NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Council helping make range of Tāmaki Makaurau events possible through grants funding

    Source: Auckland Council

    A range of events for Tāmaki Makaurau will be made possible thanks to funding from Auckland Council.

    On 25 March the council’s Community Committee approved an allocation of $139,500 from the Regional Events Fund Grants Programme for six organisations to help with their events.

    Councillor Angela Dalton, chair of the council’s Community Committee says she’s thrilled to be able to help a diverse range of engaging and fun events.

    “Aucklanders from all parts of the region are set to benefit from a range of unique events funded through this grants programme.

    “From the Pacific Music awards, to Korean Day 2025, to a youth rugby league tournament – we’re proud to support these events that will bring Aucklanders together to connect and celebrate the city’s diversity along with excellence in sport and music.

    “A flow on effect of these events is an economic boost to businesses close to where the events are held.”

    Six diverse organisations across the region were funded including Auckland’s Korean Society for this year’s Korean Day, NZ Rugby League for a tournament, Balmoral Chinese Business Association for Auckland Moon Festival, Te Pou Theatre Trust for a festival, Glen Innes Business Association for the Matariki Light Trail, and Pacific Music Awards Trust for this year’s Pacific Music Awards.

    Aliimalemanu Kenneth Aiolupotea, Auckland Council’s General Manager Community Wellbeing thanks those who put in their time and effort to apply for a grant.

    “Many factors were considered in allocating funding including positive benefits to the community with particular emphasis on youth and Māori, how well the event is planned, community support and involvement.” 

    “Thank you to those who applied for this grant, especially to the successful organisations, for the effort you will now put in to organising your chosen event in Auckland. There’s a lot for Aucklanders to be excited about and to look forward to.”  

    The Regional Event Grants Programme for 2024-25 has a total budget allocation of $600,000, of which $460,500 was allocated in the first funding round in September 2024.

    More information on the council’s grants programme that supports Aucklanders’ aspirations for a great city, including the Regional Events Fund Grants Programme can be found on the Auckland Council website.

    Regional Events Fund Grants Programme round 2 allocations

    Applicant

    Event

    Amount allocated

    The Korean Society of Auckland Incorporated

    2025 Korean Day

    $20,000

    New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated

    New Zealand Rugby League National District 9s Tournament

    $17,300

    Balmoral Chinese Business Association Incorporated.

    Auckland Moon Festival

    $30,000

    Te Pou Theatre Trust

    Whānau Day – Kōanga Festival 2025

    $17,200

    Glen Innes Business Association Incorporated.

    Glen Innes Te Ara Rama Matariki Light Trail

    $15,000

    Pacific Music Awards Trust

    2025 Pacific Music Awards

    $40,000

    Total

    $139,500

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Sabra Lane, AM, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Sabra Lane:

    The federal Treasurer joins us now, Jim Chalmers, welcome.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Thanks very much, Sabra.

    Lane:

    Are there any surprises left tonight?

    Chalmers:

    Oh, you’ll see how it all comes together tonight and that’s really what the Budget will do, it will bring together the progress that we’ve made together as Australians with the plan for the future from here. It will be a responsible budget, it will help with the cost of living, strengthen Medicare and build Australia’s future.

    Lane:

    The government is continuing to hand out energy rebates to ease the cost‑of‑living pressures. How likely is it that a payment like that will become a permanent feature of future budgets to protect households from the ongoing cost of the transition to low‑emissions power?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, I think as Evelyn said in the package that you just ran, cost of living is front of mind for most Australians and it’s absolutely front and centre in the Budget and the energy bill rebates are an important part of that.

    We have to make sure that everything we’re doing with the cost of living is responsible. We’ve extended those energy rebates for another 6 months, not because we see them as a permanent feature in the Budget, but because we know that people are still under pressure.

    We’ve made a lot of progress together as Australians in our economy, the economy is turning a corner, but we know we’ve got more work to do because people are still under the pump and there’s all of this global economic uncertainty. So whether it’s the energy bill rebates or the other cost‑of‑living relief in the Budget, to strengthen Medicare and make medicines cheaper, we’re doing it in the most responsible way that we can and that 6‑month extension reflects that.

    Lane:

    Okay. So not a permanent feature if you’re re‑elected, there may not be further support in 2026?

    Chalmers:

    What we’ve said really at every budget is from budget to budget we do what we can to help with the cost of living subject to those budget constraints and subject to that responsible economic management which has helped engineer a pretty stunning turnaround in the budget and got that Liberal debt down so that we’re avoiding all those interest costs. So we’ve made good progress in the budget. From budget to budget, we review the cost‑of‑living policies to make sure that we’re doing what we meaningfully can to help people in the most responsible way.

    Lane:

    Collectively, all that help that you’ve given for cost‑of‑living relief tallies now to I think $6.8 billion. Would that money have been better spent putting solar panels and heat pumps on the homes of vulnerable Australians that would have delivered ongoing relief from power bills.

    Chalmers:

    Well, first of all, there are investments in the Budget to help people with cleaner and cheaper energy. We’ve been investing enthusiastically in renewables throughout the life of this government and we’ll continue to do that, that’s very clear.

    Secondly, some of the announcements that we’ve made over the course of recent weeks and months were already provisioned for in the Budget, including those energy rebates on Sunday.

    And thirdly, what we’re trying to do here is to strike the right balance – cost‑of‑living help right now but also building Australia’s future and we see cleaner and cheaper energy as absolutely central to the future economy that we’re building.

    Lane:

    Australia will need more gas in the transition to a low carbon emissions future. Where will that come from?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve made it clear that even as we go for cleaner and cheaper sources of energy that to build the future economy and create jobs and opportunities we know that there is a role for gas, whether it’s in firming or manufacturing or in other ways and so we are working very hard to ensure that there’s the necessary gas supply to make sure that we can get this energy transformation right and I’m confident that we will.

    Lane:

    My colleague Jacob Greber reports that the Coalition’s on the cusp of announcing a Gas Reservation Policy. The government has also apparently been considering such an idea. Are you tempted to do that now?

    Chalmers:

    Well, we’ve made it very clear with our Future Gas Strategy that we’re striking the right balance here and making sure that there’s enough gas at the same time as we invest in cleaner and cheaper sources of energy into the future. So we’ve got our own policies and plans, and my colleague, Madeleine King, is doing a great job working –

    Lane:

    So no future plans for a reservation policy?

    Chalmers:

    Well, obviously we keep under constant review the different elements of the gas industry to make sure that it’s supplying the gas that Australians need at the same time as we invest in energy more broadly. So my colleague, Madeleine King’s doing a great job on that.

    Lane:

    Sure. But you’re not ruling it out.

    Chalmers:

    Well, we’ve got a Future Gas Strategy already and we work through as that evolves and as we get extra information from the ACCC and elsewhere, we make sure that our policies and plans keep up with the way that the sector and the market’s evolving and that’s what Madeleine’s doing.

    Lane:

    It’s Liberation Day on April 2, next week, that’s what the Trump administration is calling it. Have you tucked away extra money in the Budget to possibly help Australian companies that might be harmed with reciprocal tariffs that might come and the job that might go as a consequence?

    Chalmers:

    Well, really one of the major themes of the Budget is making our economy more resilient in the face of all of this global economic uncertainty. We have expressed on multiple occasions, and I will again today, our concern about these escalating trade tensions. We’re a very trade‑exposed country. We’re not uniquely impacted by these tariffs out of Washington DC, but we’ve got a lot of skin in the game.

    And so what the Budget will be about in addition to helping with the cost of living and strengthening Medicare, it will also be about making us more resilient to these external shocks. There will be a little bit of funding to promote ‘Buy Australian’ in Australia but also more broadly the billions of dollars that we’re investing in things like green metals making sure that we are reliable parts of global supply chains as they change in response to these US tariffs. That’s a big defining feature of the Budget.

    Lane:

    And a contingency, just in case?

    Chalmers:

    Our contingency is to make our economy more resilient. When we talk about building Australia’s future, what we’re really talking about is making our economy more competitive and dynamic and productive but also more resilient. Now this is a new world of uncertainty, and the Budget will be a platform for prosperity in that new global context. A lot of the investments that we’re making in our Future Made in Australia are all about that.

    Lane:

    And as you point out, we’ve seen a lot of uncertainty. Many people are very worried about the future, their kids, technology, what we’re seeing in world affairs as well as the pace of that change. Being boring might actually have some strong voter appeal.

    Chalmers:

    Well, we’ll see, we’ll see. I think what we’re trying to do here is to make the right economic decisions for the right reasons and I say to people who are worried about these global developments, the Australian economy has genuinely turned a corner. We’ve got inflation down and wages up, unemployment’s low, we’ve got the debt down, interest rates have started coming down, and growth is rebounding solidly in our economy as well.

    And so we’re doing better than most countries in this new world of uncertainty and the Budget is about building on that momentum in the interests of middle Australia.

    Lane:

    Jim Chalmers, thanks for joining AM this morning.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks so much, Sabra.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop interview, Parliament House

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Jim Chalmers:

    Tonight’s Budget will be a responsible budget. It will help with the cost of living, strengthen Medicare and build Australia’s future. We know that cost of living is front of mind for most Australians, and it will be absolutely front and centre tonight in our Budget. Our economic plan is all about ensuring more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn. And that’s the motivation behind the cost of living help that people will see in tonight’s Budget.

    The Budget is about strengthening Medicare and the election will be an opportunity to secure it for the future. We’ve made a lot of progress together in our economy, but we know there’s more work to do because people are under pressure and the global economic environment is so uncertain.

    But in this context and in this global economic environment, we’ve got inflation down, real wages and incomes are up, unemployment is very low, interest rates have started to come down, we’ve got the debt down and growth is rebounding solidly in our economy as well. So, we have made a lot of progress together and the Budget is about building on that progress together as well.

    Our Budget and our economy are both now in much better condition than we found them 3 years ago. We’ve got the Liberal debt down by $177 billion, and that is saving Australians something like $60 billion in debt interest. We’ve helped engineer the biggest ever improvement in the budget in a single term, in dollar terms, a $207 billion improvement in the budget.

    We’ve delivered 2 surpluses, we’ve shrunk the deficit for this year, we’ve engineered that $207 billion improvement – that means less debt and less debt interest at the same time. So that we can make room to strengthen Medicare and help with the cost of living and build Australia’s future as well. So, we have made good progress together as Australians. The Budget will reflect that. We do know that there’s more work to do because people are still under pressure and the global outlook is uncertain and it is challenging.

    So, the Budget tonight will be a platform for prosperity in a new world of uncertainty. It will recognise that people need and deserve a bit more extra help when it comes to the cost of living. It will make our economy more resilient in the face of all of this global economic uncertainty. And I’m looking forward to telling you all about it tonight and to take some questions now, please.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, what more cost‑of‑living relief can we expect in this Budget, especially for working Australians, and is this Budget about the next few weeks or the next few years?

    Chalmers:

    This is a budget to build Australia’s future. It strikes the right balance between helping people with the cost of living and investing in a more competitive, more productive and dynamic economy into the future so that we’re more resilient to these global shocks which are becoming a regular feature of the world’s economy. Despite all of this global economic uncertainty, the Australian economy is turning a corner.

    We see that with lower inflation, higher real wages, low unemployment. We see that with growth rebounding solidly and we’ve been able to get the debt down and interest rates have started to be cut as well. So, we’ve made a lot of progress together. A big part of that progress is being willing in the first 3 budgets and again in the fourth to help people with the cost of living in the most responsible way we can.

    Journalist:

    Can you just clarify a bit about that? What do you mean about resilience? What measures are there to protect against that global uncertainty, and specifically tariffs that we are expecting Donald Trump to impose?

    Chalmers:

    Our best defence against global economic uncertainty is a more resilient economy. And that’s what the billions of dollars, for example, that we’re investing in green metals is all about. That’s what the modest amount of money that we’ll be devoting to the Buy Australia promotion is all about, but also making our economy more competitive and dynamic.

    It’s unusual in budgets on the eve of an election for it to have proper economic reform. But you’ll see some economic reform in the Budget tonight, which will be all about making our economy more competitive so we can lift living standards and boost wages.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, what’s in the Budget for northern New South Wales?

    Chalmers:

    You’ll see in the Budget that we’re very enthusiastic investors in all of our regions, including in northern New South Wales. We know that they’ve had an especially rough time, as have the good people of southeast Queensland in recent times. We’ve provisioned, for example, another $1.2 billion to rebuild local communities and some of that will flow to the Northern Rivers and northern New South Wales. And that’s because we know it’s a really beautiful, important part of Australia and we’ll invest in it enthusiastically once again.

    Journalist:

    If people are still under pressure Treasurer as you say, can’t you do a bit better than just $150 off these energy bills?

    Chalmers:

    You’ll see tonight how the cost‑of‑living package comes together. The energy rebates are an important part of the cost‑of‑living package, but not the only part. The Prime Minister announced the policy for even cheaper medicines on Thursday. The whole motivation of strengthening Medicare is because more bulk billing means less pressure on families.

    We have shown a willingness and an enthusiasm to do what we responsibly can to help people with the cost of living. All of those measures reinforce each other. It’s not just energy rebates, it’s also cheaper medicines. But really one of the centrepieces of this Budget is Labor’s efforts to strengthen Medicare. The Budget is about strengthening Medicare and the election is Australians’ opportunity to protect it and safeguard it against Peter Dutton.

    The election will be a referendum on Medicare and the Budget takes its responsibilities to strengthening Medicare very seriously. We created Medicare, we believe in it, we’re strengthening it by investing in bulk billing in record ways in tonight’s Budget.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer the full extent of Donald Trump’s tariffs won’t be known until April 2, to what extent have you been able to tuck measures away just in case. We won’t necessarily see announced today but are there in response if necessary?

    Chalmers:

    We’re not uniquely impacted by policy developments out of Washington D.C. but we’ve got a lot of skin in the game because we’re a trade exposed economy. And so we will continue to engage with the Americans, we’ll continue to stand up and speak for our interests. Our best defence against this global economic uncertainty is a more resilient, more competitive, more productive economy. And you’ll see that that is a major feature of tonight’s Budget.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, it wasn’t anticipated that you would be handing down this budget were it not for a natural disaster we probably would be in a campaign by now. So, is this an election winning budget or an election losing budget?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, there are a series of assumptions in your question, Chloe, which I’m not necessarily going to come at. I’m really pleased that we get this opportunity, this rare opportunity, but welcome one, to hand down 4 budgets in a single parliamentary term – it hasn’t happened since the 1940s. But from my point of view, it’s a very welcome opportunity to put the economy front and centre on the eve of an election. This is not a budget for the election, it’s a budget to build Australia’s future.

    But we want the economy to be front and centre. Our political opponents have spent all of their time trying to dismiss and diminish the progress that Australians have made together in our economy and none of their time coming clean on what their secret cuts will mean for Medicare, for the progress we’ve made together or that they will make people worse off. So, this is their big opportunity this week. We do expect the economy to be central to the election campaign and I think that’s a very good thing.

    Journalist:

    How does it feel to be returning to deficits tonight, if your last 2 were surpluses?

    Chalmers:

    When we came to office they were all deficits and we turned 2 of those into Labor surpluses. And because we did that, we have made a meaningful difference to debt. We’ve got $177 billion of Liberal debt down this year, saving Australians tens of billions of dollars in debt interest. So, we’ve delivered 2 surpluses in the first 2 years.

    We’ve shrunk the deficit this year and we’re managing the economy and the budget in the most responsible way we can, given all of these pressures on people and coming at us from around the world. So the responsible economic management that we have made a hallmark, a defining feature of this government, would be unrecognisable to our predecessors. When we came to office, they were all deficits. We turned 2 of them into surpluses and we’ve shrunk the deficit this year as well.

    Journalist:

    On Medicare Treasurer, you said the election would be a referendum on Medicare. Does it not blunt your attack a little bit that the Opposition has already matched the cheaper medicines policy, they’ve matched the bulk billing, the $8.5 billion?

    Chalmers:

    We remember what Peter Dutton did when he was the Health Minister. He said before the election he was all for Medicare, and then after the election he tried to gut it. He tried to impose a GP tax and undermine universal Medicare in this country, which is one of the most important things we have going for us. The election will be a referendum on Medicare and the Budget will be about strengthening it. Peter Dutton and Angus Taylor have both said in different ways over the course of the last week or 2 that the best predictor of future performance is past performance.

    That’s a pretty chilling admission from Dutton and Taylor because last time Dutton was the Health Minister, he went after Medicare and undermined it. He cut tens of billions of dollars out of health and so that’s the risk here. The reason they haven’t come clean on their secret cuts is because Peter Dutton’s secret cuts would interrupt the progress we’re making in the economy and make people worse off. And where that will be most consequential will be Medicare.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, will taxes be higher or lower as a result of your budget?

    Chalmers:

    You’ll see tonight all of the figures when it comes to, for example, tax‑to‑GDP and the like. You see a lot of speculation before budgets. Not all of it is right. For example, one commentator was saying he expects this year tax‑to‑GDP to go up. You’ll see tonight the tax‑to‑GDP goes down in 24–25. You see predictions about gross debt this year not being correct.

    And so I encourage you to pore over the numbers in the Budget tonight. What you will see is the impact of the tax cuts that are already flowing in the economy are helping to make sure that more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn. That’s really the defining purpose of this government, in addition to strengthening Medicare. We’re managing the Budget in the most responsible way we can in the face of these external shocks. Tonight, you will see a Budget which is all about helping with the cost of living, strengthening Medicare and building Australia’s future.

    I’ll see you later on. Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Stephen Cenatiempo, 2CC

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Cenatiempo:

    Let’s talk federal politics with the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and the Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh. Good morning.

    Leigh:

    Good morning Stephen. Happy Budget day!

    Cenatiempo:

    Well look, I’ve got to say I hate Budget week Andrew, but I thank you anyway, I want to ask you something – your role as Assistant Minister for Treasury. What does that mean? How does that tie into the overall Treasury, Treasurer, finance portfolio, et cetera.

    Leigh:

    I’m part of the Treasury economics team, and I have particular responsibility for the issues of competition, multinational tax, for the Mint and for the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

    Cenatiempo:

    Okay. Now the Budget will be handed down tonight. Now pox on both your houses. I mean, this is going to be a cash splash which all budgets leading into elections are, and the Opposition has basically said they will match every dollar. Isn’t it time for some responsible economic management rather than just throwing cash around that we don’t have?

    Leigh:

    Well Stephen, in less than 3 years we’ve reduced Liberal Party debt by $177 billion.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well, it’s not Liberal Party debt. Stop saying that. But okay, you say you’ve reduced debt. Okay.

    Leigh:

    This is compared to what they were forecasting in their last budget and what we’ve achieved. We turned 2 big Liberal deficits into 2 Labor surpluses. We shrunk this year’s deficit. We have made huge reprioritisations and savings. Some $95 billion of reprioritisation savings over the last term.

    Cenatiempo:

    The vast majority of that turnaround has been receipts that the government wasn’t anticipating, so you can’t take credit for that?

    Leigh:

    Well, the reprioritisations and savings are government decisions, and that $95 billion compares to zero in the Liberals’ last budget. So we’ve made tough decisions, and some of that has involved curtailing the use of consultants and contractors, which Canberrans will know is a much more expensive way of doing things. We had that shadow public service workforce of 50,000, rather than having properly trained public servants doing their jobs. We’ve managed to get down the wait times for Veterans Affairs, and we’ve managed to ensure that we have the public service as a steward of the nation’s finances.

    Cenatiempo:

    Yeah, I’m sure that resonates here in Canberra, but I don’t know that it resonates in the rest of the country Andrew. But I want to talk about this latest cash splash, an extension of $150 of this energy rebate. There has been no attempt from the government to actually fix the underlying problem, and that is the cost of electricity. All you’re doing is giving us our own money back to pay electricity bills that you’ve made higher.

    Leigh:

    Well, I think Canberrans know the benefits of having renewable energy, given that we’re 100 per cent renewable energy.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well, we’re not. That’s again, again that’s another lie but anyway. I’m not saying you’re perpetrating that lie, because it’s something that we just tend to throw around when we know it’s not true.

    Leigh:

    Stephen, it is a fact that the ACT is 100 per cent renewable energy.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well hang on, hang on Andrew. Andrew, no, no, I’m going to stop you there because I hate it when people say this. We produce 5 per cent of our own electricity. Ninety-five per cent comes from across the border, and of that 95 per cent somewhere between 70 per cent and 80 per cent is made from fossil fuels. We do not have 100 per cent renewable electricity in Canberra, full stop.

    Leigh:

    We have always relied on electricity from New South Wales. We choose now to draw it from renewable sources in New South Wales and the ACT.

    Cenatiempo:

    You can’t make that determination. You just, that’s just something you say.

    Leigh:

    No, this a fact. And what that meant was when you had the overseas crisis which drove up gas prices, the ACT wasn’t affected by that in the way that other jurisdictions were.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well, my electricity bills going up.

    Leigh:

    By moving to renewable energy, we’re able to make ourselves less dependent on global crises. Alongside the renewable energy rollout, we’re delivering energy bill relief. This energy bill relief will continue for another half a year, and Canberrans will see it taken directly off their bill.

    Cenatiempo:

    But Andrew, this is the point. It’s not energy bill relief. The energy bills are still what they are, and they’re still rising. You’re just giving us back our own money to cut a little bit off the top.

    Leigh:

    Well, what people are going to see very clearly Stephen, is that $150 in rebates automatically applied to their energy bills in quarterly instalments. I think that’s going to be pretty important for many Australians.

    Cenatiempo:

    Why should I subsidise your electricity bill by $150 Andrew?

