Andrew Dempster

This morning in the Dewan Rakyat. Answered two oral questions from the opposition. One question was about the Government’s plans regarding the shift in global demand structure for nitrile gloves for Malaysia. 🟢 The United States is Malaysia’s primary export destination for rubber gloves. 🟢 The Ministry views the U.S. tariff increase on medical gloves from China positively. 🟢 The Government sees this as an opportunity for the Malaysian rubber glove industry to recapture market share in the United States. The second question was about plans to transform the agri-commodity sector from a labor-intensive sector into a high-skilled and technology-driven sector. 🔵 The Government constantly encourages industry players to adapt the use of machinery based on the Internet of Things (IoT), mechanization, and automation equipment in the oil palm plantation sector. 🔵 Tax exemption incentives through the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) are provided. 🔵 Attractive career paths with fair wages. 🔵 A conducive and safe working environment as regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA). #parliament #KPK

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🚨 NDIS Reform Update 🚨 The NDIS Commission is implementing important regulatory reforms to enhance the quality and safety of NDIS supports. 🔑 Key areas of focus: - Changes to mandatory registration for Platform Providers, Support Coordinators, and Supported Independent Living providers. - Proposed amendments to the NDIS Act (Bill No.2), following recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission, to address ongoing quality and safeguarding challenges. - A strengthened regulatory framework, with stricter requirements, stronger penalties, and criminal offences for non-compliance. 📅 Next steps: Mandatory Registration Step 1: Consultation (October 2024 – March 2025) Step 2: Decisions and Transition Plans (April 2025 – June 2025) Step 3: Commence Transition to Mandatory Registration (not before 1 July 2025) Changes to NDIS Bill No. 2 Roadmap Step 1: Consultation (October 2024 – December 2024) Step 2: Proposed NDIS Bill No.2 considered by Parliament no earlier than March 2025 Step 3: Implementation will commence after the Bill is passed by the Parliament of Australia. NDIS Practice Standards & NDIS Rules Reviews Step 1: Consultation commences (March 2025) Check out the NDIS Commission's Regulatory Reform Roadmap, outlining the activities planned to support reform priorities over the next 12 months, including key consultation timelines and events.

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Kia ora, A reminder to submit on the Long Term Plan (https://lnkd.in/g_2SYjQ4.). We have a number of big policy changes that we need to address and these are: - Running a balanced budget. This means not spending beyond our income. But as our rates have been falsely low by long standing policies of keeping rates increases unrealistically low, we now need to lift the income to provide the services we are legally (also ethically and morally) required to provide. - Funding depreciation. Putting money aside against our new infrastructure from the time it is built/laid, and starting to put money aside for existing infrastructure so we don’t force costs on future generations. - Funding the rising interest rates, rising cost of insurance and rising costs of construction. As I said before, I see the job of Council to make the right decisions, not the popular decisions. This does mean we have to increase rates significantly. What services we retain or stop can be influenced by your feedback; these are in the consultation document. - Grants may be removed, - Activation may cease, - Many of the additional good things council did may go. We want to hear your thoughts on this. We listened to your priorities, we engaged during the design (Feb-Mar 23 we walked the streets hearing your thoughts) and we are still here to listen and hear your concerns directly. Again, please contact me if you want to discuss your concerns or find out more matt.carey@uhcc.govt.nz. Remember, consultation closes on the 2nd of May. Everyone in our community can have a say (not just home owners). Remember also that you need to use the let’s Kōrero link to submit! **This round of increases will be concerning for many of you. If you do have concerns about your ability to pay your rates, please contact UHCC (search UHCC Rates) on 04-527-2169, or by email at rates@uhcc.govt.nz.

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Jumped on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) this afternoon to discuss the LNP’s housing plan, released today. Also, considered points of convergence between the Labor and LNP plans, both in focus this state budget week. Check it out, hopefully it offers some interesting analysis. https://lnkd.in/gPiqp-RE #StateBudget #BudgetReply #Queensland #HomeMatters #BetterTogether

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The Canberra Times today published that the ACT Integrity Commission has found that a former Community Services Directorate public servant engaged in "reprehensible conduct", but the details of the report remain secret. The article states that the Commission's investigation involved conflict of interest and fraud. Its recommendations include that the ACT Government should ensure that people who have had adverse findings from the Commission are not able to be re-employed in the territory's public service. This is not enough. Unfortunately, these recommendations will not stop people capable of reprehensible conduct being employed elsewhere like community service charity providers or other organisations with vulnerable clients or staff. The ACT is small community - so people are known - but still the wrong people end up in the jobs where harm, maladministration or misuse of funds can occur. We need to do more to stop incompetent or corrupt people working in these sectors. We need to be better at calling out these behaviors and having better governance arrangements. Let's stop the secrecy.

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I believe there will be amendments proposed to the NDIS bill today. I am still deeply concerned that the Bill will not take a whole of person approach to considering people's needs. There is a difference between saying that a condition is the responsbility of the NDIS and saying that a condition should feature in deciding what disability-related supports a person needs to live their life. For example, someone who has an intellectual disability might have a need for more or different NDIS supports if they're undergoing knee surgery or navigating cancer diagnosis and treatment. It's not the job of the NDIS to treat the knee or the cancer, but it is likely their job to help that person with additional support hours so they can get to their treatments and maybe have some assistance with communicating their needs during those appointments. The health system is not going to show up to do this, and even if theoretically they could, so much of this kind of support is relational. It's probably quicker and more helpful for the existing supports to offer more support - rather than bring in a new service system. Then there are people - like myself - who have multiple disabling conditions. At the moment the NDIA can list whichever of these conditions they like within your file and make decisions on that basis, without any rights as a participant to either know that decision, or appeal it. There is a lack of basic procedural fairness in this regard. This legislation is still insisting that this would form the basis of the needs assessment process. This is going to result in plans that don't meet people's needs, and unless the ability to appeal is cut (we keep hearing it isn't) then the Agency will be even more flooded with appeals than it currently is. The Agency seems quite desperate to limit their obligation to support disabled people to narrow parts of our experience. But it's simply not possible to do so without engaging in a dehumanising calculus of need and engaging in the fantasty that impairments need supports, not people.

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Let them say whatever they want to say. Why bother if you are doing your job well? On a serious note, PNGPL is managing three huge operations in power generation, distribution and retail which has proven to be ineffective. Consider relinquishing two operations to the private sector and I recommend you concentrate only on generation.

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Bill Shorten Press Release: "Joint statement on Proposed Amendments to NDIS Bill Joint with: The Hon Bill Shorten MP Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister for Government Services Member for Maribyrnong The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP Premier of South Australia  Chair of the Council for the Australian Federation The Albanese Labor Government and the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) have in the past 24 hours agreed to significant changes to enhance co-governance arrangements, rulemaking and approval processes for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These are the first and most significant set of co-governance changes since the inception of the Scheme a decade ago. The Albanese Government and CAF have agreed to a number of proposed amendments to the NDIS Bill currently in the Senate, that will strengthen how state and territories work together with the Commonwealth on NDIS reforms, once the legislation is made law. Specifically, there has been an agreement to introduce faster timeframes for approving NDIS rules, a new dispute resolution approach to escalate issues to First Ministers, and a move from unanimous to majority First Ministers’ support for any rules with any significant impacts for people with disability and governments. These changes fully respond to the concerns originally raised by CAF on the legislation. These changes will also ensure Scheme sustainability is protected in the short to medium term and support the National Cabinet decision to achieve the 8 per cent growth target. Critically, today’s agreement secures the support of states and territories for the Government’s legislation and reform agenda and will help ensure the Scheme is here for future generations of Australians." https://lnkd.in/gzx-JucX

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We are delivering on our election commitment to ease cost of living pressures for Territorians by freezing car registration fees, providing a free driver’s licence for a year, and enabling three-year trailer registrations. The delivery of these election commitments will save Territorians’ time and money, meaning less time spent at MVR and more time being able to enjoy our unique Territory lifestyle. Effective immediately, we are freezing all registration fees for light vehicles at their current rate until 1 July 2026, applying to around 155,000 cars, motorcycles and trailers. From 1 December, Territorians will have the option to register their light trailer (less than 750kg) for a maximum of three years instead of having to do so every year. People will still have the option to renew their trailer for lesser period if preferred. Finally, from 1 January 2025, 112,400 Territory drivers who currently pay for and are licenced in the Northern Territory can receive a free licence for a year. We know every dollar counts. The previous Labor government increased registration fees by over $100 during their time and these changes will deliver real relief to Territorians who are now left struggling with grocery bills, childcare, power costs and other cost of living pressures left by the Labor government. Territorians have suffered enough and it’s now time to get back to enjoying our iconic Territory lifestyle. From 1 January 2025, eligible licence holders will also be able to apply either in person at an MVR or online using MVR Quickpay for the reissue of their existing licence with a 12-month extension to their expiry date. If your licence requires a new photo, customers will need to visit an MVR. To receive your free licence for a year, you must renew or seek a reissue of your driver’s licence prior to 30 June 2025. For details on the initiatives, or how to access them, visit www.mvr.nt.gov.au

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After much analysis and consultation, VALID has shared its position on NDIS Provider Registration with the Taskforce and public. I am empathetic to the concerns on all sides that are driving this discussion. What I would love to see is constructive discussion about the practical resources needed to make Supported Decision Making happen in practice. Because when the rubber really hits the road, Supported Decision Making (SDM) is an enormous learning curve without nearly enough practical resources behind it. But doubling down on the side of ‘duty of care’ in policy without flexibility as a way to counteract the lack of SDM resource is not an acceptable end goal. The needs of NDIS participants are impossibly diverse. There are pockets where ‘duty of care’ is not happening at all, which is unacceptable to say the least. If the proposed changes do go ahead, which they may, we need to ensure that the pendulum swing doesn’t facilitate yet another example of ‘inclusive segregation’ and other such unintended consequences for people. … Image description: my coffee mug with Homer Simpson and donuts on it. Because it makes me happy when things feel stressful - and if you’ve been following me for a hot minute, you know I’m all about the stress relief these days 😊

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Strategic direction is vitally important for any organisation - it helps define the core purpose and keeps the focus when there is so much noise around us. One of the priorities in our Waikato Regional Council 2023 - 2025 Strategic Direction, is Community Connections, which is described as: vibrant communities that are well connected with each other and to services. A key enabler of this strategy is the Waikato Public Transport Business Improvement Review. This review began in 2021, and continues to be worked through today. One of the steps in this journey of providing good Public Transport (PT) to a growing and diverse region is simplifying how we rate for PT. As part of the 2024 - 2034 Long Term Plan our Council resolved to collect a regional rate for public transport. This regional rating enables our strategy to be realised with better connected communities across territorial boundaries. We are now looking for feedback from our communities as to what that regional rate could look like. https://lnkd.in/gighCEbd From 1 July 2025, we’re changing the way bus, community transport and Total Mobility services are rated for in the Waikato region. These services provide access to education, employment, recreation, healthcare and more, while also helping to cut congestion, improve road safety and reduce carbon emissions. The cost of providing public transport is covered through a mix of fares, central government funding and rates. Our staff have been developing three regional rating models in partnership with local councils, and we now want to test them with our communities to see if we’re on the right track. When developing these three options, we’ve kept six principles in mind. Public transport is a public good: Good public transport benefits everyone, so we all pay something, even if we don’t use it. Fairness: What people pay reflects the benefits, costs and affordability of rates. Efficiency: The rating model should be simple to administer. Transparency: People should be able to understand how their rates are calculated. Future-fit: The rating model should be able to adapt to future changes in the transport network. Boundary-less: Services should meet community needs, regardless of city and district boundaries. The feedback we receive here will be collated and shared with regional councillors during a workshop in December. We’ll then refine the rating model options ahead of formal consultation with our communities in April 2025, before moving to regional rating from 1 July 2025 The survey closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 27 November https://lnkd.in/gighCEbd

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The Australian Human Rights Commission’s new report on child justice calls for transformational change that puts child wellbeing first and addresses the root causes of offending by children. I was pleased to contribute a submission to assist the Commission. The treatment of children in the criminal justice system, some as young as 10 years old, is one of the most urgent human rights issues facing Australia. For too long governments have ignored the evidence that prevention, not punishment, is key to keeping our children and the community safe. We must have a nationally coordinated, child rights-based approach to reform. This is the key to safer communities for all. Read the full report and its recommendations ‘Help way earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing https://lnkd.in/g_aSVsAU #AusHumanRights #youngpeople

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This report favours a model called 'fundholding' where Navigator organisations would hold our plan funding in a 'pool.' They would use the money in this pool to procure services for us according to their ideas of quality and value. They wouldn't have to spend our plan value on us. They could spend it on someone else, or not at all. If they underspent our plans, they could keep the change. This is literally the definition of extractive abandonment. How easy do you think it would be to convince your Navigator at NIB that you actually needed the $15,000 wheelchair from a different company than the one they usually work with, or that you actually do need the number of support hours in your plan, not slightly less, when their yearly bonus was riding on you underspending enough that there was some left over for them. I can only hope that this has been drafted solely for titilation, and the government has no intention of indulging these purile fantasies.

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The newly elected CLP Government is delivering on its promise to keep Territorians safe with “posting and boasting” laws set to be passed in the first sittings of Parliament. Community safety is my government’s No.1 priority, and Territorians are right to expect that we will deliver on these new law and order measures as promised. The new “posting and boasting” offence will see a penalty of up to two years’ gaol. This will apply to any person who promotes a certain crime or criminal activity, such as violent offences, property damage, theft, stealing a motor vehicle, police pursuits and robbery, on social media platforms, including sharing criminal activity online, for the purpose of notoriety. This is about ensuring our laws act as a deterrent to committing crimes, that there are consequences, and offenders are held accountable for their actions. The new “posting and boasting” laws do not apply to people who post on social media to raise awareness of criminal activity, Territorians seeking information about a crime or to media reporting.

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Not everyday two of the major #auspol polling firms deliver their latest Federal politics analysis within the same MSM media cycle. Some very interesting polling data after one of the more fractuoua periods in Australian & western society for many years. RoyceComm Nine Newspapers & the Resolve Political Monitor paints a stark picture around cost of living biting alongside a sliding Labor primary vote, a firmer Coalition post Voice referenda l bounce still very strong > 1/3 of electorate 3rd party voting cohort. 2PP all square ALP 50 / Coalition 50.The Age Over at The Australian & the long-standing ‘Newspoll’ has similar trend lines but a stronger Labor primary (a 33% instead of a just 30%) & a retained 51/49% 2PP across party outcome. Three weeks out from the all-critical Federal Budget, technically the last of this first-term Govt as an election will be due by May 2025. The dynamics are widespread & increasingly fascinating. #ausbiz #politics #newspoll #elections2024 #labor #liberal #elections2025 #costofliving #inflation #budget2024 #australianpolitics #crime #socialorder

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Te Ōhanga Māori 2023—The Māori Economy 2023  I want to extend my sincere thanks to BERL and all members of the Steering Group (from Iwi Maori & Government Agencies), for which I've had the responsibility of chairing, and to the Working Group (from across a range of agencies) for their valuable contributions to this significant work. The full release will be in March 2025; here’s a preview of some key insights: The Māori economy is evolving, expanding beyond traditional sectors like agriculture, forestry, and fishing. In 2023, it contributed $30b to New Zealand’s GDP—8.4% of the total. The asset base has grown... rising from $69b in 2018 to $118b in 2023. Māori entrepreneurship continues to thrive- for the first time since 2006, more Māori workers are employed in high-skilled roles than in lower-skilled ones. The 2025 report, the fourth in this series, will deliver a comprehensive analysis of the Māori economy, featuring expanded data on Māori businesses, a deeper dive into collectives, and a new export-focused section with detailed sector breakdowns. We have come too far not to go further, we have done too much not to do more! Message me if you'd like to receive the launch details.

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How is Your Business Tracking? Culture Ate ANU's Strategy for Breakfast – Professor Genevieve Bell, the new Vice Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) has proposed a $250 million budget cut. This has occurred amid deep unease about her restructuring plans, intended to address ANU's financial strain caused by declining student enrollment, reduced government funding, and increased operational costs. The university has reported a loss between $117 million and $162 million in three of the last five years, with a predicted deficit of $200 million for 2024. VC Bell’s plans for $250 million in annual savings include significant wage cuts and job reductions, including around 650 staff cuts. Staff have criticized her approach as autocratic and fear-driven, with accusations of a "corporate-style raid" and a "culture of fear." Despite setbacks, Bell defends her leadership style and insists the changes are necessary to turn the university’s finances around. The financial strategy of cost savings is out of balance with the level of change management strategy. One is about money, and the other is about people. Hence, friction arises between the two. If current trends persist, ANU faces continued losses, with the potential to deepen the deficit, jeopardizing staff morale and retention, further affecting productivity. Financial stability remains at risk without balancing financial and cultural considerations. Integrating both financial strategy and change management is critical. A balanced approach would include transparent communication, staff involvement in restructuring, and clear alignment of financial goals with people-focused leadership. Recovery begins when the focus shifts from purely financial cuts to a more inclusive, consultative approach. It starts with restoring trust, engaging staff in the process, and redefining the university’s values and vision. Open dialogue, fostering a culture of trust, and actively involving staff in decision-making processes are key steps to reduce friction and make the financial restructuring more sustainable. Change management is not transactional; it's about fostering a dialogue that allows for flexibility and openness. It's not just about answering questions or presenting slides—it’s about having powerful, transparent conversations. These conversations should invite diverse perspectives, creating space for new ideas and the discovery of the right answers together. Financial change definitely needs to happen quickly. And the best way to accelerate financial change is with Culture.

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