Latest news with #UniversityofSouthAustralia
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Science
- Hans India
Australian moths master long-distance migration using starry skies
Canberra: Australian Bogong moths have been shown to use constellations and the Milky Way as a celestial compass to navigate annual migrations of up to 1,000 km, new research has revealed. The research, led by an international team of scientists, marks the first time an insect has been proven to rely on stellar navigation for long-distance travel, according to a release from the University of South Australia on Thursday. "Until now, we knew that some birds and even humans could use the stars to navigate long distances, but this is the first time that it's been proven in an insect," said co-author of the study Eric Warrant of Lund University in Sweden who is also a visiting fellow at the Australian National University and an adjunct professor at the University of South Australia. Each spring, billions of Bogong moths migrate from southeast Australia to hibernate in the Snowy Mountains' alpine caves, returning in autumn to breed. Lab tests confirmed they fly seasonally south in spring and north in autumn using stellar navigation, said the researchers, reported Xinhua news agency. When the night sky was rotated, the moths reversed direction; when star patterns were scrambled, they lost orientation, confirming their dependence on specific celestial cues, said the study published in Nature. When clouds obscured stars, the moths switched to Earth's magnetic field, revealing a dual navigation system for reliability. Specialized brain neurons fired strongest when facing south, demonstrating sophisticated tiny-brain navigation, the release said. The discovery is crucial for conservation, as Bogong moths are now vulnerable; protecting their migratory routes and dark skies is vital, and the findings may inspire advanced navigation technologies, it said. "It's about how animals read the world around them ... The night sky has guided human explorers for millennia. Now we know that it guides moths, too," said Warrant.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Many millions' in unclaimed super for Pacific workers
Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
'Many millions' in unclaimed super for Pacific workers
Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said.
TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Second Australian IVF mix-up shakes clinic and industry
One of Australia's top IVF providers mistakenly implanted a patient with her own embryo instead of her partner's in a second fertility clinic mix-up, heightening concerns about an industry that did not have much active government oversight until recently. Monash IVF said the error took place on June 5 at a clinic in Melbourne but did not provide further details such as how it learned of the bungle or what the couple planned to do next. The company said it was supporting the couple, who it did not identify. It said the patient's embryo was mistakenly implanted under a treatment plan which called for an embryo from the patient's partner to be transferred. The incident builds on a reputational maelstrom for Monash IVF, which was reeling from an April disclosure that an Australian woman had given birth to a stranger's baby after a fertility doctor accidentally implanted the wrong embryo in Brisbane in 2023. That mix-up sparked concerns about security protocols at IVF clinics and an industry which is in the process of being more regulated. Monash claimed the world's first IVF pregnancy five decades ago and is Australia's second-largest IVF provider, carrying out nearly a quarter of the country's 100,000 assisted reproductive cycles a year, according to industry data. "The mix-up, the second reported incident at Monash IVF, risks shaking confidence not only in one provider but across the entire fertility sector," said Hilary Bowman-Smart, a researcher and bioethicist at the University of South Australia. Shares of Monash IVF were down 25% by midsession on Tuesday, against a rising broader market. The stock is just over half its value before the April announcement.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A second Australian IVF mix-up shakes clinic and industry
Bengaluru: One of Australia's top IVF providers mistakenly implanted a patient with her own embryo instead of her partner's in a second fertility clinic mix-up, heightening concerns about an industry that did not have much active government oversight until recently. Monash IVF said the error took place on June 5 at a clinic in Melbourne but did not provide further details such as how it learned of the bungle or what the couple planned to do next. The company said it was supporting the couple, who it did not identify. It said the patient's embryo was mistakenly implanted under a treatment plan which called for an embryo from the patient's partner to be transferred. The incident builds on a reputational maelstrom for Monash IVF, which was already reeling from an April disclosure that an Australian woman had given birth to a stranger's baby after a fertility doctor accidentally implanted the wrong embryo in Brisbane in 2023. That mix-up sparked concerns about security protocols at IVF clinics and an industry which is only now in the process of being more regulated. Monash claimed the world's first IVF pregnancy five decades ago and is Australia's second-largest IVF provider, carrying out nearly a quarter of the country's 100,000 assisted reproductive cycles a year, according to industry data. "This mix-up, the second reported incident at Monash IVF, risks shaking confidence not just in one provider but across the entire fertility sector," Hilary Bowman-Smart, a researcher and bioethicist at the University of South Australia. Shares of Monash IVF were down 25% by midsession on Tuesday, against a rising broader market. The stock is just over half its value before the April announcement. "We had thought the Brisbane clinic embryo transfer error was an isolated incident," Craig Wong-Pan, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a client note. "We believe there is now risk of a greater impact of reputational damage and market share losses to MVF's operations." Monash IVF had already hired a lawyer to run an independent investigation after the Brisbane incident, and said on Tuesday it has extended the scope of that investigation. It added that it was installing interim extra verification safeguards to ensure patient confidence. It said it had reported the Melbourne incident to state regulator the Victorian Department of Health and industry licencing body the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC), part of industry group the Fertility Society of Australia. Victorian health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the department was investigating the company and the incident. "Families should have confidence that the treatment they are receiving is done to the highest standard," she said. "It is clear Monash IVF has failed to deliver that, which is completely unacceptable." Fertility Society president Petra Wale said the incident would have had an emotional toll on the family but stressed mistakes in the sector were rare. The society reiterated a call to implement nationally consistent laws around IVF. Currently, the country's IVF industry is regulated by a combination of industry bodies and state and territory health departments, resulting in a governance and compliance system that some groups say is too complex. Reports of transferring a wrong embryo are rare, according to fertility experts, and Monash's Brisbane mix-up was widely reported as the first known case of its kind. ($1 = 1.5330 Australian dollars)
