Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The NSW border town of Albury experienced a 16-fold increase in net migration from capitals in the year to June 2025.

Regional Australia remains a strong draw for city dwellers, with 26 per cent more people relocating from capital cities to regional areas than vice versa, according to the June Quarter Regional Mover Index (RMI).

Top-performing centres such as Albury (NSW), Townsville (QLD), and Bendigo (VIC) are attracting new residents with their affordability, lifestyle, and opportunities. After taking the lead in the March quarter, Greater Geelong has slipped back to second place. The Sunshine Coast returned to the number one spot for net migration to Australia’s regions in the year to June 2025.

“Across Australia, this quarterly report shows an overall downturn in movement across the country of 15.2 per cent, which includes capital to capital relocation. However, regional Australia is no longer a second choice – it’s the smart choice. From career opportunities to community connection, the regions are delivering,” said Liz Ritchie, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute (RAI).

Queensland maintains its position as a leading destination for internal migration, boosting its share of net movement from capital cities to regional areas from 19 per cent in 2023-2024 to 31 per cent in 2024–25, now second only to New South Wales at 34 per cent. Tasmania also reversed its net outflows, recording a 4 per cent net inflow to regional areas.

The East Pilbara region in WA led growth hotspots with a 311 per cent annual increase in migration, followed by Hinchinbrook (QLD), Murrindindi (NSW), Greater Shepparton (VIC), and Albury (NSW).

Albury saw an incredible 16-fold increase in net migration from capitals in the year to June 2025.

“Albury and neighbouring Wodonga offer exceptional lifestyle and economic opportunities attracting both business investment and workers choosing to relocate there,” said Kylie Allen, CBA's Executive General Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking.

“With more affordable land in close proximity to major cities and airports, a range of major employers based there that are continuing to recruit, educational institutions and many lifestyle benefits, it’s no surprise to see how these regions are thriving.

“Albury and Wodonga are an example of how successful regions have a mix of good infrastructure, employment opportunities, available housing and lifestyle benefits to attract the many Australians who want to leave the cities for a tree change. It’s exciting to see how many regional businesses, and large employers, are looking for ways to create opportunity in regional Australia to create prosperity in their communities and drive growth.”

The Australian Government has committed $7 million to three new projects in Albury-Wodonga, including the Oddies Creek Splash Park, Wodonga Creek precinct, and the Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.

One company aiming to take advantage of the opportunities in Albury is Beechworth Bakery. Founded in 1984, the business has grown into a regional icon with eight locations across Victoria and New South Wales, employing around 300 staff. Managing Director Marty Matassoni says CBA has played a key role in expanding the business, including the opening of a store in Echuca.

“We’ve banked with the CBA for 40 years and they’ve played an important part in our expansion. All our growth has been funded by the bank and the CBA team in Albury have continued to support us and believe in our plans. They have provided strategic guidance and I keep coming back to CBA because they understand me and what our needs are,” said Mr Matassoni.

In a vote of confidence in the region, Mr Matassoni recently renewed Beechworth Bakery’s 5-year lease in Albury.

“This quarter’s findings underscore the critical role regional centres play in shaping Australia’s future. However, with housing pressures mounting in regions, affordability is waning, and RAI has provided policy solutions to support growth in the regional housing market,” said Ms Ritchie.

“RAI’s recent report,  Answering the Call for Regional Housing, has recommended the appointment of a Regional Housing Commissioner and for 40 per cent of the National Housing Accord’s 1.2 million homes (480,000) to be built in regions.”

The RMI, a partnership between RAI and CBA, provides vital insights into migration trends and supports decision-making across sectors.

6 September 2025: “In the past three days, the Israeli forces have accelerated their genocidal campaign and ethnic cleansing by expanding their military activity into Gaza City.

In Gaza City there are bombings during the day and night, and the people are terrified and unsure of where to go or what to do.

We’ve seen entire neighborhoods being destroyed and demolished, with practically no buildings left standing. These are areas under evacuation orders, but the attacks are not only happening in those areas — they’re also taking place in the rest of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of people still live.

Our teams continue to provide care for Palestinians injured by Israeli airstrikes — burns, trauma, and severe fractures — as well as for those suffering from malnutrition in our maternity and neonatal intensive care units.

Remaining hospitals in Gaza City are overwhelmed; they are already operating beyond their capacity, and the potential evacuation of all the patients — including newborns and critically ill patients — would be extremely difficult.

Very few people have been able to move south because most of them don’t have the means to travel, as transportation is expensive. And even in the south, there is no space set up to allow nearly one million people to settle— a place that is not free from attacks either.

People are not only confused by contradictory messages but are also besieged by bombings and attacks, and they really don’t see any solution. Many are still staying in Gaza City simply because they have no other option.

The Israeli offensive on Gaza City must be stopped immediately,” Esperanza Santos, MSF Emergency Coordinator.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

September 5 2025 – A half-point interest rate cut is now on the table from the Federal Reserve this month after another stark sign that the US labour market is faltering, predicts the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

Private sector hiring came in far weaker than expected in August, according to the ADP National Employment Report out Friday.

Companies added just 54,000 jobs, well short of the 75,000 forecast and down sharply from July's upwardly revised 106,000.

Combined with the latest government data showing overall job growth at only 75,000, unemployment rising to 4.3%, and wage growth slowing to 3.7%, the evidence points to a labour market losing steam at an accelerating pace.

Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere Group, says: “This is a significant warning sign.

“The jobs engine of the world's largest economy is sputtering. The Fed can no longer afford to nibble at the edges with quarter-point cuts. A 50-basis-point move is, we believe, now not only on the table but necessary.”

Until now, markets had fully priced in a 25bp cut at the September 16–17 meeting. But the combination of weak private sector hiring, a fourth consecutive month of payroll gains below 100,000, rising unemployment, and falling wage pressures has dramatically changed the conversation.

“The narrative is shifting,” comments Nigel Green.

“A small cut risks looking timid in the face of mounting weakness. A decisive half-point reduction would provide immediate stimulus, lift market confidence, and send a strong signal that the Fed is prepared to act to prevent a deeper downturn.”

The urgency is reinforced by a backdrop of declining job openings, which slid to around 7.2 million in July, one of the lowest levels in more than a year. Weekly jobless claims, while still within a historically normal range, have ticked higher.

At the same time, corporate layoff announcements in August surged, highlighting how fragile confidence among employers has become.

Investors are already braced for a cut, but the scale of the move will determine market reaction.

A modest reduction is largely priced in, meaning the market upside from 25bp is limited.

A bolder 50bp cut, however, would trigger a more powerful repricing across asset classes.

“Investors need to recognize what's at stake here,” says Nigel Green.

“A half-point cut would weaken the dollar further, boosting US equities, particularly tech and growth names that thrive in lower-rate environments.

“It would also channel renewed liquidity into emerging markets, where valuations remain compelling.

“Meanwhile, gold and Bitcoin would likely extend gains as investors seek hedges against currency volatility and longer-term inflation risk.”

The international context matters too.

With other central banks such as the European Central Bank and the Bank of England also preparing to ease, a Fed move of greater magnitude could catalyse a wider global cycle of monetary support.

This would amplify the effects on capital flows, commodity prices, and risk-sensitive currencies from the Australian dollar to the Mexican peso.

“We are entering a new phase,” says the deVere CEO.

“For years, the Fed led the tightening cycle. Now it must lead the easing cycle. Hesitation carries the risk of a confidence shock. The data is pointing one way: the US labour market is deteriorating, and the Fed must respond with conviction.”

The political pressure is unmistakable. President Donald Trump has openly urged the central bank to slash rates more aggressively as growth momentum fades.

While the Fed insists it acts independently, markets are acutely aware that the White House wants to see cheaper borrowing costs quickly.

For investors, the implications are immediate. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer a safe strategy.

“Portfolios must be realigned for an environment of falling rates and a softer dollar,” concludes Nigel Green. “That means greater exposure to equities, international assets, and diversifiers such as gold and Bitcoin. The time to act is before the Fed delivers, not after.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Two consecutive dry years in South Australia have put extreme stress on urban trees and shrubs, with Flinders University experts examining degrees of dieback in Adelaide trees affected by the dry conditions.

To better understand how trees may respond to drought differently, the researchers used a novel approach to assess a plant’s ‘efficiency and safety’ (resilience) to take up water from the soil – in a sense measuring their ‘personality’.

“Some trees take up water from soil more efficiently than others when soil water is abundant, but become less safe in drought – just like humans with different personalities respond to different stressors,” says Professor of Hydrology Huade (Walter) Guan, explaining a new article in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences.

The article explains how different trees of the same species may develop some flexibility to adjust the trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and safety over dry and wet seasons.

“With this in mind, the tree ‘personality’ test to measure how the tree is responding during drought can help to determine whether it’s likely to recover when the soil moisture returns – and whether irrigation or watering is recommended, or too late to apply,” says Professor Guan, from the College of Science and Engineering.

“Knowing a tree’s ‘personality’ will be useful for councils and residents to take care of urban trees by retaining stormwater in soils for trees vulnerable in droughts.”

Current measurements of plant hydraulic properties are labour intensive, destructive and difficult to scale up –  limiting the comprehensive characterisation of whole-plant and surrounding land-surface hydraulic properties.

The experimental trials were conducted on Allocasuarina verticillata, a flowering plant known as drooping sheoak endemic to south-eastern Australia, to develop the new, non-destructive method to easily test the trade-off between tree hydraulic efficiency and safety.

The novel system makes concurrent measurements of sap flow and water potential, using two small devices attached to a tree stem, like a Holter monitor for a human to record heart rhythms.

Flinders co-authors Professor Guan, PhD candidate Zhechen Zhang and Professor Okke Batelaan, from the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training at Flinders University, worked with colleagues from the University of WA and Colorado School of Mines in the US on the new article.

Flinders University researchers are now testing the tree ‘personality’ system as part of the ‘Drywells and Trees’ project, and investigating how roof water harvesting for garden soils may improve tree health in dry season and enhance canopy cooling in summer.

The project is funded by the Hort Innovation Green Cities Program, together with several city councils including City of Marion, City of Mitcham, City of Unley, City of Port Adelaide Enfield, and City of Onkaparinga. The University of South Australia, Space Down Under, Water Sensitive Urban Design, TreeNet, and Resilient South are also partners in this project.

At the same time, Flinders University experts have recently published a complementary study on vegetation response to climate variability in the Journal of Hydrology, examining better use of water and improved plant evapotranspiration levels to protect urban and other plants in future hotter and drier conditions.

The first article, ‘Enhanced runoff simulation with improved evapotranspiration accounting for vegetation response to climate variability’ (2025) by Nastaran Chitsaz, Margaret Shanafield and Okke Batelaan has been published in the Journal of Hydrology – DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133988 (published 28 July 2025).

The latest article, ‘Revealing seasonal plasticity of whole-plant hydraulic properties using sap-flow and stem water-potential monitoring’ (2025) by Zhechen Zhang, Huade Guan, Erik Veneklaas, Kamini Singha and Okke Batelaan has been published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (European Geosciences Union) DOI: 10.5194/hess-29-3975-2025 (published 28 August 2025).

From grocery hacks to scam smarts, The Brighter Side returns with money-saving hacks and inspiring stories to help boost financial confidence.

Aussies are making every dollar count and improving their money behaviours, with research showing 81 per cent of viewers of The Brighter Side took action and put into practice one learning after watching the show¹. That’s the equivalent of more than 1.5 million people taking one small step towards their financial future.

Now returning for season two, The Brighter Side will deliver even more practical tips, money-saving hacks and inspiring real stories, from families and side-hustlers to small businesses and scam-busters.

Ahead of the witness examination and hearing of activist and conscientious objector to military service Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal on 9 September, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer said:

“Netiwit’s refusal to take part in this outdated system should be a wake-up call for the Thai authorities to urgently reform the country’s legal framework to allow for alternative services, in line with international human rights law and standards.

“International law requires countries with compulsory military service to provide alternative, civilian forms of national service. This reform is long overdue in Thailand, where refusing military conscription can result in three years’ imprisonment.

“As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Thai government has an obligation to respect and uphold the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and refrain from punishing conscientious objectors. Authorities must immediately drop all charges against Netiwit.”

Background

In Thailand, military conscription for men aged 21 and over is determined each April through a lottery system – drawing a red card results in up to two years of mandatory service, while a black card grants exemption. There is also an option for voluntary enlistment.

On 22 May, the public prosecutor at the Samut Prakan Provincial Court indicted Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a prominent Thai human rights activist, for allegedly evading military conscription under Article 45 of the 1954 Military Conscription Act. If found guilty, Netiwit could be sentenced to up to three years' imprisonment.

Netiwit’s indictment is linked to his refusal on 5 April 2024 to take part in military conscription. His refusal was an act of civil disobedience in relation to the army, where human rights abuses against military conscripts and low-ranking officials are rampant. In 2020, Amnesty International released a report  detailing mental, physical and sexual abuse against conscripts in the Thai military.

UN human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Committee and the UN Human Rights Council, have recognized the right of conscientious objection to military service as part of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Netiwit joined the Amnesty International movement in 2012 and previously served on the Board of Amnesty International Thailand between 2018 and 2019.

– Flights commencing from 5 September, 2025

Nauru Airlines has announced a further network expansion, with the addition of services to Clark, Philippines, commencing from today 05 September, 2025.

“Adding the Republic of the Philippines to our network is a key development for us,” said Mr Robert Eoe, CEO of Nauru Airlines.

“Clark International Airport is a strategically important gateway and a natural fit for our expansion into Asia. We look forward to unlocking new revenue opportunities, and offering even greater passenger, ACMI and cargo opportunities to our customers,” he said.

“We are pleased to welcome the forthcoming launch of Nauru Airlines’ new service from Clark to Koror, which supports the airline’s Asia expansion,” said Noel Manankil, President and CEO of LIPAD Corp, the consortium that manages and operates Clark International Airport.

“We are also pleased to note that this particular service will provide additional connectivity for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) heading to different parts of the region.

“We, at Clark International Airport, are committed to providing a seamless airport experience and ensuring a memorable journey for Nauru Airlines passengers, as well as our OFWs” Mr Manankil added.

Nauru Airlines service to Clark will commence as a weekly operation connecting with the airline’s Australia-North Pacific Connector service operating Brisbane-Nauru-Kiribati-Marshall Islands-Pohnpei-Koror.

Effective from 5 September, services will also operate from Koror to Clark.

A Friday service will operate from Koror (Palau) to Clark (Philippines) departing at 18:20 and arriving at Clark at 1650 (local time).

Nauru Airlines said the new routing will improve access for passengers in the North Pacific seeking travel to Asia and vice versa.

The airline said the link to and from Clark also enhances opportunities for the movement of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and labour from Indonesia and neighbouring markets, to support workforce demands in construction, hospitality, domestic care, and professional services such as medical, dental, and engineering sectors.

Nauru Airlines has appointed Manila-based General Sales Agent Sparkle Traveland Tours to support introduction of the new services.Clark International Airport is located approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Manila, within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone. The airport serves the wider Central and Northern Luzon region as well as Metro Manila and, offering both international and domestic connections.

The 2,367 hectare airport clarkinternationalairport.com serves as the central hub of transportation in the area with an expansion plan to accommodate up to 25 million passengers annually, and a vision to develop the airport as the next premium gateway to Asia.

About Nauru Airlines

Nauru Airlines operates a fleet of 7 x Boeing 737 aircraft – Three dedicated to freight operations, Four operating as passenger aircraft. As one of the Pacific regions’ most experienced charter operators, Nauru Airlines offers scheduled passenger services as well as charter solutions to clients in Australia, New Zealand and the South/Central Pacific and Asia.

The airline provides ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance), freight and passenger charter solutions to meet the needs of diverse clientele including government agencies, educational and religious organisations, emergency response service providers, corporate entities, entertainment, sporting and large private tour groups, and other transportation partners.

Farmed fish are increasingly replacing wild fish to meet consumer demand in China, as well as Australia – and barramundi is a popular choice.

Aquaculture research led by Flinders University and experts in China continues to examine the benefits – and possible side effects – of improving fishmeal for farmed fish, with a new study investigating the potential of herbal additives to improve fish immunity in more sustainable future production systems.

The increasing global demand for sustainable and antibiotic-free aquaculture has prompted the exploration of natural plant extracts as alternatives to traditional chemical additives, particularly antibiotics, in improving fish immunity, says Flinders University Professor of Aquaculture Jian Qin.

“Some of the herbal additives in this study benefited the biochemical and immune responses in juvenile barramundi, at a stage when they are more susceptible to disease or infections,” says Professor Qin, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.

Collaborator Professor Zhenhua Ma, director of the Tropical Fisheries Research and Development Centre at the  South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, adds: “While these results indicate that some plant extracts tested could be beneficial additives in aquaculture feed, their potential risk to other environmental organisms should be further investigated before their extensive application in aquaculture.”

Testing led by Flinders PhD candidate Ms Zhengyi Fu, who is based at the Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute in Hainan Province and the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences in Guangzhou, sought to assess the environmental toxicity of the plant extracts in various marine environments.

The ecotoxicity and physiological impacts of four plant extracts – gallnuts (Rhus chinensis), green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata), white mustard (Sinapis alba), and betel nut (Areca catechu) – were tested on juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer) as well as three other marine species including brine shrimps (Artemia salina).

While plant-based additives are generally safe, some bioactive compounds within these extracts have demonstrated potential toxicity, raising concerns about their environmental and ecological impacts,  

Along with the potent antibacterial and antiparasitic properties of the four herbs tested was a focus on bioactive compounds within them such as phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids and organosulfides, which may affect aquatic ecosystems, according to the new article published in Ecological Indicators journal.

The article, Evaluation of plant extracts as aquaculture feed additives: Ecotoxicological and physiological responses in marine species (2025) by Zhengyi Fu, Tao Zhang, Zhenhua Ma and Jian G Qin has been published in

Ecological Indicators, an Elsevier journal DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113964

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113964

Acknowledgements: The coauthors of this study have various affiliations with the Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and Dalian Tianzheng Industrial Co.

Singapore, 4 September: The Liveability Challenge (TLC) is powering up with a game-changing injection of over S$4 million in catalytic funding and support – its biggest boost yet – to fast-track cutting-edge sustainable innovations from the lab to market.

This includes S$2 million in catalytic grants from Temasek Foundation, S$2 million worth of development support from Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and grant support from Enterprise Singapore, as announced during the launch of the ninth edition of TLC at Google Singapore today.

Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, TLC was established in 2018 and has grown to become a global crowdsourcing platform for sustainability solutions.

With eight successful editions concluded, the annual crowdsourcing platform has attracted thousands of applications globally, shortlisted and incubated 54 finalists and deployed almost S$14 million in catalytic funding to help these start-ups scale and commercialise.  

“This catalytic boost of more than S$4 million represents our commitment to turning bold ideas into real-world impact for the environment. Through The Liveability Challenge, Temasek Foundation is providing catalytic funding to empower innovators to push boundaries, tackle pressing challenges and create lasting benefits for the planet and future generations,” said Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate and Liveability at Temasek Foundation.  

September 4 2025 – Gold has stormed to fresh record highs, breaking through $3,575 an ounce, as global investors accelerate their flight to safety amid mounting geopolitical and economic turmoil.

The precious metal is trading at its strongest levels in history, lifted by expectations of imminent US interest rate cuts, a weakening dollar, and unprecedented central bank demand.
Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group, says: “Gold's surge into record territory underscores the scale of unease among investors.

“Currently, we predict the price will reach $5,000 per ounce by the end of the first quarter of 2026. The drivers are already in place and momentum is compounding.”

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce a rate cut this month as the US labor market softens and recession risks mount.

Lower rates reduce the appeal of cash deposits and government bonds, while simultaneously supporting bullion.

“Each cut removes oxygen from cash and bonds, leaving gold as the standout alternative,” notes the deVere CEO.

“With inflation still running above target and government debt expanding at record speed, investors are seeking a store of value that requires no political guarantees.”

The dollar index has slipped to its weakest level in over a month, magnifying gold's appeal to overseas buyers. At the same time, silver has broken through $40 an ounce for the first time since 2011, reinforcing precious metals' broad safe-haven bid.

Central banks are intensifying their accumulation. The People's Bank of China has expanded its bullion holdings for 22 consecutive months, while countries in the Middle East and Asia are adding reserves at the fastest pace in decades.

“We expect this accumulation to continue as sovereigns look to reduce reliance on the dollar,” Nigel Green explains.

On the supply side, constraints remain entrenched. Global mine output has stagnated, discoveries are increasingly scarce, and environmental costs are rising.

“When overwhelming demand collides with flat supply, there is only one logical direction for price,” adds the chief executive.

“This imbalance will not resolve quickly, which is why we expect gold's trajectory to remain sharply upward.”

Private investors are also reshaping allocations. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are recording robust inflows, sovereign mints are reporting elevated bullion sales, and institutions are embedding gold into core holdings rather than treating it purely as insurance.

In addition, the US non-farm payrolls report on Friday is expected to show further deterioration in hiring, strengthening the case for monetary easing. At the same time, trade frictions and fiscal uncertainty under President Trump continue to unsettle markets.

“Gold thrives in environments where governments appear unpredictable,” Nigel Green notes.

“Attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve, erratic trade policy, and spiralling deficits are all elements that erode confidence in fiat currencies. Investors respond by turning to assets that are politically neutral and globally recognized.”

Nigel Green concludes: “Gold is reflecting today's reality of high debt, unstable currencies, and structural inflation.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.