text:
To access this month’s edition & Member’s only resources, enter your registered email address.
Exclusive Australian Immigration News, Updates & Opportunities
This bulletin is for members only, and provides our members with month to month updates on Australian immigration policy changes and consequential opportunities. Opportunities are found via federal and state government policy shifts for the demand and supply for certain occupations.
This bulletin will keep you up to date so that you do not have to employ expensive immigration lawyers to provide you with monthly research.
February is here and 2022 is well and truly underway! After the 21-month border closure, December and January marked the return of Skilled Migrant Professionals and international students. This month, Australia now seeks to ramp up migration as part of its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian government has already introduced a number of visa changes throughout the pandemic and will continue to review visa settings to support Australia’s economic recovery. The government said these changes would be implemented “progressively” from 1 December 2021 to 1 July 2022. Additionally, the Treasury’s mid-year economic update, released earlier last month, shows that net overseas migration is expected to now double in 2022 & 2023.
This month in ‘economic news’, Australian businesses continue to face significant skilled labour shortages. Businesses had been trying to hire almost 400,000 workers to fill vacant positions even before the omicron virus wave amplified the labour shortage, causing businesses to close or to reduce operating hours. Simply put, there has never been this many jobs available at the same time. A survey has showed that the most common types of labour shortages are trade workers and skilled professionals. A leading economist has voiced that an extra one million people is what is needed to help the whole Australian economy.
This month in ‘state news’, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Skilled Migration Program is now officially Open to Offshore Applicants as of 12th January 2022. The ACT now joins South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales who are also currently open to offshore applicants.
As of 1st February 2022, the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) remains in effect + the federal government has announced that visa charges will be waived (rebated) for international students and working holiday makers.
All this and much more in the February issue of The Australian Immigration Bulletin! Let’s take a deeper look at what has happened so far and what is planned for the remainder of February 2022 in Australian Immigration, so that you can start planning!
As legislation and travel requirements are constantly changing, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent.
Please click here to book a consultation with one of our Registered Australian Migration Agents, located in Australia.
As we’ve entered the 2nd month of the new year, join us for a look at the latest news and developments in the world of Australian Immigration!
We asked those who have established themselves with skilled jobs to share their experience and tips for a career in Australia.
Kelly got her first job in her skill background, which was accounting, but without even an interview! How could she get it? Here is Kelly’s story.
“My story was not a typical one. Because my employer is my best friend’s ex-boyfriend. Well, I knew him for a long time when he was still with my friend. After they broke up, we still kept in touch.
2 years ago, he planned to open his own company in Tasmania and he was looking for an accountant. He searched all his friends who studied accounting and thought of me. I received his phone call asking: ‘would you want a job?’
I said ‘yes, why not?’
Then I was offered a job without preparing my CV or attending an interview. It happened just like a dream. At that time, I was still in my last year of Bachelor of accounting at the University of Tasmania.
“It is a start-up company and my job is a part-time accountant with 10-15 hours per week. Actually, I also work as the reception, administration and communicator. The job is quite challenging because I have no experience and have to learn everything by myself. I have learnt a lot from experience but am still worried for every task.”
Kelly has been attending Career Coaching in MRC since July. After 2 years of working, now it comes to her first time of preparing a CV and cover letter. She is looking for a full-time job as an accountant and with a bigger company.
“MRC helped me a lot with my CV. Before I attend the Career Coaching session, I prepared a CV with 5-6 pages. But volunteer David helped me shorten it into 2 pages with more specific details in my area. I also learned some interview skills from this program. Now I am quite positive with my job hunting.”
Kelly’s advice for those who are still looking for a job:
“Networking is quite important. You never know whether your next employer could be your friend’s EX!”
As Australia seeks to ramp up migration as part of its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, here is a round-up of some of the major immigration changes that have been announced.
Migration to Australia has fallen starkly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic due to widespread travel bans and border closures, but it is expected to bounce back in 2022.
That’s according to the Treasury’s mid-year economic update, released earlier this month, which shows that net overseas migration is expected to now double in 2022-23.
Australia’s migration program is set annually and runs from 1 July to 30 June each financial year.
Australia’s borders reopened to eligible international students and certain skilled visa holders on 15 December 2021 – almost six months earlier than forecast in the federal budget.
“The government has already introduced a number of visa changes throughout the pandemic and will continue to review visa settings to support Australia’s economic recovery,” a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said.
The department spokesperson said the changes announced on 25 November 2021 will be implemented progressively from December 2021 through to 1 July 2022.
Temporary graduate visa holders stranded offshore and unable to travel to Australia due to the pandemic will be also able to apply for a replacement visa.
The government said in November the concession would allow current or former temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa holders whose visas expired on or after 1 February 2020 to re-apply for a new visa of the same duration from 1 July 2022.
The 485 visas are offered to recently graduated international students with skills in specific occupations aimed at allowing them to continue to work in Australia.
There will be other changes to temporary graduate visa settings, including an increase to the stay period on the 485 visa for Masters by Coursework graduates from two to three years, and from 18 to 24 months for the Graduate Work stream.
The government said these changes would be implemented “progressively” from 1 December 2021 to 1 July 2022, with further details expected on the department’s website.
National Australia Bank (NAB) chief executive Ross McEwan has called on the government to fully open borders to fill labour shortages or risk crimping Australia’s economic recovery.
A NAB business insight survey revealed about four in 10 businesses are suffering “very significant” impacts from labour shortages, with little confidence the issue will be resolved in the next 12 months. Mr McEwan said bringing talent into Australia will be the key to rebooting the economy.
“To get the economy really firing we will need to bring people into Australia and make sure, as a nation, we’re building a skilled workforce for the future,” Mr McEwan said.
The survey of 1600 Australian businesses across a broad range of sectors showed nearly four in 10 medium (38 per cent) and large (37 per cent) firms said labour shortages are a very significant issue, while around a third (31 per cent) of small businesses agreed.
“Australian businesses are facing significant skilled and unskilled labour shortages. Almost every employer I talk to, from cafes, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing, is saying ‘we can’t get workers’,” Mr McEwan said.
The survey showed trade workers (35 per cent) and professionals (32 per cent) are the most common types of labour shortages.
NAB said respondents had a clear message, echoing Mr McEwans comments about easing restrictions on travel domestically and abroad. More than half of respondents said opening borders – both state (56 per cent) and international (52 per cent) – would resolve the issue, with 45 per cent calling for increased immigration.
While the mining and manufacturing sectors predicted some easing in shortages over the coming 12 months, all other industries are expecting things to get worse. Of those surveyed from transport and storage, for example, 40 per cent predicted very significant effects would be felt in 2022, versus 30 per cent in the three months to mid-December 2021. Construction and retail respondents also tipped a worsening in shortages.
Of the states, Western Australia, where Premier Mark McGowan has vowed to reopen borders on February 5, saw the highest percentage of businesses (44 per cent) citing very significant shortages over the past three months. A staggering 82 per cent of WA respondents said reopening state borders would have the biggest impact on their businesses, while 63 per cent of Queensland respondents said the same.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a call for international students and working holiday makers to “come on down” to Australia as the nation grapples with workforce shortages.
International students and working holiday makers who arrive in Australia from today will have their visa application fees rebated as part of an effort to encourage more to enter the country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes would be in place for eight weeks as the nation grapples with workforce shortages caused by the spread of the Omicron variant.
“What we’ll be doing is we will be rebating the visa application fees from all those who arrive,” he told reporters.
He called on the visa holders to consider coming to Australia as soon as possible.
“My message to them is come on down,” he said.
“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here in Australia – move all the way around the country and, at the same time, join our workforce.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he hoped changes to the application fees would make a “big difference” to addressing ongoing workforce shortages.
He said Australia was putting out the welcome mat to 175,000 students and working holiday makers to come to the country.
The federal government is also delivering $3 million to Tourism Australia to support a marketing program targeting backpackers and students.
Businesses had been trying to hire almost 400,000 workers to fill vacant positions even before the omicron virus wave amplified the labour shortage, causing stores to close and reduce operating hours.
Job vacancies rose 18.5 per cent to hit a record of 396,100 in the three months to November 30 as employers embarked on a hiring spree at the end of the delta lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday.
Healthcare and social assistance (60,200 vacancies), accommodation and food services (45,800), administration (39,900), professional and scientific services (37,100) and manufacturing (29,500) were crying out for more workers.
The closure of the border to foreign visa holders until December 15 last year exacerbated skills shortages and helped the unemployment rate to fall to 4.6 per cent by November.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia senior economist Belinda Allen said the labour market had been in a strong position approaching the end of last year.
“It is still early days on the possible impact of the omicron outbreak on the labour market, but with staff shortages clearly evident, businesses may be reluctant to shed staff if demand slows given the shortages in the labour market,” she said.
Staff quitting to take other jobs, increased workloads and business expansions were the major reasons given for the vacancies.
ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said vacancies continued to break records through the pandemic.
“These figures continue to show the high demand for workers from businesses emerging from lockdowns, together with ongoing labour shortages,” he said.
“The number of job vacancies in November was around 74 per cent higher than it was before the start of the pandemic.”
NSW and Victoria accounted for three in four new vacancies in November, reflecting a planned hiring spree following the end of the delta lockdowns.
The data was published as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and senior government ministers held emergency talks with business groups about how to ease chronic labour shortages caused by large numbers of workers testing positive to COVID-19 or being deemed a close contact of a positive case and being required to isolate for a week.
Governments will allow close contacts in the food and grocery distribution sector and emergency services to return to work, if they have no COVID-19 symptoms and test negative to the virus.
Business groups want the concessions extended for close contacts in other industries, but have warned that a shortage of rapid virus tests will hamper efforts for staff to safely return to work.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston urged unemployed people and retired workers to help fill the temporary workforce shortages caused by the omicron variant.
“Many older Australians, I’m sure, would be happy to do a few extra hours’ work to help out, and anybody who is currently on unemployment benefits who can work we’d be really keen for them to undertake some really active investigation about how they can help out with these workforce shortages,” she said.
Callam Pickering, economist at global job site ‘Indeed’, said job creation had been incredibly strong before Christmas.
“Quite simply, there has never been this many jobs available at the same time,” he said.
“High vacancies are a great sign for future employment, with strong demand for talent translating into employment growth, tighter labour market conditions and often higher wages.
“Although omicron complicates things, this still appears to be a very favourable labour market for job seekers.
“They have more bargaining power to ask for higher wages or better conditions or the ability to work remotely. It gives them more choice in where and how they work.”
More than 2000 foreign backpackers have arrived in Australia in the first five weeks since border restrictions were lifted in mid-December with hospitality venues eagerly trying to secure their services amid staff shortages.
The federal government recently announced that it would refund the $495 visa fee for working holidaymakers who arrive in the next three months to try and stimulate demand. New data from the Department of Home Affairs shows how few backpackers are arriving, compared to pre-pandemic.
There were 19,109 working holidaymakers in Australia on January 8, compared to 49,542 a year ago and 141,142 two years ago.
Since the borders opened on December 15 to backpackers, 2032 working holiday visa holders have arrived. There are another 23,494 people with valid visas outside Australia, and the government hopes the refund scheme will hasten their plans.
German backpackers Milena Roytenberg and Goja Rabe, both 19, arrived in Sydney after waiting nine months to come to Australia. The pair plan to stay here for two years, working in hospitality and travelling.
