The Netherlands beat Nepal but needed a record-breaking three Super Overs to clinch victory in their Twenty20 tri-series match in Glasgow on Monday, the first time a triple Super Over has been seen in T20 or limited-overs cricket.
The Dutch posted 152 for seven and appeared set for the win as Nepal required 16 runs from the final over, but Nandan Yadav scored a boundary on the last ball to force a Super Over.
Nepal made 19 runs which the Dutch matched thanks to Max O’Dowd hitting a six on the final ball, and a second Super Over was needed for only the second time in men’s international cricket, after India and Afghanistan last year.
The Netherlands, batting first, hit 17 runs and Nepal again stayed in the match after Dipendra Singh Airee hit a six on the last ball to mark the first instance of a third Super Over.
It failed to live up to the drama of the previous two with Nepal failing to score a single run and with the Dutch needing just one run, Michael Levitt smashed a six to finally seal the win for the Netherlands.
The Dutch, who lost their opening match of the series with Scotland on Monday, have a rest day on Tuesday to recover but Nepal are straight back into action against the Scots.
The council is one of 52 across the country that have successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its fourth year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again.
Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.
The Task Force is funded by major gum manufacturers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, with an investment of up to £10 million spread over 5 years.
Monitoring and evaluation carried out by Behaviour Change – a not for profit social enterprise – has shown that in areas that benefitted from the first and second year of funding, a reduced rate of gum littering of up to 80% was seen in the first 2 months – with reductions still being observed 6 months after targeted street cleansing and the installation of specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We are very pleased to receive this funding through the Chewing Gum Task Force which will be used to make a real difference to the city’s streets.
“Thoughtlessly discarded gum is unpleasant, unsightly and unacceptable. It has a negative effect on the local environment and is very difficult to remove.
“Our Street Scene teams work tirelessly to make our streets welcoming to residents and visitors alike and this extra funding will boost their efforts in tackling the problem of thoughtlessly discarded gum.”
Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million and, according to Keep Britain Tidy, around 77% of England’s streets and 99% of retail sites are stained with gum.
In its third year the Task Force awarded 54 councils grants worth a total of £1.585 million, helping clean an estimated 500,000m2 of pavements.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum continues to be an unsightly form of litter in our public spaces – though thankfully the scheme is leading to significant reductions.
“People need to remember that disposing irresponsibly of their gum causes harm to our environment as it takes years to decompose naturally – and, ultimately, costs the public purse to clean it up.”
The newly adopted Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025–2029 outlines how Council will guide Greater Bendigo’s growth and wellbeing over the next four years, with strong community voices at the heart of its development.
The Council Plan is a comprehensive blueprint for improving and developing Greater Bendigo over the next four years and includes the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. It guides all the detailed plans and activities in Greater Bendigo.
For the first time, the Budget and the new Council Plan have been developed at the same time ensuring alignment between the goals of the Council and the sustainable financial planning and actions for the Budget 2025/2026 and the next three Budgets.
The Council Plan also informs the Financial Plan 2025-2035, the Revenue & Rating Plan 2025-2029, and the Annual Budget. These documents were all adopted at last night’s Council meeting.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said she was proud to present the new Council Plan.
“A fantastic collective effort from the community has gone into developing the Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many hundreds of people from our diverse community who have given their time to be part of developing this plan. We thank all the partner organisations that have helped create this plan. We gratefully acknowledge the support of both DJAARA and Taungurung Land and Waters Council as representatives of the Traditional Owners of the lands that Greater Bendigo is on,” Cr Metcalf said.
“People shared their top priorities on what they value most about living in Greater Bendigo, its challenges and how best to shape its future and this has been reflected in the newly adopted Council Plan.
“To ensure that we put words into action, the specific work that the City will do to deliver this Council Plan is contained in an action plan released annually as part of the Budget. This ensures we have the resources to deliver on our commitments.
“The Council Plan focuses on efficient and sustainable operations that get the basics right. By incorporating the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, we are also focused on creating a welcoming community and healthy environment that supports our people to thrive. The health plan shows how we will work with our health partners to improve wellbeing in Greater Bendigo.
“The four-year Council Plan has been developed following extensive consultation with the Greater Bendigo community, City partners, local stakeholder groups, and Greater Bendigo Councillors that began in late 2024. Public consultation included two community-wide surveys, a series of focus groups, meetings with community representative groups, information from the City of Greater Bendigo’s online engagement platform Let’s Talk, and customer requests.
“In March 2025, the City hosted a community deliberative panel. Two hundred people registered their interest to take part and 42 people were randomly selected to represent the diversity of the municipality. They included people from over 20 local areas and many different ages, genders and backgrounds. The panel members participated in sessions over three days. Collectively they produced community guidance for Councillors to use when making decisions on behalf of the whole community. They also refreshed the current Community Vision for Greater Bendigo.”
The Council Plan is structured around four themes, linked to 12 goals and 34 priorities.
The themes are:
Responsible – Running an effective, fair, and efficient organisation
Healthy – Protecting and improving our physical, mental, and environmental health
Thriving – Managing our growth, including businesses, housing, heritage, and creativity
Welcoming – Celebrating and including everyone in our community
“I am proud this plan reflects a wide range of community voices and outlines how we’ll meet future challenges. It’s about getting the basics right while building a healthy, inclusive, and thriving Greater Bendigo,” Cr Metcalf said.
In an era of the atomisation of viewing practices through streaming, increasingly short, self-produced videos for TikTok and YouTube, and the reduction of all audiovisual material to “content” for various “platforms”, there is something refreshing about a bunch of strangers assembling in a dark room to collectively watch a giant screen with massive sound.
In other words, going to the movies.
And there’s no better place to see films limited in mainstream release than at film festivals. The standard of the films screening at this year’s Sydney Film Festival was exceptional, and it is difficult to select a top five out of the 40 or so I managed to see. But here goes!
Sirât
Produced by Pedro Almodovar, writer-director Oliver Laxe’s Sirât, which recently won the Jury Prize at Cannes, follows middle-aged Luis (Sergi López) as he travels with his son Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona) and their dog Pipa looking for his estranged daughter in the desert rave scene. They team up with a group of ravers and set off across Southern Morocco towards the next party.
Early on, there are some hints that things are awry on a broader scale – the military break up the opening doof, and we hear, at one point, World War III has broken out.
And as the film unfolds, things take a turn for the worse, with a litany of tragedies – increasingly absurd – afflicting the members of the group. The vaguely futuristic world of the opening crystallises into something much more terrifying than the kind of shrill cinematic post-apocalypticism we’ve become used to through films like Fury Road.
What begins as a kind of paean to raving – replete with bass-thumping speakers (cranked in theatres to eardrum pounding loudness), a “cool” crew of trippers, and an emphasis on the free lives of the ravers (played by real-life party-goers) – rapidly descends into a wild existential nightmare. And the idea that life is a kind of free consumerist party for westerners is viciously dismembered in the second half: we are all refugees in this era.
Sirât is a masterpiece. Its stunning 16mm film images (courtesy of cinematographer Mauro Herve) are complemented by exceptional sound design by Laia Casanova, a majesty of image and sound demanding to be experienced in a cinema.
Somebody
Written and directed by Lee Jung-chan and Kim Yeo-jung, the South Korean film Somebody is a puzzling, intense psycho drama about precociously evil child So-hyun (Gi So-yoo) and the pressures this places on her single mother Yeong-eun (Kwak Sun-young).
An unsettling horror thriller, the film also plays like a study of the evil child archetype. It works through the genre’s cliches, unpicking them while eschewing the usual evil-kid scares in favour of looking at the complex interplay between and ambiguity around the image of child as brat/evil and mother as caring/enabler.
In the first half, the point of view oscillates between an image of the child as evil and the child as scared. In the second half, the evil child has grown up, and we follow her towards the film’s brutal (and unexpected) ending.
And this is where Somebody excels. It taps into the fear of parents that their children are alien parasites – who is this stranger now living off me? – but also the difficulties for children in feeling isolated and scared.
Somebody is a deeply sad and troubling film, buoyed by excellent performances from adults and children alike. In real life, the idea that a kid would be born evil is preposterous, but it’s a movieland cliché that works. Somebody addresses this idea with a genuinely impressive vision.
Harvest
Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Harvest is a melancholic, elegiac film set in a rural community in Scotland in the Middle Ages. When the economic harmony of the village is disrupted by the advent of a new noble, three wandering strangers are mercilessly scapegoated, despite the efforts of villager Walter Thirsk (Caleb Landry Jones, in a beautifully understated performance) to protect them.
Despite the turmoil it depicts, the film unfolds as gently as the familiar rhythms of the seasons.
Cinematographer Sean Price Williams’ 16mm images are uncannily beautiful, supported by an astonishing score and sound design from Nicolas Becker.
This fable about the ravages of modernity (recalling Vincent Ward’s The Navigator) – of the violence of calendar time as it overcomes the time of the harvest – is exceptional in every respect.
Not much happens. It’s a slow-moving, brooding film, and it would not be nearly as compelling seen on a small screen. But for those of us willing to make a trip to the movies, Harvest is immensely satisfying.
Redux Redux
Part of the eternally rousing Freak Me Out strand of the program from film critic Richard Kuipers, Kevin and Matthew McManus’ Redux Redux is the kind of high concept film that could easily depend too much on its ingenious conceit (a woman travels throughout the multiverse repeatedly avenging the murder of her daughter) and forget about the stuff that actually makes films work (coherent, striking visual design, immersive sound and compelling performances).
But Redux Redux gets everything right, maintaining its iron grip on the viewer from the opening title card to the closing credits. Michaela McManus – sister of the writer-directors – is brilliant as the grieving, vengeful mother, playing the part with a staid intensity that never tips into hysteria or melodrama.
There are some funny moments – the amusingly lowbrow design of the multiverse machine, for example. But the film never feels like it plays too hard for laughs. Paul Koch’s synth music and sound design are richly atmospheric without coming off as trite, and perfectly support the crisp, economical cinematography of Alan Gwizdowski.
The most impressive thing about the film is the effortlessness with which the story feels like it develops throughout – even though the plot, on the surface, involves the same thing being repeated ad nauseam.
Unlike, for example, in the case of the multiverse-themed Everything Everywhere All at Once, Redux Redux never comes across as self-indulgent, clever for its own sake. It never feels like anything other than a compulsively watchable – and immensely pleasurable – revenge thriller.
Alpha
Writer-director Jan-Willem van Ewijk’s Alpha begins as a lightly comedic intergenerational social satire.
Thirty-something Rein (Reinout Scholten van Aschat), a Dutch snowboarder in the Swiss alps, clashes with his movie-star father, Gijs (Gijs Scholten van Aschar), when Gijs visits him. Gijs flirts with Rein’s girlfriend, asks inappropriate questions about race, and parties with his son’s friends, all the time escalating the stakes, becoming increasingly overbearing and competitive.
It’s funny and familiar fare, treading similar terrain to a Ruben Östland film, and it’s well-done. Pairing a real life father and son is a casting act of genius, adding both pathos and authenticity to their competition.
Similar to Sirât, Alpha takes a sudden turn at the mid-way point. Father and son are trapped in an avalanche. It becomes a race against time as son tries to rescue father in a gruelling battle for survival.
Its brutal second half completely detonates the entire scaffold of our pleasure from the first half. Testament to the craft of van Ewijk (and the talent of the stars), this radical change in tone never feels incoherent or contrived.
By the end of Alpha, the petty dick-swinging of father and son from the first half – and the energetic (and well-shot) skiing footage – becomes nothing before the austere, cold majesty of the mountains looming over and entrapping them.
Alpha is a masterclass in audience manipulation. A truly devastating experience for the viewer.
Other notable films – and one dud!
There were too many excellent films to note them all. Some include master auteur Christian Petzold’s Mirrors No. 3, a film – typical of Petzold – of people haunted by ghosts of lives lost and faded desires, an understated film which – again, customary for Petzold’s work – has an enigmatic air one can’t quite put one’s finger on.
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent was another standout: a fun, rollicking romp for cinephiles about political machinations in Brazil in the 1970s.
Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, a biopic of American songwriter Lorenz Hart, had a charmingly goofy affect, as did Vie Privée, a breezy French thriller starring Jodie Foster as a psychoanalyst caught up in a mystery.
Olmo, which could easily have made the top five, is a charming coming of age odyssey about a Mexican-American 14-year-old going to a party with his crush. The Love That Remains is a stunningly shot, surreal comedy about the trials and tribulations of an Icelandic family.
As per usual, some exceptional documentaries screened. Joh: The Last King of Queensland made by Kriv Stenders (better known for narrative works like Red Dog), is a formally compelling study of the reign of Australia’s longest serving premier.
The Raftsmen is an uplifting crowd-pleaser about the expedition from Ecuador to Australia that captivated the public’s attention in 1973. The film is built around an exceptional archive of contemporaneous 16mm footage shot by the rafters.
Lowland Kids, produced by Darren Aronofsky, is a carefully observed documentary about a community in Louisiana forced to relocate because of climate change. This tender film counterpoints the grim reality of global warming with the individual disappointments of the characters’ personal lives.
The only truly execrable film I saw was Michel Franco’s Dreams, a hokey, profoundly dumb film masquerading as something cutting edge (wow – there’s sex, and the camera doesn’t move much), cashing in on topical problems in the United States. Worst of all – and despite ballet sequences, which are always good to watch – it’s a very ugly film.
Given the mediocre quality of much contemporary Hollywood cinema, one dud out of 40 isn’t too bad!
Ari Mattes 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.
Council last night adopted the Budget 2025/2026 marking a bold step forward with substantial investment in everyday infrastructure and transformative projects, including the redevelopment of Bendigo Art Gallery.
For the first time, the Budget and the newly adopted Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029 have been developed and planned together to ensure a strong alignment between strategic goals and the resources required to achieve them.
These milestone documents have been shaped through extensive community engagement that began back in late 2024.
The Budget 2025/2026 has an annual action plan to ensure efficient and sustainable delivery of services.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said investing in long term projects supported Greater Bendigo’s growth.
“We have some very exciting projects ahead that are vital for the region’s future economic success,” Cr Metcalf said.
“The $45M redevelopment of the Bendigo Art Gallery will reshape the region’s future.
As the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Council, it will elevate the Gallery’s status as a cultural and economic asset for both our region and the state of Victoria. Council’s $9M investment has helped secure more than $34M in external funding, including $21M from the State Government, $4M from the Gallery Board and more than $9M in philanthropic donations – an amazing achievement.
“Funding partners are critical to major project delivery across Bendigo, including the State Government fully funding the redevelopment of the Bendigo Bowls and Croquet Clubs, and investing in the Bendigo Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail between Golden Square and White Hills.
“All three levels of government have invested in the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve stage 1 pavilion works, and the Federal Government and the City are also upgrading the Golden Square Recreation Reserve Pavilion and jointly investing in the new Heathcote Civic Precinct.
“The Budget will invest in important infrastructure used daily in the community. There are around 230 road renewals, 12 new footpaths, 14 footpath renewals, new roundabouts, tram track upgrades, bridge renewals, Waratah Road and Midland Highway intersection signalisation, playspace renewals and much more.
“Developing the Council Plan and Budget at the same time has ensured that our strategic goals are directly supported by the projects and initiatives we’re funding.
“Top priorities identified through community engagement are roads, (including public and active transport), waste management, and parks and trails. The recurring themes were for Greater Bendigo to be responsible, healthy, thriving and welcoming.
“The Budget 2025/2026 has been developed to be fiscally responsible while managing community expectations. This is a balanced approach that reflects our commitment to deliver around 60 essential community services, progress multi-year capital works, and maintain essential infrastructure used daily in the community.
“There are limited funds available and this Budget seeks to address these concerns by continuing to fund existing services wisely and prioritise works and services in a responsible manner.”
The Budget has been developed in line with the State Government’s rate cap of 3 per cent. As with previous years, Council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap as it seeks to absorb increasing costs for supplies, goods and services.
There will be no increase to waste charges for ratepayers in the new financial year.
The Budget 2025/2026 is valued at $259M, with an operating budget of $189M funding services like waste collection, street cleaning, environmental health, statutory planning, road maintenance, flood restoration works, early learning, immunisation, tourism and visitor services, and much more, and a capital works budget of $70M for new infrastructure projects across the community.
The City of Greater Bendigo is delighted to present the 2025/2026 Budget, reflecting projects and initiatives that respond to our community’s priorities.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the community engagement process to inform this Budget and the new Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029.
For the first time, the City has prepared the Budget and a new Council Plan at the same time, which ensures alignment between the goals of the Council Plan and the projects and initiatives funded in the Budget.
In November 2024, 180 people contributed to a community survey via the City’s Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo community engagement platform, which identified roads (including active and public transport infrastructure), waste, parks and trails as the top priorities.
As such, these priorities are reflected in the kinds of projects and initiatives funded in this Budget and also the goals and actions in the new Council Plan. Community engagement can also take other forms throughout the year, including various engagement sessions Councillors have held in the community, ongoing discussions community groups have with City staff, and direct advocacy from community groups via presentations to Council.
A range of large-scale infrastructure projects lead the City’s investment on behalf of the community.
Construction will start on the $45M stage one Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment – a transformational project designed to cement the Gallery’s reputation as a cultural and economic success for Greater Bendigo and the state of Victoria. This will be the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the City and Council’s investment of $9M has helped secure more than $34M in external funding to date, including $21M from the State Government, $4M from the Gallery Board and more than $9M in philanthropic funding.
The City will project manage the State Government’s investment in redeveloped Bendigo Bowls and Croquet Clubs facilities, which will provide the bowls club with two synthetic greens and two grass greens, two widened croquet greens and an upgraded clubhouse.
A mix of funding from the Federal Government ($500,000) and the City ($1.85M) will deliver the Golden Square Recreation Reserve Pavilion upgrade and renewal, including improved player amenities for football, netball and cricket user groups, and spectators. And all three levels of government have invested $3.2M ($1.2M from the City) in stage 1 pavilion works at North Bendigo Recreation Reserve.
It will be easier to travel through the city centre by bike and on foot with the innovative 4.4km Low Line Walking and Cycling Trail to take shape within the Bendigo Creek, between Golden Square and White Hills, and the shared cycle path along Mundy Street, from McCrae Street out to Back Creek.
Recent Federal election commitments relating to the Kangaroo Flat Skate Park, stage 2 of the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve redevelopment (pavilion construction) and new female-friendly facilities at Truscott Reserve will be delivered over coming financial years.
The $4.3M Heathcote Civic Precinct will also get underway, delivering a much-needed contemporary community hub and customer service centre for City services.
Accessibility is important in this Budget, with The Capital theatre to receive an upgrade to make the stage accessible to all performers, including purchase of a Mobilift, and installation of a heating and cooling system for the Bendigo Town Hall to make it a more inviting and usable community space.
Following the floods of 2024, $4.3M will fund drainage, stormwater and flood mitigation improvement works.
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan presenting a service certificate to Toomuc brigade
Toomuc Fire Brigade recently gathered to celebrate their 80 years of service to the community and acknowledge the dedication of some of their long serving members.
More than 60 people came together at the Cardinia Club in Pakenham on Saturday 14 June, with CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan joining in the festivities.
Toomuc Fire Brigade Captain Andrew Ferrari has been a member for 22 years and said after a long, busy summer, it was nice to come together to mark the special occasion.
“We are a peaceful bunch, we work hard, get the job done and get home safely,” Andrew said.
“We had eight firefighters attend the Gurdies fire in December, before heading to the Grampians. Our 2nd Lieutenant Dan Farrall, lead a crew who were locating hot spots that had been called in by aircraft patrolling the area.”
Forming after the Pakenham fires in 1944, the original station was then built and opened in 1954 by the founding members. The bricks used were made by the clay from the nearby creek.
Surrounding larger towns like Pakenham, Officer, Upper Beaconsfield and Pakenham Upper, the old mining village of Toomuc remains well protected, with 23 brigade members stationed locally and Fire Rescue Victoria just around the corner.
“We still have a wall out the front of our station made from the original bricks,” Andrew said.
“We were also the first brigade to have a positive pressure fan for ventilation in the area.”
15-year Toomuc member and 1st Lieutenant Blake Sokaluk said the brigade is well equipped with their tanker and ultralight, which assists them with their typical 190 call outs a year.
“Our tanker goes away on strike teams quite a bit, and when it does go away, we always manage to get some crew on it.” Blake said.
‘During the 2019-20 bushfires it was away for five weeks and every shift there was either two, three or four of us on there.
“That’s our strong point, if we do get called upon, we can make it happen. We have a great brigade who are willing and ready to help.
“We’ve had members go interstate into Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania for fire and flood relief, and a couple are also on the Planned Burn Taskforce.
“Our former Captain John Ferrari also fought the Ash Wednesday bushfires and remains active in the brigade.”
Although the brigade doesn’t have a lot of daytime turnout availability due to most people working in the city or surrounds, the brigade has recently had three people jump on board.
“We are a small brigade, but we love spending time with the community. We do regular events and fundraisers throughout the year where we bring our truck down and do a few activities with the kids and big kids,” Blake said.
The service history within the brigade is diverse, ranging from one week to 43 years. On the night, two members received a National Medal, one with a first clasp, while three were awarded their 20 years of service certificate, and another three for 5, 10 and 15 years.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Westaway, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland
Last week, the Queensland government launched the ambitious Destination 2045 tourism plan, which aims to make the state a global leader in tourism. The plan highlights that one in six jobs in tropical north Queensland are supported by tourism.
However, earlier this year the same government tentatively withdrew support from a campaign to add Cape York to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
If the goal is to position Queensland as a leader in tourism, then linking Cape York’s landscapes to the World Heritage brand would certainly help achieve that.
Consultation is key
In June 2024, Steven Miles, Labor’s then-premier in Queensland, and Tanya Plibersek, the federal environment minister, announced they had placed seven of the cape’s national parks on Australia’s tentative World Heritage list.
In January, however, the newly elected Liberal-National government, under Premier David Crisafulli, ordered a review of the decision. The government cited concerns over a lack of sufficient consultation around the nomination.
If a lack of consultation is the main issue, there is an opportunity for the Crissafulli government to thoughtfully reopen negotiations.
Getting this step right could help conserve and encourage tourism to one of Australia’s most diverse landscapes – in line with the Destination 2045 plan.
How to get onto (and kicked off) UNESCO’s list
Cape York covers some 137,000 square kilometres. According to the 2021 census, it has a population of less than 8,000 people, including 3,678 Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Fruit Bat Falls is a waterfall located in the Apudthama National Park (Jardine River National Park) in Cape York. Jason Clark/Flickr, CC BY-NC
Inscription to the World Heritage list doesn’t mean the entire cape would be listed – just specific sites and landscapes within it.
It’s usually the responsibility of a country’s various governments to convince UNESCO, in a nomination bid, a certain place has the necessary “outstanding universal value” and meets at least one of UNESCO’s ten selection criteria.
Sites that are physically altered or damaged after receiving World Heritage status can be de-listed, either by a state party or by UNESCO. This has happened in Oman, Germany, the United Kingdom and Georgia.
We also recently saw the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Western Australia, with its extraordinary record of rock engravings (petroglyphs), denied World Heritage inscription. This was mainly due to the threat of ongoing damage from industrial emissions from Woodside Energy’s nearby Karratha gas plant.
World Heritage status: a risk or benefit?
A carefully considered World Heritage inscription doesn’t necessarily block industries and tourism from the listed area.
Many of the archaeological sites of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area in New South Wales are located on sheep stations. These stations, established in the late 19th century, have individual property plans that ensure the sites are conserved while remaining viable for agricultural activity.
Another example is the tourism seen at the extraordinary eel trap system of Budj Bim in southwest Victoria. Budj Bim is one of Australia’s most recent additions to the World Heritage list. It is also the first site to be inscribed solely for its cultural value.
The Budj Bim eel traps were engineered some 6,600 years ago, and represent one of the world’s oldest aquaculture systems.
This cultural landscape is now home to a thriving tourism program that attracts thousands of visitors each year. The World Heritage listing ensures there are enough resources for the Gunditjmara Traditional Owners running the site to improve the health of Country through cultural and environmental management.
While Queensland’s current government has cited concerns over planning restrictions, these types of concerns are typically based on perception rather than proven harm. In Queensland, they were also clearly addressed in government memos and communications.
Tasmania’s forestry sector resisted World Heritage expansion (there were four expansions between 1989–2013), yet tourism in the region remains economically valuable.
It’s unlikely the Cape York nominations would threaten the pastoral or mining industries, since most of the nominated sites are already protected as national parks.
What makes a World Heritage site?
The list of Cape York sites submitted for World Heritage consideration has some strong contenders. Quinkan Country is undoubtedly the most significant site on the list, distinguished by its diversity and richness of Aboriginal paintings and engravings.
But the list isn’t exhaustive. There are several other Aboriginal cultural landscapes in Cape York that also deserve to be considered by UNESCO. These include the giant shell mounds around Weipa, Jiigurru (Lizard Island), and the Flinders Island Group with its extraordinary rock art galleries.
Moving forward
World heritage listings in Cape York have great potential to allow Aboriginal people to care for the landscapes and create tourism infrastructure that centres Aboriginal perspectives.
Appointing Aboriginal rangers in the Flinders Island Group could help deliver a unique and sustainable cultural tourism experience, similar to that provided at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Destination 2045 highlights the importance of developing Aboriginal ranger programs in such landscapes to boost cultural tourism and economic growth.
Inggal Odul (Denham Island part of Flinders Island Group). Source: Olivia Arnold (2023).
The Crisafulli government now has the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the Traditional Custodians of the Cape York landscapes that have been put forth. We argue that the World Heritage listing outcome could help the cape’s economic development and support its communities.
Michael Westaway receives funding from then Australian Research Council and has undertaken research with Aboriginal communities in the Kaurarag Archipelago, around Mapoon and Weipa including on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve and in the Flinders Island Group adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay.
Anna M. Kotarba-Morley receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Ania previously sat on the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) World Heritage Nomination Bids review panel. Ania undertakes research with Aboriginal communities including within the Kaurareg Archipelago.
Denis Rose is on the board of the not-for-profit Country Needs People, which advocates for Indigenous Protected Areas and the Indigenous Rangers Program.
Olivia Arnold has undertaken research with Aboriginal communities in the Flinders Island Group adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay, Kaurarag Archipelago and Jiigurru (Lizard Island group).
Rylee Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Westaway, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland
Last week, the Queensland government launched the ambitious Destination 2045 tourism plan, which aims to make the state a global leader in tourism. The plan highlights that one in six jobs in tropical north Queensland are supported by tourism.
However, earlier this year the same government tentatively withdrew support from a campaign to add Cape York to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
If the goal is to position Queensland as a leader in tourism, then linking Cape York’s landscapes to the World Heritage brand would certainly help achieve that.
Consultation is key
In June 2024, Steven Miles, Labor’s then-premier in Queensland, and Tanya Plibersek, the federal environment minister, announced they had placed seven of the cape’s national parks on Australia’s tentative World Heritage list.
In January, however, the newly elected Liberal-National government, under Premier David Crisafulli, ordered a review of the decision. The government cited concerns over a lack of sufficient consultation around the nomination.
If a lack of consultation is the main issue, there is an opportunity for the Crissafulli government to thoughtfully reopen negotiations.
Getting this step right could help conserve and encourage tourism to one of Australia’s most diverse landscapes – in line with the Destination 2045 plan.
How to get onto (and kicked off) UNESCO’s list
Cape York covers some 137,000 square kilometres. According to the 2021 census, it has a population of less than 8,000 people, including 3,678 Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Fruit Bat Falls is a waterfall located in the Apudthama National Park (Jardine River National Park) in Cape York. Jason Clark/Flickr, CC BY-NC
Inscription to the World Heritage list doesn’t mean the entire cape would be listed – just specific sites and landscapes within it.
It’s usually the responsibility of a country’s various governments to convince UNESCO, in a nomination bid, a certain place has the necessary “outstanding universal value” and meets at least one of UNESCO’s ten selection criteria.
Sites that are physically altered or damaged after receiving World Heritage status can be de-listed, either by a state party or by UNESCO. This has happened in Oman, Germany, the United Kingdom and Georgia.
We also recently saw the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Western Australia, with its extraordinary record of rock engravings (petroglyphs), denied World Heritage inscription. This was mainly due to the threat of ongoing damage from industrial emissions from Woodside Energy’s nearby Karratha gas plant.
World Heritage status: a risk or benefit?
A carefully considered World Heritage inscription doesn’t necessarily block industries and tourism from the listed area.
Many of the archaeological sites of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area in New South Wales are located on sheep stations. These stations, established in the late 19th century, have individual property plans that ensure the sites are conserved while remaining viable for agricultural activity.
Another example is the tourism seen at the extraordinary eel trap system of Budj Bim in southwest Victoria. Budj Bim is one of Australia’s most recent additions to the World Heritage list. It is also the first site to be inscribed solely for its cultural value.
The Budj Bim eel traps were engineered some 6,600 years ago, and represent one of the world’s oldest aquaculture systems.
This cultural landscape is now home to a thriving tourism program that attracts thousands of visitors each year. The World Heritage listing ensures there are enough resources for the Gunditjmara Traditional Owners running the site to improve the health of Country through cultural and environmental management.
While Queensland’s current government has cited concerns over planning restrictions, these types of concerns are typically based on perception rather than proven harm. In Queensland, they were also clearly addressed in government memos and communications.
Tasmania’s forestry sector resisted World Heritage expansion (there were four expansions between 1989–2013), yet tourism in the region remains economically valuable.
It’s unlikely the Cape York nominations would threaten the pastoral or mining industries, since most of the nominated sites are already protected as national parks.
What makes a World Heritage site?
The list of Cape York sites submitted for World Heritage consideration has some strong contenders. Quinkan Country is undoubtedly the most significant site on the list, distinguished by its diversity and richness of Aboriginal paintings and engravings.
But the list isn’t exhaustive. There are several other Aboriginal cultural landscapes in Cape York that also deserve to be considered by UNESCO. These include the giant shell mounds around Weipa, Jiigurru (Lizard Island), and the Flinders Island Group with its extraordinary rock art galleries.
Moving forward
World heritage listings in Cape York have great potential to allow Aboriginal people to care for the landscapes and create tourism infrastructure that centres Aboriginal perspectives.
Appointing Aboriginal rangers in the Flinders Island Group could help deliver a unique and sustainable cultural tourism experience, similar to that provided at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Destination 2045 highlights the importance of developing Aboriginal ranger programs in such landscapes to boost cultural tourism and economic growth.
Inggal Odul (Denham Island part of Flinders Island Group). Source: Olivia Arnold (2023).
The Crisafulli government now has the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the Traditional Custodians of the Cape York landscapes that have been put forth. We argue that the World Heritage listing outcome could help the cape’s economic development and support its communities.
Michael Westaway receives funding from then Australian Research Council and has undertaken research with Aboriginal communities in the Kaurarag Archipelago, around Mapoon and Weipa including on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve and in the Flinders Island Group adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay.
Anna M. Kotarba-Morley receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Ania previously sat on the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) World Heritage Nomination Bids review panel. Ania undertakes research with Aboriginal communities including within the Kaurareg Archipelago.
Denis Rose is on the board of the not-for-profit Country Needs People, which advocates for Indigenous Protected Areas and the Indigenous Rangers Program.
Olivia Arnold has undertaken research with Aboriginal communities in the Flinders Island Group adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay, Kaurarag Archipelago and Jiigurru (Lizard Island group).
Rylee Smith 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.
For millennia, First Nations people have shaped Australian ecosystems through the purposeful and skilful use of fire. This cultural burning is an important way for Aboriginal people to connect to and care for Country.
Under climate change, Earth is experiencing more frequent and severe bushfires. This has prompted a rethink of Western approaches to fire management, and triggered the development of cultural burning programs supported by government agencies.
At the same time, First Nations people have been calling to revitalise cultural burning as part of a generations-long pursuit of self-determination.
Our new research details the results of a Indigenous-led cultural burning program in critically endangered woodlands in New South Wales. It shows how Western science can support cultural burning to deliver benefits across cultures – as well as for nature.
What we did
Box-gum grassy woodland has been extensively cleared for agriculture, and only about 5% of its original extent remains. The woodlands are endangered in NSW and critically endangered across eastern Australia.
They feature diverse eucalypt trees, sparse shrubs and native tussock grasses, and support native fauna including the critically endangered regent honeyeater and swift parrot.
Our project brought together First Nations communities, ecologists from the Australian National University and officers from Local Land Services. It also involved the Rural Fire Service.
Cultural burns are relatively cool, slow fires. They trickle through the landscape, enabling animals to escape the flames. They promote the germination of plants, including culturally important food and medicine plants, among other benefits.
Cultural burns are important to First Nations people for a variety of cultural and social reasons. The practice is part of a broader suite of inherited cultural responsibilities shared through generations.
Our project involved cultural burns in the winter and spring of 2023. Wiradjuri people burned their Country around Young and Wagga Wagga, and Ngunnawal people burned their Country near Yass.
The burns took place on travelling stock reserves – remnant patches of vegetation historically used to move cattle from paddock to market. These reserves are very important for Aboriginal people because they often trace Songlines and Dreaming tracks. They are also important for farmers as places to graze cattle during drought.
Alongside the cultural burning program, ANU research ecologists monitored how the woodlands responded to the burns. They did this by surveying plants, soils and biomass before and about eight months after the burns, as well as in unburnt areas.
What we found
We measured plant responses by counting the number of plant individuals and recording germination.
Many native plant species germinated after the burn. They included native peas – one an endangered species, the small scurf pea, which germinated exclusively after the burns.
Germination was greater in burned than unburned sites, including for sensitive species that commonly respond well to fire such as native glycine (a herb) and lomandra grasses.
Importantly, the condition of a site before the burn affected how well plants responded. Condition refers to factors such as the diversity of native plants (including sensitive species) and the presence of weeds.
After the burn, native plants were more abundant on sites with a better starting condition, than on those in poor condition. This highlights the importance of improving the health of poor-condition areas after burns.
The type of appropriate management will depend on the site, but may include weed control and planting or seeding native species. More monitoring will also help quantify longer term responses after burning.
Investing in community and nature
Indigenous community members led the burns on their Country and were represented by women and men of multiple generations. They were paid for their work and offered fire-safety training and personal protective equipment.
The burns were often community events – days of connection and sharing knowledge within communities, and between cultures. This fostered opportunities for “two-way learning” and “two-eyed seeing” – ways of respectfully bringing together Indigenous and Western knowledge.
Our project shows how cross-cultural partnerships can be central to conserving and restoring Australia’s unique and highly diverse ecosystems, during a period of environmental change. But for this to happen, cultural burning must be better integrated into mainstream land management.
This is especially needed in some parts of southern Australia, where government-funded programs have been less resourced than in parts of northern and Central Australia.
Government agencies and institutions can support Indigenous land stewardship in various ways.
These include:
designing projects with Indigenous people from the outset, and being directed by community aspirations which supports self-determination
forming meaningful cross-cultural partnerships across agencies to navigate complex bureaucratic processes
providing Indigenous people with resources and land access to manage Country, including funding for labour, training and equipment. Provisions for sufficient resources must be made from the beginning, in grant applications
protecting and acknowledging the rights of Indigenous people to their cultural heritage, such as traditional knowledge, through formal protection agreements.
