NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-OSI Global: Want to built healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Buxton, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University

    More than five million Canadians — approximately one in eight of us — are living with a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. The prevalence of mental disorders is on the rise, with a third of those with a disorder reporting unmet or partially met needs for mental health-care services.

    The stresses of the city, where more than 70 per cent of Canadians now live, can increase the risk of poor mental health even further.

    When most people think about caring for their mental health, they may think about getting more exercise, getting more sleep and making sure they’re eating healthy. Increasingly, research is showing that spending time in nature surrounded by plants and wildlife can also contribute to preventing and treating mental illness.

    Our research focuses on the importance of birds and trees in urban neighbourhoods in promoting mental well-being. In our study, we combined more than a decade of health and ecological data across 36 Canadian cities and found a positive association between greater bird and tree diversity and self-rated mental health.

    The well-being benefits of healthy ecosystems will probably not come as a great surprise to urban dwellers who relish days out in the park or hiking in a nearby nature reserve. Still, the findings of our study speak to the potential of a nature-based urbanism that promotes the health of its citizens.



    Read more:
    How the health of honeybee hives can inform environmental policies in Canadian cities

    Birds, trees and human connection

    Across cultures and societies, people have strong connections with birds. The beauty of their bright song and colour have inspired art, music and poetry. Their contemporary cultural relevance has even earned them an affectionate, absurdist internet nickname: “birbs”.

    There’s something magical about catching a glimpse of a bird and hearing birdsong. For many urbanites, birds are our daily connection to wildlife and a gateway to nature. In fact, even if we don’t realize it, humans and birds are intertwined. Birds provide us with many essential services — controlling insects, dispersing seeds and pollinating our crops.

    People have similarly intimate connections with trees. The terms tree of life, family trees, even tree-hugger all demonstrate the central cultural importance trees have in many communities around the world. In cities, trees are a staple of efforts to bring beauty and tranquility.

    When the Australian city of Melbourne gave urban trees email addresses for people to report problems, residents responded by writing thousands of love letters to their favourite trees. Forest bathing, a practice of being calm and quiet among trees, is a growing wellness trend.

    Birds and trees as promoters of urban wellness

    Contact with nature and greenspace have a suite of mental health benefits.

    Natural spaces reduce stress and offer places for recreation and relaxation for urban dwellers, but natural diversity is key. A growing amount of research shows that the extent of these benefits may be related to the diversity of different natural features.

    For example, in the United States, higher bird diversity is associated with lower hospitalizations for mood and anxiety disorders and longer life expectancy. In a European study, researchers found that bird diversity was as important for life satisfaction as income.

    People’s connection to a greater diversity of birds and trees could be because we evolved to recognize that the presence of more species indicates a safer environment — one with more things to eat and more shelter. Biodiverse environments are also less work for the brain to interpret, allowing restoration of cognitive resources.

    To explore the relationship between biodiversity and mental health in urban Canada, we brought together unique datasets. First, we collected bird data sourced from community scientists, where people logged their bird sightings on an app. We then compared this data with tree diversity data from national forest inventories.

    Finally, we compared both of these data sets to a long-standing health survey that has interviewed approximately 65,000 Canadians each year for over two decades.

    We found that living in a neighbourhood with higher than average bird diversity increased reporting of good mental health by about seven per cent. While living in a neighbourhood with higher than average tree diversity increased good mental health by about five per cent.

    Importance of urban birds and trees

    The results of our study, and those of others, show a connection between urban bird and tree diversity, healthy ecosystems and people’s mental well-being. This underscores the importance of urban biodiversity conservation as part of healthy living promotion.

    Protecting wild areas in parks, planting pollinator gardens and reducing pesticide use could all be key strategies to protect urban wildlife and promote people’s well-being. Urban planners should take note.



    Read more:
    Eco-anxiety: climate change affects our mental health – here’s how to cope

    We’re at a critical juncture: just as we are beginning to understand the well-being benefits of birds and trees, we’re losing species at a faster rate than ever before. It’s estimated that there are three billion fewer birds in North America compared to the 1970s and invasive pests will kill 1.4 million street trees over the next 30 years.

    By promoting urban biodiversity, we can ensure a sustainable and healthy future for all species, including ourselves.

    Rachel Buxton receives funding from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, National Institutes of Health, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

    Emma J. Hudgins received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies for this work. She currently receives funding from Plant Health Australia.

    Stephanie Prince Ware has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    – ref. Want to built healthier cities? Make room for bird and tree diversity – https://theconversation.com/want-to-built-healthier-cities-make-room-for-bird-and-tree-diversity-235379

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Lives of workers at risk from latest WorkSafe restructure plan

    Source: PSA

    – Workplace Inspectors to lose vital support
    – Net 40 roles proposed to go
    – Cuts follow 113 jobs axed last November
    The critical job of WorkSafe to save lives and reduce injuries will be undermined by its latest proposed restructure, the PSA warns.
    WorkSafe, the workplace health and safety regulator, is consulting staff on the second major restructure in a year which proposes to axe 180 roles. While some new roles will be created this would still result in a net loss of 40 roles and follows 113 roles being axed last November.
    A range of roles are being cut – health specialists, advisors, researchers, evaluators and legal kaimahi who support WorkSafe inspectors and whose role is to educate businesses, provide assessment support to workplaces and protect workers from poor health and safety practices.
    “This is a flawed plan which strips WorkSafe of critical roles. This will undermine the ability of frontline WorkSafe inspectors to do their vital work, so workers return home safe and healthy,” said Duane Leo Secretary for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “Once again, we see the fiction of the Government’s promise of no impacts on the frontline. It’s another broken promise.
    “We already have a poor health and safety record in this country with a fatality rate double that of Australia. The Government should be investing more not less in this critical agency.
    “It’s a huge concern that the health team is being downsized with the loss of specialist skills. This team is relatively new and was playing a key role in dealing with a range of issues in the workplace like mental health.
    “We know stress in the workplace is growing. 12% of suicides are work related, and there are some 5000 hospitalisations each year due to work-related ill-health. Managing health risks should be a priority, not downsizing a team playing a vital role at a time when work-related health risks are higher than safety risks.
    “WorkSafe is also proposing to increase the numbers of inspectors but by not nearly enough to meet the high turnover already and well below that of Australia, hampering our ability to make serious inroads into our appalling safety record.
    “The changes proposed will only pile more work on the shoulders of inspectors.
    “For example, under this proposal, cuts to the legal team will force inspectors to spend more time gathering documents to support prosecutions. This risks undermining the ability of WorkSafe to properly hold offenders to account.
    “This is a return to the failed approach of the past; inspectors will be bogged down by paperwork once again when they need to be supported by a solid team of specialists.
    “It makes no sense that this is all happening when the Government has yet to complete its review of the health and safety system – why not wait and get it right once and for all?
    “Yet again, we are seeing the Government putting the bottom line first, favouring tax breaks for landlords and big tobacco over investing in a frontline agency that saves lives,” said Duane Leo.
    Previous PSA WorkSafe releases
    –
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Announces Four Cases Brought by Election Threats Task Force

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force (ETTF) announced developments this week in four cases involving interstate transmissions of threats to election personnel and other victims.

    Teak Brockbank, 45, of Cortez, Colorado, pleaded guilty today to threatening a Colorado election official, and admitted to making other threats to an Arizona election official, a Colorado state judge, and federal law enforcement agents between September 2021 and July 2024.

    Brian Jerry Ogstad, 60, of Cullman, Alabama, was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison for sending messages threatening violence to election workers with Maricopa County Elections in Phoenix on Aug. 2-4, 2022, during and immediately following the Arizona primary elections.

    Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, Florida, was charged on Monday for allegedly sending a threat on Feb. 9 to an election official in addition to already pending charges for threats made to three other victims based on their political commentary in 2019 and 2020.

    John Pollard, 62, of Philadelphia, was charged on Monday for allegedly threatening on Sept. 6 to kill a representative of a Pennsylvania state political party who was recruiting official poll watchers.

    “As we approach Election Day, the Justice Department’s warning remains clear: anyone who illegally threatens an election worker, official, or volunteer will face the consequences,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Over the past three and a half years, the Justice Department has been aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who threaten the public servants who administer our elections, and we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. For our democracy to function, Americans who serve the public must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives.”

    “Threats to election workers are threats to our democratic process,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “No one should face violence or threats of violence simply for doing their job. The actions announced today make clear that we will not tolerate those who use or threaten violence in an effort to undermine our democratic institutions. To carry out their essential work, election officials must be free from improper influence, physical threats, and others forms of intimidation.”

    “Our elections are made by possible by the hard work and patriotism of election workers in communities across the country who are also our neighbors, relatives and friends, and they deserve to do this important work without being subjected to threats,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The fact that election workers need to be worried about their security is incomprehensible and unacceptable. While these four cases are examples of the kinds of threats election workers are unfortunately facing, these cases also represent the FBI’s dedication in holding accountable those who undermine our democracy with this conduct. The FBI and our partners on the ETTF will work tirelessly to charge and arrest those callous enough to make these threats and make sure they are held accountable. Free, fair, and safe elections are critical to our country and our democratic ideals.”

    “These defendants made serious threats of violence against members of the election community. Threats like these strike at the very heart of our democracy,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The cases announced today underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to defending our democracy, safeguarding our elections, and protecting all election workers. Through the ETTF, the Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute all criminal threats against members of the election community.”

    The four cases were all brought by the ETTF. Created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Three years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they join the task force in its critical work.

    Under the leadership of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo.

    United States v. Brockbank (District of Colorado)

    According to court documents, Brockbank admitted to using three social media accounts to post messages threatening Colorado and Arizona election officials between September 2021 and July 2024.

    On Sept. 22, 2021, Brockbank posted the following message on social media:

    “[Election Official-1] . . . needs to- No has to Hang she has to Hang by the neck till she is Dead Dead Dead. There will be accountability for these peoples actions in Communist Colorado and it won’t be judges and it won’t be weakmided cops that bring it!!! It will be Me it will be You it Will be every day people that understand that there life does not matter anymore with the future our country has laid out before it.”

    As part of his plea, Brockbank also admitted to posting a message on Aug. 4, 2022 referring to election officials in Arizona and Colorado, stating: “Once those people start getting put to death then the rest will melt like snowflakes and turn on each other. . . . This is the only way. So those of us that have the stomach for what has to be done should prepare our minds for what we all [a]re going to do!!!!!! It is time.”

    In addition, Brockbank admitted to posting a message threatening a Colorado state judge on Oct. 2, 2021: “I could pick up my rifle and I could go put a bullet in this Mans head and send him to explain himself to our Creator right now. I would be Justified!!! Not only justified but obligated by those in my family who fought and died for the freedom in this country. . . . What can I do other than kill this man my self?”

    Brockbank further admitted to threatening federal law enforcement on July 13, 2024, posting: ““I believe every single FBI agent deserves to go explain themselves to our creator right away!!!! I am more than willing to send any/All of you there.”

    Finally, Brockbank admitted to illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition.

    “The security and sanctity of the American election system is core to the foundation of our Democracy,” said Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch for the District of Colorado. “We will prosecute people who threaten elections, election officials, or election workers to the fullest extent of the law.”

    Brockbank pleaded guilty today to interstate transmission of a threat. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Denver Field Office is investigating the case.

    Acting Deputy Director Jonathan E. Jacobson of PIN’s Election Crimes Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus Y. Chung for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case.

    United States v. Ogstad (District of Arizona)

    According to court documents, on or about Aug. 2, 2022, Arizona held primary elections for federal and state officeholders, including a gubernatorial primary election that received nationwide media coverage. From the day of the election through on or about Aug. 4, 2022, Ogstad sent multiple threatening direct messages to a social media account maintained by Maricopa County Elections. For instance, on or about Aug. 3, 2022, Ogstad stated: (1) “You did it! Now you are f*****.. Dead. You will all be executed for your crimes”; (2) F*** you! You are caught! They have it all. You f****** are dead”; (3) “You are lying, cheating m****** f******* . . . you better not come in my church, my business or send your kids to my school. You are f****** stupid if you think your lives are safe”; and (4) “You f******  are so dead.” On or about Aug. 4, 2022, Ogstad also stated, “[Y]ou people are so ducking stupid. Everyone knows you are lots, cheats, frauds and in doing so in relation to elections have committed treason. You will all be executed. Bang f******!” ” In the course of his messages to the recipient, Ogstad transmitted an image of the character “Woody,” from the Toy Story film franchise, lying face down with an unidentified projectile in its back.

    “In this election season we honor and respect those public servants who enable Americans to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “And we seek to protect all election workers from intimidation and harassment. Threats of violence, whether conveyed by words or deeds or pictures, will be met in this District with robust prosecution.”

    Ogstad was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine, after pleading guilty on July 25 to one count of interstate transmission of a threat.

    The FBI Phoenix Field Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the FBI Birmingham Field Office.

    Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.

    United States v. Kantwill (Middle District of Florida)

    According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Kantwill, a dentist, sent over 100 threats to various public figures via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text. As charged in the superseding information filed on Monday, those threats included a threat sent via email to an author, a threat sent via text to a religious leader, and a threat sent via Instagram to a television personality. From April 2022 to April 2024, Kantwill also sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook, including a threat to an election official in another state on Feb. 9, when Kantwill wrote: “You are a degenerate c***. and you are now the target of our own investigation. Take note because liberal t***s like you get raped in alleys, by really big black guys that serve our cause. So, you t*** are going to get raped by at least 5 n*****s, and do nothing. You are the number 1 target, you degenerate t***.”

    “If you threaten someone with violence, we will take you at your word,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Law enforcement officers and members of my office will work together to hold accountable and federally prosecute individuals who threaten to injure or kill others.”

    Kantwill is charged with four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of PIN and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyrus Y. Chung for the District of Colorado.

    An information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    United States v. Pollard (Western District of Pennsylvania)

    According to the indictment, on Sept. 6, Pollard sent threatening text messages to Victim 1, a resident of the Western District of Pennsylvania. Victim 1 had previously posted online, in Victim 1’s capacity as an employee of a state political party, that Victim 1 was recruiting volunteers to “help[] observe at the polls on Election Day” and included Victim 1’s phone number. Pollard allegedly texted Victim 1 that he was “interested in being a poll watcher” and included Victim 1’s first name. Pollard then allegedly texted three threats to Victim 1: (1) “I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!”; (2) “Your days are numbered, B****!”; and (3) “GONNA F***ING FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR F***ING TOILET PAPER, YOU F***ING KKK**T!”

    “Threats of violence have no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This is no less true when those threats of violence are directed at individuals associated with our electoral process — in this case, someone seeking to organize poll watchers. This conduct will not be tolerated in our district, and we will continue to work with our partners at the FBI to prosecute these offenses with the full weight of the law.”

    Pollard was arrested on Monday and appeared in federal court in Philadelphia. He is charged with one count of interstate transmission of a threat. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of PIN and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole A. Stockey for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    *****

    To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found here: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Historic visit by UK Prime Minister paves way for closer economic ties for the Commonwealth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth in an increasingly contested world, the Prime Minister is set to say on a landmark visit to the Pacific this week.

    • Prime Minister to make the case that the Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth during visit to Samoa 

    • New UK Trade Centre of Expertise set to bolster economic ties across the grouping and unlock markets for UK businesses  

    • Keir Starmer makes history as first ever sitting UK Prime Minister to visit a Pacific Island country

    The Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth in an increasingly contested world, the Prime Minister is set to say on a landmark visit to the Pacific this week.  

    It comes as the government uses its foreign policy agenda to deliver for people at home, working with partners across the globe on issues such as climate change, growth and energy security. 

    Keir Starmer will arrive in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting today [Thursday 24 October], joining 55 other Commonwealth delegations to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities faced by its members.  

    In doing so, he will make history as the first UK Prime Minister to ever visit a Pacific Island country.   

    The Prime Minister will use the trip to make the case that Commonwealth countries, no matter where they are in the world, need resilient and thriving economies to face the global challenges of the day.  

    And he will tell delegates that he believes the Commonwealth offers a unique opportunity to be able to build those economies, combining major traditional markets with rapidly growing economies and resilient, innovative communities.  

    By 2027, the Commonwealth is expected be home to six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies – Guyana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Uganda, India and Mozambique – and have a combined GDP exceeding $19.5 trillion, while more than 60% of the grouping’s 2.5 billion population will be under 30. 

    The Commonwealth, which includes some of the UK’s biggest trading partners such as India, Canada, Australia, Singapore and South Africa, already accounts for 9% of total UK trade, worth £164 billion in 2023. And its members benefit from a 21% average reduction in bilateral trade costs, as well as higher investment flows between Commonwealth members.  

    As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will announce a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise, operating out of the Foreign Office, to drive export-led growth across the grouping. Trade specialists will provide technical and practical assistance to developing countries to help them access and compete in global markets.  

    In turn, the partnership is expected to help UK businesses tap into some of the fastest growing economies in the world, such as Uganda and Bangladesh through strengthened economic ties. Over the long term, the project will also aim to lift economies out of poverty, reducing pressure on UK Aid and British taxpayers. 

    The Prime Minister is also expected to meet business leaders during CHOGM, as part of his personal campaign to drive investment into every corner of the United Kingdom. 

    The meeting, which will include business leaders such as Brian Moynihan, chairman and CEO of Bank of America, and John Neal, CEO of Lloyd’s of London, comes just 10 days after the UK hosted the International Investment Summit, which drove £63 billion of private investment and 38,000 jobs into the UK. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix the foundations and change our country’s story to turn around the lives of everyday people in the UK, but we can’t do that with a protectionist approach.

    Under this government’s pragmatic and sensible approach, we must harness the opportunities to work with genuine partners – like our Commonwealth family – across the world to build resilient economies that offer real opportunity for our people, whether that is accessing untapped markets, or collaborating on grassroots innovations.

    The combined GDP of the Commonwealth is expected to exceed $19.5 trillion in the next three years, we cannot let that economic heft go to waste.

    Alongside the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Foreign Secretary is expected to convene Commonwealth foreign ministers to launch a new Commonwealth Investment Plan of Action to mobilise investment across the membership. 

    The plan will focus on small and vulnerable economies, easing barriers to trade and investment. The Foreign Secretary will also launch two new trade hubs to help female entrepreneurs in India and Sri Lanka access global markets.   

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    The Commonwealth is a unique forum encompassing 56 countries and a third of the world’s population brought together through shared history and friendship.

    Representing some of the world’s fastest growing economies, forging stronger ties with these markets is crucial for delivering jobs and economic growth.

    This government is reconnecting Britain in the world and building partnerships that will unlock greater prosperity for all.

    During the three-day CHOGM summit, leaders will discuss some of the pressing issues facing Commonwealth nations, including climate change, education and democracy.  

    On Friday, the Prime Minister is expected to attend a lunch, hosted by the King for new heads of government, before attending two Commonwealth executive sessions, and the heads of government dinner.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Historic visit by UK Prime Minister paves way for closer economic ties for the Commonwealth

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth in an increasingly contested world, the Prime Minister is set to say on a landmark visit to the Pacific this week.

    • Prime Minister to make the case that the Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth during visit to Samoa 

    • New UK Trade Centre of Expertise set to bolster economic ties across the grouping and unlock markets for UK businesses  

    • Keir Starmer makes history as first ever sitting UK Prime Minister to visit a Pacific Island country

    The Commonwealth has a once in a generation chance to be a driving force for opportunity and growth in an increasingly contested world, the Prime Minister is set to say on a landmark visit to the Pacific this week.  

    It comes as the government uses its foreign policy agenda to deliver for people at home, working with partners across the globe on issues such as climate change, growth and energy security. 

    Keir Starmer will arrive in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting today [Thursday 24 October], joining 55 other Commonwealth delegations to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities faced by its members.  

    In doing so, he will make history as the first UK Prime Minister to ever visit a Pacific Island country.   

    The Prime Minister will use the trip to make the case that Commonwealth countries, no matter where they are in the world, need resilient and thriving economies to face the global challenges of the day.  

    And he will tell delegates that he believes the Commonwealth offers a unique opportunity to be able to build those economies, combining major traditional markets with rapidly growing economies and resilient, innovative communities.  

    By 2027, the Commonwealth is expected be home to six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies – Guyana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Uganda, India and Mozambique – and have a combined GDP exceeding $19.5 trillion, while more than 60% of the grouping’s 2.5 billion population will be under 30. 

    The Commonwealth, which includes some of the UK’s biggest trading partners such as India, Canada, Australia, Singapore and South Africa, already accounts for 9% of total UK trade, worth £164 billion in 2023. And its members benefit from a 21% average reduction in bilateral trade costs, as well as higher investment flows between Commonwealth members.  

    As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will announce a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise, operating out of the Foreign Office, to drive export-led growth across the grouping. Trade specialists will provide technical and practical assistance to developing countries to help them access and compete in global markets.  

    In turn, the partnership is expected to help UK businesses tap into some of the fastest growing economies in the world, such as Uganda and Bangladesh through strengthened economic ties. Over the long term, the project will also aim to lift economies out of poverty, reducing pressure on UK Aid and British taxpayers. 

    The Prime Minister is also expected to meet business leaders during CHOGM, as part of his personal campaign to drive investment into every corner of the United Kingdom. 

    The meeting, which will include business leaders such as Brian Moynihan, chairman and CEO of Bank of America, and John Neal, CEO of Lloyd’s of London, comes just 10 days after the UK hosted the International Investment Summit, which drove £63 billion of private investment and 38,000 jobs into the UK. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix the foundations and change our country’s story to turn around the lives of everyday people in the UK, but we can’t do that with a protectionist approach.

    Under this government’s pragmatic and sensible approach, we must harness the opportunities to work with genuine partners – like our Commonwealth family – across the world to build resilient economies that offer real opportunity for our people, whether that is accessing untapped markets, or collaborating on grassroots innovations.

    The combined GDP of the Commonwealth is expected to exceed $19.5 trillion in the next three years, we cannot let that economic heft go to waste.

    Alongside the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Foreign Secretary is expected to convene Commonwealth foreign ministers to launch a new Commonwealth Investment Plan of Action to mobilise investment across the membership. 

    The plan will focus on small and vulnerable economies, easing barriers to trade and investment. The Foreign Secretary will also launch two new trade hubs to help female entrepreneurs in India and Sri Lanka access global markets.   

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    The Commonwealth is a unique forum encompassing 56 countries and a third of the world’s population brought together through shared history and friendship.

    Representing some of the world’s fastest growing economies, forging stronger ties with these markets is crucial for delivering jobs and economic growth.

    This government is reconnecting Britain in the world and building partnerships that will unlock greater prosperity for all.

    During the three-day CHOGM summit, leaders will discuss some of the pressing issues facing Commonwealth nations, including climate change, education and democracy.  

    On Friday, the Prime Minister is expected to attend a lunch, hosted by the King for new heads of government, before attending two Commonwealth executive sessions, and the heads of government dinner.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Bill to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across New South Wales

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Bill to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across New South Wales

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Local Government

    The Minns Labor Government will today introduce a Bill to Parliament to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across the state by establishing clear guardrails and standards for dog breeders.

    Committed to during the election this legislation has been developed through close consultation with experts, industry and animal welfare advocates, to ensure community expectations are reflected in New South Wales laws.

    The Bill targets key risks to animal health and welfare associated with dog breeding practices that have been of concern for some time.  Changes under this Bill include:

    • Mandating that breeders must, for the first time, obtain a Breeder Identification Number through the NSW pet registry, enabling transparency of the sector and assisting people acquiring a puppy.
    • Setting a lifetime litter limit for fertile female adult dogs (those over 6 months old) to five natural litters or up to three caesarean litters, whichever occurs first.
    • Establishing a care standard of one staff carer for every 20 adult dogs ensuring sufficient care, food and water are provided.
    • Establishing a maximum cap of 20 fertile female dogs (over the age of six months) at any breeding premise.
    • A maximum penalty for individuals of $110,000, two years imprisonment or both and $550,000 for organisations will apply for breaches of this cap.

    This bill seeks to stop puppy farming by providing a robust and modernised regulatory system for all breeders to deliver good animal welfare without imposing undue regulatory burden on legitimate breeders.

    The Government is therefore enabling within the Bill that breeders with more than 20 fertile dogs will be able to apply for a limited exemption from this cap. This exemption will apply for ten years, giving breeders significant time to appropriately scale down their operations.

    Currently in New South Wales there has been no compulsory registration scheme for breeders and no restrictions on the number of breeding female dogs that a person or business can have, or the number of litters a female dog can produce in their lifetimes.

    Without these safeguards animal welfare has been jeopardised with unethical breeders in some instances establishing facilities of dozens or hundreds of dogs without providing essential care.

