queensland. So what’s gone wrong in the past to lead us down this road of concentration now?

    LEIGH:

    Our merger law system just hasn’t been up to what it needs for a modern economy. Australia’s competition watchdog doesn’t get to see about 3 out of every 4 mergers because there’s no requirement on big firms to notify them. You can’t block what you can’t see. So the merger reforms we’ve got in parliament right now are the biggest merger shake‑up in half a century. We’d hope they’d get support right across the parliament. And they’ll have 2 results, Warwick, one will be that low‑risk mergers get approved quicker, and the other is that high‑risk mergers can have the scrutiny that they deserve applied to them by the competition watchdog.

    LONG:

    What other rules and changes are you proposing?

    LEIGH:

    We’ve got the banning of unfair contract terms. We did that as soon as we came into office. And that’s mattered for areas such as fertiliser contracts and potato processing where those unfair contract terms have been used. For consumers we’ve got the CHOICE quarterly price monitoring to make sure that consumers are seeing where they can get their best deal across the grocery sector. And we’re giving the competition watchdog more resources in order to check up on unit pricing, make sure that the prices on the supermarket shelf really are a fair reflection of what Australians will pay.

    LONG:

    You’ve also cited in your speech today about the right to repair laws affecting the motor vehicle industry. You and I spoke a lot in the past about trying to extend that to tractor and machinery sales. Why hasn’t that happened yet?

    LEIGH:

    Well, we’re encouraging parties to first look at a voluntary agreement here which can often have a more tailored approach. But we recognise that there’s a squeeze on and it can particularly affect farmers where you’re working off short timeframes. You’ve got to get a crop harvested. Your machine breaks down and you just can’t afford to take a week for the authorised dealer to fix it. So we understand the squeeze. We understand that the farm machinery industry is heavily concentrated. This one is not as straightforward as what we did for the motor vehicle scheme –

    LONG:

    Why not?

    LEIGH:

    Well, because in motor vehicles you’ve got a greater diversity of independent repairers. There’s some 20,000 independent repairers across the country. You just don’t have that network of independent repairers in the area of farm machinery. Most of the repair is being done at the moment by the big firms. And what we’re looking at is a discussion where people say we could have a vibrant independent repair industry if only there was a right to repair laws for farm machinery.

    LONG:

    Yeah, so as opposed to what you had to do in the motor vehicle sector where there was already an existing network there effectively you need to look if your law changes for the farm machinery sector would effectively almost create a new category of business?

    LEIGH:

    Yes, that’s right. Whereas independent mechanics, we were seeing them being crushed by a lack of access to data. But data is a big thing. John Deere has got more software development engineers than mechanical design engineers. Farm machines are becoming increasingly computerised, and that means that access to the data is fundamental to allowing a third‑party repairer to fix a fault.

    LONG:

    This is your passion, isn’t it? Competition and how markets work.

    LEIGH:

    I’m glad you detected that passion, Warwick. Absolutely. For economists this goes back to Adam Smith in 1776. There’s really good work about the benefits of competition for consumers, for workers and just for innovation. More competitive markets see higher productivity growth. And so this is one of the key things we need to do if we’re going to kickstart more growth in the Australian economy.

    LONG:

    And obviously more competition, more buyers for products is important. Your government is restricting that in the world of agriculture, particularly for the WA sheep industry right now with the phase out of live sheep exports. Have you looked at what that will do to the market there?

    LEIGH:

    Look, we’re providing support to the industry – over $100 million there – and also encouraging the boxed meat industry. And as you well know, Warwick, the volume of live sheep exports has been steadily declining. We’re very keen to see that local processing industry increasing, the value‑adding, and also working hard to open up new markets. So if you look at the resumption of the rock lobster trade with China, with the trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, all of that opening up of the international markets gives more options to our farmers. It means that they’re not as constrained at just selling to a couple of local processors.

    LONG:

    A sheep farmer can hardly jump into the world of rock lobster farming, though, can they?

    LEIGH:

    No, that’s right. I’m just giving you an illustration of what we’re doing across the markets, recognising the importance of international trade to Australian farmers.

    LONG:

    I suppose you and I are talking about the same thing here, right, aren’t we, Andrew Leigh? We’re talking about how government decisions or actions, whether it be the closure of key international markets or whether it be phase‑outs of industry, that does affect markets and it’s on government to pull the levers to decide the future of these industries, isn’t it?

    LEIGH:

    The government plays a significant role. And what you’re talking about with live sheep really is an issue of animal welfare, which I think is broadly supported across the Australian community. But what we’ve been doing in opening up international markets really is very much in the traditions of the Whitlam, Hawke and Keating governments – that international engagement often led by farmers because we export the vast majority of our agricultural produce in Australia to the benefit of farmers and the broader economy.

    LONG:

    So, this is part of your discussion with ABARES. Do you have a plan to sort of update on whether your levers and work in competition areas will be working in, say, 12 months’ time?

    LEIGH:

    Yeah, it’s a great question, and one of the things we haven’t done very well in government is evaluating what we do. And so we’re now just thinking through the best ways of evaluating the impact of the competition reforms, making sure that as we move to a mandatory code of conduct for food and grocery that we are seeing those better deals coming through for farmers, ensuring that as we go into the new merger regime that we see better competition across Australian industries. So, tracking performance is absolutely the best practice in government. That’s what I want to do more of.

    LONG:

    That’s the Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh, speaking there about improving competition rules, the playing field essentially for farmers.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Secures $500K for Permanent Supportive Housing Site in West LA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) presented a $500,000 check to IKAR to assist in the development of the new IKAR Center and Supportive Housing Project. This project is one of fifteen that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million for through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation.

    This project will build at least 60 units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused people, including seniors, atop a new Jewish community campus. The project will also include space for supportive services and indoor and outdoor common areas for residents. Located on S. La Cienega Blvd., the development will be situated in a high-opportunity, transit-rich corridor that is lacking in affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.

    “Ensuring that all Angelenos have a place to call home isn’t just good policy—it is a moral obligation, often informed by faith. By incorporating permanent supportive housing into their new community space, IKAR is upholding its values and following in the long tradition of Los Angeles faith communities working to combat social and economic injustices,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to have secured funding for this project that will provide real, lasting housing security for formerly unhoused people in our community. IKAR’s first-of-a-kind community center will serve as a shining example for how other faith institutions can help address the housing crisis in Los Angeles and beyond.”

    “We are honored to accept this federal funding award that will help us realize IKAR’s mission to build affordable housing as part of our new IKAR Center. Our community is tremendously grateful to Representative Kamlager-Dove for embracing our vision that faith communities can meet the need of the broader community for more low-income affordable housing by building those new homes on faith organization-owned land. We hope that this project will be a model for other faith communities across the district and the state to say ‘yes’ to housing not only in our backyards, but right alongside our communal institutions. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors home,” said IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban.

    Last month, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove hosted a roundtable centered on the development of affordable housing on land owned by faith organizations, during which IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban discussed this project’s potential and how IKAR can serve as a model for other faith institutions.

    ABOUT IKAR:
    IKAR is a dynamic, multi-generational community rooted in Los Angeles and reaching globally with the mission to reanimate Jewish life and develop a spiritual and moral foundation for a just and equitable society. IKAR, as a faith community, stands with multifaith partners as voices of moral courage, sources of spiritual strength, and first responders to injustice and indifference. IKAR understands that its role extends beyond Jewish religious and spiritual practice, and indeed beyond the Jewish community. IKAR is working to develop a spiritual roadmap for soulful, multi-faith justice work in Los Angeles and around the country.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, Meeks, Castro Affirm Importance of Accountability for the Assassination of Brazilian Activist Marielle Franco

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Brazil Caucus Co-Chair, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement affirming the importance of accountability in the assassination of Marielle Franco, a Brazilian anti-racism and LGBTQ+ advocate and Rio de Janeiro City Council member:

    “More than 6 years after the assassination of Marielle Franco, we are encouraged by the news that a trial for her murder began today. Franco advocated tirelessly to address the marginalization and persecution of afro-descendants and LGBTQ+ communities across the Western Hemisphere. Bringing the perpetrators of her murder to justice represents a critical opportunity for Brazil to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to the rule of law and addressing political violence rooted in racial and gender-based discrimination, pursuant to the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.  