“Right now we’re looking for a job,” Ms Roytenberg said. “We just arrived and we asked a friend from reception – she said the Opera [House] is a really good place. We just asked today and they said you can come tomorrow [for an interview].”
Ms Roytenberg said she’s excited about being here, despite hearing how Australia was “all closed and really strict” last year.
“It was really frustrating [waiting for borders to open]. We waited in Germany for about four months, then it was really boring because of the lockdown, so we went to Mexico because the borders were open.
“We want to make a road trip after a few months, maybe to Byron Bay or Melbourne and see some new places.”
There was a spike in backpacker visas issued in December leading up to the border opening. Between December 1 and 15, immigration authorities granted 12,681 visas, compared to an average of 1200 a month between July and November.
While the backpacker market is slow to rebound, hostel staff are enjoying hearing foreign accents again after bookings plummeted during the border closures.
Anna Menting, operations manager at Somerville Hospitality which runs Sydney Backpackers, said she has more bookings for March and April than for February.
“Pre-COVID during Christmas, New Year and Mardi Gras we were fully booked – people would ask if they could come sleep in the foyer in sleeping bags. There were more backpackers than we had beds. I reckon it’ll take six to 10 months to properly recover,” she said.
Ms Menting said she gets daily messages from restaurants and cafes asking if the hostel has any backpackers looking for work.
“On the backpacker groups on Facebook you can see a lot of people stressing out about it. [But] you arrive and get a job on the day,” she said.
“I think it’s the best time ever to come because we’re in summer, Sydney’s raining jobs, it’s not too busy and everyone is fighting for [workers].”
Australia should do more to attract skilled migrants a leading economist says.
A trickle of migrants to Australia might be just enough to keep house prices in the black but an extra million people would help the whole economy, a leading economist said.
“In a competitive global market, post-pandemic, it will be one thing to decide to increase skilled migration and another to achieve it,” KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne warned in new research.
“During the pandemic, we have suffered a significant decline in foreign migrants settling in Australia such that our net overseas migration numbers have turned strongly negative – the first time since the end of World War II,” Dr Rynne said.
The latest official population data suggests net overseas migration will remain negative this financial year before slowly recovering to 235,000 per year from 2024-25.
This will leave the population around 700,000 less in 2025 than was expected before the pandemic.
Net overseas migration added about 10 per cent to Australia’s population over the more normal 10 years to 2019.
But if Australia wanted to match that 10 per cent growth trajectory in the population through international migration, almost another million people would need to be added to official forecasts, Dr Rynne said.
If met, Australia’s GDP would be around $120 billion higher by the end of 2028-29, for an economy 4.4 per cent larger, he said.
The Department of Home Affairs has identified 44 occupations as critical skills needed to support Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. These occupations will be assessed ahead of other applications.
In view of the global pandemic, the Australian government during 2020 and 2021 imposed some temporary travel restrictions. Now various states of Australia have started issuing invitations and nominating the candidates for skilled migration.
Australia has a point-based system for skilled migration. The Australian State and Territory government programs have two ‘point-tested categories’, being;
● Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190
● Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491
The ‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ is a points-tested permanent category for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. The ‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ enables skilled workers and their families to live, work and/or study in Australia indefinitely with full work rights. You would generally be expected to reside for 2 years in the State or Territory which nominated you.
The ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’ is a points-tested temporary category for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government. The ‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- subclass 491’ enables skilled workers and their families to live, work and/or study in regional areas of Australia for up to five years. This nomination then provides pathways to permanent residency after three years. For migration purposes, most locations of Australia outside of major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, etc.) are classed as regional areas.
Key requirements for an Australian State or Territory Government immigration nomination:
To apply for either of these nominations, ‘Skilled Nominated- Subclass 190’ or
‘Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)- Subclass 491’, you will still need to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).
When deciding whether to nominate an applicant, state or territory nominating agencies refer to their own criteria, which vary from state to state. As a starting point, all applicants must show they have an occupation on the relevant state or territory occupation list, and that they have a genuine intention to reside in that state or territory.
State and territory agencies offer a number of different ‘streams’ and generally cater to offshore skilled applicants, onshore skilled applicants, and recent tertiary graduates. Some states also provide options for small business owners, or applicants with family living in the state or territory.
Please note, the below is information on general requirements and does not take into account any of your personal circumstances. You must check the State/Territory information carefully to ensure you can meet all the requirements for nomination.
The ACT Critical Skills List identifies the occupations in current demand in the ACT. This List is important if you want to apply for ACT nomination for either a:
The ACT Government will update this list every four months to make sure that the ACT Skilled Migration Program adapts and responds to the evolving critical skills needs of the ACT economy.
The Canberra Matrix is weighted to ensure that applicants who will make a positive economic contribution to the Territory and/or have demonstrated a genuine commitment to the ACT are more likely to be ranked and invited to apply for ACT nomination.
*ACT nomination does not guarantee a migration outcome. You must still meet the Department of Home Affairs criteria.
To manage South Australia’s COVID recovery response, applicants currently residing offshore are still able to apply.
Depending on your occupation and situation, there are two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through South Australia.
For South Australian state nomination, prospective applicants must meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements, state-specific occupation requirements and have skills in an occupation that is available on the South Australian Skilled Occupation List. Offshore applicants meeting the minimum published requirements can now lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI).
Changes to nomination requirements:
Only minimal changes have been made to nomination requirements for the Tasmanian 2021-22 program year. A summary of this information is below:
Working in Tasmania
The two state nomination options available for skilled migrants through Tasmania are:
The Tasmanian State Nomination Skilled Migration Program supports Tasmanian businesses and increases the state’s working age population. It does this by attracting and retaining migrants with skills genuinely in need by employers, or with the capacity to settle in Tasmania through skilled employment in the long-term, and business activities that will increase employment opportunities.
Due to the effects of Covid-19, Migration Tasmania’s current nomination priorities continue to be:
Tasmania’s skilled migration program is for people wanting to move to the state who have skills that Tasmania need. Skilled migrants are attracted to Tasmania because of the state’s enviable lifestyle, career opportunities, affordable housing, reputable schools and a globally recognised university.
The New South Wales government has invited applications from offshore migrants under the following nomination streams:
The NSW State Government announced that offshore applicants skilled in certain ANZSCO unit groups are now eligible for NSW nomination.
Offshore candidates criteria:
If you are residing offshore, you must:
*Please note: Invitation rounds occur throughout the financial year.
Some of these identified ANZSCO unit groups include engineering managers, health and welfare service managers, production managers, primary and secondary school teachers, pharmacists, dental practitioners, midwives, registered nurses, social workers, chefs, cooks, and other professions on the PMSOL.
Program Status Update
The Queensland Skilled Migration Program is currently open but due to current Covid-19 restrictions this is still currently available to onshore applicants only. A review will be made at a later date to open the program for skilled workers living offshore.
For the Skilled Migration Program, Migration Queensland will currently only accept “decision-ready” applications (onshore applicants only).
The Australian Migration Bulletin will continue to update you regarding the Queensland State nomination migration program for offshore applications over the next monthly bulletins.
Program Status Update
The 2021-22 migration program is well underway and the Northern Territory remains open for new onshore nomination applications. Offshore applications remain currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Australian Migration Bulletin will continue to update you regarding the Northern Territory nomination migration program for offshore applications over the next monthly bulletins.
Program Status Update
The 2021-22 Western Australia migration program remains open for new onshore nomination applications. Offshore applications remain currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Australian Migration Bulletin will continue to update you regarding the Western Australia nomination migration program for offshore applications over the next monthly bulletins.
Program Status Update
The 2021-22 Victoria migration program remains open for onshore nomination applications. Offshore applications remain currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Australian Migration Bulletin will continue to update you regarding the Victoria nomination migration program for offshore applications over the next monthly bulletins.
The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies 44 occupations which fill critical skills needs to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The list is based on expert advice from the National Skills Commission and consultation with Commonwealth departments.
Employer sponsored nomination and visa applications with an occupation on the PMSOL will be given priority processing. All other skilled occupation lists will remain active, but the PMSOL occupations will take priority.
The list is temporary and priority occupations may change as Australia recovers from the pandemic. The Government and the National Skills Commission will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian labour market and assess Australia’s skills needs as they evolve and new sources of data emerge.
There has been no additional changes during the month of January 2022 to the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). Strengthened labour market testing will continue to allow numbers of sponsored skilled workers to migrate to Australia to fill urgent skills needs in critical sectors, helping to create Australian jobs and rebuild Australia’s economy.
As of 1st February 2022 , 44 occupations remain on the PMSOL including (ANZSCO codes):
The above 44 occupations will continue to be assessed ahead of other applications.
Senior business leaders across Australia say crippling workforce shortages and inability to access the right talent are by far their biggest and most immediate worries as the country’s battered labour market re-emerges from the depths of COVID-19 restrictions.
In a new survey compiling the views of more than 400 CEOs, emerging business leaders and non-executive directors, nearly two-thirds of respondents have nominated finding and retaining talent as their overwhelming concern heading into 2022 and fear the problems may persist for another three to five years.
Border closures over the past two years have been a strong factor in minimising the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, but have left businesses across the economy “urgently requiring additional people resources”, the survey conducted by professional services firm KPMG found.
“It is clear that as Australia starts to emerge fully from the lockdowns of the last two years, having enough skilled talent to meet customer needs is the key challenge concerning all businesses,” KPMG Australia chairman Alison Kitchen said.
The closure of borders to foreign migrants during the pandemic, had caused net overseas migration to fall by nearly 100,000 people in the 12 months to the end of March 2021, the report said.
Respondents cited a lack of staff numbers and workers with specific skill sets, as well as difficulties in upskilling existing staff to “meet a more digitalised future”.
Employer representatives including the Business Council of Australia (BCA) have been calling on government leaders to stick to its reopening plan for vaccinated skilled workers, international students and working holiday-makers, saying the so-called “fortress Australia” mentality was putting a handbrake on the economy as other parts of the world reopened.
National Australia Bank chief Ross McEwan recently said bringing more talent back into Australia would be key to addressing the shortage in the coming 12 months. “Almost every employer I talk to, from cafes, tourism, agriculture, hospitals, and manufacturing, is saying ‘we can’t get workers’,” he said.
The annual KPMG survey was conducted in November 2021 before the onset of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has driven daily cases across the country to record highs.
KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne said the Omicron wave, although severe, was likely to be “short and sharp”, meaning it would have a more benign impact on the macro-economy than previous COVID-19 waves including Delta.
“You will have a little bit of a ripple effect, but it won’t be the same as what we saw in the September quarter of last year or the June quarter of the year before,” Dr Rynne said.
Mining companies are struggling to find workers to fill specialist roles from engineers to train drivers as COVID-19 travel restrictions between states and a collapse in skilled migration exacerbate the industry’s labour squeeze.
While mining job numbers have swelled by almost 22,000 in the past 12 months, a shortage of specialist workers has forced companies to lower production targets and now threatens to complicate the sector’s expansion just as the clean-energy revolution drives greater demand for a range of Australian metals.
In Western Australia, the world’s biggest iron ore and lithium-mining region, ongoing coronavirus-related border restrictions have reduced mobility of fly-in, fly-out staff between states. At the same time, miners are having to compete harder for skilled workers amid a government-backed construction boom on the east coast.
