Latest news with #AWG
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Australian production companies may have to pay millions in alleged unpaid super after ATO ruling
Major Australian production companies, including those that produce Neighbours and Home and Away, may be ordered to pay workers millions of dollars in alleged unpaid superannuation after a 2024 tax office ruling. The Australian Writers Guild (AWG) is gearing up for a challenge against Screen Producers Australia (SPA), after a ruling by the Australian Tax Office last December found that screenwriters in most cases were providing a service to an employer, not selling a product, and therefore must be paid super. The ruling, which was in line with the Superannuation Guarantee Act, means that for long-running television shows, decades of super backpay could apply, although the statute of limitations for an individual employee in Australia is six years. Both parties are now seeking legal advice, while the AWG said it has not ruled out a class action or a strike to challenge what it describes as SPA's 'legally dubious' position. The 2023 screenwriters strike in the US lasted 148 days and after the actors union Sag-Aftra joined the strike, film production in Hollywood and abroad – including some shoots in Australia – was stalled for months. That strike was largely about unfair compensation and the unchecked use of AI. The AWG is a guild, not a union, and therefore is under no legally binding obligation to seek protected action. While the Australian guild's chief executive, Claire Pullen, said the possibility of a wildcat strike further down the road had not been ruled out, she was acutely aware of the financial stress this would place its members under. Screenwriter Peter Mattessi, the president of the guild, said many Australian production houses continue to treat legally mandated employer contributions as optional extras in industry contracts. 'It's not negotiable. You're not bartering over a clause in a contract,' said Mattessi, a writer on EastEnders, Return to Paradise and The Heights. 'This is legislation. It's meant to protect workers. Yet some producers treat it like it's an option … it's as though legal compliance is discretionary. 'It's not just a contract quirk – it's sustained denial and it amounts to wage theft.' Mattessi said earlier in his career he had written for Neighbours, produced by Fremantle, and Home and Away, produced by Seven Productions, and alleged neither company had paid super to their writers. The Guardian is aware of at least two former scriptwriters on Home and Away who took their complaints to the ATO, which ruled in the writers' favour. But the AWG said it was not reasonable to expect every screenwriter in the country to individually apply to the ATO to assert their superannuation rights. 'Our members are engaged in such a precarious way as it is, contract to contract,' Pullen said. 'If it's put to you as a choice between enforcing your right to superannuation or not getting the job, it's pretty obvious which choice creative workers are going to make.' Attempts to convince the ATO that it needed to tackle industry-wide non-compliance had hit a bureaucratic roadblock, she said. 'Essentially, what we got back from the ATO was: 'if any individual wants to raise a matter, we'll look into it'. But they won't deal with systemic non-compliance.' In information circulated by SPA to its members last year (Fremantle is a SPA member but Seven Productions is not), it advised that while some services from scriptwriters do attract super, standard contracts show that writers who are commissioned to write a script are paid for the acquisition of their intellectual property rights of that work. 'The fee is not paying for services; the fee is paying for the assignment of copyright and various usage of the work,' the advice said. In a statement provided to the Guardian, SPA's chief executive, Matthew Deaner, said: 'While we can't comment on any specific matter, nor has this issue been formally raised by the writers guild, we note that the industry framework agreements with the guild envisage writers being paid under different fee types depending on what has been contracted. Superannuation obligations are then determined in accordance with the relevant legislation.' The Superannuation Act states that 'who is paid to perform services in, or in connection with, the making of any film, tape or disc or of any television or radio broadcast is an employee of the person liable to make the payment.' The AWG argues this includes film and television scriptwriters, and in a December 2024 clarifying ruling, the ATO went on to emphasise 'a person engaged to write a script is performing services', and therefore owed super – as opposed to a writer who takes their existing script to a producer who buys it, in which case 'they are merely selling property.' An ATO spokesperson said application of the relevant subsection of the act needed to be made on a payment-by-payment basisand its review and audit program into the non-payment of super did enable it to focus on 'particular industries or employer groups as part of their compliance actions'. The assistant treasurer, Fremantle and Seven Productions have not responded to the Guardian.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
WaHa raises $8mln Series A-1 funding to boost growth in Mideast
UAE - Water Harvesting (WaHa) announced the closing of an $8 million Series A-1 financing and corporate reorganisation. This financing eliminates all debt, simplifies WaHa's cap table, and provides capital for the company to achieve its next commercial milestones and close its next funding round. It also supports a growing pipeline of qualified sales opportunities across the UAE and GCC, where field trials at Khalifa University have proven its ability to harvest pure water reliably in the UAE's harsh desert environment of extreme heat, low moisture, and frequent sandstorms. The round was led by Chairman Mike Phillips and Board member Christian Thirion, with participation from WaHa's largest noteholders and investors including Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Anthropocene Institute, Vestafund, and Mitsui Mining & Smelting. Since 2023, WaHa's atmospheric water generation (AWG) systems have been deployed in challenging environments including West Texas, Abu Dhabi, a remote UAE desert site, Riyadh, and Stockholm. These systems have achieved 99.998% mechanical reliability and produced 98.3% of target water volume—the highest sustained output in the AWG industry. The company's 14 patent families, with 18 patents granted worldwide, protect its proprietary WaHa Vaporator technology, a modular system supporting off-grid installations and integration with HVAC and agricultural systems. WaHa will unveil its first commercially available AWG unit at the WETEX 2025 exhibition in Dubai (September 30 – October 2), showcasing solutions for utilities, developers, and industrial operators seeking reliable, sustainable access to pure water. 'We've built a platform capable of transforming access to water across multiple sectors,' said Mike Phillips, Chairman, WaHa. 'This raise will enable us to establish solid traction for the WaHa Vaporator and improve water security in the UAE and broader GCC.' 'We're grateful for the support of our investors and partners,' added Frank Ramirez, CEO of WaHa. 'This is a major step toward delivering water where it's needed most—reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. We're proud of what our team has achieved and energised for what's ahead.' Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Amin Wasserman Gurnani Expands its Leading Prop 65 Practice with Partner Additions
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amin Wasserman Gurnani (AWG) is pleased to announce the addition of partners Rebecca Lee and Jennifer Singh to the firm's Litigation and Prop 65 practice groups, expanding its team of highly experienced attorneys offering dispute resolution, trial practice, and Prop 65 counseling and litigation services. Amin Wasserman Gurnani Nabs Litigation/Prop 65 Duo Lee is a solutions-driven lawyer who works tirelessly to get the best results for clients involved in high-stakes commercial litigation and environmental matters. Particularly sought after for her deep knowledge of California's Prop 65, she advises clients on complex compliance matters and high-stakes litigation. She also helps clients develop and implement environmental management systems. Singh is a civil defense litigator with twenty years of experience who seeks to understand each client's priorities and goals to achieve the best resolution. Specializing in product and chemical regulation, she provides strategic legal counsel to businesses of all sizes from diverse industries, skillfully guiding clients through the complexities of litigation, enforcement actions, settlements, compliance programs, exposure assessments, and/or risk mitigation. She brings to her practice the unique experience of having tried two of the rare Proposition 65 cases that went to trial in California, delivering two wins for prominent food manufacturer clients. 'We see momentum on the horizon for Prop 65, the complexity of cases is growing, and we're scaling our practice to leverage these opportunities,' said Matthew Orr, co-head of the firm's Prop 65 and Litigation practices. 'Bringing on two partners of Rebecca and Jennifer's caliber reflects our commitment to anticipating emerging trends and providing innovative strategies that enable clients to stay ahead of potential enforcement matters.' 'Their proven track records and well-earned reputations for excellence make them an ideal fit for our team,' AWG partner Abhishek Gurnani added. 'We are adding depth to both our bench of trial and Prop 65 attorneys, enabling us to answer significant client demand with impressive legal talent.' 'I am excited to join AWG's team of incredibly talented lawyers who share my values and client-first focus,' said Rebecca Lee. 'The firm has a well-deserved reputation for superior litigation capabilities and sophisticated work in product counseling. I look forward to working alongside them.' Singh emphasized, 'I'm thrilled to join the firm's already strong litigation practice and expand its Proposition 65 skill set, and I know my clients will enjoy the benefits of working with a boutique firm with a renowned team of regulatory, consumer class action, and IP attorneys.' About Amin Wasserman Gurnani Amin Wasserman Gurnani is one of the nation's leading regulatory law firms with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base, including Fortune 500 companies, middle-market companies, and emerging companies, across the food and beverage, health and wellness, cosmetic, medical device, and consumer product industries. For more information, visit
Web Release
11-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
WaHa Secures $8 Million in Series A-1 Funding to Accelerate Global Growth
Water Harvesting Inc. (WaHa) announced the close of an $8 million Series A-1 financing and corporate reorganization. The round was led by Chairman Mike Phillips and Board member Christian Thirion, with participation from WaHa's largest noteholders and investors including Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Anthropocene Institute, Vestafund, and Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. This financing eliminates all debt, simplifies WaHa's cap table, and provides capital for the company to achieve its next major commercial milestones and close its next funding round. It also supports a growing pipeline of qualified sales opportunities across the UAE and GCC, where field trials at Khalifa University have proven its unique ability to harvest pure water reliably in the UAE's harsh desert environment of extreme heat, low moisture, and frequent sandstorms. Since 2023, WaHa's atmospheric water generation (AWG) systems have been deployed in challenging environments including West Texas, Abu Dhabi, a remote UAE desert site, Riyadh, and Stockholm. These systems have achieved 99.998% mechanical reliability and produced 98.3% of target water volume—the highest sustained output in the AWG industry. The company's 14 patent families, with 18 patents granted worldwide, protect its proprietary WaHa Vaporator® technology, a modular system supporting off-grid installations and integration with HVAC and agricultural systems. WaHa will unveil its first commercially available AWG unit at the WETEX 2025 exhibition in Dubai (September 30 – October 2), showcasing solutions for utilities, developers, and industrial operators seeking reliable, sustainable access to pure water. 'We've built a platform capable of transforming access to water across multiple sectors,' said Mike Phillips, Chairman, WaHa. 'This raise will enable us to establish solid traction for the WaHa Vaporator® and improve water security in the UAE and broader GCC.' 'We're grateful for the support of our investors and partners,' added Frank Ramirez, CEO of WaHa. 'This is a major step toward delivering water where it's needed most—reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. We're proud of what our team has achieved and energized for what's ahead.' WaHa is negotiating commercial agreements for manufacturing, distribution, and long-term service and support.
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Michelle McKeown: Crawford Lake and the marking of human impact on nature
Nestled in the heart of southern Ontario, Canada, Crawford Lake is a tranquil body of water with an extraordinary secret: it preserves history with uncanny precision. Its deep, undisturbed waters have acted like a natural time capsule, trapping layers of sediment year after year, each recording a snapshot of the environment at the time of deposition. Because of this, Crawford Lake became a star candidate in a global scientific quest: to identify the Golden Spike – a single, globally synchronous signal in Earth's geological record that would define the start of a new epoch, the Anthropocene. Age of humans The Anthropocene, meaning 'the age of humans,' is the proposed name for a new geological epoch to mark the profound and accelerating influence of humans on the Earth's systems. For decades, scientists have debated whether our species' impact, through greenhouse gas emissions, industrial agriculture, nuclear testing, plastic pollution, and accelerated biodiversity loss, has been so significant that it warrants a formal entry into the geologic timescale. The current epoch, the Holocene, began approximately 11,700 years ago following the last Ice Age. It marks a period of relative climate stability during which human civilisations flourished. But the 20th century, particularly the post-World War II era known as the Great Acceleration, saw an unprecedented surge in human activity, industrialisation, population, and consumption, leaving an imprint on the planet. These include rising carbon dioxide levels, radioactive isotopes from nuclear tests, and microplastic deposits. These changes are now preserved in sediments, ice cores, and even coral reefs. To formally define the Anthropocene, geologists needed more than just evidence of human impact. They needed a precise Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), which is a physical reference point in the geological record that could be used to demarcate the boundary between epochs. This is where Crawford Lake came in. Crawford Lake What made Crawford Lake such a strong contender was its unique ability to record annual layers of sediment (known as varves) with exceptional clarity. These fine layers act like tree rings, preserving an exact year-by-year account of environmental change. Sediment cores taken from the lake bed revealed tell-tale signs of the Anthropocene's onset, including plutonium isotopes from nuclear bomb testing in the early 1950s, along with spikes in fly ash, heavy metals, and chemical pollutants. In 2023, the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), which is an international body of scientists studying the issue, voted in favour of using Crawford Lake as the site to define the start of the new epoch. But in a twist worthy of geological drama, the proposal was rejected. What happened? In March 2024, the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (the official scientific body tasked with approving changes to the geologic timescale), which advises the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), voted against formalising the Anthropocene as a new epoch. This decision halted the formalisation of the Anthropocene as a new epoch and left Crawford Lake without the golden spike claim. Why the rejection? At the heart of the issue is a fundamental debate about what geology should, and should not, do. Critics of the Anthropocene designation argued that the concept is more cultural than geological, better suited to environmental studies, history, or political discourse than to a rigid geological framework. They questioned whether the changes observed in the mid-20th century are truly global, continuous, and long-lasting enough to warrant a formal stratigraphic boundary. After all, many of the markers, such as plastics and radionuclides, are relatively new, and their long-term persistence in the geological record remains uncertain. Others expressed concern that the proposal was too narrow, focused excessively on recent decades without sufficient regard for earlier human impacts on the planet. For example, large-scale deforestation, species extinctions, and agricultural transformations have been reshaping the Earth for thousands of years. So why draw the line in the 1950s? Is the Anthropocene real? But rejection of the proposal doesn't mean the Anthropocene isn't real. In fact, most scientists agree that human activity has pushed the Earth into a new state, marked by climate breakdown, biodiversity collapse, and novel materials like concrete and plastics. What's in dispute is not whether we've altered the planet, but how best to categorise that change. Crawford Lake, meanwhile, remains a place of global importance. It tells the story not just of atomic fallout and pollution, but of indigenous communities who lived around its shores centuries ago, leaving behind traces of corn and wood ash in its sediments. It is both a natural archive and a cultural mirror, reflecting the deep entanglement of humans and nature. A story still worth telling Perhaps the Anthropocene doesn't need a formal boundary, or a single lake, to change how we see our place in the world. While Crawford Lake offered a strikingly clear and symbolic record of recent human impact, no single site can fully capture the complexity or timeline of our planetary influence. What matters more is the broader shift in awareness the debate has sparked. The true legacy of the Anthropocene may lie not in a line drawn in the mud, but in how it urges us to confront the scale of our actions, and to choose, with urgency and humility, what kind of future we want to leave behind. Read More Michelle McKeown: Shedding light on the wild world of bioluminescence