    The majority of the changes will come into effect from December 2025, allowing time for the Government to rollout an education campaign for breeders, dog owners and those considering acquiring a puppy.

    NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

    “With half of all households having a dog at home there is significant community concern about the welfare of these dogs as puppies, and about the practice of puppy farms.

    “Most breeders do the right thing, but there is a clear message from the community that large-scale, unregulated breeding practices are not acceptable, and breeders should be registered.

    “We came to Government with a commitment to clean up the sector and to enhance animal welfare because it means a lot to everyone in our community and for our dogs.

    “Our Bill ensures transparency, accountability, and appropriate animal welfare standards in all breeding operations across NSW.

    “This Bill is about stopping the bad apples of this industry while supporting good and professional people who prioritise the health and welfare of their animals.

    “These changes will be easy to understand for industry and will allow people to distinguish ethical breeders who promote responsible breeding practices from dodgy puppy farmers.

    Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

    “People expect that any dog purchased from a breeder has been treated well and has not been exploited by dishonest puppy farmers to turn a profit. 

    “This Bill applies a strict regulatory framework to provide the government with greater oversight to ensure all breeders are complying with animal welfare standards and community expectations.

    “All industry and animal welfare stakeholders agree that there is a need to clean out the bad actors and for better animal and customer protection against those few unethical breeders. That is what this Bill delivers.”

    Animal Welfare League NSW CEO Stephen Albin said:

    “The Animal Welfare League NSW strongly supports the Bill as it will crack down on breeders who are doing the wrong thing and improve animal welfare.

    “It also sets a new regulatory framework that will deliver higher standards in the breeding industry and give established breeders time to meet those standards.

    “We have seen a huge spike in breeding since COVID-19, with a big increase in dogs coming into the shelter, blowing out our waiting lists and making it extremely challenging to find new, loving homes for dogs, who are often just puppies.

    “Sadly, too many dogs are not finding a new home.

    “This Bill will help ease the pressure on our shelters and allow us to rehome dogs that have been surrendered or abandoned.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening enforcement to tackle illegal tobacco

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Strengthening enforcement to tackle illegal tobacco

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Health

    The NSW Government will roll out reforms to better protect the community from the harms of illegal tobacco, including tougher penalties, more enforcement officers, and a new tobacco licensing scheme for retailers.

    A new licensing scheme

    Recent enforcement activities have observed a rise in illicit tobacco retailing including amongst rural communities in NSW, which adversely affects businesses that operate within the law. Illicit retailers undercut legitimate small businesses by selling illicit tobacco at lower prices and some have been found to be located in close proximity to schools.

    A new tobacco licensing scheme will also be introduced, to better protect those businesses doing the right thing and ensure greater oversight of the tobacco retail industry in NSW.

    Under these changes, retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products will be required to hold a tobacco licence and pay an annual fee.

    A licence will be able to be refused, or revoked, if the applicant has been convicted of a tobacco or vaping product related offence.

    The scheme will support comprehensive and targeted enforcement to identify and penalise those retailers and wholesalers doing the wrong thing.

    The proposed legislation includes penalties of up to $220,000 for corporations and $44,000 for individuals for selling tobacco without a licence under the new scheme.

    To ensure that applying for a tobacco licence is not burdensome for small businesses, a technical support phoneline will be available to everyone submitting an application.

    A tobacco licensing scheme will complement the NSW Government’s broader approach to tobacco compliance and enforcement.

    Tougher penalties

    The government will double maximum penalties for a range of tobacco retailing offences, including:

    • Individuals selling tobacco products to minors will be fined up to $22,000 for a first offence and $110,000 for a subsequent offence, with corporations liable for up to $110,000 for a first offence and $220,000 for subsequent offences;
    • Individuals selling tobacco products not in the required packaging or with the mandatory health warnings will be fined up to $22,000, and corporations up to $110,000; and
    • People impersonating or obstructing an inspector can be fined up to $1,100, up from $550.

    Enforcement & seizures

    NSW Health will also recruit an additional 14 enforcement officers to strengthen compliance efforts across the state. This doubles the number of authorised inspectors employed by the Ministry of Health. Ahead of these reforms, NSW Health boosted regional enforcement capacity by supporting the employment of four additional enforcement officers. This compliance workforce complements authorised staff who undertake inspections across local health districts

    From 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024, NSW Health inspectors conducted 565 targeted retail inspections, seizing more than 3.2 million cigarettes and over 600kg of other illicit tobacco products, with an estimated value of over $3.7 million.

    NSW Health collaborates with NSW Police and other state and national regulatory agencies on enforcement related to illicit tobacco sales, including sharing intelligence, working on joint targets and joint operations.

    Information on NSW tobacco retailing laws can be found on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

    Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected breaches of tobacco and e-cigarette retailing laws on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/let-us-know-reports-complaints.aspx

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park MP:

    “I am very concerned by the prevalence of illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes in our community, and their proximity to our schools and children.

    “These new laws are the most significant tobacco retailing reforms in NSW in the last decade and will help us combat the scourge of illicit tobacco sales across the state.

    “We are introducing tougher penalties for retailers doing the wrong thing, and boosting our team of enforcement officers to strengthen our compliance efforts.

    “The increased tobacco penalties reflect the seriousness of these offences. Retailers should be put on notice that if they are caught breaking tobacco retailing laws they will be penalised.”

    “A tobacco licensing scheme in NSW will also further enhance our state’s strong approach to enforcement of tobacco retailing laws. It will allow us to have better oversight over the tobacco industry and will support our comprehensive approach to help reduce the use, impact and associated costs of tobacco in NSW.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr MP:

    “After being made aware of the escalating problem of illegal tobacco in my electorate and across the state, I prepared a Private Members’ Bill to require the licensing of tobacco retailers and increased penalties for offences.

    “This Bill was prepared with widespread consultation with industry and the community, with strong support for my proposals to tackle this growing criminal activity which is undermining health messaging and taking an expensive toll on legitimate retailers.

    “So, I am delighted that the government has met this challenge by proposing its own Bill, reflecting the content of my Bill, and I look forward to supporting the government in this endeavour when parliament resumes.

    “Licensing on its own will not eliminate the black market trade in tobacco but it will provide a valuable structure that will help to reduce the damaging effects of this rapidly-growing problem.

    “I congratulate the government for taking this strong proactive stance and I look forward to working together on further steps to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant:

    “NSW Health supports a holistic approach to tobacco control, recognising reducing supply and access to illicit products is one component.

    “Operating a tobacco licensing scheme will ensure NSW Health has accurate, up-to-date information on tobacco retailing and wholesaling activities in NSW, facilitating more efficient and effective enforcement activity.

    “If you think a tobacco or e-cigarette retailing law has been broken by a retailer in NSW, you can report this via the NSW Health website.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sequel to Sweet Country, among 19 projects supported by Screen Australia’s First Nations Department

    Source: Australia Government Statements 4

    24 10 2024 – Media release

    Warwick Thornton, director of Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country
    Screen Australia’s First Nations Department is thrilled to announce its latest funding slate, including Warwick Thornton’s sequel to Sweet Country titled Wolfram, alongside two powerful documentaries for NITV spanning sport and politics.
    In total, 19 new projects, including 16 funded for development, will receive over $3 million in funding. This investment reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to amplify First Nations voices and stories, aligned with the Federal Government’s National Cultural Policy Revive and its First Nations First pillar – recognising and respecting the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture.
    Screen Australia’s Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “Our First Nations creatives are at the forefront of Australian storytelling, with many incredible projects being celebrated on the world stage and even more in development. The demand for our funding has never been higher, which is a positive sign for the industry. Across the 23/24FY, our Department invested over $7.1 million of funding including 105 opportunities across development, production, initiatives, attachments and market support – highlighting the incredible talent and rich narratives within Indigenous communities. With films like Wolfram and documentaries Dreaming Big and One Mind, One Heart, I’m inspired by the depth of powerful screen stories authored by First Nations Australians.”
    “It’s an exciting time for First Nations content creators, and we’re witnessing a new wave of talent. Looking ahead, we will continue to create pathways for these storytellers to thrive and expand their careers in the competitive global marketplace, collaborating with industry to enhance project visibility and impact,” said Bates. 
    This funding announcement follows a year of significant achievements for First Nations stories and creatives. Feature films The New Boy and The Moogai have garnered international acclaim. The third series of the landmark drama Total Control captivated local audiences with it being the most watched First Nations series in 23/24. Additionally, the ground-breaking children’s show Little J & Big Cuz returned for its fourth series on NITV and ABC, featuring 17 language groups and providing a powerful voice for children across Australia. The feature length documentary Kindred premiered on NITV in June, further highlighting the power of cultural connection.
    In the past year, the Department has also invested $1 million into the Enterprise program, supporting four First Nations businesses and three practitioners. Collaborating with Instagram Australia, it launched the fourth iteration of the First Nations Creators Program, supporting emerging talent in the content creator economy to build their skills in the digital space. The Department also supported six projects for production through the First Facts: First Nations Factual Showcase initiative, providing emerging and mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers with opportunities to create 10-minute documentaries for Network 10.
    Warwick Thornton, director of Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country said, “This is my family’s story. My great grandmother and her daughters worked the Hatches Creek mines for whitefellas. Now a truth will come out and it’s called Wolfram.”
    The projects funded for production are:

    Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country: Set three years after Sweet Country, Wolfram continues the story of Philomac, now 17 and still living under the watchful eye of his ill-tempered master Mick Kennedy. After meeting Max and Kid, Philomac decides to free himself and the siblings from the white men’s brutality by running away into desert country. Along the way they are assisted by a pioneering family of Chinese Australian miners Jimmi and Wang Wei, who help reunite the children with their estranged mother Pansy. Wolfram is directed by Warwick Thornton and written by Steven McGregor and David Tranter, whose credits include Sweet Country. Also producing alongside Tranter is David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin of Sweet Country and Cecilia Ritchie (Limbo). It is financed with support from Screen NSW and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. Distributing is Dark Matter Distribution, with international sales managed by Memento.
    Dreaming Big: This six-part series for NITV takes an intimate look into the lives of gifted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian youths on the cusp of becoming the nation’s next generation of sports stars. Each episode highlights two young elite athletes, showcasing their relentless pursuit to reach the pinnacle of their chosen field as they navigate family and cultural obligations while remaining focused on their goals. The series will be directed by Andrew Dillon (Le Champion) and Abraham Byrne Jameson (One by One), with writer/producer Richard Jameson (Strait to the Plate season 2) and producer Veronica Fury (And We Danced) also attached. It is financed in association with Screen Queensland.
    One Mind, One Heart: In this feature-length documentary for NITV, a historic political Yirrkala bark petition is discovered and makes its way home to Yolgnu country, evoking the spirit of decades of activism for change. The repatriation provides the opportunity to track the long political campaign – through petition, song, dance, campaigning – to keep culture strong and to have a voice for country. One Mind, One Heart is from writer/director Larissa Behrendt (The First Inventors) and producer Michaela Perske (Larapinta). It is financed in association with Screen NSW, with support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Spectrum Entertainment, Documentary Australia and Philanthropy via the Shark Island Institute.

    Also announced today are three television dramas, 11 feature films and two documentaries that will share in over $540,000 of development funding. The projects include feature film Native Gods from 2024 Enterprise Business recipient Djali House; comedy series Long Story Short from writer/director Tanith Glynn-Maloney (Windcatcher); documentary Fire Country, a transformative exploration of Indigenous fire knowledge and wisdom; and feature film RED, about eight Western Australian First Nations women who share the ugly secret of being surrounded by the missing.
    Click here for the full list of projects funded for Production and Development by the First Nations Department throughout the 2023/24 financial year.
    ABOUT SCREEN AUSTRALIA’S FIRST NATIONS DEPARTMENT
    Entirely led and staffed by First Nations Australians, the Department funds drama, documentary and children’s content across all platforms. The Department also identifies emerging First Nations talent, advocates for representation and funds skills development and career escalation opportunities. For more information on the First Nations Department and funding available, click here.
    Screen Australia is expanding the First Nations Department and is recruiting for the new position of Director of First Nations. This is to align with the Agency’s commitment to supporting authentic First Nations screen stories, to further champion industry practitioners and build opportunities for growth and visibility. For more information about the role, click here.
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    Media enquiries
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    + 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 228-2024: Unplanned Outage: Thursday 24 October 2024 – External Broker Website

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    24 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who use the External Broker Website.

