The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year.
“The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising faster for those on low incomes,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.
“Inflation was driven by increases in rents (up 3.7%), rates (up 12%), household energy (up 7.2%) and insurances (up 8%). Grocery prices were also higher, rising 4.3%.
“Earlier this year, the minimum wage rose by 1.5% – a full 1% less than actual inflation. This is the second year the Government has increased the minimum wage by less than inflation, which means that a full-time minimum wage worker is now cumulatively $2,438 worse off in real terms. Minimum wage workers are missing out on $28.36 a week because of the Government’s decisions.
“The Government is considering removing the Living Wage guarantee for government contractors who are caterers, cleaners, and security guards. This data shows why that protection is so important – working people can’t rely on this Government to protect them through the Minimum Wage.
“With 46% of workers receiving a pay rise less than inflation last year, it also shows that many working people are still doing it tough. Unemployment is still rising, with tens of thousands of more people on Jobseekers Support. It is clearly not workers who are benefitting from the very little economic growth is being delivered.
“This data is another piece of evidence about who is winning and losing in the economy. The poorest working people are facing higher costs they can’t avoid – but with less money to pay.
“Workers need a change in direction and a government that will actively address low pay, unemployment, and poverty – it’s time for a different approach,” said Renney.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 17, 2025.
Most bees nest in the ground. Offering rocks and gravel is a simple way to help them thrive Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Freya Marie Jackson, PhD Candidate, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University _Lasioglossum dotatum_ kerrysturat/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC-ND Of the more than 20,000 bee species in the world, 70% nest in the ground. And like many of their counterparts that nest above ground, these bees are facing
Thailand’s fragile democracy takes another hit with arrest of US academic Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia Despite the challenges faced by local democratic activists, Thailand has often been an oasis of relative liberalism compared with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Westerners, in particular, have been largely welcomed and provided with
In the trade war, China has moved to curb supply of critical minerals. Can Australia seize the moment? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Yue Zhang, Associate Professor, Technology and Innovation, University of Technology Sydney China has placed curbs on exports of rare germanium and gallium which are critical in manufacturing. Shutterstock In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, one notable exception stood out: 31 critical
‘The pay is not worth the stress’: research finds 10% of lawyers plan to quit within a year Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vivien Holmes, Emerita Professor, Australian National University Momentum studio/Shutterstock No one goes into the legal profession thinking it is going to be easy. Long working hours are fairly standard, work is often completed to tight external deadlines, and 24/7 availability to clients is widely understood to be
Contemporary television is rarely as good as The Narrow Road to the Deep North Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Prime The Narrow Road to the Deep North stands as some of the most visceral and moving television produced in Australia in recent memory. Marking a new accessibility and confidence to director Justin Kurzel, it reunites him with
NZ’s over-reliance on roads for freight means natural disasters hit even harder. But there is a fix Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cécile L’Hermitte, Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Waikato In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, the driving time between Napier and Wairoa stretched from 90 minutes to over six hours, causing major supply chain delays. Retail prices rose and shoppers faced empty shelves.
‘They are like my children’: research reveals 4 types of indoor plant owners. Which one are you? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brianna Le Busque, Lecturer in Environmental Science, University of South Australia maramorosz/Shutterstock Walk into any home or workplace today, and you’re likely to find an array of indoor plants. The global market for indoor plants is growing fast – projected to reach more than US$28 billion (A$44
Cracks in social cohesion – the major parties must commit to reinvigorating multiculturalism Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Jakubowicz, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Technology Sydney In the run up to the May 3 election, questions are being raised about the value of multiculturalism as a public policy in Australia. They’ve been prompted by community tensions arising from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the
State of the states: six experts on how the campaign is playing out around Australia Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney The federal election campaign has passed the halfway mark, with politicians zig-zagging across the country to spruik their policies and achievements. Where politicians choose to visit (and not visit) give us some insight into their electoral
People are ‘microdosing’ weight-loss drugs. A GP explains what to watch out for Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Yates, General Practitioner, PhD Candidate, Bond University MillaF/Shutterstock Injectable medications originally developed for the treatment of diabetes are also effective for weight loss, and have surged in popularity for this purpose around the world. In Australia, Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes,
With the end of Flybuys NZ, what happens to the personal data of nearly 3 million Kiwis? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Katerina Asher, Doctoral Candidate, Business School, University of Sydney JuSun/Getty Images After almost three decades in New Zealand, loyalty programme Flybuys announced it would be closing in 2024. The company behind the scheme, Loyalty New Zealand, has since entered liquidation, leaving the future of one
New Aussie film The Correspondent is an extraordinary retelling of Peter Greste’s story Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Jean Baker, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Monash University Maslow Entertainment The Correspondent is a film every journalist should see. There are no spoiler alerts. It is based on the globally-publicised jailing in Cairo in 2013 of Australian journalist Peter Greste (played by Richard Roxburgh) and his
Fiji defence minister draws flak for six-week trip to meet peacekeepers RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs is facing a backlash after announcing that he was undertaking a multi-country, six-week “official travel overseas” to visit Fijian peacekeepers in the Middle East. Pio Tikoduadua’s supporters say he should “disregard critics” for his commitment to Fijian peacekeepers, which “highlights a profound dedication to duty and
Election Diary: there were a couple of ‘moments’ in second Albanese-Dutton encounter Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two “moments” stuck out in Wednesday’s leaders’ debate, the second head-to-head of the campaign. Peter Dutton cut his losses over his faux pas this week when he wrongly named Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto as having said there had been a
Second leaders’ debate is a tame affair befitting a ‘deeply uninspiring’ campaign Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have had their second showdown of the 2025 federal election campaign. The debate, hosted by the ABC, was moderated by David Speers in the national broadcaster’s studios in
Poll shows Australians hate Trump policies and have lost trust in US, but still strongly believe in alliance Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australians strongly disagree with key policies of US President Donald Trump, and have overwhelmingly lost trust in the United States to act responsibly in the world, according to the Lowy Institute’s 2025 poll. Despite this, 80% of people say the
We compared the Labor and Coalition’s income tax proposals to see who benefits most Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock We now have the competing bids for our votes by the alternative governments on income tax policy. From Labor, future cuts to the lowest marginal tax rate and new standard deductions for
Half of Australian landlords sell their investments after 2 years, adding to renters’ insecurity Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjodh B. Singh, Senior Economics and Finance Lecturer, Curtin University Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock Australia’s renters have to battle rising rents and a lack of available properties. They also face ongoing instability. Our new research suggests half of all landlords sell their investment properties after only two years, adding
Labor and the Greens likely to gain Senate seats at the election Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne As well as the election for the full House of Representatives, there will be an election on May 3 for 40 of the 76 senators. The 72
No one goes into the legal profession thinking it is going to be easy. Long working hours are fairly standard, work is often completed to tight external deadlines, and 24/7 availability to clients is widely understood to be a norm, particularly in commercial and international practice.
But too often, the demands of law can create an unhealthy workplace environment. In 2021, the stress of high workloads, low job control, and risks of secondary trauma led SafeWork NSW to categorise legal work as “high risk” for fatigue hazards – putting it alongside night shift work, emergency services, and fly-in, fly-out roles.
To investigate this problem, we surveyed about 1,900 lawyers across Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia in March and April last year.
We asked them about their workplace culture and its impact on wellbeing, about their levels of psychological distress, and whether they had experienced disrespectful behaviours at work.
We also asked whether they intended to leave either their employer or the legal profession in the near future.
Their answers allowed us to identify the type of workplace culture that is harmful to lawyers’ wellbeing. Here’s why fixing this problem matters to us all.
Unhealthy environments
Among the professionals we surveyed, about half found themselves in a workplace culture with negative effects on wellbeing.
A third of this group said their workplaces were characterised by poor working relationships, self-interest and pressure to cut corners or bend rules.
Alarming numbers of lawyers currently want to leave their current employer or quit the profession entirely. Pormezz/Shutterstock
These poorer workplace cultures involved higher levels of psychological distress and more disrespectful behaviours from superiors and coworkers.
They were also characterised by a lack of effective wellbeing supports such as mental health leave arrangements or workload allocation practices.
Long working hours were common. More than half of participants (53%) said they worked more than 40 hours per week and 11% said they put in more than 60 hours.
About a third of the lawyers we surveyed wanted to quit their firm, while 10% planned to leave the profession, within a year.
Society can’t afford to ignore this problem. Lawyer wellbeing can directly affect the quality of legal services and may even lead to disciplinary action against individual lawyers. All of this can undermine public trust and confidence in the justice system.
Workload ‘cannot be sustained’
We invited participants to explain why they intended to leave the profession. Their answers are telling.
One mid-career lawyer at a large firm said:
I am in my 11th year of practice working as a Senior Associate at a top-tier firm. To put it bluntly, the work rate at which I am currently operating, which is required to meet the billable targets and budgets set for us, cannot be sustained for my whole working life – it’s too much.
A small-firm junior lawyer talked of the workload issues described by many:
The pay is not worth the stress. I can’t sleep because I’m constantly worried about deadlines or making mistakes, and I got paid more when I was a bartender. I love the work, but it’s a very tough slog and damaging my own wellbeing – for what?
Our data showed junior lawyers take a lot of the pressure, reflected in higher-than-average levels of psychological distress. Equally concerning was the extent to which senior lawyers with practice management responsibilities also reported above average distress.
Our research also showed the challenges extended beyond private practice and into government, legal aid and corporate “in-house” settings.
As one mid-career legal aid lawyer put it:
Lack of debriefing and supports, lack of formal mentoring and supervision, mental health toll, high workload and poor workplace culture, lack of training and supports to deal with clients in crisis, [mean it’s] not [a] family-friendly profession.
