A new report detailing the enormous social and economic costs of our dental system has reignited the Greens’ call for free dental care.
“Everyone in Aotearoa deserves access to dental care – we can make this happen with a fair tax system,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Primary Health, Ricardo Menéndez March.
“Healthcare is a human right that should be afforded to all, not just those able to pay for it. We can afford to look after one another and ensure people are not discriminated against accessing dental care due to cost.
“Successive Governments have excluded oral health from the public health system. This has led to people living in pain and developing life-threatening conditions.
“The Frank Advice Report paints a bleak picture of the current state of play, highlighting the billions of dollars each year that unmet oral health needs cost the economy and our communities. This report underlines the need for us to fold dental care into the public health system and make it accessible to all.
“Cost is the main barrier to accessing dental care for 44 per cent of the adult population, with an average dentist appointment costing about 40 per cent of the weekly income of someone earning the minimum wage.
“The consequences of delaying a trip to the dentist, or leaving problems with our teeth and gums untreated, can lead to severe health issues and more expensive interventions in the long run, as well as impacting people’s ability to participate in their communities.
“The current settings are costing Aotearoa well over $6.2 billion a year, more than three times what it would cost to provide free dental health care for all. This is why the Green Party campaigned on making dental care free for everyone. All of this and more is possible with a wealth tax.
“This report is a much-needed wake-up call and call to action for our government. Short-term cost savings for the government create costs for individuals and communities that are real and can be enormous,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lesley Russell, Adjunct Associate Professor, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney
Stark health disparities exist across the United States. Life expectancy is lower than in other wealthy countries – and declining. The richest American men live 15 years longer than their poorest counterparts. The richest American women live ten years longer.
Political differences are an interesting and provocative way of looking at these disparities.
Differences are frequently analysed by race, a proxy for other factors that influence health, such as housing, environmental pollution, nutrition and affordable access to health care.
But there are other ways to cut the data. This includes by state – whether it is “red” (governed by the Republican party) or “blue” (by the Democrats). We can also look at individual political affiliation.
One new study from the US looks at political polarisation as a risk factor for individual and collective wellbeing. It finds polarisation – where opinions and beliefs become concentrated at opposing extremes – has a major impact on health.
The paper explores the health risks of polarisation using the COVID pandemic as a case study. COVID saw Americans die at far higher rates than people in other wealthy nations.
Australia escaped the high death toll. But there are still significant lessons we can learn – about how increasing polarisation affects our health and wellbeing, and for the effective management of pandemics and other health crises.
Political orientation and health
The relationship between important health measures, political loyalties and voting patterns in US counties and states is significant. At the state level, policy-making has become increasingly linked to political ideology. With this, differences in lifespan and health status across states have grown.
Political division in the United States intensified during the COVID pandemic. Ron Adar/Shutterstock
On average, life expectancy for residents in Democratic-voting states is more than two years longer than in Republican states. Political orientation is also a strong predictor of obesity rates and chronic illnesses linked to obesity, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Much of this is due to differences in social policies, such as Medicaid. All of the ten states yet to take up the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid – which provides health insurance for poor people – are run by Republicans.
The scale of welfare programs and firearm regulations in these states also play a role.
Stress of a polarised political climate
Large numbers of Americans also report that politics takes a significant toll on their health. This is caused by stress, loss of sleep, suicidal thoughts, an inability to stop thinking about politics and engagement with social media, for example, making posts they later regret.
A study from 2021 showed people who are more ideologically extreme than their state’s average voter have worse physical and mental health.
This political partisanship has been greatly aggravated by Donald Trump’s arrival on the American political scene. The former Republican president has stoked social division and undermined trust in government, scientific expertise and public health organisations. Disinformation and misinformation continue to spread.
All of this was on show in how the Trump administration handled the COVID pandemic. Trump and other political leaders made the situation worse by linking health behaviours (such as mask-wearing and vaccination) to partisan identity.
There was a clear impact on the rates of COVID infection and death. Red states implemented fewer political decisions to mitigate COVID than blue states. And after vaccines became available, residents of pro-Trump counties – less likely to be vaccinated – were more than twice as likely to die from COVID as those in areas that supported Biden.
It is also interesting to look at the role of education here. Low education levels were found to be a strong and independent predictor of whether you were more likely to die from COVID in the United States. This might be explained by the relationship between education and both collective culture and individual literacy.
There is also a strong link between education and political affiliation.
College graduates are more likely to vote Democratic, while those without a degree, especially white Americans, are more likely to vote Republican. This was not explored in the new US study about health and polarisation.
Erosion of trust is dangerous for health
Trust in government is another key factor not addressed in that research. But in Australia, this is top of mind following the release of the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report, which found the federal government must work to rebuild trust after lockdowns and other mandates.
Greater trust in government is linked to increased political participation, social cohesion and collaboration in tackling societal challenges. In both Europe and the United States, social cohesion and public trust in politicians and experts have been linked to lower excess mortality from COVID.
In Australia, the Australian Cohesion Index shows the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have eroded trust in government and affected health and well-being. At the same time, Australians see the nation as increasingly polarised.
The presidential election this week will decide much about the future of the United States as a polarised and divided nation. In Australia, the lessons and recommendations from the COVID report provide an opportunity to avert the choices facing the United States.
Lesley Russell has worked as a policy advisor for the Democrats in the US House of Representatives, for the Obama Administration and for the Australian Labor Party in the Australian Parliament.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathrynne Henshall, Post-doctoral Fellow, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University
It’s the time of year when shiny horses and colourful clothing fill our screens – the Spring Racing Carnival, which includes high profile races like The Everest, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate.
It’s also the time of year when questions are asked about the welfare of racehorses that compete in the so-called “sport of kings”.
But recently, as we’ve come to know more about what makes a good life for a horse, questions are being raised about the daily lives of racehorses.
Industry participants will point to the high level care that racehorses receive – comfortable stables, specially formulated diets, the latest vet treatments and added extras such as massages and swimming sessions.
But does this care translate into good welfare?
The theory of ‘telos’
Firstly, a quick primer on the difference between care and welfare.
Care includes all the things that make sure racehorses get fit, stay fit and stay healthy. This care helps maximise the chance a horse will win races.
Welfare is the animal’s subjective or individual experience of its life – how it feels – and there are a number of ways to assess this.
One way is the concept of “telos”, originally developed by Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Telos helps us to identify what matters to animals – their behavioural, psychological and physiological needs.
So to consider if racehorse care actually translates to good welfare, we can assess how closely it provides the animal with the things that matter to them, based on their telos.
Equine telos involves living in groups, forming long-lived social relationships, grazing fibrous plants and being on the move for up to 18 hours a day, as well as staying safe by sensing danger and then moving away.
It also involves living in variable environments to solve challenges, learn, engage in curiosity and play.
Let’s compare that to the daily life of a racehorse.
Movement and feeding
Firstly, the vast majority of racehorses live in stables – sometimes up to 23 hours a day.
Multiple studies have found continuous stabling harms horse welfare.
Stables significantly restrict opportunities for voluntary movement, and studies show stabled horses spend the majority of the time inactive.
Even though stables house horses communally, most designs limit horses’ opportunities for social interaction.
Thirdly, there’s little for a horse to do in a stable other than eat, stand, drink or lie, and they often develop abnormal behaviours that are associated with stress. These are never seen in free-ranging horses.
When racehorses do get to move, they have little say over how far, how fast and for how long they move.
The kinds of physical exercise racehorses do are both significantly shorter in duration and at much higher speeds than horses voluntarily choose. It’s those speeds that place them at risk of suffering a serious injury.
What about diet?
Although a lot of time and effort is spent ensuring racehorses enjoy high quality diets, they are mostly comprised of concentrated energy sources such as grains, rather the fibre horses evolved to eat.
Horses are trickle feeders (grazers), with small stomachs that continuously secrete digestive juices.
In the wild, grazing keeps those stomachs full, which prevents the stomach lining from being damaged by digestive acids.
In comparison, racehorses often consume their food very quickly – instead of spending up to 75% of their day eating, they spend only 33%.
Social relationships, in the limited form possible in a racing stable, are also frequently disrupted because horse populations are highly transient due to spelling, retirement or even just going to the races.
Then there’s the gear that’s used to control them.
Horses, like most animal species, escape and avoid painful stimuli.
However, in racing (and many other equestrian activties) it is mandatory to use “bits” to control horses’ behaviour during riding and handling. Bits work by causing uncomfortable pressure and pain and may lead to mouth injuries.
So, racehorses may be repeatedly exposed to pain from bits and perform a range of behaviours to try to escape that pain, like bolting, mouth opening or head tossing.
Racehorses frequently show signs of difficulty coping with the stressors of racing life, including “going off their feed”, aggression towards handlers, becoming hard to control when ridden and a range of stress behaviours and health issues, such as bleeding from the lungs.
What about welfare?
Racehorse care is often directed towards managing issues that are the direct result of the demands of the racing environment.
Fancy stables and aqua sessions are not important to horses, and may even cause harm.
What matters to horses are opportunities to make meaningful choices, such as the freedom to move, form friendships and graze for the majority of the day.
Current racing industry practices often deny horses the chance to make these choices.
There’s no doubt people in racing care deeply about their horses. But to experience good welfare during racing, racehorses need more than just good care.
Cathrynne Henshall receives funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Welfare Foundation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Andrew, Professor, Head of the Discipline of Accounting, Governance and Regulation, University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney
More of our personal data is now collected and stored online than ever before in history. The rise of data breaches should unsettle us all.
At an individual level, data breaches can compromise our privacy, cause harm to our finances and mental health, and even enable identity theft.
For organisations, the repercussions can be equally severe, often resulting in major financial losses and brand damage.
Despite the increasing importance of protecting our personal information, doing so remains fraught with challenges.
As part of a comprehensive study of data breach notification practices, we interviewed 50 senior personnel working in information security and privacy. Here’s what they told us about the multifaceted challenges they face.
Data breaches occur whenever personal information is accessed or disclosed without authorisation, or even lost altogether. Optus, Medibank and Canva have all experienced high-profile incidents in recent years.
Under Australia’s privacy laws, organisations aren’t allowed to sweep major cyber attacks under the rug.
They have to notify both the regulator – the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) – and any affected individuals of breaches that are likely to result in “serious harm”.
But according to the organisational leaders we interviewed, this poses a tricky question. How do you define serious harm?
Interpretations of what “serious harm” actually means – and how likely it is to occur – vary significantly. This inconsistency can make it impossible to predict the specific impact of a data breach on an individual.
Victims of domestic violence, for example, may be at increased risk when personal information is exposed, creating harms that are difficult to foresee or mitigate.
Enforcing the rules
Interviewees also had concerns about how well the regulator could provide guidance and enforce data protection measures.
Many expressed a belief the OAIC is underfunded and lacks the authority to impose and enforce fines properly. The consensus was that the challenge of protecting our data has now outgrown the power and resources of the regulator.
As one chief information security officer at a publicly listed company put it:
What’s the point of having speeding signs and cameras if you don’t give anyone a ticket?
A lack of enforcement can undermine the incentive for organisations to invest in robust data protection.
Only the tip of the iceberg
Data breaches are also underreported, particularly in the corporate sector.
One senior cybersecurity consultant from a major multinational company told us there is a strong incentive for companies to minimise or cover up breaches, to avoid embarrassment.
This culture means many breaches that should be reported simply aren’t. One senior public servant estimated only about 10% of reportable breaches end up actually being disclosed.
Without this basic transparency, the regulator and affected individuals can’t take necessary steps to protect themselves.
Affected individuals can’t take steps to protect themselves if breaches aren’t reported. Yuri A/Shutterstock
Third-party breaches
Sometimes, when we give our personal information to one organisation, it can end up in the hands of another one we might not expect. This is because key tasks – especially managing databases – are often outsourced to third parties.
Outsourcing tasks might be a more efficient option for an organisation, but it can make protecting personal data even more complicated.
Interviewees told us breaches were more likely when engaging third-party providers, because it limited the control they had over security measures.
Between July and December 2023 in Australia, there was an increase of more than 300% in third-party data breaches compared to the six months prior.
There have been some highly publicised examples.
In May this year, many Clubs NSW customers had their personal information potentially breached through an attack on third-party software provider Outabox.
Bunnings suffered a similar breach in late 2021, via an attack on scheduling software provider FlexBooker.
Getting the basics right
Some organisations are still struggling with the basics. Our research found many data breaches occur because outdated or “legacy” data systems are still in use.
These systems are old or inactive databases, often containing huge amounts of personal information about all the individuals who’ve previously interacted with them.
Organisations tend to hold onto personal data longer than is legally required. This can come down to confusion about data-retention requirements, but also the high cost and complexity of safely decommissioning old systems.
One chief privacy officer of a large financial services institution told us:
In an organisation like ours where we have over 2,000 legacy systems […] the systems don’t speak to each other. They don’t come with big red delete buttons.
Other interviewees flagged that risky data testing practices are widespread.
Software developers and tech teams often use “production data” – real customer data – to test new products. This is often quicker and cheaper than creating test datasets.
However, this practice exposes real customer information to insecure testing environments, making it more vulnerable. A senior cybersecurity specialist told us:
I’ve seen it so much in every industry […] It’s literally live, real information going into systems that are not live and real and have low security.
What needs to be done?
Drawing insights from professionals at the coalface, our study highlights just how complex data protection has become in Australia, and how quickly the landscape is evolving.
Addressing these issues will require a multi-pronged approach, including clearer legislative guidelines, better enforcement, greater transparency and robust security practices for the use of third-party providers.
As the digital world continues to evolve, so too must our strategies for protecting ourselves and our data.
Jane Andrew receives funding from The Australian Research Council – Discovery Project.
Dr Penelope Bowyer-Pont receives funding from the Australian Research Council – Discovery Project.
Max Baker receives funding from The Australian Research Council – Discovery Project.
The driver of a vehicle bearing false plates who allegedly attempted to attack a Police dog with a garden tool will now face court.
Just after 3.30am, Police spotted a vehicle travelling on Motatau Road, Papatoetoe bearing a false rear plate and no front plate.
Counties Manukau West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey, says the vehicle was quickly confirmed as stolen and was stopped shortly after.
“Three occupants were taken into custody quickly, however a fourth occupant has fled on foot.
“Delta, the Police dog unit, has tracked the person to a residential property where he has allegedly attempted to attack the dog with a garden trowel, which resulted in a bite to his upper arm.”
Senior Sergeant Albrey says the 26-year-old man was treated for his injury and will appear in Manukau District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
“Thankfully the dog was uninjured and we are pleased to have made an arrest on this matter.
“This was a great outcome from our staff last night who have now put a man before the Court.”
Auckland Council has appointed Dale Dillicar as a director of Auckland Transport.
This appointment brings the Auckland Transport board to its full complement of eight voting members appointed by Auckland Council. Mrs Dillicar will chair the board’s Finance and Assurance committee.
Councillor Christine Fletcher chaired the selection panel and welcomes Mrs Dillicar to the Auckland Transport board.
“I am delighted to welcome Dale to the board of Auckland Transport. She brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of financial experience that will add a valuable dimension to our board, complementing the talents of our existing members as we continue to deliver long term value for Auckland,” says Cr Fletcher.
The appointment was approved by the Performance and Appointments Committee on 22 October. The committee is responsible for all appointments to the boards of council-controlled organisations, in accordance with the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members and the Local Government Act.
About Dale Dillicar
Dale is a senior finance executive with over 25 years’ experience across global industries, specialising in financial management, risk governance and operational oversight. She spent 12 years in the UK, where she led senior finance roles that enhanced her expertise in financial operations, treasury management and strategic risk management.
For the past decade, Dale has been with Fonterra, currently serving as General Manager Risk Assurance for Fonterra’s operating office. Previously she was General Manager for Commercial, Category and Innovation where she successfully drove financial performance and cultivated a high-performing team culture.
As a Chartered Accountant and qualified Treasurer, Dale offers deep expertise in governance, financial oversight and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on aligning practices with organisational goals to deliver long-term value.
A born and bred Aucklander, Dale is committed to Auckland Transport’s purpose of a safe, integrated and efficient transport network for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Transport and Auckland Council are working together to merge the region’s traffic bylaws into one.
Andrew McGill, Group Manager for Transport Network Planning and Policy at Auckland Transport says there will be no changes to existing traffic rules as a result of this review. The proposal being consulted on is to consolidate the existing rules into one bylaw that covers all traffic issues, to be more efficient, effective and easier to work with.
“The aim is to have all of Auckland’s traffic-related rules in one place instead of spread across three different bylaws.”
“It won’t change how you can currently drive, park and move around Auckland, but it will help make the rules clearer and easier to follow.”
“As with all bylaw reviews, we want to hear from Aucklanders on this proposal and encourage you to give us your feedback.”
The proposal will see the rules in Auckland Transport’s Traffic Bylaw 2012, Auckland Council’s Traffic Bylaw 2015 and traffic rules from the Auckland Council Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013 absorbed into a single new Vehicle Use and Parking Bylaw.
Will this change anything?
This will not change how you can drive, park and move around Auckland.
However, there will be some changes to more easily address issues, such as unpermitted vehicles on beaches and heavy vehicles such as trucks where they are parked unsafely.
This will also allow Auckland Transport to respond more quickly when issues are raised with parking, such as where this causes safety concerns or damages utilities under a berm.
Finally, reviewing the bylaws is an opportunity to remove rules that are no longer needed or that can no longer be enforced by us, such as setting new speed limits which is now controlled by central government’s Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024.
What is a bylaw?
Louise Mason, General Manager for Policy at Auckland Council, explains bylaws are designed to respond to issues that affect local residents.
“Different cities and regions often face issues unique to their local areas. Bylaws are local rules designed to respond to local issues and to reflect the views of the region’s communities.”
“Councils and council-controlled organisations, such as Auckland Transport, create and implement bylaws, but they need input from the public, councillors and local boards to do so. The council’s elected governing body gives the final sign-off on changes to bylaws, which can then be enforced by the police, councils and council-controlled organisations.”
Have your say
You can find out more and have your say on the proposed changes on Auckland Transport’s Have Your Say page from Monday 4 November to Wednesday 4 December 2024. If you’d like to give feedback in person, you can find details of drop-in events here.
MARRAKESH, Morocco, Nov. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The 2024 Trophée Roses des Sables rally concluded on October 26 in Marrakesh with a grand awards ceremony and gala. This year’s rally gathered 125 teams who, despite grueling challenges and countless obstacles, were unified by a shared mission of community, solidarity, and philanthropy. TSplus was there to support its team, Crew 21, aka “Colibris des Sables” association.
TSplus Proudly Sponsor of Colibris des Sables
TSplus proudly sponsored Crew 21: Alexandra and Pauline, two inspiring women dedicated to making a difference. As participants in this adventure, they aimed to support local communities and raise awareness for autoimmune disease research through their own association, *Colibris des Sables*. Their journey took an unexpected turn early in the race when Pauline had to withdraw due to a serious health issue after the second day. Refusing to let this setback stop her, Alexandra pressed on, advocating to continue solo, and eventually received special permission from the organizers to continue alongside another participant who had also lost her teammate.
Despite the challenges, Alexandra’s determination to finish what she and Pauline had started exemplifies the spirit of resilience that is a hallmark of this rally. Crew 21’s journey through the desert brought moments of teamwork, as they assisted locals with the resources they carried and supported fellow “Roses” stuck in the sand, even when it risked penalties for their team. These selfless actions underscored the essence of Trophée Roses des Sables: compassion and endurance, not merely competition.
TSplus Celebrates a Human and Solidarity Success
Over the course of ten days, participants experienced Morocco’s natural beauty—from rocky trails and canyons to sweeping dunes and a memorable marathon stage that ended at the dramatic fortress of Gara Medouar. After reaching Marrakesh, teams celebrated the rally’s end with family and friends before concluding with the awards ceremony. Although Crew 21 did not place on the podium, their success is seen in the connections made, the lives touched, and their unwavering commitment to their cause.
Mariam Essafi, the Sales executive who initiated TSplus’s sponsorship of Colibris des Sables, traveled to Marrakesh to represent TSplus and offer in-person support to Alexandra and Pauline.
Reflecting on the journey, Mariam shared,
“Alexandra and Pauline’s story of resilience and compassion is a testament to the rally’s core values. At TSplus, we are honored to support such inspiring women who embody perseverance and solidarity.”
As the Trophée Roses des Sables wraps up another remarkable edition, TSplus is proud to have stood alongside Colibris des Sables, contributing to a rally that impacts lives far beyond the finish line.
To know more about TSplus and its range of products, visit www.tsplus.net
About TSplus TSplus is a global provider of innovative remote access, remote support, and server monitoring solutions designed to empower organizations with secure, easy-to-manage IT solutions. Serving businesses of all sizes across diverse industries, TSplus aims to connect the world through accessible, reliable technology that enables collaboration and growth. As a company, TSplus is committed to supporting community-driven initiatives that foster resilience, connection, and progress.
–Nine out of 10 workers say change will increase risks to them and clients
–Two out of three workers not confident workplace can manage risks
–Nine out of 10 workers say change will add to already heavy workloads
Mental health workers fear serious harm to themselves, their clients and members of the public from the withdrawal of police support for mental health call outs, a PSA survey shows.
The phased withdrawal of police from responding to mental health callouts begins today. This includes police staying in EDs for a maximum of 60 minutes, falling to 15 minutes.
“Mental health workers are saying loud and clear the implementation of the change is profoundly unsafe and that the risks of serious harm to them, the people in their care and the public are very high,” said Ashok Shankar, Health Lead for Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We are calling on Te Whatu Ora and the police to delay this change until we can be reassured it can be done safely. Our members are at the frontline of this change, they know the risks, so it’s extremely disappointing that their views to date have been ignored.
“It’s high time both the Health and Mental Health Ministers step in before real harm is caused.
“Te Whatu Ora is failing to properly plan for the transition to the new regime despite months of consultation. Our members are not getting the extra training they deserve to adjust to the change.
“One highly experienced mental health worker, who leads a team, said he only received a raft of documents explaining changes to operating procedures 10 days out from the 4 November start date.
‘These changes are going to add to the burden of what we endure now’, he said. He warned Te Whatu Ora that ‘patients, the public and staff will be injured, maimed and no doubt die in response to these changes and the poor planning and resourcing that goes with it’.
Ashok Shankar said: “Mental health crisis teams are already under extreme stress – workloads are as heavy as they have ever been, yet the Government is allowing even more pressure to pile on overstretched teams.
“Te Whatu Ora needs to expand mental health teams and provide additional training, if required, so they can safely pick up the burden of taking over from the police.
“But the hiring freeze and the Government’s failure to properly fund Te Whatu Ora is making a dire situation that much worse.
“The survey shows members expect time taken to see people in distress will increase. It will mean those with less urgent needs will wait even longer as more urgent cases are prioritised. Their health outcomes are being put at risk. That’s just not acceptable when we already have a mental health crisis in this country.
“Mental health should be a priority – all of us want the best outcome for the people and their families facing challenges, but this process of police handover feels botched from the get-go – patients and workers may pay a heavy price,” said Ashok Shankar.
ENDS
Summary of findings from PSA survey (attached summary graphs)
The survey was taken between 8 and 22 October 2024 and sent to 6,151 members who work in mental health. It attracted 438 responses. The margin of error is 5% at a 95% confidence interval.
– 66% of workers say they are not confident in the ability of their workplace to manage risk. Only 12% are confident.
– 38% disagree or strongly disagree that their workplace has a process in place to assess risk in mental health response
– 88% say it will increase safety risk for clients
– 91% say it will increase safety risk for workers
– 86% say it risks increasing workloads
– 72% say it risks increasing the time taken to see people
Sample of quotes from survey of mental health workers
I can understand the pressures that the police service are under and the reasons they want to withdraw, however there is no alternative in place so this just leaves a dangerous void in the process and I would not be surprised if there is an increase in incidents and possibly even lives being at risk.
I do not understand how an 111 operator with just one days training in mental health could over rule the registered mental health professional decision who could be facing an client and made a risk assessment.
Police are the only ones who can detain under the Act, and therefore, a withdrawal of their support when requested means more people will go without treatment, more people will fall off the act, the more people with become unwell, and the more mental health patients will end up in Police custody
As a staff member I am left wondering of we will be safe and whether we will have to argue with police comms to get officers to respond to a danger to life. Having the building smashed up is scary enough but risk to staff, clients and the public is even worse.
I think it is appropriate. My only concern is if Police take it upon themselves to determine if a person is mentally disordered or not. It could open the gate for police to deliver people to ED who are socially problematic but do not meet a criminal offense threshold. Would not want to see ED inappropriately burdened with these people. Perhaps police liaison nurses, based with Police would be a better use of a resource.
The withdrawal of police at mental health jobs ultimately shows a failure in resource division at the national government level.
I feel sorry for the police, but our system is in crisis. I am actually returning to work at present after being knocked out by a patient and having several months off with a nasty concussion. I don’t want this to happen again to myself or any other staff. I am lucky that I did not suffer a more serious injury.
We are feeling very anxious about the safety of both ourselves and the patients and families involved with the withdrawal process. While we understand that we have the right to refuse and walk away, doing so may leave families at risk with individuals who are very unwell.
It makes me reconsider my career choices. Do I really want to be in a front-line role where I have to justify my requests for assistance by Police in writing to non-health professionals with limited training in assessing mental health risk?
The most important change that could be made is for us to have more staff, skilled staff rather than inexperienced ones that we have to spend time teaching when there already is too much to do in terms of clinical assessments.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Imperans Report to Provide Businesses with Actionable Health and Safety Information
04 November 2024, Auckland, New Zealand – The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider, has launched the Imperans Report, its new quarterly workplace drug trends report. The report aims to provide Australasian employers with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining results from both New Zealand and Australia to empower businesses to engage in proactive workplace risk management.
The Imperans report addresses an information gap for business. Government organisations like ACC and WorkSafe publish incident reports, but they do not quantify when substances are a factor. Future reports will serve to build businesses’ understanding of substance use patterns regionally and temporally so that they can anticipate and reduce workplace risks.
TDDA provides over 250,000 drug tests every year in New Zealand and Australia. In Q3/2024 tests from accredited clinic locations and mobile clinics throughout Australasia were used. All tests were taken between 1 July 2024 and 30 September 20241. Data is anonymised and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting.
TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamine-type substances (ATS); benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; cannabis; and synthetic drugs like synthetic cannabis.
This quarter, 4.55 per cent of the screens conducted by TDDA in New Zealand indicated the presence of drugs. THC remained the most common substance detected in workplaces in New Zealand, accounting for 72.9 per cent of cases, closely followed by amphetamine-type substances at 34.2 per cent. There was also significant opioid detection, indicating workplaces may want to remind employees of their drug policies surrounding prescription painkillers.
Below are the most prevalent substances detected across New Zealand in TDDA testing:
THC: 72.9 per cent
Amphetamine-type substances (including methamphetamine): 34.2 per cent
Opiates (including oxycodone): 12.9 per cent
Benzodiazepines: 4.9 per cent
Cocaine: 1.7 per cent
Alcohol: 0.19 per cent
It is crucial for Kiwi businesses to stay vigilant and adapt their safety strategies to evolving drug trends. By being proactive and staying committed to addressing drug-related issues, businesses can play a vital role in promoting safer communities and protecting the well-being of their employees.
“Businesses across New Zealand should be cognisant of the prevailing drug testing trends and the potential impact on employee safety, workplace productivity, and company reputation,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO, TDDA.
“Substances like cannabis and methamphetamine can significantly affect workplace safety. Symptoms may include impaired judgement, decreased coordination, and delayed reaction times. Anyone using these substances should not be operating vehicles or heavy machinery.”
TDDA recommends that businesses update their drug and alcohol policies, educate themselves, and train key personnel to recognise signs of substance misuse. Staying informed and prepared is the best strategy to ensure a safe and productive workplace.
1 Total figures on testing volumes or testing results by industry and region are commercially sensitive.
Methodology Testing data from 1 July 2024 and 30 September 2024 is aggregated and anonymised from fixed and mobile clinic operations throughout Australasia. Data from preemployment, post incident, and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into the TDDA Imperans system, anonymised, and represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australasian workplaces and industries.
About The Drug Detection Agency The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia, and processing more than 250,000 tests annually. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide New Zealand and Australian businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. Learn more about TDDA at https://tdda.com/.
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.
I specifically acknowledge: Hon Megan Woods, Member of Parliament; His Worship Phil Mauger, Mayor of Christchurch; and Dame Sue Bagshaw, Chair of Youth Hub Trust. Kia ora koutou.
I am pleased to be here in Ōtautahi to open the first stage of Youth Hub Christchurch – what I’m sure will be a welcome and hugely important asset for this city.
As a former Children’s Commissioner, and in my time as an academic, I have dedicated much of my career supporting the wellbeing of children. I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by our young people, and that mental health is the area of greatest need.
I know that events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the March 15th terrorist attacks, and the Christchurch Earthquakes make providing such support to our young people all the more important.
Research such as the Dunedin Study shows us that our formative years are critical in shaping who we become as adults. Ensuring the wellbeing of young people ultimately has a huge bearing on all areas of our society.
We must ensure that every child has the love, care and support they need to fulfil their potential in life – whatever that might be.
I am delighted to see the first stage of Youth Hub Christchurch come to fruition, ready to welcome and support all who need it. This facility – the first of its kind in New Zealand – will elevate the way care is delivered to our young people, and I hope it will be the first of many such facilities around the country.
As Governor-General, I am always energised and inspired when I meet young people: the energy and passion of the next generation who are the kaitiaki of our planet, and of our future – bringing new perspectives, ideas, and a sense of hope that we can solve the greatest issues of our time.
I am confident Youth Hub will become a place where rangatahi are given the tools and support they need to build healthy, happy lives: to help them discover their strengths and passions, to celebrate what makes them who they are, and to guide them on their way to making a positive difference in the world.
To that end, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Dame Sue, your team, and everyone involved in bringing Youth Hub to life. Your commitment to ensuring this will be a place of inclusive, sensitive, and meaningful care is to be commended.
The work you will do and the good you will achieve here brings to mind the whakataukī: ‘Poipoia te kakano kia puāwai. Nurture the seed and it will blossom.’
I once again thank you for inviting me here today to open Stage One. I have every confidence that all who walk through these doors will feel welcomed and supported, and the very real sense of a place where they belong. I wish you all the very best for the future, as you move into the next stages of completing this wonderful facility.
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
State Highway 2 is now open to traffic in both directions following this morning’s serious crash.
The highway was closed for around four hours while the Police Serious Crash Unit carried out an investigation, and the crash scene was cleared.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi thanks drivers for their patience and cooperation during this closure.
9 am:
State Highway 2 remains closed between Kaitoke and Featherston following a serious crash earlier this morning.
The Police Serious Crash Unit is at the scene conducting an investigation – the highway is closed while this is on-going.
Drivers must avoid the area, delay their journey, or use an alternative route – the Paihiatua Track (Aokautere – Paihiatua) or Saddle Road (Woodville – Ashurst). These require up to three hours additional travel time.
Further updates will be provided when the road’s status changes
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
6:10 am:
State Highway 2 is closed near Kaitoke as emergency services and contractors attend a serious crash in the area.
The two-car collision, near the intersections of Gilbert Road and Waterworks Road, was reported around five o’clock this morning.
State Highway 2 is currently closed between Gilbert Road and Waterworks Road, meaning there is no access between Upper Hutt and Featherston. This closure will be extended to cover all of Remutaka Hill, Kaitoke – Featherston.
The highway is expected to remain closed for several hours while the crash is cleared, and a Police Serios Crash Unit investigation is completed.
Drivers must follow the instructions of emergency services at the scene.
Road users are asked to avoid the area, delay their journeys, or use an alternative route.
The only alternative routes between Wellington and Wairarapa are the Paihiatua Track (Aokautere – Paihiatua) or Saddle Road (Woodville – Ashurst). These require up to three hours additional travel time.
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
Meanwhile, drivers can also expect delays on State Highway 59 near Pukerua Bay where a crash has blocked the road’s southbound lane. People travelling between Paekākāriki and Porirua should use State Highway 1 as an alternative route.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has welcomed yesterday’s Court of Appeal decision ruling in favour of the Minister of Land Information and supporting the process undertaken for land acquisitions for Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass project.
Court of Appeal decision
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says the court’s ruling dismissed the northern landowners’ argument that LINZ officials or the Minister of Land Information are the only people who can negotiate with them; and awarded costs in favour of the Crown.
“This decision is a timely boost for the team on the ground building a safer, more resilient and reliable 6km section of State Highway 3 in northern Taranaki.”
NZTA is now awaiting a ruling on an appeal by landowners, heard in the High Court in August 2024, against a May 2024 Environment Court ruling supporting the Crown’s intent to acquire an 11ha block of land required in the north of the project area.
“We are taking up every avenue to progress resolution of all outstanding legal proceedings, and gain access to the land needed at the northern end of the project as soon as possible,” says Mr Partridge.
2024/25 construction season
On the southern side of Mt Messenger, the team is focussed on excavating a spur to create access for construction of the project’s 125-metre bridge, which will carry the road over a stream that feeds into the Mimi wetland.
Further towards the central section of the project, the award-winning cableway has been busy transporting earthworks gear into the project’s largest fill site that extends 500m from the tunnel’s northern portal.
Environmental recognition
The Alliance’s environmental, pest management and ecology teams are busy delivering the project’s major environmental benefits alongside mana whenua partner Ngāti Tama.
The project has recently won the Environmental Excellence Award from the Australasian division of the International Erosion Control Association, recognising its work to minimise impacts on the surrounding landscape and waterways.
“State Highway 3, over Mt Messenger, is a crucial connection for freight and other road users, between the West Coast and upper North Island. The bypass project is essential to contributing to this economic growth, saving road users time, but more importantly, providing a safer, more resilient road, ultimately benefiting efficiencies, and we’re looking forward to all the progress on site over the coming construction season.”
The Government’s creative sector strategy is designed to increase Kiwis’ engagement with culture and creativity and to boost its economic contribution, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“Amplify has been released for public consultation and I encourage people to read the strategy and to share their feedback.
“There’s an opportunity to increase the impact of our arts and culture here and on the world stage, and significantly increase the sectors’ contribution to GDP and export revenue by 2030.
“Our creative and cultural sectors also face many common challenges, so Amplifyuses the levers the Government has to help.”
Amplify proposes four key targets:
New Zealand ranks among the top 25 nations in the world for culture and heritage ‘soft power’.
The median income for creative professionals more closely matches the median wage/salary income.
The GDP contribution from the arts and creative sector increases to at least $20 billion.
More New Zealanders are actively engaging with New Zealand arts, culture, and heritage.
There are three strategic pillars which outline actions the Government will take over the next six years to reach these targets:
Maximising impact through the $450m annual Crown investment.
Nurturing talent and supporting a pipeline to provide sustainable career opportunities.
Reducing barriers to growth – modernising and streamlining government regulation to enable our cultural sectors to thrive.
“This is just a draft and I am open to ideas,” Mr Goldsmith says.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises State Highway 1 will be closed to southbound traffic between Twin Coast Discovery Highway and George Street at Hikurangi from Monday 11 November to Friday 13 December for road rebuild works
Work will take place both during the day and overnight, with southbound traffic detoured via Hikurangi township for the duration of the works. The detour is expected to add less than five minutes to southbound journeys.
The detour route is not approved for HPMV and over-dimension loads.They will be queued and escorted through the site approximately every 20 minutes, as required.
Access for residents and emergency services will be maintained throughout the works.
We appreciate there will be increased noise for residents and businesses in the area, and short delays for road users.
Rebuilding the road, which often involves replacing all or most of the structural road layers, improves the longevity of the network, the resilience and ultimately the safety and efficiency for all road users.
This summer maintenance period (September 2024 to May 2025), we’re investing in the largest road rebuild programme ever for the region, with Northland one of three regions across Aotearoa with the most significant road rebuild programmes over the next three years.
For more information about the overall maintenance programme and planned works, visit the Northland State Highway Maintenance Programme website:
Police have expressed disappointment after several people were caught drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts, using mobile phones illegally and driving without a licence in the North West over the weekend. Inspector Adam Spencer from Western Road Policing Services said police were upfront that officers would be out in force over the long weekend. “We were out and about in rural and popular tourist areas as we said we would be,” he said. “This included a major police operation in the Smithton and Arthur River areas, and the results were very disappointing.” “Between Queenstown, Smithton, Devonport and Burnie, our police issued 24 infringement notices.” “Police will again be out in force as the long weekend continues today, you can expect to see us again on highways, urban and rural roads.” “Please do the right thing and obey the road rules so everyone can get home safely.” Results included:
28-year-old man intercepted in Devonport and returned a reading of 0.243, almost five times the legal limit. Disqualified from driving and will appear in court. 40-year-old Burnie woman intercepted following reports she was driving under the influence after leaving a licensed premises. Returned a reading of 0.178. Disqualified from driving and will appear in court. 66-year-old Montagu man caught drink driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Disqualified from driving and will appear in court. 60-year-old Boat Harbour man returned a positive drug test and quantities of a controlled substance were located in his vehicle. He will be summoned to court. 26-year-old Devonport man caught hooning. He was arrested and charged and the vehicle was clamped. 33-year-old Devonport woman caught driving disqualified. Will appear in court. 43-year-old Irish Town man detected speeding 32km/h over the posted limit on Blackwater Road, West Coast. Given five demerit points and a $606 fine. 59-year-old Port Sorell man detected speeding 33km/h over the posted limit on Backline Road, Forest. Given five demerit points and a $606 fine.
As part of the Albanese and Rockliff governments’ commitment to improving the state’s regional healthcare, the new Tasmanian home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is a step closer, with planning and design works underway.
The $21.3 million redevelopment will support the RFDS to expand its operations, and was made possible by $15 million from the Albanese Government, $6 million from the Rockliff Government, and additional support from the RFDS.
The new base at Launceston Airport will boost capacity for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as ground vehicle transfers, and will include space needed to cater for surge workers through either infectious disease outbreaks, or for fire-fighting personnel to tackle bushfires.
This will enable the RFDS to increase outreach support such as mobile mental health services, mobile dental services, and mobile general practitioner services – and support them to deliver urgent care to people across regional Tasmania.
Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain joined Federal Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell last week to inspect the site of the new base, and to receive an update on the project.
Up to 62 full time jobs will be supported during the construction phase, with up to 41 ongoing jobs in the healthcare sector set to be created once operational in 2027.
When completed, the facility will also house staff and equipment for other emergency service providers, including Ambulance Tasmania, Tasmanian Police and the Fixed Wing Aeromedical Providers.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain:
“It was fantastic to visit RFDS Tasmania to see planning work on this important redevelopment progressing – a region-shaping project made possible thanks to $15 million from the Albanese Government.
“Your postcode shouldn’t impact the quality of your healthcare, which is why we’re partnering with the RFDS to improve and expand their services across regional Australia – with this project to ensure Tasmanians can continue to access support when they need it.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma:
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government’s $6 million investment for the new base will enable the RFDS to continue its vital work.
“Not only will this project improve access to healthcare across regional Tasmania, it will support local jobs during construction, and once the upgraded site is operational.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell:
“While the RFDS’s current home in Tasmania has served the community for 20 years, our government is getting on with updating the site ensure it continues to provide the service Tasmanian needs and deserves.
“By securing the future of the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Launceston Airport, we’re ensuring that the RFDS can continue to deliver lifesaving care throughout our state, from clinic charter services to road transfers.”
Quotes attributable to RFDS Tasmania Board Chair, Malcolm White and CEO Nicole Henty:
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania is delighted to be building a new world class facility. We are grateful to both the Federal and State Governments for coming together to support this initiative and help us construct this base at Launceston Airport”
“This is an exciting development for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Tasmania and we look forward to developing an aeromedical base that all Tasmanians can be proud of.”
Documents obtained by Child Poverty Action Group under the Official Information Act reveal the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, Louise Upston, is considering changing our country’s long-term child poverty reduction targets.
Unlocking children and whanau from poverty is the right and compassionate thing to do. It is also a non-partisan issue. In 2018, in a moment of political harmony, National, Labour, NZ First and the Green parties supported the introduction of the Child Poverty Reduction Act.[1]In doing so they signed up to the ten year goal of halving child poverty by 2028. On theelection trailChristopher Luxon recommitted National to the promise of halving child poverty by 2028.
CPAG Chairperson Sally Ward states, ‘We have made a commitment as a country to end child poverty. We need the government to keep their promise and deliver the policies that will allow all children to reach their potential. We’ve made progress before, and we can do it again.’
For example, between 2018 and 2022 New Zealand saw statistically significant reductions on 8 out of the 9 poverty measures. As officials noted, the reductions ‘exceeded the average reductions required to meet the ten-year targets’ partly because the previous government ‘delivered significant investments … aimed at lifting the incomes of low-income households as well as wider initiatives aimed at addressing the deeper causes of poverty’.[4]
However, in April this year, the Minister was advised that the coalition-government’s policies were ‘likely to fall well short of the reductions required to meet the current ten-year targets’. Furthermore, the Minister was warned that other policy changes like those to the school lunch programme and public transport subsidies ‘could potentially have a negative impact on progress towards reducing material hardship’.[5]
As previously reported, the Minister was presented with options that would put us back on track, but has so far, failed to pull those levers.
CPAG Executive Officer Sarita Divis states, ‘We are seeking a commitment from the National-led coalition that we will retain our ten-year target of halving child poverty, and the government will do all in its power to ensure we meet those targets.’
‘Nicola Willis said she would resign if she failed to deliver the tax cuts she promised during the election. Well, the Prime Minister promised he would retain our 2028 goal on the election trail. Why are children and families experiencing the constraints of poverty being treated differently?’ Divis asks.
Ward also encourages the New Zealand public to call on all politicians in parliament to hold each other to account on this issue of national significance.
This November CPAG is launching a campaign called#PACT2028that calls upon New Zealanders to show their support for children and whanau experiencing poverty and reminds our politicians of the pact they have made.
‘If we are to meet the 2028 target then we need politicians from across the political spectrum to once again come together and deliver on the promises they made.’ Divis states.
BACKGROUND:
In 2015 the then-National Government signed up to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which included a commitment to halve poverty rates by 2030.
In 2018 all parties in parliament, except ACT, supported the introduction of the Child Poverty Reduction Act, which included a ten-year goal to halve child poverty.
Under the Act the Child Poverty Reduction Minister must set intermediate targets every three years that support the overall goal to halve poverty. Upston’s earlier decision to soften those targets means it will be harder to meet our long-term goal.
OIA documents reveal that when the Minister lowered the third-intermediate targets, official assumed she was going to seek cross-party agreement to new ten-year targets.[6]
The advice she received in March 2024 was to set the level of the ten-year targets in principle and then set the third intermediate targets.[7]This did not happen, instead she set the third intermediate targets alone and these did not align with the ten-year targets.[8]
In March 2024, officials advised the Minister that ‘the current trajectory is off-track to meet the ten-year targets without significant and timely, further investment [which would be possible through income support increases through the tax and benefit system].’ Instead, the Minister’s chosen path was (in the officials’ words) likely to have a ‘modest, and more uncertain, impact on measured poverty rates’.[9]
In June 2024, the Minister was provided with the following speaking points:
– ‘There is currently a mismatch between the proposed third intermediate targets and the ten-year targets due to be achieved a year later’.[10]
– ‘I considered changing the ten-year targets alongside setting the third intermediate targets, but decided now was not the right time.’
– ‘The proposed third intermediate targets are significantly higher than the ten-year targets due to be achieved in 2027/28, which is just a year after the third intermediate target period ends (2026/27). But I have set the intermediate targets in line with what I consider to be achievable in the current context. I am continuing to consider whether the ten-year targets need to be changed and when the right time to do this would be.’[11]
[1]ACT did not support the introduction of the Child Poverty Reduction Act.
In 2024, the media landscape has been described as bleak, with major headlines focusing on the closure of Newshub and significant cutbacks for TVNZ.
These developments have raised concerns about the future of traditional media roles, reflecting broader industry challenges associated with shifting audience preferences towards digital platforms and customised, OnDemand content.
It’s prompted academics and former industry professionals now teaching at Ara’s New Zealand Broadcasting School (NZBS) to be inundated with interview requests about the supposed demise of journalism.
But the current demand for NZBS journalism grads belies that narrative.
Right now, the current cohort are securing industry placements that both complete their studies and springboard them into their media careers. And the NZBS reports that opportunities abound for their highly skilled multi-media professionals who are industry ready.
Placement Lead Simon Tuck said it’s the time of year when “the rubber hits the road”.
“This is the time our learners truly realise their dream of getting into their chosen field. In recent weeks we’ve been delighted to host industry here as they seek to recruit our talented learners into their many and varied businesses.”
Tuck said mainstream outlets NZME, Sky, Stuff, TVNZ, Radio New Zealand, MediaWorks and Newstalk ZB as well as smaller or more niche outlets had been in touch about placements.
“Stuff is an exciting new outlet for us. We’ve enjoyed having them on campus as we’ve built our relationship with them this year and in recent weeks they’ve interviewed 30 learners across our journalism, radio and screen streams for the multiple places they’re offering,” he said.
“They’re looking for cross-stream capable journalists with strong audio and video skills. Their feedback was that they were ‘spoiled for choice’ and if they could take everyone, they would.”
Second-year journalism tutor (and foundation Newshub staffer) Jeff Hampton’s long-held view that there would always be demand for quality content creators was ringing true.
“Whether it’s video audio or written, journalism is simply being delivered in a different form. There’s always going to be a need for journalism and there will always be work for people who can produce quality content,” Hampton said.
“We’re seeking to be ahead of trends here at Broadcasting School, adopting technologies like our Mojo kits, to ensure our graduates have relevant skillsets.
NZBS Programme Leader Karen Neill said another example was the newly devised “Extravaganza”, this year’s final project for Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications learners.
Industry experts had been involved alongside learners in the creation of the on-screen, on-air and online offering due to go live next month. Communications experts and content creators from several production houses and agencies had also had input.
“Our learners are being challenged to come up with an audience-grabbing product that crosses all information platforms. Be it audio, visual, online or social media – developing this crossover skillset makes them equipped for everything,” Neill said.
Industry guests will be invited to observe the live Freeview broadcast showcasing the learner-led approaches to news in a multimedia context.
At the end of the Extravaganza season the next step for NZBS students will be their industry placements. Records show 93% of NZBS journalism graduates will continue in their chosen field following their first foray into the workplace.
As he prepares to oversee the next cohort’s initial industry experience, Tuck sees no reason that will change.
“We find that our industry partners who invest in the future of our graduates with paid placements do their all to look after them. That’s been the case even amid the challenges of 2024,” he said.
“With all this in mind, I can only encourage anyone who has a desire to be among New Zealand’s next content creators to apply to study at Ara. We’re ready to foster their talent and continue to work to satisfy industry demand.”
Alexandra Police are wanting to hear from anyone who witnessed a man acting suspiciously around vehicles in the Roxburgh area on Sunday.
A man was arrested following a burglary at a commercial premises on Teviot Street, Roxburgh just before midday.
He was found to be in possession of a quantity of coins, and Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed a man interfering with vehicles or acting suspiciously on Sunday morning around Teviot Street and the surrounding areas.
If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 241102/4429.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Public transport use is on the rise, growing by almost 20 per cent in the 2023/24 period compared to the same time in 2022/23.
These latest patronage figures showing passengers are voting with their feet thanks to increased reliability, new travel options and better integration.
After consecutive periods of growth, latest figures show public transport patronage nearly reached its pre-COVID high with more than 629 million ticketed trips made across all modes in the last financial year.
That figure is edging closer to the network-high 735 million ticketed trips taken on public transport in the 2018/19 window.
With the success of Sydney Metro City services and employers getting workers back to the office, public transport could set new post-Covid patronage highs through 2025.
The new Metro line is seeing around 215,000 passenger trips daily, with people incorporating new ways of travel into their overall journey. There have been more than 12 million trips on the new Metro in its first 10 weeks.
Transport for NSW is anticipating greater demand as it has listened to passengers, looked at the modelling and adapted services to fit in with how the community wants to use public transport, most notably in the shoulders of the peaks and for recreation.
Weekend travel has been the big winner with families or visitors to the city overwhelmingly travelling by bus, train, tram, ferry, and metro to major events and to explore the city and attractions.
Patronage on weekends is up 17 per cent on last year, and for ferries and light rail, has eclipsed pre-Covid travel rates – growing faster than weekday travel.
Sydney Metro has three times the weekend travellers that it did when only operating as a Northwest route.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:
“People are voting with their feet and are coming back to public transport, with ridership on light rail and ferries now surpassing pre-covid levels on weekends.
“Our investment in rail maintenance and our new timetable means our network is more reliable and can recover more quickly when things go wrong.
“Patronage figures for the new City Metro show that Metromania isn’t slowing down. The daily average of 200,000 trips during its opening week, has increased to an average of 215,000 trips per day.
Released by: Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Small Business
The Minns Labor Government’s Service NSW Business Bureau has helped small businesses get the support they need, responding to more than 265,000 requests for assistance in its first year.
In addition, business owners across the State have received a total of around 45,000 hours of free, tailored business advice on business-critical topics such as planning, marketing and cash flow.
The Business Bureau’s web pages have seen more than 2.2 million website visits since it launched in October 2023, with NSW businesses benefiting from access to personalised guidance, tailored advice and free digital tools.
The Business Bureau’s team of dedicated Business Concierges has made it easier for businesses to access government support, understand government requirements, apply for licences and permits, receive disaster and emergency assistance, as well as referrals to mental health support for them and their employees.
The Business Bureau’s rapid response team has provided on the ground support for businesses facing acute crisis. They assisted more than 140 business in the aftermath of the tragic Bondi incident, they were on the ground to assist businesses impacted by the M6 sinkholes and provided assistance to businesses in Northern NSW who had supply chains disrupted due to the fire ants infestation.
The Business Bureau’s digital tools, the Service NSW Business Bureau App and Service NSW Business Profile, make it even easier to access government support, manage transactions, and save and track industry licences in just a few taps. Since the launch of the Business Bureau, more than 165,000 businesses have used these digital solutions.
This includes a new seamless way for businesses to renew a business vehicle registration by logging into their Service NSW Business Profile or the Business Bureau Mobile App and simply selecting ‘Renew your vehicle registration’. Already, more than 21,500 customers have accessed the registration renewal feature from the Business Profile.
“I am passionate about small business, having lived it my whole career, and these customer numbers tell an amazing story of the significant support delivered by the Service NSW Business Bureau in its first year.
“The Business Bureau is supporting small business owners no matter where they are on their business journey with free, tailored advice and digital tools which are helping to make being in business easier.
“Driven by the priorities of the recently launched NSW Charter for Small Business, we are focused on working with small businesses across the State to tackle unproductive red tape, break down barriers and build a stronger future.
“We know small businesses having been doing it tough, but now the Business Bureau is there for small businesses every step of the way.”
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:
“Small business owners across the State wear many hats which is why we remain committed to making support and services more accessible and more flexible than ever.
“We have seen more than 165,000 businesses access the Service NSW Business Bureau app and their Service NSW Business Profile which shows the Business Bureau’s digital tools are making it easier for small business owners to access the advice, information and support they need on the go and at a time which suits them.”
Founder of Learnopolis Jennifer Kozanic said:
“As a new business, we needed advice about what sort of public liability, professional indemnity and level of cover we needed. We also needed support with considering who we should target with supplying our product and service.
“The Business Bureau has provided great advice on writing grant applications, business development and pricing. Winning a NSW Government contract was huge for us as a two-person start-up.
“Sam, my business concierge, genuinely wants to support us and to have someone cheering you on from the sidelines, who understands business, is something I would recommend for every owner.”
Founder of Parkview Realty Ben Burfitt said:
“The Business Bureau has been hugely supportive in making sure my application for both my class 1 real estate agent licence and business corporation licence were progressed.
“To have someone who is able to liaise with other areas of the NSW Government was extremely beneficial in getting licence approval in a timely manner.
“My business is new and so brand awareness is important to us. I look forward to working with the Business Bureau on how to develop this and market the company in a way that represents our story and what we offer.”
Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said:
“The NSW Government has done much to improve the digital interface with business. Our state has led the nation for the past decade.
With rapid improvements in technology and a constantly evolving operational environment, this is an area we can never take for granted. The work must be continuous or we risk falling behind.”
Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
The NSW Government has approved a modification to a large-scale wind farm in the state’s Central West which will deliver enough energy to the grid to power 730,000 homes.
The Liverpool Range Wind Farm was approved in 2018 with a modification sought in 2022 to utilise more efficient technology to increase its energy generation with fewer turbines.
The $2 billion renewable energy project, northeast of Mudgee, will create 550 construction jobs and 47 operational jobs for the Central West economy.
The local community will also benefit with $35 million to be delivered to local councils through Voluntary Planning Agreements.
Following consultation with the community the applicant reduced the number of turbines from 267 to 185 to reduce the visual impacts.
The modification will see an increase in the project’s maximum energy generation capacity by 370 megawatts to 1.3 gigawatts, with capacity to power an additional 200,000 homes across the state.
Achieving this additional power was made possible through the use of more efficient turbines and increasing the maximum wind turbine height from 165 to 215 metres.
The project will help prevent 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere across NSW during its first full year of operation.
This State Significant Development is located within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which the NSW Government considers a strategic area with strong renewable energy resource potential.
Projects like this are critical to Labor’s Energy Plan to deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to the grid while creating thousands of jobs and boosting regional economies.
In its assessment, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) worked closely with the community, councils and government agencies to address visual, biodiversity, traffic and transport impacts.
The department has set a suite of conditions to make sure any potential impacts are effectively minimised, managed and offset.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“NSW is leading a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the electricity network by building the infrastructure we need to power our state into the future.
“The Liverpool Range Wind Farm will generate jobs during its construction and operational phases, while also providing long-lasting benefits to the local area through community contributions over the life of project.
“This is a good example of the applicant working with the local community and the final result being material changes to the proposal that address visual impacts.”
The NSW Government is committing $21 million over four years to enhance alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment and support for people in Northern NSW, as the second day of the regional Drug Summit begins in Lismore.
This includes $6.8 million for three new programs to be provided by not-for-profit AOD services and mental health organisation The Buttery, including:
$2.6 million for a new day rehabilitation program and counselling for people with dependent children;
$2 million over four years for community-based withdrawal management and counselling for priority population groups; and
$2.2 million over four years for a new post-custodial support service.
Community Rehabilitation
The Community Rehabilitation for Parents program will provide day rehabilitation with individual care-coordination, counselling, and psychosocial support for up to six months for people aged over 18 with a substance use disorder and dependent children.
The program is expected to support up to 48 people each year.
Withdrawal management and counselling
People will be offered withdrawal management in partnership with local GPs, assertive case-management and AOD psychosocial counselling for up to six months.
Face to face and virtual care will be available. Up to 360 people will be able to receive treatment each year across Northern NSW and the Mid-North Coast.
Post-custodial support
Case management and support will be offered to people in Northern NSW and the Mid North Coast up to three months prior to release from custody and up to 12 months post-release.
Northern NSW Local Health District services
As part of this announcement, Northern NSW Local Health District will receive funding to support the following services:
$1.5 million to establish Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Services across multiple locations including Tweed Byron Ballina, Richmond and Grafton. A virtual care component will support mothers and parents in rural locations to enable increased engagement with AOD services.
$700,000 to expand alcohol and other drug hospital consultation services in Lismore, Tweed, Clarence and Byron/Ballina to better support acute services, provide extended hours of coverage, and virtual care.
$1.6 million for expansion and integration of AOD services for young people, including enhance partnerships with other agencies including Department of Communities and Justice, Headspace, Youth Justice and HARP. The service will be available in 3 locations and includes virtual care.
Drug Summit in Lismore
The 2024 Drug Summit is underway in NSW with the second regional forum taking place in Lismore today, following the first day of the Summit in Griffith last Friday.
The Summit will also be held in Sydney on 4 and 5 December, bringing together health experts, police, people with lived and living experiences, drug user organisations, families and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“I am so proud to be able to announce this important investment into life changing services for the people of Northern NSW, on the second day of the regional Drug Summit in Lismore.
“It’s vital that we continue to support community organisations like The Buttery to help people achieve recovery and rebuild their lives.
“This funding will focus on increasing access to evidence-based treatment, prevention, and early intervention services especially in regional and rural areas.
“These new programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of people living in regional areas, and priority population groups including Aboriginal people, pregnant women, people with mental health conditions, young people, and people involved in the criminal justice system.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:
“The Northern NSW community will benefit from this major funding boost, which will significantly improve health and social outcomes for people at risk of alcohol and other drug related harm, and their families.
“I look forward to listening and reflecting on the experience and expertise of everyone contributing to the second day of the regional Drug Summit in Lismore, so we can better understand how to support our community.”
With millions of people already displaced by climate change disasters in Africa, the richer countries most responsible for global warming must agree at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan to fully pay for the catastrophic loss of homes and damage to livelihoods taking place across the continent, Amnesty International said. They must also fully fund African governments’ adaptation measures to prevent further forced displacement, stop human rights violations and help them achieve a fast and fair phaseout of fossil fuel production and use.
These same countries must then follow up on their agreement by urgently financing the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, the main international fund addressing climate change’s unavoidable harms. So far, such countries have pledged less than USD 700 million of the 400 billion dollars that lower-income countries estimate they need for loss and damage by 2030. Meanwhile, adaptation may cost USD 30 to 50 billion per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. International financial institutions must ensure equitable distribution of the money to African countries based on need.
African people have contributed the least to climate change, yet from Somalia to Senegal, Chad to Madagascar, we are suffering a terrible toll of this global emergency.
Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for West and Central Africa
“African people have contributed the least to climate change, yet from Somalia to Senegal, Chad to Madagascar, we are suffering a terrible toll of this global emergency which has driven millions of people from their homes. It’s time for the countries who caused all this devastation to pay up so African people can adapt to the climate change catastrophe,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
The Prime Minister is set to announce an additional £75 million to boost border security, bringing the investment in the Border Security Command over the next two years to £150 million.
PM to outline major investments to smash criminal smuggling gangs at INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow
New capabilities for Border Security Command from £150 million funding pot to drive down Organised Immigration Crime both at home and overseas
New additional funding will cover state-of-the-art tech and information centres, boosts to enforcement and intelligence resourcing and expanding CPS capacity
The Prime Minister is set to announce an additional £75 million to boost border security, bringing the investment in the Border Security Command over the next two years to £150 million.
Marking the first time the INTERPOL General Assembly has been hosted in the UK in over 50 years, Keir Starmer will today (4 November) open the Assembly in Glasgow by setting out his personal mission to smash the people smuggling gangs by resetting the UK’s whole approach to this challenge and intensifying international collaboration to meet the global scale of the threat.
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and comprises senior ministerial and policing leads from the organisation’s 196 member states.
In his speech, the Prime Minister will set out his plans to draw on his experience of bringing together agencies to tackle international terrorist and drug smuggling gangs during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions to dismantle the people smuggling gangs who drive illegal migration, profit from human misery and represent a serious threat to global security.
He will also set out how the £150 million will provide additional specialist investigators and state of the art surveillance equipment to ensure those behind this criminal activity are stopped and brought to justice.
This major funding boost for the government’s new Border Security Command will initially be directed towards a range of enforcement and intelligence activity, including:
Investing heavily in NCA technology and capabilities, delivering advanced data exploitation and improvements to technologies to boost collaboration with European partners to investigate and break people smuggling networks.
300 staff for the new Border Security Command, who will strengthen global partnerships, deliver new legislation and lead the system through investment and strategy.
100 specialist investigators and intelligence officers for the NCA, dedicated to tackling criminals who facilitate people smuggling.
Creating a new specialist OIC Intelligence Source Unit which will cohere intelligence flows from key police forces.
Boosting the Crown Prosecution Service’s ability to deliver charging decisions more quickly on international organised crime cases.
The Border Security Command, led by Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, will be provided with enhanced powers – through a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – to tackle organised immigration crime whilst providing for strong and effective border security.
New measures will make it easier to detect, disrupt and deter those seeking to engage in and benefit from organised immigration crime. The Command will also coordinate the work of intelligence agencies and law enforcement, who lead joint investigations with European counterparts to ensure we can bring those responsible to justice.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to say:
“The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge. I was elected to deliver security for the British people. And strong borders are a part of that. But security doesn’t stop at our borders.
“There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women and children die in the Channel.
“This is a vile trade that must be stamped out – wherever it thrives. So we’re taking our approach to counter-terrorism – which we know works, and applying it to the gangs, with our new Border Security Command.
“We’re ending the fragmentation between policing, Border Force and our intelligence agencies.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“Criminal smuggler gangs profit from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk and they have been getting away with it for far too long.
“Our new Border Security Command, with the investment set out today, will mean a huge step change in the way we target these criminal gangs. People smugglers and traffickers operate in networks across borders, that’s why we have launched a major boost to our cooperation with international partners including other European countries, the G7 and Europol, and why we are so pleased to be hosting the INTERPOL conference on tackling international crime in Glasgow today.”
The Prime Minister will also announce that the UK Government has increased its in-year support for INTERPOL’s global operations through a £6 million investment which harnesses the organisation’s unique capabilities to tackle serious organised crime affecting the UK.
Addressing the General Assembly, the Prime Minister will say that closer cooperation with international partners is key as he details how the gangs’ operations span from the money markets in Kabul through to the Kurdish region of Iraq and right across Europe and into the UK.
He will stress the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening security agreements to facilitate greater sharing of intelligence and more joint operational work, in particular through Europol.
The Home Office will also invest £24m in the new financial year to tackle international serious organised crime affecting the UK including drugs and firearms, fraud, trafficking and exploitation. Funds will in part be used to bolster work done by special prosecutors and operational partners in the Western Balkans.
There were more than 5,000 drug related deaths in 2023, with most of the illegal drugs causing these coming from overseas or facilitated by transnational gangs. ISOC funding will also be used to tackle drug smuggling upstream and at the UK border, building on recent successes, such as the effective collaboration with the US and Ecuador, which has resulted in the seizure of 19 tonnes of cocaine.
National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar said:
“Serious and organised crime causes more harm, to more people, more often than any other national security threat. And almost all of serious and organised crime now has an international nexus. Distance, borders and languages are meaningless to criminals. This is why collaborations with INTERPOL have never been as important as they are today.
“Tackling organised crime, and especially immigration crime, remains a top priority for the NCA. We are currently leading around 70 investigations into the gangs or individuals involved in the highest echelons of this type of criminality, and we are devoting more resources to it than ever before.
“We have built up our intelligence sharing effort with law enforcement partners across Europe and beyond, including having more NCA officers based overseas, sharing intelligence and working side by side on joint investigations. This approach is bringing operational results with arrests and prosecutions, but we are also we are seeking to disrupt the people smugglers’ business model, through targeting their social media offering, their supply routes for equipment, and their financial flows.
“We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, wherever they operate.”
The announcement comes just a month after Britain joined up to a new G7 anti migrant smuggling action plan which included pledges to bolster border security, combat transnational organised crime, and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by smugglers.
The plan includes new, intelligence-led joint investigative actions to target criminal smuggling routes, working with social media platforms and internet providers to remove harmful content promoting illegal migration services or advertising fake job opportunities, and strengthening capabilities to monitor and anticipate irregular migration flows at both global and regional levels.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
In this combo photo, astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu (from L to R) are out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Nov. 4, 2024. The three astronauts are all in good physical condition, and the mission is a complete success, according to the China Manned Space Agency. [Photo/Xinhua]
JIUQUAN, Nov. 4 — The Shenzhou-18 crew consisting of three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth safely in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission.
Shenzhou-18’s return capsule, carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:24 a.m. (Beijing Time). The crew had all left the return capsule by 2:15 a.m., according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The three astronauts, after staying in orbit for 192 days, were all in good health and the Shenzhou-18 manned mission was a success, the CMSA said.
Ye, the Shenzhou-18 mission commander, has become the first Chinese astronaut with an accumulative spaceflight time of more than a year, setting a new record for the longest duration of stay in orbit by a Chinese astronaut.
He served as a crew member in the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022.
“Chinese astronauts have flown to space in successive missions. I believe that the record of the duration in orbit will be broken in the near future,” Ye said.
Li Cong, who has just completed his first-ever space adventure, said that the crew was united as one and worked closely with the ground team, which ensured the extravehicular activities implemented smoothly and the scientific research and experiments advanced successfully.
“We have all enjoyed the unique experience of weightlessness. It is exciting to return to Earth, but we are also unwilling to part the wonders of the space,” said Li Guangsu, who has just returned from his first spaceflight.
At 12:34 a.m., the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship separated from its orbiting capsule. The brake engine then ignited, and the return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule.
The ground search team arrived at the landing site soon after the return capsule landed.
INTENSIVE SCIENTIFIC TASKS
China launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship on April 25, 2024. During the mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew utilized the scientific experiment cabinets and extravehicular payloads to carry out dozens of experiments in the fields of basic physics in microgravity, space material science, space life science, space medicine and space technology.
They replaced the burner for the gas experiment in the combustion experiment cabinet and test samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet as planned. They also conducted in-orbit training on spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts carried out extravehicular activities twice. Their first spacewalk in May set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts.
Assisted by the space station’s robotic arm and a team on Earth, they worked for about eight-and-a-half hours during their first extravehicular activities, and completed multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices.
The crew also carried out emergency decision-making research. By utilizing the computer and corresponding software, they completed a series of assessments, including tests on basic cognitive ability, risk perception, decision-making style, as well as comprehensive decision-making tasks.
The ground personnel then used the test results to thoroughly evaluate the astronauts’ emergency decision-making ability in orbit and study the influence of the factors such as the duration of stay in orbit, emotional state and workload on their ability.
During the mission, the crew also conducted regular medical check-ups as required, including routine examinations and dynamic monitoring of the heart rate and blood pressure. These procedures helped comprehensively monitor the astronauts’ physical state.
JOYFUL SPACE JOURNEY
During their space adventure, the Shenzhou-18 trio also experienced some special joy brought by the space “aquarium” and “garden” in the Tiangong space station.
The three astronauts created a space “aquarium” using zebrafish and algae to study how the space environment affects their growth and system balance. It was also a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.
The astronauts discovered that zebrafish exhibited abnormal orientation behaviors in microgravity, such as upside-down swimming, spinning and circling.
Scientists will later utilize the returned water samples, fish eggs and other specimens, in conjunction with videos of the zebrafish’s spatial movement behaviors, to conduct research on the impact of the space environment on the growth, development and behavior of vertebrates and to provide support for the study of material cycling in a closed space ecosystem.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts were also busy cultivating plants in the “space garden” during their stay in orbit.
According to a video clip released by the CMSA, astronaut Li Guangsu said that they grew two types of plants — cherry tomatoes and lettuce — and they had harvested some lettuce leaves for food.
“Being able to eat fresh vegetables in space is truly a blessing. These green plants have also brought a touch of green and good cheer to our busy work,” Li said.
Planting in space could also help analyze the changes in the function and gene expression of plant stem cells in the microgravity environment, and provide theoretical support for designing crops that can adapt to outer-space conditions.
Before their return to Earth, the Shenzhou-18 crew completed the removal of some module plants, replenishing water and other operations for the “space garden,” in preparation for the new batch of plant seeds brought into space by the Shenzhou-19 astronauts.
They also planted a new batch of lettuce for the Shenzhou-19 crew, who were lifted off aboard the Shenzhou-19 spaceship and entered the Tiangong space station on Oct. 30.
In 2025, China’s manned space program will launch the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed missions, and the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft for in-orbit supplies, the CMSA said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese premier stresses strengthening vocational education, nurturing skilled workers
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the WorldSkills Museum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2024. Li made the trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
SHANGHAI, Nov. 4 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday urged efforts to strengthen vocational education and nurture skilled workers in order to meet the needs of the country’s economic and social development.
During a trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that fostering more high-caliber skilled workers will provide solid support for high-quality development and high-quality life.
When visiting the Shanghai Nanhu Vocational & Technical College, Li said that it is necessary to deepen the integration of industry and education as well as the cooperation between colleges and enterprises, optimize the setting of college disciplines and majors based on the needs of the society and industries’ actual development and strengthen hands-on skill practice, adding that more skilled teachers are needed to innovate the models and methods of teaching.
Noting that there are ever-growing demands for elderly care, childcare and medical care, Li urged efforts to strengthen the training of skilled workers in the related fields.
When visiting the WorldSkills Museum, Li said governments at all levels should continue to refine support policies for the cultivation of skilled workers by strengthening institutional innovation and investment.
Efforts should also be made to improve the systems of development planning and services for skilled workers with a view to broadening their development channels and enhancing their incomes, Li addeed.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the Shanghai Nanhu Vocational & Technical College in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2024. Li made the trip to Shanghai to research the city’s work on vocational education and cultivation of skilled workers on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]
SARAH ABO, HOST: Welcome back. Well, more now on the Qantas scandal that’s dominated political headlines in the past week, despite the Government’s attempts to handball it. The competitor airline Virgin now claiming more than 90 per cent of flights for politicians are with Qantas, despite the requirement to choose the cheapest fare. Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth from Canberra and Jacqui Felgate from right here in Melbourne. Good to see you, Jacqui. Amanda, I’ll start with you. So, last time you were on the show, you were less than convincing when it came to your flight upgrades. Have you, as Bridget McKenzie did, find any additional flights that weren’t declared?
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Look, I have absolutely declared everything is on my register. And as I said last week, I have not had the opportunity to fly many places on holiday because I’ve got two young children. So, look, everything I have declared appropriately on my register.
SARAH ABO: Jason Clare yesterday said that he has made a personal call to Qantas to ask for an upgrade. Have you done the same?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I haven’t made a personal call to Qantas for an upgrade, but, you know, I’ll let other MPs speak for themselves. But I actually think, Sarah, people are probably getting pretty sick of hearing about the itineraries of politicians – which airline they catch, when they catch it. I think people really want to talk about things that matter to them. Cost of living issues matter to them. That’s what they want to hear politicians talk about and not this sort of obsession about who flies what and where.
SARAH ABO: No, of course. Of course you guys would say that. I guess this does come back to cost of living issues because we know that Qantas dominates the airspace here in Australia. And the problem is for punters is they don’t have much of an option. Virgin has now come out and said that you’re not helping in terms of the politicians federally because you fly Qantas above Virgin rather than choosing the cheapest airfare. Isn’t that the way it should work?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I can tell you, Sarah, I fly on the airline that gets me home to my kids or that allows me an extra hour with my kids and to still do my work. So, last night I flew Virgin to Canberra and I will fly back on Qantas at the end of the week because both of those flights give me an extra hour with my children. So, I actually do think, once again, people are really getting obsessed with which, when and where politicians fly. It’s just not the case that there is not a focus on cost of living. There needs to be a focus on cost of living rather than when and where politicians fly.
SARAH ABO: I guess the focus, Jacqui, has moved because this is what they should be doing and they’re not doing it. But it’s about public transparency, isn’t it?
JACQUI FELGATE, 3AW RADIO HOST: I think it is. And I also think the publicity for this book, have you ever seen anything like it? Joe Aston must be sitting back and going, thank you very much. But one of the issues today I find really interesting is the Virgin issue.
SARAH ABO: Yeah.
JACQUI FELGATE: Do we need to put a rule in where perhaps 50 per cent of all flights we split between our two big carriers? Because it’s an incredible amount of money.
SARAH ABO: Yeah, 90 per cent as well going to Qantas.
JACQUI FELGATE: And then we’ve got the issue with the slots if we go back to Qatar, not being allowed to have extra slots into Australia. What was the relationship then between the politicians making those decisions and Qantas?
SARAH ABO: Yeah, exactly. It’s all about how cosy they are, aren’t they. All right, well, Amanda, let’s move on, seeing as you’re so keen to. And the Government, it seems, is limbering up for an election, or perhaps just inspired by what you’re seeing in the US at the moment with that rally in Adelaide where new changes to student HECS debts were announced. So, Amanda, if re-elected, you’ve promised sweeping changes which would see student loans not repaid until a salary reaches $67,000. It’ll cost $16 billion. Is it unfair to lump this cost onto taxpayers?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Firstly, I would say that what was announced in Adelaide was really significant. Not only were there higher thresholds, but a 20 per cent wiping of people with student debt. We know a lot of people have been lumped with really significant student debts and it is impacting their lives. It may be affecting how they get a mortgage or whether they can get a mortgage or not. So, actually wiping this debt and increasing the threshold provides real cost of living relief, but also supports people into the future. This is really important for so many people that are starting out after their uni degree that have this significant debt, and this is a real practical measure that we can take to support them.
SARAH ABO: Jacqui, obviously not everyone chooses to study. Economists say this is something that actually favours the wealthy. And the architect of this scheme himself says that this does nothing to improve student living for Australians.
JACQUI FELGATE: No, I agree. And you know where I think the money should really be going, it’s actually more money to TAFE. And I know this system does include some extra funding for TAFE debt as well. But when we look at the university system, do we almost need to look at it on a wider scale now and say, should we be pushing everyone into uni when it doesn’t necessarily suit us? And I know here in Victoria, one of the number one issues is our lack of tradies and our lack of buildings. We have a housing crisis around the country, we cannot get enough builders. And I’d like to see a larger section of that money being pushed into traditional trades to get people into a career that is probably much more suited. There is this real reliance, I think in Australia that you must go to university if you’re a young person.
SARAH ABO: Exactly.
JACQUI FELGATE: And then you’re saddled with a debt that you may never be able to pay off.
SARAH ABO: And that’s the issue, I think, Amanda. I mean, a lot of us, a lot of people do want an education, but not everyone does. And so the problem is those who aren’t getting educated through tertiary means are paying for those who aren’t.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: That’s why part of the announcement yesterday was about making fee-free TAFE permanent. When I look at the impact that fee-free TAFE that we’ve introduced has had in my local TAFE campus at Noarlunga, we see construction coming back onto that TAFE campus, we see motor mechanics coming back onto that TAFE campus. That’s all been as a result of our Government’s fee-free TAFE. And yesterday at the rally, not only did the Prime Minister announce a future where we would support people with student debt, but he announced that he would make fee-free TAFE a permanent feature of our vocational education system. So, Jacqui is absolutely right. We do need to be training in both areas if we’re going to actually achieve the type of job growth into the future.
JACQUI FELGATE: I just think you need more places. If you ask anyone, there are not enough TAFE places, particularly in traditional trades. Like we talk about it on 3AW all the time. If you’ve got a kid that needs to go into that, the waiting list is really long in Victoria.
SARAH ABO: It sure is. All right, a lot to address there. Thank you both so much for joining us today.