    Information

    Start time: 

    As of: 10:30 Monday 21 October 2024 (AEDT).

    Detail:

    The External Broker Website is currently experiencing an unplanned outage.…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: TV interview, ABC News Breakfast with Bridget Brennan

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Bridget Brennan, Host: Australia is expected to face added pressure to end fossil fuel exports and go further on climate action at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, which officially kicks off today.

    The Prime Minister is attending along with the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, who joins us from the capital, Apia. Good morning to you, Penny Wong.

    Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning, good to be with you. I am here in Samoa, and I’m afraid it’s quite wet and windy.

    Brennan: Oh, is it? Oh, well, not a bad place to be despite the rain. What’s on the agenda there in Samoa?

    Foreign Minister: Well, as you know, this is the first time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been held in a Pacific Island country. So obviously that is a big deal, it’s a big deal for Samoa, it’s a big deal for the Pacific, and it’s why we’re so focused on backing in Samoa’s priorities, which are particularly looking at oceans, but also making sure we work with others to explore the benefit that is the Commonwealth; 56 nations, 2.7 billion people, and importantly, the majority of Small Island States are members of the Commonwealth.

    So, it’s a great opportunity for Australia to work in partnership with countries around the world.

    Brennan: Well, that’s right. King Charles himself will get a look at the sea level rise and what’s happened with the warming ocean there, I believe, today.

    These nations are so susceptible to climate change, it’s a very matter of survival. You must be cognisant that they’re pressing Australia to end fossil fuel exports. Are we listening?

    Foreign Minister: Well, look, I have spent the last two and a half years or two and a bit years travelling through the Pacific. I’ve visited every Pacific Island Forum member, I am acutely aware, as is the Prime Minister and our whole Government, of what climate change is here in the Pacific.

    You know, you might recall Peter Dutton made a joke about water lapping at people’s doors. Well, we are with them, working with them on how we increase climate resilience, climate adaptation. We have the groundbreaking treaty with Tuvalu which enables mobility with dignity, and also, we have legislated very ambitious targets.

    Brennan: So then how do we explain our decision to enable the expansion of coal mines, for example, to countries where they’re seeing the water rising very quickly?

    Foreign Minister: Well, it is the case that we have to transition our economy, and we will do that; we are doing that. That is a big task. When we came to government, I think some 30 per cent of our electricity was from renewable sources, and obviously our target is 82 per cent by 2030. That’s a very big turnaround, and we’re well on the way to doing that.

    But I would make this point: the whole world needs to work to reduce our emissions. The majority of new, the vast majority of new coalfired power is in developing countries, as it is in China. Australia has to reduce its emissions, but the whole world, if we are going to combat sea level rise, temperature rising, the whole world will have to peak and reduce emissions.

    Brennan: Will gender equality and violence against women be on the agenda, because that’s also a really pressing issue for a lot of these nations, and it’s a pressing issue for our nation as well, Penny Wong.

    Foreign Minister: It’s a pressing issue everywhere, and thank you for asking the question, because it is increasingly a part of our international development work. It is obviously a big focus, rightly, in Australia. We have a responsibility to try and reduce the unacceptable levels of violence against women and girls domestically, but also in the world, and we are focusing a lot more of our development assistance on women and girls.

    As I have spoken at the UN about it, and I’ll be speaking here at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting too, so country can achieve its full potential if it leaves behind 50 per cent of its population. So, this is an equity issue, this is an ethical issue, but it’s also a development issue. No country will achieve its full development unless it ensures it brings all of its people, including women and girls, to that task.

    Brennan: I’m sure you know the UN is gravely concerned about displacement in Northern Gaza, the lack of aid going to civilians in that area and attacks on civilian infrastructure. What is our message to Israel about what’s unfolding in Northern Gaza right now?

    Foreign Minister: Well, our message is as it has been for months now; we support a ceasefire in Gaza. We have for 10 months now, and we support the United States Secretary of State, Blinken, in his efforts to broker that ceasefire, which the United States, Australia and others has been calling for, for some time.

    Brennan: Senator, do you think it was appropriate for Senator Lidia Thorpe to pledge allegiance to the sovereign’s “hairs” and not heirs, and is there anything the Government is considering around the response to this revelation?

    Foreign Minister: Look, it was an unusual thing for her to come out and say, I have to say. You know, we’re all part of an institution, that is the Parliament and our democracy, and within that, we have very different views. I don’t share many views with some of the people on the other side of the Parliament, but we are all part of the same institution, a very important institution and our democracy, and that is the Australian Parliament, and, I think it’s a matter for Senator Thorpe to reflect on, the institution of which she is a part and how she wishes to play her role in that institution.

    Brennan: All right. Well, we hope it’s a successful summit there in Samoa. Penny Wong, thanks for your time.

    Foreign Minister: Really good to speak with you. Thanks for having me.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military begin biennial exercise Keen Sword 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SASEBO, NAGASAKI, Japan  –  

    Units from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and U.S. military are conducting exercise Keen Sword 25 from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, 2024, at various locations across Japan.

    Keen Sword is the latest in a series of joint-bilateral field training exercises designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of JSDF and U.S. forces. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests and values and a commitment to freedom and human rights. Both countries are focused on ensuring regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, including building new partnerships and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

    Service members from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard will conduct training with their JSDF counterparts alongside Australian and Canadian partners throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa prefecture, and its surrounding waters .

    During this year’s iteration, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) and U.S. Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) will conduct multiple unilateral and side-by-side amphibious landings on Japanese islands as part of the exercise. These events will demonstrate the capability of forward-deployed forces to rapidly counter aggression against Japan and other regional Allies and partners while improving the readiness of our forces.

    This exercise, and others like it, are an opportunity to demonstrate to the world our will to defend Japan and the ironclad nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has stood for more than 70 years.

    The U.S. units scheduled to participate in Keen Sword 25 are U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F), III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), 3rd Marine Division (3d MARDIV), III MEF Information Group (III MIG), 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rd MLG), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), U.S. Army Japan (USARJ), U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), 5th Air Force (5 AF), 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC); 3rd Multi Domain Task Force (3rd MDTF), 613th Air Operations Center (AOC), 374th Airlift Wing (374 AW), 18th Wing (18 WG), 35th Fighter Wing (35 FW), and 17th Field Artillery Brigade (17th FAB).

    Questions regarding JSDF training and personnel should be referred to Japan Joint Staff Office. Questions regarding Keen Sword 25 should be directed to the Combined Joint Information Bureau at indopacom.yokota.usfj.mbx.j021@mail.mil.

    Further details of the exercise will be released throughout Keen Sword 25.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza – “There is death in all types and forms in Kamal Adwan hospital and north Gaza. The bombardment does not stop”

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières

    Testimony from MSF orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mohammed Obeid, sheltering in Kamal Adwan hospital, north Gaza – collected on 22 October.

    24 October,2024: “There is death in all types and forms in Kamal Adwan hospital and north Gaza. The bombardment does not stop. The artillery does not stop. The planes do not stop. There is heavy shelling, and the hospital is targeted too. It just looks like a movie; it does not seem real.

    About five days ago, my house was hit. They completely blew up the roof and water tanks, but we were at the ground floor and only one person got injured, thank God. We left a few times, moving to different areas, my family and neighbors were terrified. I sheltered in Kamal Adwan hospital with my wife and children, and I am now working here, where I can treat numerous patients.

    There are no words to describe the situation in Kamal Adwan hospital: it is disastrous. The hospital is completely overwhelmed. There are injured people everywhere, outside and inside the hospital, and we do not have medical and surgical equipment to treat them.

    Ambulances cannot move. We cannot reach the bodies of the people killed and cannot save the injured ones who lie in the streets. Many of them died before reaching the hospital, and others died inside the hospital as we could not treat their wounds.

    We have 30 people dead inside the hospital, and around 130 injured patients who need urgent medical care. Medical staff are exhausted, and many are injured as well. We feel hopeless. I just don’t have words.

    We call on all the countries in the world to consider north Gaza, and to lift the blockade that has led to the death of so many people.”

    Notes

    The situation in North Gaza governorate, where about 175,000 people live according to UN estimates, is extremely dire. The northern part of the Strip, particularly Jabalia camp, has been besieged by Israeli forces since October 7, 2024. People in North Gaza have since been trapped and caught in relentless attacks and violence amidst the ongoing military operation, which has killed over 600 people so far, as of October 22, 2024, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.

    On 7 October 2024, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders in Beith Hanoun, Jabalia and Beit Lahia, North Gaza, including three hospitals (Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and Al-Awda Hospitals), but it was almost impossible for people to move safely as the area was already surrounded and people attempting to evacuate were shot at. Around 55,000 people (OCHA, 16 October 2024), who were able to move in the initial hours of the offensive, were displaced toward the south (but within the northern part of Gaza), mainly to Gaza City.

    Israeli forces are forcibly displacing people along unsafe routes, with reports that people trying to evacuate are being shot at, while trapping the population in Jabalia who face a critical lack of food, essential items, and access to healthcare, and risk being killed.

    Since the beginning of the month of October, there has been a near total lack of humanitarian aid and food entering into North Gaza. Since October 15, some supplies have entered, but in quantities that are largely insufficient for the population. Fuel and medical supplies are running low for the remaining healthcare structures in the north as most movements of humanitarian actors from the south to the north are also being denied.

    Medical evacuations are urgently needed but have been either denied, or extremely difficult to organize.

    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 New Zealand: NZCTU alarmed at further cuts to WorkSafe

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    WorkSafe’s announcement that it is planning even further restructuring and cuts just months after losing 15% of its staff has alarmed the NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi.

    “Our health and safety regulator is a critical component of our health and safety system, and we know it already has an undercooked capacity to deliver on its role,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “Taking more people out to save money to pay for tax cuts is short-term thinking that will have long term consequences for the health and safety of New Zealand workers.

    “WorkSafe is now set up to fail. They have stripped down the organisation to its bare bones, throwing whatever they can to the so called ‘front line’ inspectorate, knowing full well that without a well-resourced support function, the inspectorate will be less effective. 

    “Everyone in New Zealand has the right to expect a safe workplace and to be able to come home safely to their family at the end of the day. Sadly, these cuts will mean more workers will be at-risk.

    “This announcement is all smoke and mirrors. The fact remains that WorkSafe, remains well short of the numbers of inspectors the agency once had when it was created in 2013. At that time, we had 8.4 inspectors per 100 thousand workers (similar to Australia) and now it has been run down to 6.3 – a level we last saw when the Pike River disaster occurred.

    “Compounding this problem is the lack of support, and the expectation in this latest proposal for inspectors to pick up more administrative and other functions on top of their day job. This makes a mockery of the claims to move resources to the front line.

    “These proposals signal a further shift away from protecting workers from risks to their health and safety and towards a focus to responding to harm. WorkSafe has had to shrink away from its proper role to fit the budget.

    “Our health and safety system relies on an effective regulator. This latest announcement demonstrates yet again that health and safety is just not a priority for the Government,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Hit and runs – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police are calling for information after two suspicious hit and runs this morning.

    Around 6am, police received a report that a small silver hatchback had struck a motorcyclist on McMinn Street, Darwin City, before fleeing the scene.

    The 30-year-old male rider suffered serious grazing to his leg and was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.

    A short time later, police received report that a small silver hatchback had struck another rider on Iliffe Street, Woolner.

    In this instance, the occupants of the vehicle allegedly attempted to rob the fallen rider before being confronted and fleeing the scene.

    The 43-year-old male rider suffered minor grazing and was also conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital.

    Police deployed to the area but the vehicle is yet to be located.

    Detectives from Serious Crime are currently investigating and police believe the hit and runs were intentional.

    Police urge anyone who witnessed the incidents, or who has dash cam or CCTV footage, to contact police and quote reference number P24293700.

    Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building resilience against flooding in Tenterfield

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Building resilience against flooding in Tenterfield

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    Residents and motorists will soon see activity around the Molesworth Street Bridge in Tenterfield, as early work to improve flood resilience commences.

    Tenterfield Shire Council received just over $9.9 million in funding from to build a new concrete bridge over Tenterfield Creek and relocate adjacent infrastructure.

    Funding will be provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments’ Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package, through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

    Geotechnical work to help inform the design of the bridge redevelopment started in July, with construction scheduled to start mid-2025.

    The project will also include the relocation of a sewer line that runs adjacent to the bridge, which was damaged in early 2022 when severe weather events affected northern NSW.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

    “The current bridge is vulnerable to natural disasters, leading to regular disruptions to the local community.

    “It’s why we’re building this bridge to a better standard, helping the community stay connected in the event of any future disasters.

    “We want to work with state and local government to make sure communities like Tenterfield are better prepared for natural disasters.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully:

    “The funding for this improvement to the bridge will allow councils and other road authorities to ‘build back better’ so infrastructure is more resilient.

    “Revitalising the bridge will allow the community, State Government agencies, Tenterfield Shire Council, and industry to withstand and respond to bushfires, severe weather and flooding events effectively.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

    “I was delighted to visit Tenterfield recently to thank Janelle Saffin and Tenterfield council for their advocacy efforts to ensure this vital bridge is rebuilt.

    “This project is a great example of all three levels of government working together to keep communities better connected during future natural disasters.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:

    “This bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure for the residents of Tenterfield.

    “In a major flood it goes under water, isolating the town’s important medical services, including the 18-bed acute hospital with a 24-hour emergency department.

    “There is also no helipad, which reinforces the need for access to the hospital to be maintained.

    “In times of natural disaster, access to medical services can be a matter of life and death, so the community benefits of this project are obvious.”

    Quotes attributable to Tenterfield Mayor Bronwyn Petrie:

    “Tenterfield Shire Council is grateful for the full funding of the replacement and betterment of the timber Molesworth Street Bridge and adjacent sewer line by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package totaling $9,988,775.80.

    “Council is pleased to announce we have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Transport for NSW to deliver the bridge component of the project, fostering collaborative relationships and enhancing Council’s in-house skills, leveraging the professional and comprehensive expertise of Transport in design and construction.

    “Following geotechnical, planning and design work, construction work on the bridge will commence with detours via Duncan, High and Scott streets.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We tried a different preschool curriculum to prevent youth crime. Checking in 20 years later, it worked

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Allen, Senior Lecturer, Griffith University

    Shutterstock

    There’s been an increased political and media focus recently on so-called youth crime waves, particularly in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

    This has unfortunately led to crackdowns from governments and police. Young people in Alice Springs have been subject to curfews.

    Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (who’s ahead in the polls ahead of this weekend’s election) has suggested young people found guilty of some crimes should be sentenced as adults.

    But punitive youth crime policies violate children’s human rights and are an expensive way of making the community less safe. It’s much better to stop youth crime before it starts by supporting children’s positive development in early childhood.

    In a new evaluation published today, we found a preschool program reduced the amount of young people before the courts by more than 50%. When the right family support was provided too, the chances of the children committing crimes were even lower.

    Our original study

    Early community-based crime prevention strategies have been greatly neglected in Australia. This is despite international evidence and the recommendations of a widely circulated 1999 Commonwealth government report.

    Scientific evidence has been accumulating for more than 50 years that shows the root causes of serious youth crime can be addressed in early childhood through prevention initiatives. The most famous example is the Perry Preschool Project, implemented in a disadvantaged area of Michigan in the early 1960s.

    In Australia, the Pathways to Prevention Project operated in a disadvantaged, multicultural region of Brisbane from 2002 to 2011.

    It was a collaboration between Griffith University, the Queensland Department of Education, and national community agency Mission Australia.

    The children in the study learned communication skills through reading and games.
    Shutterstock

    The project aimed to improve child and youth outcomes by partnering with local preschools, schools, families and community organisations.

    In 2002 and 2003, 214 four-year-old children attending two local preschools received an enhanced program focused on communication skills. This is called an “enriched preschool program”.

    It was integrated into the standard curriculum and delivered by specialist teachers working with the children’s classroom teachers and their parents.

    Evidence at the time showed communication skills were directly linked to success at school. They were also linked to to success in life through improved behaviour and enhanced social skills.

    The communication program brought children together in small groups with similar levels of language competence. The groups were balanced in terms of gender and cultural background. They completed carefully curated activities including games, bookmaking and reading.

    Reading was a large part of the enriched preschool curriculum.
    Shutterstock

    These provided children with the opportunity to extend and practice oral language skills in ways that were personally meaningful. These activities were led by the specialist teachers who had postgraduate qualifications in communication and oral language development.

    The specialist teachers engaged parents and children in joint activities, and actively supported reading and language activities at home. By year one, children who received the communication curriculum had better language proficiency, social skills, classroom behaviour and academic achievement than children in the other preschools.

    The children’s families could also access practical support from community workers from their own cultural background. This included parenting education, advocacy with government agencies and counselling. This continued until 2011.

    What’s new?

    Earlier evaluations showed the enhanced curriculum helped improve children’s readiness for school, among a range of other benefits. Now we’ve evaluated the success of the program over the long term.

    Using anonymised data-linkage procedures, we followed up the students who received the enhanced curriculum back in 2002 to see what’s happened since.

    Children who received the enhanced curriculum had improved classroom behaviour throughout primary school. They were also 56% less likely to be involved in serious youth crime by age 17.



    Read more:
    Is Australia in the grips of a youth crime crisis? This is what the data says

    Remarkably, our evaluation found none of the children whose families also received support in the preschool years went on to offend.

    The full Pathways Program was implemented widely in the community over a ten-year period, so we thought it might have had an impact more broadly.

    We looked at the rate of youth offending in the region in the years 2008–16, when members of the 2002–03 preschool cohort were between 10 and 17 years old. It was 20% lower in this region than in other Queensland regions at the same low socioeconomic level.

    How does this lead to less youth crime?

    Programs like this work by levelling the playing field and improving the lives of children early in their developmental pathways. Developmental pathways are events and experiences that follow on from each other, or cascade, across the course of life.

    For instance, a difficult transition to school increases the likelihood of poor engagement and academic problems. These are well-known risk factors for antisocial behaviour.

    The long-term impact of Pathways to Prevention on youth offending means it could be a model for similar programs across Australia.

    This is especially the case given our nation’s chronic under-investment in community-based developmental crime prevention. We need more programs in disadvantaged communities that are open to everyone and don’t stigmatise people.

    Overwhelmingly, efforts across the country are devoted to early intervention with children identified as “at risk” in some way (such as showing disruptive behaviour), or to the treatment of young people who become enmeshed in the youth justice system.

    In Queensland, there is an over-reliance on youth detention, which is often very harmful for children and of no preventative value.

    Using Pathways as a model for other communities doesn’t necessarily mean exactly replicating what we did (though this is also important). Any early prevention initiative will have the best chance of success if it includes evidence-based strategies that improve children’s life chances.

    These can be implemented cost-effectively through existing systems including preschools, schools and primary care. Ideally, they should operate through local partnerships involved at all stages of planning, data collection, implementation and evaluation.

    Jacqueline Allen received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants.

    Kate Freiberg holds an unpaid position at RealWell and received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants.

    Emeritus Professor Ross Homel received funding from the Australian Research Council, Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants, the Queensland Government and the John Barnes Foundation. He is affiliated with the Justice Reform Initiative as a Queensland Patron and provides honorary research support to RealWell Pty Ltd.

    – ref. We tried a different preschool curriculum to prevent youth crime. Checking in 20 years later, it worked – https://theconversation.com/we-tried-a-different-preschool-curriculum-to-prevent-youth-crime-checking-in-20-years-later-it-worked-235888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education Minister attending conference in Australia

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Education Minister is travelling to Australia today to attend the 23rd edition of public policy conference, Consilium. 

    “New Zealand and Australia share common challenges and aspirations for education. New South Wales has recently introduced a new curriculum that is explicit, sequenced and knowledge based while Victoria is requiring structured approaches to teaching reading from 2025,” Erica Stanford says.

    “I look forward to hearing more about their experiences and ideas, as well as sharing our Government’s plan to lift achievement and close the equity gap in New Zealand.”  

    Minister Stanford will speak to ‘Can Education in Australia be reformed?’ where she will share her plan to deliver a world-leading education system.

    While in Australia she will meet with Rt Hon Nick Gibb, former UK Schools Minister, Hon Sarah Henderson, Senator for Victoria and federal Shadow Minister for Education, and other education policy experts and officials. 

    Minister Stanford will travel to Australia on 24 October and returns to New Zealand on 27 October.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten interview on 3AW Radio Melbourne with Tom Elliott

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    SUBJECTS: Melbourne Water flood rezoning in Kensington Banks; future of the NDIS

    TOM ELLIOTT, HOST: So, a couple of years ago there were those terrible floods in mainly, well, it was all up and down the Maribyrnong River, but particularly in Kensington. There was a group of, or there was a bit of land that had previously been considered flood prone and then it wasn’t, so people built houses on it. And then during the floods, hundreds of houses got badly flooded. And these people now face a future where if they want to sell their house, well, it’s going to be very difficult because it’s now a declared flood zone. If they say no, it will stay, but we need to insure our house against future floods, well, that would be hideously expensive because we’ve already had a flood. It’s not dissimilar to suddenly having, you know, having a fire, a bushfire, and your house is suddenly declared to be in a bushfire zone when it wasn’t previously in a bushfire zone. Our next guest is a Member for Maribyrnong. He’s also the Minister for the NDIS in the Federal government, Bill Shorten, good morning.

    BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning, Tom.

    ELLIOTT: So, I got this right. We’ve got a group of your constituents who are in flood damaged homes and see no way out.

    SHORTEN: Yeah, listen in June of this year, Melbourne Water had been doing some modelling about increased flood risk. And the great irony is sometimes in the west and the northwest of Melbourne, we feel we get things last compared to the Southeast, whether or not that’s true, it’s sometimes how we feel. But Melbourne Water very kindly decided to evaluate the flood risk in the Maribyrnong and before other parts of Melbourne and residents in Kensington, and Freshwater on the other side of the Maribyrnong, who bought in good faith land and houses, put their investment, their single most important investment, discovered on about 17 June, sometimes just through the media reporting, not even, you know, advance notice, that the rules had changed all of a sudden that their houses were in flood risk areas.

    I want to be very clear. We should look after all Australians who are in, you know, bushfires or flood risk areas. But these residents did the due diligence and Kensington Banks did not have the flood rating that it’s now got. Now, the flood ratings, we’ve got to deal with truth. If because of climate change or other reasons, there’s an increased flood rating, that’s a development, the science is the science. But what’s happened since June is that Melbourne Water, in my opinion, has been singularly deficient in the way in which they communicate with the residents whose lives they’ve changed. They’ve got people have got to think about what does it mean for their safety, but I think more practically their house values, the cost of insurance. And I held a public meeting Tuesday night, the local state member for Melbourne was there, Ellen Sandell, Daniel Mulino, who covers some of the federal turf on the other side of the river. We got the head of the Insurance Council of Australia there, we’ve got the Coordinator General, the National Emergency Management Authority. Melbourne Water had said they were coming, but then they thought it was all too political, so they didn’t turn up on the panel. You can’t keep people in the dark, Tom. You’ve got to tell them the truth.

    ELLIOTT: So, okay, so there’s a short and a long-term issue I’m seeing here. So, on one hand you hold a public meeting to try and talk reasonably and responsibly about this changing of the flood rating and Melbourne Water, which has the power to do things about it, doesn’t show up. So, that’s one issue. The second issue, long term, is there something that Melbourne Water could do to try and offset the flood risk? Because, I mean, I look at Flemington and the VRC. I mean, several years ago they built a giant wall, which meant that they’re sort of, they seem to be immune from floods now. Could something like that be done?

    SHORTEN: Yes. The short answer, yes. I was able to get the Water Minister, Harriet Shing, on the phone when I realised Melbourne Water had just pulled the plug at short notice. She made them turn up, but at least they turned up and sat up the back and took some notes. So, there was some poor old Melbourne Water staff there, but they were let down by their leadership. So, the short-term issue is when you give the community a major development, major news, which is like your house values are tanked at the moment until we get mitigation strategies in place, you don’t get to be the only people who call the shots. The community have a say, they have a voice.

    And the point about this is the people, they’re not sort of, this is not some radical issue. This is your own home. A statutory authority said, hello, your own home, the value of it, we’re going to make a decision based on science and it affects your home value. But what’s happened is Melbourne Water think that they’re the only experts on consultation, so they’ve got their processes. I’m not saying they haven’t done anything. They put out a leaflet telling people how to floodproof their kitchens. You know, like, that’s not a strategy.