    “We express solidarity with the Brazilian people in their calls for justice for Franco and an end to the systemic discrimination of Afro-descendants and indigenous communities in Brazil and across the hemisphere.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 696

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 696
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northeast Oklahoma

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue
    to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk
    for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK
    to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Hart

    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 696
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northeast Oklahoma

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue
    to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk
    for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK
    to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW6
    WW 696 TORNADO OK 302255Z – 310500Z
    AXIS..55 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    15NE BVO/BARTLESVILLE OK/ – 60S CQB/CHANDLER OK/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 50NM E/W /33WSW OSW – 42NNE ADM/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 36919483 34849585 34849779 36919682

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU6.

    Watch 696 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Mod (40%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (30%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Latest harassment allegations at workplaces, private colleges concerning

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Anna Cody, has spoken out on the crucial role employers and institutions hold to end the normalisation of harmful behaviour and improve women’s safety, amid an influx of allegations of workplace sexual harassment and of dangerous hazing at private colleges.

    Following a 2018 investigation into Sydney University’s St Paul’s College, led by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, disturbing allegations have emerged this week claiming ‘humiliation-type behaviours’ among a group of male students. Separately, hospitality giant Merivale has faced claims of sexual harassment, exploitation and drug use at its high-profile Sydney venues. 

    Dr Cody credited last year’s introduction of a positive duty on Australian workplaces as a critical step forward towards eliminating harmful behaviours, but she believes far more work needs to be done to ensure widespread compliance.  

    “The recent allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination in Australia’s hospitality industry are deeply troubling and highlight how important it is that Australian workplaces implement the positive duty in a way that works for them,” Dr Cody said. 

    “Senior leaders play a vital role in creating a culture of respect, accountability, and inclusion. When leaders visibly uphold these values, they set an example that resonates throughout their organisations.

    “These recent reports serve as a powerful reminder to employers across industries that workplace safety and respect must be actively championed from the top down.”

    “It is also essential we have men and women in leadership and people from a range of race and cultural backgrounds so that new, respectful work and study cultures can be created.

    “We all have a role in this effort to create a safer, more respectful Australia where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination, with respect and dignity.”

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart

    Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 9:57 am.

    Tasmania Police and City of Hobart council staff have again collaborated to conduct a public safety operation in Hobart’s CBD.
    Inspector John Toohey said the effort conducted last night demonstrated an ongoing united approach to community safety and security, after a successful operation in July.
    “Last night our combined resources, including Hobart Police, Taskforce Saturate, and the Dog Handler Unit, worked alongside City of Hobart staff to monitor CCTV in real-time and provide an enhanced response capability,” he said.
    “As a result of the operation, five arrests were made, two summonses issued, one person was referred to the drug diversion process, two will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act and three people were issued infringement notices.”
    “Offences included breaching a police family violence order, breach of a restraint order, stealing, breaching bail, possess a controlled drug or plant, possess thing used to administer a controlled drug, possess an open container of liquor, possess a dangerous article and possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence.”
    “These collaborative efforts are crucial in ensuring Hobart continues to be a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.”
    “We encourage all community members to support this initiative by staying vigilant and reporting any incidents to police.”
    Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds highlighted the importance of the City’s collaboration with Tasmania Police in promoting community safety, following similar successful operations in Wellington Court and at Salamanca.
    “Our aim is to make Hobart’s CBD and surrounding areas safe, welcoming, and vibrant, supporting businesses and ensuring everyone enjoys the city,” Cr Reynolds said.
    “With our partnership with Tasmania Police, we’re building a strong community and instilling confidence.
    “This safety blitz is a proactive way to enhance Hobart’s atmosphere, and we’re committed to creating a harmonious public space.”
    “We encourage everyone to support this effort by staying aware, reporting incidents, and looking out for one another.
    “Together, we can keep Hobart safe and enjoyable for all.”
    Results:
    A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with breaching a Police Family Violence Order and breach of bail, he was detained for court.
    A 15-year-old girl was arrested for breaching a restraint order and stealing, she has been released and summonsed.
    A 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear.
    A 16-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear.
    A 56-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication, he will be released when sober.
    A 24-year-old man will be summonsed for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug.
    A 20-year-old man will be summonsed for possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence and possess a controlled weapon, namely pepper spray.
    A 37-year-old man has been referred to the drug diversion process after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely LSD.
    A 35-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place.
    A 23-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place.
    A 17-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug.
    A 14-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis.
    17 formal directions to leave the CBD were also issued.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Optus in court for alleged unconscionable sales and debt collection

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, that they often did not want or need, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales.

    Many of these consumers were experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, or having limited financial and legal literacy.

    Many of the impacted consumers were First Nations Australians from regional and remote areas or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

    “We allege Optus’ conduct disproportionately impacted consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, and that these practices were incentivised by the commission-based remuneration for sales staff. In some cases, we allege Optus took steps to protect its own financial interests by clawing back commissions to sales staff but failed to remediate affected consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “This case concerns allegations of very serious conduct, as our case is that Optus sold goods to consumers experiencing vulnerability which they did not need, did not want and could not afford.”

    “We also allege that Optus’ unconscionable conduct continued after management became aware of deficiencies in its systems that were being exploited by sales staff, and despite this, failed to implement fixes,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.

    Alleged conduct

    The ACCC’s case against Optus involves allegations that Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with about 429 consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct and/or pursuing consumers for debts, including when it knew contracts were created fraudulently.

    The conduct included Optus allegedly putting undue pressure on some of these consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, and not undertaking coverage checks to inform the consumer whether they would have Optus coverage where they lived.

    It is alleged that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue many of these consumers, despite knowing that they were subject to inappropriate or fraudulent sales conduct.

    The alleged conduct involves 363 consumers from two Optus Darwin stores, 42 consumers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual consumers from store locations across Australia.

    “We are taking this action against Optus and seeking consumer redress in relation to the hundreds of consumers affected by this alleged unconscionable conduct,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    The ACCC began its investigation after receiving a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about concerns regarding Optus’ sales practices to consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.

    The ACCC is seeking declarations and orders for penalties, non-party consumer redress, publication orders, a compliance program, and costs.

    Optus’ Darwin stores conduct

    The ACCC alleges unconscionable conduct at Optus’ two licensee-operated stores in Darwin, where nearly all staff allegedly engaged in inappropriate sales conduct, encouraged by senior store management, during a two-year period to June 2023. The conduct included not carrying out coverage checks, despite some of the 363 impacted consumers being First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of the Northern Territory where there was no Optus coverage available.

    The ACCC’s allegations include that Optus staff manipulated credit checks, oversold and overpriced accessories, and sold consumers phones and plans they could not afford at the Darwin stores.

    Optus’ Mount Isa store conduct

    The ACCC also alleges Optus acted unconscionably by pursuing debts for at least 42 consumers from Mount Isa and remote areas of the Northern Territory, despite some senior executives knowing that those debts related to contracts for goods and services which were fraudulently created by a staff member at a licensee-operated Optus store in Mount Isa, without the knowledge of the affected consumers.

    Optus’ conduct to individual consumers

    The ACCC alleges Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with 24 individual consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct. This included by applying undue pressure and inducing the consumers to purchase a large number of goods and services.

    The alleged conduct includes claims that sales staff manipulated credit check results without the consumers’ knowledge to sell goods and services that they could not afford, while failing to explain the terms and conditions of contracts in an understandable manner. Despite knowing about this alleged conduct, Optus pursued debt collection activities in many cases, and referred and sold the consumers’ debts to third party debt collection agencies.

    In relation to four of these consumers, the ACCC also claims that Optus made false, misleading or deceptive representations that particular goods were ‘free’ when that was not in fact the case.

    “Many consumers suffered financial harm, incurring thousands of dollars of debt and non-financial harm, such as shame, fear, and emotional distress about the debts or being pursued by debt collectors,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Thankfully many consumers were supported by financial counsellors, carers and other advocates who gave their time and effort to support consumers to eventually seek resolution of Optus’ conduct.”

    “We will take appropriate enforcement action against breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, and we pay particular attention to conduct that disproportionately impacts consumers who are experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.”

    An example of the alleged conduct includes a person living with an intellectual disability which impacts their ability to speak and understand financial matters went into an Optus store and was sold an expensive phone, a business phone contract under a false ABN, a new NBN internet plan and accessories, though their disability was evident to Optus staff. The person did not want or need the majority of these items, and was upset and embarrassed about the unwanted and expensive items they were sold. When the person’s representative went to the store to return the items, the Optus staff refused to cancel the contracts and it was only through the intervention of a financial counsellor that Optus cancelled the contracts.

    Background

    Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.

    In Australia, Optus’ stores are either:

    • owned and operated directly by Optus RetailCo Pty Ltd; or
    • owned and operated through third party licensees, through Retail License Agreements. For example, all Optus stores in the Adelaide region are owned and operated by Mavaya Pty Ltd, and all Optus stores in the Northern Territory, as well as several in regional Queensland, are owned and operated by Suntel Communications Pty Ltd.

     Statement of claim

    ACCC v Optus Mobile Pty Ltd – Introduction to Statement of Claim ( PDF 67.78 KB )

    The ACCC has commenced this proceeding with a Statement of Claim. The document available via the link contains the introduction section of the ACCC’s Statement of Claim in relation to this matter, which contains a summary of the ACCC’s case. We will not be uploading further documents.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Upgraded Woden library to reopen 18 November

    Source: Government of Australia Capital Territory

    On 13 September 2024, the ACT Government assumed a caretaker role, with an election to be held 19 October 2024. Information on this website will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the election and conclusion of the caretaker period.

    Released 31/10/2024

    Woden library will reopen at 10am on Monday 18 November 2024 following upgrade works.

    The library was temporarily closed in May 2024 due to the significance of the upgrade works. The range of upgrades included:

    • replacing the heating and air conditioning system
    • renovating the ground floor bathroom
    • new LED lighting
    • roof repairs and other improvements.

    We thank the community for their patience as these important works were completed.

    A pop-up library at 26 Corinna Street in Phillip has been open during the closure.

    The reading room, public PCs, children’s room and community rooms at the pop-up library will be closed from 5.30pm on Wednesday 13 November 2024. The pop-up library will remain open on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 November 2024, between 10am and 5.30pm, to allow community members to return items and collect reservations. The pop-up library will permanently close at 5.30pm on Friday 15 November 2024.

    On Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November 2024 reservations ready for collection will be held and will be available at the Woden library for collection from Monday 18 November 2024. During this time, we encourage you to access the digital resources available with your Libraries ACT membership.

    The return chute at Woden library will be open and you can return items 24/7. You can now also make bookings for community room hire at Woden library, including for the HIVE, from Monday 18 November 2024.

    A range of events and activities are scheduled at the Woden library when it reopens. These include drag story time, giggly wiggly balloon story time with Chloe Lim and an ACT Book of the Year author talk panel. For more information on the reopening and the events planned visit the Libraries ACT website at www.library.act.gov.au.

    – Statement ends –

    ACT Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate | Media Releases

    Media Contacts

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Directorate Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Senior officer terminated following Professional Standards investigation

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Senior officer terminated following Professional Standards investigation

    Wednesday, 30 October 2024 – 5:00 pm.

    A senior police officer’s employment has been formally terminated following an extensive Professional Standards investigation into internal complaints of sexual misconduct at a Christmas function with colleagues in Hobart in December 2023.
    The officer, an inspector of police, was dismissed under section 30(1) of the Police Service Act 2003, which determines that a commissioned officer can be terminated if the Commissioner does not have confidence in their suitability to continue as a police officer.
    Commissioner Donna Adams said that Tasmania Police was committed to delivering a policing service in line with our Values of Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Support.
    “The Tasmanian community has high expectations of its policing service, and we are entrusted with significant powers to perform our duties to keep people safe. The conduct of every police officer can impact on the community’s confidence in police to deliver this service,” she said.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The Pacific and Australasian CRM Developers’ and Facilitators’ Forum 2024 (PACDEFF)

    Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    CASA Director of Aviation Safety Pip Spence discusses flight operations with a focus on safety, including upset prevention and recovery training, combating fatigue, clear communication, pilot mental health, and the importance of continuous education in building a strong safety culture.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth interviewed on Radio National Breakfast with Patricia Karvelas