The positives
There was also good news. Three themes stood out in the responses from the 48% who told us they worked in positive workplace cultures. This suggests where support should be targeted.
For nearly two thirds of our sample, having good colleagues was the most important wellbeing support. As one mid-career lawyer put it:
Informal support such as debriefing with colleagues has been most beneficial for me.
Good flexible working and (mental health) leave arrangements came across as the most important practical support employers could provide.
Good workload allocation practices – and a willingness from managers to “reach out to discuss work-life balance” – make a real difference to peoples’ experience.
Support from colleagues was the most important wellbeing support. UM-UMM/Shutterstock
It matters to the rest of us
The legal profession and its regulators have been engaging with the wellbeing problem for a while now. Our findings suggest there is still more to be done.
For the profession as a whole we felt that there was still a need to develop greater understanding of the specific wellbeing needs of both junior lawyers and those managing them, as these are the two groups experiencing the most distress.
Legal regulatory bodies should work to better understand how economic drivers of legal practice, such as high workloads and billing expectations, can have negative consequences for wellbeing, and whether any regulatory levers could lessen these impacts.
The authors would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of Stephen Tang, clinical psychologist, in undertaking data analysis and coauthoring the original report.
This research was supported by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C), the Law Society of New South Wales, and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Matched funding for the data analysis was provided by the VLSB+C and industry research seed funding from the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne.
China has placed curbs on exports of rare germanium and gallium which are critical in manufacturing.Shutterstock
In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, one notable exception stood out: 31 critical minerals, including rare earth elements, were strategically exempted from tariffs.
This was not a gesture of goodwill. It was a tacit acknowledgment of the United States’ deep dependence on China for materials essential to its technological competitiveness, clean energy transition and national defence.
Beijing’s response was swift and calculated. China’s Ministry of Commerce announced expanded export controls and a shift in pricing principles. The move reflects China’s long-standing effort to shift rare earth pricing from market supply and demand to pricing based on their strategic value.
The impact was immediate. Rare earth exports from China effectively ground to a halt, as exporters awaited approvals under a new, opaque licensing regime.
The announcement prompted President Trump to issue a new executive order directing a review of national security risks stemming from the US reliance on imported, processed critical minerals.
As global supply chains reel from these disruptions, Australia finds itself in a unique strategic position. As a trusted US ally, it possesses the resources, partnerships and political capital to step into the breach. But can Australia seize this opportunity – or will it come with strings attached?
China’s new playbook
China’s latest restrictions target seven rare earths – such as dysprosium and terbium – crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, fighter jets and missile systems.
While stopping short of a full export ban, the policy functions as a chokepoint. It leverages China’s near-total global control of rare earth refining (around 90%) and its monopoly on heavy rare earth processing (98%).
Domestically, China’s rare earth sector is dominated by two state-owned giants which together control nearly 100% of national mining quotas.
These measures have exposed the vulnerability of Western supply chains. The US has only one operational rare earth mine – Mountain Pass in California – and minimal domestic refining capacity. A new processing facility in Texas owned by Australia’s Lynas is under development, but it will take years to establish a self-sufficient supply chain.
Rare earths have become a source of contention in the tariff war. Shutterstock
Europe faces similar challenges. While rare earths are vital to the EU’s green transition, domestic production remains limited. Efforts to diversify through partners like Australia and Canada show promise but are hindered by high production costs and continued reliance on Chinese technology.
China is also working to redefine how rare earths are priced. One proposal would tie the value of key elements like dysprosium to the price of gold, elevating them from industrial inputs to geopolitical assets. Another would settle rare earth transactions in yuan rather than US dollars, advancing Beijing’s broader ambition to internationalise its currency.
For China, this strategy goes beyond economics. It is a deliberate national resource policy comparable to OPEC’s management of oil, designed to link pricing to the strategic significance of critical minerals.
Australia’s window?
Investors
are closely watching Australian producers. Strategic deposits such as Mt Weld in Western Australia have drawn renewed interest from Japan, Europe and the US.
Industry observers argue Australia is better positioned than the US to develop secure supply chains, due to its rich geological endowment and transparent regulatory environment.
To seize this opportunity, the government has begun to act.
Under its Future Made in Australia initiative, the federal government is considering measures such as strategic stockpiling, production tax credits and expanded support for domestic processing. Iluka Resources has secured A$1.65 billion to build a rare earth refinery, due to be operational by 2026.
Emerging projects like Browns Range and Lynas’s Malaysian refinery already serve as alternative nodes in the global rare earth supply chain network.
However, structural barriers remain. The Western allies, including Australia, still lack key processing technologies and have potentially high environmental compliance costs. Lynas’s Texas plant was intended to expand allied capacity but has faced delays due to environmental approvals.
Walking a diplomatic tightrope
Geopolitical tensions add another layer of complexity. Australia’s dual role – as a major upstream supplier to China and a strategic ally of the US – places it on a diplomatic tightrope.
Aligning too closely with the US could invite Chinese retaliation. Appearing overly aligned with China may provoke scrutiny from Washington.
Ownership concerns are also rising. The government has blocked or forced divestment of Chinese stakes in rare earth and lithium companies including Northern Minerals.
Market volatility compounds these challenges. Prices are currently buoyed by geopolitical risk, but have been volatile. Moreover, China’s ability to undercut global prices could erode the competitiveness of Australian exports.
A strategic opportunity – but with strings attached
Australia stands at the centre of a rare strategic inflection point. It is both a beneficiary of China’s retreat and a potential casualty of intensifying great power competition.
In a world where resources confer influence, the question for Australia is not simply whether it has the mineral deposits but whether it has the strategy to match.
If the government can capitalise on this moment – diversifying partnerships, investing in capabilities, and navigating allies and rivals with strategic care – it could emerge as a leader in a more diverse critical minerals landscape.
In the era of mineral geopolitics, possessing the resources is no longer enough. The real test is whether Australia has the foresight and the will to lead.
Marina Yue Zhang 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.
Despite the challenges faced by local democratic activists, Thailand has often been an oasis of relative liberalism compared with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Westerners, in particular, have been largely welcomed and provided with a measure of protection from harassment by the authorities. Thailand’s economy is extremely dependent on foreign tourism. Many Westerners also work in a variety of industries, including as academics at public and private universities.
That arrangement now seems under pressure. Earlier this month, Paul Chambers, an American political science lecturer at Naresuan University, was arrested on charges of violating the Computer Crimes Act and the lèse-majesté law under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code for allegedly insulting the monarchy.
Chambers’ visa has been revoked and he now faces a potential punishment of 15 years in jail.
The lèse-majesté law has become a common tool for silencing Thai activists. At least 272 people have been charged under the law since pro-democracy protests broke out in 2020, according to rights groups.
Its use against foreigners has, until now, been limited. No foreign academic has ever been charged with it. Because of the law, however, most academics in Thailand usually tread carefully in their critiques of the monarchy.
The decision to charge a foreign academic, therefore, suggests a hardening of views on dissent by conservative forces in the country. It represents a further deterioration in Thailand’s democratic credentials and provides little optimism for reform under the present government.
Thailand’s democratic deficit
Several other recent actions have also sparked concerns about democratic backsliding.
Following a visit by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to China in February, the government violated domestic and international law by forcibly returning 40 Uyghurs to China.
The Uyghurs had fled China a decade earlier to escape repression in the western Xinjiang region and had been held in detention in Thailand ever since. They now potentially face worse treatment by the Chinese authorities.
Then, in early April, Thailand welcomed the head of the Myanmar junta to a regional summit in Bangkok after a devastating earthquake struck his war-ravaged country.
Min Aung Hlaing has been shunned internationally since the junta launched a coup against the democratically elected government in Myanmar in 2021, sparking a devastating civil war. He has only visited Russia and China since then.
In addition, the military continues to dominate politics in Thailand. After a progressive party, Move Forward, won the 2023 parliamentary elections by committing to amend the lèse-majesté law, the military, the unelected Senate and other conservative forces in the country ignored the will of the people and denied its charismatic leader the prime ministership.
The party was then forcibly dissolved by the Constitutional Court and its leader banned from politics for ten years.
In February, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission criminally indicted 44 politicians from Move Forward for sponsoring a bill in parliament to reform the lèse-majesté law. They face lifetime bans from politics if they are found guilty of breaching “ethical standards”.
Even the powerful former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who is also the uncle of the current prime minister, is not immune from the lèse-majesté law.
He was indicted last year for allegedly insulting the monarchy almost two decades ago. His case is due to be heard in July.
This continued undermining of democratic norms is chipping away at Thailand’s international reputation. The country is now classified as a “flawed democracy” in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, with its ranking falling two years in a row.
The lèse-majesté law has always represented something of a challenge to academic freedom in Thailand, as well as freedom of speech more generally. Campaigners against the law have paid a heavy price.
The US State Department has provided a statement of support for Chambers, urging the Thai government to “ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression”. However, given the Trump administration’s attacks on US universities at the moment, this demand rings somewhat hollow.
Academic freedom is a hallmark of democracies compared with authoritarian regimes. With the US no longer so concerned with protecting academic freedom at home, there is little stopping flawed democracies around the world from stepping up pressure on academics to toe the line.
The undermining of democracy in the US is already having palpable impacts on democratic regression around the world.
With little international pressure to adhere to democratic norms, the current Thai government has taken a significant and deleterious step in arresting a foreign academic.
In the future, universities in Thailand, as in the US, will find it harder to attract international talent. Universities – and the broader society – in both countries will be worse off for it.
Adam Simpson 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 New York Charles E Schumer
Thousands Of Vets & VA Workers Were Already Fired, Including In The Rochester-Finger Lakes; Canandaigua VA Workers Say Cuts Creating Chaos, With Local Vet Suicide Crisis Line Workers Even Being Mistakenly Fired & Rehired, Elsewhere NY Addiction Services Staff & Other VA Programs Staff Have Been Slashed
Now With ‘DOGE’ Plan To Slash 80,000+ VA Jobs– NEARLY ONE-FIFTH OF ALL VA WORKERS – Schumer Says Places Like Canandaigua VA, Which He Saved From Being Closed, Could Face Devastating Damage
Schumer: We Can’t Let ‘DOGE’ Attack Health Care For Over 33,000 Vets In Finger Lakes
With ‘DOGE’ and the Trump administration’s plans to fire over 80,000 workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) looming, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood outside the Canandaigua VA to sound the alarm on the devastating impacts for the over 33,000 veterans in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. The senator said across Upstate NY, VA workers, many of whom are veterans, have already been fired, creating chaos in the workforce and new massive cuts would spell disaster for both the Canandaigua VA and the care for vets across NY. Schumer called on the Trump administration to restore fired veterans and VA workers and stop any plans to further decimate the VA workforce.
“This is not how you treat our veterans – it’s not just unacceptable, it’s un-American. Firing over 80,000 VA workers, many of whom are veterans themselves, will undoubtedly hurt the healthcare and benefits for the 33,000 veterans here in the Rochester-Finger Lakes. We have already seen the chaos firsthand, VA workers fired without warning across Upstate NY, chaos across the VA workforce. Here in Canandaigua they even fired workers on the veterans suicide crisis hotline before reversing themselves after public outcry. It is gut wrenching to think this is how we are treating the services of those who defended our freedoms,” said Senator Schumer. “Make no mistake, these cuts are a direct assault on our veterans here in Upstate NY. These cuts don’t just mean fewer VA workers, they mean longer wait times for our veterans to get the help they need. It means they won’t get the most advanced treatment, and ultimately it means many will likely be denied healthcare they deserve. Our nation told our veterans that if they put their lives and health on the line to protect our freedoms, we would take care of them, and the Trump administration is breaking that promise by cutting the VA to the bone. We need to make sure these cuts never happen. Not in Canandaigua or at any VA across America, and that they rehire all the veterans and VA workers who only were trying to serve those who served our country.”
“Canandaigua VA workers, including our Veteran Crisis Line professionals are literally on the front lines every day saving veterans lives minute by minute, all while now dealing with the additional stress of their own jobs needlessly being as risk of termination. They are fielding an increasing number of calls from stressed veterans worried that the VA cuts will affect their care or worse,” said Ronnie Orlowski, Canandaigua VA employee and President of AFGE Local 3306 that represents Canandaigua VA workers including Veteran Crisis Line workers. “A significant number of our VA workers are veterans themselves, and they bring a personal commitment and empathy to their jobs which is why it was unconscionable that dozens of Canandaigua VA workers on the Veteran Crisis Line and Homeless Veterans Hotline -several veterans themselves – were terminated earlier this year. This includes workers who alert first responders to dispatch ambulances and police in real time to the location of a veteran in crisis calling on the line who needs immediate emergency intervention. We fought back and while they were eventually reinstated, many do not feel their jobs are safe with the looming threat of 83,000 additional layoffs. These proposed layoffs strike at the very heart of services that are essential to our veteran’s wellbeing, including those who have shared how the VA has been crucial in their post-service lives, from critical medical procedures and PTSD therapy to ongoing support. I thank Senator Schumer for his steadfast opposition to the proposed staffing cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and urge others to stand firm with him in ensuring our nation’s continued commitment to its veterans.”
Schumer said ‘DOGE’ has already fired thousands of veterans across the country, many of whom have service-connected disabilities. 2,400 VA employees, many of whom are veterans themselves, have already been terminated. The VA, however, has refused to even explain where all these cuts have been in New York, leading to chaos, and with 80,000 more looming, the senator said it could turn into a real crisis.
Schumer said these broader ‘DOGE’ firings are especially cruel as veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce, with approximately 640,000 veterans working in federal agencies. The federal government has long made it a priority to hire veterans and military spouses, encouraging them to do so as a continuation of public service, making these cuts by the Trump Administration uniquely hurtful. Schumer has repeatedly highlighted this, including bringing a Western NY disabled Army veteran who served in Afghanistan who was fired from the Buffalo VA, as his personal guest to attend President Trump’s Joint Session of Congress
Dozens of workers in the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System have already been caught in the crossfire of Trump’s firing chaos:
Last February according to the AFGE, 9 Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) workers at the Canandaigua VA were fired, only to be reinstated days later after public outcry across the country. These included workers whose job is to call local first responders to dispatch intervention rescues when a veteran on the line is in crisis.
10 workers in the Finger Lakes VA system were fired.
Additionally, VA union officials report that VA Homeless Hotline workers hired through Canandaigua VA as remote workers are under a pending return-to-work order which has already led the call center to lose 30 percent of its workforce which will reduce the line’s effectiveness.
An office manager at the Veteran’s Mental Health Center in Rochester was fired, and though the manager was rehired, a supervisor has been fired since then.
Spectrum News reported layoffs at the Bath VA’s Detox and Substance Use Rehab Center, risking its shutdown due to staffing shortages. Every Veteran Court in Monroe County sends their defendants to Bath for rehab, and the Bath facility is one of the only facilities that can provide in-patient detox care in the greater Rochester-Finger Lakes region.
‘DOGE’ has also directed the VA to cancel over 800 contracts that support chemotherapy treatment, screenings for veterans suffering from toxic exposure, detecting and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, digitizing veterans’ disability claim records, and more. Schumer said these cuts have already hurt health care services that the VA can offer veterans and are just a small example of what’s to come. While Secretary Collins claimed the contract cancellations will have no negative impact on veterans’ health care, VA employees claim the contracts being cancelled are “central to patient safety.”
Schumer added, “I am all for cutting out inefficiency, but you use a scalpel, not a chainsaw. Jobs and care for our veterans in Upstate NY is not government waste – full stop. This will hurt our veterans and their families.”
These cuts also come at potentially the worst time, as more veterans had just started receiving healthcare than ever before thanks to Schumer leading the PACT Act to passage through Congress, which after years of denying vets treatment extended health coverage for exposure to burn pit smoke and other environmental hazards that caused cancers and other illnesses during their service In 2023 alone, the VA hired more than 60,000 new employees to serve thousands of new patients seeking care after the passage of the PACT Act. Trump’s plan to gut the VA workforce will reverse progress made in recent years to provide quality and continuous care to veterans suffering from diseases brought on by exposure to toxic burn pits. Schumer said if proposed firings go through, health care services for 33,000 veterans in the Finger Lakes and millions more across the country will be at risk.
These drastic workforce cuts to the VA will cripple the agency’s ability to serve the 400,000 veterans enrolled in benefits between March 2023 and March 2024. VA employees and advocates indicate when these cuts take place, wait times, as well as delays or denial in care, will worsen as the longstanding staffing shortage problem at the VA will be significantly exacerbated. Cuts to the VA research workforce will prevent VA from delivering enhanced, tailored care to the veterans they are still able to serve, undoubtedly resulting in worse health outcomes for veterans suffering from service-connected illnesses.
Ontario County U.S. Marine Corps and Vietnam Era Veteran Wayne Thompson said, “As a veteran, I know firsthand how important the role VA services and programs play in supporting those of us who have served. The proposed staffing cuts would be detrimental, not only to veterans in need of assistance but also to the remaining employees who provide these vital services. Reductions like these are likely to overburden the already dedicated staff and risk leaving many veterans without the support they desperately need. The current White House’s chaotic administration of multiple aspects of citizens lives is raising havoc with Veterans and the general public’s mental and physical wellbeing. It needs to stop before it’s too late! I join Senator Schumer to oppose these proposed cuts and to protect our access to essential VA services.”
Nick Stefanovic, Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency said, “The Department of Veterans Affairs is crucial in providing life-saving rehabilitation and mental health services to our veterans, and any cuts to this vital resource could have devastating consequences. With positions at critical medical facilities already being lost, I am very concerned about the direct impact on the care our veterans receive. I am thankful for Senator Schumer’s strong stance against these reductions. His commitment is vital in our fight to ensure that our veterans continue to have access to the care they need.”
Senator Schumer has a long history both fighting to keep the Canandaigua VA Medical Campus open, and delivering robust federal funding to modernize the campus to boost the quality of care for Finger Lakes veterans. In 2003, the VA released its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhancement Services (CARES) Draft National Plan which recommended closing the Canandaigua Veteran’s Medical Campus, which would have forced local veterans to travel much farther to VA hospitals in other cities to receive the care they needed, and removing one of the region’s major employers. Schumer launched an all-out campaign to keep the Canandaigua Medical Campus open, even convincing the former VA secretary to visit in person. Since then, Schumer has secured hundreds of millions of federal dollars to modernize and expand the facility to provide Rochester-area veterans with the new state-of-art medical facilities and housing they have long deserved.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Contact:Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C.—Today, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Health Subcommittee member Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) made a bipartisan request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a detailed investigation and report on the vertical consolidation of Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAO) and its effect on Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) calculations.
“The acquisition of related businesses such as health care providers by MAOs could undermine the effectiveness of MLR requirements. A recent study suggested that MAOs may be able to circumvent MLR requirements through payments for medical expenses to related businesses such as health care providers,” wrote the Members. “This is because payments to a related business are considered medical expenses for purposes of calculating the MLR, even though a portion of these payments may ultimately be profits for the MAO. MAOs’ provider acquisitions in recent years further increase the potential for MAOs to circumvent MLR requirements in this manner.”
As MAOs continue to rapidly purchase surgery centers, primary care practices, home health agencies, pharmacy benefit managers, health technology firms, and more, there must be accountability for the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars paid to these organizations, including tens of billions of wasteful overpayments. For example, UnitedHealth Group is now the nation’s largest insurer and the largest employer of physicians. These ownership structures may also create perverse incentives for physicians to add unsupported diagnoses codes to medical charts, refer patients to commonly owned providers and pharmacies, and other potentially fraudulent, wasteful, and abusive practices.
The Members’ request specifically seeks a detailed investigation of the payments and trends in vertically consolidated MAOs, including any differentiated treatment of owned vs. independent businesses and providers.
Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Headline: Media release: QLD voters oppose Greens’ gas ban, back long-term role for gas: poll – Australian Energy Producers
A majority of voters in the key federal electorates of Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan believe that natural gas has a long-term role in the state’s energy mix and oppose the Greens’ policy to ban all new gas developments, new polling shows.
A recent poll of over 2500 voters across the three electorates found that more than 80 per cent of voters see a role for gas in Queensland’s energy mix, with around 58 per cent citing a long-term role. More than 60 per cent of voters also believe the natural gas industry is important to the state’s economy.
The JWS Research poll commissioned by Australian Energy Producers surveyed more than 800 voters in each of the electorates of Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan, held by Greens MPs Stephen Bates, Max Chandler-Mather and Elizabeth Watson-Brown respectively.
The poll found that 58 of voters across the three seats oppose the Greens’ policy to ban all new gas projects in Australia, and only one in five support it. It also found 57 per cent support Queensland’s gas industry, and fewer than one in five don’t support the industry.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the results showed Queenslanders understood the critical role of gas for the state’s economic prosperity and energy security.
“Queensland runs on natural gas, which provides 20 per cent of the state’s primary energy needs, contributes $25 billion a year to the state economy and supports more than 57,000 jobs across the state,” Ms McCulloch said.
“Voters in these electorates understand the value of Queensland’s gas and LNG sector because they directly benefit from the sector’s investment. A recent study found Queensland’s gas industry spent $27.8 billion with 1,100 local businesses in the seats of Ryan, Griffith and Brisbane over the past 10 years, supporting 22,000 local jobs.”
The poll also found that cost-of-living and energy affordability is the biggest issue for voters this election.
“With cost-of-living pressures front of mind for Queenslanders this election, these results send a strong message to all candidates contesting this election about the importance of a strong Queensland gas sector to the state’s economic growth and energy security,” Ms McCulloch said.
“Recent analysis by EnergyQuest found The Greens’ reckless energy policy to ban new gas projects would mean higher energy bills, increased risk of blackouts, and higher emissions as more coal and diesel would be needed to keep the lights on.”
Key results of JWS Research polling in Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan
JWS conducted the poll on 8-9 April on behalf of Australian Energy Producers, with over 800 respondents in each electorate.
Brisbane
80% believe natural gas has a role in Queensland’s energy mix, with 54% citing long-term role. Only 6% saw no role.
53% support the natural gas industry in Queensland, only 21% oppose.
57% consider the natural gas industry important to the state’s economy. Only 12% consider it unimportant
53% oppose the Greens’ policy to ban all new gas projects in Australia, with 23% neutral or undecided. Only 24% support the policy.
31% ranked cost of living including energy affordability as the most important issue in deciding who to vote for in the upcoming election, followed by climate change and the environment (14%), the economy and jobs (12%) and housing supply and affordability (12%).
Griffith
78% believe natural gas has a role in Queensland’s energy mix, with 54% citing long-term role. Only 11% saw no role.
53% support the natural gas industry in Queensland, only 24% oppose.
56% consider the natural gas industry important to the state’s economy. Only 16% consider it unimportant
54% oppose the Greens’ policy to ban all new gas projects in Australia, with 23% neutral or undecided. Only 24% support the policy.
38% ranked cost of living including energy affordability as the most important issue in deciding who to vote for in the upcoming election, followed by hospitals, healthcare and ageing (16%), housing supply and affordability (11%) and the economy and jobs (11%).
Ryan
85% believe natural gas has a role in Queensland’s energy mix, with 66% citing long-term role. Only 6% saw no role.
66% support the natural gas industry in Queensland, only 14% oppose.
66% consider the natural gas industry important to the state’s economy. Only 7% consider it unimportant
66% oppose the Greens’ policy to ban all new gas projects in Australia, with 21% neutral or undecided. Only 13% support the policy.
35% ranked cost of living including energy affordability as the most important issue in deciding who to vote for in the upcoming election, followed by crime (18%), housing supply and affordability (16%), climate change and the environment (11%).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today led 18Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing alarm over the United States’ failure to respond effectively to the devastating earthquake in Burma on March 28.
The letter highlights how the administration’s unlawful shuttering of USAID and gutting of U.S. foreign assistance undermines the United States’ capacity to respond to crises, jeopardizes lives, and betrays American leadership and national security interests around the world. The lawmakers demand answers from Secretary Rubio about the administration’s response to the earthquake in Burma, including its firing of a three-person assessment team on the ground just days after their arrival.
Text of the letter can be found below. A PDF copy of the letter can be foundhere.
Dear Secretary Rubio:
We write to express our alarm at the United States’ failure to respond effectively to the devastating earthquake in Burma on March 28. We are further concerned that the Administration’s unlawful shuttering of USAID and gutting of U.S. foreign assistance programs has compromised America’s ability to respond to this crisis.
The United States has long been a leader in humanitarian assistance and disaster response globally, including in Asia after the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami. These efforts have enhanced America’s reputation, bolstered our diplomatic influence, and strengthened our military-to-military cooperation and bilateral relationships with nations in the region. The Trump Administration’s disastrous response to the earthquake in Burma severely undercuts that leadership, and, unless corrected, will damage our influence and interests in the region.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake near Mandalay damaged buildings as far away as Bangkok, Thailand. The Burmese government estimates more than 3,300 people have died and more than 4,800 were wounded, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the death toll could be higher than 10,000 people given the impact on heavily populated areas. Countless buildings, bridges and homes were destroyed in Burma, with hospitals overwhelmed. To make matters worse, the horrific Burmese military continued to bomb its citizens in the aftermath of the earthquake.
President Trump initially confirmed to reporters after the quake that the U.S. would be rushing assistance to the region. Instead, public reporting suggests that the United States has been missing in action. In stark contrast to USAID’s typical work to mobilize dozens of expert American first responders for early life-or-death recovery efforts, the Administration waited several days to send a small response team of three personnel to the region to assess the damage—and then dismissed them from their roles two days later. The United States initially agreed to send $2 million dollars in relief funding—later increasing it to $9 million after public criticism, but still a pittance compared to past U.S. humanitarian and disaster response efforts and the assistance pledged by other nations.
The United States’ scant and chaotic response to this crisis created a vacuum that other nations are exploiting to boost their own influence. The People’s Republic of China (PRC), in particular, has filled the gap by pledging $14 million for relief efforts and sending 600 rescue workers to the impacted region. So, instead of seeing American relief workers wearing the USAID logo, crisis-affected populations in Southeast Asia are seeing images and videos of PRC rescue workers pulling people out of rubble, helping the sick, providing life-saving food and medicine, and building credibility with local governments.
USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia was based in Bangkok and could have mobilized to lead the relief efforts if the Trump Administration had not unilaterally gutted it in the weeks prior. Tragically, many USAID staff who had been stationed in the region and could have rushed to the scene instead received termination notices on the day of the earthquake. The way they and the three members of the short-lived response team were treated is unprofessional and insulting and underscores the negligent way this Administration has handled this crisis and stewarded U.S. government personnel and resources.
Moreover, at a time when people in the affected region would ordinarily turn to Voice of America (VOA) Burmese and Radio Free Asia to get critical updates, the Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for Global Media have forced both to go silent. VOA Burmese was critical in getting information out during the 2009 Cyclone Nargis crisis, while RFA played a vital role in closely covering Cyclone Mocha and its devastating aftermath in 2023. Now, VOA staff are on administrative leave and RFA has furloughed of most of its journalists and staff.
If the Administration does not act quickly to turn things around on its response to the current disaster in Southeast Asia, U.S. credibility risks being severely damaged within ASEAN and the broader region. Your statement last week that “we are not the government of the world” and have “other needs” and “other priorities” burns friendships we have built and commitments we have made in the region—including with treaty allies and through bilateral security cooperation agreements that anchor humanitarian and disaster response as shared national security priorities. This will only encourage our partners and allies to look to and work with China instead.
Notwithstanding the gravity of this emergency, the State Department has provided little information to House Foreign Affairs Committee staff despite several requests. So, we reiterate here our request for the Administration to brief the Committee this month on its response to the Southeast Asia quake, and we request a written response from you by April 22 with answers to the following questions:
The U.S. response thus far has betrayed our moral leadership and U.S. national security interests. We seek answers to the questions above so that we can partner with you to remedy the damage and restore the U.S. foreign assistance tools we need to be a global leader.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee, alongside Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, and Johnny Olszewski, Democratic Members of the Africa Subcommittee, today issued a joint statement marking the two-year anniversary of the outbreak of war in Sudan:
“It is time to permanently end the brutal violence perpetrated by the warring parties in Sudan and return to a path toward peace and a civilian-led democracy. On this somber day marking two years since the outbreak of the Sudan war, we call on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and allied militias to come to the negotiating table and put a stop to this brutal conflict. They all must ensure unfettered humanitarian access and abide by their repeated commitments to protect civilians, end reprisal killings, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of war crimes and other atrocities.
“External actors like the UAE must immediately stop fueling the conflict by arming the warring parties and instead work with international partners to apply pressure on the parties to reach an agreement. And all conflict stakeholders must recognize that, in order for any peace agreement to be successful, it must include Sudanese civil society members as full participants and contributors. Additionally, a sustainable peace agreement must provide for an end to military rule, the establishment of a civilian government, and a clear roadmap to democratic elections.
“We call on President Trump and his administration to stop exacerbating the situation in Sudan through unlawful aid cuts and to immediately restore all U.S. foreign assistance for Sudan and its humanitarian crisis. Mutual aid societies like the Emergency Response Rooms are critical lifelines for conflict-affected civilians, and they deserve more international support. This moment demands renewed and consistent attention from the United States government and our partners in order to bring an end to the killing and help the Sudanese people emerge from this national nightmare.”
Additional background: Since the war started, over 150,000 people in Sudan have been killed, more than 12 million displaced from their homes, and 25 million – half of Sudan’s population – currently face acute food insecurity in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The U.S. State Department found the warring parties – the RSF and SAF – have committed war crimes and other atrocities, including mass sexual violence. The State Department also determined the RSF has committed genocide. Over the weekend, the RSF escalated its attacks in El Fasher, targeting civilians, relief workers, and lifesaving services in Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Naivasha IDP camps.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, DC– Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer today introduced a comprehensive bill to support Ukraine and thwart Russia’s ability to wage its illegal war there. Like the Senate bill introduced earlier this month by Senator Lindsey Graham, this legislative package imposes numerous sanctions and other economic measures against Russia should it fail to cease its war of aggression against Ukraine. But this legislation also includes further vital provisions to sustain security assistance to Ukraine for its defense, generate resources for post-war reconstruction, and override presidential actions to terminate existing sanctions without cause. The bill also imposes new sanctions and export control authorities to place additional pressure on Russia, including to curb tankers carrying Russian oil above the international price cap and to ensure dual-use controls on semiconductors and other technologies that could be used to support Russia’s weapons capabilities.
A section by section of the legislation can be foundhere. A PDF of the bill can be foundhere.
Additional cosponsors of the bill include Representatives William Keating, Ranking Member of the Europe Subcommittee; Gerry Connolly, Ranking Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Lloyd Doggett.
“The US-led international response to Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine has isolated Moscow as a global pariah, devastated the Kremlin’s capacity to fund this war, and provided essential support to the Ukrainians fighting for freedom. Now is not the time to ease up on this successful approach nor put pressure solely on the victim, Ukraine. The U.S. must remain committed to shoring up Ukraine’s ability to negotiate a just, acceptable end to this war and to holding Russia – and those supporting its illegal invasion – accountable for as long as Putin’s war of choice continues. This weekend’s missile attack in Sumy that claimed dozens of civilian lives, including children, further demonstrates the barbarity Russia has used to sow terror throughout this war, and the need to impose serious consequences for its atrocities. Make no mistake – Vladimir Putin started this war. He is a bully with no respect for peace, Ukrainian sovereignty, or international norms, and he will only end this illegal war when the world compels him to,“said Ranking Member Meeks.
“Our allies in Ukraine are on the front lines of freedom – fighting not only for their nations’ sovereignty but also against authoritarianism worldwide. I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing urgently needed legislation that will support our allies in Ukraine and invest in their recovery through tougher sanctions on Russian oil exports, security and military assistance, and dual use export provisions. Importantly, this legislation also includes provisions that will allow the Congress, a coequal branch of government, to advance resolutions of disapproval if the President waves his authority – and assert with our own voice that Ukraine has bipartisan support in the United States,”said Rep. Steny Hoyer.“I thank Ranking Member Greg Meeks for his work to put together comprehensive legislation that reflects our values, strengthens our democracy, and ensures the United States remains on the right side of history. We must not give aid and comfort to our enemy, Russia, and we must remain steadfast in the battle for democracy.”
“I am co-sponsoring this legislation because it reaffirms the American people’s unwavering commitment to a sovereign, democratic Ukraine,”said Ranking Member Keating.“As Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion, it is critical that the United States stands firmly by its side—not just militarily, but economically and diplomatically. This legislation includes key provisions from my own bills that aim to support Ukraine across multiple fronts. It provides war risk insurance to ensure the continued flow of international commerce with Ukraine, blocks illegal U.S. technology exports to Iran where they are used to manufacture drones deployed by Russia, and promotes the diversification of Ukraine’s energy supply. Ukraine’s victory requires more than military support – it demands a comprehensive strategy to help rebuild its economy, secure its infrastructure, and restore its independence.”
“Our friends in Ukraine are fighting for the democratic ideals we share against a war criminal, Vladimir Putin, and the rising threat of authoritarianism globally,”said Ranking Member Connolly.“The American commitment to Ukraine, its sovereignty, and its recovery must be lasting and ironclad. We must stand firmly behind the Ukrainian people by countering Russian disinformation, advocating for multilateral support for Ukraine’s reconstruction, providing additional U.S. security assistance, and implementing crippling sanctions on Russia and its enablers to force Putin to the negotiating table. That’s why this bill includes provisions from my bipartisan legislation to expand sanctions on North Korea for its material support for Russia’s illegal invasion. The war in Ukraine is a battle between dictatorship and democracy. Between freedom and oppression. The United States must remain on the right side of history. Slava Ukraini.”
“Pleased to join Rep. Meek’s comprehensive bill, including provisions I authored to stop laundered Russian oil imports and to use frozen Russian assets for compensation to Ukrainians. We support Ukraine and reaffirm our recognition of Putin as a war criminal with sole responsibility for the war. We reject appeasement by Trump and his Republican enablers of Putin, who should bear the ever-mounting costs of his ongoing destruction. The world is watching whether America will remain a beacon of hope, standing with our democratic allies, or drift itself into Russian-style authoritarianism,”said Rep. Doggett.
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year.
“The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising faster for those on low incomes,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.
“Inflation was driven by increases in rents (up 3.7%), rates (up 12%), household energy (up 7.2%) and insurances (up 8%). Grocery prices were also higher, rising 4.3%.
“Earlier this year, the minimum wage rose by 1.5% – a full 1% less than actual inflation. This is the second year the Government has increased the minimum wage by less than inflation, which means that a full-time minimum wage worker is now cumulatively $2,438 worse off in real terms. Minimum wage workers are missing out on $28.36 a week because of the Government’s decisions.
“The Government is considering removing the Living Wage guarantee for government contractors who are caterers, cleaners, and security guards. This data shows why that protection is so important – working people can’t rely on this Government to protect them through the Minimum Wage.
“With 46% of workers receiving a pay rise less than inflation last year, it also shows that many working people are still doing it tough. Unemployment is still rising, with tens of thousands of more people on Jobseekers Support. It is clearly not workers who are benefitting from the very little economic growth is being delivered.
“This data is another piece of evidence about who is winning and losing in the economy. The poorest working people are facing higher costs they can’t avoid – but with less money to pay.
“Workers need a change in direction and a government that will actively address low pay, unemployment, and poverty – it’s time for a different approach,” said Renney.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop is encouraging all road users to make safe choices and be patient with other drivers while on the roads this Easter. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with more people travelling around the country over the long weekend, we need everyone to make safe choices when they’re driving to avoid deaths and serious injuries,” Mr Bishop says. “Please check road and weather conditions before you travel, especially in areas affected by Cyclone Tam. Take care and drive according to the conditions – remember that wet roads are slippery, reduce speed, increase following distances, avoid sudden braking, and use headlights if visibility is poor. “You can expect to see Police on the roads anywhere, anytime this weekend, undertaking increased breath testing, as well as monitoring speed and other driving behaviour. There is a zero-tolerance approach to people putting themselves and others at risk, so think twice before you get behind the wheel. “Drive sober, wear your seatbelt, ensure you’re well rested, and stick to the speed limit. Simple decisions like putting on your seatbelt and avoiding distractions, such as cell phones, while driving make a big difference in keeping yourself and other people safe on the roads. “We want everyone to enjoy this Easter spending time with their friends and family. Making safe choices on the roads will ensure everyone can travel and return home safely.”
CBA backs Bendigo for the win on the back of strong regional growth.
The Central Victorian LGA of Greater Bendigo is one of the most popular destinations for Australians looking to relocate to other desirable areas of the state, according to recent data from CommBank and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI).
The Regional Movers Index (RMI), which analyses the quarterly and annual trends of people moving to and from Australia’s capital cities and regional areas, saw Greater Bendigo record a 65 per cent annual growth in net internal migration (2023 vs 2024) making it the most popular LGA in Victoria for regional movers.
Known for its thriving art and cultural scene, national parks and wineries, and established education and health services, Greater Bendigo has long been a favoured destination among regional movers. However in recent months, the RMI has seen a rising attraction among city-dwellers seeking a tree change. During the quarter ending December 2024, Greater Bendigo achieved the highest growth among capital to regional movers (63.2 per cent) and placed second nationally after recording a fourfold increase (278.7 per cent) in annual growth among capital-regional movers.
The release of the RMI data comes as CommBank’s Business Banking leadership and regional team met with several local businesses and community leaders across Central Victoria this week to discuss the issues and opportunities unique to the region.
CommBank Group Executive Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle said: “In recent years, Bendigo and the surrounding region have experienced a population gold rush which is only expected to grow due to the area’s rich cultural history, scenic landscape and diverse economy. Its close proximity to Melbourne also appeals to those seeking the convenience of city living and country charm, without compromising on quality services, job opportunities or housing affordability.
“Despite the growing cost of doing business in regional areas, we are seeing strong gains across several sectors including health, manufacturing, professional services, transport and agriculture, with Greater Bendigo uniquely positioned to capitalise on this continued population boom. With the right investments channelled into the right areas, Bendigo is well positioned to support the state’s economic growth.”
To support the growing needs of Bendigo and Central Victoria’s community, CommBank recently opened a dedicated business centre in the heart of the city. Located at 47 Queen St, the $2.1 million renovation and relocation to the new premise offers a vibrant environment complete with state-of-the-art banking facilities designed to provide business banking customers with tailored services.
The new centre is operated by a growing team of commercial, agribusiness and small business banking specialists who live locally and have an unrivalled knowledge of the environments their customers operate in. This is further strengthened by the recent leadership appointment of Fiona Corrigan to the role of CommBank Executive Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking, who like many residents, recently relocated with her family from Melbourne to Bendigo.
Mr Vacy-Lyle continued: “Our commitment to Bendigo and Victoria runs deep and we continue to invest in our people and banking facilities to support the everyday banking needs of the local community.
“To help business owners capitalise on economic opportunities across the region, we are also working with local councils and chambers of commerce including Be.Bendigo, as well as community leaders to unlock areas of investment and create sustained growth locally.”
Further bolstering the bank’s 100 year presence in the region is the recent opening of the Bendigo CBD branch, relocating to a new location on 116 – 120 Mitchell St after undergoing a $2 million fit-out to offer customers an improved banking experience. In addition to operating the largest ATM network in the country, CommBank has renewed its commitment to maintaining its regional branch network until mid-2027.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Honduran national living in Utah with federal drug crimes after 171 grams of heroin was seized during executed search warrants.
Jose Manuel Osorio-Dominguez, 31, of West Valley City, was charged by complaint on April 10, 2025.
According to court documents, since February 2025, detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization. On April 8, 2025, a 2014 Toyota Corolla was stopped, and a search warrant was executed on the vehicle. Detectives identified Osorio-Dominguez as the driver and 53 grams of field-tested positive heroin was seized. A subsequent search warrant was executed in Taylorsville, Utah, and an additional 118 grams of field-tested positive heroin and $5,000 was seized. Osorio Dominquez was taken into custody.
Osorio-Dominguez is charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 18, 2025, at 1:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
According to court documents, the defendant has allegedly been victimizing teenage minors, paying them to travel and engage in sex acts with him
BOSTON – A 44-year-old Maryland man has been charged with allegedly coercing and enticing and 18-year-old to travel from Massachusetts to Maryland to engage in commercial sex. According to the detention brief filed today, the government allegedly also found evidence that the defendant has been victimizing minor males and young adults ranging in ages from 14–20 by paying the minors for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and coercing and enticing some of them to travel to his penthouse condominium at the Four Seasons in Baltimore, and elsewhere, to engage in sex acts with him, which he videorecorded.
David Kaufman, 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, and aiding and abetting. Kaufman appeared in federal court in the District of Maryland today and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. He will appear in the District of Massachusetts at a later date.
According to public filings, Kaufman coerced a victim to travel from Massachusetts on two occasions to visit his penthouse condominium at the Four Seasons in Baltimore, paying for the plane tickets. While there, Kaufman allegedly provided the victim with alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, until the victim was intoxicated. It is alleged that Kaufman would then persuade the victim to engage in sex acts, which Kaufman videotaped so that he could watch them later in order to get pleasure for himself. In exchange for the sex acts, it is alleged that Kaufman paid the victim with cash, electronic money transfers and gifts. For example, after he engaged in sex acts in February 2024, Kaufman bought the victim a Louis Vuitton bag.
Government filings contain evidence that Kaufman has also been victimizing minors ranging in age from 14–17 by paying them for CSAM and enticing them to travel to Baltimore and elsewhere to engage in sex acts with him, which Kaufman videorecords. Kaufman typically provides his victims with gifts and money in exchange for CSAM and sex acts.
If you have information or questions about this investigation, or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charges of coercing a person to travel for purposes of prostitution provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and the Baltimore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings and Craig E. Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Meal kits, cruises, and smart watches added to CPI basket in latest update – 17 April 2025 – People are spending more on delivered meal kits and smart watches, but less on older technology such as DVDs, home telephone line rentals, and national toll calls, Stats NZ said today.
Following changes in what New Zealand households typically spend their money on, the consumers price index (CPI) basket of goods and services has been updated. The CPI basket is used to measure inflation.
“Changing spending patterns and consumer tastes mean it’s important to update the CPI basket so it remains relevant and reflects New Zealand society,” consumer prices spokesperson Nicola Growden said.
Delivered meal kits and cruises have been added to the basket from this quarter.
Meal kits, cruises, and smart watches added to CPI basket in latest update–17 April 2025 –People are spending more on delivered meal kits and smart watches, but less on older technology such as DVDs, home telephone line rentals, and national toll calls, Stats NZ said today.
Following changes in what New Zealand households typically spend their money on, the consumers price index (CPI) basket of goods and services has been updated. The CPI basket is used to measure inflation.
“Changing spending patterns and consumer tastes mean it’s important to update the CPI basket so it remains relevant and reflects New Zealand society,” consumer prices spokesperson Nicola Growden said.
Delivered meal kits and cruises have been added to the basket from this quarter.
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
As Washington Considers Tax Cuts for Millionaires and Billionaires, Senator Reverend Warnock Calls for Tax Breaks for Working and Middle-Class Families in Capitol Hill Rally
Senator Reverend Warnock joined a crowd of hundreds at the “Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations” rally
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Everybody likes tax cuts. The debate is about who ought to get one and who really needs one, and what’s the best way to move our economy forward. [Washington Republicans] want to give a tax cut to millionaires and billionaires”
Watch Senator Reverend Warnock’s rally remarks HERE
Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) spoke in front of a crowd of hundreds about the need for Congress to provide a tax break to working and middle-class families during the “Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations” rally on Capitol Hill.
“Everybody likes tax cuts. The debate is about who ought to get one and who really needs one, and what’s the best way to move our economy forward. [Washington Republicans] want to give a tax cut to millionaires and billionaires […] You’re not trying to cut taxes, you’re not trying to cut waste and fraud and abuse, because if you were trying to cut waste and fraud and abuse, I know an unelected billionaire who’s received $40 billion in federal aid and support and loans, I know where you can find some waste and fraud and abuse,” said Senator Warnock.
As a new voice on the Senate Finance committee, Senator Warnock is committed to championing tax policies that support working families and put more money back into the pockets of middle-class families. In 2021, Senator Warnock fought to secure the Expanded Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan. Senator Warnock recently introduced the American Family Act, which would nearly double the Child Tax Credit (CTC) from its current amount and help working moms and dads in a moment where the cost of groceries, housing, and child care is on the rise.
A transcript of Senator Warnock’s remarks during therallycan be found below:
“I just want to say thank you for coming to Washington, D.C. Give yourselves a round of applause just for being here. Mama said, ‘Half a life is showing up’. And I cannot stress to you enough how important it is and how impactful it is for you to show up.”
“Politicians – whether they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents – when you show up, they pay attention. When you call our offices, we pay attention. When you write letters, we pay attention. And when you have the unmitigated audacity to come here and remind the folks over there that that’s not their house, it’s the People’s House, it makes a huge difference. You keep showing up, and I promise you that I and my colleagues are going to keep showing up for you.”
“Give my brother Ben Ray Luján a big round of applause. He and I are both alumni of Head Start., and I probably don’t have to tell you that in the United States Senate, which historically has been a place for the sons of American aristocracy, and I do mean sons, because that weren’t many women, you’re not going to run into many United States Senators who are alums of Head Start. But that’s a program that gives poor children a chance. It inspires them, exposes them to literature and reading and a love of learning, because all children are naturally curious, and if you bump into a child who doesn’t have that, believe me, something or somebody stole it from them. The trauma of being poor [can]rob them of the natural intellectual curiosity about the world that all children have.”
“I’ve got a word for you. God raises up genius and brilliance and talent all over the world, on all sides of town, on both sides of the railroad track. God is an equal opportunity employer, and it makes sense to invest in children because we don’t know what they’re going to contribute.”
“So the folk who want to run roughshod over Head Start don’t get it, and the reason why so many of them don’t get it is not simply because they were born rich. I’m not going to hate on anybody because they were born rich because I didn’t decide to be born poor. But you ought to at least spend enough time with ordinary people so you don’t end up saying dumb things. Like [as Commerce Secretary Lutnick remarked] if my mother-in-law misses one social security check, big deal. Of course, it’s no big deal to her. Her son-in-law is a billionaire. That’s not my story. That’s not the story of the people who are in this crowd.”
“In the words of that great prophet, that poet, Kendrick Lamar, they not like us.”
“We need people in government who, regardless of their background and where they were born, are sensitive to the concerns of ordinary people, hard-working Americans, for people that so many in our government, over the last 40 years, most of my life, have been busy maligning, criminalizing poor people for being poor. That’s why we’re in this mess. That’s why they’re obsessed with giving a tax cut to those who don’t need it, while taking resources away from those who need it so desperately just to survive.”
“And so here’s the thing, here’s the thing that all of us apparently have in common: we all like tax cuts. Everybody likes tax cuts. The debate is about who ought to get one and who really needs one, and what’s the best way to move our economy forward. They want to give a tax cut to millionaires and billionaires, and they’ve been engaged over the last few weeks in creating a lot of theater, tragic theater that has implications for people’s ability to actually live: firing federal workers and making them the enemy, firing folks at the CDC, closing down Social Security offices across Georgia and across our country, and announcing that they were going to do it on the DOGE website. And when I called them out for it, they were at least a little bit embarrassing, because they took it off their website and acted like they didn’t say it. But my staff took screenshots of that website. Yes, you said it. We know what you said, and we know what you are trying to do. You’re not trying to cut taxes, you’re not trying to cut waste and fraud and abuse, because if you were trying to cut waste and fraud and abuse, I know an unelected billionaire who’s received $40 billion in federal aid and support and loans, I know where you can find some waste and fraud and abuse, and his name is Elon Musk!”
“So all of this is a distraction, because Donald Trump is just trying to pay off his friends, trying to pay off millionaires and billionaires. I’m not mad at you because you have money. I just believe that strong hearted bear the infirmities of the weak. I just believe that we are all in this together. The pandemic taught us that, right that we were in a deadly pandemic. We didn’t have the vaccine at the time, it’s an airborne disease. That means that if my neighbor got sick. Even though she was sick, I was potentially in peril because it’s an airborne disease. The pandemic taught us that we didn’t already know that that doesn’t make my neighbor my enemy because she’s sick, that just means that it is in my enlightened self-interest to make sure that she has what she needs, that she has a mask, that she has a vaccine.”
“In other words, my neighbor’s health care coverage is good for my health. It is good for all of us, for everybody to have healthcare. It is good for all of us, no matter how much money you have for children in Georgia to have Medicaid. So that’s what this fight is all about.”
“So keep showing up. Keep fighting the good fight. Keep raising your voice, because this is not about the people who have power. We’ve proven in America over and over again that it’s really about the power in the people, and when the people raise their voices, when the people show up, the people can make a difference!”
“Do you believe that?”
“Are you ready to make some noise?”
“Are you ready to show up?”
“Are you ready to fight for our children?”
“Are you ready to defend Social Security?”
“Are you ready to defend Medicaid?”
“Let do this work y’all!”
“The budget is not just a fiscal document, it’s a moral document. Budget is not just dollars and cents, it’s good morals and common sense. Show me your budget and I’ll show you who you think matters and who you think is dispensable. Show me your budget and I’ll show you what you think about children, what you think about workers, and what you think made America great, and if this budget that they are trying to pass were an EKG, it would suggest that the Congress has a heart problem and is in need of moral surgery. So let’s get the room ready. I know you may not be surgeons, but just help us get the room ready, because the Congress needs an operation, and it’s the people who bring about the change.”
“So you keep showing up over and over again. Don’t give it to those who are trying to weaponize despair. Don’t believe them when they want to convince you that he’s already a king. We have no king! This is the United States of America, and we’re not about to roll over to somebody who wants to be an oligarch.”
“I’m going to stand up for my children. Are you going to stand up for yours? I’m going to stand up for my mother who needs her Social Security. I’m going to stand up for everybody’s children, so that my children are alright. So let’s stand together. Let’s work together. Let’s vote together. Let’s fight together. Let’s pray together. Let’s stay together. Don’t give in to the demagogues. Don’t give in to the division. We rise together.”
“God bless all of you, keep the faith and keep looking up.”
The latest inflation figures confirm inflation is back under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today that inflation increased slightly to 2.5 per cent in the year to March but remained within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. “This is the third consecutive quarter that inflation has remained within the bank’s target range and confirms the era of high inflation is over,” Nicola Willis says. “The steps the Government has taken to stop wasteful public expenditure have taken the heat out of inflation and given the Reserve Bank room to reduce interest rates. “Decisions about the Official Cash Rate are a matter for the Reserve Bank which is operationally independent, but the stabilisation of inflation is good news for people with mortgages. “It means people should be able to look forward to more rate reductions in the coming months. “Encouragingly, banks are continuing to drop their mortgage rates with some now offering fixed rates of less than 5 per cent. “Also encouraging is that non-tradeable inflation – which paints a picture of domestic demand and supply conditions – is continuing to fall, down from 4.5 per cent in the year to December to 4 per cent in the year to March. “The impact of lower rates on individual households depends on the terms of people’s mortgages but the Official Cash Rate has already fallen two percentage points since August. “For someone with a $500,000 mortgage over 25 years, a two percentage point drop in their interest rate reduces their repayments by about $300 a fortnight. “Further falls will mean more money in people’s pockets and more money flowing through business tills.”
Just 169 of these wild adult birds remained and they could only be found in New Zealand. Kakī are regarded by Māori as a taonga species – a living treasure.
However, invasive weeds and pest willow spreading through the wetland has been threatening the environment.
Farm owners, Diane and Martin Cochrane, and their nephew Simon Bloomberg had always intended on restoring the wetland to its former glory but put it off as it was an expensive undertaking.
With $10,000 of Action Plan funding allocated by the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Water Zone Committee, they were able to begin work earlier this year.
Kakī started visiting the farm five years ago. Photo provided by Jess Cochrane
Getting rid of invasive species
The first stage of the project was preparing the boundry which involved getting rid of all the invasive tree species, such as willows, that spread easily. Then, it was a matter of spraying the sides and refencing to allow for future expansion of the wetland. In Spring, they will start planting native vegetation.
After planting, predator trapping will also be an important stage of the project. Growing native vegetation would attract more birds and insects which will lead to more predators trying to kill those birds.
Martin Cochrane said the biggest challenge would be the maintenance involved in growing the native plants as they could be quite vulnerable for those first three to five years.
“It will be a family project, anything we can do to improve the environment, and to make it a better home for wading birds is worth it,” Martin Cochrane said.
However, improving the biodiversity for birdlife is just one benefit to restoring the wetland.
Improving water quality and biodiversity
Diane’s family, the Elliots, had farmed the property since the 1899 Waikākahi farm ballot and bought the neighbouring Hossack Wetland in the early 2000s.
Martin Cochrane said there had been a lot of wetland loss, particularly in Canterbury, and they were pleased it hadn’t been developed into farmland.
“The fact that this wetland is still here, providing a natural filter for water going into the Waihao River, is definitely worth protecting,” Martin Cochrane said.
Restoring the wetland meant improving habitat for native fauna, slowing water down during a flood and forming part of a biodiversity corridor along the Waihao River.
The family also hoped the project would encourage other landowners to show interest in how they could contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity.
They planned to protect the wetland with a QEII covenant to ensure its survival for future generations. Incorporating public access to the wetland would also be part of the restoration project.
By slowing the water flow from land and releasing it slowly in dry periods, they also play a vital role during periods of high or low rainfall.
While historically many of the country’s natural wetlands have been drained, some have simply been concealed by weeds, unable to realise their environmental potential.
Each of the region’s water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to help improve the environment and meet Canterbury Water Management Strategy objectives.
Ulumbarra Theatre marks a significant milestone today celebrating its 10th anniversary as a world-class performing arts venue and vibrant cultural hub within the walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol.
Over the past decade, Ulumbarra has welcomed approximately 765,000 visitors and hosted over 2,500 events, ranging from major productions like Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle and national and international touring acts to local shows and school performances.
The name Ulumbarra means ‘gather together’ or ‘meeting place’ in the language of the Traditional Owners of the land, the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
As a leading regional arts and community venue, Ulumbarra has played a pivotal role in shaping central Victoria’s cultural landscape. The award-winning theatre, designed by local architecture firm Y2, is a stunning fusion of heritage-listed architecture and contemporary design within the historic Sandhurst Gaol (which operated from 1863 to 2004).
Red brick prison guard towers and an impressive façade frame the stunning theatre entrance. Inside the theatre, the box office is housed in a repurposed prison cell block and visitors can walk under the gangway and peer into prisons cells that remain intact. The theatre’s clever 950-seat design ensures a fantastic experience for every audience member, and other areas in the theatre serve as a hub for community events, art exhibitions, conferences, festivals and student programs.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said Ulumbarra’ s cultural impact on Greater Bendigo had been extraordinary.
“Ulumbarra has enriched our region’s arts and culture scene over the past decade, hosting national and international artists, touring theatre companies, whilst also serving as a space for learning, expression, and a strong community connection through the arts,” Cr Metcalf said.
“It is a testament to the strong collaboration and partnership between the City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and other key local stakeholders to drive this ambitious project for a shared arts and education facility.
“The theatre’s name, Ulumbarra, perfectly captures the spirit of this unique venue bringing the absolute best of art and culture. It’s a place where the community comes together in celebration, storytelling, and shared experiences. As a joint-use facility with Bendigo Senior Secondary College, it is also a place of learning that nurtures the love of live performances amongst younger generations.
“The theatre’s official opening on April 17, 2015, was marked by week-long celebrations including a gala event, a community concert, and a host of top-class performances.
“In 2025, we are thrilled to welcome back several national and international touring companies who performed here in our opening year, including Shake & Stir with 1984, Bell Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Circus Oz, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
“To have these outstanding companies return to our stage is a fitting way to mark this milestone and we look forward to welcoming our community and visitors to Ulumbarra throughout 2025 to share in the celebration of 10 years of performance, creativity, and connection.
“It’s a wonderful celebration for a venue that has become a cornerstone of cultural life in central Victoria.”
To browse forthcoming performances and shows at Ulumbarra, head to:
Yesterday, a district court judge convicted a Virginia man, who worked for the Department of Commerce, of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rafferty Daniel Kelly, 40, of Alexandria, worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In March 2022, a federal CSAM investigation involving an internet-based peer-to-peer file sharing service, a program used by the defendant to obtain CSAM, led federal agents to execute a search warrant at Kelly’s home, where they seized multiple devices. A review of those devices revealed that, over a period of at least two years, Kelly had downloaded and stored over 50,000 images of CSAM and child erotica, including images of infants and prepubescent children. Kelly also possessed a handbook on how to groom children.
At the end of the bench trial yesterday, the Honorable Michael S. Nachmanoff found Kelly guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Judge Nachmanoff will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who defrauded a local financial institution of $652,784.34 in funds was sentenced in federal court today for bank fraud and money laundering.
Maximillian D. Howell, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 21 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Howell to pay restitution of $231,841.84 to the financial institution. In addition, the court entered a final order of money judgment forfeiture of $88,123.08.
Beginning in 2015, Howell, through several of his companies, worked on numerous development projects within the City of Kansas City, Missouri. These projects were often funded through the HOME grant and CDBG. These grants were awarded to the City of Kansas City, Missouri by HUD. Other projects were funded from reimbursement-based lines of credit established at the financial institution and the General Fund of the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
To facilitate his acquisition of land to develop residential properties for sale, Howell obtained lines of credit with the financial institution, a Missouri state-chartered banking association, having an office in Kansas City, Missouri.
As the projects were under construction, the financial institution, which had promised Howell construction loans, would periodically lend Howell money based on his line of credit or the overall amount of his construction loans. These periodic loans are typically referred to as construction draws.
Howell was to draw construction loan proceeds by submitting certified draw requests, signed by him, which contained statements describing the work completed and the amount owed for that work. Howell submitted or caused to be submitted numerous such draw requests to the financial institution.
It was a part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that Howell would enter into and maintain loan agreements with the financial institution for funding five real estate development projects, to wit: Second and Delaware, 1220 Beacon Hill Lane, 2101 Garfield Avenue, 2645 Madison Avenue, and 2709 Holmes Street (collectively referred to as the “Development Projects”).
Howell, doing business through his companies, executed and presented false and fraudulent draw requests to the financial institution, predicated in whole or in part upon false claims of incurred costs, for disbursement of funds in support of the Development Projects.
Howell caused to be created false and fraudulent documentation of expenses supposedly incurred upon the Development Projects, totaling $652,784.34, paid by the financial institution to Howell.
The court ordered Howell to self-surrender on May 27, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General.
LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Laredo woman has been convicted of conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a minor alien to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Salma Galilea Veliz guilty late April 15 after a two-day trial.
Law enforcement first encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo Nov. 14, 2024, with a three-year-old male. At that time, she presented a Texas birth certificate and claimed the minor was her son.
Veliz eventually admitted the child was actually not her own and that she had picked him up in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. She claimed she did not know the boy’s name or where she was taking him, just that a person known as “Malandro” was bringing him to her.
Veliz planned to have the boy assume the identity of her biological son in an effort to smuggle him into the United States. In exchange, she would be paid $2,500.
During trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding his true identity, which included the minor child’s original birth certificate indicating Mexico as his place of birth. Testimony also revealed there was no record in existence pertaining to the minor child that would indicate he had ever been authorized to enter the United States.
The defense attempted to convince the jury the boy had claims to citizenship through an unidentified father. However, evidence revealed the minor is a Mexican citizen and had no claim to enter the county. The jury ultimately found Veliz guilty as charged.
“This verdict demonstrates that those who think they can make a quick buck by trafficking human beings—particularly children—are sorely mistaken,” said Ganjei. “The facts of this case are a reminder of the tremendous human cost of weak border security. There is no telling who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully snuck across the border. Due to the quick thinking and thorough work of law enforcement, that child will be returned to his home, rather than face an uncertain—and possibly dangerous—fate in the hands of unknown persons.”
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Veliz faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State and Department of Health and Humans Services – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Lopez and Tory Sailer prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
POCATELLO – Bruce Hauber, 72, of American Falls, was sentenced to five years of probation for federal program theft after embezzling $129,022.38 from a federally funded public housing authority, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, the American Falls Housing Authority (AFHA) is a federally funded public housing authority that manages public housing in American Falls. Between 2019 and 2023, Hauber was employed as the Executive Director of AFHA and was tasked with paying bills, purchasing supplies, collecting rent, and managing bank accounts.
Beginning in spring 2019, Hauber began to make purchases on AFHA credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses, such as meals, airplane tickets, utilities for his home, medical expenses, and purchases at retailers. In total, between spring 2019 through 2023, Hauber made $129,022.38 in unauthorized personal expenses. Hauber used AFHA funds to make payments for those personal expenses. To conceal the embezzlement, Hauber wrote fictitious checks to venders and entered the checks into AFHA’s internal accounting system.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Hauber to pay $79,022.38 in restitution and imposed eight months of home detention with location monitoring as a condition of probation.
“Our office will vigorously investigate and prosecute cases involving theft of public money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott. “Bruce Hauber stole from the American taxpayer and deprived American Falls residents vital public housing funds.”
“Hauber deliberately orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to embezzle more than $125,000 in federal funds designated to provide housing assistance for elderly and disabled residents in American Falls, Idaho—a community of roughly, 4,500 people,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “The theft was especially harmful given the limited resources available to support the community. HUD OIG remains committed to working alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and oversight partners to aggressively pursue individuals who compromise the integrity of HUD programs and exploit communities in need.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Jack Haycock prosecuted the case.
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that defendant Carl Howard Payne, Jr., of Colorado Springs, was charged with Interstate Communication of Threats.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about March 20, 2025, threatening emails were sent from betweensaltandstart@proton.me to various news media outlets across state lines. The emails detailed a “Declaration of War” against the 47th Presidential Cabinet of the United States and further described how Tesla owners would be murdered on April 17, 2025, and thereafter, until the death of Elon Musk.
Also on March 20, 2025, Payne sent the same email to ProPublica and Thomson Reuters, both in New York, from Signal user “c”. And on or about April 2, 2025, Payne deposited or caused to be deposited similar threatening letters for delivery by the Postal Service to several insurance companies. The return address on the letters indicated they were from “The White House,” but the letters were postmarked in Denver.
A review of Internet Protocol (IP) address information from Proton Mail, along with other information, indicates that Payne is the user of the Proton Mail account and the Signal account from which the threatening emails originated.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jasand Mock.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yesterday, a district court judge convicted a Virginia man, who worked for the Department of Commerce, of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rafferty Daniel Kelly, 40, of Alexandria, worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In March 2022, a federal CSAM investigation involving an internet-based peer-to-peer file sharing service, a program used by the defendant to obtain CSAM, led federal agents to execute a search warrant at Kelly’s home, where they seized multiple devices. A review of those devices revealed that, over a period of at least two years, Kelly had downloaded and stored over 50,000 images of CSAM and child erotica, including images of infants and prepubescent children. Kelly also possessed a handbook on how to groom children.
At the end of the bench trial yesterday, the Honorable Michael S. Nachmanoff found Kelly guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Judge Nachmanoff will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Press release
British soldiers take down drone swarm in groundbreaking use of radio wave weapon
British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and defeated swarms of drones in the latest trial of a new directed energy weapon developed in the UK.
Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon demonstrator
UK-made, invisible radio wave weapon knocks out drone swarms for the first time.
Weapon has potential to help protect against drone threats as nature of warfare changes.
The project supports more than 135 highly skilled jobs across the UK.
The trial was completed at a weapons range in West Wales and was the largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army have conducted to date.
The weapon system demonstrator is a type of Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) and has proven capable of neutralising multiple targets simultaneously with near-instant effect.
The UK Government has invested more than £40 million in RF DEW research and development to date, supporting 135 highly skilled jobs in Northern Ireland and the South-East of England.
It uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction.
At an estimated cost of 10p per shot fired, if developed into operational service it could provide a cost-effective complement to traditional missile-based air defence systems.
RF DEW systems can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1km and are effective against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare.
The successful trial comes as drone swarms are increasingly seen in use in frontline combat in Ukraine. UK Defence Intelligence estimates that last year Ukraine had to defend against attacks from more than 18,000 drones.
With national security a foundation for the Plan for Change, the government is significantly increasing the proportion of MOD’s equipment procurement spend on novel technologies, spending at least 10% from 2025-26. It follows the announcement of the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, as the UK will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by April 2027.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, said:
This significant experiment exemplifies the strength of British innovation – driven by our home-grown industry, technology firms and scientific talent.
We continue to strengthen our defence sector, adding more cutting-edge capabilities to keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth across our towns and cities.
The project has been delivered by Team Hersa – a collaboration between Defence Equipment & Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The RF DEW demonstrator has been developed by an industry consortium led by Thales UK.
Successful experiments included the Army taking down two swarms of drones in a single engagement, and the project saw more than 100 drones being tracked, engaged and defeated using the weapon across all trials.
Sgt Mayers, a Senior Remotely-Piloted Air Systems Operator from 106 Regiment Royal Artillery, had the honour of being the first British soldier to bring down drones using a radiofrequency weapon.
Sgt Mayers said:
RF DEW is an exciting concept. We found the demonstrator quick to learn and easy to use. With improvements on range and power, which could come with further development, this would be a great asset to Layered Air Defence.
Protecting national security is the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change and the development of RF DEW systems could help to protect the UK from unidentified drones at security sensitive areas such as defence bases, and could play a role in preventing disruption at airports.
The RF DEW development supports the Defence Industrial Strategy – to support the UK defence industry in mobilising to help face down global threats and ensuring the sector is an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK. The MOD is working with a range of industry partners to deliver powerful future RF DEW capabilities for UK forces.
Thales, which led the development of the RF DEW demonstrator, employ around 100 highly skilled engineering and manufacturing staff in Northern Ireland on the project, and there are a further 30-35 highly skilled supply chain jobs in Chelmsford, Essex, that directly contribute to the development of the weapon demonstrator.
Nigel MacVean, MD of Thales Integrated Airspace-protection Systems, said:
Thales continues to be at the forefront of this pioneering technology, and we are proud to continue the research and development in this sector alongside our partners in Government.
