Category: Law

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Students must not be abandoned by Housing Bill

Source: Scottish Greens

14 May 2025 Housing

Students in Scotland need afforable housing

More in Housing

The Scottish Government will be abandoning students to the ‘wild west’ of the student accommodation market if they do not include support for students in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.

During a committee meeting yesterday, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, confirmed that the Scottish Government has no intention to include the purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) sector in the Housing Bill.

This follows MSPs voting to ensure student accommodation could be covered by rent control regulations only last week, with calls supported by MSPs from the Scottish Greens, Conservatives, and Labour.

Ms Chapman said:

“I’m disappointed and angry that the Scottish Government has decided to leave students out in the cold on the Housing Bill. Only last year they publicly committed to legislate on student accommodation, but now seem to be abandoning their commitments to students all together. [1]

“The student accommodation market is currently an unregulated wild west, and we should not allow this to continue. PBSA providers, companies who often provide just the bare minimum to students, often snatch up potential sites that should be used for family homes and community facilities too. We desperately need regulation of this sector.

“We’ve been listening to students and housing campaigners and they’ve been clear: the market is broken. Students across Scotland are paying on average over 80% of their loan on poor quality and insecure PBSA housing, because the Scottish Government has yet to engage with stakeholders on alternative solutions. [2]

“I hope that the Cabinet Secretary reconsiders her statement and helps us to fight for students in this housing bill. We have had too many years of an unregulated, unsustainable, and unaffordable housing market in Scotland. It’s time we make it fair and affordable for everyone.”

Notes:
[1] In February 2024, the Scottish Government commit in the chamber to take forward recommendations from the PBSA Review Group, which had significant student input, which is shown here: Written question and answer: S6W-25244 | Scottish Parliament Website

[2] The statistic on PBSA cost is sourced from this NUS research showing the state of student housing: Towards a Student Housing Strategy for Scotland – NUS Scotland

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s State Council outlines legislative priorities for 2025

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, May 14 — The General Office of the State Council has unveiled its legislative agenda for 2025, with a focus on strengthening legislation in key sectors, emerging industries, and areas involving foreign affairs.

In its push for high-quality development and a high-standard socialist market economy, the legislative plan lists draft laws including the national development planning law and the financial law.

As part of efforts to improve governance and promote rule-based administration, the State Council is set to introduce regulations on the sharing of government data, among others.

To enhance public well-being, the legislative plan includes draft laws such as the social assistance law and the medical insurance law.

The plan also includes draft amendments to the Food Safety Law and the Prison Law.

To bolster legal frameworks related to foreign affairs, the agenda includes a proposed revision to the Foreign Trade Law and new rules for implementing China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.

MIL OSI China News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Safety of hikers

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):

Question:

     Various hiking trails and country parks in Hong Kong have all along attracted many local people and overseas visitors to go hiking. However, it has been reported that quite a number of hikers are inexperienced or ill-equipped, resulting in frequent hiking accidents, and some of them have even disregarded safety in a bid to “check-in”, which has aroused concerns and worries in society. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of mountain search and rescue (S&R) calls received by the Government in the past two years, as well as the respective numbers of casualties of local people and overseas visitors involved in the relevant incidents; the government expenditures involved in the relevant calls and S&R operations;

(2) given that the webpage of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) contains the high risk locations with records of fatal and serious accidents in country parks, whether the authorities have further drawn up a list of “hiking blackspots” and the points to note and stepped up publicity among members of the public and tourists; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) as it is learnt that in order to deter risk-taking behaviours without regard to the consequences, some places have started to collect rescue fees from hikers, whether the Government will erect fences and warning signs at high-risk locations where hiking accidents frequently occur; whether the authorities will follow the practice of other regions and collect rescue fees from hikers who have accidents despite warnings and seek rescue; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and whether there are other measures intended to be implemented to deter the risk-taking behaviours concerned; and

(4) as it is learnt that the “Enjoy Hiking” mobile application launched by the AFCD is equipped with a “Hiker Tracking Service” which can record the location of users so as to shorten the S&R time after they have an accident, of the number of downloads of the application and, among such downloads, the number of users with Internet Protocol addresses outside Hong Kong; of the measures put in place by the authorities to enhance the promotion of hiking safety among overseas visitors?

Reply:

President,

     The Government attaches great importance to publicising and promoting hiking safety, as well as promoting hiking etiquette and the message of protecting the natural environment to the public and tourists through various channels. Having consulted the Security Bureau, the reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung is as follows:

(1) In the past two years, the number of mountain search and rescue calls received by the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the number of casualties involved are tabulated below:

Year Number of mountain search and rescue calls received Number of Injuries (Fatalities)

2023 695 cases 424 (15)

2024 588 cases 345 (15)

     The FSD does not keep a breakdown of the number of casualties involving local residents and foreign visitors. As the above rescue operations do not involve additional manpower and salary expenditure, the FSD does not keep a breakdown of the expenditure involved.

(2) Through the “Enjoy Hiking” website (hiking.gov.hk), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) provides consolidated information of different hiking trails to hikers to facilitate their planning of hiking trips. It also lists 20 high risk locations with records of fatal and serious accidents in country parks (high-risk locations), according to factors such as previous records of serious and fatal accidents, the causes of such accidents, as well as the site conditions, with a view to reminding hikers to avoid accessing those areas. The AFCD will regularly review and update the list of high-risk locations as needed.

     To promote public awareness on hiking safety, the AFCD regularly organises education activities, including school visits, guided tours, roving exhibitions and game booths at shopping malls and Country Parks Visitor Centres. The AFCD will also disseminate safety information through online videos, social media platforms, websites, and pamphlets distributed at Country Parks Visitor Centres. Concurrently, the Hong Kong Police Force, the FSD, the Government Flying Service and the Civil Aid Service also raise hiker’s awareness on hiking safety through various channels and events.

(3) The Government has always accorded top priority to public safety and the protection of people’s life and property. While the Government strongly discourages the public from taking risks to perform dangerous activities, effective, reliable and efficient emergency services will still be provided to people in distress or in need under all circumstances. We do not hope that those in need would hesitate in seeking emergency call services due to any reasons, including levy. The AFCD has also installed warning signs in suitable areas of the high-risk locations to remind hikers to avoid accessing those areas. The AFCD will review the situations of different areas from time to time, modify or add suitable warning signs and barriers where needed.

(4) As at April 2025, the “Enjoy Hiking” mobile application had been downloaded for over 480 000 times, including approximately 100 000 downloads by users with non-local IP addresses.

     The AFCD, in collaboration with the Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), has been promoting green tourism and sharing messages on hiking safety and nature conservation through HKTB’s “Hong Kong Great Outdoors” thematic website (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/great-outdoor.html) and its social media platforms, to ensure that tourists enjoy the countryside in Hong Kong in a safe and nature-friendly manner. Furthermore, the AFCD collaborates with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the Mainland and the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province to promote Hong Kong’s natural scenery and hiking routes, as well as to disseminate hiking safety messages, through their social media platforms in the Mainland.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 14, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Manpower of lifeguards

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Luk Chung-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):

Question:

There are views pointing out that the problems of insufficient manpower and recruitment difficulties of lifeguards in Hong Kong have remained unresolved for many years, which may lead to the chaotic situation of unlicensed lifeguards being employed, undermining the dignity of the industry’s workforce and jeopardising the lives and safety of swimmers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the current number of vacancies of civil service lifeguards; whether the Government has assessed the impact of the vacancy situation on the services to the public;

(2) whether it has studied if the Government has difficulties in recruiting lifeguards; if it has studied and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the support measures and proposals to resolve the problem;

(3) as some members of the industry have relayed that at present, civil service lifeguards have limited promotion prospects and their remuneration packages are inadequate, and their posts are only included in the Artisan grade, but they have to obtain a number of certificates and regularly renew their licenses in order to be employed on a continuous basis, which has resulted in a high wastage rate and stifled the development of the industry, whether the Government will further review and adjust the grade structure of civil service lifeguards, thereby retaining talents and attracting new blood to join the industry;

(4) of the respective numbers of (a) surprise and (b) non-surprise (i) inspections of private swimming pools conducted by the relevant government departments in the past three years, and the respective numbers of non-compliance cases found during such inspections in which (ii) there was insufficient manpower on duty at the swimming pools, and (iii) unqualified lifeguards were employed and on duty (set out in the table below); the actions taken by the Government to pursue such non-compliance cases;

Year	(a)			(b)
Year	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(i)	(ii)	(iii)
2022
2023
2024

(5) as it has been reported that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will check the identity documents and Pool Lifeguard Awards (PLA) of the lifeguards on duty during inspections of private swimming pools and verify the validity of PLA with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society (HKCLSS), of the specific procedures adopted by the FEHD for verifying the validity of the PLAs with the HKCLSS, including whether the FEHD has established a formal and regular liaison mechanism with the HKCLSS; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will consider establishing such mechanism; and

(6) as it has been reported that the HKCLSS intends to introduce an online service for checking the qualifications of lifeguards, whether the Government will collaborate with the HKCLSS to establish a checking system for qualified lifeguards, so as to rigorously combat unlicensed lifeguards and, at the same time, facilitate employers in checking the qualifications of the lifeguards they employ?

Reply:

President,

In consultation with relevant policy bureaux and government departments, the consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Luk Chung-hung is as follows:

(1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for managing 46 public swimming pools, 42 gazetted beaches (Note 1) and five water sports centres. As at May 1, 2025, a total of 1 308 civil service lifeguards were employed by the LCSD. The number of vacancies was 188 (Note 2) .

During the swimming season every year (i.e. April to October), the LCSD needs to employ about 700 seasonal lifeguards. However, with increasing market demand for lifeguards due to the growing number of local private swimming pools in recent years, it has become more challenging for the LCSD to recruit seasonal lifeguards, which inevitably affects the provision of services at aquatic venues. The LCSD has all along flexibly deployed its serving lifeguards and other resources with a view to maintaining the services provided at aquatic venues as far as possible. The LCSD will arrange sufficient lifeguards to be on duty at aquatic venues that are open and deploy additional manpower when necessary, such as calling off-duty lifeguards to report for duty or arranging lifeguards to work overtime where practicable. Having regard to the usage of swimming pools and habits of swimmers, the LCSD will also temporarily close facilities with low usage rates during sessions with fewer attendees to optimise the use of manpower resources.

(2) The LCSD proactively puts in place various measures to increase and stabilise the manpower supply of lifeguards, including improving the remuneration package of seasonal lifeguards, enhancing the flexibility of recruitment procedures and exploring the recruitment of more eligible persons to join lifesaving services, etc.

The LCSD has recruited 110 full-year lifeguards on a two-year contract since 2023, and further employed 70 additional full-year lifeguards on a two-year contract in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Such relatively long contract period is conducive to stabilising the manpower supply of lifeguards. The LCSD has also taken into account market trends to further enhance the remuneration package of seasonal lifeguards, with monthly salary reaching as high as $23,000 (excluding end-of-contract gratuity) to reduce the salary gap between lifeguards in the public and private sectors.

Furthermore, as contractors of outsourced services offer more flexibility on remuneration packages and working hours, which makes the recruitment arrangement more flexible and attractive, the LCSD has outsourced lifesaving and first aid services at six public swimming pools on a trial basis since September 2024. The relevant service contractor has been providing stable lifesaving and first aid services. The LCSD will continue to review and evaluate the effectiveness of outsourcing lifesaving and first aid services.

As for expanding the new labour markets, the LCSD will continue to step up its publicity efforts for recruitment exercises, including extensively displaying recruitment posters and disseminating recruitment information/advertisements to reach out to more target groups. The LCSD will also proactively liaise with youth services organisations and schools to promote and encourage young people to pursue a career in lifeguarding, as well as to raise their interests in working as seasonal lifeguards, with a view to increasing the manpower supply of lifeguards. Besides, the LCSD launched the “Combined Seasonal Lifeguard Training Scheme” in 2023 and has so far organised six “Integrated Certificates Courses on Life Saving” to attract more people with no lifesaving qualifications to join the profession. In addition, the LCSD has collaborated with the Employees Retraining Board to organise specific lifesaving training programmes and provide relevant job opportunities with a view to increasing the manpower supply of lifeguards.

(3) Under the prevailing policy of the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), when a specific civil service grade has proven and persistent recruitment and retention difficulties, or fundamental changes in the job nature, job complexity and responsibilities, the Government will consider conducting a grade structure review for the grade concerned. There have been no fundamental changes to the job nature, job complexity and responsibilities of civil service lifeguards. In the past three years, the average vacancy rate of civil service lifeguards was 5.28 per cent, which was lower than the rate of 9.38 per cent for the entire civil service in the same period. The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation with the CSB.

(4), (5) and (6) In the past three years, the number of surprised inspections conducted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on licensed swimming pools is provided below:

	Number of inspections	Number of cases of insufficient number of personnel on duty	Number of non-compliance cases involving employment of unqualified lifeguards
2022	8 845	0	0
2023	8 834	0	0
2024	12 828	4	0

As all inspections conducted by the FEHD on licensed swimming pools are surprise inspections, there is no record on non-surprise inspections.

For the four cases in 2024 in which sufficient number of qualified lifeguards was not made available in accordance with the law or licensing conditions, the FEHD had taken prosecution or issued warnings to the licensees depending on the actual situation.

The lifesaving qualifications required by lifeguards are assessed and awarded by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society (HKCLSS) (Note 3). Starting from May 19, 2025, the FEHD will implement a number of measures to strengthen the monitoring of the qualifications of lifeguards at private swimming pools. These measures include stepping up inspections of swimming pools. Apart from checking the identity documents of lifeguards on duty and their Pool Lifeguard Awards (PLA) during each surprise inspection, the FEHD will also send all information of the PLA to the HKCLSS for verification. The FEHD and the HKCLSS have established a regular verification mechanism to handle the matter.

Note 1: Lifesaving services are not provided by the LCSD at three of the gazetted beaches as beach facilities such as beach buildings and shark prevention nets are not available there.
Note 2: With lifesaving and first aid services being outsourced at six public swimming pools under the LCSD on a trial basis since September 2024, the 98 civil service lifeguard vacancies in the venues concerned will not be filled for the time being.
Note 3: The HKCLSS is the only national sports association recognised by the International Life Saving Federation for assessing lifeguard qualifications and awarding lifeguard certificates in Hong Kong.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 14, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Government public transport fare concession scheme

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Michael Tien and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):

Question:

Starting from August 25 last year, people aged 60 or above must use the JoyYou Card to enjoy a concessionary fare of $2 per trip under the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the new measure). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows the number of contravention cases uncovered by the MTR Corporation Limited involving the use of JoyYou Card to enjoy the concessionary fare of $2 since the implementation of the new measure and, among such cases, the number of those referred to the Police for follow-up;

(2) in respect of the cases referred to the Police for follow-up as mentioned in (1), of the respective numbers of cases prosecuted and not prosecuted by the Police; the reasons for the Police not prosecuting such cases; and

(3) in respect of the prosecution cases mentioned in (2), of the number of convicted persons who were eventually sentenced to imprisonment?

Reply:

President,

The Government has implemented in full a real-name registration system for the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities (the $2 Scheme) starting from August 25, 2024, mandating Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above to use a JoyYou Card, and eligible persons with disabilities aged below 60 to use a Personalised Octopus card encoded with the “Persons with Disabilities Status”, to enjoy the $2 Scheme.

The Transport Department (TD) has all along been requesting public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen ticket inspection and passenger identity verification work and to strictly enforce the penalty as set out in relevant legislation and by-laws to prevent any abuse. The TD also conducts surveys and monitors the situation. The TD also conducts joint inspection and enforcement actions with PTOs from time to time and refers abuse cases with sufficient evidence to the Police for criminal investigation so as to achieve deterrent effect.

In respect of the enforcement actions carried out by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) during the period from the full implementation of the real-name registration system to April 2025, the number of abuse cases of the $2 Scheme with surcharges imposed was 280 (i.e. eight cases per week on average). The number of cases concerned has been lowered significantly as compared to the 9 624 cases (i.e. 158 cases per week on average) before the implementation of the real-name registration system from June 25, 2023, to August 24, 2024.

After the full implementation of the real-name registration system, the MTRCL had sought assistance from the Police for 14 suspected cases of abuse of the $2 Scheme using JoyYou Card. Police officers were deployed to the scene for each case. Among the 14 cases, five arrests were made after investigation by the Police. One of those arrest cases had completed prosecution (with the arrested person convicted of theft and fined $400), while the arrested person of another case was prosecuted by the Police for theft (with the hearing taking place on May 9, 2025) and two cases are still under investigation. Another case was referred to the MTRCL for follow-up as a case of violation of the Mass Transit Railway By-laws since no criminal elements were found after investigation by the Police. The remaining nine cases had also been referred to the MTRCL for follow-up as cases of violation of the Mass Transit Railway By-laws since no arrestable offences were identified after investigation by the Police.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS OF THE AMBASSADOR OF GEORGIA TO THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA

Source:

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[PRESS RELEASE – WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2025] – His Excellency Mr. Beka Dvali presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at a Credentials ceremony held this morning at the Official Residence of the Head of State at Vailele, accrediting His Excellency as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Samoa with residence in Canberra, Australia.

Samoa and Georgia have enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations since the establishment of formal ties on 12 March 2010. The two countries continue to collaborate at the multilateral fora, including the United Nations on matters on mutual interest including the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development. Ambassador Dvali reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to strengthening the growing partnership between our nations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, building on the solid foundation laid by his predecessors.

Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged the growing relations between Samoa and Georgia. The Head of State expressed appreciation for the shared commitment to global priorities such as democracy, peace and security, human rights, and reaffirmed Samoa’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, principles that have underpinned our diplomatic relations since the establishment in 2010.

H.E. Mr. Beka Dvali holds a Masters of Law in Comparative and European Law from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and a Diploma in Law at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in Georgia. He is a career diplomat who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia in 1999 holding various senior positions. He was posted to Georgia’s Diplomatic Missions as Senior Counsellor in the USA, Mexico, Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in London, United Kingdom (2009-2012). Mr. Dvali was appointed as Georgia’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa from 2013 to 2022 with cross-accreditation to 12 other African countries. This is Mr. Dvali’s second Ambassadorial appointment as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Australia with across accreditation to the Pacific including Samoa. Mr. Dvali is married with one son.

END

Photo by the Government of Samoa (Jasmine Netzler-Iose)

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May 14, 2025

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader announces new Cabinet for 2025/26
Source: City of Oxford

Published: Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, has announced her Cabinet for 2025/26.
Councillor Louise Upton is not on the Cabinet in 2025/26 because she will be serving as the Lord Mayor of Oxford.

The Cabinet has subsequently been reduced from nine members to eight.

The Cabinet Members are:

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader, and Cabinet Member for Partnership Working and Inclusive Economic Growth

Councillor Ed Turner, Deputy Leader (Statutory), and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management

Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for a Safer Oxford

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet member for Planning and Culture

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy, Fairer Oxford and Small Business Champion

Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities

The responsibilities of each Cabinet Member are:

Councillor Susan Brown

Council strategy and policy delivery

Democratic Services and Member Support

Partnerships and outside bodies including

District Councils Network (Labour Vice Chair)

Fast Growth Cities (Chair)

Local Government General Assembly member

Oxford Growth Commission

Oxford Strategic Partnership

Councillor Ed Turner

Deputise for Leader as required

Financial and treasury strategy

Financial support for local residents and businesses

Links with our twin cities

Property and asset management and maintenance

Councillor Anna Railton

Deputise for Leader as required

Air Quality

Biodiversity delivery including verge and tree planting

Carbon reduction, heat decarbonisation and retrofitting

Delivery of Zero Carbon Oxford City Council by 2030

Delivery of the outcomes of the Oxford Citizens Assembly on Climate Change

Parks, Allotments, Cemeteries and Open Spaces

Renewable energy and energy planning

Sustainability

Taxi Licensing

Transport liaison with Oxfordshire County Council and Highways England and other providers

Councillor Lubna Arshad

Community safety and tackling antisocial behaviour

Safeguarding Adults and Children

Working with Thames Valley Police to tackle anti-social behaviour, child sexual exploitation, county lines, drug dealing, domestic abuse, knife crime, modern slavery, violence against women and girls and crime generally

Councillor Nigel Chapman

Business Improvement

Customer Service

Oxford Direct Services as contractor

OX Place as a company

Service delivery

Street scene, public conveniences

Tree management

Waste and recycling

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth

Car Parking Policy

City Centre Action Plan delivery

Culture, cultural partnerships and events (including St Giles Fair, Cowley Road Carnival etc.)

Development and Building Control

Infrastructure planning

Licensing Policy

Local Plan and planning policies including biodiversity

Spatial Planning and conservation

Major projects delivery

Museum of Oxford

Promotion of a thriving music and night-time economy

Tourism

Councillor Chewe Munkonge

Addressing health inequalities and public health promotion

Children and young people policies and school liaison

Leisure partnership and contract management

Local market promotions

Promotion of Oxford Living Wage

Small Business Champion

Sport and physical activity

Councillor Linda Smith

Affordable housing delivery

Community centres, pavilions and grants

Estate regeneration projects

Homelessness services including prevention

Housing allocations and strategy

Regulation of the Private Rented Sector

Tenancy management and sustainment

Tenant and Resident involvement

The new Cabinet will be announced at the Annual Council Meeting tomorrow (15 May).

“The Cabinet will continue our work focused on our key priorities: tackling inequality and the high cost of living in Oxford, delivering more affordable homes, making Oxford a great place to live and preparing our city for climate change. In order to achieve this, we will continue to provide stable and prudent council finances and good quality services.

“We want to make sure that Oxford’s strong and growing economy is delivering for all of Oxford’s citizens. As a cabinet we are committed to continuing to work with Oxford’s diverse communities and businesses to support their needs. Oxford is a great place to live, work and do business and we want everyone to feel proud of their neighbourhood. That is what we are striving to achieve.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public International Law panels recruitment open
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

News story

Public International Law panels recruitment open

Applications close on Wednesday 18 June
The Public International Law panels (PIL) panels were created in 2014 and supplement the work of the Attorney General’s existing panels of civil counsel.

Members of the panels advise the government on matters of public international law and undertake cases involving public international law in international courts and in the courts of the UK. The PIL panels are divided into A, B and C panels based on experience in the practical application of international law, whether as an adviser or advocate, or a mix of both. Further information is available: PIL information sheet 2025 (MS Word Document, 93.8 KB)

The five-week application window is now open and will close at midday on Wednesday 18 June. Appointments will commence on 1 January 2026 for a 5 year term.

This exciting opportunity is open to practitioners and academics with relevant experience in the practical application of international law and who are qualified in a UK jurisdiction. All panellists are expected to understand and be able to advise on fundamental precepts of international law, including treaties, customary law and other sources and state responsibility. Applications are welcomed from those with experience in specific areas of international law.

Application process

Contact the Panel Counsel Secretariat for an application pack, which includes referee templates, an equality and diversity monitoring form and panel specific criteria. Make sure to include whether you are applying for the A, B or C panel.

Those applying to the A panel will be expected to supply 5 references and those applying to the B and C panels will be expected to supply 3 references.

Join the virtual information evening on Tuesday 20 May, 5pm to 6pm. Details of this session and how to register: PIL event flyer (MS Word Document, 444 KB)

If you have any queries, please contact the Panel Counsel Secretariat.

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MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: E-scooter trial extension to be considered at next week’s Council meeting

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

Council will next week consider if the share hire e-scooter trial in Greater Bendigo should be extended for another 12 months.

The City of Greater Bendigo appointed Beam Mobility (Beam) following a public Request for Quote process to operate the trial until May 23, 2025 at no cost to the City.

The trial was developed in consultation with the City to assess the success of shared hire e-scooters as an alternative mode of transport for residents and visitors.

Beam has been operating a small trial area in urban Bendigo to provide better links between precincts and encourage a shift away from cars for shorter trips.

The purple e-scooters are only available for hire between 5am and 11pm, 7 days a week. The maximum speed limit is set at 20km/h, and 15km/h in some busy areas, and e-scooters are only allowed to ride on roads, bicycle lanes, and shared cycle paths in line with Victorian road rules.

It is illegal to ride e-scooters on footpaths and significant penalties apply. The Victorian Police enforce fines.

Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge thanked community members and external stakeholders who provided valuable feedback about the trial.

“824 people contributed to our Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo survey and the results indicated mixed sentiment from the community with 66.88% expressing some level of dissatisfaction with the trial, 17.9 per cent offered solutions to improve the trial, 8.5 percent found it to be good and 6.6 per cent said it was excellent,” Mr Petherbridge said.

“The City also collaborated with internal and external stakeholder groups throughout the trial to improve it. They support the proposal for a trial extension with further recommendations in place. This includes expanding the area to include Golden Square, Long Gully and White Hills to align with shared walking/cycling networks. They also want to see improved operator patrols and a faster response to incidents if the trial extends.

“The trial demonstrated that e-scooters continue to have potential as an alternative transport option that is sustainable. However, community and stakeholder feedback has informed a set of recommendations.

“A 12-month trial extension in an expanded urban Bendigo is recommended with improved trial requirements. This would allow the share hire scheme’s full potential to be assessed over a larger area and incorporate important lessons from the initial trial. This phase may also explore integrating e-bikes and technological improvements for e-scooters to curb illegal footpath riding.”

The feedback collected through the survey and insights from key stakeholders has contributed to the overall evaluation of the trial in a Council report. It will be presented at the next Council meeting at The Capital on Monday May 19.

MIL OSI News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chu, Hirono Introduce Bills to Address Mental Health in AANHPI Communities
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Legislation would raise awareness of the importance of mental health and help increase access to culturally-competent mental health care in AANHPI communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced a package of bills focused on mental health awareness for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in observance of May as National Mental Health Awareness Month and AANHPI Heritage Month. The package included a resolution recognizing May 10^th as National AANHPI Mental Health Day, as well as the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025 to increase awareness and access to mental health care throughout the AANHPI community.

“This AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m honored to join Senator Hirono to reintroduce this legislative package to confront the unique mental health challenges faced by AANHPI communities,” said Rep. Chu. “The AANHPI community is the least likely of any racial or ethnic group to seek out mental health services. This disparity is largely driven by language barriers, taboos around shame, a lack of access to culturally competent care, and insufficient disaggregated data within research. As the only psychologist in Congress, I know how important it is to break down these barriers, challenge harmful misconceptions about seeking help, and ensure every community can access the mental health care they need. Recognizing May 10th as National AANHPI Mental Health Day brings long-overdue attention to the unique challenges our communities face and helps break the silence and stigma that too often surround mental health. But awareness must be matched with action, which is why the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act would invest in culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach, education, and disaggregated data collection, so we can deliver care that truly reflects and serves the full diversity of the AANHPI community.”

“As we recognize AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, I am proud to lead the introduction of this legislation to bring attention to the importance of mental health well-being in the AANHPI community,” said Senator Hirono. “Too many members of our communities face economic, cultural, and language barriers preventing them from accessing critical mental health care and these bills reaffirm our commitment to breaking down those barriers. Every person deserves access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care, and I’m glad to partner with Representative Chu as we work to invest in mental health resources, combat the stigma surrounding mental health, and ensure that every member of our communities can access the care they need and deserve.”

According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), members of the AANHPI community have the lowest rates of mental health service utilization of any racial/ethnic group, with only 35 percent of Asian adults with a mental health problem receiving treatment in 2023. In 2023, an estimated 65 percent of the AANHPI community, who met criteria for a mental health problem, did not receive necessary treatment. And, even though suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, it is the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth ages 10 to 24, and they are the only racial or ethnic group in this age category whose leading cause of death is suicide. In Hawaii, the suicide rate is greater than national average and the rate of suicide for Native Hawaiians is nearly double the national rate.

The National AANHPI Mental Health Day resolution recognizes the importance of mental health to the well-being of AANHPI families and communities and acknowledges the importance of raising awareness around mental health care. It also encourages health agencies to adopt policies to improve utilization of mental health services for the AANHPI community, as well as other marginalized communities.

Rep. Chu and Senator Hirono also reintroduced the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025, bicameral legislation to curb mental health stigma and help increase access to mental health care in AANHPI communities.

Specifically, the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act would instruct SAMHSA to:
- Establish a national outreach and education mental health and substance misuse strategy for the AANHPI community by partnering with advocacy and behavioral health organizations that have an established record of serving AANHPI communities; and
- Conduct research and collect disaggregated data on the state of behavioral health among AANHPI youth and on the shortage of AANHPIs in the behavioral health workforce.
“The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association welcomes the 5th introduction of the National AANHPI Mental Health Day resolution and strongly supports the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities act,” said Dr. Pata Suyemoto, Executive Director of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA). “This bill is critical as it provides necessary investments to reduce stigma within Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Stigma is a driving force that keeps AANHPI individuals from seeking mental health services when they need them. This bill hopefully will improve mental health outcomes through culturally and linguistically relevant services, increased culturally trained workforce, as well as increased research on AANHPI communities.”

“Stigma and persistent barriers have kept AANHPIs from the mental health care they deserve—leading to some of the lowest utilization rates nationwide. It’s time for change. We know that better health outcomes are attainable, but we must take legislative action to invest in a mental health care workforce and infrastructure that are culturally and linguistically appropriate,” said Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF). “The bicameral introductions of the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act and the AANHPI Mental Health Day Resolution mark vital steps toward closing the unacceptable disparities in mental health care and chronic disease treatment experienced in our communities.”

“The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act and the establishment of a National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day are vital steps forward in addressing the unique cultural barriers that too often prevent people from seeking care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Together, these measures affirm that mental health is a fundamental part of public health and that every community deserves equal access to services. NAMI thanks Senator Hirono and Rep. Chu for their leadership and proudly supports this important legislation.”

The National AANHPI Mental Health Day resolution was co-led by Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) and was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Representatives Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA-01); Grace Meng (D-NY-06); Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15); Mark Takano (D-CA-39); Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13); Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12); Al Green (D-TX-09); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12); Paul Tonko (D-NY-20); Derek Tran (D-CA-45); Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44); Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12); Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10); Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08); Scott H. Peters (D-CA-50); Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06); Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03); Dave Min (D-CA-47); and Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08).

The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and U.S. Representatives Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA-01); Grace Meng (D-NY-06); Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15); Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10); Mark Takano (D-CA-39); Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13); Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12); Al Green (D-TX-09); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12); Paul Tonko (D-NY-20); Derek Tran (D-CA-45); and Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA-44).

Both bills are endorsed by AAPI Youth Rising; Advancing Justice (AAJC); Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA); Asian Mental Health Collective; Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); Asian Psychedelic Collective; Asian Youth Act; Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC); Japanese American Citizens League; LEAD Filipino; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA); National Asian Pacific American Families Allied for Substance Awareness and Harm Reduction; National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA); National Partnership for New Americans; National Partnership for Women & Families; Prevention Institute; Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus; The Asian American Foundation; Thriving Asians; Thriving Twentysomethings; UCA WAVES; We Make It Matter; Wellness Ranch Equine Assisted Therapy; API Tennessee; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of New Jersey (AAPI NJ); Asian Counseling and Referral Service; Association for Infant Mental Health In Hawaii; Coalition for Asian American Children and Families; Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center; Hawai‘i Office of Wellness and Resilience; Hep Free Hawai’i; Mental Health America of Hawaii; Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity; NAMI Hawaii (National Alliance on Mental Illness); Sakura Foundation; Yellow Chair Collective; Asian Americans for Community Involvement; Asian Mental Health Project; Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza Latina, Inc.; Filipino Mental Health Initiative of Hawaii; RAMS (Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.); and SPEAK, a Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans and Kin.

The full text of the resolution is available here. The full text of the legislation is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –
May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu Condemns DOJ’s Cancellation of Critical Gun Violence and Victim Advocacy Grants

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) abruptly canceled hundreds of grants to community organizations and local governments, slashing critical funding for gun-violence prevention, addiction services, and crime-victim advocacy programs.“ As someone who has looked into the eyes of families who have just lost loved ones to gun violence, it’s deeply troubling to hear that efforts to prevent more deaths and tragedies are being dismissed as ‘wasteful spending’ by the Attorney General. This alarming justification ignores the devastating human toll of gun violence across our nation and unnecessarily risks more Americans’ lives,” said Rep. Judy Chu, whose congressional district includes Monterey Park, where 11 people died in Los Angeles County’s worst ever mass shooting in January 2023. “This is a crushing setback for our community and the rest of our country, but we will not waver.”

Since the shooting, Rep. Chu has introduced and co-led several bills to help prevent future mass shootings and gun violence in America, including the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act, which would ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency can access gun violence prevention resources through in-language materials and culturally competent outreach.

“I’m fighting to pass legislation that depends on the DOJ for proper implementation,” continued Rep. Chu. “By undermining these critical efforts, Republicans are endangering lives. They bear responsibility for future gun violence in America.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Soon, your boss will have to pay your wages and super at the same time. Here’s how everyone could benefit

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Hodgson, Professor, Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University

Dragon Images/Shutterstock

If you have a job in Australia, you’ve probably noticed each of your payslips has a section telling you how much superannuation will be paid alongside your wages.

But while your wages are deposited in your bank account however frequently you receive a payslip – whether that’s weekly, fortnightly or monthly – it’s a different story for your super.

Under current superannuation laws, employers are only required to pay super into an employee’s nominated fund at least four times a year – 28 days after the end of each quarter – although many do pay more regularly.

But that’s set to change. From July 1 2026, new “payday super” rules will require employers to pay super into the employee’s fund within seven days of wages.

This reform was announced in the 2023–24 federal budget, allowing employers, superannuation funds and software providers three years to set up compliant systems. But it hasn’t yet been legislated.

Now, some industry groups are calling for a further delay of up to two years. So, who are these reforms designed to benefit? And does business really need more time to get ready?

Missing or incorrect super

Missing or incorrect super payments present a huge problem for Australia’s retirement system.

The Super Members Council claims one in four Australians are missing out on the correct amount of superannuation contributions.

Missing super payments are a multi-billion dollar problem.
Wara1982/Shutterstock

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) estimates A$5.2 billion of guaranteed superannuation went unpaid in 2021–22.

This can be due to payroll errors, misclassification under an award or, in extreme cases, non-payment of superannuation as a form of wage theft. All these things can be harder to spot when super is paid less frequently.

Rules only requiring super to be paid quarterly may have been appropriate 30 years ago, in the early days of the superannuation guarantee. Business systems were often not computerised, and wages were often paid in cash.

Times have changed

Payroll systems are now much more sophisticated.

From 2018, the federal government rolled out the single-touch payroll program that requires employers to report wages in real time, including details of superannuation guarantee withheld from an employee’s wages.

The government is already benefiting from the increased automation of data submitted through this system.

Single-touch payroll data helps improve official labour statistics and provides up-to-date income information for employees through the MyGov portal.

Sending real-time data to Centrelink addresses one of the major flaws underpinning the Robodebt scandal, which used an averaging system to estimate fortnightly earnings.

Benefits for employees

In simple terms, the coming changes are basically a change in timing. Payments will be transferred to an employee’s super fund in the same way their wages are transferred directly to their bank account.

Once bedded down, the changes will provide benefits across the board to employees, employers and the government.

Currently, if an employee believes the correct amount of superannuation is not being paid to their fund, they are expected to follow this up directly with the ATO.

Unfortunately, many employees presume the withheld amount shown on the payslip has already been paid into their super account.

Unless a member is actively monitoring their super balance, they may be unaware that the amount shown on their payslip is not being paid into their fund on a timely basis.

Payday super changes could help employees more easily check their super is being paid.
Chay_Tee/Shutterstock

Benefits for business

Employers should also benefit from these changes, many of whom already do transfer superannuation when wages are paid.

Currently, superannuation guarantee payments are run on a separate payment cycle to payroll, coinciding with payment of tax liabilities. If payments are on the same cycle as payroll, it should make budgeting easier, and ensure the separate super payment run is not overlooked.

This assumes, of course, that the business is not relying on unpaid superannuation contributions to manage their cash flows elsewhere in the business. If that is the case, payday super changes will help protect the employee if the employer runs into financial difficulties.

The change will also allow the tax office to match deductions and payments in real time to detect fraud – and check that super is actually being paid. This can reduce audit costs and – in the long run – reduce reliance on the aged pension as super account balances improve.

Why wait any longer?

So, with all of these expected benefits, why has the financial services sector this month asked for implementation to be delayed further – by up to two years? The building blocks of the system – electronic payments to transfer funds and the government’s single-touch payroll gateway – are already in place.

One challenge is legislative. Although announced in May 2023, the draft legislation was only released for consultation in March 2025.

The Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 needs extensive amendments to rewrite references to the calculation and payment of the superannuation guarantee charge.

The draft legislation also makes some changes to definitions that may impact on how systems must be set up for payday super. Although not intended to change entitlements, they need to be made accurate in the software.

Still, payday super has the potential to strengthen Australia’s superannuation system, protecting employee contributions and smoothing the payment system for employers. Concerns around its implementation are largely due to the time it has taken for the draft legislation to emerge.

Following the election, the federal government has the numbers to pass this legislation as a matter of priority.

Helen Hodgson has received funding from the ARC, AHURI and CPA Australia. Helen is the Chair of the Social Policy Committee and a Director of the National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW). Helen was a Member of the WA Legislative Council from 1997 to 2001, elected as an Australian Democrat. She is not a current member of any political party. She is a Registered Tax Agent and a member of the SMSF Association, CPA Australia and The Tax Institute. Helen has superannuation with Unisuper and jointly owns positively geared rental properties.

– ref. Soon, your boss will have to pay your wages and super at the same time. Here’s how everyone could benefit – https://theconversation.com/soon-your-boss-will-have-to-pay-your-wages-and-super-at-the-same-time-heres-how-everyone-could-benefit-256564

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Woman reported after road rage crash at Nailsworth

Source: New South Wales – News

A driver has lost her licence after a road rage crash on Main North Road, Nailsworth on Monday night.

Just before 10pm on Monday 12 May, police and emergency services were called to Main North Road, Nailsworth after a silver sedan crashed into and ruptured a fire hydrant.

Footage obtained from an eyewitness captured the collision. The silver sedan also crashed into the side of a blue sedan, which did not stop at the scene, before colliding with the fire hydrant.

The blue sedan continued south on Main North Road.

Following investigations, a 21-year-old Para Hills woman, who was the driver of the silver sedan, was reported for driving in a manner dangerous to the public and issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence. She will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Anyone with information about the blue sedan or its driver is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

MIL OSI News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Detectives issue a reward for information following a fatal shooting in Lambeth

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A year on from the fatal shooting of a man in Lambeth, detectives have announced a £20,000 reward as they seek justice for his bereaved family.

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime have been leading the investigation into the murder of 26-year-old Jazmel Patterson-Low over the past year.

They hope the offer of this substantial reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe said: “It has been a year since the death of Jazmel and we are still actively searching for those involved.

“We want to know what happened that morning on St Rule Street SW8. We know there was a group of around 40 people gathered there on Friday evening and into the early hours of Saturday morning. If you were there, then you may have crucial information for us.

“I am grateful to those who have come forward already, however we still need more from the public. This is why we are now offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the successful charge and conviction of the person responsible.

“Think back to last May, did you witness what happened to Jazmel? Do you know who fired the gun? Did you see anyone running from the St Rule Street area? If you know what happened, then you need to speak to us.

“We will support you throughout, you can also contact Crimestoppers to remain anonymous and your identity will be protected. Alliances change over time, so please do the right thing by coming forward.”

On Saturday, 11 May 2024, police were called by medical staff at 02:30hrs to St Thomas’ Hospital after a man was dropped off in a private car, suffering from a gunshot injury.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Jazmel, who lived in Lambeth, sadly died shortly after 03:00hrs.

Jazmel was shot at around 02:25hrs that morning on the Westbury Estate in St Rule Street. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a single gunshot wound. Jazmel’s family continue to receive support from specially trained officers

A 25-year-old man was arrested in south London in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 May 2024 on suspicion of murder. He was taken into custody but subsequently released without charge.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting Op Bulbhorn or CAD 884/11MAY24. You can also submit information via this MIPP link.

To remain 100 per cent anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

MIL Security OSI –

May 14, 2025
Justice B.R. Gavai to take oath on Wednesday as 52nd Chief Justice of India

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to be sworn in on Wednesday as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on Tuesday after a six-month tenure.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office to Justice Gavai.

With his elevation, Justice Gavai will become only the second Chief Justice of India from the Dalit community, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who served as CJI from 2007 to 2010. His term is scheduled to run until November 23, 2025.

Born on November 24, 1960, Justice Gavai entered the legal profession in 1985 and began independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987, later moving to its Nagpur Bench. He was appointed a judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019.

Justice Gavai comes from a distinguished public service background. His father, Ramakrishna Suryabhan Gavai, was a respected Ambedkarite leader, founder of the Republican Party of India (RPI), and served as a Member of Parliament from Amravati. He also held gubernatorial posts in Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala between 2006 and 2011 under the Congress-led UPA government.

Justice Gavai’s appointment to the top judicial post is being widely seen as a significant step forward for social inclusion and representation in India’s higher judiciary.

(With IANS inputs)

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez, Davis, DelBene champion bill to reduce child care costs for working families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

In contrast to GOP effort to slash child care funding, this bill increases maximum child care credit by nearly 400 percent

WASHINGTON – Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act to permanently expand the child care tax credit. The bill would raise the maximum credit from $1,050 to $4,000 for one child and from $2,100 to $8,000 for two or more children.

Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“Working parents shouldn’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their kids,” said Sánchez. “Expanding the child care tax credit will make child care more affordable and accessible, so parents can focus on their work knowing their kids are being cared for.”

“High-quality, affordable child care is essential to the economic well-being of families, businesses, and our country,” said Rep. Davis. “I am proud to lead the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act that would restore the 2021 credit so that families can receive up to $4,000 for child care for one child or up to $8,000 for two or more children, much better than the almost $600 that the typical family receives currently. This bill would strengthen the financial well-being of families and grow our economy. It is critical that Congress acts now to help working families.”

“Access to affordable child care is one of the biggest barriers families face. Enhancing the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit will give parents the relief they need by supporting both families and care providers,” said DelBene. “This bill is a commonsense step toward making child care more accessible and affordable for every family.”

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is the only tax credit that helps working parents offset the rising cost of child care. In 2021, Democrats successfully enhanced both the CDCTC and the Child Tax Credit because both credits are essential to support parents’ ability to provide for their families. While 100 percent of the CDCTC reimburses parents for actual child care costs paid to work, parents mostly use the Child Tax Credit to defray other significant costs of caring for a child, such as food, rent, and clothing.

As currently structured, the CDCTC unfortunately fails to meet the needs of tens of millions of working families. Very few families receive meaningful benefit from the credit due to the extremely low phase-out level of $15,000, the low expense limits, the non-refundable nature, and the loss of benefit due to inflation. For example, the Tax Policy Center estimates that only 13 percent of families with children claimed the CDCTC in 2022. The Child Care and Dependent Credit Enhancement Act will increase the maximum credit amount to $4,000 per child up to $8,000 for two or more children, expand eligibility to low-income families, make the credit available to married couples who file separately due to high student loan debt, and retain the credit’s value over time by indexing it to inflation. Compared to 2019, low-income working parents quadrupled their credit received in 2021.

High-quality, affordable child care is essential to the economic well-being of families, businesses, and our country. Yet, child care places a major financial burden on American families. The price of child care can range from $5,357 to $17,171 per year depending on location and type of care. Astoundingly, the cost of center-based care for two children is more than the average mortgage in 41 states and more than the average annual rent in all 50 states plus DC. Households under the poverty line spend nearly one third of their income on child care, and increases in median child care prices are connected to lower maternal employment rates. Further, the child care crisis hits families of color disproportionately hard. For a single parent who has never been married who is Black, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native, child care can cost 36 percent, 41 percent, or 49 percent of the median income, respectively, compared to only 31 percent for single white parents. Further, Latino and American Indian and Alaska Native parents disproportionately live in child care deserts.

Statements from Supporting Organizations

The bill is endorsed by state and national child and worker advocates, including: Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Care Aware of America, Early Care and Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, MomsRising, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Save the Children, Start Early, Society for Human Resource Management, and ZERO TO THREE.

“Often conflated with the child tax credit, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is one of the only tax incentives that helps working families with their child care expenses. As the cost of care increases, many families must contend with whether their current job pays enough to justify their child care expenses,” said Radha Mohan, executive director, Early Care and Education Consortium. “For families where one parent must leave the workforce because they cannot afford the cost of care, this often hurts the family from an economic standpoint in the long run. The CDCTC Enhancement Act helps ensure that families do not have to make this choice by providing a credit to offset the cost of care. When paired with programs such as the Child Care and Development Block Grant, this bill will ensure that many families will have reduced their child care costs by over 50 percent.”

“As almost any working family with young children will tell you, the cost of child care is a major source of financial stress, putting immense pressure on already tight budgets,” said Sarah Rittling,executive director, First Five Years Fund. “The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act would make essential updates to the CDCTC to ensure more parents are able to keep more of what they earn to offset the high cost of care. We are grateful to Reps. Danny Davis, Suzan DelBene, and Linda Sanchez for their leadership and commitment to supporting families with young children.”

“For families with young children, the cost of childcare is often unaffordable and impacts their economic opportunity – the cornerstone of child and family well-being. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 is an important effort to update the CDCTC to ensure that more families can offset their child care costs. We are grateful to Rep. Danny Davis and his longstanding efforts to support children and families in his district and across the country, and also extend that appreciation to Reps. Suzan DelBene and Linda Sanchez., said Diana Rauner, president, Start Early.

“Affordable child care isn’t a luxury – it’s the backbone of our economy,” said Yelena Tsilker, senior government relations and advocacy director, ZERO TO THREE. “Parents of infants now face child care bills that top $16,000 a year – higher than in-state college tuition in many states. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act tackles that crisis head-on by making the CDCTC fully refundable and increasing the maximum credit, so families of every income can choose the high-quality care their babies need. This relief will keep parents in the workforce and help millions of children thrive. We applaud Representatives Davis, DelBene, and Sánchez for championing legislation that hard-working families have long awaited.”

The text of the bill is available HERE; a summary of the bill is available HERE.

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: In Defense of the Courts and the University

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

In Defense of the Courts and the University

Rep. Ro Khanna | Yale Law School | 4.15.25

My return today is not one of nostalgia for good pizza or to relive faded dreams. I chose to come to Yale at a serious moment in the life of our Republic because the Woodward Report, issued by this very institution in 1974, defines the paramount duty of the American university: the defense of free expression and free inquiry.

There are moments in a mature democracy — dating as far back as the prosecution of Socrates — when institutions must stand firm as guardians of free thought against the roar of the crowd.

This is such a moment.

In our nation, a mobocratic spirit — fanned by amoral, ambitious men — threatens not only our constitutional way of life but freedom of thought itself. For generations, American power has been checked by the Constitution and the quiet strength of reasoned debate. Politicians have bowed to the courts and stood before the people — not to silence opposition, but to answer it.

But today, a great anger grips the public — burned by years of war, wearied by economic stagnation, and fearful that the foreign-born among us now comprise a larger share of our population than at any point in a century. From this disquiet rises not a call to reform, but to dismantle — to cast off the judges in their robes, the scholars in their gowns, and the press with its inconvenient questions.

And at the head of this gathering storm stands JD Vance — calling on the President to defy the Supreme Court, and casting universities like Yale, his alma mater and mine, as the enemy.

He claims that you here at Yale are being corrupted — taught to reject American values — as if he alone possesses the authority to define what it means to be an American, as if the life of the mind is to be excised from our nation’s story. How far we have fallen from the days when Thomas Jefferson chose not to list the presidency on his epitaph, but instead the founding of a university.

Jefferson understood that the life of the mind is as vital to liberty as the laws we live by, and that an educated citizenry is essential for democracy to thrive.

Now, I remember they don’t teach much black letter law at Yale. But the President must obey court orders is about as basic as it gets. Our whole system depends on the idea that the Constitution gives the courts the power to say what the law is in any given case. In Cooper versus Aaron, the Court held that the “Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” and when specific disputes arise, the judiciary gets to decide what the law requires. In Youngstown, the Court made it clear that President Truman was limited by the Constitution and could not seize steel mills for our national defense during the Korean war because Congress did not give him that power.

This check on executive power has not only kept the President from becoming a king — it is what has made America the most innovative and dynamic free enterprise economy in the world. We saw the fiasco of a President imposing tariffs on a whim. But imagine if he could go further: launch investigations into companies he disliked, void contracts to punish rivals, deport an immigrant business leader for political gain, or pull funding from scientists and scholars who challenge convention.

Those who complain that America suffers from too much regulation certainly would not want the system to be replaced with arbitrary decision making by the state. The United States has been successful because the predictability and stability the rule of law provides for long term economic investment. Unlike other nations, our business leaders do not have to worry about capricious rule changes that benefit political elites or worry about their assets being seized.

And yet, every day that Vance tweets of defying court orders, he chips away at that trust — the invisible thread that binds our economic, social, and political life. Most recently, he defended the deportation of Abrego Garcia to a notorious Salvadoran prison — even after his own administration called it an “administrative error”. When Americans asked for due process, he answered not with reason, but with feigned rage — accusing us of sympathy for a gang member. Nine Supreme Court justices firmly rejected his claim that Abrego had no legal right to be here.

To stir up public fury by painting due process as weakness is a timeless danger. Lincoln saw it clearly. In his Lyceum Address, he warned against mob vengeance, saying:

“When men take it in their heads to hang gamblers or burn murderers, they should recollect that… they will be as likely to hang someone who is neither a gambler nor a murderer.”

Without due process, Vance is as likely to destroy the life of an innocent man as he is to punish the guilty. And he does not seem to care. But Lincoln cared. He warned:

“The innocent… fall victims to the ravages of mob law, and thus it goes on, step by step, till all the walls erected for the defense of the persons and property of individuals, are trodden down, and disregarded.”

We have been fortunate in our history to have leaders — like Lincoln — who appealed not to fury, but to reason. But we’ve also seen leaders, like Vance, who win public adulation by stoking anger and treating legal limits as nuisances to be ignored. Lincoln’s path is harder, slower — but it is truer to our founding, as it defends the sacred right of the individual over the exercise of impulsive power.

Now, Vance says the President, elected by the people, should tell the Court what the Constitution means — and if the Court disagrees, let them try to enforce their ruling. That the President, as a co-equal, may simply ignore the Court’s judgment of the law.

In Vance’s America, the police can knock on any immigrant’s door, deport him to a dictatorship without due process, and then wash their hands of his fate, pretending that America is powerless to free someone outside our border. They did this with Abrego. They did this with Merwil Gutierrez, a 19 year old Venezuelan, who may have had no criminal record and whose heartbroken father is searching for him in vain . JD Vance, your cold indifference to the lives of vulnerable immigrants mocks every principle that this law school was built to uphold.

Your affiliation with this law school is now a stain on the degree of every Yale graduate. I hope Yalies –alumni, student, faculty and administrators will have the moral clarity to say so plainly.

But what about Vance’s argument that courts can be wrong?

Here again, Lincoln teaches us. He did not accept the abhorrent Dred Scott decision as the final word, recognizing that the decision was destined to be overturned, not through blanket defiance of the judiciary, but through a legal crusade for equality. Lincoln’s reverence for the law did not weaken his moral clarity — it deepened it. He showed that his cause was not mere personal conviction, but rooted in the values and documents etched into the nation’s character. He pursued it through argument, elections, legislation, and new judicial appointments. He didn’t trample the Constitution in the name of justice — he worked through the Constitution to achieve justice.

And so must we.

In our system, there is no Executive sovereignty. No Congressional sovereignty. No Judicial sovereignty. There is only popular sovereignty. The people ultimately decide what the Constitution means and what our laws should be. But that power is channeled through a constitutional framework — where the popular will must express itself through an intricate and deliberate system of elections, legislation, court decisions, appointments, and amendments. When Vance urges the President to defy that framework in the name of a false populism, he does not honor the people’s will — he undermines it. Ours is not a system of brute majoritarianism, but of constitutional self-government. To abandon that is a radical rejection of the very design of the American experiment.

Vance has not only declared war on the courts — but on the universities. And it is no accident. As Stephen Kotkin observed in his study of Stalin, strongmen do not fear recessions or even failed wars as much as they fear the university. The greatest threat to consolidating power is not resistance — it is alternatives. Vance calls the university the enemy because he knows what lives here: historians, economists, law professors, and scientists who threaten him not with force, but with ideas.

Why else propose raising the endowment tax from 1.4 to 35%, if not from a deep fear that the ideas presented in lecture halls may take root in the hearts of a new generation? That young Americans might see a nation not of grievance, but of promise. That is what Vance fears most—not rebellion, but the birth of new thinking.

If ever there were a moment in our nation’s history for the defense of liberalism — as a defense of free thought and the examined life — it is now. Those who sneer at our universities — who mock thinking, learning, and degrees for cheap applause while credentialing themselves — are engaged in rank hypocrisy. They are gatekeepers of privilege, dissuading their fellow citizens from pursuing for their families the very opportunities they seek for their own children.

I hope university presidents will find their voice, pledging mutual support to each other, by remembering leaders like Yale’s Kingman Brewster, who stood with student protestors even when donors withdrew their support; Harvard’s James Conant, who resisted McCarthyism in the face of pressure from government and alumni; and Chicago’s Robert Hutchins, who defended the independence of scholarship against the demands of powerful business interests. Their place in history was not secured by the size of the endowment they left behind, but by the ideals they refused to abandon.

President Garber, you’ve shown courage in standing up to the bullies in the White House. I have no doubt that Harvard—with its legacy of liberty predating the founding of our nation—will prevail over the fleeting ignorance of our time.

President McInnis, I hope you will follow his lead.

And let Brewster, Conan, Hutchins, and Garber be an example for each of you. When a student is snatched from campus and denied due process, speak up. When a student protestor is harassed for their viewpoint, stand in their defense. When you are told to keep silent about the need for diversity by a potential employer, walk away.

Each of us must ask: What, in this hour, are we willing to risk? What is needed is not the towering courage of a Socrates, nor even of my grandfather, who spent four years in jail as part of Gandhi’s movement for Indian independence. What is needed now are the small acts of conscience that together shape the soul of a nation.

We may not have been able to save the deportation of Abrego or Gutierrez, but the louder we speak, the more of us who speak, the longer we speak, the more we become a human shield against an arbitrary state and resist the cold routinization of injustice. This is the time to stand up for a free society.

As for me, I have called out the richest man in the world, who responded by declaring on X that my career is over. I have called out J.D. Vance, who said I was a whiny congressman who disgusts him. But I have no regret.

In speaking out, we can find direction not only from Woodward’s report celebrating free expression but also from his seminal work on the history of segregation, which Dr. King called the “bible of the civil rights movement.” Woodward reminded us that the path to Jim Crow was not inevitable. What was true of the 1890s is true today. To paraphrase Woodward: “There are still real choices to be made, and alternatives to the course that now threatens us are still available”.

In times of crisis, this nation has often cast aside the old guard and turned to a new generation for new paths. That we were fortunate to witness Lincoln’s unlikely rise in our darkest hour is perhaps the strongest evidence of providence. The fate of liberal democracy now rests not only with those of us in Congress — it rests with you. It rests on whether you will rise to history’s call.

I believe you will.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Davids Criticizes Administration’s Proposal to Cut Head Start Programs

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids and 89 of her Congressional colleagues criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate critical Head Start programs that promote early childhood development and ease the burden of child care on working families. Multiple Head Start programs in the Kansas City area have already closed this year.

In a letter to President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers demanded answers from the administration about how they intend to fill the gap left by the potential elimination of Head Start and support students, teachers, and parents who benefit from these investments.

“A shutdown of Head Start programming would have devastating, far-reaching impacts for nearly half a million children, families and local communities,” the Members wrote. “Over 800,000 children benefit from attending 17,000 Head Start Centers across the country, strengthening their early education and providing developmental screenings.”

“Additionally, the National Head Start Association estimates that more than one million parents who use Head Start and Early Start centers would lose necessary child care, impacting their ability to attend in-person work, causing further workforce disruptions,” the Members continued. “The impacts of these cuts would be generational and long-lasting.”

The Members concluded, “While we share the administration’s goal of rooting out waste and abuse in government, attempting to defund early education programming and indiscriminately attacking our nation’s most vulnerable families is not the appropriate way to increase government efficiency.”

As a first-generation college student who worked her way from Leavenworth High School to Cornell Law School, Davids understands the value of quality education for student success and our overall economy. She has long fought to protect education and child care in Kansas and has been a fierce critic of the administration’s efforts to defund the Department of Education. She has visited multiple Head Start programs in Kansas including Kansas City Kansas Public School’s Successful Beginnings, Family Conservancy, the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Project Eagle, and Olathe Public Schools Head Start.

Students in early childhood education programs are less likely to repeat grades, are 25 percent more likely to graduate high school, and are four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree in comparison to non-Head Start students. But long-term benefits of Head Start programs are not only limited to educational success. Children in Head Start are healthier and have better social and emotional skills. In adulthood, statistics show that former Head Start students experience greater economic stability and earn higher wages.

You can read the full letter here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI: Best Tribal Loans for Bad Credit Guaranteed Approval Direct Lenders with No Credit Check – IOnline Payday Loans
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHERIDAN, Wyo., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Securing stable financial assistance when your credit score is not up to par can be challenging. That is where Best tribal loans for bad credit come into play, providing quick, convenient, and easiest tribal loans to get for individuals with less-than-ideal credit histories. IOnline Payday Loans simplifies it for borrowers to find licensed tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval services so that funds can be obtained even without a conventional credit check.

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Whether you are looking for tribal payday loans, Tribal installment loans direct lenders no credit check, or easiest tribal loans for bad credit, this guide has all the information you need to get fast approval and instant cash.

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What Are the Best Tribal Loans for Bad Credit?

Best tribal loans for bad credit are personal loans offered by lenders that are associated with Native American tribes. They are governed by tribal law, which makes them a viable option for borrowers who are having trouble with traditional lenders.

The most important benefit is their no credit check and direct lender guaranteed approval, which is usually available even with bad credit scores. IOnline Payday Loans provides US borrowers with access to quality providers of tribal loans with no credit check direct lender services, and it is therefore one of the simplest tribal loans to obtain.

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These loans are ideal for emergencies, surprise bills, or urgent expenditures, with speedy online applications and rapid disbursal of funds. Some lenders even offer tribal installment loans for bad credit, direct lenders, offering borrowers flexible repayment terms.

Types of Tribal Loans: No Credit Check, Instant Approval

When searching for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, it’s important to be aware of the various types of loans that you can select and choose the one that best meets your personal financial needs. Through IOnline Payday Loans, lenders can get access to a vast range of tribal loans no credit check products, with many providing instant approval and guaranteed approval with direct lenders.

These loans are specifically formulated to deliver quick monetary assistance for unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or individual needs without going through the bother of standard credit verification.

Let us see the most popular forms of tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack available online, in detail:

1. Tribal Payday Loans No Credit Check

Tribal payday loans no credit check are quick, short-term, small loans that should be paid back through your next check. They are among the simplest tribal loans to obtain since they do not have many requirements for eligibility and no old credit checks. Perfect for emergencies, they provide guaranteed tribal loans with bad credit options for people in need of immediate financial assistance.

2. Tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders

For those who want more flexible repayments over time, bad credit tribal installment loans direct lenders offer the best option. They provide the convenience of borrowing more with the relaxed nature of tribal loans no credit check strategies, dividing repayment into easy installments. They’re best suited for larger-than-usual expenses such as medical expenses or repair of a car.

3. $500 Tribal Installment Loans Direct Lenders Only

As the name indicates, these loans provide a virtually guaranteed approval rate for borrowers with low credit scores. $500 tribal installment loans direct lenders only are not based on hard credit checks and usually dodge conventional reporting mechanisms like Teletrack. With IOnline Payday Loans, these loans give a guaranteed and quick funding solution.

4. Tribal loans no credit check direct lender

These loans involve working directly with a tribal lender, ensuring faster processing and straightforward terms. A popular option for borrowers looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, these loans eliminate intermediaries, improving approval rates and offering quicker access to funds.

5. Easy tribal loans for bad credit

Easy tribal loans for bad credit are designed to be fast and convenient. With straightforward eligibility and instant decisions, these loans are approved and funded within 24 hours. Ideal for paying for sudden or unexpected bills, they are easily accessed through IOnline Payday Loans.

All these loans work together towards making IOnline Payday Loans one of the Best tribal loans for bad credit lenders in the US today, providing convenient, quick, and affordable financial assistance to those that need it the most.

How to Apply for Tribal Loans No Credit Check

It has never been easier to apply for the Best tribal loans for bad credit, thanks to online lending sites like IOnline Payday Loans making the process simple and easy. One of the greatest benefits of tribal loans no credit check is that you do not need to fret about your credit history hurting your chances. Tribal loans are specifically made for fast, easy approvals with little paperwork and convenient online applications.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get tribal loans with direct lender guaranteed approval, no credit check:

1.   Select the loan amount and repayment period

First, use the online form to select the amount you require for the loan (up to $5000) and select the payback duration that is suitable for you, between 3 to 12 months. Ensure your repayment schedule is comfortable so as not to complicate matters.

2.   Organize the necessary information

Provide the necessary details such as your income, contact information, and banking details. The more accurate the information, the quicker the process will go. Rest assured, your data is confidential and will only be shared with the lender.

3.   Submit your application

After filling out your details, submit the application. You’ll receive an approval decision within minutes, usually within 2 minutes, so you won’t be left waiting long.

4.   Get matched with a lender

Most applicants are automatically matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval. Even with bad credit, you’ll be connected with a third-party lender willing to offer assistance.

5.   Review loan offer

Once you have been matched, you will be offered loans with specific terms. Loan offers will state the repayment terms and charges, and you should read them carefully so that they meet your requirements.

6.   Sign loan agreement

After you are satisfied with your loan proposal, you will e-sign the loan agreement. The lender will proceed to process all the information and prepare the funds for disbursement.

7.   Get funds

In the majority of instances, once your loan has been approved, you can have access to cash as soon as the next working day. Your lender will inform you of all information regarding how money will be paid.

Why Are IOnline Payday Loans the Best Choice for You?

IOnline Payday Loans is one of the most dependable sources for tribal loans no credit check available. They offer fast, safe, and easy loans, so they are an ideal option if you need a loan but have bad credit. The following are the reasons you should choose IOnline Payday Loans:

1.   No credit checks

Unlike other lenders who always place too much emphasis on your credit score, IOnline Payday Loans offers personal tribal loans no credit check that mean your bad credit will never prevent you from receiving your loan. Bad credit, or NO credit, will never hinder you from the bad credit guaranteed tribal loans approval.

2.   Fast approvals and quick funding

The approval process at IOnline Payday Loans is quick and effective. Approval decisions are made in minutes for most applicants and they will receive their funds the same day or perhaps the following business day. This is an excellent option for fast funding when you need cash quickly, such as a medical bill or other unforeseen expense.

3.   Flexible loan amounts and repayment terms

With IOnline Payday Loans, you can tailor your loan to your specific needs. Choose a loan amount of up to $5000 and decide on repayment terms between 3 to 12 months. This flexibility ensures that you’re only borrowing what you need, with manageable terms that work with your budget.

4.   Simple, easy-to-use online application

The application process is straightforward and quick. With just a few simple steps, you can apply online from the comfort of your own home. There’s no complicated paperwork or long wait times, just a fast and easy way to access tribal payday loans when you need them most.

5.   Secure and transparent process

At IOnline Payday Loans, your privacy is very important. The online platform is secure and confidential to ensure that you never have to worry about your personal or financial information being shared with anybody. Additionally, as per the Law of Truth in Lending, all the Loan Terms are explained to you before you sign on the dotted line. There is no deception in the borrowing process offered by IOnline Payday Loans.

Ultimately, the features offered by IOnline Payday Loans makes it one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check, and guaranteed tribal loans bad credit. If for any reason you need money quickly, whether it is an emergency or a lack of respect or just want the least hassle possible while obtaining a loan, IOnline Payday Loans can offer you exactly what you need with trust.

IOnline Payday Loans Application Process

The application process for IOnline Payday Loans is designed to be straightforward, especially for those seeking tribal loans no credit check. Follow these simple steps to get started:

Step 1: Select loan amount

The first step is choosing the loan amount that you need. Whether you need a small sum for an emergency or a larger amount for a more significant expense, tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval ensures you’re matched with the right option based on your needs.

Step 2: Organize documents

Prepare the necessary documents such as proof of identity, income, and residency. Since tribal payday loans do not require extensive documentation, this step is simple and quick to complete.

Step 3: Fill out the application form

Fill out the easy online application form. The form will ask for personal details and the amount you wish to borrow. This step is quick and designed to minimize your time spent on the process.

Step 4: Check eligibility

Once you submit the form, the system will automatically check your eligibility for easy tribal loans for bad credit. Since the approval process is not based on your credit score, you’re likely to be eligible even with a poor credit history.

Step 5: Get matched with a lender

If you’re eligible, you’ll be matched with a tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval no teletrack that fits your loan request. This step ensures that you get the best possible loan terms for your situation.

Step 6: Sign & receive funds

Once you’re matched with a lender, review the loan offer, sign the agreement, and receive your funds. With tribal loans no credit check direct lender, you can expect fast processing and immediate disbursement, often the same day.

Following these steps ensures that applying for Best tribal loans for bad credit is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

Eligibility Criteria for IOnline Payday Loans

To apply for IOnline Payday Loans, certain eligibility criteria must be met to ensure you are a suitable candidate for their tribal loans no credit check. These requirements are designed to make the application process accessible and secure for applicants, regardless of their credit history.
- Age: You need to be at least 18 years old. This requirement ensures that you are legally able to enter into a loan agreement and pay back the loan throughout the loan term.
- U.S. Residency: Loan applicants must be legal U.S. residents to be eligible for tribal payday loans. Because the loan is only available to U.S. residents, this is important.
- Steady Income: You must provide proof of steady income. This can include a paycheck from full-time work, yourself as a business owner, disability payments, or any reliable source of income. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval usually needs this as evidence that you can pay back the loan.
- Bank Account: You will need a valid checking or savings account to receive your funds through direct deposit and for loan payments to be made. This allows for more accurate and quicker transfer of funds.
- No Credit Check: One great feature of easy tribal loans for bad credit is that there is no credit check. Even if you have bad credit or do not have credit, qualifying for guaranteed tribal loans bad credit is still available.
The eligibility requirements for tribal installment loans for bad credit direct lenders are uncomplicated. This makes tribal installment loans an attractive way to borrow for anyone that has trouble getting traditional lenders to work with them and their credit score. The eligibility requirements are straightforward and the process allows for quick and easy access to funding without the long waiting, overwhelming obstacles of application, and blurry lines of a credit check.

Wrapping up

To sum up, IOnline Payday Loans is definitely one of the best options for tribal loans no credit check if you need fast and reliable financing. Tribal loans direct lender guaranteed approval supports individuals looking for easy access to funds quickly, even if they have poor credit. The process is simple, ensuring the great chance to get approved for one of the easiest tribal loans to obtain.

Whether you are looking for tribal payday loans or an easy tribal loan for an emergency or other needs, you can trust you will receive fast and efficient service with IOnline Payday Loans. If you are looking for easy tribal loans for bad credit, it is worth it to look into this option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I actually be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit?

Yes, you will be able to get guaranteed tribal loans bad credit with IOnline Payday Loans even if you have bad credit. The process is very simple, and uses a common sense approach to ensure everyone gets a chance; and the best part is that you will not need to submit a credit score, and approval is much faster than traditional loans.

Will applying for my tribal loan affect my credit score?

No, your credit score would not be affected by applying for a tribal payday loan with IOnline Payday Loans. Since the decision is based on criteria other than your credit score, you won’t have to be concerned with your score and the loan application and approval.

Are these loans available in every state?

IOnline Payday Loans is available in most states, however, loan availability may depend on state regulations. We recommend checking the website or contacting customer support for confirmation on tribal loans no credit check availability.

Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Ionline payday loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Ionline Payday Loans does not guarantee loan approval, and loan terms may vary by applicant and lender requirements. Loans are available to U.S. residents only.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a448455-0257-4c6f-9380-aed09399ca89

The MIL Network –
May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Non-compliant electrical products

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):

Question:

Under the Hong Kong legislation, electrical products supplied in Hong Kong are required to carry a certificate of safety compliance, and energy labels are required to be shown on certain prescribed products supplied in Hong Kong. In the case of regulated electrical equipment, suppliers of such equipment are even required to register with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) as registered suppliers and pay a recycling levy (the levy) to the EPD for the regulated electrical equipment distributed by them. However, it is learnt that quite a number of electrical products purchased online in Hong Kong through cross-border e-commerce platforms have not complied with the requirements of the aforesaid legislation, thus posing potential safety hazards to Hong Kong consumers and causing unfairness to local law-abiding merchants. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the measures taken by the authorities to intercept the import of non-compliant electrical products into Hong Kong in each of the past three years;

(2) as it has been reported that some cross-border e-commerce platforms intend to set up physical shops in Hong Kong, whereby goods are displayed for customers to experience in person, and customers may conduct transactions on online platforms and have the goods delivered directly by manufacturers outside Hong Kong, whether the authorities have studied if such selling approach has circumvented the existing laws of Hong Kong or if there are grey areas; if it has studied, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
Reply:

President,
(1) Since 2019, a Cross-border E-commerce Working Group (the Working Group) was established under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency between the EMSD and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. The Working Group focuses on controlling the risks arisen from cross-border e-commerce platforms, including the reporting of unsafe electrical products supplied through these platforms. Upon receiving notifications, the Mainland Authority will conduct follow-up actions according to the case merits, including proactive measures like order interception and product delisting to prevent unsafe electrical products from entering Hong Kong. The EMSD also co-organises annual policy and regulation briefings with the relevant Mainland Authority to explain to cross-border e-commerce platform businesses, electrical product manufacturers, and testing personnel the relevant laws and instructions for the supply of electrical products in Hong Kong, enhancing their understanding of regulations related to exporting household electrical products to Hong Kong. To date, 12 such briefings have been conducted.

Besides, the EMSD has conducted sample checks on 16 types for 180 household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong in the past three years. It also engages third party testing and certification bodies to conduct testing on the relevant safety standards. Around 160 prescribed products were also checked for compliance with the energy efficiency information on the energy label over the same period. If the relevant products are suspected to be in violation of the Regulation or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, the EMSD will conduct follow-up investigations.

The EMSD also conducts inspections at retail stores supplying household electrical products, local e-commerce platforms, and their suppliers. Prosecutions will be carried out against non-compliant products. In the past three years, around 14 000 inspections were conducted, uncovering about 230 cases of violations of the Regulations or the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, which have resulted in fines totalling at around $500,000.

(2) and (3) Regarding the situation described in question (2), the EMSD has maintained communication with cross-border e-commerce platforms in the Mainland to remind them that household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with the local legal requirements. The EMSD will continue to monitor the operations of these platforms in Hong Kong, consult the Department of Justice regarding potential violations of the Regulations and the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, and take further actions including prosecution as necessary.

Regarding the recycling levy arrangement, the EPD has noted recent operational models of certain cross-border e-commerce platform may involve the distribution or sale of regulated electrical equipment in Hong Kong. The EPD has approached the relevant platform to understand the situation and explain the relevant regulations. The platform concerned has also submitted to the EPD the applications for supplier registration endorsement of removal service plan. The EPD will continue to monitor the operational models of these platforms in Hong Kong and follow up on suspected violations.

The EPD and the EMSD have established a communication mechanism since 2024 to exchange intelligence on suspected offences relating to the Regulation, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme and WPRS. A joint enforcement operation was conducted in July 2024, resulting in prosecutions for violations that led to convictions and fines totalling at $22,500 in February 2025. Meanwhile, the EPD regularly inspects suppliers, sellers, and collectors under the WPRS, and has conducted over 1 600 inspections in the past three years, with summons issued to prosecute 28 non-compliant cases.

(4) Over the past three years, the EMSD has not received any reports on unregistered electrical workers installing household appliances arranged by cross-border e-commerce platforms. The EMSD will communicate with cross-border e-commerce platforms about the situation, and will follow up and investigate in accordance with the Electricity Ordinance as necessary.

(5) Having considered the relevant regulatory arrangements in other regions and the need to balance the actual enforcement situations with the prevailing business environment, the Government currently has no plan to amend the relevant regulations to cover the purchase of imported electrical products from cross-border e-commerce platforms and products imported in person. The EMSD will continue to take enforcement actions under a “risk-based” approach, and enhance public awareness of electrical products safety and energy efficiency through education and promotion. The EPD and the EMSD will continue to monitor market developments, review the implementation of the relevant regulations and enhance the enforcement arrangements in response to changing business models.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Nayland Road re-opens

Source: New Zealand Police

Nayland Road has reopened following an earlier incident.

Cordons and lockdowns at nearby schools were lifted at around 3:20pm.

There is not believed to be any threat to the public following this incident.

A person has been spoken to, and no further Police action is required.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 14, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 14, 2025.

Young detainees often have poor mental health. The earlier they’re incarcerated, the worse it gets
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emaediong I. Akpanekpo, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Populist rhetoric targeting young offenders often leads to kneejerk punitive responses, such as stricter bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility. This, in turn, has led to more young people being held in detention.

PNG police authorised to use lethal force with ‘domestic terrorist’ kidnappers as one hostage escapes
RNZ Pacific An escape of a 13-year-old girl from a hostage crisis on the border of Papua New Guinea’s Western and Hela provinces has boosted hopes for the rescue of her fellow captives. The group of 10 people was taken captive early on Monday morning at Adujmari. PNG Police Commissioner David Manning has called the

Political parties can recover after a devastating election loss. But the Liberals will need to think differently
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Australia has just had its second landslide election in a row. In 2022, there was a landslide against the Liberals, but not to Labor, which fell over the line (as a majority

NZ celebrates Rotuman as part of Pacific Language Week series
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Aotearoa celebrates Rotuman language as part of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Language Week series this week. Rotuman is one of five UNESCO-listed endangered languages among the 12 officially celebrated in New Zealand. The others are Tokelaun, Niuean, Cook Islands Māori and Tuvaluan. This year’s theme is, ‘Åf’ạkia

In Indonesia, Albanese has a chance to reset a relationship held back by anxiety and misperceptions
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hangga Fathana, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wasted little time taking his first overseas trip since Labor won a historic victory in Australia’s federal election. He’ll head to Indonesia today to meet the country’s new president, Prabowo

From GPS to weather forecasts: the hidden ways Australia relies on foreign satellites
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Steer, Chair, Australian Centre for Space Governance, Australian National University Japan Meteorological Agency via Wikimedia You have probably used space at least 20 times today. Satellites let you buy a coffee with your phone, book a rideshare, navigate your way to meet someone, and check the

Using a blue inhaler alone is not enough to manage your asthma
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ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 13, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 13, 2025.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greens want to fund their socialist wishlist by letting criminals walk free

Source:

ACT Justice spokesman Todd Stephenson is disappointed, but not surprised, at the Green Party’s plan to release criminals in order to partially fund their latest socialist manifesto.

“Buried in their proposed budget is a $770 million ‘saving’ from ‘averting increase in prisoner numbers’ – with no further explanation.

“That’s just doublespeak for opening the prison gates and letting thugs and thieves back onto our streets.

“Even taking the most inflated prisoner cost figures at face value, this amounts to 3,850 criminals being released into the community.

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised, that this is the latest wacky idea from the Greens. This is the same party that fundraises for prison and police abolition groups, criticises increased beat patrols and lies about how many people are in prison due to non-violent offences.

“Even then, their soft-on-crime plan wouldn’t pay for more than a third of their $2.5 billion hiring spree for bureaucrats. It’s a dangerous and unserious idea from a party that clearly doesn’t care about public safety.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Parliament Hansard Report – Obituaries – 001469

Source: Govt’s austerity Budget to cause real harm in communities

OBITUARIES

Peter Malcolm Hilt

SPEAKER: Members, I regret to inform the House of the death on 19 April 2025 of Peter Malcolm Hilt, who represented the electorate of Glenfield from 1990 to 1996. He chaired the Government Administration Committee, was a member of the Justice and Law Reform Committee, and in 1995 became the last member to be appointed as Deputy Chairman of Committees. In 1996, he was the first to be appointed to the role of Assistant Speaker. I desire on behalf of this House to express our sense of loss and sympathy with the relatives of the late former member. I now ask members to stand with me to observe a period of silence as a mark of respect for his memory.

Members stood as a mark of respect.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Theft – Winnellie

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

NT Police are calling for information in relation to the theft of a large amount of power tools and inventory stolen from a business in Winnellie on 11 May 2025.

Police received reports of two offenders allegedly damaging a fence and unlawfully entering a business premises between the hours of 3:30am and 5:30am on Sunday. It is alleged the offenders accessed a pallet of items and stole them from the premises.

Strike Force Trident responded to the incident and on Monday arrested a 38-year-old male for the offending.

Investigations remain ongoing to locate the outstanding offender and the items that were stolen.

Anyone with information in relation to the incident, particularly anyone with dashcam footage of suspicious activity along the Stuart Highway between the intersections of Hook Road and Lee Street around the time, is urged to contact police on 131 444. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

MIL OSI News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Nayland Road, Nelson closed

Source: New Zealand Police

Nayland Road is closed while Police respond to an incident in the area.

Cordons are in place at Songer Street and Whakatu Drive.

Some nearby schools have been placed into lockdown as a precaution.

There is not believed to be any threat to public safety at this time.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Service Awards Four Purple Hearts

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service awarded four purple heart commendations to the families of four officers who died in the line of duty in a formal ceremony yesterday.

The families of Deputy United States Marshal Thomas M. Weeks Jr., Task Force Officers Samuel Poloche and William Alden Elliott, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Joshua Eyer were presented the posthumous awards during a ceremony at U.S. Marshals Service Headquarters in Arlington, Va. The four officers died in the line of duty on April 29, 2024, when a suspect opened fire on law enforcement officers serving an arrest warrant in Charlotte, N.C. Accompanying the families in attendance were Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney General; Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General; Mark Pittella, U.S. Marshals Service Director (Acting) and the Reverend Salvatore Criscuolo Monsignor of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Washington, D.C. Remarks were given by Attorney General Bondi and Director Pittella, along with music from the U.S. Marshals Service Pipes and Drums band and singer Lauryn Smith.

Attorney General Bondi said, “We acknowledge that no medal can ever fully express the eternal gratitude we have for you and your families. Thank you for your courage and strength; you are each a part of the Department of Justice; you will always be a part of our family and the U.S. Marshals’ family, and we will always be here to support you.”

“We carry forth the legacies of these men by remembering not only how they died but also how they lived; with courage, compassion and a profound sense of duty. Your legacies set a higher standard of service, courage and integrity,” said Director Pittella.

Imagery from the ceremony can be viewed here.

MIL Security OSI –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Cramer: FAA Announces $5.8 Million for Projects at North Dakota Airports
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of$5,844,554 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following:
- $2,491,667 for the Bismarck Municipal Airport to expand the existing General Aviation Apron by adding 5,340 square yards to meet FAA standards and to reconstruct 8,090 square yards of the existing General Aviation Apron pavement.
- $2,200,000 to the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority to expand an existing 9,450 square foot snow removal equipment and sand storage building by 1,500 square feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.
- $552,962 to the Mercer County Regional Airport Authority to reseal 1,420 feet of the existing Taxiway A and B pavement and joints, reseal 13,708 square yards of the existing North and South Apron pavement and joints, and reseal 5,000 feet of existing Runway 15/33 pavement and joints, and reseal 530 feet of the existing Taxilane pavement and joints.
- $171,000 to the Bottineau Municipal Airport Authority to rehabilitate one existing airport rotating beacon.
- $137,000 to the Mandan Airport Authority to construct new airport underdrains for drainage and erosion control.
- $120,000 to the Crosby Municipal Airport Authority to construct a new 4,800 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage and maintenance which will assist the airport in being self-sustaining.
- $86,925 to the Glen Ullin Regional Airport Authority to reseal 2,985 square yards of the existing General Aviation Apron pavement and joints, to reseal 3,800 feet of existing Runway 11/29 pavement and joints, to reseal 488 feet of the existing Taxilane East, West, and South pavement and joints, and to reseal 550 feet of the existing Taxiway A pavement and joints.
- $85,000 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to rehabilitate 3,700 feet of existing paved Runway 14/32 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris, rehabilitate 4,700 square yards of the existing General Aviation Apron pavement to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris, and rehabilitate 550 feet of the existing paved Taxiway A to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
The AIG Program was established by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide airports with funding for modernization and safety projects. Since its creation, airports in North Dakota have received over $49 million in program funding.
MIL OSI USA News –
May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – NZDF joins large South Pacific disaster exercise as new response group starts work

Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has joined 18 other nations for a large French-led multinational training exercise scenario of a hypothetical cyclone striking the islands of Wallis & Futuna.

Exercise Croix Du Sud was based in New Caledonia, about 1900km southwest of Wallis & Futuna, and involved about 2000 personnel.

New Zealand Army Captain Zoe Williamson and a small number of Kiwi staff officers bolstered the exercise headquarters.

“This has been a great opportunity allowing us to work with our partner nations in a likely humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) scenario, developing relationships and an understanding of how we work individually but are able to come together as a whole,” she said.

“Training with our Pacific neighbours is important to ensure we are ready to respond when the time comes, and Exercise Croix Du Sud is a valuable test, ensuring we can deliver this critical capability when and where it’s needed.”

Exercise Croix Du Sud also provided the opportunity for two NZDF officers to deploy with the Pacific Response Group (PRG), a new multinational support group consisting of personnel from Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, France, Australia, and New Zealand with Chile in support.

The PRG was established in 2024 by recommendation of the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting to address the need for pan-Pacific HADR cooperation.

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Lieutenant Commander Nikita Lawson said the Pacific Response Group was a short-notice deployable team with strong planning skills designed to assist civilian authorities and other organisations in any response to a disaster.

“The PRG deployed a small team forward to Wallis & Futuna to assess the situation on the ground, determine where military assistance was required and what humanitarian assistance was needed,” she said.

The PRG command team remained in New Caledonia to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and critical capabilities.

“Information, assessments and the ‘ground truth’ provided by our PRG team were invaluable at shaping the HADR response plans formed by the wider exercise headquarters,” Lieutenant Commander Lawson said.

The two-week exercise ended earlier this month.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 14, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Update on aged care respite service at Burrangiri

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

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Released 14/05/2025

Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith announced this morning that the ACT Health Directorate is preparing the necessary paperwork to support The Salvation Army to continue delivery of the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Facility for a further two years.

This announcement complements the Albanese Labor Government’s $10 million election commitment to ensure the number of respite beds in the ACT will not reduce.

Minister Stephen-Smith said the original decision to close the facility was not made lightly and the significant commitment from the Commonwealth Government has enabled new options to be considered in the delivery of respite care in the short and longer term.

Federal Labor has recognised the Commonwealth responsibility for aged care respite, and the ACT Government will continue working with the Commonwealth for the benefit of older Canberrans and their carers.

“It is important to note that while the Burrangiri service can continue in the short term, the Health Directorate’s advice remains that the facility would require a significant scope of work to be fit for purpose for the delivery of quality aged care respite services in the medium term,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“However, the ACT Government recognises the concerns raised by the community around the availability of respite and the value of the Burrangiri service to those who currently rely on it. A two-year extension allows us to work with the Commonwealth on more sustainable solutions for respite in the ACT and best use of the funding available.”

Minister Stephen-Smith said she has written to the re-appointed Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, seeking to work together to deliver appropriate respite for older Canberrans and their carers.

“I was very pleased that Federal Labor committed $10 million for a new facility or to extend an existing facility to deliver aged care respite beds in the ACT,” she said.

“I’ve written to Minister Butler asking him to consider Commonwealth co-funding to support the Burrangiri extension, as well as to expedite delivery of the election commitment to ensure dedicated residential respite beds will be available as soon as possible.”

The ACT Government is also working with Carers ACT to explore options to identify land for a purpose-built respite centre and the Government has started this important work with Carers ACT.

– Statement ends –

Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

«ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

MIL OSI News –

May 14, 2025

Year	Number of mountain search and rescue calls received	Number of Injuries (Fatalities)
2023	695 cases	424 (15)
2024	588 cases	345 (15)

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