    To go to the long-term question, you’re asking. I’ve been the Insurance Minister in Australia. I’ve seen what we’re able to do at Roma and where you build levies, mitigate, I’ve seen what’s happened in Launceston with a Tamar, when you build levies, it works. But Melbourne Water’s sort of got their own secret squirrel process on what they’re going to do and their options, and they’re keeping residents in the dark. I don’t think they’re adequately talking to the Federal Government or council and I’m just calling out an arrogant statutory body who thinks that somehow, they’re above talking to people on any other terms other than the rules they set.

    ELLIOTT: So, is it possible that Melbourne Water behind the scenes, will agree to build some sort of a wall or a levee? Or are they just saying, no, no, no, the river, we have to let the river do what the river wants to do or what?

    SHORTEN: No, I think they’ve put out a tender, not that anyone else has seen the terms of reference, to look at mitigation options. The thing is, it’s now been four months. Melbourne Water’s moving to the beat of their own drum, to the beat of their own clock. That’s not satisfactory. The residents, the people who are affected, have been kept in limbo and stressed for four months. When the local elected representatives call a meeting, which the statutory body, Melbourne Water, says they’re coming to, then they pull out at the last minute because they think it’s political, when you – statutory bodies are not above dealing with the rest of us. So, I’m filthy at the way Melbourne Water’s handled the consultation so far. Their leadership need to get their head out of their bottom and start talking to people not just in the way they want to, but in the way that people need to be involved in.

    ELLIOTT: Well, I’ll tell you what, we will get in touch with Melbourne Water and just see if we can perhaps expedite that process a bit. Tell me, I mean, your constituents are affected. It must be, you know, like a man’s house is his castle and all that sort of thing. But to not know the future of hundreds of properties, like, are we going to be permanently flood prone or is a wall going to be built? Or if we sell, do we take a massive loss? I mean, that must be making life very difficult for some people.

    SHORTEN: It is very stressful for people. I actually think the Kensington Banks residents have been remarkably reasonable. I mean, they’re toey, toeier than a Roman sandal. I get that. But they’ve been more reasonable than I think maybe you or I would be in the same circumstances. Melbourne Water just has to change their approach. They can’t – you know, no more control freak behaviour. They’ve got to set up an advisory board, all levels of government, you know, down there, you know, there’s public transport, railway bridges, there’s industry that are affected. You’ve got to get those; you’ve got to get the community there. There’s got to be full transparency on the modelling. What are the terms of reference? I mean, floods are not new in Australia.

    ELLIOTT: No.

    SHORTEN: In Lismore where unfortunately they get a lot of floods, they’ve got this Northern Rivers living laboratory where they have a shop front and the citizens can come in and say, oh, this is what we think is a good idea. They can see what ideas are being done. Melbourne Water, I think, needs to up its, bring its A game to stakeholder consultation in a way which it doesn’t say it controls everything. That’s for the whole Maribyrnong catchment area.

    ELLIOTT: Well, we’ll get in touch with them and see if we can get them on the program and I’ll put your concerns to them. Now, look, you’re retiring in a few months. Are you going to have the NDIS all sorted out before you vacate the office?

    SHORTEN: The NDIS is like painting the harbour bridge. When you get to one end of it, you start again. But do I think that we’re getting on top of some of the rorts? Yes, I’m changing jobs, not retiring. The thing about it is, when I came in at the beginning of the three years, I knew the scheme was changing lives for the better, but there was a complete naivety about how to administer the scheme. What we’ve done in the last two and a half years is we’ve upped the tempo on catching crooks. We’ve now got 500 investigations, we’ve got 55, 56 people in the courts or heading to court. We’ve got people in jail now. We’ve now said what you can spend money on after talking to people, what you can’t spend money on. We’re now sorting out the assessment process. We’ve now got the legal ability to make sure the assessment process is consistent, transparent and equitable. I love the scheme, I’m very proud of it. The rest of the world looks at it. The idea of giving a personal budget to people with profound and severe disabilities and their families is life changing. But we need to register most of the service providers, they weren’t registered. We need a much better back office in the way we – you can’t just put in an invoice with no ABN and no explanation and expect to get paid. All of these matters we’ve now either stopped or got the legal authority to start stamping out. So, I do think the NDIS is on a more sustainable trajectory. So, it’s there for future generations and it’s serving the original purpose of the scheme.

    ELLIOTT: Look, good luck with that and good luck with your future career as I think it’s Vice Chancellor of Canberra University, Bill Shorten there. He’s still the NDIS Minister and the Member for Maribyrnong and, well, very passionate about the shortcomings of Melbourne Water

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Scam alert: Bulk email extortion scam

    Source: Australia Scam Watch

    Background
    Criminals are emailing people and falsely claiming they have hacked into their computers or webcams and have access to compromising images and videos of them. These criminals are threatening people by saying they will release the images and videos unless they’re paid. They include personal details such as birth dates and addresses in the emails to intimidate people into sending them money.
    These personal details are most likely from previous public data breaches. Anyone receiving this scam email should know that there is no evidence that the criminals sending these emails really do have access to people’s webcam or computer.
    There have been hundreds of reports recently of people who have been targeted this way.

    How to spot the scam
    You receive an unexpected contact from someone claiming to have compromising sexual information about you.
    The scammer threatens you and tells you to pay money or the information will be released.
    You are pressured to act quickly to avoid embarrassment and reputational damage

    How the scam works
    Scammers send you an email falsely claiming that your computer or webcam has been hacked and that compromising sexual images or videos of you have been recorded.
    The scammers threaten to release these compromising images or videos if they aren’t paid cryptocurrency to a specified address.
    The emails include your birth date, full name and, in some cases, mobile number and home address. This makes them seem more real.

    What you should know
    If you receive emails like this, don’t respond and don’t pay any money.
    There is no evidence that the scammers who send these emails have access to your webcam or computer.
    The personal details contained in the emails have most likely come from previous public data breaches.

    Find out more
    This scam is a type of threat and extortion scam.
    In these kinds of scams, criminals threaten you so you will pay them money. Speak up and report before handing over money to someone who threatens you

    Stay protected
    STOP – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure. Delete the email.
    CHECK – Contact a computer specialist if you have concerns about the security of your device.
    PROTECT – If a scammer has taken your money or personal details, contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions. Information on how to avoid scams after a data breach is available on the Scamwatch website. Report scams to Scamwatch.

    If you’ve been affected
    There is no shame in getting emails like this. It can happen to anybody.
    If you’ve had personal information stolen or need help to recover from a scam, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
    If you’re feeling distressed and need to talk about it, reach out to Lifeline or Beyond Blue.
    When you report your scam, the people who read your report understand how you are feeling. You are not alone. Contacting support services can help you understand what happened but also tells authorities about scam activities so they can work on making it harder for scams to succeed.
    If you’re worried about your safety or someone else’s, call the police or go to your nearest police station.
    Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Flood affected Kensington residents call for action

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    The Minister for NDIS and Government Services and local Member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten called on Melbourne Water to take immediate action to address widespread community concerns following the reclassification of Kensington Banks as a high-risk flood zone.

    The reclassification affects approximately 900 homes and over 2,000 residents in the area.

    About 200 impacted residents attended a community forum at Kensington Town Hall on Tuesday night, and were outraged senior Melbourne Water representatives had not turned up.

    “Melbourne Water was reluctant to join the meeting because they thought this was political. Of course it’s political,” Minister Shorten said.

    “Why Melbourne Water think it’s beneath them to want to send someone senior smacks to me of arrogance and I’m filthy about it. And it’s just not the way I expect people to behave, especially when they’re the ones who sprung a surprise on us.”

    The community is concerned homes will become uninsurable in coming years, despite property owners buying into the area in good faith and on the best advice of the existing flood modelling.

    Minister Shorten reassured the meeting they had his support and was working hard with his political colleagues to put pressure on Melbourne Water.  

    “No one here has done anything wrong at all. You haven’t taken any risks. You went in, eyes open. It’s just the facts have changed in front of you. Now, that’s a problem. But that’s not on you.”

    Federal Member for Fraser Daniel Mulino and State Member for Melbourne Ellen Sandell joined representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Insurance Council of Australia to hear from concerned residents regarding the lack of transparency with Melbourne Water’s tender process for mitigation planning, and the lack of consistent communication as to what steps can be taken by residents to address their individual changes in circumstance.

    Minister Shorten said if it wasn’t for the Victoria Water Minister Harriet Shing, intervening, Melbourne Water representatives would not have attended at the last minute to take notes at the meeting.

    “Senior Melbourne Water representatives, who had the least distance to travel, couldn’t’ turn up and give an accounting of their actions to a public meeting. It’s really disgraceful,” Minister Shorten said.

    “Getting Melbourne Water to be transparent shouldn’t be a game of hide and seek where they hide what they’re doing and the residents have to seek out that information.”

    “Melbourne Water do themselves no favours. If they’re actually working furiously behind the scenes, then they need to tell us and also the study options need to be transparent. The underpinning, whoever is going to do it, I just want it done. But you need to be able to deconstruct it and see if they’ve considered all the innovations, all the options, and it needs to be very bottom up. People have got to see what’s going on within the Insurance Council engagement as well. But I think it’s reasonable to say, what’s the timeline? Where’s the advisory board?” Minister Shorten told the meeting.

    Initial community consultation began in April of this year, with Melbourne Water indicating that they are currently completing detailed assessments of long-term, sustainable mitigation options. However, Melbourne Water’s failure to provide a clear timeline for the tendering of contracts to develop these strategies has caused growing anxiety among affected community members.

    “I do want Melbourne Water to feel more urgency. If there’s a statutory body in this country who will only meet on their terms, then they’re kidding themselves,” Minister Shorten concluded.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW Government and Transgrid announce support package for Far West residents impacted by electrical outage

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: NSW Government and Transgrid announce support package for Far West residents impacted by electrical outage

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Energy and Climate Change

    The NSW Government is today announcing financial support to residents and small-to-medium sized businesses in the Far West of the state impacted by the major electrical outage in the region.

    The electrical outage community support package is being delivered by the NSW Government with a contribution from Transgrid. This support will be provided as soon as possible through Service NSW.

    This follows the severe storm that destroyed seven Transgrid transmission towers on Thursday 17 October, causing significant disruption to the supply of electricity to the remote communities of Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wilcannia, Menindee, White Cliffs and other surrounding communities.

    Over 12,000 properties have been without power, many for prolonged periods over the past week causing disruptions to families, businesses and community.

    The electrical outage community support package will be available to impacted households and small to medium-sized local businesses.

    • Payments of $200 will be made available to each of the residential electricity account holders impacted by the outage. These grants will be available via Service NSW.
    • Payments of $400 will be made available to impacted small-to-medium businesses. These grants will also be available via Service NSW.
    • While these grants are being established, the NSW Government will continue to support people’s immediate needs with pantry staples, fresh produce, food hampers and mobile cold rooms being made available in partnership with Foodbank NSW/ACT at key locations in the Far West to support communities where impacts have been greatest.
    • The NSW Government is also bringing together agencies and industry to support longer term recovery needs including working with the insurance sector to provide clear advice to people, charities and mental health support.

    The community support package is being provided by the NSW Government and will total $4 million, including a $1.5 million contribution by Transgrid.

    This package is in addition to a range of actions the NSW Government has already taken in the week since the power outage.

    A Natural Disaster Declaration was swiftly issued, unlocking State-Commonwealth disaster funding for the Broken Hill and Central Darling Shire Local Government Areas, as well as the Far West Unincorporated Area.

    The NSW Government has also declared an Electricity Supply Emergency for the Far West region of NSW under the Electricity Supply Act (1995). This declaration allows the Minister for Energy to give directions considered to be necessary to respond to the electricity supply emergency.

    The situation remains uncertain with work underway to restore mains power to the region. The region is primarily relying on Transgrid’s large-scale back-up generator while the company constructs interim towers which are expected to be in place by 6 November 2024.

    Transgrid and Essential Energy are getting more generators into the region to reduce reliance on the main back-up generator and it’s hoped that will negate the need for rolling blackouts that keep the wider network stable.

    To ensure the existing back-up generator can continue to function and meet community needs, particularly during the evening peak, communities are being asked to reduce energy use where possible between 5.30pm and 10.30pm (Australian Central Daylight Time). Key steps include:

    • Turning off any non-essential appliances.
    • Using lights only in occupied rooms.
    • If you are using air conditioning, consider raising the set point temperature to about 26 degrees and close all blinds, windows and doors.

    Outside these times, the community should continue to use electricity as they normally would.

    Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:

    “This support package is a critical way to provide much needed relief to the people of the Far West impacted by the outage as we work to get the lights back on and support to those who need it.

    “The effects of this prolonged outage are having a significant impact on local residents’ daily lives, that’s why I am in the region today meeting with residents and businesses who have been impacted by this outage.”

    Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe said:

    “Electricity is a part of everything we do – at work, at school and at home – and we’re doing everything we can across government to support communities. This will be a challenging time for the next few weeks.

    “The best way to avoid load shedding is for households and small businesses to reduce their use of energy during the evening peak of 5.30 to 10.30pm.

    “This could be as simple as using the dishwasher during the day rather than at night, or turning off lights when rooms aren’t being used.”

    Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:

    “We have teams on the ground responding to what we know has been a difficult period for the people of Far West NSW, and today’s package is an important addition to the support already announced under the Natural Disaster Declaration.

    “Emergency response personnel from the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service are providing ongoing support for Far West communities, including generators and emergency connectivity. Thank you to the volunteers who are helping communities during this time.”

    Independent Member for Barwon, Roy Butler said:

    “NSW communities in the Far West region of NSW are experiencing significant hardship across the Far West, and this package will go some way toward addressing the impacts at home and work.

    “I wrote to the Premier on Monday asking for compensation for individuals and businesses, and I thank the NSW Government for such a quick response.

    “The people of Far West NSW deserve a reliable supply of electricity and a robust back-up system, and the Government is taking action to ensure that is the case going forward.”

    CEO Transgrid, Brett Redman said:

    “Transgrid acknowledges the impact of the outage and is working with the NSW Government and Essential Energy to do everything we can to reinstate the permanent power supply as soon as practicable.

    “Our primary focus is on safely restoring supply and working to minimise impacts to the community. We hope that this financial support goes some way to assisting those impacted during the past week and we again thank the community for their patience.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: With 7 states deciding everything, can Trump and Harris reach the remaining swing voters – without alienating others?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University

    Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina.

    In a repetitive, anxiety-inducing mantra, media coverage of the US presidential election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris recites these seven states over and over again.

    The winner will almost certainly be decided by these states – perhaps a few of them, or maybe just one.

    Depending on your particular interpretation of the electoral map, the mantra might just be Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. Or could it be Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin? Or perhaps it’s Georgia, Georgia, Georgia.

    Some analysts argue that to win, Harris needs to hold on to the “blue wall” of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, three predominantly white states with large numbers of working-class voters. In 2016, Democrats were devastated by Trump’s sundering of this wall – he narrowly won all three.

    The Democratic victor in 2020, Joe Biden, rebuilt the wall with three wins in these states. (In fact, Biden won six of the seven battleground states in 2020, losing only North Carolina.)

    In this year’s campaign, Harris needs to keep it standing, while the Trump campaign is hoping to break it down again.

    But it’s also possible for some cracks to appear in the “blue wall” – if Harris can hold on in Pennsylvania, there is a path to victory for the Democrats through the remaining battleground states.

    The Trump campaign is, meanwhile, hoping it can repeat 2016 and break down the blue wall, particularly by winning the iconic rust-belt state of Michigan.

    An outsize focus on ‘swing voters’

    The critical role these seven states will play of course means they are the overwhelming focus of both campaigns and the media that covers them. Trump and Harris and their running mates have visited Pennsylvania and Michigan dozens of times, while residents of these states are being subjected to wall-to-wall television advertising.

    The other states are, effectively, stitched up for one side or the other.

    There’s no real possibility of Trump winning solidly Democratic New York or California. And no chance Harris will could win deep-red Wyoming or Tennessee.

    In the American democratic system, presidential elections are decided not via a national popular vote but the enslavement-era Electoral College (alongside widespread voter suppression). As a result, vast swathes of the American electorate are effectively disenfranchised.

    In the states that are in play, the polling margins are razor-thin, just as they have been in most elections this century.

    In 2020, for example, Biden won the popular vote by a four-point margin – seven million votes. But in the Electoral College, which is what actually decides the winner, Biden won by around 45,000 votes: 10,457 in Arizona, 11,779 in Georgia, and 20,682 in Wisconsin.

    While polls are only one indicator – and they aren’t always that reliable – they do suggest the result in the seven battleground states in 2024 may be that close again.

    That’s why both Harris and Trump have been spending so much time in those states. And it’s why their campaigns – as well as the media’s attention – are focused on finding as many voters in those places as they can.

    And because of the way the American electoral system works, this focus is disproportionately placed on certain types of voters – or “swing voters”.

    Both campaigns are chasing voters who may have gone for Trump in 2016 and then Biden four years later. They’re chasing “shy” Republicans or Democrats – voters who may be generally inclined to vote for one party or the other, but for whatever reason (usually, the particular candidate) are quiet about their choices.

    Since the role of the “blue wall” in both electoral politics and the American imagination is so pronounced, this means there’s an inordinate focus (often unconsciously) on white swing voters, in particular.

    Chasing the swing voters

    These voters may indeed turn out to be the critical deciding factor.

    But in American politics, it’s rarely one single thing that decides the outcome.

    In a system that does not have compulsory voting, in which small numbers of voters in a small number of states can change the result, voter turnout is the main game. This election cycle, it could matter a great deal.

    And that is why there is a hidden tension in both campaigns.

    In Trump land, there has been consistent pressure (and unsolicited advice) on Trump to “moderate” his stances on particular issues in order to appeal to those “shy” or swing voters.

    This is particularly the case with reproductive rights. It’s led to contradictory messaging from Trump – he’s taken full, individual credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade while simultaneously insisting he is not supportive of extreme, right-wing positions on abortion bans.

    Trump’s pick of JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate suggests his campaign decided not to focus mostly on swing or shy voters, but on mobilising and expanding their core voter base of white men. That is reflected in much of Trump’s media strategy and his consistent presence on right-wing podcasts.

    But that is contradicted occasionally, and quite deliberately, by high-profile surrogates, including his wife.

    The Harris campaign, on the other hand, seems to be attempting to divide its focus more evenly. Harris is chasing swing voters by going on Fox News and sharing a stage with former Representative and harsh Trump critic Liz Cheney. She also appeared with 100 Republicans at an event in Pennsylvania this month.

    At the same time, the campaign is also attempting to drive turnout in key demographics for Democrats. Harris is targeting young women, particularly in the South, by going on popular podcasts like Call Her Daddy. Similarly, she is reaching out to Black men by appearing on platforms like Charlamagne tha God’s podcast in a live event in Detroit.

    Does the strategy work?

    The question for both campaigns is: does one of these tactics undermine the other?

    Might the alliance between Democrats and the Cheney family’s deeply conservative stances on foreign policy, for example, further undermine or depress turnout in a state like Michigan, where outrage and betrayal over Democratic support for Israel may well be a deciding factor?

    Alternatively, will Harris’ more hardline message on immigration depress enthusiasm amongst Black and Latino voters?

    Similarly, might the Republican Party’s position on reproductive rights, and the consequences of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, mean Trump continues to lose support with women, which might not be countered by a sizeable boost in men’s turnout?

    The answer is: we don’t know. And if the margins are indeed as close as the polling suggests, we may not know for some time after election day.

    Until then, the mantra keeps repeating:

    Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina.

    Emma Shortis is senior researcher in international and security affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank.

    – ref. With 7 states deciding everything, can Trump and Harris reach the remaining swing voters – without alienating others? – https://theconversation.com/with-7-states-deciding-everything-can-trump-and-harris-reach-the-remaining-swing-voters-without-alienating-others-240670

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sharing the National Collection: Two works return to their old home in Bowral

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    Two works by Australian artists Charles Blackman and Russell Drysdale will adorn the walls of National Trust-listed estate Retford Park in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands, thanks to the Albanese Labor Government’s Sharing the National Collection program.

    The countrywoman (1946) by Drysdale and The anteroom (1963) by Blackman will be on loan from the National Gallery of Australia for two years from the beginning of November.

    Located just outside Bowral, Retford Park was built in 1887 by prominent Sydney architect Albert Bond, with the heritage house and grounds now home to an impressive collection of artworks and sculptures.

    The two paintings were originally housed in Retford Park until their generous donation to the National Gallery’s collection by the late arts patron and philanthropist, James Fairfax AC.

    The loan will bring the artworks out of storage and give visitors to Retford Park the chance to once again view them in the unique setting of their old home.

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the loan was an opportunity to highlight exceptional but lesser known works within the National Collection and share them with communities for whom they hold special significance.

    “The National Collection holds over 155,000 artworks of great beauty and cultural value, but at any one time 98 per cent of it is in storage.

    “The Sharing the National Collection initiative gives more Australians the chance to see works by artists whose names they may be familiar with but whose work they perhaps haven’t yet had a chance to see.

    “Thanks to the great legacy of James Fairfax, these two significant artworks belong to the Australian people – and it’s fantastic to see them return home to Retford Park for the next two years.”

    Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones said the two artworks will draw additional visitors to Retford Park and enrich the estate’s existing collection. 
    “I am pleased these two artworks lent by James Fairfax AC to the National Collection will now return to Retford Park for two years.

    “Mr Fairfax believed Retford Park should be preserved for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations, and I have no doubt these two artworks will attract more locals and visitors to the Portuguese Pink mansion in Bowral.”

    National Gallery Director Dr Nick Mitzevich said, “A generous supporter of the National Gallery, the late James Fairfax AC’s extraordinary cultural leadership, erudition as a collector, and his deep feeling for Australian art, is demonstrated by the works he chose to gift to the national collection.

    “Fairfax donated works by renowned Australian artists Charles Blackman and Russell Drysdale which we now have the great pleasure of lending to the Southern Highlands of NSW through this partnership with Retford Park.”

    Debbie Mills, Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust said, “James Fairfax AC was a great patron of the arts and a passionate supporter of the National Gallery of Australia, so it is fitting that these works will soon hang proudly on the walls of his former home once again.
    “We thank the National Gallery for generously granting this loan through the Sharing the National Collection initiative.

    “We encourage everyone to visit and enjoy these special artworks; two fabulous additions to the incredible collection of 16th, 17th and 18th Century fine art, furniture and textiles already on display at Retford Park.” 

    Sharing the National Collection is part of Revive, Australia’s new national cultural policy, with $11.8m over four years to fund the costs of transporting, installing and insuring works in the national art collection so that they can be seen across the country for extended periods.

    The Drysdale and Blackman works can be viewed via the National Gallery’s website. 

    Regional and suburban galleries can register their expressions of interest via this link.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: VESEP grants announced for CFA projects

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    From L-R: ACFO John Jugam, DCO Trevor Owen, Drouin brigade members Judy Brown, Darren Fox, Mark Dryden, Captain Peter Buur, Minister Jaclyn Symes, CFA Board member Peter Shaw, Mark Fox

    CFA brigades and groups will share in almost $11.2 million funding to purchase new equipment to help protect their communities.

    The Victorian Government’s 2024/25 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) funding was announced today, by the Minister for Emergency Services Jacyln Symes.

    The announcement took place at the Drouin Fire Station who received VESEP funding in this year’s grants to purchase a new Field Command Vehicle (FCV).

    Drouin Captain Peter Burr said the Field Command Vehicle would replace the brigades existing car.

    “The FCV is a more appropriate vehicle that will benefit the Drouin community as well as the wider Baw Baw group,” Peter said.  

    “It will be a great asset for the brigade, and we welcome this announcement today.”

    The Drouin Fire Brigade fundraised $35,500 and the VESEP funding contribution was $71,000.

    The brigade was also successful in last year’s VESEP grants and recently purchased a thermal imaging camera. The camera is for the tanker and is used for fire and in urban environments to search out hotspots to efficiently contain and extinguish fires.

    The VESEP funding announced today has been spread across 167 projects that included a range of replacement vehicles for brigades including an additional 11 new ultra light tankers, 6 Bigfills and 18 Field Command Vehicles.

    CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said VESEP grants help provide brigades with significant funding for life-saving equipment.

    “This program provides $2 for every $1 of funding from the brigade and helps with the purchase of equipment such as vehicles, trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers, and can also include minor facility improvements,” CO Heffernan said.

    “The contribution from the government towards equipment means brigades like Drouin have a great incentive to fundraise in their communities and apply for a VESEP grant.

    “There are also Special Access Grants available to provide a further financial boost for brigades that face challenges with fundraising.”

    The full list of successful applicants has been published on the Emergency Management Victoria website.

    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Call for information – Injuries – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police are calling for information after a man suffered serious injuries in Alice Springs yesterday.

    Sometime in the late afternoon, the 67-year-old man returned home to his residence on the corner of Breaden Rd and Gap Rd, where he was later located with serious non-life-threatening injuries.

    He was conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital with injuries to his head and upper body.

    Initial reports suggested the man had been assaulted. After further investigations police now believe the man has fallen, causing his injuries.

    Investigations are still ongoing, and police urge anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, or who witnessed the incident to make contact on 131 444 and reference NTP2400107134.

    Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Emergency Plane Landing – Nhulunbuy

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) and Northern Territory Police (NTP) responded to an emergency landing incident at the Nhulunbuy Airport yesterday.

    Around 3:40pm, the Joint Emergency Service Communications Centre received reports that a light aircraft carrying 3 occupants, experienced landing gear issues as it was en route to Galiwinku.

    The aircraft was diverted to Nhulunbuy airport and emergency services deployed.

    At 4:35pm, 8 NTFRS personnel, with one fire truck and 2 grassfire units, arrived at the airport with NT Police and St John Ambulance personnel.

    A short time later the aircraft made an emergency landing without its front landing gear and all occupants disembarked safely, without injury.

    NTFRS crews secured the scene and removed the aircraft from the runway.

    The exact cause of the malfunction remains under investigation.

    Acting Chief Fire Officer Stephen Sewell said “ This was a fantastic outcome for everyone involved and thankfully the pilot was able to land the aircraft without any injuries.

    “I commend the efforts of all the emergency services who quickly responded and worked together to make the scene safe.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Researchers use AI algorithm to reveal hidden RNA viruses

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This year’s Nobel Prize results signify that artificial intelligence (AI) technology is not only leading trends in computer science, but also has a growing impact in disciplines such as biology and chemistry. It offers scientists a new research approach: using AI to unlock the secrets of nature.
    One of the latest examples comes from virology. An international research team used AI technology to discover hundreds of thousands of RNA viruses from global ecosystems, showing the immense potential of AI algorithms in virus discovery and paving new paths for virology.
    A team of researchers from Sun Yat-sen University School of Medicine, as well as Zhejiang University, Guangzhou University, the University of Sydney and other institutions carried out the study, reporting the discovery of 180 RNA virus supergroups and over 160,000 global RNA virus species.
    The study, which was published recently in the journal Cell, is the largest RNA virus study to date, significantly expanding the knowledge about global RNA viruses.
    New AI algorithm
    Viruses are an essential component of Earth’s ecosystems and closely related to human health. However, the number of known virus species is still quite limited. Scientists can use gene sequencing technology to compare the similarity of unknown viruses with known viral nucleic acid sequences, thereby identifying new viruses.
    However, this method relies on the existing knowledge of viruses. When studying RNA viruses, which are highly divergent, numerous and prone to mutation, the method of sequence homology comparison couldn’t work well anymore.
    The researchers have proposed a new solution using AI technology. According to Shi Mang from Sun Yat-sen University School of Medicine, who is also one of the corresponding authors of the research paper, the AI algorithm models can uncover viruses that were previously overlooked or not even known.
    “During epidemics, the speed and accuracy of AI technology can help scientists quickly pinpoint potential pathogens,” Shi said.
    He led the team to use a core algorithm dubbed LucaProt, a deep-learning Transformer model for the study. After extensive learning of viral and non-viral genomic sequences, it can autonomously form a set of criteria for virus identification to find viral sequences from large RNA sequencing datasets.
    New RNA virus species
    According to the study, LucaProt demonstrated high accuracy and specificity, with a false positive rate of 0.014 percent and a false negative rate of 1.72 percent.
    The team conducted viral search on 10,487 RNA sequencing data from global biological environmental samples, and discovered over 510,000 viral genomes representing more than 160,000 potential viral species and 180 supergroups of RNA viruses.
    Among them, 23 supergroups could not be identified by traditional sequence homology methods. They can be referred to as the “dark matter” of the viral community.
    The study found that these viruses are distributed across various ecological environments on Earth. The highest viral diversity is found in leaf litter, wetlands, freshwater, and wastewater environments. Considerable virus diversity and abundance are also found in extreme environments such as antarctic sediments, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, activated sludge, and saline-alkali wastelands.
    According to Hou Xin, the first author of the paper, these viruses include not only pathogens that infect humans but also those that exist in the environment and infect various organisms. They can infect a variety of animals, plants, single-celled protists, fungi and bacteria.
    “A deeper understanding of viruses in the environment can help us better study the workings of the entire ecosystem. Moreover, we can use this method to discover viruses closely related to human diseases for the surveillance and early warning of emerging diseases,” Hou said.
    “The traditional classification system has become inadequate for the new viruses, whose diversity far exceeds human imagination. What we see now is just the tip of the iceberg,” Shi said.
    New tool for more studies
    It is a model specifically designed for discovering RNA viruses, but it also integrates the ability to recognize protein sequences and implicit structural information, and can be used to identify protein functions.
    According to the study, the LucaProt model helped researchers identify genomic structures beyond previous virus knowledge, revealing the flexibility of RNA virus genomic evolution.
    It also revealed a variety of viral functional proteins, especially those related to bacteria, indicating that there are more types of RNA bacteriophages, the viruses that infect bacteria, to be explored.
    The research team has open-sourced the model and shared it with scientists worldwide online.
    Li Zhaorong from Apsara Lab of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, another corresponding author, believed that AI is gradually changing the way scientists tackle various scientific challenges.
    “This model is becoming a cutting-edge tool in virus identification and is also being applied to other types of protein identification and discovery of functions,” Li said.
    Xu Jianguo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that the success of LucaProt marks a breakthrough for AI algorithms in virus discovery. In the future, AI is expected to become a major tool in microbiology and can be applied to predict the pathogenicity of viruses to humans.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building Homes for NSW program delivers sites for another 1,600 homes

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Building Homes for NSW program delivers sites for another 1,600 homes

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Housing, Minister for Lands and Property, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deliver more homes through its Building Homes for NSW program, including through its statewide property audit, announcing a further 30 sites to build around 1,600 homes.

    Land audit sites

    The Government has identified 14 sites through the property audit to provide land to build around another 1,400 homes.

    Today’s announcement includes two sites at Box Hill and Riverstone to be transferred to Homes NSW for potential development of almost 50 social and affordable homes and over 35 market homes.

    A further nine sites across Sydney and three sites in regional NSW have been identified for future housing development by either Landcom or in partnership with the private sector, to allow the estimated delivery of more than 1300 market and affordable homes.

    The Sydney sites include unused government land at three sites at Rouse Hill, and sites at Edmondson Park, Stanmore, Earlwood, North Sydney, Chippendale and Fairfield. The three regional sites are located at Broadmeadow, Morisset and Orange.

    The final approach to delivering housing on these sites, including details on the quantity and types of housing, will be confirmed following further due diligence and subsequent planning and regulatory approvals.

    The announcement of these sites follows the NSW Government’s previous confirmation of 14 other sites across Sydney and regional NSW that will be transferred to housing delivery agencies.

    Homes NSW sites

    In addition to the sites identified through the property audit, the Government will also shortly commence construction of 194 new social homes on 16 further sites across the state owned by Homes NSW.

    These sites are in regions including Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Northern Rivers, and the Riverina, with construction on the first sites due to start before the end of the year.

    The Building Homes for NSW program will deliver up to 30,000 homes on government sites, including 8,400 new public homes, giving priority to women and children fleeing violence. For more information, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/homes-nsw/building-homes-for-nsw

    The property audit is part of the Building Homes for NSW program. For more information about the property audit, visit https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/our-business/advisory-and-transactions/nsw-government-property-audit-for-housing.

    Premier for New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “We know housing affordability and availability is the single biggest pressure facing the people of NSW and our property audit continues to focus on ensuring unused or surplus government land becomes available to deliver more housing.

    “Today’s announcement of further sites across Sydney and regional NSW is part of our commitment to provide for housing for renters, first home buyers and the most vulnerable members of our community.”

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The Minns Labor Government continues to deliver on its commitment to identify land it owns that could be better used for housing. 

    “The property audit is another part of our plan to deliver more homes and is bolstered by the reforms to the NSW planning system and investment in Landcom that allows it to deliver more homes.”

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “The property audit has been methodically assessing government land and is now in full swing delivering surplus land for more homes, with 28 sites so far announced and capable of providing more than 3,000 residential dwellings.

    “The ongoing property audit continue to deliver much needed sites to help address the housing crisis currently being faced in NSW.”

    Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

    “Delivering more social and affordable homes is critical to rebuilding our housing system,

    the two Sydney sites identified for social housing are well-located close to public transport and services so they can deliver accessible, modern housing with over 250 new homes for those most in need.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – New Zealand’s Blood Cancer Medicine Gap

    Source: Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand

    The Cancer Control Agency’s medicine availability report, released today, has shone a spotlight on the gap in access to critical medicines to treat New Zealanders with blood cancer. The report reveals 12 medicines funded in Australia but not New Zealand that would provide substantial clinical benefit to blood cancer patients here. Six medicines that significantly improve survival and quality of life for patients are either on Pharmac’s funding waiting list or are in the assessment process.
    Impact on Blood Cancer Patients
    Blood cancer patients are unique in that there are no prevention or screening options available to them. Their survival is primarily dependent on access to effective medicines and treatments, such as those detailed in this report. Blood cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in New Zealand, with more than 21,000 New Zealanders living with a blood cancer.
    Ministerial Commitments
    In 2023, Health Minister Shane Reti (in his previous capacity as health spokesperson) reassured blood cancer patients they would not be forgotten when it came to accessing modern medicines. At the time, when questioned on blood cancer patients, he said, ” We understand, we haven’t forgotten you… we just need that piece of work to be done by the Cancer Control Agency.” That ‘piece of work’ has today been released and the onus remains on the Government to act on its findings and ensure that blood cancer patients are not left behind.
    Call to Action
    Tim Edmonds, CEO of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, said: “We call on the Government to deliver on their promises to blood cancer patients, and to act swiftly to fund the six medicines that have been identified by the Cancer Control Agency and sit with Pharmac awaiting funding. If we fail to act, the Government is sending a devastating message that closing gaps in priority cancer medicines access is happening with blood cancer patients excluded.”
    Background
    This gap echoes the findings of a similar 2022 report, which focused on solid tumour cancer and identified medicines that would offer significant clinical benefit to New Zealander if funded. That report triggered the pre-election promise by the National Party to fund 13 cancer medicines. Pharmac subsequently received a $604 million budget uplift to provide certainty of access for solid tumour cancer patients.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – Seabed mining sinks offshore wind industry

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace says the decision by an offshore wind developer to cancel its plans for wind farms in New Zealand due to conflict with a seabed mining project included in the Fast Track demonstrates just how regressive the new legislation is.
    Spanish offshore wind developer BlueFloat Energy has announced it will no longer pursue its plans for wind farms off the coast of Taranaki and Waikato, citing uncertainties around seabed allocation.
    The South Taranaki Bight is the area where the Australian-owned wannabe seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources intends to gouge out tens of millions of tonnes of sand every year for 35 years, and the wind energy industry has previously said that would be incompatible with offshore wind farms.
    Greenpeace seabed campaigner Juressa Lee (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Rarotonga) says: “The offshore wind industry warned the government that seabed mining was fundamentally incompatible with offshore wind farms, but they went ahead anyway, and now we all pay the price.
    “Including Trans-Tasman Resources on the list of projects for Fast Track Approvals highlights the Luxon government’s unhealthy fixation on extractive industries and fossil fuels.
    “At the same time as the Luxon Government is closing the door on a renewable energy industry, they’re talking about opening up new oil and gas exploration and building a fossil gas importation terminal. It’s straight-out climate denial,” says Lee.
    Trans-Tasman Resources has been seeking to mine 50 million tons of sand every year in the South Taranaki Bight for 35 years. For over a decade, it has faced stiff opposition from marine experts, local iwi, community, and environmental groups.
    Since initially getting consent in 2017, TTR has had that consent quashed by three courts, with the Supreme Court finally sending it back to the EPA, requiring the company to prove it will cause no material harm.
    TTR pulled out of that EPA hearing in March this year, soon after the fast-track bill was announced and then confirmed that they had been invited by the coalition government to apply to have their seabed mining project fast-tracked.
    Seabed mining would be a significant threat to marine life, including blue whales, Māui and Hector’s dolphins, little blue penguins, and critical fishing grounds.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –