The Federal Environmental Department is set to lose 1/3 of its staff that actively work to reduce Australia’s accelerated rate of extinction, for which we are sadly a world leader. The cuts have come during a national review of threatened Australian species that revealed at least 1/3 of 548 species were not being actively tracked.
The report found that the issues that caused the lack of tracking would be made worse by these job cuts. Experts have described the cuts as particularly disastrous for the fate of many threatened species in Australia.
Documents that have been given to staff at the Department of Environment and Energy reveal that at least 60 full-time staff would leave the conservation and biodiversity division in the new financial year.
With barley more than 200 staff at the department, these cuts represent about 1/3 of the jobs there. The document revealed that the reason for the job cuts was because of a budget cut to those divisions.
The Department’s spokesperson, when asked to clarify any relation to the upcoming federal budget, said that the Department of Environment and Energy would “publish its budget position” in the following week.
He revealed that the job losses had been a result of a combination of program cuts and pressures from “across the portfolio”.
The conservation and biodiversity divisions that the jobs are being cut from are responsible for coordinating listings of endangered and threatened species as well as making plans for recovery and actions against invasive species.
Although the documents show that there will be a shuffle of responsibility to manage those areas, the lack of staff will be a shot of bad news for the species that are already threatened at the moment.
The cuts to the Department follow what many economists have said is a Federal divestment from environmental policy as it takes a back seat to policy designed to stimulate the economy.
Superhero movies have been around forever with DC Comics, Marvel and Universal all releasing their own. But there’s a reason that Marvel is now starting to take a commanding lead.
Sequels are one of the biggest challenges that movie producers face having to retain the actors and keep the story running along a similar line with slight changes to keep the interest.
Keeping the interest and the actors is often the hardest part as people find newer, more contemporary entertainment and actors and actresses find more exciting opportunities. The idea of a complete ‘cinematic universe’ of superheroes, therefore, sounds virtually impossible to execute.
Maintaining relevance through an ever-evolving culture is a huge challenge as the superheroes stay the same but the culture changes. So far, Marvel were the ones who started it all and they are now the ones who are excelling.
Their latest release, Avengers: Infinity War, has already seen huge success and has taken the Marvel Universe to a huge $6 billion at the box office over the last 10 years through 19 blockbuster films. Each of these films has been met with excitement and appreciation for their cultural relevance and incredible cinematography.
The introductory stage from 2008 to 2012 saw Marvel introduce us to the core of their universe, Thor, Iron Man and Captain America. Each one told their own story before coming together as a great team in The Avengers and making it look easy to produce quality superhero films.
DC Comics and Universal have both tried and failed with films such as Justice League and The Mummy not reaching their desired targets. It appears that Marvel have simply made it look easy, but there is a skill in their doings.
From the very beginning Marvel has focused on the characters, not the plot of the action, but characters themselves. Admittedly, they have had some luck in casting Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), the, at the time, unknown Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Chris Evans (Captain America) but maybe it wasn’t all luck.
All of these actors fit their roles perfectly, suiting the stature and attitudes of their characters. Marvel have successfully based on their films around the character, the actor and let them go to work. It creates a closer, deeper connection with the audience as we now following these people in their on-screen and real lives. This is what makes people care and puts Marvel ahead of the rest.
Joel Fitzgibbon, Labor’s agricultural spokesperson said that the industry was no longer viable and that it needed to end in a matter of years. He acknowledged that it would take time to gradually remove the industry but it that it “can’t be a decade”.
Mr Fitzgibbon urged Australia to move quickly because the industry’s market was changing and that in order to achieve “sustainable profitability” the transition would need to start immediately however he was not able to provide a specific timeframe.
Previous Labor policy had been to enact a temporarily suspension of sheep exports during the summer which is the season causing most livestock deaths. Despite this, Mr Fitzgibbon said that the recent scandals had prompted Labor’s new stance of a complete ban.
Unsurprisingly the Government has come down hard against Labor’s proposition, warning that it will cost jobs and that it showed how “reckless” Labor is, according the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The Prime Minister went on to say that the decisions on “big export industries” should be made with “science and information”. He said Australia should regulate exports on an “informed basis” and “not an emotional one”.
Within a matter of weeks a government review into the live export sector is due to report its findings. David Littleproud, the Federal Agricultural Minister who said the scandal would not lead to a ban, has said that any changes in the industry would be based off that report.
Mr Littleproud said that Labor was capitalising on the scandal with a “knee-jerk ban” 2 weeks before the report was due. He said businesses and farmers were “traumatised” by Labor’s 2011 ban on live exports and must be even more worried now.
Animals Australia and the RSPCA have both said they would give $500,000 towards a fund that would support farmers while the industry transitioned to a ban. Both groups want the government to supplement these funds in order to make sure farmers are not disenfranchised.
Gary Humphries, chairman of the RSPCA said the fund was the welfare groups backing up their history of statements about animal welfare and live exports. He said that they were “prepare to put in money” so that farmers were not “left in a lurch” as adjustments to the industry were made.
Heavy equipment and machinery used in farming, mining, and industrial works need constant maintenance to make sure it is always in perfect working condition. Overlooking the subtlest signs of damage or failure could lead to equipment breakdown and decrease productivity. Operational downtime can be costly and equipment damage could compromise the safety of your staff.
Lower the risk of heavy equipment damage and operational downtime by doing the following:
Proper and appropriate training in operating the machines
You cannot operate industrial machinery unless you know how it works and how to use it properly. Before entrusting your machine to your staff, make sure that they receive proper training on how to use the machine properly. Not only will it help them run the machine smoothly, it will also help them detect if there are any changes in the behaviour of the equipment they are operating.
Aside from receiving proper training, it will be ideal to let your new employees familiarise themselves with the contents of the user’s manual provided by the manufacturer. If you made any changes in the manual to fit the specific work conditions, be sure to inform your employees. It will help them have a better grasp on how to handle the equipment properly.
Adding and testing lubricants
Lubricants play a significant role in keeping your heavy equipment in peak condition by reducing friction on moving parts. Proper maintenance and good lubrication can help in prolonging engine life.
Whenever possible, look for signs of grease build-up and excess oil and check if there leaks. If you find any damages or leaks, let experts check the machine to find out what’s wrong with it. They can also look at oil samples from the machine to analyse the particles and check if there are any contaminants that can cause wear and machine breakdown.
When changing oils and lubricants, it would be best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on the manual. It can help in determining the right grade for your machine/equipment.
Identify the possible causes of heavy equipment breakdown
Having a maintenance schedule is important, but in order to achieve its maximum efficiency, you have to be able to identify the potential causes of equipment breakdown. Knowing the things that could cause heavy equipment to breakdown will not only help you make an effective maintenance schedule, it can also help save hundreds of dollars.
Once you have anticipated the possible causes, it will be easier for you to detect if there are changes in the behaviour of your machine.
Maintenance and repair schedule
Recording every work done by and to the machine can help in keeping the machine in top shape. If the machine gets damaged, it can help the maintenance personnel or operator to easily diagnose what caused the problem. It also helps in determining the lifespan of the machine. A machine that breaks down too often can affect the productivity of the business.
Following maintenance and repair schedules allow operators and business owners to see if their large machines are working properly.
Check for any signs wear or fatigue, especially on moving parts. Friction and vibration can cause gears to separate or break. Make sure that the temperature is not too high, especially when the machines/equipment are used for extended hours. Also, check if there are no leaks fuel, oil, and other liquid containers.
Knowing the limits of your machine
Once you have anticipated the possible causes, it will be easier for you to detect if there are changes in the behaviour of your machine. It includes details on proper maintenance and repair in case the machine/equipment is broken.
Being able to meet the daily quota is important to the business, but it’s also essential to understand the capabilities and limitations of the heavy equipment you are using. It is ideal to follow the recommended weight load limit indicated in the manual in order to keep your machine in its best condition. Avoid overusing the machine to prevent overheating and potentially damaging the machine/equipment itself.
As a business owner, you may not always pay attention to these details since you leave the equipment in the capable hands of your staff, but note that making sure that your equipment is safe for work is also a part of your responsibility. Making sure your equipment is functional and looking after it is also a good way to reduce your expenses.
The world’s biggest annual song competition returns this month with Jessica Mauboy to represent Australia.
Eurovision 2018 is upon us and once again will be showcasing some of the world’s biggest talents. Below is everything you need to know about this year’s event.
When is Eurovision Song Contest 2018?
The Eurovision Song Contest kicks off on Wednesday, May 9 with Round 1 of the semi-finals. Round 2 of the semi-finals, featuring Australia’s own Jessica Mauboy, will begin on Friday, May 11. The grand final is set to be held on Sunday, May 13. This year’s contest will be completed in Lisbon, Portugal, the first time that Portugal is hosting the annual event.
How many countries are competing?
This year there are 43 countries participating in the competition with Australia featuring for the fourth time.
Jessica Mauboy representing Australia
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first appearance for Mauboy at the Eurovision Song Contest having made a guest appearance in 2014 for Australia. That year, she became the first solo-artist from a non-European country to feature in the competition.
Mauboy will be performing her hit single ‘We Got Love’ at the contest which was written by Anthony Egizii and David Musuneci.
Who else is performing?
Portugal was last year’s winner and this time around they will be represented by Claudia Pascoal. Ireland, who has won the Eurovision crown the most times with seven, will be sending in Ryan O’Shaughnessy.
Sweden boasts the most famous Eurovision winners ever with ABBA and this year they are sending in a youthful performer by the name of Benjamin Ingrosso. The 20-year-old has found some early success in his career in Sweden having already had a single go platinum and amassed a huge 25 million streams on Spotify.
Live broadcasts of this year Eurovision song contest will be on SBS at 5 am on May 9, 11 and 13.
At this point in the season the real AFL premiership contenders are starting to make themselves known, and a few teams have completely written themselves off. The great majority in the middle still need to establish a pecking order.
First up are the strong contenders. Richmond are the reigning premiers, and have picked up right where they left off. They may have been a tad lucky to take the flag in 2017, but their squad gained valuable big game experience and the confidence to believe that they can beat anybody. The Tigers are the form team at the moment and could well retain the AFL premiership.
The Sydney Swans have had some hiccups, but they have shown that when they are on they win matches. Winning in Geelong without Buddy Franklin showed that the team is not a one-trick pony – and the final quarter blitz demonstrated that they can never be counted out of a game of AFL.
Adelaide were grand finalists and probably the best team in the AFL last year. This year, however, they have struggled for consistency. They are still at the right end of the ladder, and can be expected to make an impact in September.
GWS have one of the strongest (on paper) teams in the league. They have also only lost one game this year, to cross-town rival and fellow title contender Sydney. The draw against St Kilda is concerning, and many wins have not been convincing. The Giants are a good side, but need more of a killer instinct.
And now the teams who can be written off from the AFL this year. Unsurprisingly the winless Brisbane and Carlton head the list – the only win either side looks likely to get is against the other. Joining them on the list is St Kilda. The Saints will be more of a challenge than the bottom pair this year, and will cause an upset or two, but lack the consistency to make the finals.
I’m also ready to say that the Bulldogs and Bombers will miss the 8. While they are each only a win behind the Kangaroos in 8th they have not impressed so far. The Bulldogs will cause some upsets with their young side, and may well finish higher than they are now, but they won’t be consistent enough to play finals football.
The Bombers, meanwhile, have made a habit of losing valiantly against good teams, and just losing against bad ones. They have the firepower to be ranked higher than they are currently, but I doubt they are top 8 material – this year.
Many people have traditionally found marketing a hard skill to master and this isn’t made any easier by the prevalence of digital media in today’s society. While there are certainly plenty of capable digital marketing practitioners, at what point can someone be considered an expert?
Many high profile marketers have struggled being labelled as digital marketing experts or gurus because of the implications that come with it. Kris herself explained that those who describe themselves as digital marketing magicians are big red flags for anyone pursuing consultancy in the field.
But there must be some way to verify the best of the best, right? Not necessarily, since digital marketing is a constantly evolving field there is no one size fits all approach that will be viable forever.
The devil is in the details
Strategies that worked 2 years ago won’t necessarily be as effective as they were when they were cutting edge. This means that practitioners who sell consultancy are always learning new things and educating themselves on the best practises.
While there are certain unassailable truths to how marketing should be performed that are always relevant in a broad context, the specific actions that are taken are always being tested and re-evaluated based on analytical metrics.
Digital marketing is, as the name implies, highly measurable through computerised means. The meticulous data collected by search engines and online aggregators is easy to graph and demonstrate visually to clients.
This high volume of data, useful or otherwise can be presented by unethical marketers to fool clients into making bigger investments. The measurability of digital marketing is easily exploited by those who are dishonest about the risk that the data helps reduce.
Marketing by default has an inherent risk associated with it. While not stabbing in the dark, marketing is a serious of well-informed guesses about how an audience will respond to your messages. While there are certain targets that we can be very confident in reaching, guaranteed results are something that is often too good to be true.
No rest for marketing experts
Digital marketing experts know that success requires continual work and adaptation. Photo: REDPIXEL, Bigstock
Success in marketing is not always paired with a specific numeric achievement but in its ability to work towards those targets in a gradual way. The best kind of marketing campaigns are ones that work back to back and continue the success that’s been achieved thus far.
Therefore, marketing practitioners need to constantly be thinking ahead and making predictions that inform future strategy. A digital marketing expert would draw on their past experience, analytical data and there entrepreneurial instinct when making strategic decisions.
As much as we prepare and make educated guesses, digital marketing will always have that element of risk that clients look to marketers to minimise. In many ways digital marketing is about tailoring traditional marketing strategies so that they can thrive online.
Specific skillsets
A large part of this tailoring process comes in the form of search engine optimisation (SEO) which specifically works to increase the organic search visibility of a client’s website. With websites becoming a powerful POS for many businesses, driving organic traffic to those domains has been correlated with increased conversions.
SEO falls under the umbrella of search engine marketing (SEM). SEM uses other tactics like pay-per-click (PPC) advertising via tools like Google AdWords.
The best SEO practitioners could be considered digital marketing experts as their responsibilities can often include work on social media, copywriting, backlinking and keyword research. These practitioners are digital marketing experts within the context of their subdivision known as SEO although they are often talented with broader marketing as well.
Who qualifies as a digital marketing expert?
To summarise, a digital marketing expert would be a professional who has a proven track record of success behind them with several different clients, big and small. The expert would also acknowledge that they don’t know everything and shouldn’t present themselves as an all-knowing digital marketing wizard.
A digital marketing expert would be someone who appreciates the need to be dynamic with their approaches to fit changing trends in social media, search engine algorithms and the internet in general. Unlike the real world, the internet is a system with 1’s, 0’s and rules that govern the behaviour of things featured on it.
This means that digital marketing is both couched in uncertainty while still being able to be informed by hard data. It’s certainly true that to declare yourself a digital marketing expert without being able to back it up will do you more harm than good as a professional.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France has challenged Australia to do a better job when it comes to addressing the global issue of climate change. Mr Macron is the second French president to make a visit to Australia and arrived in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
His first stop after getting off the plane was a high profile dinner at the Opera House where he was joined by business leaders, politicians and French expatriates.
During a speech, Mr Macron issued a challenged to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He urged the Prime Minister to demonstrate “power of conviction” and a display of courage in confronting the issue of climate change.
Mr Macron disclaimed that he was aware of the ideological divide in Australian politics and said that he respected these circumstances. However he followed up by saying that “actual leaders” can participate in a “broader” and “more strategic” approach.
As part of his challenge Mr Macron cited that Australia’s neighbouring island nations are the most at risk from rising sea levels as a result of climate change. He said that “numerous” pacific nations were at risk of being submerged in a number of years.
France has historically had deep ties to the Pacific region as a result of colonialism. Mr Macron is set to travel to the French territory of New Caledonia following his Australia trip.
Later in 2018 New Caledonia is set to hold a referendum regarding independence from France.
Both Mr Macron and Mr Turnbull are expected to reveal new collaborative military agreements, especially in regards to cyber-security. They also set to discuss the strategic growth of China in the Pacific region and the predicted breakdown of an Iran nuclear deal.
United States President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to scrap the deal despite numerous voices, including those of Macron and Turnbull telling him not to do so. Mr Macron warned that scrapping the deal would be destabilising to the security of the region.
The parents of Dolly Everett have opened up on the “sickening” actions of the bullies that led the young girl to her death.
Tick and Kate, the parents of the young girl driven to her death as a result of bullying say that they still think about what they could’ve done to prevent it. In a recent interview, the couple spoke about the hell that their daughter went through along with one chilling email revealing her bullies’ actions and the moment they found their daughters body.
Living on a remote cattle station in the Northern Territory, they said that their daughter was a “happy-go-lucky, carefree” character and that she was tough and could get through anything.
Despite loving life on the ranch and having a close relationship with her sister Meg, Tick and Kate believed that it would be best for their daughter’s education to send them to boarding school for their high school years.
They said that they believed it was “the best option for an education” and that they have weighed up the “pros and cons with them about their interests”.
Attending Scots PGC College in Warwick, Queensland, Tick and Kate said that Dolly Everett and her sister Meg liked the school but that not long into the first term, they began to get reports of Dolly having “issues”.
Kate said that her daughter had told her that “boys were calling her a slut” and that she told Dolly to just forget about it, ignore it and over time things will get better.
However, the issues didn’t seem to get better quickly and Kate contacted the school where she believes that it was simply “swept under the cover” with the school claiming that it was “not a massive issue.”
Kate said that there was one particular boy who would pick on Dolly by calling her names and pushing her before one day she turned around and “decked” the bully. Ultimately, her retaliation got her in trouble.
This so called ‘rebellious streak’ continued as the second year came around and Kate began to realise that everything was certainly not OK. “She went from the most enjoyable little girl to someone that did end up in trouble at school” she said following a phone call making her aware that her daughter was sending explicit photos to a boy.
She was suspended again after she was caught drinking at the end of year 9. It wasn’t long after that her daughter sent an email highlighting the “savage abuse” that the bullies would throw at her. Kate said Dolly had requested to come home in the email outlining that the bullies were calling her a “dirty slut” and that she “should kill (herself)”.
That summer following Year 9 seemed all but normal until only a few days a quick family holiday, it all changed.
Dolly and her sister had gone to bed but just 30 minutes later her parents found her dead. “There was nothing we could do” Kate said.
Since their daughter’s death, Tick and Kate have been strong advocates of helping children who are being bullied and encouraging others to open up.
Cyber-harassment is a new phenomenon that has grown in prevalence along with increased global access to the internet. Nowadays cyber-harassment is as or more likely to happen to someone, especially if they habitually use the internet.
A whole generation is being raised in an internet culture whereby strangers and criminals are closer to us than ever before. With the advent of social media, personal information such as phone numbers, emails, names of children and home address can be mined by unscrupulous internet agents.
The abundance of personal information that the internet enables means that those seeking to stalk someone will have a much easier time sourcing information that they can use to disastrous effect. Cyberstalking is really no different from traditional stalking, other than that it is made much easier by the technologically integrated world we live in.
However, people, organisations and governments in Western society have all acknowledged the threat of cyberstalking and have enacted measures to curb it with varying success. Cyberstalking goes hand in hand with cyberbullying, something that is commonly seen at today’s schools.
Some non-profit organisations raise awareness and funds to combat cyber-related issues through specialised software and support services. Groups like this are essential to giving victims of cyber-harassment a support network that does more than simply pat them on the back, as it actively helps to remedy these situations and get victims back on their feet.
Cyberstalking, like any other issue, comes in degrees of severity and the way people respond to it will be initially different. For some people, logging off of social media is enough to avoid most cyberstalking or harassment, but in many cases it is not.
In a world where having an online presence feels like a social obligation, especially for younger people, it can be hard to avoid channels whereby you can be cyberstalked. Regardless, individuals should feel safe and confident in using the internet without fear of being victimised.
The anonymity factor
Technology allows people to harass others without physically confronting them. Photo: TeroVesalainen, Bigstock
The biggest difference between forms of harassment on the internet and those in real life is the inherent anonymity of online agents. Most websites allow users to create fake profiles through which they can harass other users without fear of being identified and ostracised in real life.
The fact that people can say and do things from the relative safety of their phone or computer means that they can harass people without fear of physical confrontation. Truly, the fact that there is less risk of discovery in using online channels explains why cases of cyberstalking and harassment are so prevalent.
People will naturally do what they think they can get away with and certainly a large number of cases of online harassment would not have taken place in the real world. Because of the fact that this kind of bullying does not go beyond inflammatory online posts, it is often discounted and not taken seriously as a gateway to more severe cyber-harassment.
When “harmless” becomes harmful
The big issue with the aforementioned anonymity factor is that, as mentioned, it dilutes the definition of cyberstalking and harassment so that people think it’s no more serious than juvenile schoolyard teasing. This means that when cases do become serious they are often not acted on as quickly as they should be and this is something which can cost lives.
It’s well-known that teenage mental health issues are heavily exacerbated by social media and cyber-harassment. As young people attach their self-worth to measurable online popularity, we find that their self-esteem is incredibly easy to undermine.
The immortality that is bestowed upon anything uploaded the internet means embarrassing schoolyard moments caught on camera are shared virally and haunt people for years. An explicit photo that was shared in confidence between experimenting teenagers can now be broadcast to their entire social circle with a few sinister clicks.
The issues inherent to adolescence are blown up via the internet and this gives ample opportunity for the most dangerous online predators to move in and exploit young people. This leads into more serious issues of child pornography and paedophilia where by the internet has enabled anonymous predators to lure children who use the internet unsupervised.
There are several highly cited cases of people committing suicide as a result of online harassment and bullying. While it would be inaccurate to say the online harassment was the only factor that led to their suicide, it is definitely a big part of the picture that needs to be addressed.
How do we solve it?
Solving an issue like this is not something that will ever really have a final victory. The reality of harassment and similar social issues will probably stay with society for a long time to come.
However, this does not mean people need to be victimised by these actions. By donating to support groups and remaining personally vigilant against problematic online behaviour it’s easy for people to help curb cases of cyber-harassment by a significant margin.
