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Australian Parliament resumes after Labor's landslide election victory

Australian Parliament resumes after Labor's landslide election victory

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia's Parliament resumed Tuesday for the first time since the center-left Labor Party won one of the nation's largest-ever majorities in the May elections.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the traditional owners of the national capital Canberra at a Welcome to Country ceremony in Parliament House. He noted that such ceremonies performed by Indigenous people to welcome visitors to their traditional land at the start of a new parliament had been introduced by a Labor government in 2007.
'In the 48th Parliament, we write the next chapter. Let us do it with the same sense of grace and courage that First Nations people show us with their leadership,' Albanese said.
The government has said the first legislation will be a bill to reduce student loan debt by 20%. The measure to be introduced Wednesday will benefit 3 million Australians with student loan debts and cost the government 16 billion Australian dollars ($10 billion).
The government also plans to introduce laws that would cut funding to child care providers who fail to meet quality standards and that would provide legal protections for some wage rates.
Labor won 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives where governments are formed. Labor's majority is the largest since Prime Minister John Howard's conservative coalition won 94 seats in 1996, when the lower chamber had only 148 seats.
Howard stayed in power almost 12 years, and Albanese is the first prime minister since then to lead a party to consecutive election victories, following an extraordinary era of political instability.
The main opposition Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader, Sussan Ley, after one of the party's worst election results on record.
Her conservative coalition holds 43 seats in the House, while independent lawmakers and minor parties that are not aligned with either the government or opposition hold 13.
No party holds a majority in the 76-seat Senate. Labor holds 29 seats and the conservatives 27 seats. The Australian Greens hold 10 seats, which is the next largest bloc.
The government will likely prefer to negotiate with the conservatives or Greens to get legislation through the Senate, rather than deal with multiple minor parties and independents.
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‘This is the new land back': Former Vuntut Gwitchin chief plans AI network across First Nations
‘This is the new land back': Former Vuntut Gwitchin chief plans AI network across First Nations

Hamilton Spectator

time39 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

‘This is the new land back': Former Vuntut Gwitchin chief plans AI network across First Nations

The former chief of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation is launching an AI network across First Nations. Dana Tizya-Tramm is the director of Nadlii, a non-profit dedicated to Indigenous data sovereignty according to its website. Tizya-Tramm spoke with the News from Ottawa on July 17: he was there speaking with Canadian government officials for partnership to support the endeavour of empowering every First Nation in Canada with a military-grade modular data centre. Military-grade modular data centres are sea cans filled with millions of dollars of graphics-processing units, according to Tizya-Tramm. They support drones and soldiers in warfare, but have also supported mining and industrial projects, he said. These modular data centres have the hardware that people use to mine cryptocurrency, said Tizya-Tramm, but they can also support artificial intelligence systems as well. He said the community would have access to the infrastructure at a low cost, as Nadlii does not want to own the infrastructure or data. Each modular data centre would be attached to what Tizya-Tramm called the One Mind Compute Network: a decentralized network where First Nations across Canada would share progress and information. 'We foresee this network, this decentralized network, not only being a key to implementation and modernization and reconnection to the land for First Nations, but it can also offer the rest of the world the only AI ethical compute in the world,' Tizya-Tramm said. 'We see a future where multiple modular data centres across this country tied to a network where First Nations are able to share compute knowledge, AI that will resemble our old trade routes, where we encrypted our economies, our knowledge and our alliances in our trade languages, and we chose who participated in that,' Tizya-Tramm said. The data centres could be used for a variety of purposes within the communities, Tizya-Tramm said. He gave the example of using artificial intelligence to create land use plans for self-governing Yukon First Nations. It would take public satellite data, overlay the Umbrella Final Agreement, and create land use planning calculators for First Nations. 'It becomes so accessible that a community could sit down with a specifically trained artificial intelligence and curate conversations in real time,' he said. This usage could save Yukon government and First Nations millions of dollars, Tizya-Tramm said, at a time when it is difficult to get funding for land use plans. The artificial intelligence could also be used to educate First Nations citizens on treaties and land agreements, Tizya-Tramm said. Tizya-Tramm said the modular data centres are so small they do not require liquid cooling like water. They have found that even an electric Ford F150 truck can be used as a battery to power the centre. Currently, data centres which store many artificial intelligence servers use significant amounts of water for cooling the electrical components, according to the United Nations . The project is drawing a line in the sand regarding the current reality of artificial intelligence, according to Tizya-Tramm. 'Nobody in Canada owns their data, nor do they own the AI infrastructure. Any interaction with any public AI, your data is being taken so that that company can turn it into a product and sell it back to you,' said Tizya-Tramm. 'Technically, we're tilling the fields for our techno-overlords in Silicon Valley, and the land is data.' Tizya-Tramm said large tech companies like Microsoft exist to maximize their profits — not the affluence of communities or the sovereignty of families. People have a right to their data, which is intellectual property which the producer should benefit from, Tizya-Tramm said. 'The amount of data that we're generating is generating money for other companies on our backs, Canadians, and as an Indigenous person, I have seen this before, and it will not end well,' Tizya-Tramm said. 'The whole new world has been born, an invisible one of data, and these AI companies are sailing towards the data lands of our children with a copy of manifest destiny in their back pocket while they sail on the digital mayflowers,' Tizya-Tramm said. Tizya-Tramm said he began to work with artificial intelligence as he disliked how it has been thrust upon the public to grapple with. 'We can show through, through studies that there has been an over 60 per cent increase in suicides in young girls in the United States from 12 to 17, and the only difference is that Facebook was introduced into their lives,' Tizya-Tramm said. 'So we are cleaning up Facebook's inequities with our dead children while that CEO rakes in a trillion dollars, and we hold the bill.' Tizya-Tramm said that artificial intelligence, applied through Indigenous teachings and principles, can strengthen communities and the land, in a way that current AI practices will not. 'I know that Indigenous peoples inherently hold the relational logic to meet this in a good way, with ceremony,' Tizya-Tramm said. Tizya-Tramm said the Canadian officials he met with indicated a willingness to create a partnership. However, he said that Canada is in a difficult position when it comes to artificial intelligence, having invested $2.4 billion into artificial intelligence where the United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars. Canada is working hard to develop funding programs and innovation funds, said Tizya-Tramm, but they have to compete with the United States. 'Not only should Canada be a leader in ethical AI development and data sovereignty, but First Nations have the opportunity as a people who have been advocating and fighting for their sovereignty for generations, make them likely the most forward thinking individuals in the world to address and understand this issue,' Tizya-Tramm said. 'This is about the regaining of our sovereignty to make decisions that affect future generations and Canada today, this data back, this is the new land back.' Nadlii is currently working on finalizing memorandums of understanding with several First Nations, according to Tizya-Tramm. 'I can tell you that multiple First Nations this year will receive this technology on their lands, setting and making history.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Surprise! Four-Day Work Weeks Make Employees Happier, Productive
Surprise! Four-Day Work Weeks Make Employees Happier, Productive

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Surprise! Four-Day Work Weeks Make Employees Happier, Productive

The evidence is growing that a shorter work week is better not just for workers, but for employers as well. The largest-ever study of a four-day work week found that employees working fewer hours weren't just happier, but they also maintained productivity and had better job satisfaction, according to an article on the study published by Scientific American. In fact, the four-day work week was so successful that most companies kept the reduced schedule even after the study ended. Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the study looked at 2,896 employees at 141 companies in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Shorter Week, Less Stress Before shifting to the reduced four-day work week, companies involved in the study restructured their workflow to maintain 80% of a worker's weekly productivity by eliminating activities like unnecessary meetings. Some researchers suspected that the condensed schedule would lead to more stress for workers who hurried to get their tasks completed in time. 'When workers want to deliver the same productivity, they might work very rapidly to get the job done, and their well-being might actually worsen,' said lead author Wen Fan, a sociologist at Boston College in Massachusetts, in the Scientific American article. 'But that's not what we found.' Overall, workers felt better job satisfaction and reported better mental health after six months of the study. And while the study didn't look at whether companies' productivity levels dropped, it did say that 90% of companies kept the shorter work week even after the trial ended, indicating they weren't worried about a dip in profits. The study did leave some questions unanswered. For example, since employees self-reported the results, researchers wondered whether they over-emphasized the positive benefits in an effort to retain the extra day off. Read the original article on Investopedia

UN court opinion on climate change could boost scrutiny of major projects: expert
UN court opinion on climate change could boost scrutiny of major projects: expert

Hamilton Spectator

time3 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

UN court opinion on climate change could boost scrutiny of major projects: expert

OTTAWA - A warning from the United Nations' top court that failing to address climate change could violate international law could lead to greater public scrutiny of major projects in Canada, one expert says. The International Court of Justice opinion, released Wednesday, said everyone is entitled to a habitable planet. The non-binding opinion applies to all countries and paves the way for legal actions. Those actions could include states challenging other states before the International Court of Justice, lawsuits and legal instruments like investment agreements that have to conform with international law. Sabaa Khan, the David Suzuki Foundation's climate director, said the court explicitly stated that any move to expand the fossil fuel industry could be seen as a breach of international legal obligations. 'For a country like Canada that has had historically high emissions, that has the means necessary to accelerate its decarbonization, I think that it's clear more than ever that our government really has to eliminate any sort of public support of fossil fuels,' she said. 'I think there's going to be much greater public scrutiny when it comes to nation-building projects.' The Liberal government has passed controversial legislation granting cabinet the power to fast-track major projects it deems to be in the national interest, and is set to open its major projects office by Labour Day. Projects qualifying for accelerated approval could include ports, railways, mining projects and pipelines. Governments have been encouraging First Nations leaders to support such projects through loan guarantees and promises of financial incentives. But many First Nations leaders fear their ways of life could be irreparably harmed if governments evade environmental standards. Many Indigenous leaders have also argued elements of the law could be used to undermine their rights. Khan said she expects the court opinion will affect the work being done on major projects. 'There's no way to look at this without seeing clearly that investment in fossil fuels is a breach of human rights law,' she said. 'I think that it lays down a legal foundation that can really create that certainty for investors where if you start funding or you continue funding fossil fuel developments, then you are at risk of being held responsible.' Khan said Bill C-5 states that approved major projects have to meet Canada's climate change objectives. She said the government will have to take the court opinion into consideration. 'If it doesn't, then it could open up just more legal challenges to the way that law now is being implemented,' Khan said, adding that Canada should be investing in things like renewable energy and interprovincial electricity grids. Khan said that while the opinion is non-binding, it has a 'very strong interpretive power.' Supreme Court of Canada decisions often cite advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice, she said. Fraser Thomson, a lawyer at Ecojustice, said International Court of Justice advisory opinions are viewed as authoritative interpretations of international law around the world and have influenced court decisions in Canada. 'Canadian courts at every level have to look to these opinions when they are faced with interpreting what is international law and how it impacts Canadian domestic law,' he said. Thomson said it's reasonable to assume the court opinion will open the door to more climate litigation in Canada. 'All governments are now on notice that they cannot continue to put our future at risk,' he said, adding that Canada could be asking for legal trouble if it decides to build more pipelines. Keean Nembhard, a spokesperson for the office of Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin, said the government recognizes the 'crucial role' Canada plays in contributing to the global fight against climate change and remains committed to that work. The court opinion also said that some countries or individuals suffering from the effects of climate change could be eligible for compensation. The judges acknowledged that financial compensation might be difficult to calculate. The case was led by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and backed by more than 130 countries. All UN member states are parties to the court. — With files from Alessia Passafiume, Dylan Robertson and The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

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