NOBODY TOLD THE RUSSIANS
Russia denies planning to give up vast Ukrainian nuclear plant

Story by By Pavel Polityuk • Yesterday 

FILE PHOTO: A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant outside Enerhodar© Thomson Reuters

KYIV (Reuters) -The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine is still under Russian control and will remain so, the Kremlin said on Monday, after a Ukrainian official suggested Russian forces were preparing to leave.

The head of Ukraine's state-run nuclear energy company said on Sunday there were signs that Russian forces might be preparing to vacate Europe's biggest nuclear plant, which they seized in March, soon after invading Ukraine.

The Kremlin dismissed the statement.

"There's no need to look for signs where there are none and cannot be any," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing on Monday.

Related video: Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine struggles to restore power; Russians shell Kherson city after retreat

Duration 3:06  View on Watch

Russia and Ukraine, which both suffered from the world's worst nuclear accident in Chornobyl in 1986, have accused each other of shelling the complex, which has six reactors.

Both sides have warned of the danger of a nuclear catastrophe. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, wants to create a protection zone around the plant.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said late on Sunday that he had no doubt Russian forces would leave the plant, where Ukrainian staff are still working.

"The defence line is starting to retreat to the borders of the Russian Federation," Podolyak told Ukrainian television, adding that Ukraine would take the plant back.

Ukraine's military said last week that about 30 Russian servicemen had been wounded near Enerhodar, the town closest to the plant. Reuters was not able to immediately verify the reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin moved in September to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Russian forces partially control. Kyiv and its Western allies condemned the move as illegal.

(Writing by Lidia Kelly and Kevin Liffey; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

FIVE EYES

Canada to boost defence, cyber security in Indo-Pacific policy, focus on 'disruptive' China'

Canada is seeking to deepen ties with 40 countries in the Indo-Pacific region that account for almost C$50 trillion in economic activity.

Reuters
Ottawa,

UPDATED: Nov 28, 2022 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits members of the Canadian troops, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the Adazi military base, Latvia. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Canada launched its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday, outlining C$2.3 billion in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region and vowed to deal with a "disruptive" China while working with it on climate change and trade issues.

The plan detailed in a 26-page document said Canada will tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual property and prevent Chinese state-owned enterprises from snapping up critical mineral supplies.

Canada is seeking to deepen ties with a fast-growing Indo-Pacific region of 40 countries accounting for almost C$50 trillion in economic activity. But the focus is on China, which is mentioned more than 50 times, at a moment when bilateral ties are frosty.

Four cabinet ministers at a news conference in Vancouver took turns detailing the new plan, saying the strategy was crucial for Canada's national security and climate as well as its economic goals.

"We will engage in diplomacy because we think diplomacy is a strength, at the same time we'll be firm and that's why we have now a very transparent plan to engage with China," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government wants to diversify trade and economic ties that are overwhelmingly reliant on the United States. Official data for September show bilateral trade with China accounted for under 7% of the total, compared to 68% for the United States.

Canada's outreach to Asian allies also comes as Washington has shown signs of becoming increasingly leery of free trade in recent years.

The document underscored Canada's dilemma in forging ties with China, which offers significant opportunities for Canadian exporters, even as Beijing looks to shape the international order into a more "permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours," it added.

CHALLENGE CHINA

Yet, the document said cooperation with the world's second-biggest economy was necessary to address some of the "world's existential pressures," including climate change, global health and nuclear proliferation.

"China is an increasingly disruptive global power," said the strategy. "Our approach ... is shaped by a realistic and clear-eyed assessment of today's China. In areas of profound disagreement, we will challenge China."

Tensions with China soared in late 2018 after Canadian police detained a Huawei Technologies executive and Beijing subsequently arrested two Canadians on spying charges. All three were released last year, but relations remain sour.

Canada earlier this month ordered three Chinese companies to divest their investments in Canadian critical minerals, citing national security.

The document, in a section mentioning China, said Ottawa would review and update legislation enabling it to act "decisively when investments from state-owned enterprises and other foreign entities threaten our national security, including our critical minerals supply chains."

"Because the region is both large and diverse, one size definitely does not fit all," Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty said in a statement, adding that Canada’s priorities will need to be very nuanced both between and within countries.

The document said Canada would boost its naval presence in the region and "increase our military engagement and intelligence capacity as a means of mitigating coercive behavior and threats to regional security."

That would include annual deployment of three frigates to the region, from two currently, as well as participation of Canadian aviators and soldiers in regional military exercises, Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a separate news conference.

Canada belongs to the Group of Seven major industrialized nations, which wants significant measures in response to North Korean missile launches.

The document said Ottawa was engaging in the region with partners such as the United States and the European Union.

Canada needed to keep talking to nations it had fundamental disagreements with, it said, but did not name them.

“India’s strategic importance and leadership will only increase”: Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy

ANI
28 November, 2022 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (File Photo)
Text Size: A- A+


Ottawa [Canada], November 28 (ANI): Canada has in its new Indo-Pacific strategy document highlighted plans to increase cooperation with India, including a commitment to work towards a new trade agreement, underscoring New Delhi’s growing importance in the strategic, economic and demographic spheres in the region.

The “Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy” document states that the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century. At the same time the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” and rebukes the Asian’s country for its disregard of international rules and norms.

“India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance in the Indo-Pacific makes it a critical partner in Canada’s pursuit of its objectives under this strategy,” says the 26-page document released on Sunday.

The strategy document contains a separate section on India and growing economic ties, including through deeper trade and investment, as well as cooperate on building resilient supply chains.

It seeks to expand to market access with India by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) as a step towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.

The strategy seeks to create a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner Service to promote implementation of the EPTA for businesses and investors looking to enter the Indian market, or for those partnering with Indian businesses


Canada will it says invest in and connect people, including by bolstering Canada’s visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh.


The Canadian government will support academic, educational, cultural, youth and research exchanges.

Canada will seek to accelerate cooperation in the fight against climate change, in protecting the environment and in deploying green technologies.

It will also send enhanced Team Canada trade missions in priority sectors of mutual interest, such as renewable energy and clean technology.

The strategy states that Canada and India have a shared tradition of democracy and pluralism, a common commitment to a rules-based international system and multilateralism, mutual interest in expanding multifaceted ties between the two countries.

According to the document, the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.

Encompassing 40 economies, over four billion people and USD 47.19 trillion in economic activity, it is the world’s fastest growing-region and home to six of Canada’s top 13 trading partners.

“The Indo-Pacific region represents significant opportunities for growing the economy here at home, as well as opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses for decades to come,” the document read.

Meanwhile, the document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power,” that have complex and deeply intertwined relationships with its “key regional actors.”

“Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is informed by its clear-eyed understanding of this global China, and Canada’s approach is aligned with those of our partners in the region and around the world,” the document reads.

It also rebukes China’s disregard of international rules and norms.

“China’s rise, enabled by the same international rules and norms that it now increasingly disregards, has had an enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific, and it has ambitions to become the leading power in the region,” the document adds. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment: Search results for FIVE EYES 

USA-KSA Energy War and Global Energy Crisis

November 28, 2022
By Syed Raiyan Amir

In this photo released by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, greets President Joe Biden, with a fist bump after his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, July 15, 2022. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)


The response of the USA to OPEC and its partner’s plan to reduce output by two million barrels per day was strong enough to suggest an uptick in hostilities with oil producers, particularly Saudi Arabia. Despite the fact that the decision was well anticipated, Washington saw it as a strong indication from its Gulf allies that they are not likely to comply with USA’s requests to continue oil production. In fact, it has started a war between the two major oil powers to make a serious impact on the energy regime. Hence the tug of war has an impact on the global energy domain since these two are the principal role player in the energy regime.

However, prior to the 2020 election, current US President Joe Biden urged to charge Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman for the Jamal Khashoggi issue. The Trump era was quite friendly with the Saudi government. So, to confront Donald Trump Biden used the anti – Saudi stance in the 2020 election. Even the US government published a report on the issue after Biden was elected as the president. But the Ukraine war changed the landscape of global politics by introducing the energy crisis. To maintain a balanced price inside the USA, the Biden administration requested the KSA to put a bridle on the price. But despite having kept the USA’s urge the OPEC plus decided to hold the production of 2-million-barrel oil per day. It will help to move the price upward since the downward price of oil was alarming for the OPEC members. The rising oil price can determine the interim election in the USA. Hence the US responded strongly. But the KSA maintained its position. However, here the action of the two big powers in terms of energy will facilitate another round of energy crisis in the global market. The following portions will discuss the issue and what ramifications it will bring.


Strong Stance of the KSA

Suhail Al-Mazrouei, the energy minister for the Emiratis, stated to reporters following the Vienna summit that OPEC took action to assure that producers would continue to invest in new oil supply. “They have their own stories, too, in Europe,” he continued, “and in Russia. We cannot support either this nation or that nation. Moreover, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, ruled out whatever political purpose and impliedly rejected the notion that the resolution entailed any hostility toward the US or other purchasers, claiming it was not done in defense of Russia. These portray that the KSA is not showing its intent in a hostile manner rather it wants to deal the tension through diplomatic channel.

NOPEC: Reappearing on the Set

The No Oil Producing or Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) bill will allow the U.S. attorney general to sue OPEC or its members, such as Saudi Arabia, in federal court. Other producers like Russia, which works with OPEC in wider group known as OPEC+ to withhold output, could also be sued.

The decision to reduce oil production, however, has already caused President Joe Biden to express his “disappointment,” adding that he would be exploring at “alternatives” to increase inventories. Hence, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese, two senior officials, issued a joint statement urging the White House to rethink its position and support the so-called NOPEC bill, which would hold the oil-producing cartel legally responsible for any price collusion.

Releasing Strategic Reserve: Not an Optimistic Option

The Biden administration’s alternative choice is to increase the amount of oil that is released from the strategic reserve, which is currently at its lowest levels since 1984. A previously stated release of tens of millions of barrels had no effect on the market, but further releases could lead to a supply surplus that would support further OPEC production cutbacks.

The Russia Factor

Washington commentators spouted accusations of Saudi Arabia “siding with Russia” after the OPEC+ announcement of relatively small production cuts. In a statement, the Saudi foreign minister revealed that the U.S. asked OPEC+ to delay announcing its production cut by a month and said that he rejects such “dictates” from Washington.

Moreover, according to OPEC, the decision is simply technical and for maintaining market stability. However, the US administration was enraged because Alexander Novak, the deputy prime minister of Russia and minister of energy, was present at the OPEC+ summit in Vienna. According to sources at OPEC, the US attempted to exert pressure on Austria to forbid his attendance, but OPEC+ members vowed to relocate the organization’s headquarters from there if its integrity was not upheld.

According to analysts, rising oil prices prior to a price cap would be advantageous for Russia, the largest non-OPEC producer. At least the discount starts at a higher price level if Russia is forced to sell oil below market value. Early in the year, high oil prices somewhat offset the sales Russia lost as Western consumers avoided its supplies. Additionally, the nation has been successful in redirecting almost two thirds of its traditional Western sales to buyers in nations like India.

However, as oil prices and sales volumes dropped, Moscow’s revenue from oil decreased from $21 billion in June to $19 billion in July to $17.7 billion in August, according to the International Energy Agency. The price limitations would further undermine a significant source of income since oil and gas revenues account for one-third of Russia’s federal budget.

Ramifications: “Weaponization of Oil”

The world will experience a surge in demand for oil. Besides, the global politics will divide into two separate blocs, though already the polarization is vivid enough. There are other ramifications of the war.

Firstly, The Biden administration plans to “re-evaluate” America’s eight-decade-old alliance with Saudi Arabia because of last week’s OPEC+ decision to cut oil production. But the White House posturing looks like a bid to distract from the effects at home of Washington’s failure to pursue a successful transition to clean energy.

Immediately following the OPEC+ decision, Roger Diwan, an analyst with S&P Global Commodity Insight, claimed in a note that the cuts represented a “weaponization of oil” and that the meeting’s timing and location were an intentional signal: The deputy prime minister of Russia, who is subject to US sanctions, was present to discuss limiting the oil supply as winter approaches and Russia has already militarized its gas deliveries to Europe. The confrontational course taken by Saudi Arabia will increase the price risk for oil.

Secondly, a shift in the gulf’s policy domain will be experienced. Some in the US perceived the decision as a failure of Biden’s Gulf policy because it was taken just over two months after Biden’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman in Jeddah. The ruling Democratic Party was anxious about the Congressional midterm elections in addition to the conflict in Ukraine and the economic sanctions against Russia. With opinion surveys indicating that Republicans might win majorities in both the House and the Senate, high gas prices at the pump only worsen their already bleak prospects.

Thirdly, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister cautioned in a deliberate response to the American response that US-led plans for a price ceiling on Russian shipments are fanning the uncertainty that prompted OPEC+ to its largest output cut in two years. The perception that the next two months would be “a period of uncertainty” is increased by “the lack of details and the lack of clarity” regarding how the price ceiling will be put into place. People have no idea how the market or the participants would respond.

Fourthly, according to some Gulf sources, the “strategic alliance” between the US and Gulf nations will prevent the situation from turning into a full-blown energy crisis. They even assert that everything will “cool off” following the midterm elections later this month.

Sixthly, the USA will search for alternative sources in the African region for maintaining supply-chain of oil and gas. The visit of Biden to the African states was a sign of newer sources to ensure the security of commodities like oil.

Finally, the energy war is empowering the movement for renewable energies facilitated by the USA inside and outside the USA. The initial election mandate for the US president was to enable more renewable energy sources.

Moreover, higher oil prices will unavoidably exacerbate the inflation problem that central banks around the world are trying to solve, and they will affect the decision to raise interest rates even further to slow down the economy. That might increase the price of gasoline globally and intensify an energy crisis in Europe and the rest of the world that is mostly related to Russian reductions in natural gas supplies used for heating, electricity, and manufacturing.

In the end, it is a reality for the developing and underdeveloped nations, that they will suffer the most. Reserve shortage, high inflation, high food price, and a prolonged energy crisis are what they might expect from the situation.



Syed Raiyan Amir
Research Associate The Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs (CBGA)

Israel beefs up protection of its senior spies, as proxy war with Iran intensifies

NOVEMBER 28, 2022 

ISRAELI AUTHORITIES HAVE STEPPED up measures to protect its senior intelligence and security figures, over concerns they may be targeted by agents of the Iranian state, according to news reports. The news comes amidst widespread concerns that the ongoing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating in the shadow of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

On Thursday, Israel’s state-owned broadcaster and news agency, Kan, reported that  the government of Israel had implemented additional security measures to protect current and former members of its security and intelligence agencies. The report added that the measures are focused largely on current and former members of Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad, as well as those associated with Israel’s intelligence and security apparatus that are living abroad.

The report comes amidst concerns among security observers that a clandestine war between Israel and Iran is growing in intensity. To a notable extent, this growth is being fueled by the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Iran’s supply of cheap and reliable attack drones appears to be enabling Moscow to subvert and outright destroy Ukraine’s national infrastructure. In what seems like a direct response to Iran’s actions, Israel war materiel is now flowing into Ukraine, reportedly through a NATO country.

There are indications that this proxy conflict between Israel and Iran is spreading in Europe and the Middle East. Seeing the success of the use of Iranian drones, some European countries with limited airstrike capabilities, like Serbia and Armenia, are reportedly considering purchasing drone attack systems from Tehran. Meanwhile, Israeli weapons exports to Arab states have skyrocketed since the normalization of Israel’s relations with a number Arab countries in recent years. According to a recent report, last year marked a historic record for the volume of Israeli military and security exports, which increased by 30 percent from 2020. Much of that increase is due to Israeli weapons exports to Arab states, such as Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis | Date: 28 November 2022 | Permalink

Ruling Nepali Congress led by PM Deuba gains majority in general polls

The ruling Nepali Congress led by PM Sher Bahadur Deuba has emerged as the single largest party in the parliamentary polls.

India Today Web Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 28, 2022 

Supporters of Nepali Congress Party cheer for their party. (Photo: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: 

The ruling Nepali Congress led by PM Sher Bahadur Deuba has emerged as the single largest party by winning 53 seats in the parliamentary polls held to end the prolonged political instability that has plagued the Himalayan nation.

Elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and seven provincial assemblies were held on November 20. The counting of votes started on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) secured 42 seats in the elections. The CPN-Maoist has emerged as the third largest party with 17 seats while the CPN-Unified Socialist has bagged 10 seats.

ALSO READ | Nepal’s top political leaders explore ways to form government amid vote count

The newly-formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party have won 7 seats each. Independent and other smaller parties have emerged victorious on 21 seats. Out of the total 165 seats under direct voting, the results for 8 seats are still awaited.

The ruling five-party alliance has won 85 seats, against 55 seats won by the alliance led by CPN-UML. The ruling alliance includes the Nepali Congress led by Prime Minister Deuba, CPN-Maoist led by Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda, CPN-Unified Socialist headed by Madhav Nepal, Mahantha Thakur’s Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janamorcha led by Chitra Bahadur.

This comes a day after Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda held a meeting on Saturday and they agreed to continue their ruling five-party alliance as part of a new majority government in the country.

The vote count under the proportional representation to the elections of the House of Representatives and the province assemblies is ongoing. Out of over 17.9 million registered voters, the voter turnout was 61 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).

So far, approximately 80 per cent of the votes was counted, The Himalayan Times newspaper quoted EC's Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel as saying.

ALSO READ | Nepal polls: Ruling alliance heading towards majority; NC emerging as largest party

Approximately 2.4 million votes remain to count.

Under the proportionate voting method, the CPN-UML got the first position, securing more than 2.5 million votes and the Nepali Congress received 2.3 million votes. The CPN-Maoist and RSP have secured one million each.

In the 275-member House of Representatives, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. A party or a coalition needs 138 seats for a clear majority.

(With PTI input)

AUSTRALIA
Workplace sexual harassment rates aren't getting better. How do we make it stop?

By political reporter Claudia Long and the Specialist Reporting Team's Gemma Breen
Posted 3h ago

When Claudia was working at lingerie chain Honey Birdette, she alleges she was subjected to sexual harassment on a regular basis.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica) 

NOTE HER WAGE THEFT SWEAT SHIRT

Workers say it is not good enough that rates of sexual harassment have failed to improve over the past four years — and there are things employers should be doing to fix the problem.

WARNING: This article contains detailed descriptions of sexual harassment

Despite widespread media attention on the problem over the past couple of years, the latest national survey investigating the issue shows rates of sexual harassment in the workplace have stayed the same, with 33 per cent of workers experiencing harassment over the past five years.

That is up from 85 per cent, 56 per cent and 89 per cent respectively in 2018.

But the AHRC says with only 62 non-binary people responding to the survey, those particular results should be interpreted with caution.

This year's survey also reflects a growing number of Australians working from home or remotely, leading to a higher prevalence of tech-facilitated abuse.

Sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins is calling on employers to step up their action on this issue before new workplace safety laws come into effect in 12 months.

"The time for patience is over," she says.

"I want to see people's lives improve, for women, for people of all genders, I want them to be given the respect and equality that they deserve.

"Only around two-thirds of workers said their organisation has a sexual harassment policy and only half said that their organisation provided information to workers about how to report.

"The promising news is that almost half of workers said their line managers had shown leadership in preventing and responding to sexual harassment. And knowing how important those line managers are, I really want to see more of that."
Selling a fantasy, harassed in reality

When Claudia was working at lingerie chain Honey Birdette, she said she was subjected to sexual harassment on a regular basis.

Claudia has spoken openly of her experience of workplace sexual harassment. 

(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

"That's absolutely not what I expected when I signed on," she says.

"For a brand that actually promotes female empowerment … it's actually quite disappointing that it's the complete opposite."

Before she left the company late last year, she was harassed by customers and had managers ask her to clean the windows of the store so passers-by would be able to see her legs.

"When sales were low, I would have quite senior staff and senior management come out and ask me to clean the windows in the front of the store so that passers-by, or potential customers, could see the back of my legs, which were Honey Birdette branded stockings that I would wear," she says.

"I've seen staff members kissed by customers … there's customers [who] have attempted to solicit staff, there's customers [who] have exposed themselves to staff in changing rooms."

Women under 30, such as Claudia, are particularly at risk of sexual harassment at work, according to the AHRC, with 46 per cent of those aged 18-29 years and 41 per cent of women of any age having experienced it in the past five years.

Perhaps more disturbing is that 60 per cent of women aged 15–17 were sexually harassed at work in the past five years as well.

Claudia says sales tactics pushed by management at Honey Birdette exacerbate these issues, enabling customers to harass staff.

"They had an instructional booklet during my time that would instruct you to 'fantasy sell' … where you approach a customer and you ask them intimate and explicit questions about their sex life," she says.

In 2016, staff campaigned to get the company to lift its game and protect workers in Honey Birdette stores.

'Isolated and traumatised'


Here are just a few confronting examples of workplace racism allegations spanning more than a decade.

They said they were facing regular sexual harassment from customers and a sexist dress code imposed by management who, they alleged, were also ignoring reports of harassment.

Now, in 2022, Claudia and other employees are campaigning with the Young Workers Centre for management to take their concerns around harassment seriously.

"They know these things happen, but yet there is extremely limited protocol," she says.

The ABC asked Honey Birdette's parent company, Playboy, several questions about what it is doing to tackle harassment.

Playboy did not answer those questions, instead sending a statement saying: "We have made significant changes in our leadership and practices since our acquisition (of the business) last year."

The company did not respond to questions asking what those changes were.
Who is most at risk?

According to the AHRC's national survey, the retail industry is where staff such as Claudia face one of the highest rates of sexual harassment.

It's a big problem across the entire economy but, in 2022, the worst industries are:Information, media and telecommunications (64 per cent)
Arts and recreation services (44 per cent)
Electricity, gas, water and waste services (40 per cent)
Retail trade (40 per cent)
Accommodation and food services (34 per cent).

Women continue to be more likely to be sexually harassed in the workplace at higher rates than men are, as do under-30s, non-binary people, queer folk, First Nations people and people with disabilities.

Karen Iles — principal solicitor at Violet and Co Legal and Consulting — says sexism and other forms of discrimination are underpinning widespread sexual harassment in Australia.

Lawyer Karen Iles (left) says women from diverse backgrounds are even more at risk of workplace harassment. (Supplied)

"We have a systemic issue, rooted in a worldview of male dominance — it needs a shake-up," she says.

"Women who are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, are gender-diverse, have a disability, are from a migrant community and many other factors are more likely, more at risk, to be targeted by (mostly) men who use sexual harassment as a way to exert power over women.

"What we observe is that women make a complaint and then end up leaving the workplace. This comes at a huge financial, emotional and personal cost.

"This is the norm — this is the cost of workplace sexual harassment."
Employers can step up to fix this

Aside from perpetrators stopping their behaviour, Ms Iles says there are things employers can be doing to protect their staff from sexual harassment by improving the way they respond to complaints in the first place.

"Businesses, organisations and government employers must proactively manage it, and eliminate it, like any other business risk," she says.

The federal government is also pushing employers to do better, with significant changes to laws relating to sexual harassment being approved by the parliament earlier in the week.

Employers will now have to prove to the AHRC that they're taking steps to eliminate sex discrimination — including sexual harassment — in the workplace.

And for the first time ever, the AHRC has asked workers if their employers are doing enough to protect them from sexual harassers at work.

Almost three quarters of workers agreed their organisation's leaders were committed to establishing a safe working environment, free from sexual harassment.

However, 37 per cent of people reckon their organisation needs to be doing more to prevent and address harassment and 40 per cent of those who made formal complaints said nothing had changed at their workplace as a result.

Despite these findings, Ms Jenkins is hopeful real change is on the horizon.

"Right now, we're at key inflection point in the trajectory of this change, one that fills me with optimism," she says.

"Optimism that if community engagement remains high — and I believe it will — then five years from now, we will see the equality and fairness that our laws are actually designed to bring, will have come to life."

AUSTRALIA
Corrections officers deployed from Darwin to Alice Springs amid crippling staff shortages

ABC Alice Springs / By Charmayne Allison

Corrections officers have been deployed from Darwin to the Alice Springs Correctional Centre as it continues to battle crippling staff shortages.

Key points:

There are concerns staffing issues at Alice Springs Correctional Facility are putting officers and prisoners at risk

At times the centre has been down to half its minimum staffing requirements

Corrective services says more than 60 new officers have been recruited across the NT since July

The NT United Workers Union said the 10 officers were sent to the centre amid fears it would have to stop visitations and programs for prisoners due to critical understaffing.

They arrived just days after NT Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said workforce shortages at the Alice Springs centre were not at crisis levels.

Union secretary Erina Early said she had not before seen a deployment of so many officers in her 16 years with the organisation.

"Sometimes they'll send a couple of officers, but having a big group of officers together in one hit go down to another centre has never occurred," she said.

Erina Early says staff at the correctional centre are feeling overworked and undervalued.(ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Calls for ongoing support

Northern Territory Correctional Services said the additional officers would stay for two weeks.

"We will continue to assess options for supporting Alice Springs Correctional Centre, noting that this comes at a staffing reduction to the Darwin Correctional Centre," a spokesperson said.

Darwin prison in 'crisis' due to overcrowding, corrections officer alleges

Workers at Darwin prison have walked off the job in protest against a proposed wage freeze, as well as alleged resourcing and overcrowding issues.

The workers' union said while the boost had been a "great relief" for burnt-out staff, they were calling for continued support until the centre was properly resourced.

"Now you've got that fear factor that they'll be in the same boat as they were a couple of weeks ago," Ms Early said.

"This needs to continue until they find adequate resourcing to actually provide the appropriate number of officers in Alice Springs."

Ms Early said many staff were feeling undervalued and unsafe at work.

She said it had sparked a mass exodus of guards from the centre, with 20 having left this year.

She said another 10 were expected to quit before Christmas.

Her union is calling for more incentives to attract workers to the region, including housing, flights and promotional opportunities.

Correctional services said it had regularly acknowledged there was a staff shortage in custodial operations, particularly in Alice Springs.

It said more than 60 new officers had been recruited across the Northern Territory since July.


"We have moved quickly to address that issue, including implementation of a rolling recruitment campaign and a new ... recruitment website," a spokesperson said.

There have been ongoing staffing issues at Alice Springs Correctional Centre.(Supplied)

Staff shortage increases risks

The union said the Alice Springs centre hadn't been fully staffed since it opened in 1996, with a current workforce shortfall of 28 rostered officers.

At times the centre has been down to half its minimum staffing requirements.

"The smallest number of officers that we're aware of at night time has been about seven," Ms Early said.

"And you need about 13 or 14 officers on a night shift.

"During the day, about 40 officers are required. But we've seen that go down to at least 20."

A range of safety measures such as stopping visits, shutting down programs or locking down prisoners can be implemented during staff shortages.

Ms Early said such actions took a toll on inmates.

"But if we don't have enough officers, unfortunately they're some of the risk mitigations we have to put in place," Ms Early said.

The union said guards were feeling tired and overworked, which was increasing risks for officers and prisoners.

"My greatest fear is that there could be riots, correctional officers could be severely assaulted, prisoners could get assaulted as well," Ms Early said.

"We shouldn't be waiting for something to happen.

"We should be dealing with the risk now."

NT Ombudsman urges government to install aircon at Alice Springs prison as temperatures top 40C

By Thomas Morgan

Posted Thu 24 Nov 2022 

The NT Ombudsman is urging the government to install air-conditioning in the Alice Springs Correctional Facility.(CASA)

The Northern Territory's ombudsman has called for air-conditioning to be installed at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, warning summer temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celcius are expected to become more frequent due to climate change.

Key points:The WA government is installing air-conditioning in the notoriously hot Roebourne Prison
But there is no time frame for the NT to upgrade the Alice Springs prison, where temperatures can hit 42C in summer
Heatwave conditions sparked a riot at the facility in 2018


But the NT Corrections Commissioner says there are no immediate plans to install cooling systems at either the Alice Springs or Darwin Correctional Centres, due to "extreme cost implications".

Summer temperatures in Alice Springs already regularly top 40C, with an average daytime temperature of 37C in January.

In 2018, the Central Australian facility was the site of a riot believed to have been sparked by soaring temperatures, with corrections staff forced to use tear gas on inmates to bring the situation under control.

The ombudsman's report was tabled in parliament on Tuesday, a day before the West Australian government announced it would spend $10 million installing air-conditioning at Roebourne Prison in the Pilbara.

Justice Minister Chansey Paech says the government is always striving to improve the territory's prison system.(ABC News: Hamish Harty)

The report warned inmates in Alice Springs faced "notoriously challenging conditions in the summer months, with extensive runs of days where the temperature exceeds 40 degrees, and indeed 42 degrees".

While the ombudsman acknowledged other residents of Alice Springs endured the same temperatures, often without access to air-conditioning, the report noted that prisoners are "highly restricted in their movements and steps they can take to stay cool".

"They are often confined for much of the day and night, with other prisoners, in a small cell, with limited airflow," the report continued.

The ombudsman said he had written to the recently-installed Corrections Commissioner, Matthew Varley, in March this year to warn that prisoners in stifling heat were "not so easily amenable to compliance and more prone to outbursts".

"I said the reality of climate change means that this issue will only get worse and needs to be effectively addressed."

The ombudsman said air-conditioning was "likely to be the only truly effective measure" to improve conditions and called on the government to urgently consider it.
'Extreme cost implications' for installing aircon in prisons

In a response to the ombudsman's concerns published in the report, Commissioner Varley said the department would be unable to install air-conditioning in the current financial year due to "extreme cost implications" and because there were "no budget allocations available".

Heatwave triggers prison riot

Alice Springs prisoners are tear gassed during a riot sparked by their refusal to return to their cells during plus-40C temperatures.

Correctional services were, however, "embarking on a multi-year reform program," he said.

"As part of the ‘Forward, Together’ reform planning ... [correctional services] will endeavour to address this issue over coming budget years."

When asked about conditions at the Alice Springs facility on Wednesday, Attorney-General and Justice Minister Chansey Paech said the government "had a plan" to improve the justice system.

But Mr Paech did not provide specific detail on government plans to deal with the heat at either the Alice Springs or Darwin jails.


"Certainly we always consider what we can do and what improvements we can make on the correctional centres across the territory, and we will continue to do that," he said.

He also said the government's mandatory sentencing reforms, which are being debated in parliament this week, would help bring down incarceration rates and prevent overcrowding in correctional centres.

The Alice Springs Correctional Centre Centre can experience multiple days in a row of temperatures above 40C in summer months.(ABC News: Hamish Harty)

WA to upgrade prison described as 'torture'

Conditions inside the Alice Springs facility were described as "inhumane" following the 2018 riot.

Then-corrections commissioner Scott McNairn said the unrest began after prisoners refused to return to their cells due to the heat.

In Western Australia, pressure from lawyers and activists led the state government to announce a $10 million to upgrade Roebourne Prison this week.

Lawyers said the 50C temperatures within the facility were "torture" and advocates warned conditions were likely to result in a death in custody.


Related Stories

Call for air-conditioners in cells after outback heatwave triggers prison riot


'It's getting hotter now': Calls for air con plans at WA's hottest prison to be fast-tracked


Cells in one of Australia's hottest jails to get air conditioning, after years of 'torture'

Renting across Australia became less affordable in 2022. See how much your state has changed

Posted 3h ago3 hours ago, updated 1h ago1 hours ago

The Rental Affordability Index fell in every Australian capital city over the past year.(ABC News: Nick Sas)

Thousands of Australians are struggling with the rising cost of living, and housing is one of the biggest expenses of them all.

Renting became less affordable in every capital city over the past year, the latest Rental Affordability Index (RAI) report, released yesterday, shows.

Outside the cities, renters are also feeling the pressure, with regional areas in every state recording drops in affordability as well.

One expert says the last time it was this hard to rent in Australia was during the Great Depression.

Inside Australia's rental crisis

Huge crowds at inspections, bidding wars, rent increases and eviction notices. This is renting in Australia.

Read more

So how bad is the drop in affordability where you live?

The RAI — a score between 50 and 150 — is an indicator of how affordable rentals are, relative to household incomes.

So, the lower the number, the less affordable the area is, and vice versa.

Check out how that has changed across your state below.

Jump to your state:

New South Wales

ACT

Victoria

Tasmania

South Australia

Western Australia

Queensland

An RAI was not calculated for the Northern Territory nor Darwin.

New South Wales

Sydney has long been considered an "extremely unaffordable" place to rent and, after improving slightly during the early days of the pandemic, affordability has dropped again.

"The return of international tourism and student demand has meant that rental rates for one-bedroom and two-bedroom dwellings have begun returning to pre-pandemic levels," the report said.

Regional New South Wales has also become significantly less affordable over the past year, which the report partly attributes to people moving away from cities during COVID-19.

"Whether this change will persist remains to be seen," the report said.

The 2022 floods also made the rental market worse in parts of regional New South Wales, with towns such as Lismore and Bellingen hit the hardest.

Australian Capital Territory

Affordability in the nation's capital did not change as much as other cities during the pandemic.

However, over the past year, rents in the territory have increased "rapidly … eroding affordability", the report said.

"While the ACT remains on the border of acceptable affordability, low-income households face particularly unaffordable rents … which are pushed up by the overall high-income-earning workforce," the report said.

On average, rental households in the ACT have a gross income above $120,000, higher than any other state.

For lower-income earners, such as hospitality workers, the report said, inner areas of Canberra were "severely unaffordable".

Victoria

Both regional Victoria and greater Melbourne became less affordable in the past year for renters.

Rental affordability in regional Victoria has reached a "historic low", with the Surf Coast and Geelong regions recording the biggest changes in affordability.

"The trend of declining affordability is consistent across all parts of regional Victoria, albeit at different scales," the report said.

Melbourne became more affordable in 2020 and 2021, but the easing of travel restrictions — both local and international — meant demand for rental accommodation increased again, sending rents higher in 2022.

However, the report says, "despite returning to pre-pandemic levels of affordability, Greater Melbourne is the most affordable capital city in Australia".

Tasmania

Hobart has been the least-affordable Australian city since 2019 and, in 2022, it dropped to its most-unaffordable level in RAI's records.

The average rental rate in Hobart has increased 60 per cent since 2016, making the city about 11 per cent more expensive than Melbourne.

However, household incomes in Hobart are relatively low when compared to other cities.

"These rapidly growing rents are likely driven by an inadequate supply of rental housing," the report said.

Regional Tasmania has also reached a "historic low" after a large drop in affordability over the past year.

"Despite rising incomes, affordability has worsened in most parts of regional Tasmania," the report said.

Queensland

Both Brisbane and regional Queensland have reached "historic low points" after becoming dramatically more unaffordable in the past year.

Brisbane recorded the largest decline in affordability of any capital city, with its RAI dropping 11 per cent.

Meanwhile, regional Queensland has become the "least-affordable regional area in the country", the report said.

"The average [regional Queensland] rental household faces rent at 29 per cent of its total income, nearing the threshold of rental stress," the report said.

Regional areas in South East Queensland have been hit hardest, with parts of the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast now considered "severely unaffordable".

South Australia

Both Adelaide and South Australia's regional areas became less affordable in 2022.

Adelaide's CBD bucked the trend and actually became more affordable, however, the report said, "the opposite was true" of most suburban locations across the city.

Suburbs such as Beaumont, Burnside and Hahndorf are now considered "extremely unaffordable", while other suburban areas have also recorded declines.

While regional South Australia did become less affordable, its decline was less severe than regional parts of New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland.

"However, for household incomes at or below $50,000, there are no locations that have acceptable affordability in regional South Australia," the report said.

Western Australia

Perth has become "considerably" less affordable over the past two years, particularly in its northern suburbs.

"This reflects a sharp increase in rents since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which incomes, while high, have not offset," the report said.

Despite this, Perth remains the second-most affordable capital city in Australia, behind Melbourne.

Western Australia is the only state where, on average, regional households make more money than those in the capital city, a result largely skewed by the mining industry.

Regional areas declined in affordability during COVID-19, falling again in 2022. Mining towns including Karratha and Kalgoorlie-Boulder were among the worst affected, the report said.

Posted 3h ago3 hours ago, updated 1h ago