Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Airservices Australia

Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets.

Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). This work is also supported by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), and the Australian Treasury. This project is one of the initiatives highlighted in the Government’s March 2025 Statement on Developing an Innovative Australian Digital Asset Industry.

24 innovative use cases from a diverse range of organisations, ranging from local fintechs to major banks, have been conditionally selected for this next stage of the project. There will be:

• 19 pilot use cases, which will involve real money and real asset transactions, and
• 5 proof-of-concept use cases involving simulated transactions.

The use cases involve a range of asset classes, including fixed income, private markets, trade receivables and carbon credits.

Proposed settlement assets for the use cases include stablecoins, bank deposit tokens, and pilot wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), as well as new ways of using banks’ existing exchange settlement accounts at the RBA.

Issuance of pilot wholesale CBDC for testing use cases will occur on a range of private and public-permissioned DLT platforms, including Hedera, Redbelly Network, R3 Corda, Canvas Connect and other EVM-compatible networks.

ASIC clears way for industry participation

Supporting Project Acacia, ASIC is providing regulatory relief to participants to support and streamline the pilot.

ASIC’s relief will support the responsible testing of tokenised asset transactions, in some cases using CBDCs, between participants and a limited number of financial institutions in the coming months.

ASIC has previously provided individual relief of a similar nature to participants in earlier digital money projects led by the RBA.

The relief instrument is available on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Project Acacia’s next steps

Testing of use cases will occur over the next six months, with a report on the findings from the project expected to be published in the first quarter of 2026. The findings of this next stage of the project will support the RBA’s ongoing research into how innovation in the financial system can best support the Australian economy in the digital age.

Lead use case participants

• Australian Bond Exchange
• Australia and New Zealand Banking Corporation
• Australian Payments Plus
• Canvas
• Catena Digital
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• Fireblocks
• Forte Tech Solutions
• Imperium Markets
• Northern Trust
• NotCentralised
• ProspEx Group
• Westpac Banking Corporation
• Zerocap

Brad Jones, Assistant Governor (Financial System) at the RBA said: “Ensuring that Australia’s payments and monetary arrangements are fit-for-purpose in the digital age is a strategic priority for the RBA and the Payments System Board. Project Acacia represents an opportunity for further collaborative exploration on tokenised asset markets and the future of money by the public and private sectors in Australia.

“The use cases selected in this project will help us to better understand how innovations in central bank and private digital money, alongside payments infrastructure, might help to uplift the functioning of wholesale financial markets in Australia.

“We thank all interested parties for their efforts in Project Acacia to date and look forward to reporting back on the findings that will emerge over the reminder of the project.”

ASIC Commissioner Kate O’Rourke said: “Innovation is a sign of a vibrant economy and society. ASIC supports the responsible development of new technologies, including tokenisation and distributed ledgers.

“ASIC sees useful applications for the technologies underlying digital assets in wholesale markets. The relief from regulatory requirements that we have announced today will allow these technologies to be sensibly tested—to explore opportunities and identify and tackle risks.

“Importantly, Project Acacia will allow industry and regulators to work together to learn more about how these use cases may reshape the financial services industry, potentially boosting efficiency and foster economic growth.”

Professor Talis Putnins, Chief Scientist at DFCRC said: “It is great to have collaboration from so many parts of the industry, from small fintechs to large banks, alongside the key financial regulators in this forward-looking, innovative project. The real money settlement models being tested, including issuing pilot wholesale CBDC on third party platforms, reflects another world-first for Australia in this rapidly evolving field.

“The project is of strategic importance to the DFCRC because, as a co-operative research centre, our focus is on bringing together key groups to unlock the large economic potential of digital finance innovation in Australia. Recent research suggests potential economic gains in markets and cross border payments could be in the order of AU $19 billion per year. Project Acacia is a significant step towards realising these gains, by providing evidence on the forms of money and settlement models that best enable tokenised real-world asset markets.”

About Project Acacia

Project Acacia is exploring how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenised asset markets in Australia. The consultation paper initiating Project Acacia was released in November 2024 and called for industry feedback and expressions of interest in participating.

Project Acacia is a joint research project between Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). The project is supported by key stakeholders including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Treasury, which are all represented on the project Steering Committee, along with representatives from the RBA and DFCRC.

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC will not oppose Lactalis BSA S.A.S. (Lactalis)’s proposed acquisition of Fonterra Co-Operative Group (Fonterra)’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses.

Lactalis and Fonterra both currently acquire raw milk from dairy farmers in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as processing and supplying a range of dairy products across Australia.

“We looked very closely at the transaction as it will combine two of the largest buyers of raw milk in Victoria and lead to some further consolidation in Tasmania,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

“While we acknowledge the concerns raised by some representative bodies, after careful consideration we have determined that the acquisition is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition.”

The ACCC found that across Gippsland, the Murray and Western Victoria, alternative buyers of raw milk would continue to constrain Lactalis if the acquisition proceeded.

“We found that while the industry in Tasmania is already concentrated, Lactalis has a limited presence and the acquisition would not substantially alter the market dynamics. If the acquisition proceeded, Lactalis would continue to be constrained by Saputo and, to a lesser extent, Mondelez,” Mr Keogh said.

“Because Fonterra and Lactalis have differing end product mixes, they often seek to acquire milk from farmers with different production profiles. Accordingly, we found that they are not likely to be each other’s closest competitors. This was reflected by analysis which showed very few farmers switched between the two processors.”

The ACCC also concluded that the transaction was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the wholesale supply of dairy products such as drinking milk, cream, cheese, chilled yellow spreads and dairy ingredients like milk powder.

The differing production focus of Fonterra and Lactalis meant that there was limited overlap between the two in the supply of these products.

For longer-life, readily transportable products such as cheese, dairy ingredients and chilled yellow spreads, the ACCC found that retailers and wholesalers would also continue to benefit from import competition.

“Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are also major customers in this market, with significant levels of bargaining power,” Mr Keogh said.

“They also have the ability to sponsor new entry or even enter directly, as Coles has demonstrated through its acquisition of Saputo’s milk processing assets.”

Further information can be found on the ACCC’s public register: Lactalis (BSA S.A.S.) – businesses within the Fonterra Co-operative Group.

Note to editors

The term “chilled yellow spreads” refers to butter and other products with a similar texture and fat content, such as margarine.

The term “raw milk” refers to unpasteurised cow’s milk, whereas “drinking milk” refers to milk that has been pasteurised to make it safe for human consumption. 

Background

The ACCC commenced a review of the proposed acquisition on 2 May 2025. As part of the review, the ACCC consulted industry stakeholders including farmers, dairy groups, retailers and foodservice businesses.

Lactalis BSA S.A.S. is a French multinational dairy group based in Laval, France. Lactalis business activities include acquiring raw milk from farmers and processing it into dairy products and ingredients for domestic consumption and export. In Australia, it owns a range of brands such as Pauls, Vaalia, Oak, Président and Lactalis Foodservice.

Fonterra is a New Zealand-based dairy co-operative which is owned by around 8,000 New Zealand farmers. In Australia, Fonterra processes raw milk acquired from its farmers into various dairy products as part of its ingredients and consumer and food service businesses.

It owns consumer brands such as Western Star, Mainland, and Perfect Italiano, and produces certain Bega Cheese products under licence. It supplies foodservice products via the Anchor Food Professionals brand.

While the ACCC has reviewed the proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses by Lactalis, this is not an indication that Lactalis’ bid will ultimately be accepted by the target business.

Whether Fonterra will ultimately accept Lactalis’ bid is a matter for Fonterra. 

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Wadeye Police have seized a significant quantity of alcohol and several weapons during a search operation in Wadeye on Tuesday morning.

Around 11:50am, police conducted a lawful search of a residence in Wadeye following intelligence that liquor was allegedly being sold from the location. During the search, officers located and seized 51 bottles of liquor with an estimated value of $25,500.

Two crossbows, a compound bow, and a quantity of arrows were surrendered from a nearby residence during the search operation.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Young said “The illegal sale of alcohol in restricted communities continues to have far-reaching and harmful impacts.

“This seizure is a direct result of community cooperation and highlights the importance of working together to reduce alcohol related harm.

“Police remain committed to disrupting the supply of alcohol and other controlled substances in restricted communities.

“We continue to urge anyone with information on the supply of alcohol or drugs to our communities to make contact on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.” 

Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

The City of Greater Bendigo has partnered with Peter Krenz Centre to deliver a series of low-cost outdoor fitness sessions for people of all fitness levels to shake off the chill and fire up their fitness under lights!

The Lights On sessions offer community members four exciting six-week programs which will take place at both Ewing Park and Lake Neangar on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between July 21 and August 31.

The programs aim to give residents, in particular women and gender diverse community members, more opportunities to be physically active in the evening through the darkest part of the year.

The sessions will be guided by qualified fitness instructors and the program options include:

• Outdoor Equipment Circuit (cardio focus) – 5.30pm Tuesdays, Ewing Park
• Beginners Running Program – 6.30pm Tuesdays, Ewing Park
• Outdoor Equipment Circuit – 5.30pm Thursdays, Lake Neangar
• Outdoor Equipment Circuit – 6.30pm Thursdays, Lake Neangar

Each six-week program costs $30 (or $5 per session) and includes six 45-minute sessions of either an outdoor equipment circuit, combining outdoor fitness equipment and bodyweight exercises, or a beginner’s running program.

Community members can choose one program and enjoy 6 weeks of community, health, and fun! 16 – 17-year-olds are welcome to register and participate, provided they have parental permission.

To sign up to the program or for more information, visit:

Source:

10 July 2025

In a world-first pilot study, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have used video footage of insects to extract their heart rates without touching or disturbing them.

The innovation, published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, could transform how scientists monitor the health and stress levels of arthropods, that account for more than 80% of animal species.

Taking footage from smartphones, social media videos and digital cameras, the researchers used sophisticated signal processing methods to monitor the heart activity of ants, bees, caterpillars, spiders, grasshoppers and stick insects.

Unlike mammals, arthropods have an open circulatory system in which blood fills the body cavity, bathing the internal organs and tissues. Their heart is located on the top (dorsal) side of their body in the abdomen.

Led by UniSA PhD candidate Danyi Wang and her supervisor Professor Javaan Chahl, the study demonstrates that subtle body movements captured on standard digital or smartphone cameras can be analysed to reveal accurate and detailed cardiac activity in a range of insect species.

Unlike traditional methods that require physical contact or immobilisation, this technique allows insects to remain free, without disrupting their natural behaviour.

“Insects are vital to our ecosystems, and understanding their physiological responses to environmental change is essential,” Wang says.

“Existing methods to measure insect’ vital signs are invasive, however. Our method preserves their natural behaviour while providing accurate insights into their heart activity.”

The extracted heart rates closely matched the physiological ranges recorded via traditional techniques, validating the system’s accuracy.

Senior author Prof Javaan Chahl says the system successfully captured heart rates across multiple insect species, detecting physiological differences influenced by factors such as wing morphology and temperature.

“From ants with heart rates of around 50 beats per minute, to bees reaching 119bpm, our results consistently aligned with established reference values,” Prof Chahl says.

“What’s exciting is that this was all achieved without attaching sensors or disturbing the insects in any way.”

One of the most impressive validations came from caterpillar recordings, where the team compared their video-derived cardiac signals to data from infrared contact sensors in previous studies. The shapes and frequencies were almost identical.

The study also revealed interesting inter-species variations. For example, spider heart rates varied significantly, reflecting differences between species rather than activity levels, since all subjects were at rest during filming.

Advanced image processing techniques, including motion tracking algorithms and magnification, were applied to detect tiny movements associated with heartbeats. These signals were analysed using spectral filtering and transformed into frequency data to isolate the heart rate.

According to Prof Chahl, the study marks an important step forward in insect research.

“Non-invasive cardiac monitoring offers tremendous potential; not just for studying insect health, but also for understanding environmental stressors, pesticide effects, or even the wellbeing of social insects like ants and bees, where heart signals can provide insights into colony health and behaviour.”

His team has previously used a similar technique with digital cameras to remotely extract cardiac signals in humans and wildlife.

The researchers hope to test the system in the field and refine it by using machine learning to improve the accuracy across different body types and light conditions.

“With more refinement, this could become a cost effective and valuable tool in the ecological research toolkit,” says Wang. “It gives us the ability to listen to the hearts of the smallest creatures without harming them.”

‘Extracting Cardiac Activity for Arthropods Using Digital Cameras: Insights from a Pilot Study’ is published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. DOI:  10.1002/arch.70076

A video demonstrating the experiment is available at: redback_final.mp4 – Google Drive

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Research contact for interview: Professor Javaan Chahl E: javaan.chahl@unisa.edu.au

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

Source:

10 July 2025

The cold winter snaps might make it hard to get out and about, but new research led by the University of South Australia has found that frequently attending in-person events can significantly boost wellbeing.

A study by tourism and event management experts at UniSA and Flinders University has found that regularly attending events such as festivals, exhibitions, sporting events, farmer’s markets and food events can lead to greater positive emotions and feelings such as joy, contentment, happiness and excitement.

It is also significantly related to higher levels of engagement and being fully absorbed and immersed in an activity, so time seems to slip away unnoticed.

Researchers surveyed more than 350 South Australians about how often they attended in-person and online events and how this related to their wellbeing.

The results revealed an association between the frequency of attending in-person events and higher well-being through higher levels of positive emotions, such as joy, happiness and excitement, as well as a stronger sense of being absorbed in an activity.

UniSA’s Associate Professor Sunny Son says although it is often claimed that event experiences can enhance people’s wellbeing, there is limited research examining their overall impact.

“Our study took a holistic approach by looking at the relationships between attending events and wellbeing. We found evidence that attending events can meaningfully improve individuals’ wellbeing, encouraging communities to leverage events to improve general well-being,” she says.

“Wellbeing has become an increasingly important focus for individuals and communities and is linked to many benefits related to health, work, family and community.

“Previous studies have shown that higher levels of wellbeing can lead to a reduced risk of illness and injury and increase longevity. People with high levels of wellbeing tend to perform better in the workplace and contribute positively to their community, so it’s important not only for public health but also for building strong socially sustainable and connected communities.”

The study also found that attending virtual events – such as an online concert or livestream experience – contributes to people’s sense of accomplishment. However, unlike in-person events, virtual events have no impact on other dimensions of wellbeing.

Flinders University Senior Lecturer Dr Eliza Kitchen says organisations can take advantage of the benefits of in-person events by incorporating them into employee reward programs, inviting clients, partners or other stakeholders to events or distributing free event tickets to staff.

“These strategies not only enhance employee satisfaction and morale but also foster a more engaged and productive workforce,” she says.

“We believe that universities and schools can also use events to support student wellbeing, which is particularly important given the high prevalence of mental health issues among young people.

“Special events can provide students with valuable opportunities to interact with one another, relieve stress and achieve personal growth. This is also the case for local councils who can host free events to help their residents to connect with their neighbours and foster a stronger sense of community, support and wellbeing.”

“What we found is that events do much more than just drive tourism and boost the economy; they also play a critical role in enhancing wellbeing. This gives us another strong reason to support events, not just for visitors, but for the benefits of locals as well.’

View the research paper: Son, Sunny, Eliza Kitchen and Julia Jones, ‘The Value of Events for Personal Well-Being: A PERMA Perspective’ [2025] International Journal of Tourism Research.

Contact for interview: Associate Professor Sunny Son, Program Director: Sport & Rec Management, Tourism & Event Management, Art & Cultural Management, UniSA E: Sunny.Son@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services