Elle Bowd receives funding from the NSW Government, the ACT Government, the ACT government, the Local Land Services, and the Australian Research Council.
David Lindenmayer receives funding from the NSW Government, the ACT Government, the 4AM Foundation, NSW Local Land Services, and the Australian Research Council. He is a Councillor with the Biodiversity Council and a Member of Birds Australia.
Geoff Cary receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence funded by ANU and Optus, and previously received funding from Future Ready Regions EDIS Development, Australian Research Council, ACT Government, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Greenhouse Office/Department of Climate Change Greenhouse Action in Regional Australia funding schemes, Desert Knowledge CRC, NSW Department of Environment & Conservation, Tasmanian Government and US National Science Foundation.
Braithan Bell-Garner and Dean Freeman do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chelsea kicked off its Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win against LAFC in a half-empty Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Chelsea was the better side, although LAFC looked to move the ball around against a rival that started the match with three of its four new signings on the bench.
Liam Delap (3rd R) of Chelsea vies with Timothy Tillman (2nd R) of Los Angeles FC during the Group D match between Chelsea of England and Los Angeles FC of the United States at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Atlanta, the United States, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
Chelsea had to withstand a bright start from LAFC in a ground where there were far too many empty seats, but after around 15 minutes the Conference League champions began to get control of midfield.
The more Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson got involved, the more danger Chelsea created, with Palmer, now wearing the number 10 shirt, curled an effort just after 20 minutes.
Jackson was involved in the opening goal with a smart pass to Pedro Neto, who left his marker on the floor before beating Hugo Lloris with a cool finish in the 34th minute.
LAFC had to replace Nathan Ordaz with David Martinez two minutes later after the El Salvador international suffered a knock on the head.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca had said he didn’t want his side to treat the game like a friendly, but at times the pace seemed labored from both sides and Maresca was obviously thinking about keeping his players fresh when he replaced Reece James and Romeo Lavia with Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez at the break, while Olivier Giroud came on for LAFC against one of his former clubs.
Jackson had a chance to double Chelsea’s lead when his goal-bound header was deflected just wide, while at the other end Denis Bouanga produced a moment of power and skill to draw a good save from Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez in a rare attack.
Chelsea brought Liam Delap, one of the club’s summer signings on for Jackson in the 64th minute and after Ryan Hollingshead fired over for LAFC, Delap capped his debut with an assist as he whipped in a cross for Fernandez to score from close range to secure the win.
New research has found that while Australians generally support strong punishments, people living in the bush are significantly more likely than city dwellers to want to punish more harshly those who break the law.
It means Australians living in rural and regional areas are more likely to support tougher penalties for crime than those in the cities.
However, it’s not for the reasons you might expect.
So, what drives this divide?
In short: fear of crime and a lack of confidence in the justice system.
Our research, published today in the Journal of Rural Studies, surveyed a representative sample of Australians to better understand their views on punishment and what shaped their views.
We found city residents with tough attitudes toward crime tend to focus on the individual and personal blame, thinking offenders commit crime due to internal attributes (such as having “a poor moral compass”). They tended to see lawbreakers as lacking the capacity to redeem themselves.
But in rural areas, people are more likely to focus on what’s happening around them. Specifically, we found support for tougher penalties for crime was related to wider concerns about rising crime rates and a general lack of confidence in the criminal justice system.
Consider the role of ‘rurality’
To understand these differences, we thought about how living in rural areas may shape punitive attitudes.
Contrary to popular belief, crimes occur at higher rates in many rural communities than in some urban areas.
Crime may also be more visible and more confronting because towns are smaller. Personal relationships are denser, meaning people often know the victims or the offenders.
This closeness creates a stronger emotional response and a heightened sense of risk at the local level – even if the actual chances of being victimised are statistically low.
There’s also the issue of access to the criminal justice system. Courts may sit infrequently, meaning it can take a long time to get a case heard in court. In some cases, victims and offenders are forced to share courtroom space due to limited facilities.
Police stations might not be staffed around the clock.
Add to this long wait times for justice, and it’s no wonder rural Australians may feel the system isn’t working for them.
The power of perception
It’s important to understand perception doesn’t always match reality.
Urban areas often have more total crime, but rural areas may have higher rates of certain offences, especially violent ones.
But what really matters in shaping public opinion is not necessarily the total numbers, but how close, immediate and personal crime feels.
Other research has found people who feel crime is psychologically “close” – meaning, that’s likely to happen to them or someone they know – are much more worried about it.
That worry can translate into calls for tougher sentencing, stricter laws, and less tolerance for rehabilitation.
This fear is made worse by a lack of confidence in the justice system. Many rural residents feel the system is too slow, too distant, or simply doesn’t understand local issues.
When people feel justice won’t be done, they’re more likely to demand punishment that feels immediate and severe.
Why it matters
These findings are more than just a snapshot of attitudes; they have real implications for public policy.
Politicians often draw on public opinion when shaping criminal justice policies.
If rural voters are more likely to support tough-on-crime platforms, that can influence laws that affect the whole country.
But one-size-fits-all solutions won’t work.
The factors shaping crime perceptions in Brisbane or Sydney are very different from those in Longreach or Wagga Wagga.
To build trust and improve safety, we need justice strategies that take into account local realities, especially in rural areas.
This means investing in better access to police and courts, improving communication between justice systems and rural communities, and helping the public understand what crime is really happening and what’s not.
Australians in rural areas aren’t more punitive because they’re harsher people. Our research shows they are more worried, feel less supported, and have less confidence in the system designed to protect them.
Understanding this difference is key to building smarter, fairer justice policies because when people feel seen, heard, and safe, they’re less likely to demand punishment to solve feelings of insecurity and more likely to support holistic solutions.
What’s needed now
Rural communities need tailored strategies that improve access to justice, rebuild trust, and respond to their unique experiences of crime.
That means policymakers need to go beyond reactive, headline-driven responses.
Rural justice strategies should include mobile court services, better resourcing for regional police and victim support, and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous communities.
Community education campaigns can also help close the gap between crime perception and reality.
Importantly, involving local voices in justice reform, through consultation and community partnerships, can help rebuild trust and ensure policies reflect rural realities, not just urban assumptions.
As political debate over law and order grows, especially in rural communities, leaders must address the divide in how city and country Australians view crime and punishment.
Kyle Mulrooney is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and co-director of the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England.
Caitlin Davey and Sue Watt do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Speculation is swirling around the future of the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, following Washington’s decision to review the nuclear submarine deal to ensure it meets President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was planning to use talks with Trump at the G7 to demand the US continue to back the deal – but the meeting has been cancelled.
With the Pentagon taking another look at AUKUS, we ask five experts whether the government should rethink Australia’s own commitment to the pact.
Jennifer Parker
Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University
Absolutely not. Another review would consume time and capacity better spent delivering AUKUS on its tight timelines.
To understand why, we must put the decision in context.
The leaked details of the US Department of Defense review does not alter the position of any of the three AUKUS partners. Much of the commentary has missed the broader picture: Washington is undertaking its regular review of defence strategy.
It makes sense the Pentagon would also assess AUKUS – a central element of its Indo-Pacific posture.
While some have fixated on Colby’s supposed scepticism, the reality is different. In March, Colby told the US Senate Armed Services Committee the US should do everything in its power to make AUKUS work.
Why now? Because the strategy review is being accelerated under the new administration. As for the leak, it is plausible it was designed to apply pressure to Australia over its defence spending commitments.
The more important question is: what is the likely outcome? While nothing is certain, AUKUS enjoys strong bipartisan support in the US, as it does in Australia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called it a “blueprint” for cooperation, echoed by other senior officials.
Crucially, the real driver of this so-called “America First” review is what the US gets out of AUKUS. The answer is quite a lot. It secures access to Southeast and Northeast Asia from a location beyond the range of most Chinese missiles, adds a fourth maintenance site for Virginia-class submarines, and delivers an ally with an independent nuclear-powered submarine industrial base.
Beyond AUKUS, Australia has expanded its support for Marine and bomber rotations and other posture initiatives. Australia is central to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific. They need us as much as we need them. All signs point to a constructive outcome from this short, sharp review.
While AUKUS carries risks and Australia must remain clear-eyed, alarmism is unhelpful. Much of the public debate has taken that tone. Nothing fundamental has changed since the optimal pathway was announced in 2023. The risks we face now were known then.
There is no basis for an Australian review at this point. It would only distract from delivering this ambitious program. If core assumptions materially change, then a review may be warranted. But until then, such talk is a distraction.
Albert Palazzo
Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney
The AUKUS review should be welcomed by all Australians as an opportunity for the Albanese government to scrap the agreement and wean itself off US dependency.
The review is a chance for our political leaders to exercise their most important responsibility: asserting the nation’s sovereignty and equipping Australia to provide for its national security on its own.
Since AUKUS already contains clauses the US could use to cancel the pact, a termination now would benefit Australia. It would save the nation huge sums of money, and force the government to formulate a more useful and appropriate security policy.
Elbridge Colby has previously questioned the logic of “giving away” America’s “crown jewels”, namely its nuclear-powered submarines, and argued the US will need all its boats against China.
Elbridge Colby is in charge of the AUKUS review.
More alarmingly, in his book The Strategy of Denial, Colby concludes the ideal way for the US to deny China regional hegemony is to use its allies to minimise its own “risks, commitment and expense”. Additionally, he says the US needs to retain the opportunity to walk away from a China conflict if that proves to be in America’s best interest.
Colby’s track record suggests he will recommend Australia make a larger military contribution to the alliance — as his boss Pete Hegseth demanded at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This is even as the US reserves its right to desert us at a time of its own choosing, as the United Kingdom did during the second world war with the Singapore Strategy.
At one time, the existing defence policy of reliance on the US made a degree of sense. But that is no longer the case. Instead, Australia’s leaders have an opportunity to recalibrate defence policy from one of dependency to one of self-defence.
As I outline in my forthcoming book, The Big Fix, Australia should adopt the philosophy of “strategic defensive”. This is a method of waging war in which the defender only needs to prevent an aggressor from achieving its objectives.
This would eliminate the risks and enormous cost of AUKUS while securing the nation’s future. A strategic defensive approach is well within Australia’s capabilities to implement on its own.
While it would be an ironic act of dependency if the US was to save Australia from itself by either cancelling AUKUS or by making it too unpalatable to swallow, the chance to reconsider should not be missed.
AUKUS remains an affront to Australian sovereignty.
Ian Langford
Executive Director, Security & Defence PLuS and Professor, UNSW Sydney
Australia should not walk away from AUKUS in light of the Pentagon’s newly announced review. However, it should seize the moment to increase defence spending to meet short-term challenges not addressed by the submarine deal.
Despite the noise, AUKUS remains Australia’s most straightforward path to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, deepening strategic interoperability with the United States and United Kingdom, and embedding itself in the advanced defence technology ecosystems of its closest allies.
But clinging to AUKUS without confronting the deeper risks it now exposes would be a strategic mistake. From an Australian perspective, the submarine pathway is on a slow fuse: first deliveries are not expected until the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, the risk of major power conflict in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating, with a potential flashpoint involving China and the US as early as 2027. Naval brinkmanship in the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas is already routine.
Submarines that arrive too late do little to shape the strategic balance in the next five years. Canberra must therefore confront a hard truth: AUKUS may enhance Australia’s deterrence posture in the 2030s, but it does little to prepare the ADF for a near-term fight.
That fight, should it come, will demand capabilities the ADF currently lacks in sufficient quantity: long-range missiles, deployable air defence, survivable command and control, and more surface combatants.
Yet under current spending plans, Australia is trying to fund both the AUKUS build and short-term deterrence within a constrained budget. It will not work. Even after recent increases, defence spending remains around 2% of GDP. This is well below the level needed to fund both long-term deterrence and immediate readiness.
Without a step change – closer to 2.5–3% of GDP – or a major reprioritisation of big-ticket programs, the ADF faces a dangerous capability gap through the second half of this decade.
Australia should hold firm on AUKUS. The strategic upside is real, and the alliance commitments it reinforces are indispensable. But we should not pretend it is cost-free.
Unless the defence budget is significantly expanded, AUKUS risks hollowing out the rest of the Defence Force. The result would be a future submarine fleet paired with an underpowered ADF, unready to meet the threats of today.
In reaffirming AUKUS, Australia must confront the complex reality that it won’t address the threats of this decade, and should plan accordingly.
Maria Rost Rublee
Professor, International Relations Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Let’s be honest – Australia is not going to withdraw from AUKUS.
The United States is our most important military and diplomatic partner; in the words of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, “our alliance with the US remains fundamental to Australia’s national security”.
Unilaterally extracting ourselves from AUKUS would significantly damage our relationship with the US. Given the bipartisan and public support for the alliance within Australia, it simply won’t happen.
As we navigate the complexities of AUKUS under Trump 2.0, we should remember that as a defence industrial agreement, AUKUS creates numerous benefits for Australia. In both Pillar I (nuclear submarines) and Pillar II (advanced defence capabilities), Australia is developing deep partnerships, collaboration and even integration with both the US and the UK in shipbuilding, advanced technology, and stronger supply chains.
In addition, a rarely discussed benefit of AUKUS is the total life-cycle climate impacts, given nuclear submarines are superior to diesel alternatives. Diesel is a non-renewable energy source with significant global warming potential, while nuclear power is generally acknowledged to be low-carbon.
However, AUKUS does offer very significant risks for Australia. Flexibility is baked into the arrangement for the three partner nations – leading to the very situation we are in today. There are significant concerns Washington may not sell nuclear Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s, as agreed.
We have known for years the US is not producing enough nuclear attack submarines for its own domestic use, but we seem to have hoped this would change or the US would sell us the subs anyway.
The current US review of AUKUS makes it clear Australia needs to think seriously about other options for submarines. Without the Virginia-class, we will be without any subs at all, at least until the SSN-AUKUS submarines are delivered by the mid-2040s.
Our current ageing Collins-class subs, already beset with operational problems, will not be fit for purpose much past mid-2030. At this point, the most likely viable option is off-the-shelf conventional submarines from Japan or South Korea.
The fact is, while Australia is unlikely to withdraw from AUKUS, the US may force the issue by refusing to sell us its nuclear-powered submarines. Refusing to acknowledge this does not change the risks.
President Donald Trumps wants US allies to lift their defence spending. Rawpixel/Shutterstock
David Andrews
Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University
I want AUKUS to succeed. It offers a unique opportunity to substantially upgrade Australia’s maritime capabilities with access to world-leading submarine technology and a suite of advanced and emerging technologies.
However, we cannot realistically pursue “AUKUS at any cost”. There must be an upper limit to how much time, effort and resources are committed before the costs – financial, political and strategic – outweigh the potential long-term benefits.
Of course, the government must not be hasty. Any decision should wait until the completion of the US review. Likewise, AUKUS should not be abandoned merely because it is being reviewed.
Reviews are not inherently negative processes. A review after four years of a project of this size and significance is not a particularly surprising development. As seen in the UK, reviews can refocus efforts and commit greater resources, if needed.
However, it doesn’t look like that’s what the US review is setting out to do. Rather, it’s focused on ensuring AUKUS is aligned with the America First agenda. That indicates an altogether different set of considerations.
People often describe Trump as a “dealmaker” or “transactional”, but these are misleading euphemisms. This review, and recent language from senior US officials, gives the impression of a shakedown – of coercion, not partnership.
The need to “win” and extract money from alliances is antithetical to their purpose. It misunderstands their nature and the fundamental importance of trust between partners. AUKUS is not an ATM.
Past behaviour suggests no deal Trump makes will last without further demands being imposed. No amount of money is likely to be satisfactory. Even if Australia’s defence spending was lifted to 3.5% of GDP, the question would be “why isn’t it 5%?” For AUKUS, there is no such thing as an offer he cannot refuse.
I do not say this lightly, but if the outcome of this process is a series of gratuitous or untenable demands by the US, the Albanese government should strongly consider walking away from AUKUS.
The consequences would be significant, so the threshold of such a decision would need to be similarly calibrated. But no single project should be put above the integrity of our wider defence enterprise and the sovereign decision-making of our government.
David Andrews has not personally received funding from any relevant external bodies, but he has previously worked on projects funded by the Australian Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs, and Defence. David is a member of the Australian Labor Party and Australian Institute of International Affairs, and previously worked for the Australian Department of Defence.
Albert Palazzo is not a member of a political party but does occasional volunteer work for The Greens. In 2019, he retired from the Department of Defence. He was the long-serving Director of War Studies for the Australian Army.
Ian Langford is affiliated with Security & Defence PLuS, a collaboration between the University of New South Wales, Arizona State University and Kings College, London.
Maria Rost Rublee has received grant funding from the Australian Department of Defence and the US Institute of Peace. She is affiliated with Women in International Security-Australia and Women in Nuclear-Australia.
Jennifer Parker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced a resolution to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army, honoring its storied history from the American Revolution to the Global War on Terror.
The resolution also honors the bravery and patriotism of soldiers and veterans from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the former of which recently joined Senator Marshall at the Army’s 250th birthday parade on Saturday, June 14, in Washington, D.C.
“It was a pleasure and honor to host 450 troops from Kansas’ own Fort Riley, honoring the ‘Big Red One,’ especially as they passed the storied 1st Division Monument, which holds special meaning as we celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday and honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senator Marshall. “These young men and women are the best of the best, the first division that the President calls to defend our freedoms. This event was an important demonstration of patriotism that American citizens need to see, and it is a breath of fresh air to finally have a President who is going above and beyond to honor our nation’s heroes.”
Senator Marshall comes from a long line of Americans who served in the US Army, including his son, brother, father, and grandfather. Specifically, Senator Marshall was honorably discharged from the National Guard with the rank of Captain in 1991.
Click here to read the full text of the resolution.
Background:
Kansas is home to critical military installations, including Fort Riley, home of the First Infantry Division – the oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army – and Fort Leavenworth, home of the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center (CAC) and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827, is the oldest continuously operating military installation west of the Mississippi River and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas. Known historically as the “intellectual center of the Army,” all modern 5-star Army generals have passed through and studied at Fort Leavenworth, including George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Henry Arnold, Dwight Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley.
The 1st Infantry Division, currently garrisoned at Fort Riley, is the oldest continuously serving division in the Army and was constituted on May 24, 1917. The Division has consistently been the first division to deploy into the wars of the United States, sending the first troops into World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During World War II, the 1st Infantry Division was the first to reach England, the first to fight the enemy in North Africa and Sicily, the first on the beaches in Normandy during D-Day, and the first to capture a major German city.
Senator Marshall recently attended the 250th birthday parade celebration of the U.S. Army, alongside 450 troops from Fort Riley’s ‘Big Red One.’
Senator Marshall worked for seven years on the FIRST Act, legislation that added 631 names of Big Red One Soldiers to the First Infantry Division Monument.
A woman has been charged over two robberies at Port Adelaide yesterday.
Just before 3pm on Monday 16 June, it will be alleged a woman armed with a machete entered the service station on Grand Junction Road and demanded money from staff.
The woman stole food items and left the store. Thankfully no one was physically injured.
Police quickly responded and arrested a 30-year-old woman from Munno Para who was still in the area. The machete was safely recovered.
Officers searched the woman and also found a taser in her bag.
Western District Police will allege that the woman was also involved in an attempt robbery at another service station on Grand Junction Road just prior to this incident occurring.
The woman was charged with two counts of attempt robbery, theft and possess dangerous article and is expected to face court later today.
Anyone with information that may assist with investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or freecall 1800 333 000
Investigations continue today into the tragic shooting death of a Tasmania Police officer in the state’s North-West on Monday. With the permission of the officer’s family, Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams has confirmed the officer is Constable Keith Anthony Smith, a 25-year veteran of the police service. Constable Smith, 57, was shot and killed at a rural property in North Motton on Monday morning as he and a fellow officer attended the premises to serve a court-ordered warrant to repossess the home. Commissioner Adams said Constable Smith was a dedicated officer over a distinguished career with Tasmania Police, who was highly regarded and admired by his colleagues. Constable Smith had worked in communities across the North and North-West and, for the past five years, was an officer working at Ulverstone police station. “Keith was a respected and committed officer, and his loss will be deeply felt across our policing family and the wider community,” Commissioner Adams said. “My heart goes out to Keith’s wife and family. We will be supporting them in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time. “The Blue Family will come together today, and over the next days and weeks, and will support the family and each other.” The family of Constable Smith has asked for privacy at this time. Constable Smith joined Tasmania Police on September 25, 2000, graduating on May 11, 2001, as part of Course 3/2000, and was a passionate cyclist, participating in the 2011 Charity Trust bike ride. Constable Smith served in Northern District in both the Northern Crime Management Unit and uniform roles until 2020, when he transferred to Ulverstone uniform. He received the Commissioner’s Medal in 2011 and 20-year clasp in 2021, as well as the National Police Service Medal (15 years) in 2016. Commissioner Adams acknowledged emergency services who responded to the incident and assisted at the scene on Monday. She praised investigators and forensics officers who examined the scene and worked late into the night, through difficult weather conditions, gathering evidence. “While no other staff have been injured in this terrible incident, all will be impacted by their involvement in such a tragic event,” Commissioner Adams said. A 46-year-old North Motton man remains in Launceston General Hospital, under police guard, having undergone surgery for non life-threatening injuries. No charges have yet been laid.
Police are investigating an arson at Solomontown and believe the suspects may have been injured during the fire.
Just after midnight on Monday 16 June, police were called to a report of a car on fire in Young Street, Solomontown.
When police officers arrived, they discovered a car on fire and a fire burning at the front of a nearby residence, which they extinguished with a fire extinguisher.
The occupants of the house were not injured during the incident. The exterior of the house was charred by flames.
Investigations revealed three male suspects had attended an address in Young Street and doused the front of the residence with accelerant.
The suspects then entered the vehicle, which became engulfed in flames. They ran off, abandoning the car in the street.
It is believed the men may have suffered significant burns or injuries in the fire and police urge them to seek medical attention.
Anyone with information about the identity or location of anyone involved in this incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers immediately on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact police.
The vehicle has been seized for forensic examination. Investigations are continuing.
Record share of UK projects secured despite global instabilities.
Nearly one in six inward investment projects in the UK last year were secured in Scotland, according to new data published by EY.
The record share of the market cements the country’s position as the UK’s top destination outside of London – for the tenth year in a row – while Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow remain among the top 10 UK cities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects outside of London.
Although the total number of new projects in Scotland fell back slightly (4.9%) from record numbers in 2023, it compares to a drop of 13% in the UK, 14% in France and 17% in Germany.
EY’s survey of global investors found that quarter of those planning to invest in the UK are targeting Scotland, maintaining the country’s long-standing position in investors’ eyes as the UK’s preferred FDI destination outside of London.
To mark the results, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited the Glasgow offices of Canadian IT and business consulting services firm CGI Inc. which employs around 750 employees across its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Borders and Aberdeen offers.
The Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:
“Given the geopolitical uncertainties clearly affecting investor confidence across the world, this is an incredible endorsement of Scotland’s proposition as a destination for global investment.
“A huge amount of work, across both the private and public sectors, goes into securing these projects, which are vital for economic growth, job creation and bringing benefits across our towns and cities.
“From the likes of green aircraft engine ZeroAvia to ticketing hub Humanatix, 2025 is bringing further significant investment and exciting projects to Scotland. The Scottish Government will continue to work with businesses and our “Team Scotland” partners to continue building the country’s reputation as a world class location for foreign investment.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Adrian Gillespie said:
“It’s fantastic to mark a decade of Scotland as the number one UK location for inward investment outside of London. Foreign direct investment unlocks innovation, creates jobs, and opens up new supply chain opportunities for Scottish companies.
“Our staff in over 30 offices around the world are vital to building these trusted relationships with potential inward investors, which can often take years to cultivate. This work is complemented by colleagues at home working with Team Scotland partners to build a package of support to bring these companies to Scotland.
“Scotland’s strengths in emerging technologies, including AI, are attracting new foreign investors, with US robotics and AI company LaunchPad Build opening an Edinburgh office last year. Together with Scotland’s historic reputation for financial services excellence, this is driving further investment, such as Australian fintech HALO opening its Glasgow operations centre last year.
“The global energy transition, and Scotland’s growing reputation in this area, continues to be a catalyst for innovation, with US headquartered ZeroAvia locating its manufacturing facility for hydrogen aviation engines next to Glasgow airport and Japanese sub-sea cable manufacturer Sumitomo breaking ground on its factory in Port of Nigg.”
CGI Senior Vice President, Scotland and Northern Ireland, said Lindsay McGranaghan:
“CGI has been working in Scotland for more than 10 years, and we find it an outstanding place to do business and grow talent. We have established offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Tweedbank, and employ 750 staff – who we call partners – who support key sectors such as government, health, energy and higher education.
“Six years ago we expanded our presence with the opening of a new HQ in Glasgow, and we embrace the metro model of working – building a resource of Scottish-based partners who live and work in their local communities. We have also developed partnerships with a host of Scottish SMEs, helping small businesses grow while supporting regional economic development.
“As the UK’s leading FDI location outside London for a decade, Scotland’s resilience and appeal are clear. We are proud to play our part in that success, and look forward continuing to grow our business in Scotland.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
England faces 5 billion litre public water shortage by 2055 without urgent action
England faces 5 billion litre a day shortfall for public water supplies by 2055 – and a further 1 billion litre a day deficit for wider economy
England faces 5 billion litre a day shortfall for public water supplies by 2055 – and a further 1 billion litre a day deficit for wider economy.
Pressures caused by climate change, growing population, emerging technologies and need to protect environment.
£8 billion water company investment already committed over next five years.
England’s public water supply could be short by 5 billion litres a day by 2055 without urgent action to futureproof resources, the Environment Agency has warned today. (June 17th 2025).
Climate change, population growth, and environmental pressures are impacting supplies with the predicted shortfall equivalent to a third of our current daily use – or the volume of 4.5 Wembley Stadiums.
A further one billion litres a day will also be needed to generate energy, grow our food, and power emerging technologies.
The analysis is outlined by the Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources. The report, published every five years, sets out the actions required by water companies, regulators, businesses, and the public to best manage water usage into the future.
The EA expects 60% of this deficit to be addressed by water companies managing demand and dramatically reducing leaks. The remaining 40% would come from boosting supply, including the building of new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
The government has secured £104 billion in private sector spending in water company infrastructure over the next five years, including £8 billion committed to boost water supply and manage demand.
Further recommendations and actions include:
Leakage: The EA will continue to work with financial regulator Ofwat on water company pledges to cut leakage by 17% in the next five years and by 50% by 2050.
Smart meters: Water companies have committed to the vital rollout of ten million more smart meters to help customers understand how much they use – and reveal where wastage may be in their homes and businesses. The average person on a meter uses 122 litres per day, compared to 171 litres without.
Efficiency labelling: Household appliances, such as dishwashers, toilets, and showers, can be more efficient and the EA will continue to work with Government on a mandatory efficiency labelling scheme.
Infrastructure: Water company plans includes nine new desalination schemes, 10 new reservoirs and seven new water recycling schemes by 2050.
Environment Agency Chair, Alan Lovell, said:
The nation’s water resources are under huge and steadily increasing pressure.
This deficit threatens not only the water from your tap but also economic growth and food production. Taking water unsustainably from the environment will have a disastrous impact on our rivers and wildlife.
We need to tackle these challenges head-on and strengthen work on co-ordinated action to preserve this precious resource and our current way of life.
Each region has specific needs related to industry and geography. Since the Environment Agency’s last framework was released in 2020, five regional water resources groups have either been established or bolstered to develop plans that identify each area’s individual needs.
RAPID (Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) has also been formed by regulators EA, Ofwat and the DWI (Drinking Water Inspectorate) to accelerate the development of large infrastructure projects.
Ofwat Chief Executive, David Black, said:
We recognise the unprecedented pressures on our water resources and the ambition to further cut abstraction to improve river health, which we strongly support. This is why we announced £8bn of funding at Price Review 2024 to deliver the required action across the sector to secure our future water supplies.
Boosting supply through building critical water infrastructure is essential to safeguard supplies of drinking water. The way is now clear for the water industry to build on the success of the recently opened £5 billion Thames Tideway project by stepping forward to deliver an expanded pipeline of 30 major projects which we need in England and Wales.
Emerging industries, such as data centres and hydrogen production, require vast amounts of water to cool their systems and the EA wants businesses to explore more options for using non-potable water – perfectly usable but not for human consumption.
Additional changes are also needed for some abstraction practices – the taking of water from rivers, lakes, and groundwater for public and business use. The EA wants more sustainable solutions, in some cases, easing the strain on environmentally sensitive sites, such as chalk streams.
The regulator wants homes to become more efficient to support development and the environment. Schemes in Sussex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have previously been delayed because of limited water supply.
Water shortages can lead to lower crop yields and higher food prices, and the EA is helping groups of farmers to identify how they can improve their supply resilience, for example by sharing water rights and building jointly owned reservoirs
There are also small steps the general public can take. These include:
Shortening showers
Turning off taps when brushing teeth
Using full loads for washing machines and dishwashers
Collecting rainwater for garden use
Deleting old emails to reduce pressure on data centre servers
Privacy authorities from 14 jurisdictions met last week to share information on emerging technology and challenges to privacy regulation.
The Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) Forum provides privacy authorities in our region with an opportunity to form partnerships and to discuss best practices.
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster, who chaired the two-day forum, says it’s important that common privacy issues and challenges can be discussed with other privacy authorities.
“The APPA Forum is a great way to learn about the efforts other jurisdictions are making to anticipate and regulate global privacy disruptors such as AI and biometrics, as well as exchanging ideas about privacy regulation and the management of privacy breaches.”
“Emerging technologies are an issue we all face, and there are several different approaches to how the associated privacy challenges are managed. The APPA Forum helps us all learn from our various experiences.”
Issues discussed at APPA 63 included Artificial Intelligence, the use of biometrics for retail crime and public safety, and the importance of ensuring privacy regulation is fit for purpose in the digital age.
APPA was formed in 1992 and is the principal forum for privacy and data protection authorities in the Asia Pacific region. Members meet twice a year to discuss and focus on different topical issues. Each year one of the forums is virtual, and one is in person. New Zealand hosted the 2025 virtual forum (APPA 63) on 11-12 June.
Past topics discussed include cross-border privacy rules, children’s online privacy, employee surveillance, artificial intelligence, and privacy-enhancing technologies.
The 14 jurisdictions that attended APPA 63 were Australia and the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, Canada and the state of British Columbia, the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions of China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and the state of California from the United States of America.
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) wages have substantially improved under the Albanese government. Governments in three states are rolling out three- and four-year-old preschool programs and the introduction of multi-employer bargaining has revolutionised industrial relations.
These advances represent essential first steps to support children, teachers, educators and the sector as a whole. The AEU is addressing unsustainable workloads, further enhancing remuneration and conditions, and securing ongoing federal funding.
Cara Nightingale,Chair, AEU federal early childhood committee
Historic victory
There have been many positive changes in the ECEC sector. The 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood teachers and educators in one of Australia’s lowest paid sectors is a historic victory after many years of seeking wage justice for this feminised and undervalued workforce.
The pay rise goes some way towards achieving wage justice, but we’ll continue campaigning for the full 25 per cent we believe these underpaid workers need and deserve.
Industrial changes have also had a big impact on the sector. The Albanese government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay reforms include multi-employer bargaining, which has enabled us, for the first time, to bring employers to the table to bargain on behalf of members. It’s a very important win for members.
There is more to be done, however, on convincing the government to extend its promise to fund the wage increases for two years. An ongoing funding commitment is crucial to support sustainable wage levels into the future.
For example, we need to see this pay increase rolled out to the entire early childhood workforce. It currently applies to just the employers who have signed on to a Multi-Employer Agreement (MEA), covering some 30,000 teachers and educators. Employers who haven’t signed the MEA instead use Individual Flexibility Arrangements (IFAs) that don’t offer protection for members.
An MEA, a union bargaining agreement, provides protections and accountability measures that an IFA simply doesn’t. We’re finding high levels of non-compliance in IFAs. Plus, an employer can give 13 weeks’ notice to end the IFA, leaving workers at risk of returning to basic award rates.
Professional pay is a non-negotiable issue to recognise the importance of the work. However, members are telling us it’s just one piece of the puzzle. The second piece is addressing the crippling workload that’s associated with the job. Plus, we need funding to support new teachers and educators to thrive with professional development and mentors to help improve retention at a time of severe workforce shortage.
An overhaul of the funding system for early childhood and care is overdue to ensure appropriate levels of support and resources for vulnerable children and those with a disability or additional needs. Extra funding to build new centres in rural, regional and remote areas is also required to alleviate early childhood and care deserts.
The federal government must also prioritise universal access to quality preschool delivered by qualified teachers and educators for three- and four-year-olds across the country, a move already made by state governments in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
The government’s Commonwealth Prac Payment for students undertaking mandatory placements, which will begin in July this year, will provide valuable financial assistance for students as they do their practicum placements.
The government is also providing scholarships for teaching students and Fee-Free TAFE courses.
Overall, the early childhood and care sector has seen substantial progress during the term of the Albanese government but there’s more to be done to build on those gains.
Georgie Dent, CEO, The Parenthood
Welcome changes
Over the past few years, early childhood education and care has been elevated as key to educational, social and economic policy.
One of the reasons for that shift is that we elected a federal government in May 2022, which said this policy mattered to it.
We have seen increased understanding of the importance of ECEC in the development and wellbeing of children, in addition to the economic reform it provides by enabling parents, particularly mums, to participate in the workforce.
Growing support for women’s rights and gender equity have also helped propel the issue.
There is a gender component to this because we know that when families can’t access or afford early childhood education and care, it tends to be women’s employment, their financial security and their safety that can be undermined.
The 15 per cent wage rise for teachers and educators also represents a win for women, who dominate the early childhood education and care workforce. They have been significantly underpaid compared to similar jobs with similar levels of qualification. Having that identified and rectified has had a substantial effect on teachers and educators and on their ability to achieve financial security. Having better paid teachers and educators is crucial to the quality of early education and care and to luring back some of the many who have left the sector in recent years.
We would like to see a commitment of access to at least three days a week of high quality, inclusive, early education and care – free for lower income families and a low-set fee for others – to every child in Australia.
Part of that means recognising the parts of the country where there is no provision of services. We need an investment and policy response to ensure that families who live in childcare deserts can access the early learning and care that their children need.
We want to see proper funding to ensure inclusion. Around one in 20 children using early education and care are accessing the inclusion support program, whereas in primary schools, around one in five children have an identified need for additional support. There are too many children and families being turned away from services because they’re not adequately funded.
TAFE NSW Ultimo in the heart of central Sydney delivers the state’s only Marine Mechanical Cert III alongside qualifications in marine engineering, in a purpose-built onsite marine craft construction education facility. The Ultimo campus, originally opened in 1891 as the new home of Sydney Technical College on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and represents New South Wales’ first government owned and built vocational education facility. Today its NSW’s largest TAFE campus consisting of heritage buildings from the 1890s with newer buildings built through the 20th century to support expanding educational offerings and the growing number of students. The campus encompasses structures including the former Technological Museum (1893), Turner Hall (1892) and Commercial High School (1892), and the separate George Street-located Marcus Clark Building (1913), which was acquired in 1966.It seems fitting that mechanics remains an important offering on campus, considering Sydney Technical College was initially established in 1878 as a partnership between the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, the Trades and Labor Council of New South Wales, the Engineering Association of New South Wales Trades, and supported by government. When the government decided to fully fund the college in 1883, it became the birthplace of TAFE as we now know it – a statewide system of technical education. Today TAFE NSW continues its public vocational education mission. When visiting the Ultimo campus in February, NSW minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said: “The maritime industry is crucial to our economy and TAFE NSW plays an important role in ensuring the next generation of seafarers and mechanics have the skills to succeed.”
Navigating the Waves
Simon Rodgers is acting head teacher, Mechanics at TAFE NSW Ultimo. He looks after marine mechanics, motorcycles and auto electrical and is the first marine mechanic to head the department. Rodgers has been teaching at TAFE NSW for 20 years and began his career as a marine mechanic apprentice, learning at TAFE NSW alongside automotive apprentices as the marine mechanic qualification wasn’t yet available. “I grew up on a farm, so we were just into motorcycles and boats and tractors and things like but when I started my apprenticeship, that’s when my formal training started,” he says. “When I was at school, I loved mechanics and a lot of my friends were getting into automotive and I saw that as there was so many people doing it that I didn’t want to do it, I wanted to do something unique and I was lucky enough to secure a marine apprenticeship.” “I started my apprenticeship as a marine mechanic in 1988 and worked with that company for just under 10 years. [Then] I had an opportunity to start my own business.” After 10 years running his business, one of his boating industry representatives mentioned a TAFE NSW teaching role and he decided to look into it and found it offered him the flexibility to spend more time with his young family. After 10 years running his business, one of his boating industry representatives mentioned a TAFE NSW teaching role and he decided to look into it and found it offered him the flexibility to spend more time with his young family. He went through the TAFE NSW teacher training program at the time, where he taught at TAFE on a reduced program and went to university to earn a BA in Adult Education: “Working in industry with your hands for 15–20 years and then having to go and sit in a classroom and write essays, it was very difficult, but what I have noticed is the teaching skill set that I gained through that process has benefited me.” He hasn’t looked back, discovering he truly loved being a TAFE teacher. “My philosophy is that I don’t try and drag them up to where I’m at with my experience is, I let them know that the only difference between the students and myself is time in the saddle,” he says. “So I like to get down to their level, interact with them and just teach them stuff. “Probably my best teacher was my stepfather and he always explained to me, it doesn’t matter how much you learn or whatever you do, if you don’t pass it on it gets lost. I’ve got to pass the baton on.”
Passing the Baton
Marine mechanics has been offered at Ultimo since 1997 when the marine specialist facility opened. “We get to concentrate on three main things in our qualification: engines, electrical and propulsion systems and we probably do more than most other disciplines around those three topics,” he says. “Our qualification is incredibly diverse. We’ve got specialist teachers that represent most of the industry – we all have unique skill sets and we program those skill sets around the subjects to best suit the apprentices.” “We’ve been able to restructure the course delivery in Stage Three to run two separate streams so that we can have the heavy diesel people concentrating on their discipline and the petrol people concentrating on theirs.” “You can engage any employer, any engine manufacturer and they really respect what we do at TAFE and how we train our apprentices.” “There are apprentices who have sat in our classroom who now work for engine manufacturers, we’ve had apprentices travel throughout Europe working on superyachts and many of the students that we’ve taught in the past are now running their own business and sending their own apprentices here.” “It’s a very family style of business, very generational, we’ve got one current employer who’s got his third child coming through.”
Family Legacies
That third child is the younger brother of Michaela Douglas who recently completed her Marine Mechanical Technology apprenticeship at TAFE NSW Ultimo last year, before winning the Boating Industry Association’s Apprentice of the Year award. “I am a third-generation qualified marine mechanic,” says Douglas. “I work for my family’s business Douglas Marine; and we’re based on Pittwater out of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. My grandparents started the company, then my dad and his brother worked in the business, and now me and my two brothers are in the business and my sister was also working in the office while she was at uni.” “The teachers, they’re great. If you put the effort in, they will put double the effort in, they really want to help you.” “They have really good facilities. They start in the morning teaching you the theory. And then you’d go into the workshop and actually pull apart whatever you’re learning about… and learn how to put them back together.”
Lifelong Learning
Following the completion of her Cert III, on the recommendation of her teacher Simon Rodgers, TAFE NSW nominated Douglas for Boating Industry Australia’s Apprentice of the Year award. She won both the NSW and Australia wide Apprentice of the Year. Now fully qualified, she’s loving her work, especially the variety it offers: “I enjoy explaining to someone why [what I’ve done is] important… it’s always different.” Douglas is now studying Automotive Electrical Technologies to support her marine mechanic work.
Building and Sharing Knowledge
TAFE NSW marine construction teacher Robert Reid is a shipwright by trade and has been teaching full time at Ultimo since 2018. “I kind of needed to share,” he says of his transition from industry to teaching. “Thinking back, as a kid sailing, I was kind of always instructing… and as a foreman at work, I was showing others how to do things.” Reid says TAFE is about more than technical instruction: “TAFE is about access, support, and being able to come in and learn all the [skills] and the mechanics behind the visual.”
Nurturing Initiative
“When things start to click for them, things they couldn’t do before… when they’ve brought in their own initiative.” “There’s close ties to industry… the apprentice’s bosses came through TAFE and they want the same skills demonstrated.” “We’ve been able to tie in Cert IV from this year, which is set up for fabrication and welding units and for bidding for contracts.”
Smoother Sailing
Maddison Webb-Leck, Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction Stage 1 Student of the Year, is a shipwright apprentice and Wiradjuri woman. She found her passion through hands-on TAFE learning and help from her uncles: “I watched [my boss] put a transom in and lay it up a bit and I was like, oh, this is kind of cool.” She especially enjoys fibre glassing and being on the water: “The guys are stronger in woodwork, but you put me in a glass room and I pretty much overtake them all,” she laughs.
Putting in the work
Webb-Leck says the approach of seeing and then doing at TAFE suits her style of learning: “I can’t just be told on how to do it. I have to watch it a bit and then I can replicate it.” She applies the same philosophy to her work: “There’s only the three of us at my work, so I have to do a lot of my own jobs. I’ll get shown how to do it and then I’m on that, as a small business we’ve got a lot of business to get through.” Webb-Leck’s work includes the gamut of repairs and building of marine craft, but her favourite part is glassing – working with fibreglass. “I do a lot of fibreglass work, so then when I come to TAFE, it’s a bit of a struggle because it’s all woodwork, but we do a lot of rebuild and repairs at work, so that helps me a lot. “The guys are stronger in woodwork, but you put me in a glass room and I pretty much overtake them all,” she laughs. It’s those skills and her work ethic that put her in contention for the Student of the Year award. “So many people in the class were like ‘you got it because you’re a girl’, but I’m good at what I do. I’ve come so far and I’m more trained than most people my age,” she says. “My folks, they’re actually really proud. Everyone’s really proud. It’s a lot of pressure on me, but it’s good to have pressure, because there’s been a few rough days and rough weeks where I’ve thought about leaving just because it’s rough but I pulled through. I start thinking about that and I’m just like, whoa, I’ve come this far, there’s so much riding on it. Those days where it gets really hard and your boss is angry at you, you’re angry at yourself and you kind of just have to go with it.” She says her love of being on the water also helps and reminds her of why she’s working so hard, but also of being a kid and constantly going up river with her dad. “I learned how to ski when I was four – dad grew up on the water, his mates grew up on the water, his dad grew up on the water,” she says. “Quiet weekends when you go out on the water with your mates and you have the whole water to yourself and we don’t stop skiing, it’s just fun.” Aside from playing netball, most of her hobbies, such as water-skiing, revolve around the water: “Power boat races are pretty cool to watch. We’ll go to Yarrawonga to watch them and then when they come back down to the Hawks, we’ll watch them again. There are a lot of different designed hulls and motors in there. It’s really fun – they’re one of the best weekends.” Between work, her apprenticeship, friends and family, she also continues to spend time with her dad on the water and looks forward to one day helping him race his boat. “My dad wants to race his boat. He’s got a car motor in it, but he’s always wanted to race it. So if he was to race that, I’d race that with him just for the fun of it, not for any competition, just see how quick we can go,” she says. “If we actually put work into it and do it, then yeah, maybe we can do it.”
Source: US Whitehouse
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:
Section 1. Background. On May 8, 2025, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I announced the General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal (General Terms). The General Terms outline a historic trade deal that provides American companies unprecedented access to British markets while bolstering the national security and economy of the United States. The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially for beef, ethanol, and certain other American agricultural exports. In addition, the United Kingdom will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminate against American products, hurt the United States’ manufacturing base, and threaten the national security of the United States. The General Terms provide, among other things, that the United States intends to create an annual quota of 100,000 vehicles for United Kingdom automotive imports at a 10 percent tariff rate. In the General Terms, the United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminum products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities. Provided the United Kingdom meets these requirements, the United States intends to promptly construct a quota at most-favored-nation rates for steel and aluminum articles and certain derivative steel and aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom in the context of implementing the General Terms. Furthermore, in the General Terms, the United States and the United Kingdom committed to negotiate significantly preferential treatment outcomes on pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients that are products of the United Kingdom, contingent on the findings of an investigation regarding pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients under section 232, and provided that the United Kingdom complies with certain supply chain security standards. Finally, in the General Terms, the United States and the United Kingdom committed to adopt a structured, negotiated approach to addressing United States national security concerns regarding sectors that may be subject to future section 232 investigations. To that end, the United States and the United Kingdom further committed to strengthen aerospace and aircraft manufacturing supply chains by establishing tariff-free bilateral trade in certain aerospace products. In my judgment, I determine that the following actions are consistent with the national interests of the United States and are necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), as amended, and to reduce or eliminate the threats to national security found in Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended; and Proclamation 9888 of May 17, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), as amended.
Sec. 2. Automobiles and Automobile Parts. (a) I hereby establish an annual tariff-rate quota of 100,000 automobiles as classified in heading 8703 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and as further specified in note 33(b) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS for automobiles that are products of the United Kingdom. Imports of automobiles within the tariff-rate quota that would otherwise be subject to a 25 percent tariff under Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), shall instead be subject to a 7.5 percent tariff, in addition to the most-favored-nation rate for automobiles of 2.5 percent, for a combined tariff of 10 percent. Imports of automobiles in excess of the tariff-rate quota shall remain subject to the full duties imposed by Proclamation 10908. The tariff-rate quota shall be adjusted for calendar year 2025 to reflect the General Terms’ operative date of May 8, 2025. The quota shall be effective 7 days after the publication of this order in the Federal Register. (b) Automotive parts specified in note 33(g) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS that would otherwise be subject to a 25 percent tariff under Proclamation 10908 shall instead be subject to a total tariff of 10 percent (including any most-favored-nation tariffs), provided that they are products of the United Kingdom and are for use in automobiles that are products of the United Kingdom. This change shall be effective as of the date of the publication of the Federal Register notice described in subsection (c) of this section. (c) Within 7 days of the date of publication of this order in the Federal Register, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), in consultation with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shall publish a notice in the Federal Register modifying the HTSUS consistent with this section, if necessary. (d) The Secretary may issue rules, regulations, guidance, and procedures to carry out the provisions of this section.
Sec. 3. Aerospace. (a) With respect to products of the United Kingdom that fall under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, the tariffs imposed through the following Presidential actions and subsequent amendments to those actions shall no longer apply, as of the date of publication of the Federal Register notice described in subsection (b) of this section: (i) Executive Order 14257, as amended; (ii) Proclamation 9704, as amended; and (iii) Proclamation 9705, as amended. (b) Within 7 days of the date of publication of this order in the Federal Register, the Secretary, in consultation with ITC and CBP, shall publish a notice in the Federal Register modifying the HTSUS consistent with this section, if necessary. (c) The Secretary may issue rules, regulations, guidance, and procedures to carry out the provisions of this section.
Sec. 4. Aluminum and Steel Articles and Their Derivative Articles. (a) At a future time that the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, deems appropriate, the Secretary shall design and establish a tariff-rate quota for aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom, consistent with the General Terms and the purpose of this order. Imports of aluminum articles or derivative aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom in excess of the tariff-rate quota established by the Secretary shall remain subject to the duties set forth in Proclamation 9704, as amended. (b) At a future time that the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, deems appropriate, the Secretary shall design and establish a tariff-rate quota for steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of the United Kingdom, consistent with the General Terms and the purpose of this order. Imports of steel articles or derivative steel articles that are products of the United Kingdom in excess of the tariff-rate quota established by the Secretary shall remain subject to the duties set forth in Proclamation 9705, as amended. (c) In determining when to establish, whether to establish, and the design of a tariff-rate quota for aluminum and steel articles and their derivatives, the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent with the national interests of the United States and the purpose of this order and shall consider factors he deems appropriate, such as actions taken by the United Kingdom to implement the General Terms and any final agreement entered by the United States and the United Kingdom subsequent to the General Terms; the need to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, as amended; and the need to reduce or eliminate the threats to national security found in Proclamation 9704, as amended, and Proclamation 9705, as amended.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Commerce.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, June 16, 2025.
Source: US Whitehouse
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:
Section 1. Background. On May 8, 2025, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I announced the General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal (General Terms). The General Terms outline a historic trade deal that provides American companies unprecedented access to British markets while bolstering the national security and economy of the United States. The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially for beef, ethanol, and certain other American agricultural exports. In addition, the United Kingdom will reduce or eliminate numerous non-tariff barriers that unfairly discriminate against American products, hurt the United States’ manufacturing base, and threaten the national security of the United States. The General Terms provide, among other things, that the United States intends to create an annual quota of 100,000 vehicles for United Kingdom automotive imports at a 10 percent tariff rate. In the General Terms, the United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminum products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities. Provided the United Kingdom meets these requirements, the United States intends to promptly construct a quota at most-favored-nation rates for steel and aluminum articles and certain derivative steel and aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom in the context of implementing the General Terms. Furthermore, in the General Terms, the United States and the United Kingdom committed to negotiate significantly preferential treatment outcomes on pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients that are products of the United Kingdom, contingent on the findings of an investigation regarding pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients under section 232, and provided that the United Kingdom complies with certain supply chain security standards. Finally, in the General Terms, the United States and the United Kingdom committed to adopt a structured, negotiated approach to addressing United States national security concerns regarding sectors that may be subject to future section 232 investigations. To that end, the United States and the United Kingdom further committed to strengthen aerospace and aircraft manufacturing supply chains by establishing tariff-free bilateral trade in certain aerospace products. In my judgment, I determine that the following actions are consistent with the national interests of the United States and are necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits), as amended, and to reduce or eliminate the threats to national security found in Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended; Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended; and Proclamation 9888 of May 17, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), as amended.
Sec. 2. Automobiles and Automobile Parts. (a) I hereby establish an annual tariff-rate quota of 100,000 automobiles as classified in heading 8703 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) and as further specified in note 33(b) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS for automobiles that are products of the United Kingdom. Imports of automobiles within the tariff-rate quota that would otherwise be subject to a 25 percent tariff under Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), shall instead be subject to a 7.5 percent tariff, in addition to the most-favored-nation rate for automobiles of 2.5 percent, for a combined tariff of 10 percent. Imports of automobiles in excess of the tariff-rate quota shall remain subject to the full duties imposed by Proclamation 10908. The tariff-rate quota shall be adjusted for calendar year 2025 to reflect the General Terms’ operative date of May 8, 2025. The quota shall be effective 7 days after the publication of this order in the Federal Register. (b) Automotive parts specified in note 33(g) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS that would otherwise be subject to a 25 percent tariff under Proclamation 10908 shall instead be subject to a total tariff of 10 percent (including any most-favored-nation tariffs), provided that they are products of the United Kingdom and are for use in automobiles that are products of the United Kingdom. This change shall be effective as of the date of the publication of the Federal Register notice described in subsection (c) of this section. (c) Within 7 days of the date of publication of this order in the Federal Register, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), in consultation with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shall publish a notice in the Federal Register modifying the HTSUS consistent with this section, if necessary. (d) The Secretary may issue rules, regulations, guidance, and procedures to carry out the provisions of this section.
Sec. 3. Aerospace. (a) With respect to products of the United Kingdom that fall under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft, the tariffs imposed through the following Presidential actions and subsequent amendments to those actions shall no longer apply, as of the date of publication of the Federal Register notice described in subsection (b) of this section: (i) Executive Order 14257, as amended; (ii) Proclamation 9704, as amended; and (iii) Proclamation 9705, as amended. (b) Within 7 days of the date of publication of this order in the Federal Register, the Secretary, in consultation with ITC and CBP, shall publish a notice in the Federal Register modifying the HTSUS consistent with this section, if necessary. (c) The Secretary may issue rules, regulations, guidance, and procedures to carry out the provisions of this section.
Sec. 4. Aluminum and Steel Articles and Their Derivative Articles. (a) At a future time that the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, deems appropriate, the Secretary shall design and establish a tariff-rate quota for aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom, consistent with the General Terms and the purpose of this order. Imports of aluminum articles or derivative aluminum articles that are products of the United Kingdom in excess of the tariff-rate quota established by the Secretary shall remain subject to the duties set forth in Proclamation 9704, as amended. (b) At a future time that the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, deems appropriate, the Secretary shall design and establish a tariff-rate quota for steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of the United Kingdom, consistent with the General Terms and the purpose of this order. Imports of steel articles or derivative steel articles that are products of the United Kingdom in excess of the tariff-rate quota established by the Secretary shall remain subject to the duties set forth in Proclamation 9705, as amended. (c) In determining when to establish, whether to establish, and the design of a tariff-rate quota for aluminum and steel articles and their derivatives, the Secretary shall act in a manner consistent with the national interests of the United States and the purpose of this order and shall consider factors he deems appropriate, such as actions taken by the United Kingdom to implement the General Terms and any final agreement entered by the United States and the United Kingdom subsequent to the General Terms; the need to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257, as amended; and the need to reduce or eliminate the threats to national security found in Proclamation 9704, as amended, and Proclamation 9705, as amended.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Commerce.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, June 16, 2025.
Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a southern suburbs barber shop overnight.
Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a barbers in a group of shops on Coromandel Parade, Blackwood just before 1.30am on Tuesday 17 June.
CFS crews managed to contain the fire to just the barber shop and quickly extinguished the blaze. Neighbouring premises were affected by smoke. There were no reports of injuries.
Crime scene investigators will attend the scene this morning.
Police are treating the fire as deliberate and ask anyone with information to contact police.
Anyone who saw any suspicious activity or has dashcam or CCTV from the area in the early hours of this morning is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.
CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”
“Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.
CONCORD – A Gilford man was sentenced today in federal court for drug offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In February 2025, Athanasopoulos pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”
“Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021, Athanasopoulos fled from the New Hampton Police Department on a stolen motorcycle. The chase ended in a crash and law enforcement recovered a jar containing fentanyl and methamphetamine that Athanasopoulos threw from his backpack during the chase. Later that evening, law enforcement searched Athanasopoulos’s home and found large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as money, several firearms, and body armor. Laboratory testing confirmed that Athanasopoulos possessed more than 100 grams of fentanyl and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Gilford Police Department and the New Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuted the case.
About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.
This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.
This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.
Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.
Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.
Our study
We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.
The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.
First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.
Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.
Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY
It can take many years to learn English
Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.
For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.
This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.
For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.
Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.
Learning English takes longer as you go along
We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:
the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month
from emerging to developing was one year and eight months
from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.
What can impact learning?
But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.
We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.
We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.
But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.
Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers. Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY
Targeted support is needed
Our findings have a number of implications.
Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.
This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.
The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.
Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.
About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect.
This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they need extra support to develop proficiency in what we call standard Australian English.
This group of students includes immigrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, children of migrant heritage where English is not spoken at home and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
But the level and duration of support they receive varies across schools. This is an issue because these students risk underachieving or being labelled as having learning difficulties without adequate help.
Until now, little was known about how long these students take to learn English.
Our new research published today by the Australian Education Research Organisation, found it can take many years for students to develop the English language skills they need. This suggests students need ongoing and targeted support to learn English as an additional language.
Our study
We looked at more than 110,000 primary and high school students in New South Wales public schools over a nine-year period.
The students were learning English as an additional language from 2014 to 2022. Our research used two methods.
First, we analysed how long it took these students to achieve the same scores in their NAPLAN reading and writing tests as their English-speaking peers with the same background characteristics. That is, students were matched for characteristics such as gender, student socio-educational advantage and school location.
Second, we analysed how long it took students learning English as an additional language to reach certain phases of language proficiency. There is a national learning progression resource for schools supporting students learning English as an additional language. It has four phases: beginning, emerging, developing and consolidating.
Source: The EAL/D Learning Progression: Foundation to Year 10, ACARA, 2015., CC BY
It can take many years to learn English
Combining both methods, we found students need considerable time to learn English as an additional language.
For students who were assessed as “beginning” when they started school, it takes an average of six years to reach the final “consolidating” phase.
This means those students starting in kindergarten (the first year of school in NSW) are likely to need English language support throughout primary school.
For “beginning” students who start in later years, they may need continued English language support in high school.
Students who started school at the “emerging” and “developing” phases take, on average, four and three years, respectively to have English skills on par with their peers.
Learning English takes longer as you go along
We also found as students learned English, each phase in their progression took longer to achieve than the one before:
the average time from beginning to emerging was one year and one month
from emerging to developing was one year and eight months
from developing to consolidating was two years and seven months.
What can impact learning?
But learning English is complex and can be impacted by many factors.
We found students with socio-educational disadvantage progressed 22% slower than advantaged students, students with refugee experiences progressed 14% slower than those without. Male students took 6% longer than their female peers.
We also found students starting school in kindergarten progressed about 9% slower, compared to starting school in Australia in later primary year levels.
But we found students who started school already at the final, “consolidating” phase of English outperformed monolingual peers in NAPLAN. This suggests these students, who are arguably bilingual, were at an educational advantage.
Average NAPLAN reading performance of students learning English as an additional language and their matched peers. Source: NSW Department of Education National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2014 to 2022, CC BY
Targeted support is needed
Our findings have a number of implications.
Firstly, they help us understand the nature and length of support needed for students learning English students in schools.
This also suggests we need to make effective professional support available for teachers working with students who are learning English as an additional language.
The academic advantage of bilingual students also points to a need to encourage and support students using and developing their first and other languages, alongside English.
Lucy Lu is the Senior Manager, Analytics and Strategic Projects in the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). AERO is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Jennifer Hammond has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council and the NSW Department of Education. All projects funded from these sources were completed more than six years ago.
BOSTON – A Saugus man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for embezzling bank funds while working as a teller at a Boston branch of a national bank.
Derek Aut, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 25 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Aut was also ordered to pay $183,677.73 in restitution. In March 2025, Aut pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft.
While working as a bank teller in Boston, Aut stole from the bank accounts of two customers by forging the victims’ names on withdrawal slips, among other things. When one of the victims noticed money missing from her account, Aut attempted to cover his theft by taking money from the other victim’s account and depositing it into the first victim’s account. In total, Aut caused the bank losses of more than $180,000.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