    Leigh:

    Well, we’re not the only sources of revenue Stephen. One of the things the Albanese government has done is focused on multinational taxation, making sure multinationals pay their fair share. That is one of the sources of government revenue which goes into paying these energy bills.

    Cenatiempo:

    But my point is, you as a well‑paid public servant, don’t need the $150 – yet those Canberrans that desperately do need it are subsidising, to an extent, your $150.

    Leigh:

    Yeah, I mean we certainly looked at targeted ways of doing this. It turns out that the cost of targeting can be bigger than the benefits. In this case, flat energy bill relief provides a straightforward, simple way of doing things and ensures that every Australian is getting energy bill relief, just as every Australian income taxpayer got a tax cut last year.

    Cenatiempo:

    I just, you know it seems to me that you know when fiscal, economic management is the order of the day, all we’ve seen is the Prime Minister stand up for the last 2 weeks and promised to throw a billion dollars of this, billions of these, billions of that, billions of that. It’s like an Oprah Winfrey Show.

    Leigh:

    I guess what people aren’t seeing are those savings and reprioritisation that we talked about before. Those are demonstrated in our first 2 surpluses and in a much smaller deficit this year than the one we inherited. Those are the quiet decisions that have been made that underpin this Budget. The responsible economic management that we’ve put in place very careful reprioritisations and savings, infrastructure portfolio and public service and a whole range of other areas. Now we came into office after sports rorts, the car park rorts, with so much wasted. Waste and mismanagement under JobKeeper – $20 billion going to firms with rising revenue.

    Cenatiempo:

    And at the time, you supported all that but yeah.

    Leigh:

    I was a vociferous critic of the JobKeeper rorts and waste, saying very clearly that we shouldn’t have been giving JobKeeper to firms with rising revenue. $20 billion out the door through that one decision alone, I was very critical of the sports rorts, very critical the car park rorts. I’m on the record on most of those things while the former Morrison government was in office, and that’s what’s changed.

    Cenatiempo:

    But hang on. When you say rorts – you use the term rorts and I’m going to pull you up on this, because rorts means anything the other side does if we do it, it’s responsible. That’s the reality of it. So you know, you use these terms, and it’s just pure politicking Andrew. We’re not talking about reality.

    Leigh:

    We had an Auditor‑General report very clearly casting at the former government over sports rorts. A Minister resigned over that Stephen. This was a very clear rort. I don’t think rorts come much clearer than when a Minister says I’m stepping down because I’ve done the wrong thing. And the Auditor‑General says this is outrageous.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well, yeah. Okay, alright. I want to read something to you for a moment. This is from a report that’s been done by the Vice President of Crestview Strategy here in Australia in a pre‑budget reflection. She says ‘Framed as responsible relief, the package continues Labor’s patent of targeted subsidies and short‑term support. But there’s growing criticism that these handouts while politically popular, do little to address structural issues and may in fact worsen them. As AFR Editor‑at‑large, Michael Stutchbury put it – ‘This is a government that treats voters like mugs with short‑term cash splashes while ignoring long‑term fiscal consequences the promised $275 cut to household power bills from 2022 remains unmet, and this rebate looks more like a political band aid than an economic fix’. You can’t argue with any of that?

    Leigh:

    We certainly need to be doing both things Stephen. You need to be dealing with those immediate cost‑of‑living pressures and making investments in productivity in the future. The energy investments we talked about are a part of that, but also the investments in better infrastructure around competition. So, the supermarket report that came out last week…

    Cenatiempo:

    Yeah, which said there was no evidence of price gouging by the way.

    Leigh:

    …which said very clearly that there were patterns such as high‑low pricing, that margins had increased and that our supermarkets are among the most profitable in the world. It then made a series of recommendations…

    Cenatiempo:

    Do we want our supermarkets to not be profitable?

    Leigh:

    We do not need the most profitable supermarkets in the world. I don’t think we need those margins to be rising. They were some of the salient points that the ACCC was making, that the squeeze at the checkout was being matched by an increase in profit margins. And you talk about structural reform Stephen, some of the work we’ve done in competition really is about structural reform because competition is so fundamental to productivity growth which ultimately drives living standards growth. So we’ve had the biggest merger shake up in half a century. We’ve had a whole lot of careful work being done by the Competition Taskforce in order to produce a more dynamic and competitive economy.

    Cenatiempo:

    Well, some economists would disagree with you there Andrew, but is there anything in the Budget that’s going to come out tonight that we don’t already know about?

    Leigh:

    Absolutely, there’s always some exciting bits coming out in the Treasurer’s speech. So, everyone should be tuning in at 7.30 to hear Jim stand up and deliver his fourth Budget.

    Cenatiempo:

    Alright, we’ll be broadcasting that live here on 2CC. Andrew, next time we catch up I think we’ll officially be in an election campaign won’t we?

    Leigh:

    I think that’s likely, but the Prime Minister will make the decision.

    Cenatiempo:

    But I mean, he doesn’t have a choice anymore, does he? I mean he’s got to go. Well, I mean the 17th of May is the absolute latest he can go?

    Leigh:

    We’ll have a May election. The only question there is which Saturday in May it will be.

    Cenatiempo:

    Righto. Alright, well he’s got to call it sooner rather than later. Andrew, good to talk to you. We’ll catch up in a couple weeks.

    Leigh:

    Likewise, thanks Stephen.

    Cenatiempo:

    Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury, and the Member for Fenner.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to improve quality of ‘silver economy’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An elderly couple watch wedding dress photos shot by their nursing home in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, Jan. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will redouble its efforts to improve the quality and expand the capacity of its “silver economy,” namely economic activities related to the country’s large elderly population, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said on Monday.

    These efforts aim to create a positive cycle combining economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods, Tang said in his remarks at the China Development Forum 2025, which was held from Sunday to Monday.

    The 10-year period from 2025 to 2035 is an important time window for China to respond proactively to the challenge of population aging, Tang said.

    He outlined efforts to promote the integrated development of the elderly care industry and industries such as culture, tourism, health, sports and domestic services, to expand the scope and scenarios of elderly care services, and to advance home renovation projects offering more elderly-friendly facilities, among other efforts.

    Efforts will also go into making public spaces and e-commerce platforms more senior-friendly, boosting the standardization and supervision of relevant products and services for the elderly, and advancing research and policy support for the development of the “silver economy,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release, fatal train incident, Invercargill

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have now identified and can confirm the name of the man involved in a fatal train incident in Invercargill, Monday 17 March.

    He was 54-year-old Geoffrey Francis McIver a local of Invercargill.

    Police extend our condolences to his family and loved ones at this time.

    His death has been referred to the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Wage theft is now a criminal offence in NZ – investigating it shouldn’t be left to the police

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Irene Nikoloudakis, PhD Candidate in Law, University of Adelaide

    Getty Images

    Being robbed is a horrible experience under any circumstances. But being robbed by your employer involves a unique betrayal of trust.

    So it was a sign of real progress when “wage theft” finally became a crime in New Zealand earlier this month with the passage of the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Act.

    Heralded by trade unions and the Labour Party as a victory for workers, the new law makes it a criminal offence under the Crimes Act for an employer to intentionally (and without reasonable excuse) fail to pay workers what they’re entitled to.

    Wage theft can include deliberately underpaying wages or holiday pay, or making unlawful deductions from pay packets. The question now is how well the new law will be enforced.

    While there is little research on how widespread wage theft in New Zealand is, we do know it all too often affects temporary migrant workers and those in labour-intensive industries such as hospitality, construction and horticulture.

    But if, as seems likely, the police are tasked with investigating allegations of wage theft, the new law may struggle to be enforced effectively.

    Who investigates wage theft?

    Until the law change, wage theft was only addressed through the civil system, not the criminal courts. Underpaid employees could take an employer to court to recover what was owed – if they had the means to navigate what could be a complex process.

    It took an initiative by former Labour MP Ibrahim Omer – who as a refugee in New Zealand had experienced wage theft – to begin the reform process. He introduced a members’ bill to parliament in 2023 seeking to make wage theft a criminal offence.

    Under the new law, the maximum penalties for wage theft are the same as for general theft. For serious offences, this means employers can be imprisoned for stealing their workers’ pay.

    The trouble is, the law doesn’t state which government agency will be responsible for investigating such crimes. This is important because adequately enforcing the law is the whole point.

    A 2024 report by the Ministry of Justice had suggested investigative responsibility might sit with New Zealand’s workplace regulator, the Labour Inspectorate. This seemed a logical move.

    But when the legislation was being debated in parliament, it became clear MPs assumed enforcement responsibility would lie with police. Confirming the law change this month, Labour MP Camilla Bellich said:

    Theft is theft, and before this bill was law workers had to take up a civil case. Civil wage claims are difficult for any employee to initiate and often time consuming and expensive. Now workers can go to the police and report wage theft as a crime.

    Former Labour MP Ibrahim Omer’s experience of wage theft as a refugee inspired him to change the law.
    Getty Images

    How Australia does it

    On the face of it, the police might seem like the logical enforcement agency. They investigate crimes and play an important role in crime prevention. But wage theft isn’t an area they have dealt with before. And uncovering wage theft in practice is very difficult.

    First, those most at risk – such as migrant workers and young employees – are the least likely to report it, often for fear of the consequences or because they simply don’t know how to make a formal complaint.

    Secondly, bad employers are good at covering their tracks, leaving no paper trail or fudging the books.

    Without specialised knowledge or experience in these areas – as well as dealing with their existing resourcing challenges – the police will potentially struggle to uncover wage theft offending.

    A better model might be Australia’s criminal wage theft regime, which came into effect at the start of this year. Overall, it is tougher and more targeted than New Zealand’s.

    The Australian law applies hefty maximum penalties for wage theft offences – up to ten years’ imprisonment and monetary fines in the millions. Investigations are the responsibility of the national workplace regulator, the Fair Work Ombudsman.

    This makes sense, because it’s the Fair Work Ombudsman which has significant experience in uncovering breaches of national employment laws, not the police.

    Put the Labour Inspectorate in charge

    The equivalent enforcement agency in New Zealand is the Labour Inspectorate, whose entire remit is to uncover breaches of employment standards.

    The Labour Inspectorate, far more than the police, will understand the intricacies of wage theft, including which workers and industries are most vulnerable, and what methods dodgy employers use to hide wage theft.

    If necessary, the inspectorate’s powers and resources could be reviewed and modified to ensure it has the tools to conduct criminal investigations, including the ability to search and seize evidence.

    Finally, empowering an agency with the right tools, knowledge and experience to investigate wage theft would leave the police to deal with the other serious crimes already demanding their attention.

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

    – ref. Wage theft is now a criminal offence in NZ – investigating it shouldn’t be left to the police – https://theconversation.com/wage-theft-is-now-a-criminal-offence-in-nz-investigating-it-shouldnt-be-left-to-the-police-252712

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PNG ‘test ban’ blocks Facebook – governor Bird warns of tyranny risk

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    The Papua New Guinea government has admitted to using a technology that it says was “successfully tested” to block social media platforms, particularly Facebook, for much of the day yesterday.

    Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr said the “test” was done under the framework of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2024, and sought to address the growing concerns over hate speech, misinformation, and other harmful content online.

    Tsiamalili did not specify what kind of tech was used, but said it was carried out in collaboration with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), and various internet service providers.

    “We are not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict our citizens from expressing their viewpoints,” Tsiamalili said.

    “However, the unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable.

    “These challenges increasingly threaten the safety, dignity, and well-being of our populace.”

    However, government agencies responsible for communications and ICT, including NICTA, said they were not aware.

    ‘Confidence relies on transparency’
    “Public confidence in our digital governance relies on transparency and consistency in how we approach online regulation,” NICTA chief executive Kilakupa Gulo-Vui said.

    “It is essential that all key stakeholders, including NICTA, law enforcement, telecommunications providers, and government agencies, collaborate closely to ensure that any actions taken are well-understood and properly executed.”

    He said that while maintaining national security was a priority, the balance between safety and digital freedom must be carefully managed.

    Gulo-Vui said NICTA would be addressing this matter with the Minister for ICT to ensure NICTA’s role continued to align with the government’s broader policy objectives, while fostering a cohesive and united approach to digital regulation.

    The Department of Information Communication and Technology (DICT) Secretary, Steven Matainaho, also stated his department was not aware of the test but added that the police have powers under the new domestic terrorism laws.

    Papua New Guinea’s recently introduced anti-terror laws are aimed at curbing both internal and external security threats.

    Critics warn of dictatorial control
    However, critics of the move say the test borders on dictatorial control.

    An observer of Monday’s events, Lucas Kiap, said the goal of combating hate speech and exploitation was commendable, but the approach risks paving way for authoritarian overreach.

    “Where is PNG headed? If the government continues down this path, it risks trading democracy for control,” he said.

    Many social media users, however, appeared to outdo the government, with many downloading and sharing Virtual Area Network (VPN) apps and continuing to post on Facebook.

    “Hello from Poland,” one user said.

    East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said today that the country’s anti-terrorism law could target anyone because “the definition of a terrorist is left to the Police Minister to decide”.

    ‘Designed to take away our freedoms’
    “During the debate on the anti-terrorism bill in Parliament, I pointed out that the law was too broad and it could be used against innocent people,” he wrote on Facebook.

    He said government MPs laughed at him and used their numbers to pass the bill.

    “Yesterday, the Police Minister used the Anti-terrorism Act to shut down Facebook. That was just a test, that was step one,” Governor Bird said.

    “There is no limit to the powers the Minister of Police can exercise under this new law. It is draconian law designed to take away our freedoms.

    “We are now heading into dangerous territory and everyone is powerless to stop this tyranny,” he added.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s BYD reports 34 pct net profit increase to 5.6B USD in 2024

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD Company Limited has reported robust profit growth in 2024, driven by booming car sales.

    BYD’s net profit attributable to its shareholders grew 34 percent year on year to 40.25 billion yuan (about 5.6 billion U.S. dollars) last year, the company said in its annual report filed to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Monday night.

    Last year, it generated 777.1 billion yuan in revenue, an annual increase of 29.02 percent, according to the report.

    BYD continued to post strong growth in vehicle sales. It sold 4.27 million NEVs last year, up 41 percent year on year. Its overseas sales reached 417,000 units, up 72 percent.

    Its vehicle and vehicle-related business contributed 617.38 billion yuan in revenue, up 27.7 percent year on year and accounting for 79.45 percent of the total, the company said.

    Its mobile phone component, assembly and other businesses contributed about 159.61 billion yuan, up 34.6 percent year on year and accounting for 20.54 percent of its total revenue.

    Last year, its research and development (R&D) spending rose 36 percent year on year to 54.2 billion yuan, driving its cumulative R&D investment to exceed 180 billion yuan, the company said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese shipbuilder delivers large LNG dual-fuel-powered vehicle carrier

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Chinese shipbuilder on Monday delivered a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel-powered, 8,600-Car-Equivalent-Unit (CEU) vehicle carrier vessel to its operator.

    The carrier vessel, Wenjingkou, was independently developed and designed by a Chinese research institute and measures 199.9 meters in length, 38 meters in width and 14.8 meters in depth.

    The vessel features 14 vehicle decks, enabling the efficient loading and unloading of various automobile types, including cars, trucks and buses. The total deck area is approximately 75,000 square meters — equivalent to nearly 11 standard soccer fields.

    Wenjingkou was constructed by the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited, in collaboration with the China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd.

    The vessel is equipped with an advanced LNG dual-fuel power system, which significantly enhances power efficiency and reduces carbon emissions and pollutants during operations, according to Liu Yunwu, vice chairman of Guangzhou Yuanhai Automobile Shipping, which will operate Wenjingkou.

    The inaugural operational voyage of Wenjingkou will see it transport over 5,700 units of commercial and engineering vehicles from Shanghai to major European ports such as Bristol in the United Kingdom, Zeebrugge in Belgium, and Bremerhaven in Germany.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Ethiopian Airlines Group and African Development Bank sign Letter of Intent for financing of world-class Abusera International Airport

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    The African Development Bank and Ethiopian Airlines Group have signed a Letter of Intent for the development of the East African nation’s planned Abusera International Airport Project. The $7.8 billion project aims to address increasing passenger and cargo demands, reinforce Ethiopia’s…

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Khada Valley Livelihood Restoration Program

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Transcript

    New 23km Kvesheti-Kobi road in Georgia has been constructed to enhance trade flow, road safety, and provide economic opportunities for the Khada Valley population.

    Alongside the road construction that will provide a year-round access to the valley, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) initiated the Khada Valley Livelihood Restoration and Improvement Program.

    Kamel Bouhmad
    Former Deputy Country Director (2021-2024)
    ADB Georgia Resident Mission

    The purpose was really not to wait until the road is fully built, but to put together an assistance package for the local population so they can start developing skills and getting ready for a new reality when the infrastructure will be there.

    Salome Tsurtsumia
    Deputy Chairman
    Roads Department of Georgia

    The future perspective of the valley’s development is tourism and to attract more tourists, it’s important to have the relevant knowledge and experience in producing organic products.

    ADB engaged the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to help local farmers improve agricultural production.

    Anuki Natsvlishvili
    Veterinary and Food Safety Specialist
    UN Food and Agriculture Organization

    The needs assessment showed us that most farmers have one or two cows, and the milk quality is extremely low. The cheeses were made from unpasteurized milk. For vegetable producers, 02:14 they were not using irrigation systems, or doing manual composting. And for honey producers, farmers wanted to receive information about food safety and legislation. In the beginning, we only started working with a few farmers from Kvesheti and Arakhveti communities. But new farmers started to show up and we started working in several new communities.

    Tariel Karelidze
    Community Liaison Officer
    ADB Consultant

    Our farmer beneficiaries, in addition to theoretical and practical knowledge, received animal food supplements, selected agricultural equipment based on their activities, and established demonstration plots. There are huge expectations for the Kvesheti-Kobi road in the community. They anticipate more tourists and better market access.

    Ketevan Zakaidze
    Farmer from Arakhveti Village

    I have three cows and I make cheese and Matsoni. I learned a lot of new things, like how to get more cheese from milk, how to take care for cows to avoid Mastitis, how to produce safe products to keep ourselves healthy.

    Zurab Beniaidze
    Beekeper from Benian-Begoni Village

    We learned many new things. For example, it was very interesting to learn about acid-based pesticides for bee ticks. We also received uniforms which are essential for beekeeping. I have already started using them.

    The one-year program trained 72 farmers from the Khada Valley and nearby villages.

    Tea Papuashvili
    Project Officer (Infrastructure)
    ADB Georgia Resident Mission

    We have observed that from one training session to another, the number of people kept increasing. This was really a sign of success, a sign that people’s trust and interest were there to learn more and to develop their skills and improve their living conditions.

    Lesley Bearman Lahm
    Country Director
    ADB Georgia Resident Mission

    With this road built, the local population will be provided with unlimited year-round access to their homes and lands, enabling them to expand agriculture production and reap financial gains from increased tourism in the valley.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Miramar unexplained death now a homicide investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attribute to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard:

    The death of a man found critically injured in Miramar last week is now being treated as a homicide, as Police urgently seek two pedestrians, and motorists with dashcam footage.

    Abdul Nabizadah, 63, was located with serious head injuries at the intersection of Camperdown Road and Totara Road, about 2.20am on 17 March. Mr Nabizadah was found by Police carrying out area enquiries following a serious burglary that happened a short distance away about 20 minutes earlier.

    Sadly, he died in hospital the following day.

    A post-mortem determined Mr Nabizadah died as a result of blunt force injury after being assaulted, and further enquiries have led to the investigation being upgraded to a homicide this morning.

    Dashcam footage, passersby may be critical to investigation

    As part of our investigation, we urgently need to hear from two people who had earlier passed by the area where Mr Nabizadah was found.

    At 12.28am, a man was seen walking down Camperdown Road from Totara Street and turned right in to Darlington Road from Totara Street. The man was wearing a light-coloured top and dark pants.

    We know Mr Nabizadah arrived in Totara Street in his silver-coloured Toyota Aqua, registration NQE681, at 12.25am, so this man may well have seen Mr Nabizadah and or his vehicle. We urge this person, or anyone who may know them, to come forward as soon as possible.

    At 1.30am, a man in fitness clothing or activewear was seen running south on Darlington Road, before crossing the Camperdown Road intersection. He was wearing a blue shirt, and we also need to hear from him.

    Just as crucially, the investigators need to hear from any motorist who has dashcam footage and was in the Miramar area between midnight and 3am on 17 March, in particular anyone who travelled through the intersection of Totara Street and Camperdown Road. Even if your footage shows no cars or people on the street, it’s important that we see it.

    Parallel investigation into intruder burglary

    Police are progressing a second investigation into a disturbing burglary, where two people found an intruder rummaging through their Darlington Road house about 2am on 17 March.  During the burglary there was a physical altercation which caused an injury to the homeowner.

    We have yet to locate this offender, who had been wearing gumboots and a white cap, and is described by witnesses as possibly being of Māori descent, between 177-180cm tall (5’10” to 5’11”) and of and athletic build.

    Investigators have been speaking with neighbours and reviewing evidence gathered at the scene, but we have yet to establish a link between the burglary and the death of Mr Nabizadah.

    Meanwhile, Police are continuing to carry out reassurance patrols in the Miramar area. We know these events are upsetting and concerning for the community, but the investigation teams are working doggedly to get justice for the victims of the homicide and burglary, and their families.  Police are providing ongoing support to both families.

    If you have any information that could help the investigation teams, please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 250317/6324, or reference Operation Celtic.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Syracuse Man Sentenced for Federal Robbery Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Quashawn Pettiford, age 34, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 71 months in federal prison for Interference With Commerce Through Robbery. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    As part of his prior plea agreement, Pettiford admitted that on January 11, 2022, he and two others entered a gas station in Salina, New York, wearing masks. The other two individuals carried BB guns that appeared to be real firearms. Those individuals pointed the BB guns at the store clerk and one of them pressed a gun into the clerk’s neck while directing the clerk to open the cash register. Pettiford further admitted that he and the other robbers took approximately $1,200 in merchandise from the store shelves, approximately $1,495 from the cash register, and $513 from the clerk’s wallet.

    Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Pettiford is released from prison. Pettiford was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the offense and to forfeit the $3,208 proceeds of the offense.

    FBI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police, Syracuse Police Department, DeWitt Police Department, and Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Thomas R. Sutcliffe prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Joins Peters, Senate Committee Ranking Members in Demanding Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Senators Question Trump Administration Claims and Whether Actions Will Increase Waste and Abuse

    Washington (March 21, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 15 Senate Committee Ranking Members in sending a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the Senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  
    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 
    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the Senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”
    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  
    The letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget.
    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Celebrates Opening of South Coast Rail

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    For the first time in 65 years, cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts will have passenger rail service
    Boston (March 24, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement celebrating the formal opening of South Coast Commuter Rail service. South Coast Rail will offer reliable public transit between Boston and communities in southeastern Massachusetts, including Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, Middleborough, Freetown, and the surrounding region. It represents the first time since the late 1950s that riders on the South Coast can take a one-seat rail trip to Boston. Now, all major cities within 50 miles of Boston have Commuter Rail access.
    “We are one stop closer to transit justice with daily Commuter Rail service to southeastern Massachusetts,” said Senator Markey. “The opening of South Coast Rail represents a long-awaited celebration for Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and beyond. I am grateful to Governor Healey, the MBTA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and all the leaders and advocates on the South Coast who are making this project a reality. This milestone represents a major leap in addressing a critical gap in our state’s public transit system. Together, we are expanding rail service, reducing congestion, increasing economic opportunity, and more equitably connecting our Commonwealth. I look forward to continuing to work with state and local officials, community members, and our federal delegation to expand public transit throughout the South Coast and across Massachusetts.”
    Senator Markey is a long-time advocate for expanding rail transit. He previously introduced the Building Rail Across Intercity Networks To Ride Around Interior of the Nation (BRAIN TRAIN) Act, which established a new $25 billion passenger rail grant program and required the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize projects that connect historically under-connected areas such as the South Coast. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established a new Corridor Identification and Development Program aligned with, and that includes language from Senator Markey’s BRAIN TRAIN Act. Last Congress, he introduced the All Aboard Act, which would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and electrify the most heavily polluting railyards and corridors. The legislation also includes critical labor protections for the existing union labor workforce and creates a rail personnel training grant program for rail workers. Senator Markey has also been a strong advocate to secure funding for West-East passenger train service running through Boston, Worcester, and Western Massachusetts, helping to secure a $108 million grant for the project, followed by a second $36.8 million grant.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Medicaid Cuts Would Cost Money and Endanger Lives, Say Central WA Health Care Providers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.21.25
    Medicaid Cuts Would Cost Money and Endanger Lives, Say Central WA Health Care Providers
    Medicaid, known in WA as Apple Health, would face significant cuts from GOP budget proposal to slash up to $880 billion from essential health care program
    RICHLAND, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a press conference with Central Washington health care professionals and providers to discuss the harms that would result from proposed cuts to Medicaid.
    “Our health care system today does save money when we give people the freedom to see a doctor when they need to, instead of forcing them to wait until they absolutely have to,” said Sen. Cantwell. ”These attempts aren’t about reducing costs, they are literally about destroying our health care system.”
    “It is a tsunami. And trust me, this is not a drill,” she continued. “This is a real proposal, and we have to wake up the American people, and certainly here in Central Washington, to the devastating impacts they could see if Medicaid was cut.”
    “There’s very good evidence from multiple studies that preventive care delivers better quality of life, better health outcomes, at a lower overall cost,” said Dr. Richard Meadows, Chief Medical Officer, Providence Clinical Network. “The thought that somehow saving money by not funding Medicaid would be better for our country, it just does not make any financial sense, because we know from studies that if you wait and treat things later on it is far more expensive. People miss more time from work, they’re not able to be there for their families, and ultimately it costs all of us as taxpayers more money.”
    Brenda Morgan, a Tri-Cities area home care provider, shared the story of her client, Samantha, an autistic young adult with a heart condition, who needs a feeding tube for meals and medications. “She wants me to ask you,” Morgan said, “’Why aren’t people thinking about us? Do they not know that I can’t survive without Medicaid?’”
    Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to.  The program also ensures that hospitals receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. Medicaid paid for $3.36 billion in hospital care in Washington state in state fiscal year 2024. More than 1.9 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Medicaid.
    In the 4th U.S. Congressional District, 70% of children and 24% of adults are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In Washington state legislative district 16, which includes Richland, 60% of kids and 32% of the total population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In legislative district 8, which includes Kennewick and most of Benton County, 49% of kids and 26% of the total population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health.
    In Yakima County’s legislative district 15, 87% of kids and 51% of the population are covered by Medicaid / Apple Health. These are the highest numbers for any legislative district in the state.
    On February 25, House Republicans voted to advance President Trump’s budget resolution, which proposes up to an $880 billion cut from Medicaid.
    Last month, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington.
    The other participants in today’s roundtable were Reza Kaleel, Chief Executive Southeast Washington Service Area Kadlec and Providence St. Mary; Regina Ahl, Director of Pharmacy, Tri-Cities Community Health; Dr. John Matheson, Chief Medical Officer, Kadlec Regional Medical Center; and Everett Maroon, Executive Director, Blue Mountain Heart to Heart.       
    Video of today’s entire press conference is HERE; video of Sen. Cantwell’s opening statement is HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening statement is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to improve quality, expand capacity of ‘silver economy’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An elderly couple watch wedding dress photos shot by their nursing home in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, Jan. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China will redouble its efforts to improve the quality and expand the capacity of its “silver economy,” namely economic activities related to the country’s large elderly population, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said on Monday.
    These efforts aim to create a positive cycle combining economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods, Tang said in his remarks at the China Development Forum 2025, which was held from Sunday to Monday.
    The 10-year period from 2025 to 2035 is an important time window for China to respond proactively to the challenge of population aging, Tang said.
    He outlined efforts to promote the integrated development of the elderly care industry and industries such as culture, tourism, health, sports and domestic services, to expand the scope and scenarios of elderly care services, and to advance home renovation projects offering more elderly-friendly facilities, among other efforts.
    Efforts will also go into making public spaces and e-commerce platforms more senior-friendly, boosting the standardization and supervision of relevant products and services for the elderly, and advancing research and policy support for the development of the “silver economy,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says he may ‘give a lot of countries breaks’ on tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he may “give a lot of countries breaks” on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on U.S. trading partners draws closer.

    “I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it’s reciprocal,” Trump told reporters at the White House Monday afternoon.

    He noted that the European Union (EU) has agreed to lower car tariffs to 2.5 percent as part of a deal with the Trump administration.

    “We’ll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars, and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips,” Trump continued.

    “But for the most part, April 2 will be a big day, that will be reciprocal day, and we’ll be bringing some of the money back that’s been taken from us,” Trump said.

    Earlier in the day, Trump announced on social media that he’ll impose 25-percent tariff on any nation that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela, accusing the Latin American country of sending “tens of thousands of” criminals to the United States.

    When asked by a reporter whether the 25-percent tariff is “on top of existing tariffs,” Trump said “yes.”

    With key U.S. economic indicators showing concerning trends, economists and investors warn that the risk of a “Trumpcession” has grown due to unpredictable trade and economic policies.

    Earlier this month, Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan’s chief global economist, expressed heightened concerns about the U.S. economy. He told reporters in Singapore that the investment bank now estimates a 40 percent chance of a U.S. recession this year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign brands benefit from China’s consumption stimulus

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

    SHANGHAI, March 25 — As millions of Chinese consumers trade in their devices for the latest models ranging from electric vehicles to home appliances, the rising consumer spending has benefited both Chinese and foreign brands.

    China kicked off large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs in March 2024, and revamped these programs earlier this year, amid efforts to boost domestic demand and spur economic growth.

    Prominent foreign brand, Tesla, has benefited from such programs in the sale of its revised Model Y.

    Earlier this month, on the first day of deliveries of the revised Model Y in east China’s Shanghai, more than 500 new vehicles were handed over to buyers, many of whom took advantage of China’s trade-in scheme.

    A resident in Shanghai surnamed Zhang, mentioned that by trading in his old gasoline car and taking advantage of consumption subsidies, he was able to purchase a revised Model Y for about 200,000 yuan (approximately 27,863 U.S. dollars). “The incentives from these subsidy programs are quite significant, which motivated me to place the order,” he said.

    Subsidies vary from place to place. In Guangdong Province in south China, for instance, consumers who buy new energy vehicles can receive subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan.

    Notably, apart from the government’s stimulus policy, Tesla has also taken steps to provide various car purchase incentives, including interest-free financing and insurance subsidy programs, to further lower costs for its customers.

    Foreign firms in the home appliance sector have also benefited from the government program. “The Chinese government’s consumption stimulus policies, including the trade-in program, have increased consumer spending. As a result, sales in Panasonic’s home appliance segment have grown,” Lin Yibin, managing officer of China & Northeast Asia Company of Panasonic Appliances (China) Co., Ltd, told Xinhua in an interview.

    Following the introduction of these policies, sales of Panasonic’s large home appliances from September to December last year, such as washing machines and refrigerators, especially in the offline market, have surpassed figures from the same period of 2023, Lin added.

    In early January this year, China announced a raft of measures to expand the scope of its consumer goods trade-in program. Under the expanded program, categories of home appliances eligible for government subsidies have been increased from eight in 2024 to 12 in 2025.

    “The revamped policy has sparked a surge in consumer spending on home appliances across the country. We are actively working with all parties to benefit from the new policy,” Lin noted.

    These subsidies have helped bring more coffee machines into Chinese homes. In places like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hubei Province, coffee machines have been added to the list of items eligible for subsidies. De’Longhi, an Italian coffee machine supplier, has benefited from this initiative.

    “Last year, we saw double-digit growth, and since January of this year, we’ve maintained an even higher double-digit growth rate — largely thanks to the consumption stimulus policies,” said Zong Yanping, managing director of De’Longhi Greater China, in an interview with Xinhua.

    “Unlike large home appliances, which have long been essential in Chinese households, coffee machines are still relatively new to many families. Therefore, the purchasing subsidies have been very helpful for us in terms of marketing,” Zong explained.

    Zong is optimistic about China’s market potential, as the consumption stimulus coincided with a shift in coffee-drinking habits in the country, noting that “what began as an occasional social activity has become a morning routine for many young people today.”

    China’s large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs have so far yielded fruitful results. In 2024, it drove equipment purchases and investment up by 15.7 percent — contributing 67.6 percent to overall investment growth while boosting sales of bulk durable consumer goods by over 1.3 trillion yuan last year, according to data released by the National Development and Reform Commission in February.