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    Topics: COVID-19 pandemic; COVID inquiry report; Australian Centre for Disease Control; PLACE announcement; Qantas flight upgrades.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: What would you do if Australia faced another global pandemic and you were again asked to make big sacrifices in the name of public health? A major review of Australia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has found many people will be less accommodating of those requests in the future, while warning another pandemic is likely to happen in our lifetimes. Now, the Government says a new disease control centre will help restore public trust. We’re going to be joined now by Amanda Rishworth, who is the Minister for Social Services. She’s going to talk to us about this and another scheme the Government’s announcing today. Welcome to the programme, Minister.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Great to be with you.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: The COVID inquiry found mistakes were made, but overall, Australia was one of the most successful countries in its pandemic response. Do you think history will give the Morrison Government more credit?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I think really what this review tried to do is identify what can we do better next time and what actually worked. And so the report’s been very useful in that. But what really, I think, came out of the report is we need to be better prepared in the future. I think that was one of the really key findings. How do we get in a position where we are better prepared to respond to something like that in the future? And I think in terms of key learnings of this report, I think that is one of the key learnings, that we need to be prepared for what may come next.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: You’ve promised to fund an Australian Centre for Disease Control, and you say it will restore public trust, but will that be enough?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, the public trust issue is a very concerning element of this report. If you remember back to that time during COVID you know, people were very compliant. But I think one of the elements is that this Centre for Disease Control will be independent, but I think importantly, it will be much more responsive and transparent with the evidence. I think that is one of the things coming out of this report that really talked about how do we make sure that the health data, the evidence, that what we’re asking people to do is very much embedded in real-time evidence, is really critical. And I hope that as we build up this capability, this transparency, but also the real-time evidence, provides people with the reassurance that what we’re asking them to do actually is something that they should do, because it’s backed up by that real-time evidence.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: The coalition says this review didn’t look at the states and territories. They are right. And given they were the ones that imposed some of these restrictions, isn’t that a major flaw?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: This wasn’t wanting to go over the existing reviews that have been done in states and territories. I think from the Commonwealth’s perspective, this report was really about how do we prepare for a future pandemic. What are the lessons learned for the Commonwealth? It’s very important that the Commonwealth is better prepared and that came through clearly both in its economic response and its health response. So, I’m focused on, as is the Government, what can we do better next time? And this report has been really important in identifying what went right, but where we could have adjusted the settings as well.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: You’re the Minister for Social Services and that involves really many vulnerable communities. It was in fact vulnerable communities, particularly when I think about the NSW lockdowns, that were disproportionately affected. Was that wrong with the benefit of hindsight?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I don’t want to second guess, but the report did highlight the disproportionate impact [the lockdowns] had on some vulnerable communities. So, I think that is really important. And what the report said is we, obviously, had to have a strong response to understand what we were dealing with, but how do we transition really quickly and weigh up the health benefits and the non-health risks, which were things at both economic but also wellbeing risks. So, this report does talk about how we better transition in different phases, but it did highlight that as a result of perhaps not transitioning from the initial response to the suppression response, that some vulnerable communities were particularly targeted or not targeted – that’s probably not the right word – were particularly impacted as a result. And I think we have to be very much aware of that. The other element that really came out in the report is the impact on mental health and wellbeing. And I think that’s something we need to be very conscious of and work into the future on repairing.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: I want to move to what you’re launching today. You’re launching a new policy that brings philanthropic donors and the Government together to take on entrenched social issues. How will it work?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Today is a really exciting day because we’re announcing a new organisation called PLACE, which will be a not-for-profit, independent national organisation that will work with communities about responding to the issues that they know are in their communities, but in a way that they would like to see responded. Now, this is different, because this isn’t the Government just giving a grant to an organisation to do this work. This is a true partnership where five philanthropic organisations are putting money on the table, with government, to create this organisation in true partnership, and it will work with local communities to get better outcomes and shift in some areas – which have been seeing entrenched disadvantage – to see things move. So, this is really exciting. There is really amazing work being done in communities when it comes to what we call place-based solutions. That’s where communities have a say and help design the solutions. And money isn’t top down, but it really is directed to where communities want. But it’s pretty sporadic, and a lot of communities don’t have the data they need, for example, this organisation will work with communities, so if they want to implement this type of response, they can.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: It’s not a lot of money. So, how would it work? How do you get the money to actually be meaningful in a community that’s identified as being high needs?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, this money is not about funding the services and support. That money is often there being provided by philanthropy and being provided by Government, but it’s not being directed into the initiatives or into the areas that community want. So, what this organisation will do will work with communities and government and philanthropic organisations to get the money that’s often already in their community, working better in programs that align to what the community wants. So, this isn’t about funding programs, this is about doing the work, working on how to get the data, for example. A lot of communities have a gut feeling something’s working, but they can’t see the data. And where we’ve implemented this place-based response, we can see it really working. One example is the community in Burnie decided they wanted to focus on completion rates, year 12 completion rates and it has gone up since 2011 to 2020 by 86%. And so this organisation is about working with communities to help them build these responses and attract the investment and get the money working for their community.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: Before I let you go, there’s been a lot of talk about the Prime Minister in the wake of this book on Qantas and upgrades. There is a proposal from Peter Dutton that the Prime Minister should refer himself to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Will he?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, I think that instead of focusing on the Prime Minister and his family, the Opposition Leader needs to start explaining about his upgrades, about his use of Gina Reinhart’s private jet. I mean, the Prime Minister has been incredibly transparent about this. He has declared on the public record over and over again. But Peter Dutton seems to be absolutely focused on the politics of this and not on the substance.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: But you didn’t kind of go to my fundamental question, which is, do you think this should be looked at by the National Anti Corruption Commission? If there’s nothing to see, where’s the harm in him referring himself?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I think the Prime Minister, as with other members of Parliament, are required to be transparent through their declarations on their register of interest. And, you know, we’ve seen over the last couple of days many, many politicians from all sides having flight upgrades.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: Have you ever asked for one?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: To be honest, I’ve got a young family and I don’t travel into very many places, but I haven’t asked for one. But I think that there are many politicians that have had upgrades. And so there’s a register of public interest, so that it’s all transparent. And, you know, if Peter Dutton is saying there’s questions to be answered, he needs to answer the question, explain his use of Gina Rinehart’s private jet.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: It doesn’t have to be a competition between will you answer questions? Will you answer questions? Shouldn’t, you know, both sides just answer the questions? And there are some additional questions that the Prime Minister has not addressed about if he discussed upgraded flights directly with Alan Joyce when he was Transport Minister.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I think that there needs to be a consistent approach. The opposition is making this completely political. It’s a complete pile on the Prime Minister. Peter Dutton can’t explain his use of Gina Rinehart’s private jet. So, quite frankly, I think there’s a lot of politics here and a lot of hypocrisy from the opposition. I mean, we have Paul Fletcher, who’s declared sixty-nine upgrades. So, I think what I’m pointing out here is the hypocrisy of the opposition playing politics with this.

    PATRICIA KARVELAS: Thank you so much for joining us, Minister.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten doorstop interview at Salvation Army Project 614, Melbourne

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE transcript 

    JOURNALIST: Mr. Shorten, how important is this initiative between the Salvos and Diabetes Australia, and what impact do you think it will have?

    BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICESHORTEN: Diabetes is a giant problem for Aussies. 1.9 million of our fellow Australians have been diagnosed with diabetes. Someone’s going to get a diagnosis every five minutes in Australia. For diabetes, the burden of it falls particularly on First Nations people, and also people who live in insecure housing or are in fact homeless. So today, for the first time, we’ve partnered up Diabetes Australia with the Salvation Army, Project 614 in Bourke Street in Melbourne. And what we’re going to see is that at long last, people living at the margins of Australian society won’t be forgotten citizens when it comes to getting a diagnosis of diabetes and the treatment that’s required, because this is a preventable illness.

    JOURNALIST: Were you quite shocked with some of the statistics you heard today about just how prevalent, even over the past ten weeks, how much they’ve found of it on the streets of Melbourne?

    SHORTEN: Diabetes is one of the invisible killers of Australians but is preventable. Sometimes in life stuff happens you can’t stop. Diabetes can be treated. Now, at long last, courtesy of the Salvos, Diabetes Australia and a bit of help from a friendly federal government, we are going to see homeless people are get this sort of assistance which some Australians take for granted.

    JOURNALIST: And would you like to see this expanded? Obviously, it’s for the Salvos at the moment, but would you like to see it expanded into other areas as well?

    SHORTEN: There’s a big challenge in Australia and the way we deliver government and health services. Not everyone is a digital warrior who can go online. Not everyone is able to just pop down to the local health office or Services Australia office. Governments and health systems have got to go to where the people are. A lot of our people in Australia are not doing so well and so we have to go to the people. And today, I hope this is an example all over Australia, that where the government and health system goes to the people, we don’t wait for the people to come to us.

    JOURNALIST: Okay. On the Anti-Corruption Commission now looking, reviewing its decision about not investigating Robodebt. Do you welcome that?

    SHORTEN: Labor set up the National Anti-Corruption Commission. It was long overdue to be set up. The organisation is completely independent of government. The Inspector General has made a recommendation that the decision by the National Anti-Corruption Commission not to take proceedings further, be reviewed. So now the decision will be reconsidered, whether or not people referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission should in fact be investigated again.

    JOURNALIST: Do you welcome that decision? I mean, you campaigned long and hard, didn’t you?

    SHORTEN: The decision of the Anti-Corruption Commission today by the Inspector General to review an earlier decision not to proceed with matters against people involved in the Robodebt scandal that is up to the independent body. For me, it’s all about justice for the victims of Robodebt. We can’t invent a time – we haven’t invented a time machine to take us back before Robodebt happened. That would be the best outcome. The class action, the Royal Commission, internal public sector, that’s all been putting pressure on the authors of Robodebt. I still am very keen to see the sealed section, listing some of the people that the Royal Commission identify released that’s still under consideration.

    JOURNALIST: Okay. Now on the Prime Minister, do you concede, given its cost of living, do you concede it is a bad look what he did?

    SHORTEN: Prime Minister has done everything within the rules that exist. He has diligently for two decades declared any particular benefits which he’s received. He’s adhered to the rules. That’s where I think the matter is at.

    JOURNALIST: But do you concede, though, it’s a bad look given there is a cost-of-living crisis. So many Australians, so many Australians are struggling, and yet you have a transport minister ringing up the CEO of Qantas saying give me the upgrades?

    SHORTEN: Well, first of all, the Prime Minister has explained exactly what’s happened, and these matters go back in some cases up to 20 years ago. Labor is focused on cost of living. If we want to fix cost of living, it’s not whether or not a politician catches a plane. It’s how do we help them with tax cuts? Tick, we’ve done that. How do we help them with their energy bills? Tick, we’re doing that. Cost of living is a major pressure on Australians. We’ve got more to do, and this government and the Prime Minister and everyone else has been focused on tax cuts, energy relief, more Medicare support, more bulk billing. I mean, times are really tough. And that’s where our focus is not on a particular news story.

    JOURNALIST: So, this is a, this is a big distraction though isn’t it, when this is happening?

    SHORTEN: Oh, I’m not distracted. I’m focused on making sure the crooks in the NDIS are caught, making sure that people are getting value for money who are disabled. I certainly am focused on making sure that people at the margins of our society are accessing healthcare. No, I think we’re focused.

    JOURNALIST: Claire O’Neill says it’s all a beat up. Do you agree with her?

    SHORTEN: Well, I’m just focused on my day job and that’s what I know the Government is. Our day job is to make sure, in the example of health services, that people, regardless of how much money they’ve got in the bank, can get to see their doctor or get the medical support they require. I’m focused on making sure that people have, the hard-working people who earn, you know, as cleaners or workers, aged care workers, disability, that they’re getting pay rises along with our nurses. So, my eye is on the ball, the government’s eye is on the ball. It’s about helping people get through this very difficult time of cost, living pressure and high interest rates.

    JOURNALIST: Mr. Dutton says he wants to refer this matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission. What’s your reaction?

    SHORTEN: I wish Mr. Dutton was focused on the cost-of-living issues of everyday Australians. I mean, he’s not shy about catching a plane with billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart. I don’t think he’s proposing to refer himself. So, I think that what Australians want is for the politicians to stop bickering amongst themselves and get on with looking after the everyday people. That’s what we’re doing today.

    JOURNALIST: We’ve just got a couple of questions from SBS just back on the NACC. Has the NACC failed at the very first hurdle?

    SHORTEN: Oh, the NACC is independent of Government. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is independent of Government. I think the smartest thing that a parliamentarian can do is not comment adversely about the operations of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. They’ve got to do their job. The very fact that we’ve established one is something which was long overdue. The Liberals never did that. The very fact that in the system that we set up, that there’s an inspector general who can review decisions and then send them back if he didn’t agree, shows the system is actually working.

    JOURNALIST: Should Commissioner Brereton keep his job?

    SHORTEN: Oh, absolutely not the province of a politician to start picking and choosing, you know, saying he should go, he should stay. The NACC is doing its job. The system is actually worked in that the Inspector General has said, hey, you need to go back and redo this decision for various reasons. Have relook at it. That’s actually the system working. For Robodebt victims, it should never have happened. I mean, illegal and immoral scheme. I’ve helped run the class action we helped do the parliamentary or the Royal Commission. We’re making sure that never again can our poor people be welfare shamed and treated as second class citizens by a government. That’s where my focus is. I wish it had never happened. I’m sorry that they were let down by the government, and we’re making sure that just because you’re disadvantaged or down on your luck doesn’t mean you get treated like a second class Australian.

    JOURNALIST: Should the independent statutory review of the NACC be brought forward?

    SHORTEN: That’s a matter for other Ministers. I’m interested in how someone can get an analysis for diabetes and get treated. The review of whatever to do with the NACC. I’ll leave to other people. My eye is on the ball. Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Transfer Pricing Conference: Intragroup financing — More than just whether the price is right

    Source: Allens Insights

    Toby Knight, Anna Sartori and Gidon Waller have published a paper examining the application of transfer pricing, the debt deduction creation rules (DDCR), the new thin capitalisation rules and the general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) to intragroup financing arrangements.

    The paper was presented by Toby and Anna at the Tax Institute’s National Transfer Pricing Conference held in Melbourne in October 2024. It summarises the relevant law and guidance of the above regimes, considers how each regime could apply to intragroup financing arrangements in particular, and considers possible interactions between each regime.

    A copy of the paper can be accessed below.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NSW Parliament passed a bipartisan motion supporting Taiwan’s international participation

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs （Taiwan) expresses gratitude to the NSW Parliament for passing a bipartisan motion supporting Taiwan’s international participation.
    On October 23, the New South Wales Legislative Council unanimously passed PMB No. 1414 motion, stating that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not assert the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it determine Taiwan’s future status or restrict Taiwan’s rights to participate in UN agencies or other international organizations. The Ministry highly appreciates and sincerely thanks the NSW Parliament for its firm support of Taiwan’s international participation
    In June 2024, the NSW Parliament was the first to pass a motion in the Legislative Council condemning China for bullying elected Australian officials, affirming Taiwan’s democracy, and rejecting any foreign government interference in Australian politics. Subsequently, in August, the Australian Senate passed an urgent motion based on the IPAC model resolution regarding UNGA Resolution 2758, making Australia the first country to adopt such a model. NSW then became the first state parliament in Australia to pass this motion.
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the NSW Parliament for raising a voice of justice for Taiwan and calls on the international community to jointly counter China’s misinterpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758 and its attempts to falsely link it with the so-called “One China Principle.” Taiwan will continue to collaborate with Australia and other like-minded partners to defend the rules-based international order and promote regional democracy, peace, and prosperity.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FALCON OIL & GAS LTD.

    (“Falcon”)

    Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders

    30 October 2024 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) held its special meeting of shareholders in Dublin, Ireland yesterday.

    All resolutions considered and voted upon by the shareholders were approved. The full text of each resolution was included in the Management Information Circular communicated in advance of the meeting to shareholders.

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.          +353 1 676 8702
    Philip O’Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042
    Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162
     
    Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
    Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771

    About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia, South Africa and Hungary. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with a technical team based in Budapest, Hungary.

    For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. please visit www.falconoilandgas.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: APRA increasing scrutiny of expenditure by superannuation trustees

    Source: Allens Insights

    Increased surveillance and potential for enforcement action 8 min read

    APRA recently announced in a letter to all superannuation trustees that it will intensify scrutiny of ‘fund-level expenditure to hold RSE Licensees accountable to improve practices’ and ‘reduce spending that is deemed to not be in members’ best financial interests’.

    In this Insight, we highlight what APRA plans to do over the coming 12 months through surveillance and enforcement action and areas of its likely focus, and then set out practical steps trustees can take now to prepare for increased scrutiny and possible enforcement action from APRA.

    What APRA plans to do about trustee expenditure

    Over the next 12 months, APRA will prioritise its supervision of fund expenditure where member benefit is not immediately evident or may not be reasonably justified. It is this expenditure which we assume is at risk of being deemed not to be in members’ best financial interests by APRA.

    APRA Deputy Chair Margaret Cole also warned this week that APRA is prepared to ‘test the limits of the law’ in this area if needed, which we interpret to mean a willingness to commence proceedings even where there may be legal uncertainty about the application of the law to expenditure by trustees.

    APRA will take a targeted approach, partly informed by expense data that RSE licensees were required to submit to APRA. It will initially focus on ‘discretionary expenditure’ such as travel, entertainment and conferences, outliers (which we take to mean RSE licensees with higher expenses than their peers), and particular types of payees and payments.

    It says its focus will be informed by ‘market intelligence and matters of public interest’. The reference to ‘public interest’ suggests APRA may be reacting to issues raised in the media or public criticism of individual funds and their expenses, and APRA may be more likely to target these trustees for scrutiny and enforcement action.

    APRA’s interest in trustee expenditure is not new, but its announcements are a warning to trustees that it is looking closely at this area and wants to be seen to be taking action against trustees who are not complying with their obligations.

    APRA is already engaging with a number of trustees following its review of initial expense data. The review isn’t finished and APRA has said trustees can expect it to issue notices requiring information that demonstrates how trustees determined that expenditure is in members’ best financial interests. In reviewing expenditure decisions, APRA will consider governance, conflicts of interest and attestations from management (as recommended under the updated SPG 515 from 1 July 2025) and the role of accountable persons under the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR). It has foreshadowed imposing rectification measures where warranted, and will make enforcement actions public where appropriate.

    The focus on expenditure by trustees ties in with APRA’s stated aim in the 2024-25 corporate plan of improving transparency around expenses and a focus on compliance by trustees with the updated SPS 515, which commences from 1 July 2025. APRA flagged in the plan that it will use the new, more detailed expense data it receives ‘to identify trustees with outlying expenditure for certain discretionary expense categories and will intensify supervisory efforts accordingly’.

    Steps trustees can take to anticipate APRA action

    Given APRA’s clear warning that it will focus on trustee compliance with expenditure obligations in the next 12 months, including increased surveillance and potential for enforcement action, trustees should take steps now to prepare and anticipate issues APRA may raise. Failure to do so may itself open trustees to criticism. This could include:

    1. Reviewing compliance of existing expenditure management policies and processes

    While APRA’s level of scrutiny and apparent willingness to take enforcement action are new, the obligations are not.

    Trustees have obligations under the SIS Act to perform their duties and exercise their powers in the best financial interests of beneficiaries, to give priority to beneficiaries’ interests where there is a conflict, and to comply with the sole purpose test. They are also subject to existing requirements in SPS 515 to demonstrate that decisions about business operations that result in significant expenditure will contribute to meeting the trustee’s strategic objectives.

    All trustees should have governance policies and processes in place for complying with these requirements. This would include an expenditure management policy and procedures for reviewing and approving expenditure, including escalation of decisions to senior management or the board for significant decisions.

    Trustees should check that their policies and procedures are up to date and that they are following their own policies and procedures when making decisions about budgets and expenses. Those people who will become their accountable persons should be taking reasonable steps now to make sure they are being applied.

    It is these things that will enable trustees to demonstrate to APRA that they have complied with their duties in making expenditure decisions if required.

    2. Reviewing high-risk expenses

    APRA is likely to focus its scrutiny on certain types of expenses, including advertising, sponsorships, corporate entertainment, political donations and related-party transactions.

    Trustees may want to review these categories of expenses—particularly where they are significant or where the link to financial interests of beneficiaries is not evident. A good starting point would be expense data that has been reported to APRA, as APRA will use the same data to identify areas for further scrutiny.

    Trustees should test whether they can demonstrate that good governance processes were followed when approving expenses and that the decisions were consistent with the trustee’s obligations. They should identify documents and information that could be produced to evidence the approval process if APRA raises concerns.

    An internal review could bring to light expenditure decisions that potentially lack justification on the available information, in which case the trustee may need to reconsider the decisions or identify and document any additional information available to support the decisions. It is important to remember that some expenditure may have an indirect connection to members’ best financial interests and can be justified on this basis—such as spending on employee benefits that assists in recruitment and retention of good employees that ultimately benefits members.

    3. Checking on progress in implementing updated SPS 515 and SPG 515

    The updated SPS 515 was finalised in July 2024 and takes effect from 1 July 2025. It includes additional requirements around expenditure management that apply to all expenditure decisions (not just to ‘significant expenditure’), and the new SPG 515 includes revised guidance with a focus on trustees’ duties to act in the best financial interests of beneficiaries, more scrutiny of expenditure that involves conflicts or provides incidental benefits to third parties, and greater focus on accountability around expenditure decisions.

    Trustees will need to review and update their policies, procedures and governance arrangements to address the new requirements and APRA’s expectations by 1 July 2025. Trustees should be in a position to provide APRA with an update on progress in this area, including timeframes and anticipated changes to their existing arrangements.

    4. Testing whether some expenses may be outside the regulatory regime

    The requirements in SPS 515 and the guidance in SPG 515 purport to apply broadly to ‘expenditure decisions’ by an RSE Licensee ‘relating to its business operations’. There is an important unresolved issue around how far APRA’s scrutiny will go, and whether it will extend beyond the use by trustees of fund assets for expenses.

    There is an important distinction between trustee business models that is not acknowledged in SPS 515 or SPG 515. Some trustees pay expenses directly from fund assets relying on their right of indemnity or exoneration. Other trustees charge a fee for their services and then meet expenses out of their personal assets. Many trustees do both—with the proportion of expenses coming from fund assets or personal assets varying depending on the trustee’s business model.

    The source of funding for expenses has important implications for the trustee’s obligations in relation to expenditure decisions. Trustees are required to comply with the SIS Act obligations to act in the best financial interests of beneficiaries, give priority to their interests and ensure consistency with the sole purpose test only where they are performing a trustee’s duties or exercising a trustee’s powers. In spending their own money, they are doing neither of these things (although some restrictions apply to the use of trustee capital which is maintained to meet operational risk loss events).

    It is not at all clear whether SPS 515 and SPG 515 acknowledge this distinction. While the guidance refers to the requirement to ‘have robust governance and oversight of fund expenditure’, which suggests it is intended to apply only to expenses paid from fund assets, SPS 515 imposes requirements on a trustee when it makes ‘an expenditure decision relating to its business operations’. On its face, this appears to apply equally to expenditure from fund assets or the trustee’s personal assets.

    In its letter to trustees, APRA says it will prioritise supervisory attention on ‘fund expenditure’. Whether it gives this a narrower meaning confined to trustees spending fund money, or whether it includes a broader range of expenditure by trustees, is yet to be seen. This could be one area where it decides to ‘test the limits of the law’. SPS 515 also includes new obligations in relation to the setting of fees—including to ensure the fee is ‘appropriate and proportionate, having regard to factors such as the arm’s-length value of the features and services that the fee relates to’. While this raises separate issues, it could provide another means for APRA to regulate the ability of trustees to pay for expenses out of their own funds.

    5. Preparing a ‘playbook’ for responding to APRA notices or enforcement action

    Given APRA has issued a letter to trustees saying it intends to increase scrutiny on expenditure and issue notices to trustees, trustees should prepare now to be able to respond to those notices in an efficient and cost-effective way.

    We suggest trustees plan now:

    • A process to ensure that, when a notice is received, it is quickly referred to those responsible for preparing a response, to avoid wasting time in the initial phase.
    • The resources available and governance arrangements to be followed in responding to any notice, including identifying key accountable individuals and specifying roles and responsibilities, identifying advisers who will be briefed to assist in any response, setting out a process for obtaining input from a range of stakeholders, and setting out the approval and escalation process, including indicative timeframes required for review of draft responses.
    • Collating relevant policy and procedures documents so they can be quickly produced and, to the extent possible, preparing draft responses in relation to governance arrangements and key areas of likely scrutiny.
    • Preparing a public relations and press engagement strategy in the event issues are first raised in the media or come to light following an APRA notice (although given the nature of the investigations, having regard to the interests of members).

    The plan should have input from key senior management and individuals who will be involved in any response.

    What’s next?

    APRA’s focus on fund expenditure over the coming 12 months will require trustees to consider their expenditure management arrangements again, and potentially to respond to scrutiny of their governance or individual expenditure decisions. APRA’s warning gives trustees a rare opportunity to anticipate issues and prepare a response plan ahead of time. A failure to do so could itself be cause for criticism by APRA.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    3 mins ago

    EIT’s School of Health and Sport Science is focused on accelerating health outcomes for the community, with lecturers conducting meaningful local research.

    Accelerating health outcomes in the community is a focus for EIT’s School of Health and Sport Science, with lecturers conducting meaningful local research.

    Dr Helen Ryan-Stewart, EIT’s Executive Dean, Education, Humanities and Health Science and until recently the acting Head of the School of Health and Sport Science, says like many tertiary institutions, research is important to EIT. Research helps lecturers stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field, ensuring they provide students with the most current and relevant knowledge. It can also provide an important community link to address local challenges.

    Helen’s role as the Head of School has been taken by Dr Andrew Garrett, who comes to EIT with a research pedigree, having been Sport, Health and Exercise Science Programme Director and Graduate Research Director at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.

    Andrew’s main area of research expertise is the markers of fatigue in temperature regulation during exercise in the time of climate change and he was an Associate Member of the Hull York Medical School (HYMS). His PhD work was funded by the Australian Military based at the University of Otago in New Zealand (Induction and decay of heat acclimation) and in collaboration with the Otago Medical School. His current research interest focuses on practical methods for the prevention of heat injury in older populations.

    Helen says that research will continue to be an important part of the School. At present the School has a combined research committee with the School of Nursing, which has resulted in health being a focus for research.

    “The research we do has a health science focus and anything that we were going to do would be aimed at accelerating health outcomes in our community.”

    A significant project which is having an impact on the Hawke’s Bay community is research that is addressing the epidemic of youth vaping among intermediate and high school students.

    The project has been led by  Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing and was funded by Health Research Foundation Hawke’s Bay and EIT. It also received a funding boost from Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand. The initial project was  entitled Actions to Vaporise Rangatahi Vaping in Te Matau-a-Māui. Recently the project was extended outside the region following interest from a Bay of Plenty High School.

    A project in the early stages of development, is being conducted by researcher and lecturer Dr Patrick Lander. It looks at green spaces in urban areas and how people use those for well-being and health.

    Helen says that while the School has a strategy around health research, there are also researchers who focus on sport and exercise. Working in this field is Mike Schofield, a lecturer in strength and conditioning, who is the coach of New Zealand shot-putter Maddison-Lee Wesche, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games earlier this year.

    Mike’s area of research is biomechanics and it is about evolving a technical model from a theoretical basis. His research is aimed at allowing top-level athletes to reach their full potential.

    Another lecturer who is an active researcher is Associate Professor Carl Paton, who is involved in a number of research projects with students. These projects are focused on high performance cycling.

    Helen says it is important that academic staff are research active.

    “Degrees in institutions such as ours should be taught by staff active in relevant applied research. Sport, exercise and health is focused on application to the real world. So we have to enable our academic staff to do research that’s relevant to the field, the discipline that they’re teaching. That keeps them current, and gives students real-world examples of how they could apply their knowledge.”

    “And that’s really important from my perspective.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Giant transformer is safe, sound and underground

    Source: Meridian

    30 October 2024 – Following a stunning journey worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Meridian’s Manapōuri Power Station has taken delivery of a new transformer that’ll give the hydro station a huge – and timely boost.

    A 104-tonne transformer’s not a quick or easy thing to transport, with the New Zealand leg of the journey taking place over several carefully planned days last week.

    After arriving in Bluff from Australia, the 135 MVA transformer was unloaded onto a trailer for the 170 km journey by road to Supply Bay, before spectacularly making its way by barge across Lake Manapōuri.

    It was the first time a piece of generation equipment this size has travelled by barge across Manapōuri – items this large have previously used Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound and then been transported over Wilmot Pass.

    Following the slow and scenic journey across Manapōuri, the transformer was delicately reversed down a two-kilometre road access tunnel into the cavernous machine hall.

    “There were plenty of early starts and late finishes, but our Meridian team and suppliers have achieved an outstanding result for New Zealand’s electricity supply ahead of Winter ‘25,” says Meridian acting GM Generation Yanosh Irani.

    “This has been months of work, planning, and coordination, and the specialist skills on display have been amazing – Meisters for barge operations, Move Logistics for transportation from Bluff to Supply Bay and then again at West Arm, and E-Type for fabricating and installing two unloading wedges for the delivery. A real – and world class – team effort.”

    Manapōuri Power Station has been operating at reduced capacity for around two years, following the discovery of faults in two of its seven transformers, so the arrival of the first replacement transformer is a major milestone.

    “We saw this winter just how important every single megawatt is, so this transformer has landed at a brilliant time,” says Yanosh Irani.

    “Getting our biggest power station closer to full capacity will boost security of electricity supply next winter and, in the meantime, give us the ability to ease off generation in the Waitaki to help restore storage levels in Lake Pūkaki.”

    The new transformer will increase generation capacity at Manapōuri from the current restricted limit of 640 MW to around 768 MW – close to the maximum 800 MW allowed under its consent conditions.

    Work to commission it is expected to be completed by Christmas, and the second replacement transformer (along with a spare) is due to arrive in late 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Wildlife triumph – orphaned cassowary chick returned to wild

    Source: Government of Queensland

    Issued: 30 Oct 2024

    Open larger image

    The healthy juvenile weighed around 28kg when released.

    Open larger image

    The stripey weighed around 1kg when taken into care.

    In a heartwarming tale of survival and conservation, an orphaned cassowary chick that was raised in captivity for almost a year has been returned to the wild.

    The juvenile cassowary was found near its father who was killed by a car near Bramston Beach in November 2023.

    When the chick was rescued and taken to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Facility, it only weighed one kilogram.

    The bird required diligent care, including handfeeding before being moved into a vegetated enclosure that ensured minimal human contact.

    Over 11 months of nurturing, members of the conservation group  C4 (the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation) and departmental wildlife officers continuously monitored the bird’s growth and development.

    In the enclosure, strategic food placement in different locations meant the chick learned to forage for food, developed its wild instincts and grew into a healthy, juvenile bird.

    A recent veterinary assessment by Tropical Vets showed the juvenile cassowary weighed a robust 28 kilograms and was ready to be released back into the rainforest.

    Wildlife officers chose a release site near Bramston Beach well away from potential dangers posed by roads or human activity.

    Senior Wildlife Officer Alex Diczbalis said the release was a significant success in the ongoing efforts to conserve Queensland’s endangered populations of southern cassowaries.

    “This cassowary’s journey from rescue to release embodies the dedication of everyone who was involved in raising it from a stripey to a juvenile,” Mr Diczbalis said.

    “It showcases the vital importance of collaboration between the department, community groups and local vets.

    “The release of this bird coincided with the age at which a young cassowary would typically leave its father’s side and begin to live independently.

    “It was a wonderful moment, and those involved expressed their immense pride and joy over the successful transition of this iconic bird from care to the wild.

    “The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service would like to thank the team at C4 and Tropical Vets for their assistance.

    “Every cassowary is precious and that’s why we ask people in cassowary country to slow down, restrain their dogs and never feed them.”

    The southern cassowary is considered endangered, and its population is limited to rainforest areas of the Wet Tropics and on Cape York Peninsula. Cassowary sightings can be reported to DESI by calling 1300 130 372.

    Cassowaries can inflict serious injuries to people and pets by kicking out with their large, clawed feet. People are asked to Be Cass-o-wary at all times in the Wet Tropics.

    • Never approach cassowaries.
    • Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them.
    • Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths.
    • Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
    • Slow down when driving in cassowary habitat.
    • Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
    • Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Welcoming Steve Nadin: A New Era in Functional Consulting at Brainstorm

    Source: Brainstorm

    Brainstorm is excited to welcome Steve Nadin as its Functional Consultant. With a diverse background in supply chain management and consulting, Steve brings a wealth of experience to the team.

    Steve grew up in Nottingham, England, before making the move to Australia in 1991. Family is a big part of his life—he and his ex-wife have 4 children and 11 grandchildren, with one more on the way in February 2025. Steve recently celebrated another exciting milestone, marrying his partner of 9 years, who also has 4 grown-up children and 4 grandchildren. Together, they have built a rich, blended family.

    Reflecting on this chapter of his life, Steve shares, “My family means the world to me, and it’s been a beautiful journey blending our lives together. We have a large, vibrant family, and I’m excited about welcoming our newest grandchild next year.”

    Steve’s career began at Boots the Chemists, a major UK manufacturing and pharmaceutical retailer, where he spent 14 years in various roles across Accounting, Logistics, and Supply Chain. After relocating to Australia, Steve continued to excel in operational and supply chain management roles, eventually launching his own business improvement consultancy in 2011. Unfortunately, the business was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, leading Steve to shift gears.

    In 2021, he joined SMC as a Senior Consultant, where he helped businesses enhance their operations and navigate digital transformation. His success at SMC led to his promotion to Consulting Manager in 2023, where he played a key role in driving innovation and efficiency for a variety of clients.

    Steve first connected with Brainstorm at the CEMAT exhibition in 2024, where he was drawn to the company’s dynamic growth and future potential. “Meeting with Evelyn at the CEMAT exhibition was a turning point for me,” he explains. “Brainstorm’s vision and the direction it’s headed in really sparked my interest. It’s a company that’s truly on the rise, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”

    Now, as Brainstorm’s Functional Consultant, Steve is eager to contribute his wealth of experience in supply chain management and operational improvement. While his role is still evolving, he is excited about the journey ahead and looks forward to helping Brainstorm continue its impressive trajectory.

    Reflecting on Career Milestones, two standout moments in Steve’s career include developing a distribution network in the U.S. for an Australian celebrity chef and managing the setup of a large 28,000m² greenfield warehouse in Melbourne. From board approval to go-live, Steve ensured the project was delivered on time and within budget—a feat that he still looks back on with pride.

    “I’m particularly proud of the Melbourne warehouse project,” he recalls. “It was a massive undertaking, but it came together seamlessly. To see everything work out exactly as planned was incredibly rewarding.”

    Steve is looking forward to making a significant impact at Brainstorm, and the team is equally excited to have him on board.

    BrainStorm is a software company that specialises in two areas. They help distribution and manufacturing businesses get their ERP technology in order, and help scaling businesses implement and integrate their software systems.

    They do what they do because there’s too much off the shelf software that doesn’t actually solve the business problems that they’re intended to. BrainStorm has saved their customers over $150million dollars in the past year.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: GAZA – Israeli UNRWA ban will deepen Palestinian humanitarian catastrophe – MSF

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

    30 October, 2024. The Israeli Knesset’s ban on UNRWA’s operations voted on 28 October represents a devastating blow to Palestinian life. It will further undermine people’s survival prospects in Gaza and heavily impact communities in the West Bank.

    Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounces this legislation, which represents an inhumane ban on vital humanitarian aid. The Knesset’s vote is propelling Palestinians towards an even deeper humanitarian crisis. It is imperative that the world acts to safeguard Palestinians’ fundamental rights. Immediate international intervention is needed to pressure Israel to allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid, implement a ceasefire and bring to an end the current campaign of destruction in Gaza.

    “UNRWA is a lifeline for Palestinians,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “If implemented, the ban on UNRWA’s activities would have catastrophic implications on the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinians living in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, now and for generations to come. We strongly condemn this decision, which is the culmination of a long-running campaign against the organisation.”

    The newly voted legislation will make it almost impossible for UNRWA to work in Gaza or the West Bank; coordination with Israeli authorities will be impeded and entrance permits to either of the occupied territories will be denied, and essentially blocking delivery of UNRWA aid into and within Gaza. UNRWA handles almost all the distribution of UN aid coming into the strip.

    UNRWA is the largest health provider in Gaza, with over half of Gazans relying on UNWRA for essential healthcare services, including for the treatment of chronic diseases, maternal and child heath, and vaccinations; each day UNWRA’s health teams provide over 15,000 consultations in the Gaza Strip. The ban of its activities threatens to create a vast gap in services within an already largely destroyed health system in Gaza – directly and indirectly endangering the lives of Palestinians. Without urgent action, more Gazans could die from preventable diseases and displacement-related conditions.

    The impact of UNRWA’s ban will extend beyond Gaza. Critical services, including refugee camp management, health services, education, and social programmes across the West Bank are also at risk of destabilisation under this legislation. This legislation sets a grave precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish to eliminate an inconvenient United Nations presence.

    For months, international leaders and organisations, including MSF, have raised warnings about the disastrous potential of these newly adopted bills. Yet Israel has chosen to press forward with measures that will undermine vital assistance, endangering Palestinian lives and intensifying the collective punishment they face.

    This vote adds to the endless physical and bureaucratic impediments imposed by Israel to limit the amount of aid reaching Gaza, and blatantly contradicts Israel’s claims that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 2025 Fellows announced

    Source: State Library of NSW

    Tonight the State Library celebrated the 50th anniversary of its prestigious research program by unveiling its largest-ever cohort of Fellows, awarding a total of $186,000 across eight categories.

    Highlights include the announcement of the inaugural creative writing fellowship, a new Summer Fellows program and two artists-in-residence.  

    The 2025 Fellows are: 

    Inaugural IMAGO Fellow – Dr Sheila Ngoc Pham for ‘Fantasia: On Anne Spencer Parry and Australian fantasy and science fiction in the late 20th century’

    Australian Religious History Fellow – Dr Zac Roberts for ‘Changing Representations of Indigenous Peoples in the NSW Jewish Press’

    CH Currey Memorial Fellow – Dr Dominic Kelly for ‘From Cold War to Culture War: Quadrant and Australian conservatism’ 

    Nancy Keesing AM Fellow – Dr Clara Sitbon for ‘Piecing the Puzzle: Mapping the literary works of Carter Brown’ 

    Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellow – Dr Luciano Cardellicchio for ‘From Caravans to Schools, from Airplanes to Houses: Plywood innovation in the post-war construction sector of Australia’ 

    Ross Steele AM Fellow – Dr Ruth Pullin for ‘From Sketchbook to Canvas: Eugene von Guérard’s sketchbooks and the making of pictures’ 

    Merewether Fellow – Dr Nicholas Pitt for ‘Benevolent Cattle? A more-than-human history of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society and the place of benevolence in the colonial project of NSW’ 

    DS Mitchell Memorial Fellow – Dr Shirleene Robinson AM for ‘Mapping the Contribution, Strategies and Networks of Women in Australia’s First LGBTIQ+ Rights Groups, 1969–1974’

    The Library also launched its new Summer Fellows Program with support from the Library Foundation. These nine tertiary students and creative practitioners will receive $1,000 each and the opportunity to acquire essential archival research skills for their future careers: 

    • Phillip Bartlett: ‘A Possible Narrative of the Macquarie Chest’s Bottom Drawer’ 
    • Ira Friedberg: ‘Bad Times in Red Brick Flats’ Anita Gowers: ‘Pictures Frames in the State Library of NSW Picture Collections‘ 
    • Moon Kerr: ‘George Goodman’s Daguerreotypes of the Lawson Family’ 
    • Annabelle McEwen: ‘How the Body is Defined and Usurped via Visual Mediation’ 
    • Hamish McPherson: ‘Transgender Liberation in NSW 1950–2000’ 
    • Eloise Reddy: ‘1980–90s Cultural Planning and Contemporary Placemaking Discourse’ 
    • Bronwyn Rennex: ‘Ralph Clark and the Birds’
    • Suzanne Smith: ‘The Save Our Sons Movement during the Vietnam War’ 

    The reinvigorated artist-in-residence program will see Michelle Arnott create a set of images of the Library and its surrounds using synthetic polymer paint, and Sarah Randall will produce a series of still-life paintings based on letters and diaries held within the Library’s collections.

    Learn more about the Library’s Fellowship program

    MIL OSI News –