The new HEF Victoria executive also includes Vasudevan Srinivasan as Secretary, Rakesh Singh as Treasurer, Avinash Adhyapak as Social Media Manager and Karthikeyan Kameswaran as Government Relations Coordinator.

The appointments were announced by Seshadri Vidyam, Director of Hindu Economic Forum Australia, who said the team would focus on strengthening HEF Victoria, developing professional and business connections and delivering initiatives for the community.

“Congratulations to the entire team. Together, we look forward to strengthening HEF VIC, building professional and business networks, and delivering impactful initiatives for our community,” Vidyam said.

The appointments build on Victoria’s existing leadership structure. HEF Australia’s published chapter information previously listed Asthana as Victorian State Director, Srinivasan as Operations Lead and Rakesh Singh as Finance Lead, indicating all three have already been involved in running the organisation’s activities in the state.

The new structure gives those responsibilities a more formal executive framework, with Asthana taking the presidency, Srinivasan becoming secretary and Singh assuming the treasurer’s role.

HEF Australia describes itself as a platform bringing together business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, bankers, professionals, technologists, economists, academics and other business leaders to share knowledge, resources and commercial opportunities.

Its stated philosophy is based on the idea of “Grow Together. Share Together”, with an emphasis on building economic networks while encouraging members to exchange knowledge, opportunities and expertise.

The Australian organisation is structured as a not-for-profit and operates chapters across several states. Its formal chapter guidelines say HEF Australia was incorporated in 2021 and currently has chapters in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

The Victorian chapter has increasingly focused on practical business networking.

HEF events in Melbourne have brought together entrepreneurs and professionals around subjects including business growth, finance, technology, artificial intelligence, automation and operational efficiency. An upcoming November networking event in Docklands, for example, is focused on improving profitability through better business operations, cost control and supply-chain efficiency.

Recent HEF Victoria activities have also included forums bringing together professionals to discuss economic leadership, collaboration and business growth.

The organisation’s membership charter places particular emphasis on ethical business conduct, collaboration, reciprocal support and sharing opportunities among members. HEF says members are encouraged to support initiatives strengthening and contributing to wider Australian economic activity.

The Victorian leadership appointments come against the backdrop of a sizeable Hindu community in the state.

According to the 2021 Australian Census, more than 214,000 Victorians identified Hinduism as their religion, representing about 3.3 per cent of the state’s population.

The community is particularly visible in rapidly growing parts of Melbourne’s west, north and south-east.

In postcode 3029, which includes areas around Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina, more than 21,500 residents identified as Hindu in the 2021 Census, representing 16.6 per cent of the local population.

Victoria also has Australia’s largest concentration of people with links to India. The Victorian Government says almost 260,000 Victorians were born in India and about 40 per cent of Australia’s Indian diaspora lives in the state.

That demographic growth has increased demand for professional, cultural and business organisations capable of connecting entrepreneurs and professionals across industries.

HEF Australia says its broader objective is to create “local to global” connectivity, helping members access knowledge, partnerships, investment opportunities and professional networks both within Australia and internationally.

Asthana already has a visible role in that work. HEF Australia’s public chapter information identifies him as having previously served as Victoria State Director, while he is also listed among people associated with the organisation nationally.

Singh has similarly been active in HEF Victoria’s business programs and is publicly associated with business coaching and professional networking in Melbourne.

Under the new team, government engagement will become a specifically identified responsibility through Karthikeyan Kameswaran’s appointment as Government Relations Coordinator, while Avinash Adhyapak will oversee social media communications.

The new executive is expected to continue building HEF Victoria around regular business meetings, networking opportunities and initiatives connecting professionals and entrepreneurs.

For HEF Australia, the Victorian appointments form part of a broader effort to develop state-based networks while maintaining links to a wider international Hindu Economic Forum movement.

The organisation describes that objective simply: building connections between businesses, creating opportunities and encouraging shared prosperity.

With Victoria home to a large and economically active Hindu and Indian-origin population, the new leadership team will now be tasked with translating that ambition into a stronger business and professional network across the state.

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Baird, a former NSW premier who became Cricket Australia chair in 2023, will leave the position at the governing body’s annual general meeting next month. Boon will take over on an interim basis while Cricket Australia searches for a permanent chair.

The departure comes just weeks after Cricket Australia announced it would push ahead with bringing private investment into the BBL, beginning with the Melbourne Renegades, despite deep divisions among state cricket associations over the future ownership and financial structure of the competition.

Baird’s position became increasingly difficult after Cricket NSW withdrew its support for him to continue as its nominated director for another three-year term.

Despite Baird’s previous links with Cricket NSW, the state association has been among the strongest opponents of Cricket Australia’s approach to BBL privatisation. Queensland has also expressed opposition to elements of the plan.

The dispute centres on Cricket Australia’s push to introduce private capital into the Big Bash as Australian cricket attempts to compete with increasingly wealthy Twenty20 competitions around the world.

Earlier this month, Cricket Australia confirmed the Melbourne Renegades would be the first BBL franchise taken to market.

The governing body wants the Renegades operating under private ownership from the 2027-28 season. Depending on the outcome of that process, other state associations could then decide whether to seek private investment in their own teams.

That represents a shift from earlier discussions about a more uniform league-wide privatisation model.

In June, Cricket Australia and the six state associations reached in-principle support for a “self-determination model”, allowing individual states to decide whether private investment was appropriate for their clubs.

But NSW, Queensland and South Australia had raised concerns about the financial and governance implications, while Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia were more receptive to private capital.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association has also been involved in negotiations, with player approval required for elements of the proposed restructuring.

Cricket Victoria has been one of the strongest advocates for change.

In June, it announced plans to sell the Renegades licence and restructure its remaining Melbourne BBL operation. Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins said at the time there had been interest from potential investors in Australia, India, Europe and the United States.

The proposal has raised broader questions about how much control private investors could eventually exercise over BBL clubs, including branding, commercial operations and the relationship between franchises and their state associations.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has argued private investment is increasingly necessary for the BBL to compete in an international T20 market that includes the Indian Premier League, South Africa’s SA20, Major League Cricket in the United States and England’s Hundred.

Baird’s resignation is the most substantial leadership consequence so far from those disagreements.

Fox Sports reported that Cricket NSW, chaired by John Knox, informed Baird last week that it would not support his nomination for another three-year term.

David Boon takes the reins

Boon’s elevation puts one of Australian cricket’s most recognisable former players in charge during a particularly sensitive period for the game’s administration.

The Tasmanian played 107 Tests and 181 one-day internationals for Australia, scoring more than 13,000 international runs.

Since retiring as a player, Boon has held several senior roles in cricket, including serving as an International Cricket Council match referee.

He spent nine years as a director of Cricket Tasmania, including three years as its chair, before joining the Cricket Australia board last year.

His immediate challenge will be helping manage relations between Cricket Australia, state associations and players as negotiations over the future structure of the BBL continue.

The debate has implications beyond the ownership of individual franchises.

The states and Cricket Australia must also resolve questions about BBL governance and how revenue and funding will be distributed across Australian cricket under a model in which some franchises could have private investors while others remain controlled by state associations.

For the Melbourne Renegades, the process is already moving ahead.

Cricket Australia says the result of that sale will help determine whether other BBL clubs are subsequently taken to market.

Baird’s departure means that process will now continue under new leadership — with Boon temporarily at the helm as Australian cricket navigates one of the biggest structural changes in the Big Bash’s history.

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Kumar-Jonson was recognised in the Change Agent category alongside other Victorians who have made significant and lasting contributions to their fields and communities.

The 2026 Honour Roll inducted 27 women and gender diverse people at a ceremony at Arts Centre Melbourne on 23 September.

Kumar-Jonson has championed community-led responses to complex health issues, including establishing overdose prevention programmes across Victoria’s north and south-west and helping integrate lived expertise into addiction medicine services.

In 2023, Kumar-Jonson founded The Iceberg Foundation, a community-led mental health charity providing pathways to care for queer, neurodivergent, multicultural and forcibly displaced communities.

The following year, Kumar-Jonson launched the Manaya Pride Program, providing free psychological support for forcibly displaced queer people through identity-affirming care informed by lived experience.

Kumar-Jonson is also a mental health social worker and accredited EMDR clinician, with a focus on supporting people experiencing trauma, shame and abuse. Their work incorporates lived experience and trauma-informed approaches to support people from diverse communities.

The Victorian Government said Kumar-Jonson’s work is helping reshape how mental health care can be delivered more equitably, with their community-led model continuing to influence Victoria’s health and community sectors.

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women was established in 2001 by former Victorian Premier Joan Kirner AC. The programme recognises women and gender diverse people for leadership and excellence in their fields and commitment to the community. The 2026 ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the Honour Roll.

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ABF Acting Superintendent Neil Singh said travellers attempting to avoid customs duties were taking a risk, as officers use intelligence and passenger behaviour indicators to identify potential breaches.

“Attempting to evade duty and GST obligations is a serious offence that undermines the integrity of the border system.”

Earlier this month, the man arrived in Sydney on a flight from the United Arab Emirates and was selected by ABF officers for a baggage examination.

Officers found two containers containing the gold jewellery. The passenger had not lodged an import declaration for the goods, despite imported goods valued at more than AUD$1,000 requiring an import declaration when being cleared into home consumption.

According to ABF, the man told officers he was attempting to avoid paying customs duty and deferred GST. The outstanding duties and GST were estimated at almost $209,000.

The gold was held by ABF pending further assessment and referral to the agency’s Trade Intervention Unit. The following day, the traveller was issued an infringement notice totalling $50,448.04 for the undeclared goods.

The penalty was subsequently paid in full, along with the outstanding duties and deferred GST, taking the total amount paid to $259,352.92. The gold jewellery was then released to the passenger.

Singh said travellers were expected to make honest and accurate declarations of dutiable and taxable goods.

“This traveller thought they had a golden opportunity to smuggle their million-dollar goods into the country, but the plan fell in a heap, and they ended up paying a much larger bill.”

ABF warned travellers considering bringing high-value goods into Australia to understand their declaration and import obligations before travelling.

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The election commitment would fund the first stage of a purpose-built hall intended to give Victoria’s growing Nepali community a larger permanent venue for festivals, cultural celebrations, language programs, youth activities and interfaith events.

Wilson announced the commitment alongside Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs Evan Mulholland, ANMC president Dr Tilak Pokharel and Nepali community representatives at Parliament House.

The funding would be delivered in two instalments — $500,000 in 2027–28 and another $500,000 in 2028–29 — and would contribute to the hall’s core structure and essential infrastructure, including works needed to make the venue accessible, safe and weather-protected.

Wilson said Melbourne’s north and west were home to a large and growing Nepali community, but many major events still depended on temporary outdoor arrangements or rented venues.

“The Victorian Nepalese community has spent more than a decade building the concept of the ANMC from the ground up, through fundraising, volunteering and sheer determination,” Wilson said.

“The Liberals and Nationals are proud to back this community project with a $1 million commitment.”

The Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre was established in 2014 and is based at 100 Duncans Lane, Diggers Rest. The organisation says it has more than 1,500 life members, owns about 15 acres of land and has raised more than $2 million towards developing the site. Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre

The centre already operates as an important cultural and religious hub for Melbourne’s Nepali community, hosting Hindu and Buddhist activities, cultural events and community programs.

Its roots go back even further. Community reporting has traced the concept for a dedicated Nepali cultural centre to discussions dating back to the late 1990s, with the Diggers Rest land ultimately purchased in 2019 after years of community fundraising.

The proposed hall would be designed to support celebrations including Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Holi and Maha Shivaratri, as well as Nepali and Sanskrit language classes, youth and seniors programs, religious and interfaith activities and broader multicultural events.

Shadow Minister Mulholland said the centre had outgrown its existing facilities and argued the next stage of development would reduce its dependence on tents, parks and rented spaces.

“ANMC has outgrown its current facilities, with thousands of people attending major festivals like Dashain, Holi, Maha Shivaratri, Tihar and Teej in temporary outdoor tents or rented venues,” he said.

“This community deserves a modern, weather-protected facility they can call their own.”

The proposal builds on earlier Coalition commitments to the centre.

Through Victoria’s Multicultural Community Infrastructure program, the ANMC received $281,587 for works that included temple rooms, a meditation room, office space, upgraded toilets, a kitchen, parking, accessible facilities and an outdoor event area. The Victorian Government said those works had helped turn the centre into a hub for cultural, religious and community activity.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s 2024–25 annual report also records a further $16,501 grant to the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre.

That history means the latest Liberal-Nationals announcement is not funding for a new organisation, but rather a commitment towards the next major stage of an existing community centre that has been progressively developed over several years.

The need for larger facilities has become increasingly visible as community events have grown.

This year, the Melbourne Indra Jatra celebration at the Diggers Rest centre attracted about 6,000 people, according to Newa Guthi Victoria. The festival featured traditional Newa music, dance and religious processions.

The centre again hosted Indra Jatra on September 26 this year, drawing members of the Nepali, Newa and wider multicultural communities for a day of traditional music, dance, food and cultural performances.

Victoria’s Nepali population has grown rapidly over the past decade.

The 2021 Census recorded 20,154 Victoria residents born in Nepal, including 18,510 in Greater Melbourne. It also recorded 23,408 Victorians identifying Nepalese ancestry. Almost half of Victoria’s Nepal-born population was aged between 25 and 34 at the time of the Census.

The Victorian Government has described the Nepali community as one of the state’s fastest-growing communities.

Wilson and Mulholland also used the announcement to acknowledge the devastation caused by recent flash floods in Nepal.

Before outlining the funding commitment, they extended condolences to families affected by the disaster, including Victorian families who have lost relatives or have been waiting for news about loved ones.

The August disaster had a direct impact on Nepali communities across Australia, with community organisations organising vigils, fundraising campaigns and support for affected families. ABC reporting documented widespread anxiety among Nepali Australians trying to contact relatives after the floods, while the Nepalese Association of Victoria publicly expressed solidarity with families who had lost loved ones or whose relatives remained missing.

The Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre itself hosted a prayer gathering following the disaster, as members of Melbourne’s Nepali community came together to remember those killed and support families still searching for missing relatives.

The Coalition says the Diggers Rest investment forms part of its broader approach to multicultural infrastructure, particularly in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer suburbs.

Mulholland said the facility would serve not only the Nepali community but also support greater engagement between cultural and faith communities.

“This $1 million commitment will ensure our growing outer-western and northern suburbs have world-class multicultural infrastructure that supports language education, youth programs and interfaith engagement for generations to come,” he said.

For the ANMC, the immediate issue is practical: the centre has a large site, established community support and existing facilities, but its organisers say a permanent multipurpose hall is needed to accommodate events that now draw thousands of people.

If the Liberals and Nationals form government, the promised $1 million would go towards turning that long-running ambition into the centre’s next major construction stage.

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The equipment includes 50 CCTV cameras, eight LED display screens and two public address systems, which will be deployed across eight municipal markets to improve security monitoring, communication and emergency response.

The markets benefiting from the upgrades are Namaka, Labasa, Ba, Rakiraki, Nausori, Tavua, Levuka and Savusavu.

Fiji’s Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Katamotu Nalumisa, officially received the equipment on behalf of the Fiji Government at a handover ceremony in Suva. He was joined by Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji, Elizabeth Petrovic, and UN Women Deputy Representative Eri Taniguchi.

Nalumisa said the initiative went beyond providing security equipment, describing the investment as a way of strengthening confidence and community connections.

“We are not just handing over cameras, screens, and speakers. We are handing over confidence, connection, and community strength,” he said.

The new CCTV network is expected to strengthen collaboration between municipal councils and the Fiji Police Force, supporting crime prevention, monitoring and faster responses to incidents.

The initiative has a particular focus on women market vendors, for whom municipal markets are an important source of income and economic opportunity. Improved security is intended to help address concerns around theft, violence and harassment and create safer environments for women to work and operate businesses.

UN Women said safer markets can also contribute to women’s economic empowerment by enabling vendors to work without fear, expand their businesses, take on leadership roles and make decisions about their futures with greater confidence.

The Markets for Change (M4C) programme promotes gender equality and the economic empowerment of women market vendors across the Pacific. It brings together governments, market vendors and associations, civil society organisations and UN agencies.

M4C Phase II is implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP, with support from the governments of Australia and Canada.

The handover brought together Fiji’s Ministry of Local Government, the Australian High Commission, UN Women, municipal councils, the Fiji Police Force and Market Vendors Associations, reflecting a joint effort to make Fiji’s municipal markets safer and more welcoming for vendors, customers and communities.

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The Victorian election is still months away, yet voters are already being shown events which never happened. A machete attack at a petrol station, a woman giving birth on the roadside, floodwater pouring down the steps of parliament: all “deepfakes” generated by artificial intelligence (AI), and all reportedly appearing as paid advertising ahead of voters going to the polls.

Previously described as a potential “sleeper issue” for Australian politics, deepfake political content is rapidly becoming a very real electoral challenge.

We have been studying political deepfakes – and how people respond to them – in the lead up to the Victorian state election. Our preliminary results provide important insights into people’s ability to detect deepfakes and will help voters navigate the increasingly fraught information ecosystem as electoral campaigning ramps up.

What impact might this have?

Deepfakes once required specialist technical expertise and software to convincingly produce. Today, they can be produced by anyone using commercial and open-source AI tools. And they’re getting harder and harder to spot.

We conducted a meta-analysis that brought together findings from previous published studies from 2018 to 2026 to understand political deepfakes more and what this could mean for upcoming elections.

Across 19 studies and more than 24,000 people, the results (which are yet to be published) identified deepfakes can appear just as persuasive as other political content, including authentic footage and conventional misinformation.

We also found that deepfakes are associated with lower trust in news and democratic institutions, potentially making people question not only what is fake, but what is real – ultimately damaging trust in democracy itself.

At a broader level, this uncertainty can contribute to the “liar’s dividend”. This is where individuals dismiss genuine content as inauthentic.

Rejection of the real

In an experiment we did with 411 Australians, participants viewed an authentic political video, a low-quality deepfake, or a high-quality deepfake. Our preliminary findings are cause for concern.

People who consumed more news were better at detecting low-quality deepfakes, but not sophisticated ones. More strikingly, as news consumption increased, people became less accurate at identifying authentic content.

We found that roughly 75% of our sample could correctly identify deepfakes, regardless of whether they were high or low quality. However, this still leaves around one in four people who are unable to correctly identify a deepfake or are unsure about its authenticity.

Of even greater concern, almost 29% incorrectly labelled the real video as fake, while a further 18% were unsure.

Put another way, almost half of participants could not confidently and correctly identify genuine political content as real.

The danger, then, is not only that voters may believe content that is fake, but that they may also be becoming too ready to disbelieve content that is real.

Who is better at spotting a deepfake? It’s complicated

Some people are likely to be more susceptible to deepfakes than others.

Previous research suggests political deepfake detection declines with age, which may be particularly relevant in Australia, given the substantial proportion of older voters.

Political orientation may matter too.

Research from the United States suggests left-leaning individuals can be more accurate at detecting political deepfakes.

Our preliminary experimental findings add an important nuance: differences emerged only when the deepfake depicted a political actor aligned with the viewer’s own political orientation.

For example, if you are a Labor supporter you’re more likely to be able to tell a video of the current Prime Minister is a deepfake. This suggests susceptibility may depend not simply on a person’s politics, but on who is being depicted and their political alignment with the viewer.

Feeling confident doesn’t mean you’re right

Research provides a mixed picture regarding the role of confidence in detecting deepfakes.

Some studies suggest greater confidence can help people identify deepfakes, while others find confidence has little relationship with correct identification.

Our latest findings add another layer.

Among moderate and higher news consumers, confidence became increasingly disconnected from accuracy. These participants may have felt well equipped to judge political content, but that confidence did not necessarily translate into getting it right.

Therefore, feeling confident that something is AI-generated is not evidence that it actually is. Confidence may even become a vulnerability.

This matters beyond whether one video is correctly classified. If voters become increasingly suspicious of authentic evidence simply because it could have been generated by AI, deepfakes can potentially undermine trust even in their absence.

How can you spot a political deepfake?

There is no foolproof way to spot a deepfake. As AI improves, voters should rely less on whether something “looks fake” and more on verifying its source and supporting evidence.

First, don’t rely on appearance. Visual or audio flaws can reveal poorer deepfakes, but these cues are becoming less reliable.

Second, trace the source. Find where the content originated and consider whether the source is credible.

Third, check other evidence. Look for independent reporting or official sources confirming the content.

Fourth, question your confidence. Feeling certain something is fake does not mean you are right.

Finally, don’t amplify it. Avoid sharing suspicious content to ask if it is real. Verify it first.

As political deepfakes become more sophisticated, spotting visual imperfections will become increasingly difficult. The challenge for voters is therefore changing. We need to become better at questioning what we see, without automatically disbelieving it.

In an age of increasingly convincing AI, healthy scepticism matters. But so does knowing when that scepticism has gone too far.

Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast; Aimee Riedel, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Griffith University; Asha Worsteling, PhD Student, The University of Queensland; Griffith University; Lucas Whittaker, Lecturer in Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, and Renee Barnes, Associate Professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Albanese made the remarks during a conversation with former Prime Minister and Asia Society President Kevin Rudd in New York, where the two discussed Australia’s relationships across the Indo-Pacific. Responding to Rudd’s observation that the Australia-India relationship appeared to be “going places”, Albanese said India would become the world’s third-largest economy and already had the world’s largest population.

“To give Prime Minister Modi credit, more people have been connected with access to energy in India under his reign than has occurred in any decade, in any country or any region in human history,” Albanese said. He added that Australia had a strong relationship with India and that “a lot more can be done” in the economic partnership between the two countries.

Albanese said he had travelled to India twice as prime minister, while Modi had also visited Australia twice. Reflecting on Modi’s public appearances in Australia, he recalled the Melbourne meets Modi Marvel stadium event where Modi “filled a stadium” and said the excitement among the crowd was extraordinary. Albanese also recalled that Modi had asked the audience to cheer for him and that the only way “40,000 Australians” will be chanting his name is because he was Modi’s mate.

The Australian prime minister also announced that he would travel to India in December on his way to the G20 in Florida. He said he would take a group of Australian businesses to Mumbai for a “G’day Namaste” event, modelled on the G’day LA event, before travelling to Chennai for a cricket match involving a Victorian team and a Western Australian team. Albanese said the visit was one way of building on the ties between the two countries, which had a lot in common. He did add though that the relationship and partnership has been underutilised and that both he and Modi are very keen on rectifying that.

Asked about Indonesia, Albanese described the relationship as particularly important and highlighted his personal engagement with President Prabowo Subianto. He said Indonesia would become a top-five economy in the foreseeable future and stressed the importance of personal relationships in diplomacy. Albanese noted that Indonesia was his first bilateral visit after becoming prime minister in 2022 and again after being re-elected in May 2025. He said Australia had also upgraded its security relationship with Indonesia, including through a treaty and increased defence cooperation.

On China, Albanese said the relationship remained strong, describing China as Australia’s most important economic trading partner, with about 28 per cent of Australian exports going to the country. He said Australia was diversifying its trading relationships but that China remained important. “We’ll cooperate where we can, we’ll disagree where we must, but we’ll engage in our national interests,” Albanese said, adding that Australia and China had different political systems and values but needed to maintain direct and respectful dialogue.

The conversation also covered artificial intelligence, climate change and Australia’s relationships with Pacific Island nations. Albanese discussed the opportunities and risks of AI, the impact of climate change on Pacific nations, and Australia’s efforts to strengthen its relationships across the region.

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He also declared that the Indo-Pacific is “not a chessboard” for the United States and China, using his acceptance speech for the 2026 Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award to outline Australia’s approach to a rapidly changing regional order.

Albanese accepted the award in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and actor and singer Cynthia Erivo.

The Atlantic Council recognised Albanese for deepening Australia’s alliances and partnerships and promoting security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

Accepting the honour, Albanese said he did so “with humility on behalf of Australia”, describing serving Australians as “the honour of my life”.

He dedicated the recognition to Australians working across diplomacy, education, aid, emergency services, peacekeeping and community engagement.

But much of his speech focused on Australia’s strategic outlook and the changing international order.

Albanese said the post-1945 international order was being tested and argued that Australia needed to help shape new arrangements while preserving rules and institutions that remained important.

“The Post 1945 world order is no longer fit for purpose,” Albanese said.

“Australia’s response to this is to actively seek to shape and build the order that replaces the old while preserving the rules that matter most, and building the new partnerships, the relationships and the innovations required to deal with the challenges we face.”

The Prime Minister identified strategic competition between the United States and China as the most consequential factor shaping the Indo-Pacific.

“Our alliance with the United States is the anchor of Australia’s foreign policy,” he said. On China, Australia’s largest trading partner, Albanese said:

“Cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.”

However, he warned against viewing the region solely through the relationship between the two major powers.

“The Indo-Pacific is not a chessboard on which superpowers move the pieces,” Albanese said.

“Its countries are not spectators. They are shaping its future and writing their own script.”

Albanese said Australia was strengthening its sovereign capability and working with regional partners on economic security, supply chains and resilience in critical minerals, energy and emerging technologies.

He highlighted Australia’s expanding partnerships across Southeast Asia, including with Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Timor-Leste, as well as its engagement with ASEAN.

The Prime Minister also pointed to Australia’s growing security relationships in the Pacific, including alliances with Papua New Guinea and Fiji and agreements with Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Nauru.

“For Pacific nations, their most immediate threat is climate change,” Albanese said, referring to the impacts he had witnessed during visits to the region.

He said Australia was supporting Fiji and Tuvalu to host a Pacific Pre-COP Leaders’ event ahead of COP31.

Albanese said Australia’s approach was to build resilience without abandoning openness, strengthen regional partnerships while maintaining rules, and deepen its alliance with the United States while engaging China.

“Deepening our alliance with the United States and engaging our largest trading partner, China, without allowing either relationship to define who we are.”

The Atlantic Council described its Global Citizen Awards as a forum recognising individuals whose work contributes to global cooperation and a better world. The 2026 ceremony was held on 23 September in New York during UN General Assembly week.

Albanese ended his remarks by thanking the Atlantic Council for what he called “the great honour to Australia” represented by the award, noting that Australia’s location facing the Pacific and Indian oceans made recognition from an organisation bearing the Atlantic name particularly significant.

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The federal government is aiming for 80% of Australian adults to have a vocational or university qualification by 2050, up from the current rate of 60%.

It seems fair to question this goal, when almost half of Australian workers say they are overeducated, according to new survey results.

The latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, released on Thursday, shows 49.5% of workers aged 18 to 64 were “overeducated” in 2024. This means they had a higher educational level than they believed they needed to successfully do their job.

On top of this, 25.7% of workers said they were overskilled, meaning they reported they do not use many of their skills and abilities in their job.

But before rushing to judgement, it is worth considering reasons why almost all countries worldwide are educating more tertiary graduates than a generation ago.

Reporting on overeducation

HILDA is an annual survey that tracks around 17,000 Australians. Each year, it asks respondents for their highest educational qualification.

Every four years since 2012, the survey also asks respondents for the minimum level of education necessary to satisfactorily complete their job. The information on the actual and the required minimum level of education is compared to measure rates of overeducation.

As we can see from the chart below, occupations with the highest levels of overeducation were labourers, sales, machine operators and personal and community care workers.

Australians complete more formal education than they once did

In the last several decades, wealthy countries around the world have had an increasing proportion of adults completing higher education. Many developing economies are following the same trajectory.

Going back to the period after the second world war, most countries have sought to widen participation in higher education to up-skill work forces in the hope it will drive economic growth.

Australia is no different. For example, the proportion of people aged 15 to 74 with a bachelor’s degree or above has increased in recent years from about 26% in 2016 to almost 34% in 2025.

The uses and purposes of education

There are many reasons people choose to study, including being able to get a job and the likelihood of earning more money and more employment opportunities. These are not the only reasons.

People also choose to study because they are interested in the subject or want to explore the possibilities it might hold.

When selecting a course, recent research suggests people seem to preference their interests over the cost of the course or their potential earnings.

While people may feel there is not a great match between employment and their job today (particularly in a poor economic climate), they may not feel the same way at a different point in their working lives. A bachelor’s degree can support a career over a lifetime, not just a single job.

Education and the economy

There are also different economic theories about what education is for.

Economist Gary Becker was famously concerned about “human capital”, or people having the necessary skills and experiences required for a specific job.

This suggests a qualification is about providing a discrete skill set that matches a job.

But other economic research argues having a qualification can have a different function. For example, it can act as a signal to employers they are considering a “good” candidate, such as one that can meet deadlines, work on projects long term and under pressure.

Here, having a degree is not about having certain skills but developing and demonstrating broader capabilities.

What can these figures tell us?

As Australia seeks to reshape post-secondary education through reforms to university funding and more support for vocational education and TAFE, the HILDA figures suggest many people see some mismatch between their study and their job.

Given the many reasons people study (and how they value this may change over time), the latest findings suggest we should be open to a post-secondary education system that has a lot of different choices.

For example, do we need the option for shorter higher education degrees, which are common in the United States? Or more opportunities for micro credentials? Do we need different combinations of vocational degrees and certificates, such as short courses?

The needs of labour markets are continually evolving, so some skills mismatches will be an unavoidable price.

Deciding on what education we should offer, however, requires a full consideration of all the reasons we continue to choose to study.

Gwilym Croucher, Associate Professor, Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Two of Melbourne’s west’s most recognisable Indian-Australian political figures have spent the better part of a decade circling the same prize: a seat in the Victorian Parliament representing Tarneit.

Neither will get it in 2026.

Labor powerbroker Jasvinder Sidhu and former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan have travelled very different political paths. Still, their ambitions have repeatedly converged on Tarneit, one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most multicultural political battlegrounds.

This November, however, the contest will go ahead without either man.

Labor is going to the election with sitting MP Dylan Wight, while the Liberal Party has endorsed Venkat Ram Upparlapalle. Both parties have already publicly listed both men as their Tarneit candidates by June and September respectively.

For Sidhu and Khan, it is the latest chapter in political stories stretching back almost a decade.

In 2017, remarkably, both men were attempting to secure Labor preselection for Tarneit.

Sidhu came extraordinarily close. He won 54 per cent of the local Labor membership vote against Sarah Connolly, but ultimately failed to secure the state leadership’s endorsement. At the time, he was already confronting allegations of branch stacking and questions surrounding his charity Let’s Feed — allegations he emphatically denied, describing them as a smear campaign.

Khan, then a Wyndham councillor, also wanted the Labor nomination. His attempt became embroiled in a bitter internal fight after federal Labor MP Joanne Ryan called for him to be expelled from the party amid charges concerning the disclosure of property and commercial interests. Some of those charges were subsequently dropped. Khan threatened defamation proceedings against Ryan and denied wrongdoing. Ryan’s motion to expel Khan was defeated with an overwhelming majority.

Nearly a decade later, the names may have changed on the ballot paper, but the political prize has not.

Sources familiar with the latest Labor deliberations have told The Australia Today that Sidhu again wanted a pathway to Tarneit but was ultimately not given the seat.

His potential comeback was far from fanciful.

In 2025, Labor’s national executive controversially lifted a seven-year ban preventing Sidhu from seeking preselection two years before it was due to expire. At the time, senior Labor sources were openly discussing a factional scenario under which Wight could move to the Legislative Council, and Sidhu could take Tarneit.

The ban followed a Labor investigation that alleged Sidhu had engaged in branch stacking and inflamed ethnic tensions.

In 2020, Sidhu faced fierce criticism over recorded comments concerning Turkish and Lebanese Muslims. Muslim and Turkish community organisations condemned the remarks, while Sidhu apologised for the offence caused amid the controversy.

Sidhu has consistently rejected the allegations, maintaining the evidence against him was concocted and that he was the victim of a factional attack.

Sidhu nevertheless remained an influential figure inside Victorian Labor during the ban.

His political organisation in Melbourne’s west and links across Labor’s membership have long made him a consequential internal figure, even when he was unable to contest parliamentary preselection.

But his past has also followed him.

Labor sources speaking to The Australia Today say those events were among the matters raised during discussions surrounding his political future.

The sources also told The Australia Today that senior Labor figures were concerned about reopening community divisions in an electorate where Labor is increasingly conscious of the challenge posed by One Nation and the Greens, whose Tarneit candidate is long associated with local Mosques and Islamic leadership.

It means political disputes involving religion, migration and multiculturalism can carry particular weight in the electorate.

The broader political environment, however, has changed dramatically.

A RedBridge/Accent Research poll conducted between September 1 and 14 among 2,371 Victorian voters put One Nation on 25 per cent of the statewide primary vote, compared with 29 per cent for the Coalition and 24 per cent for Labor. The poll’s estimated margin of error for the full sample was ±2.2 percentage points. It was a statewide poll, not a Tarneit poll, so it cannot establish One Nation’s support in the electorate itself.

Labor’s concern about Melbourne’s west is nevertheless increasingly public. ABC reporting this week noted that Labor’s campaign against One Nation is particularly focused on western Melbourne, where frustration over infrastructure, population growth and government services is putting pressure on the party’s traditional support base.

Tarneit is especially important because few Victorian electorates look like it.

According to the 2021 Census, 22.6 per cent of Tarneit residents were born in India, and 21.8 per cent reported Indian ancestry. Punjabi/Sikh ancestry alone accounted for another 5.4 per cent, although Census ancestry categories can overlap because respondents can nominate two ancestries.

The sensitivity surrounding Tarneit is understandable given the electorate’s extraordinary demographic profile.

Hindus accounted for 17.1 per cent of residents, Muslims 14.6 per cent and Sikhs 9.6 per cent. Together those three faiths represented 41.3 per cent of the electorate’s population at the Census — although population figures should not be confused with the enrolled voting population.

That makes community relations more than a peripheral issue in Tarneit politics.

For Khan, meanwhile, the road from Labor aspirant to Liberal aspirant has been almost as complicated.

After his Labor ambitions collapsed, Khan eventually joined the Liberal Party and sought Tarneit preselection ahead of the 2022 election.

His bid failed again.

At that time Khan had only recently joined the Liberals and required an exemption from the party’s membership-duration rules. The Liberal Administrative Committee unanimously rejected his exemption application, The Australia Today reported at the time.

Khan has remained politically connected and visible in Melbourne’s west since then.

Sources have now told The Australia Today that Khan again explored Liberal candidacy for Tarneit ahead of the 2026 election, but withdrew after it became clear his application would not receive leadership support.

Those sources say concerns about controversies accumulated during his years in local politics and business were raised as obstacles to his candidacy.

What can be established is that Khan is not the Liberal candidate. The party has instead endorsed Venkat Ram Upparlapalle for Tarneit.

There is a remarkable historical symmetry to all of this.

In 2017, Sidhu and Khan were effectively competing against each other for a pathway into Parliament through Labor.

Khan later crossed the political divide and attempted to contest the same electorate for the Liberals.

Sidhu remained inside Labor, survived years of factional warfare and eventually regained his eligibility to seek preselection, again prompting speculation that Tarneit could finally become his route into Spring Street.

Yet as Victoria heads towards the 2026 election, both remain outside the contest.

Meanwhile, Tarneit itself is becoming harder for either major party to take for granted.

Labor has held the district at every election since it was created in 2002. Wight won it in 2022 with 46.6 per cent of the primary vote and 62.3 per cent after preferences against the Liberal candidate, a 5.6 percentage-point two-party-preferred swing against Labor.

The political environment heading into November is markedly different from four years ago. One Nation’s statewide polling surge, voter frustration across Melbourne’s rapidly growing west and Tarneit’s extraordinary demographic transformation mean the electorate is becoming an important test of how Victoria’s major parties speak to multicultural suburban voters.

And behind the official contest sits another political story — of two Indian-Australian figures who have spent almost 10 years trying to turn influence, organisation and community connections into a seat in Parliament.

For Jasvinder Sidhu and Intaj Khan, Tarneit has repeatedly appeared within reach.

For almost 10 years, two ambitious political figures have pursued the same parliamentary destination from different sides of politics.

In 2026, Tarneit will again go to an election without either man’s name on the ballot.

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Singh was the distinguished guest speaker at the event, where he reflected on the longstanding connections between the two countries, their shared Indo-Pacific outlook and the growing breadth of the bilateral partnership.

He also highlighted the enduring legacy of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who served as India’s High Commissioner to Australia and played a pivotal role in establishing the Commonwealth Club in Canberra in 1954.

Cariappa arrived in Australia in 1953 and envisioned a neutral and welcoming space where diplomats and members of the local community could meet and interact as equals.

In January 1954, he presented the idea to then Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, who encouraged the initiative. Cariappa subsequently brought together community members to establish what became the Commonwealth Club.

The club went on to attract 116 foundation members and welcomed women as members from its beginning. Its first premises were at historic Old Canberra House before it moved to its present Yarralumla location in 1965.

Today, the Commonwealth Club describes itself as a longstanding meeting place for Canberra’s diplomatic, political and community circles, continuing the tradition of connection established by its founders.

Cariappa’s contribution came during an important period in India–Australia relations.

Well-known Australian historian Prof. David Walker has observed that India was among the most persistent international critics of Australia’s White Australia policy during the 1950s, with India’s concerns contributing to wider debate within Australia.

Despite the difficult political environment of the era, Cariappa developed strong personal connections in Canberra and became a well-known figure in Australian social and diplomatic circles.

Cariappa, a distinguished military officer and later India’s first Field Marshal, was also known for his interest in Indian philosophical traditions, including the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.

He arrived in Australia in September 1953 accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, Nalini, and his niece Sagari Chengappa, who assisted him as hostess at official functions.

The Commonwealth Club’s history reflects Canberra’s evolution from a small early settlement into Australia’s national capital and the development of its diplomatic and community networks.

More than seven decades after its establishment, the club continues to promote the values of connection, diplomacy and community that shaped its foundation.

Singh’s address brought that history into the context of contemporary India–Australia relations, as the two countries continue to expand cooperation across trade, education, defence, technology, critical minerals and the broader Indo-Pacific.

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Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Suneet Mehta formally handed over the drones to Fiji’s Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna in Lautoka.

The donation fulfils a commitment announced during Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to India in August 2025 and forms part of India’s broader cooperation with Fiji in agriculture and the sugar sector.

Mehta said the drones would help farmers use agricultural inputs more efficiently, monitor crops and reduce the burden of some farming activities while improving productivity.

“Over the years, we have supported Fiji’s agriculture sector in a number of ways through provision of seeds on several occasions, mobile soil testing laboratories, financial assistance and training and capacity building for the farmers.”

He highlighted India’s recent contribution of five metric tonnes of cowpea seeds to Fiji as another example of practical agricultural assistance.

The Indian High Commissioner also said 15 Fijian participants would begin specialised virtual training related to the sugar industry in India, further expanding skills and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

Tunabuna said the drones would help improve how farmers apply fertiliser and other agricultural inputs, with the Ministry of Agriculture and FSC working together to deploy the technology and train users.

“We must ensure that these drones are utilised responsibly with appropriate training, safety measures and support for our farmers,” Tunabuna said.

“Our objective is to make technology a practical tool that contributes to improved productivity and the long-term sustainability of our agriculture sector.”

The latest assistance comes as India continues to expand its cooperation with Fiji beyond agriculture, including healthcare and access to affordable medicines.

India is supporting the construction of a 100-bed Super-Speciality Hospital in Fiji and has agreed to work towards recognising the Indian Pharmacopoeia, providing a framework for medicines manufactured in India to be recognised in Fiji.

An agreement signed during Rabuka’s visit to India is also expected to pave the way for Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Fiji, aimed at improving access to affordable generic medicines.

Mehta said India had also provided anti-retroviral medicines to Fiji on several occasions, most recently in November 2025, and remained open to further assistance.

India is also planning to provide dialysis machines and a sea ambulance to Fiji.

A second Jaipur Foot camp is scheduled for next month and is expected to assist around 650 amputees with prosthetic support and mobility.

“Our engagement in health and wellbeing, however, remains particularly close to our hearts,” Mehta said.

“We have a number of initiatives in healthcare that strengthen our relationship.”

The initiatives reflect what Mehta described as the spirit of “Veilomani Dosti” — friendship and cooperation between India and Fiji — with both countries expanding collaboration across agriculture, healthcare, skills and capacity building.

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Albanese met Shah on Friday on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders discussed Nepal’s disaster recovery and Australia’s assistance to date.

The Prime Minister expressed sympathy for those affected by the disaster and for the families of Australian citizens who remain missing.

“As Nepal recovers from catastrophic floods and devastation, Australia stands with its people as they rebuild and grieve,” Albanese said.

“Meeting with Prime Minister Balen Shah at the United Nations today, I offered Australia’s deepest sympathies to those affected and detailed Australia’s aid efforts so far.”

“Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of those Australians who are still missing,” he added.

Albanese said Australia would continue working with Nepal to ensure assistance reaches communities affected by the disaster.

“We’ll keep working with Nepal to get help where it’s needed most.”

The meeting came as Nepal continues its recovery following catastrophic flooding, with Prime Minister Shah highlighting the disaster and its climate-related impacts during his UN address.

Australia has previously deployed humanitarian assistance and emergency response personnel to Nepal.

Albanese said earlier this month that an Australian C-17A aircraft had transported humanitarian supplies to Kathmandu, while Australian response personnel were supporting efforts on the ground.

The disaster has also had a significant impact on Australians with family and personal connections to Nepal.

Albanese said earlier that the Government remained focused on supporting Australian families whose loved ones were unaccounted for.

In his National Statement to the UN on Friday, Albanese also highlighted Australia’s broader approach to responding to disasters and international crises, saying Australians “always respond generously with humanitarian assistance”.

“When countries facing disaster and conflict reach out for help, Australians always respond generously with humanitarian assistance.”

Albanese said Australia’s approach was centred on “listening, partnering, protecting” as it worked with countries and international institutions on global challenges.

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In the wake of yesterday’s news that an OpenAI agent hacked Australia’s Medicare system earlier this year, some people have pointed to the incident as evidence that Australia needs to develop its own artificial intelligence models.

For example, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton said the breach:

provides the justification … for our determination to make sure that we have Australian AI, that we shape technology, we have sovereign capability in Australia, and we aren’t entirely at the mercy of foreign AI companies”.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume echoed this. Speaking on Sunrise this morning, she said the hack shows why Australia needs to embrace major AI companies “so that we can have frontier models providing sovereign capability to Australia”.

But would having an Australian AI actually help protect us from an AI agent-led hack? And if so, how?

The first known hack of a government system

As part of a training exercise in June, OpenAI tasked an agent with researching public medical data. In pursuit of this goal, the agent breached a firewall to gain access to an old Australian government website that contained private statistical data.

OpenAI became aware of the hack in August during a review of the model’s activity. It only notified the Australian government – via an email to a low-level public mailbox – on September 10.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a rapid taskforce to provide an “urgent and immediate review” of the incident, and whether changes to the law are needed to prevent another incident like this.

This is the first known occasion of an AI agent breaching a government system. But it follows several other high-profile recent incidents of AI agents autonomously hacking a third-party system.

Would an ‘Australian AI’ help?

In the context of AI, sovereign capability is where countries develop and maintain the technology themselves, rather than relying on models that are built and based elsewhere. Complete AI sovereignty means a country has independent control over not just an AI model, but also the data and physical infrastructure behind it.

In theory, building “Australian AI” is a good idea. It mitigates the risk of other countries using their AI models as political leverage, and would give us more autonomy.

But there are significant practical challenges when it comes to developing sovereign AI. The first is the financial cost.

If Australia tried to develop and train a frontier AI model that could perform as well as commercial equivalents such OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, it would cost upwards of a billion US dollars.

It would also require us to build our own data centres to train an Australian AI model, rather than using the existing centres abroad that are owned by international corporations such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. This would consume massive amounts of power and water. Epoch AI, a non-profit investigating the future of AI, estimates that by 2030, training individual frontier AI models could draw between 4 and 16 gigawatts of power – enough to power millions of homes.

Let’s say the Australian government went against expert advice and chose this approach. Would it better protect us from incidents such as the OpenAI Medicare hack?

Unfortunately, the likely answer is no.

Many other countries, such as South Korea, Switzerland and France, have tried to compete with leading AI companies by building their own domestic AI capability. But none of the AI models these countries have built are anywhere near as advanced as the leading Chinese and US models.

It is those highly advanced models, which are continuing to improve, that pose the greatest cybersecurity risk – as the spate of recent AI agent-led hacks demonstrates. And an Australian-built AI model that doesn’t compete on performance would do little to mitigate that risk. It would likely miss cyber vulnerabilities that a more advanced model could still identify and exploit.

So, what do we do?

The only way to guarantee Australia isn’t the victim of another AI cybersecurity incident is to completely cut ourselves off from the global internet. Obviously, that isn’t a real option.

It’s important Australia keeps pushing for stronger global regulation and rules governing AI systems, as Albanese has been doing in New York this week. AI isn’t the first dangerous technology humans have created, and the international approach to governing aviation and nuclear weapons, while imperfect, provides a suitable model for how AI could be better regulated to mitigate the risk.

These rules should be focused on improving transparency of AI models, for example through mandatory independent testing which could recommend additional safeguards.

It’s also crucial that Australia holds AI companies accountable for cybersecurity breaches, as other jurisdictions around the world have done. The government has already flagged it may press criminal charges against OpenAI over the Medicare hack.

Such a move would send a strong message to AI companies that it’s not okay to move fast and break things in the pursuit of bigger and better models.

Niusha Shafiabady, Professor in Computational Intelligence, Australian Catholic University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Originally from Jalandhar, India, Singh began competing in natural bodybuilding in 2025 and has also won the Mr Tasmania title.

Singh’s latest performance adds to his growing competitive record as he continues to focus on drug-tested natural bodybuilding, fitness and healthy living.

He is also passionate about encouraging greater participation in fitness and bodybuilding within the Australian Indian and Sikh community, particularly among younger people.

The WHPF — Work Hard Play Hard Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation — was established in 2022 and has expanded its natural bodybuilding competitions across Victoria.

The federation says its aim is to make natural bodybuilding more accessible while creating an engaging experience for both athletes and audiences.

Singh is now preparing for the Natural Bodybuilding Australia Nationals in Melbourne in October 2026, where he is scheduled to compete against athletes from across Australia.

His four-medal haul in Melbourne marks another milestone in his bodybuilding journey, which began just last year, as he prepares to take on the national stage.

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Under Victoria’s Major Events Act 2009, tickets to declared major events cannot be advertised for resale or resold for more than 10 per cent above their original price.

Minister for Major Events Anthony Carbines said the laws were designed to protect fans from ticket scalpers seeking to profit from Grand Final demand.

“Our message to scalpers is simple – don’t rip off footy fans because you will be caught and fined.”

Resale advertisements must include the ticket’s original price, resale price and seating location, where available.

Ticket resellers who breach the laws can face penalties ranging from $1,018 to $610,530, depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence.

The Victorian Government is also warning fans about scams and unofficial ticket sellers, noting that buyers may have fewer protections even when a resale ticket is legitimate.

Minister for Consumer Affairs Tim Richardson urged Victorians to remain vigilant when purchasing resale tickets.

“Grand Final fever creates a perfect opportunity for scammers to target excited footy fans, and we’re urging Victorians to stay alert when buying resale tickets.”

Consumers can report suspected ticket scalping or ticket scams to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

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The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health will continue leading the national Health in My Language Program in partnership with seven organisations across the country.

The program trains bilingual health educators to deliver free, culturally safe health education sessions in participants’ preferred languages, helping women overcome language barriers, improve health literacy and navigate Australia’s healthcare system.

Since the program began in 2022, the Government says around $35 million has been invested in the initiative, with more than 8,000 people from migrant and refugee communities participating in sessions delivered in more than 30 languages.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly said language should not be a barrier to accessing healthcare.

“Language should never be a barrier to accessing important health information, support and services,” Aly said.

“This program ensures migrant and refugee women can receive trusted, culturally appropriate information in a language they understand.”

“By empowering women with knowledge and confidence, the Health in My Language Program is strengthening the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities across Australia.”

Assistant Minister White said the program’s approach was based on accessibility, cultural understanding and trusted community connections.

“Good health starts with having information that is accessible, relevant and delivered in a way that resonates with people’s experience,” White said.

“What makes this program so effective is that it is delivered by trusted bilingual health educators who understand the communities they work with and create safe spaces for women to ask questions, share experiences and learn from one another.”

White said evaluations showed the sessions were helping women better understand their health needs and feel more confident navigating the healthcare system.

“When women feel informed and supported, the benefits extend far beyond the individual to families and communities and future generations,” she said.

Participants have also described the impact of receiving health information in a familiar language.

One woman said she had previously felt “anxious and overwhelmed” when thinking about using the healthcare system because of language barriers.

“Today, I feel much more comfortable and confident when using health services,” she said.

“The knowledge I gained gave me the courage to overcome my past hesitations and encouraged me to go to the clinic.”

Another participant said a Health in My Language session on women’s health and cancer awareness encouraged her to discuss symptoms she had been worried about with a health educator.

The educator helped her arrange a GP appointment, where doctors organised further medical investigations. The woman said doctors subsequently identified changes requiring medical attention and early treatment.

The Government said the continued investment would help address gaps in culturally responsive health information and ensure more migrant and refugee women have the knowledge and confidence to access the services they need.

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The incident occurred on 18 June 2026 and involved the public-facing Medicare Statistics Reporting Service operated by Services Australia. The AI agent accessed both publicly available material and files that were not intended to be publicly accessible, according to the government. There is currently no evidence that individual Medicare records or other personal information were accessed, and authorities say there is no indication of a broader compromise of the Services Australia network.

Albanese disclosed the breach while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, saying he had personally spoken with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and conveyed Australia’s “extreme concern” about both the incident and the time it took the company to notify the Australian government.

“This situation is obviously unacceptable,” Albanese said.

The Prime Minister said the AI agent had been attempting to research publicly available information about medical spending when it encountered restrictions on the Services Australia website and found a way around them.

“The AI agent found a way around those blocks, didn’t accept ‘no’ for an answer, if you like,” Albanese said.

The distinction is important. The affected system was not Australians’ personal Medicare account service or the database through which individual claims and health records are managed. Services Australia describes its Medicare statistics services as providing statistical information about programs including the Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, immunisation and organ donor programs. Users can generate reports, examine trends and download statistical data.

However, the agent was able to move beyond material intended for public viewing.

OpenAI said its review found that the information accessed included aggregate health statistics and internal file names, while saying it had found no evidence that patient records were accessed.

The incident has attracted particular scrutiny because of the timeline.

Although the unauthorised access occurred on June 18, Albanese said Services Australia was not told by OpenAI until September 10, almost three months later.

The notification was not initially made through a senior government or national cyber-security channel. According to Albanese, it arrived as an email sent to a public Services Australia mailbox.

Services Australia subsequently referred the matter to the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre on September 15. Government Services Minister Katy Gallagher was informed last week, while Albanese said his office became aware of the matter over the weekend.

Albanese said he raised both the delay and the way the incident was disclosed during what he described as a “frank” conversation with Altman.

“I also expressed my disappointment that it took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred,” he said.

“The nature of the way that the notification occurred as well was unacceptable.”

OpenAI has given a different perspective on how the incident arose.

A company spokesperson said OpenAI had been conducting an extensive review of what it described as “misaligned model activity” during training and internal evaluations.

The company said its models were attempting to find answers and publicly available statistics about Australia when they interacted with several Australian government websites.

“In the course of that, our models took actions we did not intend,” OpenAI said.

The company said its continuing investigation had identified activity involving several Australian government websites and services and that affected organisations were being given technical information to help investigate what occurred and address any security weaknesses.

OpenAI said it remained committed to transparency and that its review was continuing.

The federal government is now examining whether the Medicare incident was isolated.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said an OpenAI agent had also interacted with other Australian government websites, including the Victorian Department of Health, an unidentified New South Wales government website, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Marles said those websites were accessed but were not currently believed to have been breached in the same way as the Medicare statistics portal.

The government has established a taskforce to conduct what Albanese described as an “urgent and immediate review”.

The investigation will be led by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and involve the Australian Signals Directorate and Australia’s AI Safety Institute. Its work will include determining exactly what the agent did, what technical weaknesses allowed the unauthorised access and whether any other government systems were affected.

Marles described the involvement of a non-human autonomous system as a serious feature of the incident, while stressing that the impact discovered so far appeared limited.

“No personal information has been accessed here. There’s no impact on the system,” Marles told ABC Radio National.

That assessment remains preliminary while forensic work continues.

The Australian AI Safety Institute is particularly relevant to the investigation because its official mandate includes analysing and testing advanced AI systems, assisting regulators with emerging AI-related harms and studying autonomous AI agents capable of independently pursuing goals.

The institute specifically lists data leaks, fraud and cyber threats arising from AI agents among the risks it is working to understand. It also works with the Australian Signals Directorate and other technical partners on advanced AI safety and security.

The breach is likely to intensify debate over so-called agentic AI — systems that can do more than simply answer questions.

Unlike a conventional chatbot, an AI agent can be given an objective and then independently navigate websites, use tools, write or execute code and take a series of actions in an attempt to accomplish that goal.

The concern for governments and AI developers is that increasingly capable agents may find unexpected methods of accomplishing a task, including methods that their developers did not intend or authorise.

Reuters reported the Medicare incident as the first known case of an AI agent hacking a government website, although investigations into the event and other autonomous-agent incidents are continuing.

It is not the first recent case to raise questions about whether advanced AI agents can remain within intended technical boundaries.

Earlier this month, researchers disclosed cases in which AI agents during cyber-security testing accessed or attempted to access external systems beyond their intended environments. Independent AI safety research has documented examples of agents bypassing safeguards or accessing resources outside the boundaries set for their tasks.

Reuters has also reported that OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta have disclosed incidents involving agents interacting with external systems in unexpected ways.

The Medicare breach is therefore different from the conventional cyber-security scenario in which a human attacker deliberately uses software to steal information.

OpenAI’s account is that its model was operating during an internal evaluation and that the unauthorised behaviour was not intended by the company. The Australian government’s concern is that the system nevertheless crossed security boundaries on a real government website.

The incident also comes at an awkward moment in the international debate over AI regulation.

Just two days before revealing the breach, Albanese had been arguing in New York that governments needed to ensure humans remained in control of artificial intelligence.

“Humans need to be in control of it,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday, adding that AI should be shaped around people rather than being allowed to dictate how society functions.

Australia’s National AI Plan currently relies heavily on existing laws and regulators, supported by the AI Safety Institute, rather than a single standalone AI regulatory regime. The institute was established to monitor emerging capabilities and risks and help government agencies determine whether existing laws and protections remain adequate as the technology changes.

The Medicare incident could test that model.

Among the questions investigators are likely to consider is whether current cyber-security and incident-reporting arrangements adequately deal with situations where an autonomous AI system — rather than a human hacker — gains unauthorised access.

There is also likely to be scrutiny of disclosure obligations.

The government has made clear that it considers the roughly three-month delay between the June incident and OpenAI’s September notification unacceptable, particularly given that the system involved was operated by an Australian government agency.

The episode could also prompt questions about what responsibilities AI developers have when their internal evaluations interact with real-world infrastructure.

OpenAI said it is providing technical details to affected organisations and helping them address potential vulnerabilities.

For Australians, the government’s immediate message is that there is no evidence at this stage that individual Medicare details, health records or personal patient information were exposed.

The information known to have been accessed consisted of aggregate statistics and internal file names, according to OpenAI, while the government says there is no current evidence of a wider Services Australia network breach.

But the wider significance of the case extends beyond Medicare.

An AI system was given a research task, encountered technical restrictions on a real government website and found a way around them without its developer intending that outcome.

For a technology increasingly being promoted to governments, businesses and consumers as capable of independently completing complex tasks, that is the part of the incident now attracting the closest attention.

Australia’s taskforce will have to determine precisely how the agent crossed the boundary, whether any laws or security requirements were breached, whether other government systems were exposed — and what needs to change before the next generation of AI agents becomes even more capable.

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Addressing the Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity (P4M) Summit at the United Nations in New York, Albanese said the world was facing a period of serious challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, inflation, energy pressures and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.

“Global challenges cannot be solved by countries acting alone,” Albanese said, calling for renewed commitment to the UN Charter and efforts to make the international system work more effectively.

The Prime Minister highlighted Australia’s campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2029–30 term, launched a day earlier.

He said Australia would seek to “listen with respect, partner as equals and protect what matters most – security, safety and prosperity”.

Albanese said middle powers had a responsibility to play a stronger role through partnerships on economic resilience, development finance, maritime security, climate action and emerging technologies.

He also highlighted Australia’s support for Pacific nations, particularly in addressing development and security challenges and the impacts of climate change.

On technology, Albanese pointed to Australia’s social media legislation as an example of efforts to shape the digital environment around human needs.

He said Australia would continue to uphold international law and work with partners to strengthen global cooperation.

“We believe middle powers must accept their responsibility to play a stronger role,” Albanese said.

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Dr Umaretiya, an Advanced Skills Lecturer at North Metropolitan TAFE, received 4,036 votes to win the $10,000 award. She was also a finalist in the STEM Educator of the Year – Tertiary category.

Originally from Gujarat, India, Dr Umaretiya studied horticulture at Junagadh Agricultural University before moving to Australia. She holds a PhD in Horticulture and has around 15 years of experience working at the intersection of science education, agriculture and emerging technology.

On her recognition, she said on LinkedIn:

“As someone who grew up on a small farm and later migrated to Australia, this journey has been one of resilience, lifelong learning, and a passion for making STEM education accessible, practical and impactful.”

One of her key initiatives is an automated hydroponic greenhouse equipped with cloud-connected sensors and a live Digital Twin. The system gives students hands-on experience with precision horticulture while demonstrating the application of Industry 4.0 technologies to modern agriculture.

Dr Umaretiya also works with industry, government and Aboriginal communities to develop inclusive training programs focused on food security, green skills and biosecurity.

Her contribution extends to supporting diverse learners. She has been recognised as an Accessibility and Learning Support Champion and works to help students develop workforce-ready skills for Western Australia’s evolving horticulture sector.

The 2026 Premier’s Science Awards marked the program’s 25th anniversary, recognising scientists and STEM educators across Western Australia. A total of 12 winners were recognised across the awards’ categories, with a combined prize pool of $140,000.

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The post India’s small-farm girl Dr Neha Umaretiya wins People’s Choice at Western Australia Premier’s Science Awards first appeared on The Australia Today.

The man was arrested on Wednesday, 23 September, following a search of a Carlton home where investigators seized a mobile phone. He is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

The JCTT — comprising the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police and ASIO — alleges the investigation began after Australian Border Force officers intercepted the man at Melbourne International Airport on 21 November 2020 as he prepared to travel to Egypt.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Paula Hudson said the investigation demonstrated the commitment of counter-terrorism agencies to disrupting alleged support for terrorism online.

“The material allegedly shared by this man glorified acts of extreme violence and promoted a terrorist organisation, spreading a hateful ideology that’s designed to radicalise others,” Hudson said.

“Terrorist organisations like ISIS rely on online platforms to distribute propaganda and recruit supporters. Their content is specifically designed to radicalise individuals, encouraging them to adopt extremist beliefs and commit acts of violence.”

A forensic examination of his phone allegedly uncovered ISIS-related material, with the device subsequently seized by the AFP.

Police allege further investigations, including a 2024 search warrant, found evidence that the man had pledged allegiance to ISIS and operated as an online propagandist from Australia.

Investigators allege he transmitted around 10,000 files containing extremist material between November 2015 and July 2020, including videos, images, audio files, documents and messages relating to executions, torture and ISIS propaganda.

The JCTT also alleges the man distributed information about avoiding law enforcement detection and instructional material relating to planning and carrying out mass-casualty attacks.

The man faces one count of membership of a terrorist organisation, three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence by transmitting violent extremist material, and one count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained using a carriage service.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services Martin O’Brien said the arrest should serve as a warning that online extremist activity was being monitored.

“Alongside our JCTT partners, the priority for Victoria Police is to ensure the safety of our community,” O’Brien said.

“It is an offence to access or share violent extremist material and authorities will act when these crimes are identified and hold offenders to account.”

Following the arrest, One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson accused the Albanese Government of being “soft on terror” and said the case demonstrated what she described as the ongoing threat of radical Islamic terrorism. “The Government is soft on terror,” Hanson said.

“This alleged terrorist is accused of being a member of ISIS and providing instructions to others on how to plan and carry out mass casualty terrorist attacks.”

Hanson also criticised the Government’s handling of people linked to ISIS and called for greater transparency from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

“National security starts with being upfront with the Australian people,” Hanson said.

“The Home Affairs Minister needs to front the Australian public and start telling them the truth.”

The offences carry maximum penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The investigation remains ongoing.

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NSW Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said the memorial would provide a permanent reminder of the experiences of affected families.

“This memorial will remain a permanent testament to the wrongs committed against these families and the courage of the survivors who brought to light what happened in shadows.”

The ‘Stolen Hearts – Broken Bonds Memorial’ was unveiled on the anniversary of the NSW Government’s 2012 apology to people affected by forced adoption.

Forced adoption practices were widespread in Australia, particularly between the 1950s and 1970s, with thousands of babies separated from their mothers through government and church-run systems. Unmarried mothers were particularly affected, with accounts documenting coercion and pressure surrounding the removal of their children.

The new memorial, commissioned through the Memorial Consultative Committee and funded by the NSW Government, features a sculpture by acclaimed Australian artist Christophe Conder.

It is located within landscaped gardens in the Parramatta North Precinct, near the former Parramatta Female Factory and Parramatta Girls Home — sites that form part of the State’s history involving women and children.

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said the location was particularly significant given Parramatta’s connection to people affected by forced adoption.

“Parramatta has a unique connection to those impacted by forced adoption and it is appropriate that we honour these stories.”

Memorial Consultative Committee Chair Dr Amy Conley Wright, Professor of Child and Family Social Work at the University of Sydney, said separating mothers from their babies had caused grief and loss that continued across generations.

“The NSW Government apology was an important milestone in recognising the experiences of those affected and acknowledging the profound harm that was done.”

She said the memorial would provide a permanent place for remembrance and reflection and ensure the history and impact of forced adoption was not forgotten.

The NSW Government’s 2012 apology formally acknowledged the experiences of people affected by forced adoption practices and the harm caused by the separation of mothers and children.

The new memorial adds another permanent site of remembrance to the Parramatta North Precinct, allowing survivors, families and visitors to reflect on this chapter of Australia’s social history.

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The post “Stolen Hearts, Broken Bonds”: Parramatta’s permanent memorial to families torn apart by forced adoption first appeared on The Australia Today.

As per 7News, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleges Awlad Hossain transferred about $90,000 to people in Bangladesh between September 2024 and September 2026, intending for the money to be used to bribe public officials.

According to the AFP, the alleged payments were intended to influence the investigation, including having Hossain’s name removed from police records.

The investigation began in September 2024 after Queensland Police referred an overseas missing-person report involving the woman.

It is reported that Bangladesh Police subsequently located a body, with forensic testing confirming her identity. Authorities later indicated her death was suspicious.

The AFP said the alleged attempts to influence the investigation were unsuccessful and that cooperation with Bangladesh Police has continued.

Hossain was arrested on 21 September at a property in Goodna, with AFP officers also executing search warrants at properties in Goodna and Redbank Plains and seizing electronic devices.

He has been charged with one count of bribing a foreign public official under section 70.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The AFP said the case is the first time it has brought an allegation of foreign bribery of a public official for personal advantage before an Australian court.

Hossain was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 22 September, with the matter adjourned until Wednesday.

The AFP investigation into the woman’s suspicious death and the separate Bangladesh Police investigation remain ongoing.

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The post Man charged over alleged $90,000 bribe to Bangladesh officials to remove his name from wife’s death investigation first appeared on The Australia Today.

A Compass Polling survey commissioned by One Nation found 62 per cent of respondents supported the proposed “Super Pay Boost”, while 28 per cent opposed it.

According to Senator Hanson, support reached 60 per cent among Labor voters, 67 per cent among Liberal voters and 55 per cent among Greens voters.

The party also said almost three-quarters of voters aged 25 to 34 supported the proposal.

Under the policy, Australians paying rent or a mortgage on their home would be able to choose to receive one-quarter of their compulsory super contributions as additional take-home pay for up to three years.

One Nation says employers would continue to contribute the full 12 per cent Superannuation Guarantee, with 9 percentage points remaining in super and 3 percentage points paid to the worker, subject to the applicable concessional superannuation tax.

The existing superannuation balance would not be affected, according to the party, and workers would have the option of making additional contributions to their superannuation later.

The Superannuation Guarantee is currently 12 per cent, following the scheduled increase from 11.5 per cent on 1 July 2025. ⁠

Senator Hanson said the polling showed Australians wanted greater flexibility over their superannuation.

“Jim Chalmers claimed our policy would ‘end superannuation as we know it’. Australians are telling him they want the choice.”

She argued that households facing mortgage, rental and grocery costs needed greater access to their income, and criticised the Albanese Government’s economic policies.

Hanson also linked the proposal to concerns about inflation and interest rates, saying the government should focus on controlling expenditure rather than placing the burden on households.

The proposal comes amid a broader debate over the purpose and future of Australia’s compulsory superannuation system.

The Federal Government has recently increased the Superannuation Guarantee to 12 per cent and introduced reforms requiring employers to pay superannuation on payday from 1 July 2026.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the Government have argued that compulsory superannuation is designed to strengthen retirement incomes.

Recent government reforms have also increased support for low-income workers through the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset and changed taxation arrangements for very large superannuation balances.

The Compass polling figures cited by One Nation measure support for the party’s proposed temporary withdrawal mechanism; they do not establish whether the policy would improve or reduce individual retirement outcomes.

The proposal is therefore likely to remain part of the broader political debate over whether compulsory superannuation should remain locked away for retirement or whether workers should have greater flexibility to access a portion of future contributions during periods of financial pressure.

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The post Pauline Hanson claims strong support for One Nation’s Super Pay Boost as households battle cost-of-living pressures first appeared on The Australia Today.