    Vowing to make domestic demand “the main engine and anchor of economic growth,” China’s policymakers during this year’s “two sessions” sent fresh and firm signals regarding empowering the country’s vast number of consumers to spend more confidently.

    Following the 2025 “two sessions,” China vowed to implement solid support measures to connect consumer spending to people’s well-being in the latest consumption-promotion plan. The plan outlines the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds totaling 300 billion yuan to bolster consumer goods trade-in programs in 2025 — doubling the 2024 figure.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Report calls for multi-agency approach to prevent domestic abuse deaths

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Findings from the Domestic Homicide Project released today reveal that 262 people died in England and Wales as a result of domestic abuse in the past year.

    The annual report tracks the scale and nature of domestic abuse-related deaths in quick-time, both from the previous year and across a four-year period, and is the only dataset of its kind in England and Wales.

    The findings and analysis were informed by families bereaved by fatal domestic abuse who continue to drive awareness and change across policing, government and partners. This year, specific research was also undertaken to examine deaths where someone had fallen from height in partnership with the Killed Women Network.

    Key findings:

    262 deaths were recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024:

    •             98 suspected suicide following domestic abuse (SVSDA)
    •             80 intimate partner homicides (IPH)
    •             39 adult family homicides
    •            28 unexpected deaths
    •            11 child deaths
    •             6 ‘other’ (where the victim and suspect lived together, but were not related or intimate partners

    22 cases of deaths due to a fall from height were recorded across 13 forces during the four-year period, of those:

    • 36% were recorded as SVSDA, 27% unexpected deaths, 23% IPH and 14% AFH
    • Notably, three victims (14%) were pregnant at the time of their death
    • In 70% of cases the suspect was arrested

    For the second year in a row, suspected suicides following domestic abuse have overtaken the number of homicides involving current or previous partners. This reflects increased awareness and progress made against recommendations in the project’s last report, which focused on improving policing’s ability to better recognise and record the link between domestic abuse and suicide.

    Over four years (1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024), the number of people killed by their current or previous partner consistently represents around a third of domestic abuse-related deaths each year.

    Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, national policing lead for domestic abuse, said:

    “The sustained nature of domestic homicide shows how deeply ingrained violence against women and girls is in our communities.

    “The Domestic Homicide Project has now recorded over 1000 domestic abuse-related deaths across a four year period. The scale and impact is incomprehensible and as a society, we cannot delay action to prevent future deaths.”

    Multi-agency footprint

    The report demonstrates the need for a multi-agency response that spans the wider criminal justice system, healthcare and local authorities such as social services, to tackle domestic abuse and prevent future deaths, particularly suicides. In cases of SVSDA, nine in ten victims and/or prior domestic abuse perpetrators were known to partner agencies.

    Across the four-year dataset, the most commonly recorded risk factors in relation to the suspects were mental ill health, a history of coercive and controlling behaviour (CCB), alcohol use and drug misuse, representing a key opportunity to intercept perpetrators through healthcare, substance misuse and mental health services.

    Some of the risk factors were more prominent in certain types of deaths; for example, CCB was prominent in cases of IPH, SVSDA and unexpected deaths, whilst suspected mental ill health was particularly notable in cases of AFH.

    AC Rolfe continues: “The data reinforces the critical need for policing to work with other agencies to identify those at risk of being both a perpetrator or a victim of domestic abuse. A preventative approach is the only way to stop the widespread harm of domestic abuse in all its forms.”

    Recommendations and police response

    Police forces have made significant changes in relation to the recommendations made in last year’s Domestic Homicide Report, with most forces incorporating:

    • Specific training for officers to raise awareness of the link between domestic abuse (DA) and suicide. Review teams are proactively working to better identify cases of suicide with links to DA.
    • Updated unexpected death policies, there are explicit procedures to prompt officers to consider DA or CCB in unexpected deaths or suspected suicides and carry out system checks.
    • Growing number of cases of SVSDA submitted for Domestic Homicide Reviews and increasing rate of posthumous charges for domestic abuse offences, reflecting improved ability to identify these cases.

    AC Rolfe said: “We have a much better understanding of the complex nature of domestic abuse than ever before, but there is more for policing to do to ensure that every domestic-abuse related death is properly recognised, and where appropriate, adequately investigated.

    “54% of suspects of domestic homicide were previously known to police as perpetrators of domestic abuse, highlighting the importance of a prompt, robust police response from the outset of a report. That is why the broader police response to domestic abuse is focused on driving improvements and consistency in offender management and better protection for victims.”

    New protective orders with longer-term, more robust safety measures and quicker charging decisions for cases are currently being piloted in select forces, with the aim of better supporting victims through the criminal justice system.

    In addition, police forces are rolling out video technology to respond to non-urgent reports of domestic abuse, which has shown to increase arrest rates, secure quicker convictions and bring the response time down from 32 hours to an average of three minutes. Alongside this work, select police forces have also began piloting Raneem’s Law, embedding specially trained domestic abuse support in police contact rooms to get the right support to victims reporting domestic abuse.

    The recommendations from this year’s report focus on better information sharing and a more joined-up approach across policing, government and other agencies, including healthcare and mental health and substance misuse services, to better recognise and intercept domestic abuse, particularly in young people. Additional recommendations highlight the need to continue to strengthen policing and the wider criminal justice system’s approach to investigating and prosecuting in cases of SVSDA.

    AC Rolfe said: “We are incredibly grateful to the families of those bereaved by domestic abuse for sharing their insights with us, they continue to be a driving force in effecting change and preventing future deaths.”

    Julie Devey, Chair of Killed Women, said:

    ‘’Every life lost following domestic abuse leaves behind a family heartbroken. For too long, these deaths have been treated as ‘unavoidable tragedies’ – but they are not. They are preventable. Today’s important report reflects that too often perpetrators or victims are known to agencies, but they fail to act. We must ensure a system that joins the dots and intervenes before it’s too late. 

    “We also welcome the report findings which make clear what we have long said: women are dying in suspicious circumstances – for example from falls – or from suicide, where there is a history of domestic abuse, without adequate investigation. We welcome the recommendation which compels police, in all cases of unexpected deaths, to investigate the history of domestic abuse. If the government is serious about ending violence against women, these recommendations should be enforced.’’

    Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women & Girls, Jess Phillips said:

    “Every death related to domestic abuse is a life cut short and a devastating tragedy. The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place. That’s why the government has funded this vital research to shine a light on the scale of the problem.

    “This report rightly demands coordinated action across government, police and partner agencies to tackle these issues head on – and we are already cracking on with work to put the voices of victims, their families and friends, and key stakeholders front and centre of this. Our upcoming violence against women and girls strategy will set out our ambition and concrete actions to strengthen our response to perpetrators and deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.” 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What are they hiding? Murray, DeLauro Demand OMB Promptly Restore Access to Website Detailing Federal Spending Allocations, As Federal Law Requires

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following joint statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) moved to unlawfully hide how the agency directs agencies to spend taxpayer dollars. OMB hid this information by destroying a website that publicly displayed all of these decisions, known as apportionments.
    “Federal law is unequivocal: OMB must publish the agency’s legally-binding budget decisions. Congress enacted these requirements over a Democratic President’s objections on a bipartisan basis because our constituents, and all American taxpayers, deserve transparency and accountability for how their money is being spent. Taking down this website is not just illegal it is a brazen move to hide this administration’s spending from the American people and from Congress. We call on OMB to immediately restore access to the website and resume compliance with this most basic, bipartisan transparency requirement.”
    Apportionments are legally binding budget decisions issued by OMB under title 31 of the U.S. Code. These documents are final, decisional, and legally binding on agencies, and officials responsible for violating an apportionment may be subject to administrative discipline, including suspension without pay and termination, and the knowing and willful violation of an apportionment carries with it criminal penalties under the Antideficiency Act.
    The 2022 bipartisan appropriations bills instated a requirement for OMB to publicly post in an accessible format all approved apportionments within two business days, along with any footnotes, an explanation for those footnotes. The following year, Congress made those requirements permanent. Those bipartisan requirements have been carried out for the last three years without incident—allowing lawmakers and the public to track OMB’s legal-binding budget decisions.
    As of March 24, however, OMB’s apportionments database was taken down with no notice or explanation, and reporting indicates the website was destroyed in defiance of the bipartisan requirements enshrined in federal law that OMB maintain the site.
    Importantly, there have never been national security concerns associated with this statutory requirement, and the law requires OMB to make any classified documentation referenced in any apportionment available at the request of the Chair or Ranking Member of any appropriate congressional committee. Classified programs are frequently addressed in public statutory language, including in the recently passed Republican full year continuing resolution, with classified annexes available on a need-to-know basis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney

    Maria Symchych/Shutterstock

    If you’ve ever picked up your child from childcare and wondered if they’re living a double life, you’re not alone.

    Parents often receive rave reports from educators about kids’ adventurous eating habits, only to face a different reality at home, when the child who devoured a veggie-packed curry at lunchtime morphs into a fussy eater refusing anything but dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

    While this confusing behaviour is frustrating, it’s completely normal.

    Here’s why it happens and what you can do.

    How kids’ tastes and eating behaviour develops

    To understand why kids eat differently in different settings, we need first to understand two factors that shape their tastes and food preferences:

    1. Genetics. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors developed physiological responses for survival that are embedded in our genes and influence taste preferences from birth. These include developing “food fussiness” – a natural aversion to unfamiliar foods and bitter flavours to avoid ingesting toxins – and learning to seek palatable foods rich in natural sugars, fat and protein to avoid starvation.

    2. Eating environment. As kids grow, their surroundings at mealtimes – namely carers’ eating habits, feeding practices, routines and social cues conveyed – shape what they actually eat and enjoy.

    The interaction between these two factors drives how fussy kids will be, their likes and dislikes and how open they are to new foods.

    Why eating behaviour differs between childcare and home

    The simple reason kids may eat differently at childcare comes down to the eating environment. Here’s what typically makes childcare different to home:

    1. Childcare has strict routines

    Childcare runs to a strict schedule, teaching kids to expect meals and snacks at set times and places. Meals are also planned to ensure kids sit down to eat when they’re hungry, and food is offered for a limited time – factors that help kids focus on eating.

    When mealtimes are less structured at home, it often leads to kids snacking, reducing their appetite at dinnertime. Distractions, like screens, also take kids’ attention away from eating.

    2. Kids are exposed to peer influence and different role models

    Kids are natural copycats, so seeing friends enjoying healthy food makes them more willing to try it. This behaviour is supported by a study showing that seating a preschooler who dislikes a vegetable next to a peer who enjoys it can gradually shift their preference, leading them to eat the previously disliked vegetable.

    Additionally, the social nature of eating in a group setting encourages kids to try new foods and eat more.

    Research also shows carers – who are trained to model enthusiasm for nutritious foods – shape healthy eating habits and help kids learn other valuable behaviours like table manners.

    At home, time constraints and limited knowledge can make it harder for parents to model these same behaviours.

    3. Childcare regularly exposes kids to new foods

    At childcare, meals are carefully planned according to Australian Dietary Guidelines and are focused on exposing kids to new foods regularly and repeatedly to get them comfortable with different tastes and textures.

    At home, busy family lives often lead to repetitive meal routines.

    4. Kids are offered limited choices

    At childcare, meals are planned with military precision and served without negotiation, teaching kids to try to eat what’s provided.

    At home, mealtimes can involve high-stakes negotiations when kids refuse certain foods, leading parents to surrender and offer alternatives – a tactic that only reinforces fussy eating and teaches kids to hold out for favourite foods.

    5. Kids are given some control over what they eat

    Kids have very little control over their daily lives – we’re constantly telling them what to do and when they’ll do it.

    However, one way kids assert control is by refusing to eat certain foods at home.

    Childcare cleverly gives kids the control they seek, encouraging them to serve themselves from shared platters, making them more willing to try new foods.

    6. Kids experience less attention and pressure

    At home, we naturally focus on what our child is eating (and not eating) which makes mealtimes stressful for kids.

    At childcare, kids don’t have an audience watching their every bite, so they feel less pressure, eat more freely and are more willing to try different foods.



    Read more:
    5 picky eating habits – and how to help your child overcome them

    Six ways to bring childcare eating habits home

    1. Stick to a strict routine

    Serve meals around the same time each day and establish snack times, ensuring they’re two hours before mealtimes so your child sits down hungry and ready to eat. Your routine should include putting devices away so your child’s full attention is on eating.

    2. Be a positive role model

    Because kids observe and mimic what they see, if you show enthusiasm for trying new foods and healthy eating your child will do the same.

    3. Get creative

    Take a leaf out of childcare’s book and ensure your child’s plate features different colours, textures and flavours presented in fun ways to capture and hold their interest in new foods.

    And just like childcare, do this regularly, as repeated exposure is key – it can take eight to ten exposures before your child will accept eating a new food.

    4. Limit food choices (but in a fun way)

    Offer limited choices but in a way that gives your child some control, like serving platter-style meals where they can choose what they want.

    Don’t give into food demands. While it’s tempting to offer alternatives when meals are refused, this creates more problems than it solves, reinforcing food fussiness and narrowing their diet.

    5. Encourage independence

    Actively involve your child in meal preparation, asking them to pick healthy recipes, help you shop and complete simple tasks like washing veggies and mixing ingredients. This can make them curious to taste the meal they’ve helped prepare.

    6. Make mealtimes stress-free

    Prioritise sitting down to eat as a family and ensure mealtimes are relaxed and fun – especially when you’re introducing new foods – to create positive associations with healthy eating.

    Nick Fuller is the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids – a clinically proven blueprint to overcoming food fussiness.

    A/Professor Nick Fuller works for the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital and has received external funding for projects relating to the treatment of overweight and obesity. He is the author and founder of the Interval Weight Loss program, and the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids with Penguin Books.

    – ref. Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-kid-eat-so-well-at-childcare-but-not-at-home-247447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Successful operation enhances safety on metropolitan public transport

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Last week, officers from SAPOL’s Public Transport Safety Section, metropolitan districts, and the Dog Operations Unit conducted a successful operation in conjunction with prescribed officers from a number of public transport stakeholders including the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Wilson Security, Torrens Transit and Torrens Connect.

    The operation targeted fare evasion and general behaviour on the metropolitan public transport network.

    The operation was conducted at a number of interchanges including West Lakes, Arndale, Tea Tree Plaza, Salisbury, Mawson Lakes and Noarlunga, as well as Mitcham, Blackwood and Adelaide Railway Stations.

    The operation led to three arrests, two reports and thirty-four expiation notices for various public transport and controlled substance offences.

    Acting Assistant Commissioner John De Candia, Metropolitan Operations Service, hailed the operation as a success. He emphasised that this was one of many similar operations conducted throughout the year, and not a response to any increase in poor behaviour on the network.

    “These operations are designed to enhance traveller safety and discourage criminal behaviour across the public transport network,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring a safe and pleasant experience for all commuters.”

    The collaboration between different branches and units of SAPOL, along with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, highlights the importance of a unified approach to public safety. By working together, these agencies can more effectively address issues and ensure that the public transport system remains a secure and reliable option for everyone.

    Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many commuters expressing their appreciation. Regular operations like these not only deter potential offenders but also reassure the public that their safety is a top priority.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt.
     Memento

    This year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films from blockbusters and biopics to comedies and gripping thrillers for Australian audiences.

    I’ve written before about how this annual event, now in its 36th edition, is, in terms of tickets sold and films screened, the largest film festival dedicated to contemporary French cinema outside of France.

    The 2025 program once more shines a spotlight on the established icons and rising stars of French cinema.

    In the this year’s festival, 30% of the films are directed by women and thorny issues such as slavery, consent and caregiving are presented sensitively and provocatively.

    But from a competitive bunch, here are the best five films I saw this year.

    How To Make A Killing

    It’s Christmas in the Jura, France’s picturesque eastern region full of mountains, snow and pine trees. When Michel (Frank Dubosc) accidentally crashes his truck into a car, killing its driver and passenger, his wife Cathy (Laure Calamy) tells him he may have left fingerprints at the crime scene.

    They return – and discover two million euros in the car boot, and a loaded gun in the glove box.

    From this point on, How To Make A Killing features one improbable but amusingly nerve-wracking twist after another. There’s a local policeman in over his head and drug lords and contract killers who want their money back.

    Oh, and a black bear is on the loose.

    Writer-director Dubosc pays homage to the Coen brothers and sprinkles in a typically Gallic dose of black humour. What really gives the film zip and pizzazz is the fabulous Calamy. She has risen to the apex of contemporary French stardom and her performance is a delight.

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt

    Sarah Bernhardt can lay claim to being the first film celebrity. Born in Paris in 1844, Bernhardt was first a legendary stage actress, performing Shakespeare and Racine across the world (including Melbourne and Sydney in 1891) before gravitating to silent cinema.

    Known for her extraordinary talent and intense stage presence (hence “divine”), she refused to play just female roles, famously playing Hamlet. Her eccentricity was equally renowned: she often travelled with an extensive menagerie of exotic pets.

    Guillaume Nicloux’s sumptuous biopic unfolds in a radical way. Rather than tracing Bernhardt’s career in the fairly bog-standard biopic way, Nicloux jumps around, focusing on key events from her life – the amputation of a leg, her death, her bisexuality, her hedonistic lifestyle.

    Through this bold achronological prism comes another daring choice: we never see Bernhardt act on stage or film. Her stardom emerges through the extraordinary effect she has on people who enter her orbit.

    At the centre is a remarkable performance by Sandrine Kiberlain. She captures Bernhardt’s glamour and narcissism but also taps into her vulnerability to reveal her gradual hollowing out as the vagaries of fame take their toll.

    It’s a cautionary tale that speaks to our current ambivalence towards stage-managed celebrity and “stardom at all costs”.

    My Brother’s Band

    Ever since its Cannes debut last May, Emmanuel Courcol’s My Brother’s Band has received rave reviews. It is sure to be an instant classic.

    Two brothers are separated at birth and are only reunited decades later when Thibaut (Benjamin Lavernhe) needs a bone marrow transplant. The only suitable donor is long-lost Jimmy (rising star Pierre Lottin).

    All that bonds the two is a shared love of music. Thibaut is an esteemed orchestra conductor while Jimmy plays the trombone in a local brass band.

    Lavernhe’s and Lottin’s scenes together are wonderfully wry and tender as the two brothers learn to appreciate each other’s lifestyles and ways of seeing the world. We also see how music can bind communities together during times of personal and collective crisis.

    Courcol shuttles between the stuffy, cathedral-like spaces of a Paris conservatorium and the cramped parish halls of northern France. Think Brassed Off meets Tár. My Brother’s Band brings the feel-good to the festival.

    When Fall is Coming

    When Fall is Coming, the latest work by prolific auteur François Ozon, is a broody family drama set in Burgundy.

    Behind the autumnal landscapes and off-the-beaten-track villages lies hidden trauma. Michelle (the outstanding Hélène Vincent, now 81) nervously awaits the arrival of her grandson and the daughter from whom she is long estranged (for reasons we don’t understand until much later).

    An innocuous first night meal turns to tragedy, and kickstarts a deeply engrossing, often menacing film. Pierre Lottin features again, this time as an ex-con slowly drawn into this unsettling web of secrets and lies.

    The “fall” in the title can be read any number of ways. Suffice to say, this slow-burner reminds us of Ozon’s knack in withholding plot points and revealing them gradually. With its blend of spiteful intimacy and startling revelations, When Fall is Coming quietly chills. You’ll not look at mushrooms in the same way again.

    Lucky Winners

    French filmgoers love to laugh. The top ten grossing French films in history are all comedies.

    Lucky Winners is a jet-black comedy about four different winners of France’s national lottery. Each becomes a millionaire overnight – but that’s when their troubles begin. Romain Choay and Maxime Govare’s witty film features a fine ensemble cast and a healthy dose of cruelty and squabbling.

    The dream sours. Money does not bring happiness, only guilt, revenge and greed. Feel-good quickly descends into feel-bad. I imagine Hollywood will be remaking this very soon.

    The Alliance Française French Film Festival is in cinemas around Australia on various dates until April 27.

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

    – ref. Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival – https://theconversation.com/nerve-wracking-twists-remarkable-stardom-and-jet-black-comedy-the-5-best-films-of-the-2025-french-film-festival-250153

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Before Confirmation Hearing, Warren Slams Top Military Health Nominee on Record of “Severe and Systemic” Problems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 24, 2025
    Keith Bass would be responsible for military health care system that provides care for over nine million active and retired servicemembers and their families
    “Given your checkered past involving the disbursement of controlled substances within the [White House], and your failures in managing the CIA’s health care program, I am concerned that if you are confirmed, you will not be able to effectively manage the military health care system, placing care at risk for millions.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to Mr. Keith Bass, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD[HA]), demanding an explanation for the problems that occurred under his watch at the White House Medical Unit (WHMU) and the Central Intelligence Agency’s health care program. 
    Mr. Bass is scheduled to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination hearing on Thursday, March 27, 2025. If confirmed, Mr. Bass would be in charge of the Military Health System, which provides health care to approximately 9.5 million active and retired service members and their families, would become a top advisor at DoD on “force health protection policies, programs, and activities,” and oversee budgeting across the military health program. But his record raises serious concerns about his ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the role. 
    From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Bass oversaw the WHMU, overseeing care to the President, other senior officials, and their families. During his tenure, several complaints were filed against him for overseeing “an operation that widely dispensed sedatives and stimulants, among other concerns.” An independent investigation by the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Inspector General found that, under Bass’ tenure, the WHMU pharmacy operations had “severe and systemic problems” and was found to have violated federal law by handing out “sedatives such as Ambien and stimulants such as Provigil without proper prescriptions” to ineligible staff while “us[ing] aliases in electronic health records to disguise the patients’ identities and deliver free care in cases where the recipients wouldn’t be eligible.” 
    “At best, you were oblivious to the wide distribution of sedatives and stimulants by WHMU’s pharmacy operations and, in the worst case, you were complicit. Either scenario should disqualify you from serving as the ASD(HA),” said Senator Warren. 
    After leaving the WHMU, Mr. Bass served as Director of the Office of Medical Services (OMS) at the CIA, where he was reportedly “pushed out” because of his “messy” management, poor communication, “badly handl[ing] the surge of Covid-19 cases,” and “fumbling the agency’s handling of Havana Syndrome.” 
    “Your poor performance in this position casts doubt on your ability to serve in a position requiring broader management skills,” said Senator Warren. 
    “Given your checkered past involving the disbursement of controlled substances within the WHMU, and your failures in managing the CIA’s health care program, I am concerned that if you are confirmed, you will not be able to effectively manage the military health care system, placing care at risk for millions,” concluded Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren asked Mr. Bass to explain his involvement in the illegal distribution of controlled substances at the White House, his knowledge of the “severe and systemic” problems at the WHMU, the issues during his tenure at the CIA, and asked him to commit to not lobby DoD after his service. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Joint News Release Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday declined to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths declined modestly, still remaining around 1.9 million, according to two new reports released today by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).

    Since 2000, child deaths have dropped by more than half and stillbirths by over a third, fuelled by sustained investments in child survival worldwide. In 2022, the world reached a historic milestone when child deaths dropped slightly below 5 million for the first time. However, progress has slowed and too many children are still being lost to preventable causes.

    “Millions of children are alive today because of the global commitment to proven interventions, such as vaccines, nutrition, and access to safe water and basic sanitation,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Bringing preventable child deaths to a record low is a remarkable achievement. But without the right policy choices and adequate investment, we risk reversing these hard-earned gains, with millions more children dying from preventable causes. We cannot allow that to happen.”

    Decades of progress in child survival are now at risk as major donors have announced or indicated significant funding cuts to aid ahead. Reduced global funding for life-saving child survival programmes is causing health-care worker shortages, clinic closures, vaccination programme disruptions, and a lack of essential supplies, such as malaria treatments. These cuts are severely impacting regions in humanitarian crises, debt-stricken countries, and areas with already high child mortality rates. Global funding cuts could also undermine monitoring and tracking efforts, making it harder to reach the most vulnerable children, the Inter-agency Group warned.

    “From tackling malaria to preventing stillbirths and ensuring evidence-based care for the tiniest babies, we can make a difference for millions of families,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “In the face of global funding cuts, there is a need more than ever to step up collaboration to protect and improve children’s health.”

    Even before the current funding crisis, the pace of progress on child survival had already slowed. Since 2015, the annual rate of reduction of under-five mortality has slowed by 42%, and stillbirth reduction has slowed by 53%, compared to 2000–2015.

    Almost half of under-five deaths happen within the first month of life, mostly due to premature birth and complications during labour. Beyond the newborn period, infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea, are the leading causes of preventable child death. Meanwhile, 45% of late stillbirths occur during labour, often due to maternal infections, prolonged or obstructed labour, and lack of timely medical intervention.

    Better access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health care at all levels of the health system will save many more lives, according to the reports. This includes promotive and preventive care in communities, timely visits to health facilities and health professionals at birth, high-quality antenatal and postnatal care, well-child preventive care such as routine vaccinations and comprehensive nutrition programmes, diagnosis and treatment for common childhood illnesses, and specialized care for small and sick newborns.

    “Most preventable child deaths occur in low-income countries, where essential services, vaccines, and treatments are often inaccessible”, said Juan Pablo Uribe, World Bank Global Director for Health and Director of the Global Financing Facility. “Investing in children’s health ensures their survival, education, and future contributions to the workforce. With strategic investments and strong political will, we can continue to reduce child mortality, unlocking economic growth and employment opportunities that benefit the entire world.”

    The reports also show that where a child is born greatly influences their chances of survival. The risk of death before age five is 80 times higher in the highest-mortality country than the lowest-mortality country, for example, while a child born in sub-Saharan Africa is on average 18 times more likely to die before turning five than one born in Australia and New Zealand. Within countries, the poorest children, those living in rural areas, and those with less-educated mothers face the higher risks.

    Stillbirth disparities are just as severe, with nearly 80% occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where women are six to eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than women in Europe or North America. Meanwhile, women in low-income countries are eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than those in high-income countries.

    “Disparities in child mortality across and within nations remain one of the greatest challenges of our time,” said the UN DESA Under-Secretary-General, Li Junhua. “Reducing such differences is not just a moral imperative but also a fundamental step towards sustainable development and global equity. Every child deserves a fair chance at life, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind.”

    UN IGME members call on governments, donors, and partners across the private and public sectors to protect the hard-won gains in saving children’s lives and accelerate efforts. Increased investments, service integration, and innovations are urgently needed to scale up access to proven life-saving health, nutrition, and social protection services for children and pregnant mothers.    

    Notes to editors

    Download multimedia content here.

    The UN IGME child mortality report The UN IGME stillbirth report

    The two reports – Levels & Trends in Child Mortality and Counting Every Stillbirth – are the first of a series of important global data sets released in 2025. UN maternal mortality figures will be published in the coming weeks.

    About UN IGME

    The United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation or UN IGME was formed in 2004 to share data on child mortality, improve methods for child mortality estimation, report on progress towards child survival goals and enhance the capacity of countries to produce timely and properly evaluated estimates of child mortality. UN IGME is led by UNICEF and includes the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

     For more information: 

    http://www.childmortality.org/

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash: Mangaharakeke Drive, Horotiu

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on Mangaharakeke Drive/ State Highway 1C, Horotiu this morning.

    The two-vehicle crash was reported at around 11am.

    Sadly, the driver of one vehicle died at the scene.

    No further injuries were reported.

    The road remains closed southbound near the Te Rapa Road off-ramp while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Exercise of any kind boosts brainpower at any age

    Source:

    25 March 2025

    Whether it’s an early morning jog, or a touch of Tai Chi, groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults.

    In the largest, most comprehensive umbrella review to date, researchers found that regular exercise improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions, reinforcing exercise as an essential, inclusive activity for optimising cognitive health.

    Synthesising findings from 133 systematic reviews, covering 2724 randomised controlled trials and 258,279 participants, the systematic umbrella and meta-meta-analysis found that:

    • low- to moderate-intensity exercise had the greatest benefits for brain function and memory
    • children and adolescents showed the greatest improvements in memory, while people with ADHD saw the biggest gains in executive function
    • yoga, Tai Chi, and exergames (active video games) delivered the most significant cognitive benefits.

    Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says the findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how different types, intensities, and durations of exercise influence cognitive function.

    “Exercise has a profound effect on physical health, but we also know it benefits brain function. What this study confirms is that even low-intensity exercise – like yoga or walking – can improve cognition, making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities,” Dr Singh says.

    “In particular, we found that benefits were delivered quickly – with clear gains within 1-3 months, highlighting that even small bursts of activity can make a big difference. It also signals that trying out new activities could play a key role in keeping the brain engaged and active.

    “For children and teens, exercise was especially beneficial for developing memory, while for people with ADHD, it helped improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and enhance executive function.

    “We also found that mind-body exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga, had the most significant impact on memory, while exergames – such as Pokémon Go – were highly effective for general cognition. This is an encouraging finding, as it suggests that engaging, low-impact activities can offer real cognitive benefits.”

    Senior researcher, Professor Carol Maher says exercise should be encouraged as a cognitive health strategy across all ages and fitness levels.

    “Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases are growing global health concerns, underscoring the urgent need to identify effective strategies to preserve and enhance cognitive function across the lifespan,” Prof Maher says.

    “This study presents compelling evidence that exercise should be integrated into healthcare and education settings to promote cognitive well-being.

    “Knowing that even small amounts of exercise can improve memory and brain function – especially for those at higher risk – presents a clear opportunity for exercise to be included in clinical and public health guidelines.”

    The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Ben Singh E: Ben.Singh@unisa.edu.au
    Prof Carol Maher E: Carol.Maher@unisa.edu.au 
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Final chance to feedback on Auckland Council’s Annual Plan

    Source: Auckland Council

    Aucklanders are encouraged to feed back on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026, before consultation closes on Friday.

    Consultation on the plan closes at 11.59pm on Friday 28 March and all Aucklanders are invited to have their say on the council’s plans for the year ahead.

    The plan focuses on delivering the second year of the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 and the consultation includes an opportunity to feedback on the funding of events and destination marketing, and the priorities of local boards.

    Mayor Wayne Brown says this is the best time for Aucklanders to speak up and have their say on what the council has planned.

    “We want to know what the community thinks of where council is spending their money.  This includes whether they’re keen on a bed night levy to fund major international events, like SailGP, bringing the America’s Cup back to Auckland, concerts like Coldplay and sports events like NRL matches and the ASB tennis classic.

    “These events are important to many, and I do support these events taking place.  We need to hear from the most important people, and that’s Aucklanders. This is the best time to give us your feedback as it will inform the council’s decisions and tell us if we’ve got it right.

    “My message to Aucklanders is simple. It’s your money, so have your say.”

    Auckland Council group chief financial officer Ross Tucker says the Annual Plan is about getting on with what was agreed in the Long-term Plan, including strengthening Auckland both financially and physically, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth.

    “We are prioritising investment in transport, water and fairer funding for local communities,” says Mr Tucker. “There are no significant changes to services or investment levels proposed, compared with what is in the Long-term Plan, and we want to check in with all Aucklanders to make sure plans are still on the right track.”

    So what’s in the draft Annual Plan?

    The plan sets out the council’s proposed services and investments for the coming year and how Auckland Council intends to pay for these, including a 5.8 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property, which is in line with the Long-term Plan.

    Feedback is also sought on major events and destination marketing for the region. To help cover a shortfall in funding that was outlined in the Long-term Plan, the council wants a bed night visitor levy.

    “A bed night visitor levy could help raise $27 million. That would meet the shortfall and fund even more destination management, marketing and major events activities in Auckland,” says Mr Tucker.

    A fairer funding approach will begin to be phased in for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 to enable local boards to better respond to their communities, by addressing funding imbalances between the 21 local boards.

    Each local board’s priorities for the year are included in the Consultation Document.

    Local boards provide a wide range of services such as local parks, libraries, pools, community facilities, and local art and environment activities, along with community events.

    There are some proposed changes to targeted rates, fees and charges – including refuse collection being rolled out in North Shore, Waitākere and Papakura, and targeted rates for refuse in Franklin and Rodney. There are also some changes for fees relating to additional council services, such as dog adoption, cemetery and cremation, and bach fees.

    The Annual Plan 2025/2026 Consultation Document for feedback is available online at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –