Latest from WA Gulf
Perth Now
13 minutes ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Nepotism and cronyism': senior official found corrupt
A senior public servant who gave a relative's career a leg up while hiding their connection has been found to be corrupt by a federal watchdog. Joanne Simeson helped her sister's fiance Mark Elbert get a job in the Department of Home Affairs by praising him to colleagues, creating a job requisition, approving it herself and forging a signature on paperwork to fast-track onboarding, all while concealing their family relationship. She also helped her sister Melissa Simeson in another recruitment process by providing interview questions in advance, the National Anti-Corruption Commission has found. "Nepotism and cronyism are among the most frequently observed corrupt behaviours," National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton said. The case was first referred to the commission in January 2024, when Ms Simeson was the acting assistant secretary overseeing the Global Initiatives Branch of the department. Though she was at one point asked how she had found Mr Elbert, the official said he was a "friend of a friend" before later emailing her sister and saying it was "technically not not (sic) true, he just needs to play along! Also I'm the boss so they will do whatever I say". Ms Simeson later said the message was a "poor judgement call" and claimed it was a "joke between two sisters". The watchdog found the conduct was serious due to Ms Simeson's seniority, the deception involved, the benefits of a public service role, her repeated behaviour, and widespread concerns about nepotism, cronyism and undeclared conflicts of interest. Mr Brereton said the case highlighted the systemic risks in public sector recruitment and reinforced the need for strong corruption prevention measures including mandatory conflict of interest disclosures. Nepotism, in particular, undermined the merit selection process and eroded morale, the commission's investigation report found. Ms Simeson has since resigned from the public service, but the commission would have recommended her termination regardless. However, her sister and Mr Elbert were not found to have engaged in corrupt conduct.
Perth Now
13 minutes ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Nurses threaten stop work action over pay demands
Nurses and midwives will stop answering phones, attending meetings and entering data if a state government does not deliver "nation-leading" wage increases. Queensland's Liberal National government has two days to meet the Nurses and Midwives Union's demand for a 13 per cent pay rise over three years, otherwise industrial action will ramp up. The 45,000-strong union members have been wearing pink for weeks as part of the first stage of industrial action to bargain for a better pay deal. The state government has maintained its "nation-leading" offer of 11 per cent over three years, which includes three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. But the union claims this leaves Queensland nurses and midwives no longer the best paid in the country for the first time in 15 years, with Victoria taking out the top gong. "Falling behind looks like dangerous understaffing, longer wait times and increased adverse patient outcomes," Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters on Monday. "Falling behind looks like not having enough nurses and midwives to provide care, which will result in reduced access to free care where you live." The government has until Wednesday to respond to the union's demands, otherwise the second stage of "disruptive" industrial action will begin from July 7. This includes no longer making beds, refusing data entry and administration activities like answering phones or filing and not attending meetings. Ms Beaman has reassured the public that the action will not impact patient safety. "As always, patient safety will remain paramount with our action," she said. The industrial action will continue until the state government comes to the table with a better pay offer, and could escalate if demands are not met. Further strike action would include notified and staggered job walk-offs. Ms Beaman said nurses and midwives are feeling "staggeringly disrespected" as months of pay negotiations fall short. "You've got a government that is sitting there saying that it respects nurses and midwives, that it values nurses and midwives, yet not one of the items put forward by them actually walks that talk," she said. Treasurer David Janetzki said the government is continuing to negotiate in good faith with the state budget delivering a record $33 billion health infrastructure spend. "There's a nation-leading offer on the table," he told reporters last Tuesday. "Those negotiations are continuing, and we'll continue to do the work." Ms Beaman said the record infrastructure spend should have been allocated to deliver the government's election commitment of nation-leading wages. "The funding necessary to recruit and retain skilled humans to care for Queensland has not been appropriately allocated," she said. "Multi-billion-dollar health facilities without skilled staff are like a car without an engine."
Libya Herald
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
Libyan Export Promotion Centre (LEPC) transferred to be under authority of Prime Minister's Office
The Libyan Export Development Centre (LEPC) is to become the Libyan Export Promotion Authority and come under the direct authority of the Prime Minister' Office, it was announced last Tuesday (24 June). The LEPC was previously part of the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The new head of the LEPC, Mohamed Al-Hangari, explained that the move came based on a proposal submitted by him to the Prime Minister. Explaining the decision, he said the proposal came because of the new policies and strategies adopted by the LEPC (under his leadership) in supporting exports and their access to global markets and upgrading the work it provides to promote exports and move away from the previous traditional methods. He said these new policies require administrative independence and speed in completing tasks, especially since the development of local exports has become concerned with all ministries such as agriculture, industry, marine wealth, economy and natural resources. For these reasons, he continued, it has become necessary to transfer the LEPC's subordination to the one ultimate head of these ministries, which is the head of the government. Tags: LEPC Libyan Export Promotion CentreMohamed Al-Hangari LEPC head 2025
Libya Herald
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
LBC establishes first private-sector led industrial financing fund in Libya
The Libyan Business Council (LBC) hosted at its Tripoli headquarters today the first meeting of the technical committee responsible for preparing the organisational structure of the Libya Industrial Development Fund. The meeting, the LBC announced, comes as a practical step in the LBC's efforts to launch the first private sector-led industrial financing fund in Libya – an ambitious project that aims to revive industrial investment and provide innovative financing tools that contribute to moving the economy and diversifying sources of national income. With the participation of a wide range of participants from within and outside the LBC, and from across Libya, the attendees also discussed opportunities for integration between the Fund and the existing industrial zones and ways to enhance partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable results and establish the Fund according to professional standards in line with international best practices. This, with a focus on attracting local and foreign capital, and creating a stable investment environment that encourages entrepreneurs and industrial investors. it will be recalled that last month, the LBC authorised the establishment of the fund and the formation of a technical committee of experts in the fields of economy, banking, financial markets and law to lay the administrative, legal and organisational foundations of the fund to embody a new national vision to enable productive projects, stimulate spatial development and revive the local economy under the effective leadership of the private sector. The committee is scheduled to continue its work in the coming weeks in preparation for finalising the full structure of the fund, in preparation for the official launch in coordination with the relevant authorities. . LBC signs MoU with Industrial Zones Authority in Benghazi LBC to lead delegation to New York's ''Summer Fancy Food Show'' from 29 June 29 to 1 July 30 LBC businessmen to attend Libyan Omani Business Forum on 22-23 April – cooperation agreement to be signed LBC to lead trade delegation to London's 4th Arab British Economic Summit 'Second Libya Economic Day' on 23 June LBC to organise trade mission to Global Energy Show – Calgary, Canada from 10 to 12 June LBC to lead trade delegation to Brazil's Sao Paolo Food Expo – 12 to 15 May The Libyan Business Council (LBC) February multi-sector trade delegation to Muscat, Oman postponed to 22 to 23 April LBC to organise trade mission to Houston's Offshore Technology Conference from 5 to 8 May Tags: finance fundinvestment fundlbc libyan business councilprivate sector
Libya Herald
15 minutes ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
CBL reveals discovery of LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit 50-dinar notes printed in Russia – PM calls on Attorney General to open investigation
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) announced today that during its recent recall of the old LD 50-dinar denominations (second series) printed by the eastern based authorities in Russia, it had discovered more than LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit notes. The CBL explained in its statement that what was issued in this category printed in Russia amounted to 6.650 billion dinars, while the amounts supplied to the Central Bank of Libya amounted to approximately 10.211 billion dinars, which is in excess of the amounts that were officially issued according to the CBL Benghazi issuance management. It said this constitutes serious damage to the national economy. The bank explained that what was issued from the first issue in denomination of 50 dinars amounted to 7 billion dinars, while the amounts supplied to the Central Bank of Libya amounted to approximately 6.828 billion dinars. The bank said that printing this denomination in large quantities outside its control negatively affected the value of the Libyan dinar, contributed to increasing the demand for foreign currencies at significant levels in the parallel / black market, and doubled the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. It further pointed out that this matter prompted the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya to issue its decision to withdraw the 20 dinar denomination from the first issue printed in Britain and the second issue printed in Russia and replace it with a safer currency, for fear of the presence of printed quantities of this denomination outside the bank, and set September 30, 2025 as the last date for its circulation, in order to maintain the structure and strength of the currency. The Central Bank of Libya confirmed that it has taken all necessary legal measures regarding the above, including submitting a report to the Attorney General, as well as informing the House of Representatives of the incident, noting that it will announce the final results as soon as its competent departments complete the final counting process. Aldabaiba calls on Attorney General to investigate In an immediate reaction to the CBL revelation, the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba said, 'The Central Bank of Libya's acknowledgment of a difference of 3.5 billion dinars in excess of the officially printed amount in the 50 dinars denomination it recently withdraws proves the sincerity of our repeated warnings about the existence of counterfeit currencies that flooded the Libyan market to buy hard currency and thus finance the authorities supervising this counterfeiting. It is dangerous and affects the basis of economic stability (the country's currency), affecting people's lives and livelihoods. I call on the Attorney General to move to open a comprehensive investigation to hold accountable all those involved in this crime, which cannot tolerate silence or transgression.' It will be recalled that the eastern based Libyan authorities printed their separate money in Russia – in contravention of the CBL's rules and regulations. This move was opposed by the whole international community – except Russia.
