NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Several killed in train crash in Germany

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BERLIN, July 27 (Xinhua) — A passenger train derailment occurred in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg on Sunday, killing several people and injuring others, German news agency DPA reported, citing security officials.

    It is specified that the regional train derailed near the city of Reutlingen. The area had previously been damaged by a storm.

    As DPA added, local public security authorities have announced an “incident with many casualties.” The head of the Baden-Württemberg interior department is on his way to the scene. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Better support and oversight for third-party regulators

    Source: Maritime New Zealand

    Maritime NZ has established a dedicated Third-Party Oversight Team to work with third-party regulators and provide assurance to the maritime sector that the third-party regulatory system is performing well.

    Third party regulators are entities or individuals, not employed by Maritime NZ, who perform regulatory functions under a delegation or other authorisation. Their functions, depending on the specifically stated delegation or authorisation, can relate to equipment, vessels, training, medical fitness, competency, crew conditions, plans etc.

    Over recent years, various investigations have recommended stronger oversight of third-party regulators. The establishment of the Third-Party Oversight Team is a direct response to these.

    The maritime sector, and the public, rightly expect that all regulatory functions are both efficient and effective, including third-party regulatory functions carried out on behalf of Maritime NZ. Likewise, third party regulators have the right to expect support and clear direction from Maritime NZ.

    The new team’s role is to work with third party regulators to understand how well third-party functions are working, identify any issues that may exist, provide leadership on third-party regulation matters, and identify investments that could help to tackle significant issues.

    Together proactively identifying where any significant issues may exist, allows actions to be taken before serious harm occurs.

    Revenue from maritime levies is funding the new team because effective third-party regulatory functions benefit every participant in the maritime system.

    Our priority is to focus on third-party functions of highest strategic importance and where we have evidence that challenges are present. To achieve this, the team has developed a three-year work programme, which focusses on the third-party regulators in priority order.

    In the first year the team is focussing on marine surveyors (who carry out a very important safety and environmental protection role). Future work will include focussing on recognised organisations and then training colleges and examiners.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reducing councils’ ridiculous use of road cones

    Source: New Zealand Government

    As part of the Government’s drive to cut down on excessive use of road cones – and reducing the eye-watering cost of temporary traffic management – councils will soon be forced to use a commonsense approach to risk assessment before receiving government funding, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

    “New Zealanders have become increasingly irritated by the too-frequently over-the-top use of road cones and costly temporary traffic management around roadworks,” Mr Bishop says.

    “This approach causes drivers unnecessary delays, creates congestion and wastes taxpayers’ money. The previous government spent a whopping $786 million of taxpayers’ money on temporary traffic management in just three years.

    “We campaigned on bringing some much-needed common sense to the use of road cones, and we’re making good progress.

    “NZTA, which builds and maintains our state highway network, has worked with its project contractors to apply pragmatism and critical thinking to the way they use road cones and other temporary traffic management measures.

    “Since we’ve formed Government, the percentage of project costs spent on temporary traffic management has reduced from 15.8 per cent of maintenance costs down to 8.8 per cent, and from 6.0 per cent of the cost of capital projects, down to just 2.3 per cent.

    “This means fewer disruptions for drivers, and less taxpayer money wasted.

    “NZTA has achieved these results by requiring its contractors on state highway projects to shift away from an overly prescriptive Code of Practice which specifies in detail the exact spacing required between road cones, among many other requirements. 

    “They have instead moved to a far more pragmatic guide which allows contractors to use their experience and common sense to keep everyone safe on a worksite, rather than specifying road cone use down to the centimetre.

    “Local roads are owned and maintained by councils. Many of them still use the very prescriptive Code of Practice, which is why we still see ridiculous temporary traffic management measures on local streets, such as quiet cul-de-sacs covered in road cones because of minor work on a footpath.

    “This over-the-top traffic management by councils is costing ratepayers money. The Government has got its own house in order by significantly cutting its temporary traffic management costs on state highways. Some councils are also making good efforts in this area – but now all councils will be required to get on board.

    “The Government funds local council transport projects to the tune of over $1 billion per year through the National Land Transport Fund, which is administered by NZTA. 

    “I am pleased to announce that in future, the NZTA Board will require councils to apply the more pragmatic New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management to their local roadworks contracts before approving government funding for those projects.

    “By requiring local councils to adopt a risk-based approach, we’ll see more sensible use of temporary traffic management on local roads, keeping road workers and others safe, at a more reasonable cost to ratepayers.

    “I’m pleased to see common sense making a return to our roads.”

    Notes to Editor:

    In New Zealand, NZTA and local councils are the primary road controlling authorities. NZTA is responsible for state highways, while local councils manage local roads.
    By 20 December 2025, councils will need to have a plan in place for applying the New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management to their contracts. By 1 July 2026, they must apply it to all new contracts, and by 1 July 2027, the guide must be incorporated into all existing contracts.
    Councils will have to report their uptake of the guide to NZTA on a quarterly basis, while NZTA will continue to report monthly on its own temporary traffic management activities.
    More information about the new guidance (the New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management) is on the NZTA website: https://nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/new-zealand-guide-to-temporary-traffic-management

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Search for driver after business and cars rammed

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are looking for a driver after he allegedly drove into a Campbelltown cafe and a police car at Prospect last night.

    Police were called to a cafe on Newton Road, Campbelltown about 8pm on Sunday 27 July by reports of a collision.

    A woman had been sheltering inside the cafe during an altercation with the driver of a silver Holden sedan.  It will be alleged that he reversed into the front of the cafe causing damage to the windows.

    Luckily, no one was standing near the windows inside the cafe at the time and there were no injuries.

    The man drove off.

    The 35-year-old Plympton Park woman was wanted for other matters and arrested.  She did not apply for bail and will face court today.  It is believed the pair are known to each other and this was not a random incident.

    A Dog Operations patrol spotted the Holden sedan on Main North Road, Prospect about 8.45pm and followed it into the car park of a fast-food restaurant.

    The driver then allegedly rammed the Dog Operations patrol vehicle and crashed into a Ford Ranger parked in the car park.

    The Holden drove off and was abandoned in John Street, Prospect.  The driver ran off and despite a search of the suburb, he has not yet been located.  The Holden was seized by police and is suspected of being stolen.

    A police officer sustained an injury to his hand, believed to have occurred while smashing the window of the Holden Commodore in an attempt to stop the vehicle in the car park at Prospect.

    Inquiries are continuing to locate the suspect.

    Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’ in Gaza as Israel announces humanitarian pauses

    Source: United Nations 2

    But as starvation tightens its grip and “children are dying before our eyes,” UN officials and aid workers warn that the measures fall far short of the much-needed ceasefire and unfettered aid access that could help stem the spiralling humanitarian catastrophe.

    “Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through,” UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X. “In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window.”

    In a statement later issued later by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, which Mr. Fletcher heads up, he added that some movement restrictions appear to have been eased today, with initial reports indicating that over 100 truckloads were collected.

    “This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis. Across the UN agencies and humanitarian community, we are mobilized to save as many lives as we can, he said, but called for “sustained action, and fast”, including quicker clearances for convoys going to the crossing and dispatching into Gaza.

    “Ultimately of course we don’t just need a pause – we need a permanent ceasefire,” stated Mr. Fletcher, who emphasized: “The world is calling for this lifesaving aid to get through. We won’t stop working for that.”

    Also reacting via X, UNICEF said: “This is an opportunity to begin to reverse this catastrophe and save lives.”

    According to the agency, since the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in March, children have been trapped in a nightmare and deprived of the basics to survive.

    “The entire population of over two million people in Gaza is severely food insecure. One out of every three people has not eaten for days, and 80 per cent of all reported deaths by starvation are children,” the agency continued.

    UNICEF emphasized that while it has never stopped delivering, “we can do a lot more if additional designated humanitarian corridors are created to facilitate the movement of our convoys – as well as commercial trucks, which are essential.”

    ‘A lifeline – if upheld and expanded’

    The UN World Food Programme (WFP) also welcomed Israel’s announcement and its intent to open designated corridors for aid convoys in Gaza, “where hunger has reached catastrophic levels.”

    With nearly half a million people facing famine-like conditions and a third of the population going days without food, WFP said in a press statement that the measures could offer a lifeline – if upheld and expanded.

    Despite recent deliveries, including 350 truckloads last week, aid workers continue to face extreme risks and logistical hurdles. WFP said it has enough food stockpiled or en route to feed Gaza’s 2.1 million residents for three months, but without a ceasefire and consistent access, the scale of need far outpaces current efforts.

    “An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone,” the agency stressed, calling for predictable and safe conditions to prevent further loss of life.

    ‘An entirely preventable crisis’

    At the same time, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned that malnutrition in Gaza is spiralling out of control, with a sharp rise in deaths – most of them in July – marking what it calls a “dangerous trajectory.”

    Of the 74 malnutrition-related deaths recorded this year, 63 occurred this month alone, including 24 children under five. Many died before reaching medical care, their bodies showing signs of severe wasting.

    “This crisis is entirely preventable,” WHO said in a press release, citing the deliberate obstruction of aid for the mounting toll.

    Children are bearing the brunt. Over 5,000 children have already been treated for malnutrition in July, many with the most life-threatening form. But Gaza’s four specialized treatment centers are overwhelmed, running low on fuel and supplies, and staffed by exhausted health workers.

    “The health system is on the brink,” WHO warned, as disease spreads rapidly through communities with no clean water or sanitation.

    The crisis is also devastating pregnant and breastfeeding women, over 40 per cent of whom are now severely malnourished. And it’s not just hunger that’s killing people—it’s the desperate search for food, according to WHO.

    Since late May, more than 1,000 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured while trying to access aid. WHO is calling for an immediate ceasefire and a sustained surge of diverse, nutritious food and medical supplies.

    “This flow must remain consistent and unhindered,” the agency said, urging protection for civilians, health workers, and humanitarian operations.

    ‘The world will judge this conference’

    Looking ahead to the High-Level Conference on Palestine set to open on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a strong call for immediate action to end Israel’s unlawful occupation and the ongoing devastation in Gaza.

    “Countries that fail to use their leverage may be complicit in international crimes,” Volker Türk warned in a statement, urging governments to seize the moment for concrete measures that pressure Israel to halt the carnage and recommit to a two-state solution.

    The UN rights chief described Gaza as a “dystopian landscape of deadly attacks and total destruction,” where children are starving and families are being killed in their search for food. The militarized aid distribution system, supported by the US and Israel, is failing to meet the scale of need.

    “We can never forget that more than 300 of our own colleagues have been killed,” he added.

    Moreover, in the occupied West Bank, violence by Israeli forces and settlers continues unabated, with homes demolished and water supplies cut off.

    Mr. Türk reiterated condemnation of the 7 October attacks by Hamas but emphasized that the scale of suffering inflicted on Palestinians since then cannot be justified.

    Calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and a massive surge in humanitarian aid, he concluded:

    “The people of the world will judge this Conference on what it delivers.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 1 dead, 13 missing after bus loses contact in northern China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TAIYUAN, July 27 (Xinhua) — One person was killed and 13 others are missing after contact with a mid-size bus was lost early Sunday in north China’s Shanxi Province amid days of heavy rain, local authorities said Sunday evening.

    The mid-size bus carrying 14 people went missing early Sunday morning near a village in Tianzhen County, Datong City, the emergency rescue headquarters said.

    According to the headquarters, at 13:43 a dead person was found downstream, later identified as one of those who were on the bus.

    As of 4:00 p.m., various agencies have mobilized more than 700 rescuers to search roads and rivers where the bus may have passed. The operation involves two helicopters, eight drones and six kayaks.

    The authorities also organized a search by administration staff, residents and police officers from the volosts and villages along a 20 km stretch upstream and downstream from the place where contact with the bus was lost.

    China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a task force to coordinate rescue operations on site, and the National Institute of Disaster Management has delivered aeromagnetic equipment to assist in the search.

    Local roads have been flooded after days of continuous rains since July 23, Xinhua correspondents reported from the scene. Water mixed with mud and sand has covered roads and bridges, complicating search and rescue efforts. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI agents are here. Here’s what to know about what they can do – and how they can go wrong

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daswin de Silva, Professor of AI and Analytics, Director of AI Strategy, La Trobe University

    George Peters / Getty Images

    We are entering the third phase of generative AI. First came the chatbots, followed by the assistants. Now we are beginning to see agents: systems that aspire to greater autonomy and can work in “teams” or use tools to accomplish complex tasks.

    The latest hot product is OpenAI’s ChatGPT agent. This combines two pre-existing products (Operator and Deep Research) into a single more powerful system which, according to the developer, “thinks and acts”.

    These new systems represent a step up from earlier AI tools. Knowing how they work and what they can do – as well as their drawbacks and risks – is rapidly becoming essential.

    From chatbots to agents

    ChatGPT launched the chatbot era in November 2022, but despite its huge popularity the conversational interface limited what could be done with the technology.

    Enter the AI assistant, or copilot. These are systems built on top of the same large language models that power generative AI chatbots, only now designed to carry out tasks with human instruction and supervision.

    Agents are another step up. They are intended to pursue goals (rather than just complete tasks) with varying degrees of autonomy, supported by more advanced capabilities such as reasoning and memory.

    Multiple AI agent systems may be able to work together, communicating with each other to plan, schedule, decide and coordinate to solve complex problems.

    Agents are also “tool users” as they can also call on software tools for specialised tasks – things such as web browsers, spreadsheets, payment systems and more.

    A year of rapid development

    Agentic AI has felt imminent since late last year. A big moment came last October, when Anthropic gave its Claude chatbot the ability to interact with a computer in much the same way a human does. This system could search multiple data sources, find relevant information and submit online forms.

    Other AI developers were quick to follow. OpenAI released a web browsing agent named Operator, Microsoft announced Copilot agents, and we saw the launch of Google’s Vertex AI and Meta’s Llama agents.

    Earlier this year, the Chinese startup Monica demonstrated its Manus AI agent buying real estate and converting lecture recordings into summary notes. Another Chinese startup, Genspark, released a search engine agent that returns a single-page overview (similar to what Google does now) with embedded links to online tasks such as finding the best shopping deals. Another startup, Cluely, offers a somewhat unhinged “cheat at anything” agent that has gained attention but is yet to deliver meaningful results.

    Not all agents are made for general-purpose activity. Some are specialised for particular areas.

    Coding and software engineering are at the vanguard here, with Microsoft’s Copilot coding agent and OpenAI’s Codex among the frontrunners. These agents can independently write, evaluate and commit code, while also assessing human-written code for errors and performance lags.

    Search, summarisation and more

    One core strength of generative AI models is search and summarisation. Agents can use this to carry out research tasks that might take a human expert days to complete.

    OpenAI’s Deep Research tackles complex tasks using multi-step online research. Google’s AI “co-scientist” is a more sophisticated multi-agent system that aims to help scientists generate new ideas and research proposals.

    Agents can do more – and get more wrong

    Despite the hype, AI agents come loaded with caveats. Both Anthropic and OpenAI, for example, prescribe active human supervision to minimise errors and risks.

    OpenAI also says its ChatGPT agent is “high risk” due to potential for assisting in the creation of biological and chemical weapons. However, the company has not published the data behind this claim so it is difficult to judge.

    But the kind of risks agents may pose in real-world situations are shown by Anthropic’s Project Vend. Vend assigned an AI agent to run a staff vending machine as a small business – and the project disintegrated into hilarious yet shocking hallucinations and a fridge full of tungsten cubes instead of food.

    In another cautionary tale, a coding agent deleted a developer’s entire database, later saying it had “panicked”.

    Agents in the office

    Nevertheless, agents are already finding practical applications.

    In 2024, Telstra heavily deployed Microsoft copilot subscriptions. The company says AI-generated meeting summaries and content drafts save staff an average of 1–2 hours per week.

    Many large enterprises are pursuing similar strategies. Smaller companies too are experimenting with agents, such as Canberra-based construction firm Geocon’s use of an interactive AI agent to manage defects in its apartment developments.

    Human and other costs

    At present, the main risk from agents is technological displacement. As agents improve, they may replace human workers across many sectors and types of work. At the same time, agent use may also accelerate the decline of entry-level white-collar jobs.

    People who use AI agents are also at risk. They may rely too much on the AI, offloading important cognitive tasks. And without proper supervision and guardrails, hallucinations, cyberattacks and compounding errors can very quickly derail an agent from its task and goals into causing harm, loss and injury.

    The true costs are also unclear. All generative AI systems use a lot of energy, which will in turn affect the price of using agents – especially for more complex tasks.

    Learn about agents – and build your own

    Despite these ongoing concerns, we can expect AI agents will become more capable and more present in our workplaces and daily lives. It’s not a bad idea to start using (and perhaps building) agents yourself, and understanding their strengths, risks and limitations.

    For the average user, agents are most accessible through Microsoft copilot studio. This comes with inbuilt safeguards, governance and an agent store for common tasks.

    For the more ambitious, you can build your own AI agent with just five lines of code using the Langchain framework.

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

    – ref. AI agents are here. Here’s what to know about what they can do – and how they can go wrong – https://theconversation.com/ai-agents-are-here-heres-what-to-know-about-what-they-can-do-and-how-they-can-go-wrong-261579

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement on Gaza by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    As the world is witnessing, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is devastating. One in three people in Gaza hasn’t eaten for days. People are being shot just trying to get food to feed their families. Children are wasting away. This is what we face on the ground right now.

    We welcome Israel’s decision to support a one-week scale-up of aid, including lifting customs barriers on food, medicine and fuel from Egypt and the reported designation of secure routes for UN humanitarian convoys. Some movement restrictions appear to have been eased today, with initial reports indicating that over 100 truckloads were collected.

    This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis. Across the UN agencies and humanitarian community, we are mobilized to save as many lives as we can.

    But we need sustained action, and fast, including quicker clearances for convoys going to the crossing and dispatching into Gaza; multiple trips per day to the crossings so we and our partners can pick up the cargo; safe routes that avoid crowded areas; and no more attacks on people gathering for food.

    Fuel must be allowed in consistently and at the volume needed to keep aid operations running.

    More than 59,000 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, nearly 18,000 of them children.

    International humanitarian law must be respected. Aid must not be blocked, delayed or come under fire. Hostages must be released, immediately and unconditionally.

    Ultimately of course we don’t just need a pause – we need a permanent ceasefire.

    The world is calling for this lifesaving aid to get through. We won’t stop working for that.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The celebrity halo effect: why abuse allegations against powerful men like Brad Pitt are so easily forgotten

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamilla Rosdahl, Senior Lecturer, Australian College of Applied Psychology

    Last month, actor Brad Pitt stepped onto the Formula One circuit as the leading man of the high-octane film F1, backed by Apple Studios, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Pitt’s own Plan B Entertainment.

    During the publicity campaign, cameras followed Pitt at every twist and turn, beaming his heartthrob persona to audiences. The coverage was gushing, with few mentions of the 2016 allegations of physical and emotional abuse made by Angelina Jolie, the award-winning actor and Pitt’s former partner.

    Pitt was never charged over these allegations, but he was under considerable public scrutiny when they first came to light.

    The tone has since shifted. Now, many media outlets are focused on Pitt’s clothing, describing him as looking “effortlessly iconic” and someone who is “just trying to have fun with his style” – a seemingly polished return to the limelight.

    Pitt is far from an exception. He is part of a well-established pattern of powerful men in Hollywood who rebound from scandal quickly, and with seemingly little repercussion.

    Pitt’s career trajectory, bolstered by critical acclaim and PR campaigns, reveals how easily the public memory can be rewritten.

    How the media protects accused men

    One 2019 study that looked at coverage of rape allegations against Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo highlighted how the media helps construct narratives that favour the accused. The allegations came from American woman Kathryn Mayorga, who accused Ronaldo of raping her in 2009.

    The study found Portuguese media and political leaders largely defended Ronaldo, hailing him as a “national hero”. They focused on his career and presumption of innocence, while minimising and discrediting Mayorga’s account.

    When Mayorga reopened the case in 2018, alleging coercion into an earlier settlement, the coverage stereotyped her as a “gold digger”, diverting attention away from the issue of sexual violence. Reports also emphasised “collateral damages”, such as Ronaldo’s club avoiding matches in the United States.

    These findings underscore how the “celebrity halo” can compromise serious coverage of allegations.

    According to Karen Boyle, gender studies professor and author of the 2018 book #MeToo, Weinstein and Feminism, mainstream media and celebrity culture systemically protect powerful men accused of violence against women.

    Celebrity culture is fundamentally patriarchal, Boyle argues, and will centre men even when they’re found to be perpetrators. She writes:

    Even when these men fall, they fall spectacularly, with all eyes on them […] Their stories dominate.

    Instead of drawing attention to female survivors, media narratives orbit around the accused celebrity – including their downfall, legacy and potential redemption.

    The machinery of ‘redemption’

    The post-#MeToo era promised a reckoning. Survivors were to be heard, and powerful men held accountable. Yet the cultural reset hasn’t been what many supporters of the movement hoped for.

    Boyle argues we must understand #MeToo in relation to an ongoing history of popular misogyny which normalises men’s abuse of women.

    The #MeToo movement has faced mounting backlash since it went viral in 2017. Articles in Vox and Dame Magazine highlight how public sympathy is increasingly shifting towards accused men, recasting them as victims of “cancel culture” while sidelining survivors.

    Online platforms such as Instagram, Reddit and Youtbe have also created space for public commentators to blame victim-survivors and make excuses for famous male perpetrators.

    And it’s not just about attraction-leniency theory, wherein physically attractive people are judged more favourably. It’s also about race.

    One 2015 study found media coverage of intimate partner violence by celebrity men was more likely to be portrayed as “criminal” when the man was black.

    “Reports are more likely to include excuses for men’s violence against women when the coverage is of a white celebrity than when the celebrity is black,” said the author Joanna Pepin.

    White men in Hollywood accumulate prestige, status and connections that operate like currency, buffering them from consequences that would derail the careers of others.

    Ideology, power and coercive control

    As a scholar who had been analysing coercive control for more than ten years, I argue power operates not just through institutions, but through discourse: through who gets to speak, who is believed, what is remembered, and what is erased.

    Belief is often unconscious. The public may know violence occurred, but still act as though it didn’t. People choose to forget, to preserve the comforting fiction their favourite heartthrob is a good man.

    My research argues coercive control isn’t limited to perpetrators of domestic violence, but is a widespread tactic employed by high-profile men to assert power and dominance.

    It operates like a modern panopticon. Powerful men can use gendered power and social status to not only trap and discipline victims within an invisible prison, but can extend this control to entire communities.

    Importantly, this control can be subtle. It is often hidden behind performative niceness – hard to see and harder to prosecute.

    Shifting the lens

    Gender studies scholar Judith Butler argues Trump-era politics have actively distorted public conversations about gender, power and accountability. They explain in one interview:

    What we’re seeing with the Trump administration is a normalisation of hatred, of xenophobia, masculinity and misogyny that emboldens far-right groups and legitimises violence against vulnerable populations.

    Moving forward, we need to collectively recognise how media narratives can contribute to our collective amnesia of violence against women.

    We also need to prioritise teaching younger generations about masculine culture and the dangers of gendered violence. And when survivors speak, the focus shouldn’t be on whether they seem “credible” or “emotional enough”, but on the structures that may embolden the men they are accusing.

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

    – ref. The celebrity halo effect: why abuse allegations against powerful men like Brad Pitt are so easily forgotten – https://theconversation.com/the-celebrity-halo-effect-why-abuse-allegations-against-powerful-men-like-brad-pitt-are-so-easily-forgotten-261101

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 5 central claims don’t stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Vines, Post-doctoral researcher, Green Lab, Monash University

    One-time Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce sought to dominate the first sitting week of the current federal parliament by proposing a divisive plan to reverse Australia’s net zero emissions target.

    The campaign, backed by fellow former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, aims to repeal what Joyce calls Australia’s “lunatic crusade” of net zero by 2050. It comes as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley convenes a working group to set a way forward on climate and energy policy following the Coalition’s historic election defeat.

    Meanwhile, the Albanese government is considering Australia’s next round of emissions reduction targets. And scientists warn just three years remain for the world to keep global warming below the vital 1.5°C threshold.

    If Australia is to take meaningful climate action, federal parliament must engage with the facts honestly and without distortion. So let’s take a closer look at whether Joyce and McCormack’s latest claims withstand scrutiny.

    Claim 1: Australia’s net zero policy will not address climate change

    Joyce describes as “perverse” the notion that Australia’s net zero goal can meaningfully help address global climate change.

    This claim is not backed by science.

    Every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions adds to global warming. What’s more, Joyce’s claim ignores the near-universal agreement of nations signed up to the Paris Agreement – including Australia – to pursue efforts (including domestic measures) to limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

    It’s true that collective national efforts to curb warming have so far been insufficient. But that doesn’t mean they should be abandoned.

    Claim 2: Global support for net zero is waning

    McCormack claims there is a growing global shift against net zero, and Joyce describes it as “a peculiar minority position”.

    This statement is not backed by evidence.

    In fact, the number of countries, cities, businesses and other institutions pledging to get to net-zero is growing.

    In the United States, President Donald Trump has dismantled climate policy, damaging that nation’s progress towards net zero. But many US states have retained the target, and global climate action will continue regardless of Trump’s actions.

    A landmark court ruling this week is likely to further strengthen global pressure for nations to ramp up emissions reduction. The advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice observed countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change – including by regulating the fossil fuel industry.

    As others have noted, Australia must now reconsider its stance on approving new fossil fuel projects – including those geared to export markets.

    the International Court of Justice said countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change.
    JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

    Claims 3: the net zero goal is a security threat

    Joyce claims a net zero policy agenda is “treacherous” for Australia’s security and will “inflame our incapacity” to contend with geopolitical threats.

    But evidence suggests the opposite is true. There is a significant link between climate change and certain types of military conflicts.

    Research predicts the Australian Defence Force will become involved in more wars as the climate crisis escalates, and respond to more frequent climate-related disasters inside our borders.

    Claim 4: net zero is bad for regional Australia

    Both Joyce and McCormack say the net zero target and associated renewable energy rollout is devastating regional Australia. The Institute of Public Affairs, a prominent right-wing think tank, this week launched a documentary making similar claims.

    Joyce cited division in rural communities over renewable energy. In reality, there is significant support in regional Australia for such technology. A poll last year by Farmers for Climate Action found 70% of regional Australians in renewable energy zones support the development of renewable energy projects on local farmland.

    Joyce also pointed to “the removal of agricultural land from production” to support his stance. However, analysis shows very little farmland is required for the clean energy transition.

    What’s more, the cost of inaction is high. Climate change is disproportionately affecting cost of living for regional households – for example, due to higher insurance premiums.

    Joyce also appears deaf to the myriad regional voices calling for stronger climate action.

    The Mackay Conservation Group, for example, is challenging Whitehaven’s Winchester South coal mine in Queensland’s Land Court. Similarly, an environment group based in the NSW Hunter Valley this week successfully appealed the expansion of MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine.

    Only facts can stop a new wave of climate wars

    Clearly, the efforts of Joyce and McCormack to undermine Australia’s net zero goal are not backed by evidence.

    The Coalition must heed the facts – not backbench pressure – as it weighs its climate and energy policy. Only then can Australia avoid reigniting the divisive climate wars that stalled progress and positioned Australia as a global laggard.

    Likewise, the Albanese government must not be distracted from the climate action task. Australia’s next round of climate targets should be based on the best available science, and make a meaningful, credible contribution to the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

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

    – ref. Barnaby Joyce wants Australia to abandon net zero – but his 5 central claims don’t stack up – https://theconversation.com/barnaby-joyce-wants-australia-to-abandon-net-zero-but-his-5-central-claims-dont-stack-up-261837

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Critics claim gender clinics are seeing an excess of trans boys. But new data suggest otherwise

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ken Pang, Senior Principal Research Fellow and Group Leader, Transgender Health Research Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

    Gender clinics provide multidisciplinary care that helps trans people to explore and affirm their gender identity.

    The number of adolescents referred to gender clinics has increased worldwide in recent years, especially among those who were assigned female at birth.

    This has prompted claims that “social contagion” is driving young people – and in particular, teenagers who were assigned female at birth – to identify as trans and seek medical care.

    But this notion isn’t supported by robust evidence, and our latest research directly challenges this idea.

    Backlash against gender care

    Despite its lack of evidence, the social contagion theory has been used by critics to help fuel an international backlash against adolescent gender care.

    In the United States, more than half of all states have enacted laws or policies limiting access to gender care for those under 18 years.

    In the United Kingdom, laws now prohibit transgender young people under 18 from starting puberty blockers.

    Evidence has now emerged of the adverse consequences of these laws in both the US and UK. This includes sharp declines in mental health and increased suicide attempts among transgender young people.

    Despite this evidence, the Queensland government in Australia recently halted access to puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones to new patients aged under 18.

    This decision was made even though a 2024 independent evaluation found that gender care in Queensland is safe and evidence-based and recommended that service capacity be increased.

    Trans people seek gender care at different stages of their lives

    Our recently published study examined gender clinic referrals across the entire lifespan.

    We used data from publicly funded gender clinics in Melbourne and Amsterdam across a three-year period between 2016 and 2019. The Amsterdam and Melbourne services received 2,044 and 1,903 referrals respectively.

    We found remarkably similar results in both countries. The majority of adolescent referrals (around 70%) were for trans boys and non-binary people assigned female at birth. However, among adults, this observation was flipped, with the majority of adult referrals being for individuals assigned male at birth.

    Specifically, 55% of referrals of those aged in their 20s were for individuals assigned male at birth. This grew every subsequent decade, reaching around 80% for those in their 50s and beyond.

    What do these findings mean?

    Previous surveys from Sweden, Belgium and the United States indicate the proportion of people assigned male and female at birth who are transgender is roughly equal.

    Assuming these two groups share a similar desire to access gender clinics, you would expect the number of referrals to be around the same over the course of a lifetime.

    Our new findings are consistent with this expectation but the likelihood of referral to gender clinics seems to be influenced by both the sex a person was assigned at birth, as well as their age. While those assigned female at birth are more likely seek referral as adolescents, those assigned male “catch up” in later years.

    So rather than an over-representation of those assigned female at birth, adolescent referral patterns most likely reflect an under-representation of assigned males.

    Why is this happening?

    Trans misogyny is a unique type of discrimination trans girls and women face. It combines transphobia, the hatred for and discrimination against trans people, with misogyny, the prejudice and contempt towards women.

    The impact of trans misogyny is far-reaching. During adolescence, trans girls experience higher rates of bullying and victimisation than trans boys and cisgender peers.

    During adulthood, trans women remain at high risk of abuse and violence. They are also more likely to encounter housing discrimination, homelessness, unemployment and poverty than the general population.

    Faced with such daunting prospects, it seems much harder for trans girls to reveal their gender identity as adolescents at an already uncertain time of their lives.

    But as trans girls progress into adulthood, we suspect an intrinsic desire to express their gendered sense of self eventually tips the balance in favour of “coming out”. As a result, we see more trans women seeking gender care in their 20s, 30s and beyond.

    These new findings suggest we need to do more to support trans adolescents. Rather than being driven by the fear of “social contagion”, we must instead recognise and address the challenges trans adolescents, and specifically trans girls and women, face.

    This article was co-authored by Freya Kahn, a paediatrician working on research projects at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

    Ken Pang receives research funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. He is a member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the editorial board of the journal, Transgender Health.

    Anja Ravine has paid membership of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health.

    – ref. Critics claim gender clinics are seeing an excess of trans boys. But new data suggest otherwise – https://theconversation.com/critics-claim-gender-clinics-are-seeing-an-excess-of-trans-boys-but-new-data-suggest-otherwise-257817

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    In the context of Italy and Ethiopia co-hosting the United Nations Food Systems Summit, which will take place from 28 to 29 July, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, was received by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, at the National Palace in Addis Ababa today, for a bilateral meeting.

    The meeting underscored Ethiopia’s deep appreciation for the implementation of numerous initiatives as part of the Mattei Plan for Africa, with particular reference to the sectors of water, healthcare and sustainable agriculture.

    Prime Minister Abiy also expressed his gratitude for Italy’s continuing support in terms of development cooperation for the upcoming 2026-2028 three-year period, as enshrined in a joint framework declaration adopted at ministerial level.

    In conclusion, President Meloni and Prime Minister Abiy agreed to continue working for regional development and stability.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Designs unveiled for Newcastle green energy precinct

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The final concept designs have been unveiled for the Port of Newcastle’s Clean Energy Precinct, which will establish the Hunter region as an industry leader in Australia’s transformation to net-zero.    

    Community members, prospective commercial partners and international investors attended a virtual-reality walk-through of the site today, where the future design of the precinct was brought to life.The Clean Energy Precinct will be located on a disused 220-hectare site on Kooragang Island, just north of Newcastle’s CBD and straddling the south channel of the Hunter River.

    With a $100 million investment from the Australian Government committed in the 22/23 Federal Budget, the Port of Newcastle site will be transformed into a burgeoning industrial hub enabling the production, storage, distribution and export of clean energy products, including green hydrogen and ammonia. The precinct will integrate clean energy production and storage with the Hunter’s Hydrogen Hub gateway projects, the New South Wales Renewable Energy Zones, and offshore wind developments – making it a vital cog in our net zero future.

    The Port of Newcastle has been progressing Front-End Engineering and Design and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies, backed by community consultation and industry engagement, and today’s release of designs allow the public and potential commercial partners to visualise the planned layout of the precinct infrastructure. 

    The precinct infrastructure includes electrical and water services, production facilities, storage, vehicle access, and pipelines for distribution and export.

    The EIS will be released publicly later this year, and construction of the precinct is expected to break ground in 2027. 

    For progress updates on the Clean Energy Precinct, visit the Port of Newcastle’s website. 

    Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “Australia’s largest coal port is diversifying its offering and preparing to accommodate new and growing industries on the shores of the Hunter River. 

    “Newcastle has always been one of the most productive industrial centres in Australia, and we’re ensuring its legacy continues with the Clean Energy Precinct. 

    “It’s crucial that we develop the infrastructure now to be prepared for Australia’s energy future, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here on Kooragang Island.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

    “The Hunter has been an industrial and economic powerhouse for decades, making the Port of Newcastle an ideal location for a Clean Energy Precinct that can support decarbonisation of heavy industry and connect Australia’s renewable resources to the world.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is supporting industrial regions like the Hunter to take advantage of the economic and job opportunities that come with reliable renewable energy.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

    “The Clean Energy Precinct will be the jewel in the crown of Newcastle’s future. 

    “It will create thousands of secure and well-paid jobs for Novocastrians, and stimulate the economy of the CBD and surrounds thanks to its central location.

    “Being here today to see the plans first hand fills me with excitement for what the future holds for our city, it’s people, and the greater Hunter region.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Kakadu upgrades ensure safer access to top tourism spots

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Australian and Northern Territory governments are delivering long-awaited upgrades to key roads in Kakadu National Park to improve visitor access, boost safety and support economic growth.

    The first tender under the Australian Government’s $70 million program of upgrades opens next week, with construction on Kubara Road and Maguk Road set to begin in 2025.

    These works are part of the Australian Government’s $216 million Growing Tourism in Kakadu package.

    The package was announced in 2019 and is now being delivered by the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (DLI) in partnership with Parks Australia and the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

    Between 2025 and 2027, upgrades will be completed on five visitor roads – Jim Jim Falls, Maguk, Gimbat, Gunlom and Kubara – to improve flood immunity, support tourism and business, reduce closures and extend safe access to some of the Territory’s most iconic sites.

    Importantly, the works will be staged to minimise impact on visitors and operators. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “With the increase in unpredictable and extreme weather events, it’s important to have resilient roads which allow reliable access for locals and tourists alike.

     “Improving the standard of these roads will reduce closures, increase productivity and drive the tourism economy of Northern Territory. 

    “We want to see tourists flock to Kakadu to take in the best of Australia’s fauna and flora – some of the best anywhere in the world.”

    Quotes attributable to NT Minister for Parks and Wildlife and Tourism and Hospitality Marie-Clare Boothby:

    “Kakadu is a key economic and cultural asset for the Northern Territory, and these upgrades will support our local communities and tourism operators.

    “These improvements will make it easier to visit stunning places like Maguk Gorge, with its stone amphitheatre and plunge pool, and Kubara Pools, near the Nanguluwurr Art Site.

    “It’s about delivering action, certainty and security for Traditional Owners, tourism operators and visitors.”

    Quotes attributable to NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan:

    “By raising and sealing roads, installing new culverts, and reducing flooding risks, these upgrades will make key Kakadu attractions safer, more reliable, and open for longer. 

    “Construction will be managed carefully to ensure continued access – delivering certainty for locals and the tourism sector.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour:

    “This investment will make it safer and easier for people to visit some of Kakadu’s most iconic locations and experience this World Heritage wonder.

    “Upgrading these key roads will improve flood resilience and travel conditions, while supporting local businesses and tourism operators.

    “These works are part of our broader commitment to making sure Kakadu remains a world-class destination.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Lights a step closer as construction kicks off on Central Coast Highway with Tumbi road intersection upgrade

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    Safer, more reliable journeys are on the way for motorists who use the Central Coast Highway, with main construction works starting to upgrade the Central Coast Highway-Tumbi Road intersection.

    The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are joining forces to deliver a $65.5 million upgrade that will significantly improve journeys for Central Coast motorists and the 26,000 vehicles using this stretch daily.

    The transformation will slash travel times, improve safety, and boost the local economy with 125 construction jobs supported throughout the build.

    This major investment will be split among the two governments, with the Albanese Government contributing $52.4 million, and the New South Wales Government investing $13.1 million.

    Work has officially begun to replace the existing roundabout with modern traffic lights and expand the highway to two lanes in each direction, to the project boundary. This upgrade will address the notorious bottleneck and improve traffic flow and safety on the Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay.

    Key project features

    The comprehensive upgrade includes:

    • Traffic lights replacing the roundabout
    • Highway widening to two lanes each way north of the intersection
    • Two right-turn lanes from Tumbi Road onto the highway
    • A right turn lane onto Tumbi Road from the Central Coast Highway southbound
    • Extended left-turn capacity into Tumbi Road
    • Upgraded footpaths and cycling infrastructure
    • Relocated bus stops for better passenger access, with two existing northbound bus stops moved to a common location north of the intersection

    Timeline and consultation

    Following extensive community consultation in 2021-2022 and preparatory works in 2023, Daracon Pty Ltd was awarded the construction contract in March 2025. The project is expected to be completed in 2027, weather permitting.

    More information can be accessed here.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “Endless queues down Tumbi Road will soon be a thing of the past as the Australian Government and the NSW Government work together to upgrade the Tumbi Road intersection.

    “This upgrade will make the intersection safer, reduce delays and improve traffic flow. Traffic lights will also give NSW traffic controllers the ability to make changes to the timing and sequencing of lights to maintain traffic flow even in the busiest holiday periods.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride:

    “The Tumbi Road roundabout is a known bottleneck and I’m delighted to see work start to address this long-standing issue.

    “Replacing the roundabout with traffic lights will help better manage traffic flows, reducing congestion and cutting travel times.

    Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:

    “It’s fantastic to see work start to upgrade the Tumbi Road intersection, which is one of the most congested on the Central Coast Highway.

    “This upgrade will improve journey times and reliability for the 26,000 motorists who use this section of road every day.

    “This day has been a long time coming and I’m delighted to be part of a Labor government that is delivering for the people of the Central Coast.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for the Central Coast David Harris:

    “This upgrade will benefit all local road users, whether they are driving, walking, riding or using public transport.

    “This work will make journeys safer and quicker, which is good news for residents, local businesses and transport operators.

    “It’s good news for the local economy too, with the project to create about 125 jobs throughout the construction phase.”

    Quotes attributable to State Member for The Entrance David Mehan:

    “This is a critical upgrade for communities across the Central Coast because the Central Coast Highway is a key regional link.

    “It is absolutely fantastic see this work getting underway.

    “All road users can look forward to reduced congestion and more reliable journeys.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC South East NSW Breakfast with Eddie Williams

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    EDDIE WILLIAMS, HOST: Roads, rates, and rubbish, and childcare, disaster recovery, community transport, school holiday programs, even a laundromat. The role of local government has been changing and evolving over the years. It’s been growing. And a new report has found councils across the state are having to foot the bill for one and a half billion dollars in services each year, that they say should be funded by the state and federal governments. This report commissioned by Local Government New South Wales shows councils state-wide are absorbing more so-called cost shifting from the other levels of government, with that cost shifting up by around 10 per cent over the past few years.

    Kristy McBain is the Minister for Local Government, and the Member for Eden-Monaro. Good morning.

    KRISTY MCBAIN, MINISTERREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES: Good morning.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: You’ve seen this as a mayor, and now as the federal minister. How much have you seen the role of local councils change?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: I think local councils have substantially changed over the last number of years. I mean, in the last 10 or 15 years I think councils now play a critical role in that emergency response and recovery phase, which, you know, had not typically been the bailiwick of local councils. And I’ve seen that from a community level, and now as the Minister for Emergency Services, the role that councils play in response and recovery is absolutely critical for communities.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: So are they the best placed level of government for that sort of a role?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, clearly. I mean, they’ve got a local workforce and, you know, they have elected officials from that local area with, you know, that inside knowledge that the other levels of government just don’t have from that hyper-localised perspective. So it’s really important that there is a really strong partnership with local councils to be able to assist in times of emergency.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Is that partnership there and particularly is the funding there for local councils to play these roles?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, that’s right. So obviously, you know, we rely heavily on councils in response and recovery, but, you know, that funding is there to assist them, whether it’s the immediate $1 million after a disaster is cleared to assist with clean-up, or whether it’s the ongoing disaster recovery funding arrangements where councils go and assess their infrastructure and then we work with the state government to ensure that funding can be made to- to be handed to councils to ensure that infrastructure can be repaired and replaced.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: What about the more day-to-day community services, things like childcare, aged care, disability care, the other sorts of programs that you see like community transport? Should that be part of the local government purview?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Well, I guess it’s up to every local council to prioritise the services that they’re providing in community. We’ve seen over recent times a number of councils pull out of aged care services in particular and hand those onto not-for-profits or to the market because it is a difficult sector to be operating in. In regards to childcare services, a lot of our councils are providing childcare services because there are no market operators that can do that in those areas, but there are obviously a range of funding buckets for childcare services in particular.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Yeah, are the funding buckets all kind of working? You know, things like competitive grants are by definition competitive and some councils miss out. Where do things go from here to make sure councils have the money to deliver all this?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Well, I guess when we’re looking at competitive grants, we’re usually looking at new or upgraded infrastructure. So councils have got, you know, their own work to do in terms of understanding what their service and delivery plan is going to look like over any four-year term, what maintenance needs to be done on particular assets, and it’s up to them whether they apply for those grants to upgrade or have new assets in their community.

    We have worked really closely with local councils in particular for a range of the funding options that are available through the federal government. We’re doubling Roads to Recovery, which is an automatic allocation to all of the 537 local council areas across the country to allow them to have more maintenance on local roads. And then we’ve got a range of competitive programs, including the Housing Support Program which is all about that enabling infrastructure to get more housing developments underway.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: What about Financial Assistance Grants? This is something a lot of local government groups talk about. Is the government willing to increase those?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Financial Assistance Grants is over $3 billion every year. This year’s $3.4 billion is allocated across the country to councils. We have brought forward over $1.7 billion in Financial Assistance Grants, which was paid to councils before the end of the financial year, to assist with a range of service delivery for local councils. There’s long been calls to increase that, but we also don’t want to replace the requirement of the states to do their part in this as well, and a lot of that cost shifting we’re talking about is coming from the state government requirements. And we want to make sure that there is enough money for weeds maintenance for local councils. We want to make sure that there is a range of funding opportunities that also come from the state, because it’s a requirement of all three levels of government to be working together.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: All three levels working together? Are you all getting into the same room to try to sort this out?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Look, I chair the Local Government Ministers’ Forum, and we’ve had some broad agreement on some of the things that need to be addressed, including a simple national accounting standard for local governments. It’s different across the jurisdictions. And a national approach to how councils actually, I guess, grade their assets and when they maintain them so that when grants are being applied for, we’re really comparing apples and apples across the country.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: There is a federal inquiry into local government sustainability that’s been underway. Is the Government willing to take some meaningful action, potentially look at some reforms, depending on what that inquiry recommends?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well, it’s the first local government inquiry in over two decades. And when we look back 20 years ago, the iPhone wasn’t invented and Silverchair was still a band at the top of the chart. So it’s really important, I think, that the inquiry completes its work. We’ll reconstitute that committee so it can finalise the report. But clearly the reason we’ve done that is so that we can get a really good understanding of where the system needs to improve and how we can make that work.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: You’re hearing from Kristy McBain, the Minister for Local Government and Emergency Management and the Member for Eden-Monaro. On another issue, the NSW Health-funded Goulburn Urgent Care Service has come to an end, attracting and retaining healthcare staff to the regions being one of the challenges cited there. How confident are you that a federally funded Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Bega will open this year and will stay viable?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well, the closure of the Urgent Care Service in Goulburn was a very disappointing outcome for the community, and one I’ve been working to try to prevent. I’ve been advocating with the NSW Government for it to remain open. It was a well-utilised service, but ultimately the service’s contract was negotiated by the NSW Government, and the state needs to work on their model. But the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have been a real game-changer across our health sector. In Queanbeyan alone, we’ve had more than 12,000 free presentations since it opened last year, which I think is a real testament to how much this was needed. And anecdotally, we’ve heard from a range of people that utilise the Queanbeyan Hospital, and they’ve said that it’s taken significant pressure off the hospital, which is fantastic.

    We’re providing $644 million to establish another 50 Urgent Care Clinics across the country, including in the Bega Valley. The provider will be negotiated through an independent process by the Primary Health Network, and we’re really confident that it will run effectively like it does in a range of other regional areas across the country.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: When will that open?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: It will go through that independent process which is being commissioned at this point in time, and I don’t have an exact date on when that’s due to finish. But as soon as I’ve got some more info, I will be out there sharing it with the community.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: And the way that will work, the way that relationship and provider comes about, is that something that will be ongoing into the long term, or a sort of year-to-year contract? How do you expect that to look?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well the contracts are negotiated and dealt with through the Primary Health Network. It’s run at arm’s length from the federal government because we’ve got Primary Health Networks that cover every corner of Australia, and they do their job in making sure that we’ve got providers that can work within the community, and the Urgent Care Clinics are staffed effectively for our communities.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Kristy McBain, I appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Great to be with you.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: The Member for Eden-Monaro, Minister for Local Government and Emergency Management, Kristy McBain.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Boosting transport and construction productivity

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Albanese Government’s focus on boosting productivity across the Australian economy continued to pick up speed this week, as consultation commenced with the transport and construction sectors.

    Two roundtables, hosted by the Hon Catherine King MP, focused on identifying practical and implementable reforms across these vital industries that support the Government’s productivity agenda. 

    The transport and construction sectors are essential to our economy and way of life, shaping how we grow, move, trade and live. They are also enablers for other sectors, from manufacturing to education, and for contributing to productivity growth across the broader economy.

    Discussion at the transport roundtable covered freight movements through the supply chain. From factory to farm gate, through intermodals, imports and exports at ports, including options to improve productivity and alleviate regulatory barriers at each stage. 

    At the construction roundtable, participants discussed options to improve productivity at each of the key stages of infrastructure projects like planning and design, construction, contracting and handover, and challenges faced across Australian jurisdictions. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “The Albanese Government is serious about tackling the structural challenges in our transport and construction sectors that can stifle productivity, so we can better support innovation and investment across both industries, with the skilled workforce to match. 

    “I had the privilege of chairing both roundtables and thank all of the industry representatives that contributed to discussions and committed to action. 

    “I look forward to continuing to work with industry and across Government to drive productivity in Australia’s transport and construction sectors.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Q&A – Queensland Media Club

    Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    Queensland Media Club Speeches and Q&A here: https://youtu.be/f2DeHcivspg?si=guNHL0f1ZCkMWhwz

     

    JOURNALIST: It’s been 100 days since the Government’s 100-day review. When can Queenslanders expect to see tangible shovels in the ground, concrete rising in Victoria Park? Because as you’ve touched on in your speech, we don’t have a lot of time.

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Well, yes, you’re right, [Journalist], we don’t. And that’s why today we’ve- [Indistinct] have authorised now to start a little preliminary work. So all the geotechnical work that’s got to take place, the soil testing that’s got to take place, is going to be starting from, I would suspect, next week you can start seeing some work. I wouldn’t say the excavators are going to be there next week, but certainly all the prelim work has to take place in terms of the soil testing. Now, that has to happen because each of them have to work out the best location for Victoria Park once they do the testing of the park.

    JOURNALIST: One thing you mentioned in your speech but didn’t touch too deeply on was Brisbane Arena. It sounds like we’re not going to get Brisbane Arena before 2032; can you make a guarantee that we will?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Oh, we absolutely will get there before 2032. The Gabba will come down in 20- after 2032, but the Brisbane Arena, we are actually- so the document that I just came back from the United States to be part of Brisbane’s next iconic destination which is the Brisbane Arena. We’ve had over 2,200 expressions of interest put in through the website already on that. We are talking to the market at the moment about the Go Print site and then the secondary site which is the Gabba location, about whether it should be combined or two separate sites, depending on what the private sector want to do. But we absolutely will partner with private sector. We will go to procurement on the Brisbane Arena by the end of this year. So I would suspect in the next couple of months my Department, Department of Infrastructure and Planning, will actually formally go and procure them to build the arena. And then next year will be the planning, and I suspect you’ll start seeing it being built from end of next year and into 2027, and it will be built absolutely before 2032. 

    JOURNALIST: You mentioned in your speech too you’d like to see more transport investment from the Federal Government. Minister King, are you open to that? How much money will Queensland provide? Perhaps we can just get our GST back. 

    [Laughter]

    CATHERINE KING: I knew someone would mention that, I just wondered if that would happen. Already the Commonwealth is investing, I think it’s over $27 billion in transport infrastructure here in Queensland. I think in the equivalent states, it’s- I think you’re the highest amount. Every other state is less than that, believe me. So that is the first thing I’m saying. I think also, there are issues around capacity. We can only build so much at any one time. Our priority has absolutely been Bruce Highway. You saw us come in January with the Prime Minister, acknowledge that that is an unfinished piece of business for all of us, and we’re very determined to get that done. That being said, we’re already investing over $12 billion in [Indistinct] infrastructure. We will look at new requests that come through, and they come from every state and territory pretty regularly, I can say. They come through for Queensland in our normal budget processes. We don’t have a budget yet until next year, but really, we’ve been very determined to make sure, you know, we put planning money in, we put planning work in, we get a good idea about what the costs are and then we progress from there. And I’m sure Queensland will do what every other state does and ask for its share of funding. 

    JOURNALIST: Might I come to the working media table for the first question? Is there a microphone here to [Indistinct]…?

    CATHERINE KING: I think we’ve stolen them. We’ve got three up here now. 

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, Fraser Barton from the Australian Associated Press. I asked you when the delivery plan was announced in March about workers and construction and how we’re going to get all these workers. How has the government progressed that? Is- are we still going to quote ransack New South Wales and Victoria for people? And where will all of these workers live given housing shortages in the state?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Well thank you, great question. I don’t think I used the word ransacked. I said beg, borrow and steal. And now that I’ve signed the deal with the Federal Minister, I guess I can trash Victoria because, who would- do you want to live in Victoria or Queensland? So, interestingly, yesterday I had the Infrastructure Partnerships- I had a meeting with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, and we talked about the very issue about the workforce and where they’re going to come from. It’s going to be mixed. It’s going to be home-grown talent with the apprenticeships and traineeships coming through the system. It’s going to be new businesses coming into Queensland. It will be looking to New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and getting businesses to relocate to Queensland. Unashamedly, we need to do that. It’s going to be looking at migration, the school migration sector. So that’s how we’ll get the workforce. The second question I always get about the workforce is where are you going to house them? Well, 20,000 in Logan, because I’ve just given the Mayor 135 million, but that 135 million is- pales in- is insignificant compared to the rest that I’m about to announce over the next two weeks, which is the Residential Activation Fund. And that’s a catalytic infrastructure fund designed to help councils get the infrastructure to build the houses. So Mayor Raven at Logan, he said in the media last week that the Logan Council would stop approving buildings if they didn’t have the new wastewater treatment plant. So the $135 million the state are co-contributing with the Council will allow that wastewater treatment facility to be put in place, opening, unlocking 20,000 homes. 

    Now that $2 billion infrastructure fund is happening all around Queensland, and over 50 per cent of that is going to be in regional Queensland. So we’ve got to make sure that we support councils to unlock the land. And as I always say, the issue of the housing crisis is supply, supply, supply. It is the biggest inhibitor at the moment for building houses in Queensland. We’ve already abolished the tax. We abolished our [Indistinct] for first homeowners buying or building their first home in Queensland, so that’s great. We’ve got a better taxation regime. We’ve increased the first home owner grant to $30,000, 15 to 30, we kept that in the budget last week, so that’s a good incentive as well. So we’ve got to build the houses, but you can’t just do it in isolation. You’ve got to look at all of it at the same time.

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, Alex Brewster, ABC News. You’ve refuted reports about the infrastructure around Victoria Park Stadium this morning. When can we expect to see the detail of things like a potential train station, pedestrian bridge, and even a warm-up track around that stadium?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: You used the word refute, Alex, I used the words – I think TMR may have done some brainstorming on where they would like to see certain things and stations. Government have not made decisions on that connectivity yet. And GIICA now, as part of legislation we passed last week, a big proportion of that is transport and mobility. So, those plans now- because the legislation has been put in place, those plans now have to get out to GIICA with Department of Transport and Main Roads.

    And I’ll repeat, on the transport front, it’s the state’s responsibility, a rail between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. The way [indistinct] Sunshine Coast with a Federal Government are giving(*), 50 per cent funding in stage one of that project. So, look, it’ll happen fairly quickly now, I anticipate, that GIICA have the Victoria Park, they’ll have a CEO in a very short period of time, and they’ll be able to get on with the job and work with TMR to find the best location for Victoria Park. And that’s why you can’t put the cart before the horse, because you’ve got to do all the geo tech, which we are now doing on Victoria Park to understand where the best location for the stadium actually is, and then look at the transport hub. 

    Incidentally, I would note that if you look at Victoria Park, Centenary Pool, which is going to be the new National Aquatic Centre, and the Ekka, we just opened Exhibition Station, over at the RNA; there is three or four hubs within 15 minutes of walking already around that. If we can increase it, that’s great, but we will now get to work with the Brisbane City Council and TMR. 

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, Harry Clark from Sky News. How committed are you to holding Olympics rowing on the Mighty Fitzroy in Rockhampton given resistance, including that which is coming from the International Olympics Committee?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Very committed. It’s in our delivery plan and I spoke to the IOC. Look, I’ve got to say that the International Olympic Committee were very good with us in our discussions with that. As Minister King points out, [indistinct] alterations before. Like any of the venues, we have to go through the PVR process, the project validation process. The five projects that have already been validated, that’s what we’re going to procure on from today. But all of the minor venues obviously have to go through project validation. We did a lot of the project validation whilst the Federal Government was in caretaker mode from my department to look at the costings and all of that. 

    We believe it’s vitally important for Rocky and the kids in Rocky to have a facility, and there has been a lot of public commentary about it. But my God, if you go to Rocky, which I think I’ll be there in a couple of days, if you go to Rocky this time of year, in July, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games are going to be held, the Fitzroy River is a mirror. It is the most beautiful thing, hence why they do state championships and national championships on the Mighty Fitzroy River. 

    And I respectfully said to the International Olympic Committee when they were over here, I said, if it’s okay for Rocky kids and Australian kids to row on the Mighty Fitzroy River, it’s okay for Pierre from Paris to row on the mighty Fitzroy River. And look, the IOC took that well.

    [Laughter]

    JOURNALIST: Has anyone contacted Pierre and asked him? It is the [indistinct].

    JARROD BLEIJIE: I know we did- someone was in a crowd and he did jump up and he said, I’m actually Pierre from Paris. He said, but I’m not a rower. I said, well, maybe you should be. 

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, it’s serious though. The Government has been staunch. Your Sports Minister colleague said he isn’t certain Olympic rowing will be held in Rockhampton, but do you acknowledge that it is not only the Government’s decision? It’s the IOC, the International Federation. And, is there a plan b if they say it’s not good enough? 

    JARROD BLEIJIE:  Well, okay, but is the IOC paying for it? If they don’t want it in Rocky then they pay for it, but they’re not, it’s the State Government and the Federal Government. So, I’m not sure the IOC- we had put it back a little bit on the IOC, but we’ve done it very respectfully. Because we wanted the games to be about regional Queensland and we committed to the people of Rockhampton, who have a great rowing facility, and they’re going to have a better rowing facility. 

    And Minister King and I, and I hope I’m not breaching confidence, we’ve had this discussion about rowing. It’s got to go to the International Olympic Committee Rowing Federation who are actually over here in July. They’ll do all their technical assessments. But that happens with every venue. And in LA the rowing facility does not meet the International Olympic Committee requirements. It’s too short. But do you know what they did? They just said, for the LA it’ll be okay, and they signed off on it. So, they do bend the rules for other venues, including rowing in LA which does not meet the requirements for international rowing. 

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, hi. Jess Bahr here from SBS World News. Just a couple of questions from NRTV. Are you consulting with Traditional Owners to reach an agreement on preserving cultural heritage at Finn Park? And do you think you’ll reach an agreement, or will you override cultural and heritage laws? 

    JARROD BLEIJIE: I think we’ll reach an agreement. Two points, observations I’ll make on that. In the legislation that we passed in Parliament last week, there were two elements to the overriding provisions. One was dealing with environment laws, heritage laws, planning laws, local government laws, and there was a complete override, but we actually did carve it up with cultural heritage provisions for First Nations Australians. So, we actually will still go through a process of consulting with First Nations about Victoria Park. 

    Now, ultimately, if an agreement can’t be reached then the laws have to override. But we actually have put a special provision pursuant to the cultural and heritage legislation that exists in Queensland at the moment, to still go through that process. And part of the deal that we’ve struck with the Federal Government, it was one of the requirements from Minister King and the Federal Government, is that consultation does take place, which we’ve committed to. And that’s in the legislation, that will go through a process through Minister Fiona Simpson’s department, as it does with existing legislation.

    We’ve also committed to Minister King and the Federal Government that community consultation, looking at the precinct plan; looking for as much green space, open space that we can retain in Victoria Park, and we’ve committed to that. So, I’m confident that we will secure support, and we’ll just go through the motions as it is. But we did carve out a particular provision in that, recognising the significance of that issue. 

    JOURNALIST: Andrew from The Guardian. This is a question for both of you. Both of you have gone through elections in the last year, in fact, one two months ago. And in no case was this plan, the Victoria Park plan, brought to the electorate? In fact, at that state level it was explicitly ruled out. Should the electorate have known about this before they voted on that? It’s a big old stadium in the middle of a suburb. Surely, the people would have liked to know that before the decision was made. 

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Well, thank you. I’ll start and, thankfully, you’ve got a question I’ll be able to build you up to divert all the questions to you. Look we were, when we announced the delivery plan, the Premier and I were pretty up front. We apologised, we said sorry. We took the position to the election of no new stadiums. We did the 100-day review and there was also the former government did the [Indistinct] review that recommended Victoria Park. We did take it to the elections about the stadiums.

    But it became apparent during the GIICA review and the 100-day review that there was just no other option, alternative. There was no time now to knock down the Gabba and rebuild the Gabba. The displacement of AFL and cricket was too great and too costly. So, we were pretty up front. I think we said in a room of a thousand people and journos, we stood up and apologised and we said we’ll cop that. It’s not the position we took to the election but it’s the position now that we think is in the best interest of all Queensland, and particularly for the 2032 Games, particularly for AFL, the Lions, the Mighty Lions, and cricket.

    So yeah, I’m not hiding behind the fact that we had a different position from the election, but I think we tried as best we could to explain ourselves and why would we change our position, and why we put in the delivery plan and accepted the recommendations from GIICA. Because if we hadn’t of, you would end up with a Government making political decisions again, and it would’ve gone around in circles, and you would not be in a room today with the Federal Minister and a State Minister, having done the deal, struck the deal to deliver the 2032 Games. You’d be talking about temporary stadiums [Indistinct] spending $2.25 billion, and no procurement process underway. 

    I think it is a different position we took to the election, but we’re pretty up front with it, we apologised. And we said to Queenslanders, this is now our job to explain why we took that position to the election, and explain why because it is now in the best interests of Queenslanders to get on and proceed and do the best that we can.

    CATHERINE KING: Thanks. I’d say, equally, from our point of view is that the delivery plan was provided and the Queensland Government’s response to that in March of this year. We wanted to take some time to look at it and to get the details about what are the costs of new venues, what does that look like. You know, publicly I’ve been very upfront about that. It’s been [Indistinct] as has the Prime Minister, that we’re really keen to see the arena. 

    It’s why we put the Commonwealth’s money there. We know the Prime Minister’s a pretty big fan of live music and we felt, from our point of view, that was good legacy. But that project has now being procured by the private sector. That is a decision the Queensland Government has made and we’ve been faced with the decision, well, given that it is no longer a Games venue and the agreement is about Games venues in terms of funding, what do we do about it? 

    And that’s why we’ve taken our time. We’ve looked at the finances. We have put conditions around the stadium. We recognise that it is a challenging issue for First Nations people, for local green space. We want to make sure that it’s got right and that it is a precinct that everybody can enjoy, and that’s why we’ve taken our time to do that and we’re making this an [indistinct] too.

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, Alex Brewster again. Have you turned your mind to what you might like to see the stadium called? I know you’re a proud monarchist. Would you perhaps like to see it named after a royal name?

    [Laughter]

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Actually, thinking about that, Minister King did not put in her letter of agreement anything about how- King’s Stadium in honour of either Charles or Catherine. Thank you. Food for thought. Thank you, Alex. 

    No, look, we joked in Parliament that it would be the John Sosso Stadium. Well, some people in Queensland have a big fascination with my Director General. He just wants to get on with the job and stay out of the press. But, look, GIICA recommended it be named the Brisbane Stadium – iconic. Just travelling back from the States, all the stadiums over there are named- they do funding deals. Incidentally, all the stadiums are built by the private sector, so if there’s anyone in the room today who wants to chip in as well and help Minister King and I balance our budgets a little more and invest. Because I kept asking all the other- I went to SoFi, I went to AT&T, and I said, how did that level of investment from Government in having all these? And they said, oh no, the building heads of the sporting teams just build these things – and jeez, wow. Lions have got to put in a bit more I think, in cricket. 

    But no, we had I haven’t turned our minds to that yet. We’ll just get shovels in the ground and start building it and then we’ll work out the name of it.

    JOURNALIST: Minister King, can I just jump in there and ask you, when you were negotiating with the State Government, did the Commonwealth put to the state that rowing could be held in Penrith?

    CATHERINE KING: So, what we’ve done as part of the agreement is we’ve provisioned money for Rockhampton, but that is conditional or dependent on the federated body for rowing determining that rowing can go forward there. Obviously, we’ll await that decision, but we’ll provision money for Rockhampton for that to occur. And again, that’s the decision that the Queensland Government has done, and that’s what it wants to do. And obviously, if there’s a different decision taken, we’ll work with the Queensland Government on that. But the Deputy Premier is pretty determined that’s where rowing is going to be.

    JOURNALIST: We’ve also had the Prime Minister suggest Penrith. What’s your view?

    CATHERINE KING: Again, I think that the Prime Minister is a problem solver and I think he knows that there are some challenges with Rockhampton, but we’ll let the Rowing Federation go and have a look at those and make a decision from there. And we’ll provision money for that venture as part of the Minor Venues Program and we’ll work through the processes. And there’s a [indistinct] plan B, then that’ll be a matter for discussion with the Queensland Government. But as I said, the Deputy Premier’s pretty determined and that that’s where rowing’s going to be. We’ll let the Federation do its work.

    JOURNALIST: Mackenzie Scott here from The Australian newspaper. Obviously, you’ve looked into this $7.1 billion deal today but the Treasurer, David Janetzki, has launched his team to start privatisation of certain large infrastructure projects. How much do you expect the public- sorry, the private sector to give in a monetary sense into Games infrastructure?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Well, we have provisioned for $7.1 billion, that’s the deal. That was the Federal Government that have got to account for that as well. So, it equates to, if you look at the 7.1 billion, it’s not 50-50. It’s nearly 50-50. We’ll call it 50-50. It’s a couple hundred million less than the Federal contributions, a couple hundred million less than our contribution. We’ve stuck to that $7.1 billion figure. 

    Now, that doesn’t include private sector investment. We’ve budgeted on a provision that that is what it’s going to take for the state and the Commonwealth to get those venues, the major venues and minor venues done. If the private sector come into the market and assist GIICA with the stadium develop, minor venues, then that’s a bonus. That’s a bonus for the Federal Government and for the State Government. Those discussions have to take place with GIICA, but that will go through the procurement process.

    So, it’s not that we’ve announced that the private sector will build Victoria Park. We haven’t announced that at all. We have budgeted the money. As I said, our budget is $5.15 billion over the next four years for Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure. So, it’s state and Commonwealth funding, and we’ve kept it at 7.1.

    Catherine and I were talking about this before we came in today, and there’s a lot of people talking to us, oh, but blowouts, blowouts, blowouts. And I said: don’t be guided by the 10 years of blowouts from previous governments in Queensland. There are businesses in Queensland and nationally that actually deliver things on time and on budget. We can’t be in that mindset that everything is just going to blow out. We’ve got to make sure we try and do it on time and on budget. And our budget is 7.1. We’ve not shifted from that. 

    JOURNALIST: Deputy Premier, Rosanna Kingsun from Seven News. Can you rule out whether there will be a new train station at the Olympic Park there as in the paper, or is that not a consideration at all? And a question for Minister King. What would you like to see the State Government and Brisbane City Council include in their new precinct plan?

    JARROD BLEIJIE: Rosie, thank you for the question. I’m not really anything in or out about the transportation. Because what we need to do is work out what will be the best public transportation system around RNA, Victoria Park, the new stadium, and also the National Aquatics Centre. So, I’m not going to rule anything in or out. I’ll be guided by the experts. They’ve got a job to do now to work out what that transportation plan looks like – new stations, no stations. So, we’ll be open to any of the suggestions that come forward, but it’s got to be in the best interest of the commuters to get people around all the venues.

    CATHERINE KING: And that’s really what we will dig for in terms of the transport and mobility plan and not just obviously how people are going to move around the venues, and obviously, the IOC and Australian Olympic Committee will also be interested in those issues.

    In terms of precinct overall, I think what you will see across the globe at the moment is that where stadiums are being built- we’re not the only country that is facing challenges of people being concerned about the cost of those, loss of green space, all of those things. And what you’re seeing- and I think there’s some really interesting examples in the US, in Queens for example. I had the incredible privilege of being able to go and have a look a couple of years ago now, at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium and what they did around there around being able to provide education opportunities for a really incredibly disadvantaged community. 

    As I said in my speech, really I’m interested in more infrastructure [indistinct], not just in sport. We can see what that legacy looks like. But really, the opportunity we have here is to really shape cities, and to shape the way people live and dream about and enjoy those cities. And really, that’s what we’re looking for in the precinct plan. Because we know, long after the Games have finished, there’s people who live in these communities and we want them to be able to utilise those facilities, utilise the green space, be able to utilise transport and love where they live. And that is challenging. 

    As I said, that we’re not the only country in the world who might be aware there’s an election in Tasmania at the moment, and the issue around that there. In the same way, as we’ve said, we’ve funded Macquarie Point Precinct. We just haven’t funded just a stadium, what the life is going to look like down in that particular part of the world. So that’s really the sort of thing we’ll be looking for from both the transport and the precincts point of view.

    MC: Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, that’s where we’ll have to leave it, but I’m sure we’ll have many more of these events in the lead up to 2032. Please join me in thanking the Deputy Premier and Minister King.

    [Applause]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 5 killed in landslide in southwest China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    KUNMING, July 27 (Xinhua) — Five people trapped in a car by a landslide in southwest China’s Yunnan Province on Sunday have been confirmed dead, local authorities said.

    According to the Press Office of the Pu’er City People’s Government, prolonged heavy rains caused a landslide on a highway in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County in Pu’er at around 10:00 a.m., trapping a car and five people inside.

    They were pulled from the rubble at approximately 1:40 p.m., but by that time they were all already dead.

    More than 80 people, including firefighters, police, health and emergency services personnel, as well as five excavators, took part in the rescue operation.

    Local authorities are currently working to identify hidden risks and eliminate the consequences of the natural disaster. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • ENG vs IND: Jadeja, Washington pull off epic rescue act as India draw Manchester Test, keep series alive

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India pulled off a remarkable escape to force a draw in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Sunday, riding on a spirited batting display led by Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.

    Facing a daunting 311-run deficit and reduced to 0/2 early in their second innings, India responded with defiance, batting through more than five sessions for the loss of just two additional wickets. They finished the final day on 425/4, denying England a series-clinching win.

    Skipper Shubman Gill led from the front with a resolute century — his fourth of the series — while Jadeja and Sundar struck unbeaten hundreds of their own, frustrating the hosts in front of a silenced Old Trafford crowd.

    Earlier, England had set up the game with the bat, piling on 669 in their first innings — their fifth-highest total in Test history. But their bowlers failed to make inroads on a pitch that gradually flattened out, allowing the visitors to claw their way back into the contest.

    The result keeps the five-match series alive at 2-1 in England’s favour. The hosts now head to the final Test at The Oval, starting Thursday, needing to avoid defeat to secure the series.

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM District 837 Members in St. Louis Vote to Reject Boeing Defense Contract

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    ST. LOUIS, July 27, 2025 – More than 3,200 IAM District 837 members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill., have overwhelmingly voted to reject the company’s contract offer during a vote held on Sunday, July 27.

    IAM Union members delivered a clear message: the proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce. Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future.

    Unless a new agreement is reached, the current contract will expire at 11:59 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 27, at which point there is a seven-day cooling off period before a strike would begin.

    The IAM Union remains committed to achieving a fair contract that meets the needs of our members. The IAM Union looks forward to returning to the bargaining table with Boeing’s leadership to deliver meaningful improvements that support the well-being and livelihoods of IAM members and their families.

    The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

    goIAM.org | @IAM_Union

    The post IAM District 837 Members in St. Louis Vote to Reject Boeing Defense Contract appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Illegal Alien Who Killed Two Teens While Intoxicated in Sanctuary Jurisdiction of Wisconsin

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Criminal illegal alien from Honduras driving while intoxicated killed 18-year-old girl and 19-year-old boy in car wreck in Dane County, WI

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer against a criminal illegal alien responsible for driving while intoxicated and causing a fatal car wreck that killed two American teens, an 18-year-old girl and 19-year-old boy in Dane County, Wisconsin.  

    According to local reports, on July 20, 2025, Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila—a criminal illegal alien from Honduras—struck a vehicle while driving the wrong direction on a highway, killing 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson at the scene. Martinez-Avila also gravely injured 19-year-old Brady Heiling who died from his injuries on July 25, 2025.

    Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila has been charged with two counts of felony vehicular homicide and impaired driving by Wisconsin law enforcement. ICE lodged an arrest detainer for this illegal alien’s arrest and removal from the country.

    Dane County, where the crash took place, has historically not honored ICE detainers due to sanctuary jurisdiction policies.  

    “Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them—and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila—a criminal illegal alien from Honduras. Martinez-Avila recklessly drove the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated and killed these two teens,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “ICE has lodged an arrest detainer to remove this public safety threat from the U.S. Unfortunately, this sanctuary jurisdiction has a history of not honoring ICE arrest detainers often leading to the release of murderers and other heinous criminals. Under Secretary Noem, these precious victims will not be forgotten, and we will fight for justice.” 

    DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of illegal alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mandai North Crematorium And Garden Of Serenity Will Commence Operations On 15 August 2025

    Source: Government of Singapore

    Singapore, 28 July 2025 – The new Mandai North Crematorium (MNC) and Garden of Serenity (GOS), operated by the National Environment Agency (NEA), will begin operations on 15 August 2025. MNC will start with four cremation services daily. Cremation services will be ramped up progressively over the coming months.

    2          The new facilities, spanning approximately 2.4 ha, have been built in anticipation of demographic changes and an ageing population in Singapore. Annual resident deaths are projected to increase from about 25,000 in 2024 to around 40,000 by 2040. The new crematorium will provide additional cremation capacity, and the GOS will provide an additional option for the inland scattering of ashes. They will enable us to continue serving the nation’s needs in the years ahead.

    Facility designed to create a healing environment for the bereaved by integrating greenery and natural lighting within the key spaces

    3          The MNC is designed to house six service halls with viewing halls, transfer halls, and 18 cremators. Currently, three service halls are equipped with nine cremators. The ash collection centre is also ready for operations. NEA will fit out the remaining halls and cremators to meet anticipated demand for cremations.

    Service hall

    4          The new cremation facility offers an innovative design and technological features to enhance operational efficiency, and provide a seamless experience for visitors [1]. Some key features include a layout where service halls and viewing halls are adjacent, reducing walking distances and improving accessibility for all users. Technology is also used to enhance the visitor experience, with automated guided vehicles for coffin transport, and a self-help system at the ash collection centre. A comprehensive process control monitoring system oversees the entire cremation and ash collection process, ensuring service reliability. 

    Layout is designed with key facilities positioned side by side on the same level or connected vertically via escalators and lifts, reducing walking distances for visitors.

    Automated guided vehicle will be used to transport a coffin from hearse drop off to the service hall

    Ash collection station with a self-help system to facilitate collection of cremated ashes

    5          The MNC has been awarded the Green Mark (Platinum) by the Building and Construction Authority for sustainability efforts in building design. The environmental features at the facility include greenery in and around the building, a green roof that reduces the heat island effect, efficient underfloor cooling systems, and adoption of low carbon concrete and sustainable building products [2] to reduce the carbon footprint of the building.

    6          The GOS, Singapore’s second inland ash scattering facility, is located next to the MNC building [3]. It adopts an open garden concept with designated lanes for walkways and ash scattering [4]. It also incorporates a stormwater detention pond designed as a natural pond. The new facility will enable us to meet increasing demands for inland ash scattering service [5].

     

    Garden of Serenity: Landscaping and greenery have been used to create a peaceful, serene garden setting, to provide a dignified and respectful environment for ash scattering

    7          NEA will continue to plan ahead to ensure sufficient government after-death facilities and services, and to provide these services in a way that allows bereaved families to come together to send off their loved ones with dignity and respect.

    ————————————————————

    [1] See Annex A for more details on the design inspiration for the facility

    [2] Certified by the Singapore Green Building Council or on the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

    [3] The Garden of Serenity occupies approximately 750 sqm within the new Mandai North facility.

    [4] See Annex Bfor more details on the features at Garden of Serenity.

    [5] Accumulated ash soil will periodically be transferred from the ash scattering lanes to a designated location within the Garden of Peace (located at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery) due to limited available space at GOS, to ensure that its lanes remain available for continued use. 

     

    ~~ End ~~

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: President El-Sisi Reviews Progress of Transport, Industry, and Infrastructure Projects

    Source: APO


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    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, and Presidential Advisor for Financial Affairs Lieutenant General Ahmed El-Shazly.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, said President El-Sisi was briefed during the meeting on the implementation status of projects under the Ministry of Transport and Industry, particularly those related to the railway system. This included Al-Arish –Taba railway line and the completion of Bir El-Abd–Al-Arish railway line projects that are expected to contribute significantly to the development of the Sinai Peninsula and to the establishment of a logistical corridor linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

    The meeting also addressed updates on the development of seaports, given their pivotal role in the national development agenda. In this regard, the implementation progress of several key ports was reviewed, including Ras Sedr Port, Gargoub Port, Abu Qir Port, the Grand Port of Alexandria, the new El-Max Port, the continued development of Sokhna Port, the establishment of Taba Seaport, and ongoing development at Damietta Port.

    The meeting further covered the progress in constructing the fourth metro line in Cairo and the high-speed electric train project. Additionally, efforts to develop and enhance industrial zones in Wadi Al-Saririya and Al-Motahhara in Minya Governorate, and northern Fayoum in Fayoum Governorate, were discussed. These initiatives fall within the broader framework of promoting industrial development in Upper Egypt and creating more job opportunities for local residents, especially in labor-intensive industries such as textiles and ready-made garments.

    President El-Sisi emphasized the need to complete all projects according to their specified timelines. The President gave directives to continue efforts to accelerate the implementation of integrated developmental logistical corridors that link production areas to the developing seaports, transforming them into world-class, high-capacity hubs. This integration with Egypt’s modern transportation network including roads, highways, and railways is vital for positioning Egypt as a global center for trade and logistics.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Matjhabeng EPWP funds suspended amid corruption probe

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Matjhabeng EPWP funds suspended amid corruption probe

    The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has instructed his department to immediately halt all Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) transfers for the Matjhabeng Local Municipality as allegations of the abuse of payroll by politically connected individuals has surfaced.

    In a statement on Sunday, the Minister has expressed deep concern over the allegations published in a City Press investigation that reported that the Matjhabeng Local Municipality’s EPWP payroll continues to fund inflated salaries for former councillors and sitting political office bearers.

    These individuals reportedly earn over R31 000 per month – more than ten times the average EPWP stipend – thereby undermining the very principles of the programme.

    The Minister explained that the EPWP was established to provide short-term, skills-based work opportunities to unemployed South Africans, not as a vehicle for political patronage. 

    He has since instructed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to suspend any EPWP transfers to the municipality, pending a full investigation.

    “The EPWP is an essential lifeline for many in communities across the country, including in Matjhabeng, and it would therefore be wholly unacceptable if any politician or official is found to have used the programme for personal benefit. 

    “We simply cannot turn a blind eye when serious allegations of abuse are raised, which is why I have instructed the department to suspend EPWP fund transfers until a formal investigation can be completed,” Macpherson said.

    The Minister added that the allegations further reinforce his view that the EPWP must be reformed to eliminate any possibility of abuse and ensure that intended beneficiaries fully benefit from the programme, free from political interference.

    “Through the EPWP Listening Tour conducted nationwide, we have heard several serious allegations of abuse — such as those in Matjhabeng — and it is therefore critical that the programme be strengthened to eliminate any possibility of corruption and political patronage.

    “After 20 years, we are committed to reforming the EPWP to ensure it remains a viable platform for empowerment well into the future, as we work to build a better South Africa,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Participants of the SCO Media and Think Tank Summit Visit Luoyang and Praise Its Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LUOYANG, July 27 (Xinhua) — Just before noon on July 26, the square in front of the Dingdingmen Gate Museum in Luoyang, central China’s Henan Province, was filled with ancient sounds as participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit climbed the steps, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty’s bustling trade with other countries at the time.

    On this day, about a hundred Summit participants arrived in Luoyang to see with their own eyes the rich historical heritage and modern development dynamics of this city.

    Luoyang Mayor Zhang Yujie warmly welcomed the guests. “Luoyang is the cradle of Chinese civilization, the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, where the capitals of 13 dynasties were located at different times,” he said. “The city has witnessed brilliant pages of trade and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Today, Luoyang is rapidly building a national innovation city and creating a bridgehead for opening up China’s inland regions to the outside world, actively integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative.”

    Zhang Yujie expressed hope for joint projects with the media of the SCO countries in the format of “Retracing the Silk Road” in order to tell the stories of ancient and modern Luoyang from new angles.

    Standing on the majestic tower of the Dingdingmen Gate, Tlesh Mamakhatov, a leading researcher at the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICSA RAS), admired the grandiose layout of the ancient capital.

    “Chinese culture is immensely deep. Confidence in one’s own civilization while respecting others is the key to the prosperity of ancient Chinese culture, economy and the flourishing of the Silk Road,” he stressed.

    Today, according to him, the SCO countries under this banner are following the path of mutual learning between civilizations and harmonious coexistence.

    Guests also visited the immersive project “Empress Wu’s Banquet”, going on a cultural journey through a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty. Based on the gastronomic traditions of the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the project recreated the atmosphere of banquets – from table setting to dish design. Classic dishes of the Luoyang Banquet Menu / Shuixi / were accompanied by ancient music and dance. Participants, enjoying the delicacies, watched the performance of artists in Tang costumes. This feast was not only a gastronomic but also an aesthetic immersion into the majestic culture of the Tang Dynasty.

    In the “China YTO Group Intellectual Innovation Space”, guests were introduced to the development and production processes of intelligent agricultural machinery, learned about the export of the company’s products, and felt the pulse of modern Luoyang. Participants enthusiastically took pictures against the backdrop of large-sized tractors, giving high marks to premium-class equipment made in China.

    The program ended at the Longmen Grottoes and Temples, where guests experienced the unique charm of China’s largest open-air stone sculpture museum.

    “It is very interesting to visit the historical city of Luoyang and such special places where you can feel the spirit of China,” said Irina Akulovich, Director General of the Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BELTA), calling her sixth trip to China absolutely “amazing” and “unusual.”

    “I have never seen such sculptures and caves in my life!” I. Akulovich noted with admiration during her visit to this complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a history of more than 1,500 years and represents the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Launches New Low-Earth Orbit Satellites to Provide Internet Access

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TAIYUAN, July 27 (Xinhua) — China on Sunday successfully launched a new group of low-orbit satellites to provide internet access from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.

    The group of satellites, the fifth of its kind, was launched at 18:03 Beijing time by a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket. The satellites successfully entered their designated orbits.

    The current launch was the 585th flight mission for the Long March series of launch vehicles. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fatal accident at QMH site probed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hospital Authority (HA) has expressed concern over a fatal accident today on a construction site at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), where the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) is carrying out redevelopment works.

     

    This afternoon, a worker employed by a lift engineering subcontractor was trapped in one of the lift shafts. Site management staff immediately called the Fire Services Department to rescue the worker, who was subsequently certified dead upon arrival at QMH’s accident and emergency department.

     

    After receiving a report of the accident, the Labour Department immediately deployed staff to the site and is now conducting an investigation.

     

    Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the HA extended its sincere condolences to the deceased worker’s family. It also directed the ArchSD to ensure that the contractor involved provides appropriate assistance to the bereaved and supports them in handling the worker’s after-death arrangements.

     

    The HA said site staff from the ArchSD immediately contacted the contractor after the accident to follow the matter up. The contractor has been urged to take the incident seriously and to adopt all necessary measures as soon as possible to ensure site safety. The contractor has also been requested to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and submit a report to the ArchSD and the HA, with a view to preventing similar accidents from happening again.

     

    The HA added that it will urge the ArchSD and the contractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department and enforcement agencies in their investigations.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority’s statement regarding an industrial accident at Queen Mary Hospital redevelopment project construction site

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hospital Authority’s statement regarding an industrial accident at Queen Mary Hospital redevelopment project construction site 
    The redevelopment project of QMH is being carried out by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD). This afternoon, the HA was notified by the ArchSD that a worker employed by a lift engineering subcontractor was trapped in one of the lift shafts during work. The site management of the contractor immediately called Fire Services Department to rescue the worker, who was then sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of QMH for emergency treatment. The worker was certified dead upon arrival at the Accident and Emergency Department.
     
    The HA expresses deep sorrow over this incident and extends its sincere condolences to the deceased worker’s family. The HA has directed the ArchSD to ensure that the contractor provides appropriate assistance to the family and supports them in handling the family member’s after-death arrangements.
     
    The HA is very concerned about the incident. Since the lifts involved in the project have not yet undergone all required works and adjustments, and have not been handed over for use and management by QMH. The HA is aware that site staff from the ArchSD immediately contacted and followed up with the contractor after the accident. The contractor has been urged to take the incident seriously and to adopt all necessary measures as soon as possible to ensure site safety. The contractor has also been requested to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and to submit a report to the ArchSD and the HA as soon as possible to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
     
    The HA has always placed paramount importance on industrial safety at hospital construction sites. The HA notes that the contractor will report this incident to the Labour Department, and the HA will also urge the ArchSD and the contractor to fully co-operation with the Labour Department and other relevant enforcement agencies in their investigation.
    Issued at HKT 22:41

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Concerns over ineffective measures to curb prison overcrowding

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Sunday, July 27, 2025

    The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has expressed concern over the low success rate of the current legislation aimed at reducing overcrowding in the country’s correctional facilities.

    This comes after the committee received a briefing from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) regarding the implementation of Section 49G of the Correctional Services Act (CSA) and Section 62F of the Criminal Procedures Act (CPA) applications.

    Both sections aimed to alleviate pressure on the country’s overburdened correctional facilities.

    Section 49G of the Act determines that a remand detainee may not be detained for a period exceeding two years without such matter having been brought to the attention of the court concerned.

    The referral of the remand detainee by the head of the remand detention centre must be done three months prior to the completion of two years in detention. This will provide sufficient time for the courts to apply their minds. 

    If a remand detainee remains in detention after the first consideration, further submissions must be made annually.

    Section 62(f) makes provision for the placement of awaiting trial detainees under the supervision of a correctional official as a condition of bail.

    During a briefing on Friday, the committee heard that the success rate under Section 49G of the CSA for the 2022/23 financial year is 1.25% of 12 283 court referrals nationally, with the Eastern Cape and Western Cape both indicating a 0% success rate. 

    In terms of 2023/24, the Eastern Cape once again showed a 0% success rate. 

    In the 2024/25 financial year the province had 142 court referrals and only one was successful and in the current financial year it has had two successful court referrals.

    “The committee also heard that approximately 40% of the total sentenced offender population are serving sentences above 15 years, inclusive of those serving life sentences. Lifers will typically remain incarcerated for longer periods of time and are sentenced/ convicted of serious crimes. This means that bed spaces will not become readily available, which places more pressure on already overcrowded correctional facilities,” Committee Chairperson, Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –