NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ATO’s tax time support available for the community

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the range of support services available to the community during tax time.

    ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson encouraged the community to reach out for help and assistance in managing their tax affairs if needed.

    ‘The ATO’s priority is assisting taxpayers to get their lodgments right the first time, and we have programs and services available to assist you,’ said Mr Thomson.

    Tax Help and Tax Clinics

    The Tax Help program is a free and confidential service that has been helping eligible individuals with simple tax affairs lodge their tax return for more than 35 years. Appointments are available in person at tax help centres around the country, by phone, or online. Tax Help volunteers can also assist with creating a myGov account, lodging an amendment to your tax return, claiming a refund of franking credits, and informing the ATO if you don’t need to lodge a tax return.

    ‘This year we have increased the income eligibility criteria to support those earning $70,000 or less per year, up from $60,000 last year,’ said Mr Thomson.

    The National Tax Clinic programExternal Link is a government-funded initiative that supports eligible individuals, including small businesses, who are unable to access tax advice and assistance. Tax clinics operate independently through various TAFE and university campuses located in every Australian state and territory, and many clinics offer phone, web conferencing and face-to-face services.

    Support for First Nations people

    The ATO’s Indigenous helpline is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and provides specialised tax and super assistance.

    ‘This can include things like getting a TFN, lodging your tax return, finding your super, or locating your nearest Tax Help centre if you’d prefer face-to-face support,’ said Mr Thomson.

    The Indigenous Helpline is available on 13 10 30, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm (excluding public holidays).

    Support for culturally and linguistically diverse taxpayers

    The ATO has a range of translated information to help people better understand tax and superannuation in their preferred language.

    Taxpayers can find tax time resources in over 20 languages, and a range of other tax and superannuation information including guidance about lodgment, how to lodge and what deductions you may be able to claim.

    Self-help options and lodging through a registered tax agent

    The ATO’s digital self-help tools are the easiest and quickest way to get help this tax time, with a range of online services available for individuals and businesses.

    Specialised help and support is available on the ATO website for taxpayers, including tailored tax and super information for those with a disability.

    The ATO app, myTax and ATO CommunityExternal Link are also helpful in managing your tax affairs online, without needing to call the ATO.

    You can check on the progress of your return by using ATO online services through myGovExternal Link or the ATO app.

    ‘The ATO app has new security features to help protect your account. Setting up a strong digital identity on the app also allows you to protect yourself this tax time to ensure your interactions online are safe and secure, including notifying you of any suspicious activity on your account,’ said Mr Thomson.

    If you’d like assistance in lodging a tax return, you can lodge through a registered tax agent. To check a tax agent is registered, see the Tax Practitioners Board’s Public RegisterExternal Link.

    Be cautious about how you use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for tax and super information. You may get false or inaccurate information from AI tools. Always check the information you get with a trusted source like the ATO website or your registered tax agent.

    Our commitments to you

    The ATO Charter outlines the relationship we seek with the community – a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.

    The Charter provides taxpayers with an understanding of what we expect when they interact with us, including courtesy and respect, meeting their obligations and being responsive to us.

    ‘The Charter explains our commitments to all taxpayers, including fair and reasonable treatment, professional service, support and assistance where required, the security of their data and privacy and being transparent and accountable in our interactions with the community,’ said Mr Thomson.

    Notes to journalists

    Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson is available for interviews on request.

    A high-resolution headshot of ATO Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson (JPEG, 3.5MB) This link will download a file is available for download from our media centre.

    ATO stock footage and images are available for use in news bulletins from our media centre.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Free webinar to help local hospitality and retail businesses beat the power bills

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City of Greater Bendigo is holding a free webinar to provide local hospitality and retail businesses with energy saving advice.

    The Smart Energy Solutions for Hospitality and Retail Businesses webinar will take place from 4 to 5pm on Wednesday August 6 as part of the City’s Beat the Power Bills program.

    City of Greater Bendigo Climate Change and Environment Acting Manager Ian McBurney said the session is tailored specifically for small to medium operators in cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, and service-based retail.

    “It will provide practical advice on understanding energy bills, identifying costly inefficiencies in day-to-day operations, and assessing the value of upgrades like solar, batteries, or switching off gas,” Mr McBurney said.

    “The webinar will be presented by the City’s Zero Emissions Business Officer Tim Drylie and will cut through the jargon and provide hospitality and retail owners with the facts they need to make informed, cost-saving decisions.”

    The webinar is free to attend. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Bipartisan Bills Exposing Boondoggles and Secret Spending Advance out of Committee Unanimously

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – A pair of U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) bills to expose billion dollar boondoggles and secret spending in Washington advanced unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
    “Today is a great day for taxpayers and a horrific day for waste and shady bureaucrats,” said Ernst. “We are $37 trillion in debt and cannot afford to waste more than $160 billion or lose track of billions of dollars. We are now one step closer to protecting the American people from being forced to write blank checks to failed and runaway projects.”

    Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.
    Ernst’s Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act requires that any taxpayer-funded project more than $1 billion over budget or more than five years behind schedule is made public and scrutinized. The advancement of the bill comes after she released a groundbreaking report showing that cost overruns from just 13 boondoggles are costing taxpayers $160 billion more than promised.
    Her Stop Secret Spending Act will boost transparency in Washington by requiring all spending to be publicly disclosed. Currently, billions of dollars in spending is hidden from public disclosure by bureaucrats labeling it as an “Other Transactions Agreement,” including more than $18 billion last year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Her Advocacy, Ernst Praises USDA Moving Closer to Heartland

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – Following her work exposing out-of-office bureaucrats and advocating for D.C. headquarters to be moved out of the beltway bubble, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) praised Secretary Rollins’ major announcement to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
    During today’s Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden thanked Ernst for her continuous leadership and noted that USDA does not meet the congressionally mandated threshold of 60% occupancy. He made clear that the USDA reorganization is adhering to the will of Congress and will benefit our farmers and rural communities.
    Ernst went on to point out the nearly vacant USDA South Building and highlighted her FOR SALE Act to put this building and others on the chopping block.

    Watch Senator Ernst’s remarks here.
    “The Senate must pass my FOR SALE Act to dispose of underutilized buildings, including the Ag South Building, and to return the money from those sales to the taxpayers. We need more of these agencies to follow Secretary Rollins’ and USDA’s lead,” said Ernst.
    Ernst also called out Secretary Vilsack for lying to her last year about the true utilization rate of USDA’s headquarters – particularly by denying the accuracy of a government-issued report about low staff attendance and stating a whistleblower report describing the buildings as a ghost town “isn’t even close to correct.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Durbin and Entire Senate Democratic Caucus in Reintroducing John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 30, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Reverand Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with the rest of her Senate Democratic colleagues, in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation that would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have been eroded in recent years by federal court rulings. The legislation would strengthen our democracy by re-establishing preclearance for jurisdictions with a pattern of voting rights violations, protecting minority communities subject to discriminatory voting practices and defending election workers from threats and intimidation. It is named in honor of voting rights champion and former Congressman John Lewis.

    “The right to vote is a fundamental pillar of our democracy,” said Duckworth. “Our democracy is stronger when every voice is heard, yet Trump and Republicans are continuing to build unnecessary barriers to prevent people from voting—especially in communities of color—and undermining the protections that civil rights leaders like John Lewis fought for. Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to help safeguard this pillar of democracy and protect the freedom to vote.”

    This legislation is especially relevant in Texas where, following historic disapproval of Congressional Republicans’ tax bill, Texas state lawmakers are looking to add five additional Republicans. The move comes in direct response to President Trump’s fears that voters may flip the House in the 2026 midterms.

    In the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Shelby County decision in 2013—which gutted the federal government’s ability under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent discriminatory changes to voting laws and procedures—states across the country have unleashed a torrent of voter suppression schemes that have systematically disenfranchised tens of thousands of American voters. The Supreme Court’s decision in Brnovich delivered yet another blow to the Voting Rights Act, by making it significantly harder for plaintiffs to win lawsuits under the landmark law against discriminatory voting laws or procedures.

    Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Warnock, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Coons (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).

    A copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Schmitt, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill reauthorizing the construction of a memorial honoring commitment and service of EMS members

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced a bipartisan bill to extend the deadline for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the nation’s EMS professionals. This extension is necessary to ensure EMS personnel, who have dedicated their career to providing life-saving care, receive long-overdue recognition in the nation’s capital. The bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

    “Every day, emergency medical technicians are the first line of support when lives in their communities are in danger, sometimes throwing themselves into dangerous and deadly situations to begin treatment,” said Senator Coons. “These first responders deserve to be commemorated in our nation’s capital, and I’ll continue to work to ensure that the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial is completed. This bipartisan bill would mean that EMS organizations have the time they need to build a memorial worthy of them, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass it into law.”

    “EMTs and paramedics in Missouri, and across the United States, work tirelessly during emergencies, often putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives. Thanks to this legislation, our emergency medical service providers will have a well-deserved national memorial that reminds the public of their commitment to service and honors those who have died in the line-of-duty,” said Senator Schmitt.

    “Every single day, emergency medical services first responders are saving lives throughout the nation,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this effort to create a memorial to recognize the heroic Americans who are first on the scene, providing medical care in our communities.”

    “As a doctor, I have seen the tight coordination of EMS first responders making sure that someone who has a problem outside the hospital survives and gets well once more. They deserve to be honored with a permanent tribute in our nation’s capital,” said Dr. Cassidy.

    “EMS workers put their lives on the line every single day to protect families and save lives,” said Senator Warren. “We owe them our deep respect and thanks for their selfless service.”

    “Wyoming’s EMS professionals commit themselves to delivering critical, life-saving services throughout our rural state, frequently facing personal danger,” said Senator Lummis. “This bipartisan bill extends the deadline for establishing a National EMS Memorial in Washington, D.C., ensuring these courageous individuals receive the long overdue recognition they deserve in our nation’s capital. I look forward to the opportunity to visit this memorial and honor their extraordinary service someday.”

    A companion bill in the House of Representatives is led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.). The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), the American Ambulance Association (AAA), and the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC).

    “NAEMT commends Senator Schmitt and Senator Coons for introducing legislation to reauthorize the EMS Memorial in Washington, D.C.,” said NAEMT President Chief Chris Wray. “The permanent creation and placement of the National EMS Memorial should remain a top priority for all of us, elected officials and EMS leaders alike. Much like our fire service and law enforcement colleagues, honoring those who died in the line of duty, in service to others and their communities, with a proper memorial is the least we can do to pay appropriate respect to these heroes. I urge you to join me and my fellow EMS professionals in supporting this incredibly important project. Let’s make sure we never forget the ultimate price paramedics, EMTs, and other EMS personnel have paid by honoring their ultimate sacrifice.”

    “The American Ambulance Association sincerely thank Senators Coons and Schmitt for reintroducing legislation to reauthorize the National EMS Memorial in our nation’s capital,” said AAA President Jamie Pafford-Gresham. “Paramedics, EMTs and other EMS professionals provide vital and often lifesaving 9-1-1 emergency and interfacility medical care to our communities and we should properly acknowledge their profession.”

    “The proposed extension of this legislative authority through November 3, 2032, represents both a timely and vital step toward ensuring that the courage, compassion, and sacrifice of our EMS professionals are permanently recognized in our nation’s capital,” said IAEMSC President Scott Cormier. “EMS clinicians—often the first to respond in times of crisis—have long stood as unsung heroes within the public safety community. Their commitment to saving lives in the face of disaster and danger merits a place of national remembrance alongside our fire and law enforcement counterparts.”

    The original bill introduced in 2018, titled the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act, authorized the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in D.C. within seven years of enactment. However, the Foundation’s authority to create a memorial expired before the project could be completed due to delays caused by COVID-19 and other challenges. The new legislation would extend the authorization through 2032.

    The memorial will be fully funded by the foundation rather than taxpayer, and any extra funds will be returned to the federal government after the project wraps up.

    You can read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Burkina Faso: African Development Bank supports youth entrepreneurship in rural areas

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    The African Development Bank and the Government of Burkina Faso launched the third phase of the incubator program of the Support Project for Youth Employment and Skills Development in Rural Areas (PADEJ-MR in the French acronym) on July 15, 2025, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Maria Malmer Stenergard in Brussels for Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs

    Source: Government of Sweden

    On 3–4 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard will take part in the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, which will lay the groundwork for the NATO Summit in The Hague. Cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific will also be on the agenda.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Updated Swedish strategy to combat antibiotic resistance

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The Swedish Government has adopted an updated strategy to combat antibiotic resistance (AMR). The overarching goal continues to be preserving the possibility of effective treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals. The strategy will apply until the end of 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Time to step up efforts to combat violence and promote gender equality

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Preventing and combating men’s violence against women, other types of intimate partner violence, and honour-based violence and oppression is a high priority for the Government. More than SEK 600 million will be invested in gender equality in 2024 and government agencies have been assigned several new assignments. The Government is now further strengthening the work towards gender equality and presents investment in women’s economic empowerment and to increase knowledge about national minorities’ exposure to violence.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Reinforcement of late-night help line

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The Government has approved SEK 3 million in additional funding for 2024 to the National Centre for Knowledge on Men’s Violence Against Women at Uppsala University. The aim is to increase staffing of the help line for people subjected to violence, particularly in the evening and at night, to enable more callers to get through and receive support.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Fourteenth sanctions package against Russia adopted

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The EU has adopted its fourteenth sanctions package against Russia in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The sanctions aim to further limit the Russian state’s revenues and Russia’s capacity to wage war, and they are an important part of the EU’s support for Ukraine. The new package includes stricter measures targeting the shadow fleet and imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden Joins the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance, Committing to the Sustainable Development and Sourcing of Critical Minerals

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Critical minerals are essential to meet our climate goals and transition to a prosperous net-zero economy. As countries around the world work to secure access to these critical mineral resources, it is equally important that the path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero is built with a human rights–based approach and a commitment to sustainability.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden and the United States enter into new nuclear power agreement

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden and the United States have entered into a new agreement to further the development of new nuclear power. Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral nuclear cooperation in Washington, D.C. with US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. This agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Sweden and the United States to support the development of new nuclear power. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A fast-paced year of work against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

    Source: Government of Sweden

    One of Malin Grape’s main tasks is to promote the visibility of the government’s priority issues in the field of antimicrobial resistance in the international arena and to contribute to a strengthened global dialogue. As Swedish Ambassador for work against AMR, she highlighted this issue at several key forums in 2023, including during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and at the World Health Assembly (WHA).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 5 reasons why wind farms are costing more in Australia – and what to do about it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magnus Söderberg, Professor and Director, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University

    Saeed Khan/Getty

    Building a solar farm in Australia is getting about 8% cheaper each year as panel prices fall and technology improves, according to an official new report. Battery storage costs are falling even more sharply, dropping 20% over the past year alone.

    But the same can’t be said for wind farms, the second-largest source of renewable energy in Australia. Onshore wind costs actually rose about 8% in 2023–24 and another 6% in 2024–25.

    The findings are contained in the GenCost 2024–25 report by CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator, released this week.

    Rising costs are putting real pressure on the wind industry, undermining investor confidence. Developers of offshore wind projects are walking away, and even cheaper on-shore wind projects are under strain. Even as wind energy becomes a mainstay in China, the United States and Germany, the industry faces real headwinds in Australia.

    This is surprising. Wind, like solar, was projected to get steadily cheaper. The fuel is free and turbines are getting better and better. Instead, wind in Australia has remained stubbornly expensive. Solving the problem will be challenging. But solutions have to be found fast if Australia is to reach the goal of 82% renewable power in the grid by 2030 – now less than five years away.

    Australia has no offshore wind projects up and running – and cost spikes may put planned projects at risk.
    Obatala-photography/Shutterstock

    Five reasons why this is happening

    Here’s what’s going on:

    1. Global supply chains have been disrupted

    The cost of steel, copper, fibreglass and other materials vital for wind turbines shot up during the pandemic. As a result, turbine prices rose almost 40% between 2020 and 2022. While input costs have fallen, turbine prices remain high. Solar panels can be churned out in factories, but modern wind turbines are massive, complex structures that require specialised manufacturing and logistics. That makes them more sensitive to global price fluctuations.

    2. Good wind is often in remote places

    Australia’s best wind resources are typically far from cities and existing grid infrastructure. Connecting far-flung wind farms such as Tasmania’s Robbins Island to the grid can require new and very expensive transmission lines. Remote sites mean extra costs such as temporary worker accommodation. The GenCost report notes this has added about 4% to wind project budgets in 2024–25 compared with the year before.

    Many other countries rely heavily on offshore wind, because wind blows more strongly and reliably over oceans. Unfortunately, spiking costs are likely to further delay the arrival of offshore wind in Australia. GenCost projects the first offshore wind projects in Australia will face even steeper costs.

    Good wind resources are often located in remote areas of Australia.
    Brook Mitchell/Stringer via Getty

    3. Local construction and labour costs have soared

    Australia faces a shortage of workers with the skills to build and maintain wind farms, resulting in higher wages and recruitment costs. Wind developers say construction costs have become a real issue. Wind farms are more labour-intensive than solar.

    4. Interest rates have raised financing costs

    Wind farms require large upfront investments and lengthy construction periods. Even a small increase in interest rates can make them unviable – and interest rates have been high for some time.

    5. Reliability concerns, regulatory delay and community opposition

    According to US researchers, technical issues have emerged for some new wind turbines, creating unexpected costs for developers. The long, complex process of getting permits, carrying out environmental assessments and building community support is pushing out project timelines, increasing costs and uncertainty for developers.

    Will solar take over?

    Solar faces far fewer challenges. Solar panels are mass-produced, meaning costs are steadily driven down through economies of scale. Panels can be deployed quickly and solar farms tend to face less community opposition.

    Wind turbines have to spin to function, while solar panels have no moving parts (though systems that track the Sun do). As a result, solar farms require less maintenance and are more reliable.

    It’s no surprise large-scale solar has been on a record-breaking run, growing 20-fold between 2018 and 2023.

    Solar panels make electricity during daylight hours, especially in summer. By contrast, wind tends to produce more power at night and during winter months. This is why wind is so useful to a green grid.

    Generating power from both wind and sunshine can slash how much storage is needed to ensure grid reliability, lowering overall system costs. A balanced mix of wind, solar and storage will meet Australia’s electricity needs more efficiently and reliably than just solar and storage, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency and independent researchers.

    Could wind come back?

    Making wind more viable will take work. Potential solutions do exist, such as expanding the skilled workforce and investing in specialised ships and equipment to install turbines offshore.

    Shipping large turbines from Denmark or China is expensive. To avoid these costs, it could make sense to encourage local manufacturing of large and heavy parts such as the main tower.

    Other options include finding lower-cost turbine suppliers and streamlining regulatory processes.

    Rising material and labour costs have driven up the cost of wind turbines. Pictured: turbine blades in China’s Jiangsu province in 2022 about to be shipped to Australia.
    Xu Congjun/Future Publishing via Getty Images

    The newly announced expansion of the government’s Capacity Investment Scheme could help reduce risks and give certainty, alongside public investment in new transmission lines.

    If nothing is done or if new measures don’t help, wind is likely to stall while solar and storage race ahead.

    That’s not the worst outcome. Australia could get a long way by relying on batteries and pumped hydro to store power from solar during the day and release it in the evenings, as California is doing. But this strategy involves trade offs, such as higher storage-capacity needs and the risk of insufficient power during long cloudy periods.

    For Australia to optimise its mix of renewables and storage, policymakers will have to tackle wind’s cost challenges. Effective action could lower costs, accelerate project timelines and bolster flagging investor confidence.

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

    – ref. 5 reasons why wind farms are costing more in Australia – and what to do about it – https://theconversation.com/5-reasons-why-wind-farms-are-costing-more-in-australia-and-what-to-do-about-it-262126

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 31, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 31, 2025.

    5 reasons why wind farms are costing more in Australia – and what to do about it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magnus Söderberg, Professor and Director, Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research, Griffith University Saeed Khan/Getty Building a solar farm in Australia is getting about 8% cheaper each year as panel prices fall and technology improves, according to an official new report. Battery storage costs are

    Sporty spice: how romance fiction is adding a new dynamic to sports fandom
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University Sports fans might love their teams, cheer or curse each game’s result and admire their favourite athletes, but we rarely associate sports with romance. However, that may be slowly changing thanks to the recent spike in the popularity

    Just as NZ began collecting meaningful data on rainbow communities, census changes threaten their visibility
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lori Leigh, Research Fellow in Public Health, University of Otago Getty Images New Zealand’s 2023 census was the first to collect data on gender identity and sexual orientation, showing one in 20 adults identify as LGBTQIA+. But just as reports from this more inclusive census are being

    Big tech says AI could boost Australia’s economy by $115 billion a year. Does the evidence stack up?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Uri Gal, Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Imaginima / Getty Images AI is on the agenda in Canberra. In August, the Productivity Commission will release an interim report on harnessing data and digital technology such as AI “to boost productivity growth, accelerate innovation and

    Progress on Closing the Gap is stagnant or going backwards. Here are 3 things to help fix it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeleine Pugin, Research Fellow, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University The Productivity Commission’s latest data on Closing the Gap progress represents an unsurprisingly grim overview of the socioeconomic inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Closing the Gap is the plan federal and

    More than 2 in 5 young Australians are lonely, our new report shows. This is what could help
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle H. Lim, Associate Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney Oliver Rossi/Getty Images Loneliness is not a word often associated with young people. We tend to think of our youth as a time spent with family, friends and being engaged with school and work

    How migrant business owners turn their identity into an asset, despite some bumps along the way
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shea X. Fan, Associate Professor, Human Resource Management, Deakin University Odua Images/Shutterstock Too often, it’s anti-immigration sentiment dominating headlines in Australia. But a quieter story is going untold. Migrants are not just fitting into Australian society, they’re actively reshaping it through entrepreneurship. Starting a business is difficult

    The Man from Hong Kong at 50: how the first ever Australian–Hong Kong co-production became a cult classic
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Ferris, Senior Lecturer, Media Arts & Production, University of Technology Sydney LMPC via Getty Images A cinematic firecracker of a film exploded onto international screens 50 years ago this week, blending martial arts mayhem, Bond-esque set pieces, casual racism – and a distinctly Australian swagger. From

    Rules for calculating climate risk in financial reporting by NZ businesses need revisiting – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martien Lubberink, Associate Professor of Accounting and Capital, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Andrew MacDonald/Getty Images The recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on climate action marked a significant step forward in formalising an idea many already accept: climate inaction is not merely

    Climate justice victory at the ICJ – the student journey from USP lectures to The Hague
    By Vahefonua Tupola in Suva The University of the South Pacific (USP) is at the heart of a global legal victory with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivering a historic opinion last week affirming that states have binding legal obligations to protect the environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The case, hailed as a

    Climate justice victory at the ICJ – the student journey from USP lectures to The Hague
    By Vahefonua Tupola in Suva The University of the South Pacific (USP) is at the heart of a global legal victory with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivering a historic opinion last week affirming that states have binding legal obligations to protect the environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The case, hailed as a

    Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s far east. Originating at a depth of roughly 20 kilometres, today’s powerful earthquake – among the ten strongest in recorded

    Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s far east. Originating at a depth of roughly 20 kilometres, today’s powerful earthquake – among the ten strongest in recorded

    Tsunami warnings are triggering mass evacuations across the Pacific – even though the waves look small. Here’s why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne Last night, one of the ten largest earthquakes ever recorded struck Kamchatka, the sparsely populated Russian peninsula facing the Pacific. The magnitude 8.8 quake had its epicentre in the sea just

    NAPLAN is just one test. Here’s what to do if your child’s results were in the bottom bands
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Larsen, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of New England Rawpixel/ Getty Images The latest round of NAPLAN results are out, along with a string of news reports about “students falling behind” and “failing”, and experts sounding the “alarm” about school progress. In March, all Australian students

    Inflation slows again — but is it enough for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stella Huangfu, Associate Professor, School of Economics, University of Sydney Doublelee/Shutterstock Inflation is moving in the right direction, but new figures released today may not be soft enough to trigger a cut in official interest rates in August. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the June quarter

    With the UK and France moving toward recognising Palestine, will Australia now follow suit?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University One of the smallest and most exclusive clubs in the world belongs to states. The US Department of State puts the number of independent recognised states at 197, while others count 200. The United Nations, meanwhile, has 193

    With the UK and France moving toward recognising Palestine, will Australia follow suit?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University One of the smallest and most exclusive clubs in the world belongs to states. The US Department of State puts the number of independent recognised states at 197, while others count 200. The United Nations, meanwhile, has 193

    An underwater observatory keeping the pulse of the Southern Ocean for nearly 30 years yields fresh results
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Traill, PhD Candidate Southern Ocean biogeochemistry, University of Tasmania Elizabeth Shadwick In a world affected by climate change, the Southern Ocean plays an outsized role. It absorbs up to 40% of the human-caused emissions taken up by the oceans while also being home to some of

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Praises President’s Working Group Report on Digital Assets

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

    July 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) Chair of the U.S. Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, released the following statement applauding the impactful efforts of the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets to continue to secure America’s position as the global financial services leader. 

    “I’m overjoyed we finally have a president who understands the transformative power of digital assets and distributed ledger technology to build America’s financial future,” said Lummis. “I’ve been working on many of the proposals found in President Trump’s report since I took office in 2021, and I look forward to partnering with him to deliver on these transformational policies.”

    Since taking office, Senator Lummis has led the charge on the following policies contained in the President’s Working Group report:

    • Senator Lummis has consistently pressured the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks for their failure to follow existing Federal law on providing master accounts to eligible depository institutions engaged in digital asset activities, resulting in the withdrawal of President Biden’s nominee for Vice Chair of Supervision at the Fed, Sarah Bloom Raskin.
    • She has also been the top advocate on Capitol Hill to end Operation Chokepoint 2.0 and ensure that Federal banking regulators do not discriminate against crypto companies—exposing a secret instruction from the Federal Reserve to consider reputation risk and “controversial commentary” in regulating banks engaged in crypto activities.
    • Building off of Wyoming 2019 legislation, Senator Lummis introduced legislation creating a financial technology sandbox for digital asset companies in 2022, and is currently working on a similar proposal as part of the Senate Banking Committee’s comprehensive market structure legislation.
    • She is also the leading advocate on Capitol Hill to integrate digital assets into our nation’s tax code, having introduced legislation in 2022, 2023 and 2025 to create a de minimis exemption for small digital asset purchases, end the double taxation of digital asset miners and stakers, close the wash sale loophole, enable mark to market accounting and end the unfair application of the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – Luxon opens the door to billions in taxpayer-funded oil field decommissioning costs

    Source: Greenpeace

    In an act of climate denial, the Luxon Government is today planning to pass legislation to try to restart offshore oil and gas exploration, but they are also slipping in a further amendment that opens the door to taxpayers picking up the billion dollar tab to decommission oil and gas infrastructure.
    “Attempting to restart offshore oil and gas exploration is bad enough, given advice from the International Energy Agency that we can’t burn existing known fossil fuel reserves if we are to avoid dangerous global heating. When you’re in a hole the first step to escape is to stop digging,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr. Russel Norman.
    “The environment movement will fight any new offshore oil and gas exploration just like we did when John Key was Prime Minister.
    “But this legislation is even worse: Luxon is proposing to overturn existing law that makes oil companies automatically responsible for the costs of decommissioning oil and gas fields.”
    Under existing law, even if an existing operator onsells an end-of-life oil and gas field to a shell company, which then goes bankrupt when faced with the costs of decommissioning, the original operator is still responsible for the cost.
    “Luxon is changing the legislation so that the Minister of Resources and the Minister of Finance are given total ministerial discretion to approve the onselling of the depleted field, and if they approve and the final operator goes bankrupt, the original oil field operator is NOT responsible for the decommissioning costs. The government will end up with the cost.
    “New Zealand taxpayers will be the ones that will be picking up the cost of cleaning up after oil companies abandon exhausted oil fields. Costs that could run into billions of dollars,” says Dr. Norman.
    “New Zealand has already learnt an expensive lesson in how the oil industry operates. The Tui oil field passed through a number of hands before it was finally sold to an offshore oil company Tamarind that had little money, and Tamarind went bankrupt when faced with the cost of decommissioning the exhausted field. New Zealand taxpayers were stung for $300million to clean up the mess and plug the wells, which was only completed in June 2025.
    “After the Tui field fiasco, the law was changed to make sure oil field operators were responsible for the clean up costs, regardless of how many shell companies to which it was onsold.
    “The oil industry hated the changes to the law on liability for decommissioning costs as much as they hated the ending of offshore oil and gas exploration. And now they have their chance to pass on the costs to the taxpayers and you can be sure they will take it.
    “As the New Zealand oil and gas industry enters its sunset phase, the costs of plugging the wells and cleaning up all the seafloor pipes etc will run into the billions.
    “This fossil fuel-obsessed government has given in to pressure from the oil industry and opened the door to making taxpayers pick up the costs of cleaning up after them.
    “This is part of a trend by this backward-looking Luxon government which has allocated $200m to help invest in new gas fields.
    “Last month, it brought embarrassing shame to New Zealand by pulling out of the international Beyond Oil and Gas coalition, which has pledged to phase out fossil fuels.”
    “New Zealand will have energy security, lower prices and low emissions by investing in solar, wind, geothermal, storage, efficiency and demand side management. That is our future, not the nonsense being promoted by Luxon and Shane Jones.”
    Resources
    The 2021 amendments to make oil companies responsible for decommissioning costs:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Simone Kaho awarded 2025 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency in Hawaii

    Source: Creative New Zealand

    Fulbright New Zealand and Creative New Zealand are delighted to announce Simone Kaho is the recipient of the 2025 Pacific Writer’s Residency.

    This annual award is for an established New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage to carry out work on a creative writing project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history at the University of Hawai’i for three months.

    Simone Kaho says many writers she admires and follows have won the award in previous years.

    “It’s a fabulous thing to receive institutional support for work that is so challenging. What if our most profound connections aren’t just with family, but in deep attunement with nature, recognising patterns in the unseen, and finding new ways to move forward? In this project, I’ll be drawing theoretical lines between Pacific people who are neurodiverse, and the traits of Pacific wayfinders—and I hope to find evidence of these in Hawaii’s research archives,” says Simone.

    Fulbright NZ Executive Director Penelope Borland says it is heartening to see the residency taken up by a poet of Simone’s distinction.

    “We are thrilled to be granting the 2025 Pacific Writer’s Residency to Simone Kaho, enabling her to continue her work that has already received widespread acclaim, most recently seeing her take up the 2022 Emerging Pasifika writer in Residence at the prestigious International Institute of Modern Letters. With this award, Simone will travel to Hawai’i, where I am sure a deeply meaningful experience awaits her,” says Penelope.  

    Makerita Urale, Creative New Zealand’s Senior Manager Pacific Arts, herself an alumna of the residency, says the award is timely for Simone’s literary career.

    “Simone’s work is fearless and deeply grounded in lived experience and cultural insight. This residency is a fitting next step for an artist of her calibre, and we look forward to seeing how her time in Hawai’i will further shape and strengthen her work,” says Makerita.

    Previous recipients of the prestigious Pacific Writer’s Residency have been some of New Zealand’s most celebrated writers, including Tusiata Avia, Karlo Mila, Oscar Kightley, David Eggleton, Mīria George, and playwright Victor Rodger.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The role of space in a new security situation − Sweden’s defence and security strategy for space

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Defence and security are becoming increasingly important in Swedish space policy. Sweden will therefore pursue a cohesive and knowledge-based space policy that contributes to the development of our crisis preparedness and total defence. With this strategy, we are strengthening the defence and security dimension of space policy to make Sweden better equipped to face challenges in space and more capable of utilising space for defence and security.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden provides SEK 75 million to UNESCO to rebuild schools and preschools in Ukraine

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The education sector in Ukraine has been severely affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since February 2022, more than 3 000 preschools, schools and other educational establishments have been damaged, and 360 have been completely destroyed. Sweden is now providing SEK 75 million to the UNESCO Emergency Fund. The Fund is, among other things, supporting renovation and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed shelters in preschools and schools.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Increased funding to University of Gothenburg to combat antisemitism

    Source: Government of Sweden

    In light of international developments, the Government will increase its support to the University of Gothenburg which, via the Segerstedt Institute, spreads knowledge of working methods to combat antisemitism. This year, the Government will provide another SEK 1 million, and it intends to provide another SEK 3 million to support these efforts in 2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Gender equality policy in Sweden

    Source: Government of Sweden

    This material provides an overview of main areas of the Government policy on gender equality. It describes current political goals and strategies and gives a brief historical background to important reforms. It also identifies further remaining challenges and explains how the Government is addressing these and what measures are taken in order to initiate change.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Inter-agency initiative to attract and retain international expertise

    Source: Government of Sweden

    The shortage of workers with sought-after skills is one of the main obstacles to growth for companies in Sweden and has also become an obstacle to regional development. In light of this, the Government is allocating SEK 25 million in 2024 to strengthen coordination of the ongoing efforts of eleven government agencies linked to attracting and retaining international expertise.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Strong engagement for Sweden’s mobilised efforts to boost global competitiveness and foreign trade

    Source: Government of Sweden

    On 9 April, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell gathered leading actors in Team Sweden for a high-level meeting. The aim was to jointly foster better conditions for improved global competitiveness and foreign trade, and bolster Sweden’s position internationally. The Government organised the meeting to discuss the work already in progress and the joint path forward.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: SMHI donates diesel generator to hospital in Ukraine

    Source: Government of Sweden

    In connection with Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari’s visit to Ukraine in recent days, the Government decided to instruct the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) to transfer a diesel generator to Ukraine. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, together with the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has been in contact with a Ukrainian hospital that is in great need of this support, and will promptly make arrangements for the generator to be transported to Ukraine.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Government presents 2024 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Today the Government is presenting its 2024 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill and Spring Amending Budget for 2024. Inflation has fallen considerably and is expected to continue to do so, while at the same time unemployment is expected continue to rise. In light of this, the Government is presenting its Spring Amending Budget with measures to navigate us through the recession, safeguard the welfare system and make Sweden a safer, more secure and wealthier country. The Budget is based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Let us stop the next pandemic today – before it’s too late

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Opinion piece, Euractiv, 1 February 2024, by Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Commission, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, Johan Forssell, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Sweden, Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, Sweden, Caroline Gennez, Minister of Development Cooperation and of Major Cities, Belgium and Frank Vandenbroucke, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, Belgium.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden concludes agreement with France on fighting organised crime

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Gang criminality and other forms of serious crime are major societal problems in both Sweden and France. Together, Sweden and France are now intensifying their efforts in the fight against organised crime. A new agreement will present new possibilities for closer cooperation in several areas.

    MIL OSI Europe News –