Top Australian miner BHP does not expect the problems to ease this year as continued investment in resources and construction collide with ongoing labour mobility restrictions.
“Like many, we are seeing constraints in labour availability and supply chain disruption across our Australian operations,” BHP head of Australian mining Edgar Basto said.
“We expect labour market tightness and competition for skills to increase in 2022.”
Rio Tinto, the nation’s second-largest miner, last year cited “modest delays” in commissioning new greenfield mines and mine-expansion projects due to WA’s tight labour market as the reason for trimming its full-year target for shipments of iron ore.
BHP told investors temporary rail labour shortages in WA had contributed to a 5 per cent drop in iron ore output in the September quarter, while lithium miner Pilbara Minerals was also facing project delays due to a labour shortage.
“There is a critical shortage in some occupations including mining engineers,” Ms Constable said. “It is positive to see various engineering occupations added to Australia’s priority skilled migration list.”
By mid-2023, WA’s mining and resources sector might need up to 40,000 more workers, according to modelling commissioned by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA.
The talent crunch could threaten Australian miners’ ability to meet significant future growth expected across the sector as rising urbanisation and the clean-energy revolution fuel enormous demand for raw materials.
Car makers globally are ramping up plans to build millions of electric vehicles in coming years, requiring vast quantities of ingredients such as copper and lithium mined in Australia. Demand for steel, made using iron ore, is also set to rise with the roll-out of green infrastructure including wind turbines.
“The commodities the Australian mining industry produces are essential for modern life and new technologies, and there is tremendous long-term career opportunities in the sector,” she said.
Mr Basto said both industry and government had a role to play in putting Australia in the best position to bounce back from COVID-19 “stronger, more resilient and ready to grasp new opportunities”.
Across the wider Australian economy, senior business leaders have cited workforce shortages as by far their biggest and most immediate worry as the battered labour market re-emerges from COVID-19 lockdowns.
Novak Djokovic left Australia during January.
The world number one’s bid for a record-setting 10th Australian Open men’s singles title and a record 21st grand slam singles title is in tatters at the hands of Immigration Minister Alex Hawke and the Federal Court of Australia.
His deportation on Sunday night came on the back of a battle with a government that has been responsible for some of the world’s most stringent border restrictions during the pandemic.
For when all is said and done, it is Novak Djokovic desire to march to the beat of his own drum that has cost him yet another shot at the history he so craves.
Djokovic, great as he is on the tennis court, has often clashed with science in his views on health and conventional medicine.
As the saga about his visa has played out, it was revealed that Djokovic did not heed many lessons he should have learned from the first time he contracted COVID.
That came after hosting the ill-fated Adria events during the first wave of the pandemic in June 2020.
As Europeans were dying by the thousands, particularly in Spain and Italy, Djokovic and fellow tennis pros Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric, among others, partied shirtless after the event. They contracted COVID.
Djokovic’s response in the aftermath was that his “intention was pure”.
At best it was an error of judgement, at worst it showed a lack of understanding about the seriousness of the pandemic for his fellow humans.
He has spoken about being sceptical of vaccines, frequently thumbed his nose at restrictions and made bizarre statements on health, including a video where Djokovic proclaims that he has seen people purify water with their minds.
On the other hand, Djokovic, the highest earner in the history of the sport, has also had a philanthropic agenda that includes the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which in 2020 bought ventilators for Serbia.
Last month he travelled to Spain unvaccinated, where, like Australia, vaccinations are required to enter.
Reports he is a resident as he bought a house there recently have not been confirmed.
He either lied to or misled Australian Border Force by claiming he had not travelled in the 14 days before coming to Australia, then blamed the error on his manager.
Then it emerged that he had met with children at a Tennis Belgrade function when he knew he was potentially infectious, before doing a L’Equipe interview after testing positive and not telling the journalist involved.
Despite his philanthropic effort, it’s easy to see the Australian government’s argument.
Djokovic’s actions show he has the potential to act recklessly or make dangerous comments on health during a pandemic, which right now is rampant in this country.
Tennis Australia has to be apportioned some of the blame for telling players that if they were granted a medical exemption for the tournament they could enter unvaccinated, despite the federal government saying otherwise.
But many players, including Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas, have pointed out they knew they had to be vaccinated to enter Australia, which again moves the blame back to Djokovic.
“He’s been playing by his own rules and has been doing what not many players had the guts to do, especially after the ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country,” Tsitsipas said earlier in the week.
“No-one really thought they could come to Australia unvaccinated and not have to follow the protocols … it takes a lot of daring to do and putting the grand slam at risk, which I don’t think many players would do.”
Fans and Djokovic’s father have tried to paint the saga as the tennis star being persecuted because he is Serbian.
But even one of his most ardent defenders in tennis circles, women’s great Martina Navratilova, said she could no longer defend Djokovic on this matter.
“The best thing for Novak to do, I think, is to just say, ‘You know what? There were too many mistakes, not OK, I’ll be the only unvaccinated player here … and the right thing to do is just go home,” Navratilova said.
However, Australia is not the only nation with vaccination entry requirements and those could again haunt Djokovic in the future.
Spain has them and the next slam down the road is the French Open where, like in Melbourne, Djokovic is the defending champion.
In Paris, another problem may loom for him.
Up to 400,000 foreign students will be able to work extra hours under a temporary relaxation of visa rules to ease crippling labour shortages, amplified by the isolation of thousands of workers in response to COVID-19.
As the omicron wave disrupts commerce, fuel stations warned motorists could suffer a repeat of UK petrol shortages, unless rules on virus-related isolation and foreign student visa holders were loosened to alleviate staff absentee rates of up to 40 per cent.
Foreign students will have their 40-hour-a-fortnight working cap lifted in affected sectors, under a plan Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take to state and territory leaders at a recent national cabinet meeting.
Isolation rules for close contacts in trucking, aviation and logistics are set to be eased, moving the sectors in line with lighter rules already flagged for food and grocery distribution workers who are asymptomatic and rapid test negative.
Some 20 per cent to 50 per cent of trucking and logistics workers have been forced to isolate according to government consultations with industry, exacerbating shortages of groceries at supermarkets and other stores.
The national supermarket chain ‘Coles’ reimposed buying limits on toilet paper and essential medicines such as paracetamol, amid panic buying.
Mr Morrison will press states to remove the requirement for truckies to provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test to cross some state borders.
The Commonwealth is finalising a list of essential services with advice from health officials about which workers should face less strict isolation rules, with healthcare, aged care, childcare and construction under deliberation.
Even before the omicron virus surge fuelled labour shortages, businesses had been trying to hire almost 400,000 workers to fill vacant positions.
Job vacancies rose 18.5 per cent to hit a record of 396,100 in the three months to November 30 as employers embarked on a hiring spree at the end of the delta lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported.
One of Victoria’s largest home builders, AHB Group, recently said about one in four staff had been forced off construction sites due to close contact with a virus-infected person or contracting COVID-19 themselves.
AHB director Pas Garofalo said builders were “stealing staff from each other” and having problems sourcing construction materials due to scarce labour and supply chain disruptions.
Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn called on the national cabinet to implement measures as broadly and quickly as possible.
“As a country we cannot go for a third year like this, we must avoid a situation where our response to the pandemic amplifies its worst economic impacts,” she said.
Business groups in emergency talks with government ministers have pressed to increase the cap on the permitted working hours of foreign students.
The government has agreed to a proposal to increase the 40-hour a fortnight cap for foreign students while they are studying, with it likely to be doubled to 80 hours a fortnight or the equivalent of 40 hours a week.
Hospitality and agriculture were granted similar concessions for foreign visa holders last year, to overcome the closure of the international border that exacerbated a shortage of workers.
Australasian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare said workplace rules needed to be eased for workers in a wider range of industries beyond food and grocery distribution.
“Our members have had to close stores and reduce trading hours and the concern is it’s going to get a lot worse over the next month,” he said.
“People can’t buy fuel if we don’t have staff to transact.”
“We want to use the existing staff here up to 40 hours a week and them not to be penalised for breaching their student visa requirements.”
Fuel stations and convenience stores such as 7-Eleven often employ foreign students.
There were 395,186 international students enrolled in Australian courses on October 1, with about 70 per cent of the students located in Australia.
The international border reopened on December 15 for more foreign students to return.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston also urged unemployed people and retired workers to help fill the temporary workforce shortages caused by the rapidly spreading omicron variant.
Another idea put forward by industry in a meeting with Senator Ruston was to increase the number of hours welfare recipients could work without losing their government benefits.
This could allow pensioners and parents receiving family tax benefits to increase their working hours to fill skills shortages.
However, a government source said this would likely require legislation approval by the Parliament.
Foreign student visa holders are permitted to work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight (equal to 20 hours a week) when their course is in session, and unlimited hours when their course is out of session.
They cannot work until they have commenced their course in Australia.
Family members who are listed as secondary visa holders on the primary student visa must not start work until the primary student visa holder has started their course.
A small group of more than 20 international students arrived in Canberra this week ahead of what many are hoping will be the staggered return of life back to campuses nearly two years into the pandemic.
The students, all of which are continuing their studies started before or during the COVID-19 pandemic, were welcomed back by the Australian National University and University of Canberra as part of a pilot program between ACT and NSW.
Flights had been scheduled for December last year but were pushed back after the Omicron variant quickly began spreading around the globe.
Xiaotian Liu had planned to arrive in Canberra two years ago to complete the final semester of his undergraduate degree at ANU.
But the unforeseen pandemic swept through his home country of China, and the rest of the world soon after, meaning he was forced to stay put in Beijing and attempt online studies.
Despite only arriving less than a week ago, he’s already began racing around to prepare for the next two years of his new life.
“This is a really busy week for me. I need to do a lot,” he said.
“I need to open a bank account and buy a SIM card and explore [my] accommodation.
“It’s totally a new kind of lifestyle for me so I’m really excited.”
Xiaotian is one of 17 ANU students and six University of Canberra students who arrived on a flight from China over the weekend with more expected to join in the months before the semester begins.
University of Canberra’s deputy vice-chancellor Professor Geoff Crisp said there were around 600 international students who remained overseas and were first on the list to be brought to campus.
“We want the students back because it’s not just the educational things they do,” he said.
“It’s also the connections they make and the social interactions that they have as well, which is obviously very important.”
An ANU spokesperson would not say how many international students were expected to enrol in the first semester but added there were applications coming from 131 countries, offering a promising outlook for the year.
“The diversity that they bring to our student population, and also to our culture here, is incredibly good for Canberra,” Professor Crisp said.
Xiaotian said he had already completed one semester online and had made some good friends despite the limitations of remote learning.
Now that he had arrived on campus, he was eager to see the people behind those screens he had worked with for months.
“I made some my friends who [are] from Australia, from America, and from India, and I have a really good friendship with them,” he said.
“I can’t wait to meet them as soon as possible.”
But before Xiaotian worries about making plans with his new friends when they arrive in the coming weeks, he says he needs to do something about Canberra’s weather after arriving from freezing Beijing.
“I need to buy sunscreen because, wow, the sun is really strong,” he said.
The victory in Hobart extended the Australian men’s cricket side’s winning streak in home Ashes Tests to 13! Hobart, Tasmania. January 2022
Georgia Baker wins women’s criterium at Santos Festival of Cycling. Adelaide, South Australia. January 2022.
Extasea Seals Victory At 2022 Melbourne To Geelong Passage Race. Victoria. January 2022
Archibald Prize 2022 tour reaches Grafton Regional Gallery. Grafton, NSW. January 2022
Little Nippers having fun while learning surf awareness. Maroubra, NSW. January 2022
Friends going for an afternoon city paddle down Brisbane River. Brisbane, Queensland. January 2022
An afternoon hit of golf with some kangaroo spectators. NSW. January 2022
A common wombat taking a morning walk. Maria Island, Tasmania. January 2022
‘Uluru’ at sunrise, ‘the heart of Australia’. Northern Territory. January 2022
As legislation and travel requirements are constantly changing, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent. Please click here to book a consultation with one of our Registered Australian Migration Agents, located in Australia.


As victorious St Johnstone captain Jason Kerr lifted the Scottish Cup last month one fan in particular shed more than a tear or two.
Sheena MacColl was remembering the person she most wanted to share that moment with - her missing son Timmy MacColl.
The Royal Navy leading seaman disappeared nine years ago while on shore leave in Dubai, making the celebration of the Perth’s team’s success against Hibs doubly poignant for the 58-year-old mum.
Timmy was last seen getting into a taxi outside Dubai’s trendy Rock Bottom Cafe around 1:40am on May 27, 2012.
He was headed for his ship, the HMS Westminster, which was berthed in nearby Port Rashid - a drive of about 15 minutes.
But what became of the 27-year-old after he got into the taxi remains a mystery to this day.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Record medical receptionist Sheena welled up with emotion, thinking of how much Timmy would have enjoyed celebrating his team’s 1-0 Hampden triumph.
The shop assistant has long give up hope her only son will be found alive and is now convinced he came to harm in the Gulf.
Sheila, of Killin, Perthshire, said:”Timmy had been a lifelong St Johnstone fan and began going to matches as a seven year old with his grandfather and two uncles Colin and Stuart
“I still have all his strips ironed in a drawer.
“Stuart was a chef at the club and Timmy worked there as a kitchen porter.
“Before he joined the Royal Navy, he seldom missed a game.
“I can imagine Timmy singing and dancing if he’d been able to watch St Johnstone lift the cup.
“I thought about him throughout last Saturday particularly with the anniversary of his death coming up.
“It was a really emotional day not only for me, but his whole family.”
In April 2014 Timmy was officially declared dead by the Royal Navy, presumed drowned, despite objections from his family.
Sheena says she has heard nothing from the Royal Navy or the Dubai police since then.
She added:”I don’t think Timmy would have put me through this if he was still alive.
“At the same time because I have got nothing, how do I accept that he is dead?
“Instead you live in a kind if limbo, you can’t move forward.”
Sheena claims the Dubai Police and the Royal Navy didn’t do enough at the time to find her son.
Four days after he vanished, the HMS Westminster, a type 23 frigate, set sail on a new mission.
On board were two crew members, a man and a woman, who had put Timmy in the taxi back to his ship.
However, the vital witnesses were allowed to leave without being interviewed by the Dubai police.
The following month Sheena, her brother Colin, and Timmy’s pregnant wife Rachael, went out to Dubai to meet with the head of police Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan al-Tamim and Royal Navy officials.
But Sheena says she left Dubai knowing little more about what happened to her son than when she arrived.
The motor bike themed bar in the city’s Bur Dubai district, were Timmy was last seen, was a popular haunt with expat Brits and sailors.
He had spent the previous seven month on anti piracy missions off the coast of Somalia, Libya and Kenya.
Search teams including navy divers found no trace of his body in the waters around Port Rashid
A Bangladeshi taxi driver who had driven Timmy from Rock Bottom was traced by police.
He claimed to have stopped for directions to his ship but when he returned to his vehicle Timmy was no longer there.
One theory is that Timmy had headed back into Dubai in another taxi.
Sheena added:”I don’t think he fell in the water as most of the area was fenced off and there was safety netting round his ship.
“It is very possible he went back into town.
“However there is no proof that he ever made it back to Port Rashid in the first place.
“The only evidence is the taxi driver.”
Timmy was born and brought up up in Killin and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 19 in 2003 as a gunner.
His ship had docked in Dubai on May 26 to allow maintenance work to be carried out.
Sheena’s last conversation with Timmy was two weeks earlier when he spoke about the forthcoming birth of his third child Eriskay.
Timmys wife Rachael has since remarried though Sheena keeps in regular touch with her and her three grandchildren.
She added:”The pain and uncertainty is there every day, it doesn’t change.
“You just have to move on and find some form of acceptance.
“I would appeal to anyone has any information about Timmy to please come forward and put us out of our misery.
“My son wouldn’t have just disappeared. He had so much to look forward to.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson said;“The thoughts and sympathies of the Royal Navy will always remain with the family and friends of Timothy MacColl.
“Regrettably, despite various appeals, no new information has come to light.
“The Dubai police investigated Timothy MacColl’s disappearance in 2012. In liaison with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the MOD and the Royal Navy provided every assistance when requested.
“While we are acutely aware of how distressing this has been for Timothy MacColl’s family, there was a full and proper investigation at the time. As stated, regrettably no new evidence has been raised since then.”
No one from the Dubai Police or the Government of Dubai responded to our request for comment.


QuinStar Technology offers a comprehensive range of Dividers, Combiners, and Tees designed for precise and efficient RF and microwave signal management. The product category includes E & H Plane Waveguide Tees (QUH Series) for waveguide applications, Short Slot Hybrid Power Dividers (QSP Series) for power distribution, Multi Output Power Dividers (QMD Series) for signal splitting, and Matched Hybrid Tees or Magic Tees (QJH Series) for critical signal phase and amplitude relationships. QuinStar’s products are built with precision, versatility, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to meet the unique requirements of a wide range of RF and microwave systems.
Third Party Embeds
Third parties provide feature and performance enhancements to our wesbite. We use the following third-party embeds:


text:
There’s been a lot of speculation about the names that will make the St. Louis Cardinals post-season roster.
I believe that, ultimately, the largest factor in the decision making process is going to be health.
Can Yadier Molina play? Is Matt Adams going to be able to stay healthy enough to play entire games on back-to-back days? Is Adam Wainwright healthy enough to play a significant role in the bullpen?
Molina’s health is the biggest question -- not only about who will be the starting catcher but also about how the bench will be composed. If Molina can’t go, that leaves Ed Easley as the backup catcher. He’s a guy who has never had a hit at the major league level. He’d basically be an emergency only player who would offer no impact as a pinch hitter.
If Easley is on the roster, it makes it very tough to have Pete Kozma on the bench.
Although he was a lightning rod for fans because of his poor hitting in 2015, the Redbirds could afford to keep Kozma on the regular season roster because he offered defensive insurance at seven defensive positions. He’s also the only reserve middle infielder the Cardinals have with a decent glove.
Greg Garcia showed his limitations in the field when exposed during the Cardinals’ closing regular season series against Atlanta (if the fact that he’d lost the shortstop job in the minors and was morphing into a utility player wasn’t enough evidence.) He’s a mediocre second baseman, a sub par shortstop and a questionable third baseman. If Jhonny Peralta got hurt or if the Cardinals had to do a double switch involving the shortstop, they’re in big trouble in the field with Garcia. Those reasons are the entire explanation of why the Birds kept Kozma all year. Garcia couldn’t cut it as the backup shortstop.
But if Easley is on the bench, it’s hard not to have Greg Garcia there as the reserve infielder because he is a much better hitter than Kozma. In the playoffs, the Cardinals can’t afford to have TWO guys who can’t hit a lick on the bench.
Garcia is also likely to be on the bench if Matt Adams or Brandon Moss are left off the roster because the Cardinals will need at least two left-handed bench bats.
I suspect Adams is healthy enough to make the roster and a late season surge by Brandon Moss will likely make him the second lefty bat. So I would be more comfortable with Kozma’s glove than a third lefty bat in Garcia. As long as Molina is available to hit at least.
Let’s not forget, while Kozma had an awful season at the plate, he’s got experience in the playoffs and collected some big hits in previous post seasons. But I’d feel better with some more productive bats surrounding him.
Wainwright, by all accounts, seems to be ready for a bullpen role in the playoffs. His breaking pitches looked remarkably sharp in his appearances the last week. That’s amazing for a guy who hadn’t pitched in game action since late April.
I believe the Cardinals can afford to have Wainwright be a righty specialist out of the pen if they keep Tyler Lyons as the second lefty. Lyons is capable of pitching two or three innings -- to both lefty and righty hitters -- while Randy Choate can only pitch effective to lefties and one or two of them at a time.
Over the last month, Choate has allowed opponents to bat .429 against him with a .444 on-base percentage. Is this a guy who can be counted on to pitch to a tough lefty in a close playoff game?
Over the season as a whole, Choate hasn’t been exactly dominant against lefties. They hit .265 against him in 2015 as a whole with a .333 on base percentage. He’s especially terrible on the road where opposing hitters batted .302 against him.
Over the past month, opposing hitters are batting .189 against Lyons. He’s held lefties to a .232 average in 2015. And while righties bat .333 against Choate, they hit .258 against Lyons.
The Cardinals are going to have an interesting issue with Grichuk’s still vulnerable arm. If they fear he can’t make the throws from deep in the centerfield gaps, they can play Heyward in center and not miss a beat defensively. Grichuk can play right and depend on Wong’s strong arm for assistance by throwing to the cutoff man.
Adams, if healthy, can split first base with Stephen Piscotty. Piscotty could move to right in late and close games to provide a better arm.
So... Assuming Molina is healthy, here is my playoff roster:
C Molina (R), 1B Adams (L)or Piscotty (R), 2B Wong (L), 3B Carpenter (L), SS Peralta (R), LF Holliday (R) CF Heyward (L), RF Grichuk (R)
Piscotty (R) or Adams (L), Moss (L), Kozma (R), Cruz (R), Pham (R), Reynolds (R)
Lackey (R), Garcia (L), Wacha (R), Lynn (R)
7th inning: Wainwright
RHP middle relief: Maness, Cisheck, Broxton
LHP middle relief: Lyons.
Peter Bourjos has been terrible since May and ended the season with a sub-.200 batting average. There is nothing he could offer that Pham couldn’t do.
Jon Jay is a player who’s had a big impact in previous post seasons. But he hasn’t got on base this year as he did in years past. I don’t believe his wrist is healthy.

domain: news


text:
Every year, millions of shorebirds fly between Australasia and the Arctic. But for many, this will be their final flight.
Science & Environment
The Feather Map of Australia is a citizen science project plotting the movements of our country’s wetland birds.
An epic battle between species as this black-necked stork and coastal carpet python face off in Alderley, Queensland.

domain: geography


Election denialists are in a frenzy over this week’s midterms. Armed groups are monitoring ballot boxes, conspiracy theorists are spreading rumors about efforts to alter the outcomes of various races, and politicians are pumping up the outrage by repeating lies about rigged votes and stolen seats.
The movement claims it is for honesty and integrity, but behind it is the firm belief that no election of a liberal is or ever will be legitimate.
And though the efforts are myriad and sprawling, there are nodes coordinating the movements, issuing directives to harass poll workers, disenfranchise Democrats, and seize Congress by any means necessary.
Take the 3,000-plus members of Look Ahead America’s Discord channel, run by an infamous election denier. They are going person by person, through voter rolls in swing states, and trying to set the agenda for already overworked election officials.
Experts say that their methods are unreliable and that the data they’re using to challenge voter registrations—one of the group’s main activities—is both dated and an ineffective means of determining whether voter registrations are valid. But criticisms and failures don’t dissuade Look Ahead America and its Discord subscribers. To them, election officials who refuse to purge voters at their behest are corrupt and incompetent.
It’s already had success. In recent months, it contacted clerks across the state of Wisconsin, where the 2020 results were hotly debated, and convinced clerks to revoke people’s voter registration based on details as small as inaccurate apartment numbers.
Look Ahead America is a nonprofit created by Matt Braynard, who briefly worked for former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. The group says its mission is to “register, educate, and enfranchise” the “millions of rural and blue-collar patriotic Americans who are disaffected and disenfranchised from the nation’s corridors of power.”
It trains people to lobby for what it calls “America first” reforms and to get out the vote. But its main purpose is uncovering voter fraud, including by teaching people to find it before it even happens.
“The problem with the 2020 election was that so much of this effort was directed at trying to correct voter lists after Election Day,” Look Ahead America’s website states. “We believe that if we apply this rigorous hygiene before the election, we will help prevent illegal ballots from being cast and, just as important, restore confidence in the elections among those who may have doubts.”
Braynard wasn’t a household name like many of his cohorts who pushed fantasies about widespread fraud in the 2020 election. But promoting it has significantly elevated his profile.
He testified in Georgia in 2020 about so-called fraud and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to try and prove dead people voted in that election. He’s recently been on Steve Bannon’s show and hosted events at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Braynard’s also been featured on MSNBC and written about in the Washington Post. He’s currently serving as the senior policy advisor for a Republican congressional candidate who also claims the 2020 election was stolen.
While Look Ahead America insists its goal is protecting election integrity, many are worried it’s the exact opposite.
“This is the big dress rehearsal for 2024,” said Tiffany Flowers, campaign director of the Frontline, a voter advocacy group. “This is the dry run.”
As this article was going to press, Discord kicked Look Ahead America off the platform for “engaging in activity that could disrupt or undermine the integrity of an election.” Look Ahead America subsequently claimed that Discord’s allegations against it are false, adding, “Legal action incoming.” Look Ahead America didn’t respond to multiple emailed inquiries from the Daily Dot.
Look Ahead America promotes its work on social media and its website, but Discord is where its community thrives. The server offers something for everyone, with channels dedicated to topics ranging from entertainment to politics.
And it’s attracted thousands of people to Discord who are inclined to challenge the outcome of the midterms. More than 150 joined just last month.
Allegations of election fraud run throughout the Discord. People often make claims about supposed fraud in 2020—and fret about the future.
Flowers is alarmed by the prospect of a group focused on election denial creating a cloistered online space that could forge its own reality for members. Flowers believes that if Look Ahead America has success overturning the results in one race or jurisdiction, others could follow.
“If something goes terribly wrong in one state and triggers a copycat reaction, then it’s all of our problem,” Flowers said, adding, “What happens in Connecticut matters in Colorado.”
Look Ahead America is working towards precisely this goal. The Discord group is essentially its own private voter fraud investigation network.
It recently released a report claiming that 80% of the 55,000 Arizonans who changed their address are ineligible to vote yet remain on the voter roll. Upon closer inspection, its conclusions fall apart. It analyzed a sample of just 49 voters using a variety of means to determine they’d permanently moved: social media, blogs, and other records. Election officials told the Daily Dot that these are insufficient means of proving someone permanently moved and is ineligible to vote. People, such as college students or those in certain professions, often temporarily relocate or spend part of the year elsewhere and are still eligible to vote in their home jurisdictions.
Braynard’s group says its methods are rigorous and reliable. In reality, it’s basically just cross-referencing the National Change of Address list with information from open-source search tools, like social media profiles and blogs, to come to its own conclusions about whether someone is eligible to vote.
The conservative Hoover Institution recently published an analysis by a trio of political scientists that found that Braynard’s methods—comparing voters to the postal service database—couldn’t distinguish authentic votes from fraudulent ones.
Regardless, the group has expended significant effort utilizing these methods to preemptively challenge voter registrations in Wisconsin. This year it contacted elections officials across the state to claim people were fraudulently registered in their jurisdictions.
In some areas, it challenged a single voter’s registration; in others a handful or more.
Look Ahead America was successful in some cases. Emails released in the report it published ln late October show that some voters were unregistered at its behest. Several clerks said they’d forwarded the information it provided to the local prosecutor’s office. At least one clerk copied Look Ahead America in its communications with a voter.
“Can you please stop in our office ASAP with proof of residence, so that we can update your voter registration address, if you are unable to take care of this via the link provided below?” the clerk wrote to the voter, according to screenshots of emails from Look Ahead America’s report.
The issue was that the voter’s address didn’t include their apartment number.
Look Ahead America feels it is an official part of the process. Its report brags, “Some of the clerks were quite cooperative and removed ineligible voters and, in some cases, even referred the voters for criminal investigations.”
In June, it contacted a clerk to follow up about cases that the clerk told them they’d forwarded to the local district attorney “as it has been one month.” The clerk responded that the DA had contacted them for additional information but said they didn’t know the status of the investigation.
It complained that other clerks ignored them or denied their claims.
One city clerk told the Daily Dot that she was “surprised” that “they were taking this role.” She opined that whatever database they’re working with appears to be “quite dated” and said that her office found that none of the voters they challenged were fraudulently registered.
Kim Wayte, deputy clerk of Allouez, Wisconsin, echoed the same. Wayte told the Daily Dot that they looked into Look Ahead America’s claims but “didn’t find any discrepancies with our voter rolls.”
Look Ahead America isn’t just targeting voters, it’s going after elections officials. In its report about its efforts in Wisconsin, it said it’s provided volunteers with “the proper primary source citations and evidence to get the rolls cleaned up, hold people accountable for breaking laws, remove incompetent and corrupt clerks from their roles, and provide morale for Wisconsin citizens.”
It was incensed that the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) denied nine of its complaints.
“It is unreasonable for the WEC to dismiss without explanation cases of what appear to be double voters and people who registered in new states before voting in Wisconsin, which is illegal. Fortunately, there are county District Attorneys, Secretaries of States in other states, clerks, and fraud units at the DMV that are investigating these as well,” Look Ahead America announced on Discord on Oct. 26.
Last month, the WEC posted guidance for clerks dealing with “emails from third parties” challenging voters’ registration and records. One clerk told the Daily Dot this was inspired by Look Ahead America’s activities. It also sent this guidance to elections officials around the state.
The guidance notes a third party challenged one voter based on them using a post office as their address. It was a disabled veteran residing in a Veteran’s Administration hospital that has its own post office.
Look Ahead America’s efforts to clean up voter rolls are the beginning. Even though votes haven’t been counted, Braynard plans to challenge the outcomes in nine swing states. But you won’t see him raise objections if Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) ekes out a win in Wisconsin, even if the group is insistent voter rolls are inaccurate in the days leading up to the vote.
No, what attracted 3,000 people to join the Discord is ensuring Republican wins, the accuracy of the vote be damned.
Flowers of the voter advocacy group the Frontline said groups like Look Ahead America “are only interested in power” and its work is designed to cling to that power.
“The fact that more people aren’t terrified lets me know that fascism has a chance.”


Marketing and promotion are not one-time investments, but rather, these are ongoing investments to maintain your brand image’s prominence. These days the digital landscape is overcrowded with advertisements and marketing campaigns, and each brand has to carve out its space. And to remain relevant to the forefront, it is crucial to keep your audience engaged and entertained.
However, most small and medium-scale businesses struggle with finances, and marketing campaigns require funds to hit their targets. But the question here is, how to promote your business without spending a fortune?
There most certainly is! In 2020, advertisement and marketing have become accessible, cheaper, and more rewarding in the digital arena. Various strategies and tools will help you reach out to your audience and promote your business with a competitive edge.
This article will walk you through promotional strategies that cost less and offer significant returns on investments.
Here, take a look:
An Immersive Website
Your website is your official address in the digital arena, and it should be compelling and attractive to maintain traffic. If your website and its offerings attract your audience, your digital brand will flourish and grow remarkably. User-friendly and immersive website design is a vital investment to attract your audience with products, videos, graphics, and creativity.
Starting a blog is an excellent initiative if your business lacks substantial funds to funnel towards marketing endeavors. It will serve as the mouthpiece of your business, informing, engaging, and inspiring your audience. You can turn your blog into a little magazine that discusses your product offerings and offers valuable insight and advice.
Blogs infused with videos, graphics, and informative content are more likely to win over the audience. Your blog will boost your ranking in Google search results and lend your brand authority in the long-run.
Consumers adore gifts and giveaways, and you can use these trinkets to rope them into attending events, seminars, and more. Personalized gifts carrying your branded logo, color palette, and other elements are an excellent way to make compelling impressions. There are loads of ideas to pick and choose from, such as engraved pens, coffee mugs, folders, fabric bags, caps, notebooks, keychains, passport holders, and t-shirts are just a few ideas to explore. You can choose personalized products that best reflect your brand identity and quality commitments.
When you give away a product carrying your name and logo, you position yourself in the immediate environment of your consumers. It serves as a reminder of your products or services and your brand image. Every time they pick up that pen to write, your logo will be registered in their brain, positioning itself permanently.
Naturally, when they need a relevant product or service, the first name to pop up in their head will be yours!
A Powerful SEO Strategy
Devising a dynamic and robust SEO strategy is of utmost significance to ensure your brand’s prominence and promotion. Search engine optimization will help increase your search rankings and ensure your content is Google-friendly. SEO is crucial to ensure that each web page reaches out to its target audience.
More importantly, SEO will ensure that the search engines understand and approve your website content. The content for your web pages and blogs must be SEO-friendly and well-optimized. Most brands spend hundreds of dollars on hiring SEO experts, which is unnecessary. Meticulous research and dedicated guidance will allow you to improve the SEO of your website yourself.
Just focus on the titles for each page, incorporate relevant keywords, and used the most searched phrases throughout your content.
Boost Social Media Engagement
Social media is the perfect medium for your audience to engage effectively without spending a bucket-load of money. If you do not have a lively presence for your company on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube, you’re doing something wrong.
It is crucial to interact with your consumers in their preferred environments, and social media is the ideal venue. Facebook and Instagram offer immersive and innovative tools to boost your promotions and target a particular audience using filters. Social media allows you to directly with your clients and humanize your brand.
You can funnel their feeds with inspiration, creative video and written content, immersive images, and exclusive discounts and sales. Creativity is an essential ingredient to boost your social media engagement. You can also engage your audience through Facebook groups and communities. Or use Instagram stories and live chat features to keep them hooked on the latest updates.
Use social media to humanize your brand with behind-the-scene stories, and by sharing the struggle that led you here. Connect with your audience on more profound levels by sharing all the elements that reflect your brand.
Another strategy to keep your audience informed and engaged without spending an arm or a leg is email marketing. We all check our emails regularly, and consumers appreciate brands that maintain contact and keep them informed. Marketing emails are an ideal strategy to make your consumers feel cherished and up-to-date.
You can present them with exclusive sales, promotional discounts, and special offers curated as per their preferences. You can start a newsletter to keep them hooked to the monthly or weekly happenings of your brand. And through your emails, you can keep bringing them back to your website.
Business Card & Stationery
Designing your business card and stationery is the very first step towards cementing your brand identity and logo to convey an image of professionalism and quality in the eyes of the onlookers.
These onlookers could be your clients, potential customers, business associates, vendors, or even industry bigwigs. Business cards are the most crucial promotional weapons that make your brand memorable by lending it an aura of esteem.
Companies that strategize effectively and creatively don’t have to worry too much about spending. Creativity is the crux of all successful promotional efforts, followed by effective targeting and consistency. An SEO-friendly website, immersive graphics, engaging videos, and engaging email marketing will help you boost conversions and revenues.
It may seem overwhelming as a solopreneur with a limited budget, but in the long-run, cultivating these skills will prove helpful.


P/N : FTN-FWF-50E-BDL
FG-50E-BDL FortiGate-50E Hardware plus 1 Year 8x5 FortiCare and FortiGuard Unified (UTM) Protection
5 x GE RJ45 ports (Including 1 x WAN port, 4 x Switch ports),Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n),Max managed FortiAPs (Total / Tunnel) 2 / 2. No longer orderable in the European Union and other countries following the EU regulation or standards.
16 x GE RJ45 ports (including 2 x WAN ports, 1 x DMZ port, 1 x HA port, 12 x switch ports), 128GB SSD onboard storage. Max managed FortiAPs (Total / Tunnel) 32 / 16,Hardware plus 1 year 8x5 Forticare and FortiGuard UTM Bundle.
FG-30E-BDL FortiGate-30E Hardware plus 1 Year 8x5 FortiCare and FortiGuard Unified (UTM) Protection


We Carry Out Repairs In All SS Postcodes
All Appliance Repairs Guaranteed For 6 Months*
Fixed Costs On All Repairs
WHY USE US
Affordable, fixed cost repairs
Repairing an appliance or ordering a new part is nearly always cheaper and faster than a complete replacement. Enquire about our repairs and save with us today.
All repairs guaranteed
Our repairs are more than just a quick fix
Fast & reliable service
Our team of technicians are on hand to offer same or next day callouts where available – and will confirm a time slot before arrival so you don’t have to wait around.
Don’t just take our word for it – find out what some of our customers have to say about our 10/10 rated repair service.
Fridgemaster Appliance Repairs in Southend-on-Sea
With Fridgemaster repairs carried out throughout Southend-on-Sea and surround areas, we can have an engineer with you today. Our same day repairs and access to thousands of spare parts will minimise the downtime of any Fridgemaster appliance. Here for when you need us most, our fixed cost repairs will save you time and money as a repair is always cheaper than a replacement appliance.
Best known for their innovative refrigeration technology, Fridgemaster specialise in a diverse range of fridges, freezers and fridge freezers. With exceptional functionality and advanced designs, our engineers have carried out hundreds of Fridgemaster repairs throughout Southend-on-Sea.
Fridgemaster Appliance Repairs
Getting in touch about Fridgemaster repairs is fast and easy. Our appliance specialists can give you information, advice and free quote for any fault. If you purchased your appliance with us, it could still be protected by it’s 2-year guarantee. If your guarantee has expired or you purchased your appliance elsewhere, we’re still able to carry out Fridgemaster repairs for one affordable fixed cost.
For more information on Fridgemaster repair costs or to request a quote, please visit our call out charges and fees page.
Fridgemaster Spare Parts
With access to hundreds of Fridgemaster spare parts, our local engineers can be there today to provide comprehensive Fridgemaster repairs on a wide range of appliances. You can order the Fridgemaster spare part and we’ll deliver it to your door. If you’d like help with replacing it, we can have one of our experienced engineers fit it for you. To arrange a callout, order a replacement, or for advice on a fault, you can contact a member of our team over the phone. We’ll give you a comprehensive, fixed cost quote that includes the cost of the part, labour and callout.
We always recommend getting your Fridgemaster appliance looked at before considering a replacement. Repairing a fault or replacement a part is nearly always cheaper and faster than buying a new appliance. We also provide a 6-month guarantee on any parts we replace or fix.
To order a spare part, book a repair or ask a question, get in touch with our appliance experts today by calling us on 01702 300010.


text:
Vinyl bear yellow
The 3D model of a Famous vinyl bear called BearBearQ
The Famous vinyl bear called BearBearQ is the one from the Qee collection. And even in 3D this is a very popular vinyl toy collection. Not everyone knows that Qee was created by Hong Kong-based company however everyone is aware of the following model.
This 3D bear shaped vinyl toy model is based on a bear figure with asymmetrical ears. And this vinyl bear model has a very cute name. As it was already mentioned, it is called a BearBearQ.
- Media Type:
- 3D Model
- 3D Studio (.3ds)
- 3ds Max 9.0 (.max)
- OBJ (.obj)

domain: entertainment


text: Teachers Mutual Bank publishes ‘Our approach to Climate Change’ Talk to us Phone us Email us Breadcrumbs Teachers Mutual Bank Community 2014 Teachers Mutual Bank publishes ‘Our approach to Climate Change’ 21 March 2014 21 March 2014 Our approach to climate change—Summary Teachers Mutual Bank produced a report on our sustainability program and our approach to climate change. A summary of this report is below: 1. We are carbon neutral, and have been since July 2012. 2. Teachers Mutual Bank is a carbon neutral bank, and all members’ accounts are with a carbon neutral bank. 3. We have invested in three carbon offset projects in Asia-Pacific that have robust social, environment, community and education credentials. 4. We have undertaken two Greenhouse Gas (GHG) accountancy processes • A GHG emissions Inventory that creates a financial accounting system for our organisational GHG emissions under our operational control in 2013. • An assurance audit that provides an independent, expert assessment and verification of our Inventory, and verification of our claims of carbon neutrality. 5. Climate change is addressed more broadly across the Bank in our Sustainability Policy and other policies, in such areas as risk, reporting and disclosure, waste, supply chain and sourcing, car fleet, environmental education and grants, energy efficiency. 6. Teachers Mutual Bank has zero direct investment in any large-scale greenhouse polluting activity or company. 7. Teachers Mutual Bank does not use members’ funds to finance large-scale greenhouse-gas pollution. 8. Teachers Mutual Bank does not use members’ deposits to directly lend to, buy equity or debt in, any large-scale greenhouse polluting activities from fossil fuel exploration, extraction, production and use. 9. We take this approach because as a business we believe in creating a brighter future. Back to top.

domain: finance


text:
The Last Mermaid
By Shana Abe
The Last Mermaid is a historical fantasy drama by Shana Abe.
In 531 on the island Kelmere of the Kingdom of Isles, Picts ambush the royal party as they near their keep. Prince Aedan, heir to the High King throne, is stabbed trying to save his younger sister. When Aedan next awakens he finds himself battered in a strange bed and room. He meets his hostess Ione who brought him from the sea to her island, something she has never done before. Aedan realizes he is on Kell, the legendary forbidden island. Ione explains that they are the only living souls on the isle and that she is the Siren of Kell.
Ione proves she is a mermaid by taking him to the sea before they make love. Though he wants to stay with her, Aedan builds a vessel because he needs to go home to help his people. She says she will die if he leaves Kell, but he insists curse or not he must do the right thing. However, the betrayal he finds at home will surely devastate him almost as much as leaving behind the female he loves.
The key to this delightful historical romantic fantasy is that he lead couple seems genuine, critical for the siren-mermaid to come across as a real person that blends nicely into the Dark Ages in the Scottish Isles. The story line is fun to follow regardless of the isle that the action occurs on. Fans will appreciate this charming adult version of the Little Mermaid and readers would like to see more stories set in this realm.
Written on 13th April 2004 by TC .

domain: library


text:
Almost 6,000 volunteers took part in the study, with 4052 receiving beta-carotene supplements for 18 years. The long-term beta-carotene supplementation was associated with a significantly higher mean global score, compared to placebo. This group also performed significantly better than placebo for verbal memory. On the other hand, men taking part in the study for less than ten years displayed no differences in cognition regardless of whether they took beta-carotene or placebo. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is the first to look at long-term antioxidant supplementation in relation to a decline in cognitive function that occurs with naturally with age, and that precedes diseases such as Alzheimer's. Participants in the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) trial (started in 1982) and newer recruits from the Physicians' Health Study II (PHSII) (started in 1998) received 50 mg beta-carotene supplements or placebo on alternate days. "In this generally healthy population, the extent of protection conferred by long-term treatment appeared modest," wrote Francine Grodstein and co-workers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. "Nonetheless, studies have established that very modest differences in cognition, especially verbal memory, predict substantial differences in eventual risk of dementia; thus, the public health impact of long-term beta carotene use could be large." Mechanism of protection Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, and it is the vitamin's effect on beta-amyloid protein production that is thought to be behind the protective effects. The build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits is associated with an increase in brain cell damage and death from oxidative stress. This is related to a loss of cognitive function and an increased risk of Alzheimer's. In an accompanying editorial in the same journal, Kristine Yaffe from the University of California, San Francisco stated: "The authors suggest that long-term exposure to antioxidants may be needed to have an effect on the underlying pathologic processes linked to changes in cognition. "This is certainly plausible, given that the neuropathologic changes underlying clinically significant cognitive impairment appear to take years, if not decades. Thus, neuroprotection may have the greatest benefit early on in the process. " Furthermore, Yaffe noted that five other randomized trials of antioxidants and cognitive function have been published, but only one suggested a protective effect. None of these lasted for more than 10 years. Note of caution In her independent comment, Yaffe stated that some issues were to be found in interpretation of the data since the study "had a complex design". Indeed, both Harvard researchers and Yaffe describe several limitations, including only one measure of cognitive function was performed, and this was towards the end of the supplementation period. Therefore, no comparison with baseline values was obtainable. Both Grodstein and co-workers, and Yaffe also note that no evaluation of cognitive function in all subjects who had participated in the original PHS was performed. The authors also note that beta carotene supplementation is not without its risks, with studies reporting an increase in lung cancer risk among smokers. Despite these limitations and questions, the benefits of long-term supplementation in a healthy population are encouraging, said Grodstein and co-workers. "As these data support the possibility of successful interventions at early stages of brain aging in well-functioning subjects, investigations of additional agents that might also provide such neuroprotection should be initiated." Again, Yaffe poured water on the flames of excitement, noting: "While strategies aimed at midlife (or possibly even earlier) may make sense, they will prove to be difficult to study, since they would involve conducting trials that last for 25 to 30 years." Currently, about 12 million people in the US plus the EU suffer from Alzheimer's, with some estimates predicting this figure will have tripled by 2050. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100 bn (€ 81 bn) in the US alone. The direct cost of Alzheimer care in the UK was estimated at £15 bn (€ 22 bn). Source: Archives of Internal Medicine Volume 167, Number 20, Pages 2184-2190 "A Randomized Trial of Beta Carotene Supplementation and Cognitive Function in Men: The Physicians' Health Study II" Authors: F. Grodstein, J.H. Kang, R.J. Glynn, N.R. Cook, J.M. Gaziano Editorial: Archives of Internal Medicine Volume 167, Number 20, Pages 2167-2168 "Antioxidants and Prevention of Cognitive Decline: Does Duration of Use Matter?" Author: K. Yaffe
Men taking beta-carotene supplements for 15 years or more may experience a slower rate of age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study from Harvard.

domain: medical


text:
5小时韩国精华剪辑高清在线播放At home, Babbitt never read with absorption. He was concentrated enough at the office but here he crossed his legs and fidgeted. When his story was interesting he read the best, that is the funniest, paragraphs to his wife; when it did not hold him he coughed, scratched his ankles and his right ear, thrust his left thumb into his vest pocket, jingled his silver, whirled the cigar-cutter and the keys on one end of his watch chain, yawned, rubbed his nose, and found errands to do. He went upstairs to put on his slippers--his elegant slippers of seal-brown, shaped like medieval shoes. He brought up an apple from the barrel which stood by the trunk-closet in the basement.视屏如果没有播放按钮请刷新网页
Dowley was in fine feather, and I early got him started, and then adroitly worked him around onto his own history for a text and himself for a hero, and then it was good to sit there and hear him hum. Self-made man, you know. They know how to talk. They do deserve more credit than any other breed of men, yes, that is true; and they are among the very first to find it out, too. He told how he had begun life an orphan lad without money and without friends able to help him; how he had lived as the slaves of the meanest master lived; how his day's work was from sixteen to eighteen hours long, and yielded him only enough black bread to keep him in a half-fed condition; how his faithful endeavors finally attracted the attention of a good blacksmith, who came near knocking him dead with kindness by suddenly offering, when he was totally unprepared, to take him as his bound apprentice for nine years and give him board and clothes and teach him the trade -- or "mystery" as Dowley called it. That was his first great rise, his first gorgeous stroke of fortune; and you saw that he couldn't yet speak of it without a sort of eloquent wonder and delight that such a gilded promotion should have fallen to the lot of a common human being. He got no new clothing during his apprenticeship, but on his graduation day his master tricked him out in spang-new tow-linens and made him feel unspeakably rich and fine.5小时韩国精华剪辑高清在线播放
5小时韩国精华剪辑高清在线播放In the middle of the afternoon we sighted the scarlet and yellow towers of Helium, and a short time later a great fleet of Zodangan battleships rose from the camps of the besiegers without the city, and advanced to meet us.
So the letters would run on for sheets upon sheets, in the closest cramped handwriting; and I leave any unprejudiced reader to say whether the writer of such documents must not have been as silly and vain a creature as ever lived, and whether she did not want being taken care of? I could copy out yards of rhapsody to Lord George Poynings, her old flame, in which she addressed him by the most affectionate names, and implored him to find a refuge for her against her oppressors; but they would fatigue the reader to peruse, as they would me to copy. The fact is, that this unlucky lady had the knack of writing a great deal more than she meant. She was always reading novels and trash; putting herself into imaginary characters and flying off into heroics and sentimentalities with as little heart as any woman I ever knew; yet showing the most violent disposition to be in love. She wrote always as if she was in a flame of passion. I have an elegy on her lap-dog, the most tender and pathetic piece she ever wrote; and most tender notes of remonstrance to Betty, her favourite maid; to her housekeeper, on quarrelling with her; to half-a-dozen acquaintances, each of whom she addressed as the dearest friend in the world, and forgot the very moment she took up another fancy. As for her love for her children, the above passage will show how much she was capable of true maternal feeling: the very sentence in which she records the death of one child serves to betray her egotisms, and to wreak her spleen against myself; and she only wishes to recall another from the grave, in order that he may be of some personal advantage to her. If I5小时韩国精华剪辑高清在线播放


text:
Ingrid Ferrin doesn't have any movies playing in theaters.
If you feel like heading out, check out other movies in theaters.
Cool as Ice
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
The Far Side of Jericho
Love at Large
The Santa Clause 2
Born to Be Wild
She's Having a Baby
Batman & Robin
All Ingrid Ferrin films
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2016 FANDANGO MOVIES.


text:
I'm otherkin, of a species who's name translates to "Prism Dragon". I'm not a logical being, but one built around emotion, especially love and happiness. As a human, I enjoy writing, web design, and anything that helps to express creativity. I also make every attempt to read whenever I can.
Despite being avid reader and aspiring writer, I immerse myself in writing fan fiction more than anything. However, I've also made my own universe, "The Omega Wars", which I hope to write more about in the future. Despite focusing mostly on erotica, I do enjoy working on normal stories as well.

domain: hobby


text:
‘Blade-runner’ athlete Richard Whitehead and top swimming director Bill Furniss - who coaches Rebecca Adlington OBE - launched Nottinghamshire County Council’s ‘Fitter Twitter’ campaign: #fittertwitter .
The county council is harnessing the social media platform Twitter for a new fitness and healthy living campaign aimed at local communities in the run-up to London 2012.
The local authority already has almost 5,000 Twitter followers at: www.twitter.com/nottscc
From today (Wednesday 18th April), which marks 100 days to go to London 2012’s opening ceremony, the county council will send a daily tweet from county sports stars, using #fittertwitter to offer helpful and guidance on getting and staying active during Olympics year.
Coun John Cottee, cabinet member for Culture and Community at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are excited about the #fittertwitter campaign and it provides another avenue, through social media, to promote London 2012 and the benefits of sport for all across Nottinghamshire.”
The majority of the tweets are from local athletes who live in the county and have received Shining Stars funding from the county council and are currently vying for London 2012 selection.
Also featured is Richard Whitehead, who received a Shining Stars sports grant from Nottinghamshire County Council in 2010. Richard runs using special blades and is aiming for gold at the London Paralympics this summer.
Bill Furniss, swimming director for Nova Centurion Swimming Club which is supported by Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Amateur Swimming Association, is providing a further five tweets which will also feature as part of Fitter Twitter.
He said: “Fitter Twitter is a good idea to help promote the benefits of sport and exercise to a wide audience ahead of London 2012. Our ideas offer sound advice for people to consider if they are thinking about exercise.”
Swimmers including Sasha Matthews and Andrew Zawadski, who are members of Nova Centurion Swimming Club, along with Ollie Hynd, who has been nominated for the GB Paralympic squad, receive Nottinghamshire County Council Shining Star funding and have also contributed tweets for the campaign.
And there is advice and suggestions from Shining Star athletes from a range of other sports including canoe slalom, tennis, badminton, wheelchair basketball and track athletics.
Check out Fitter Twitter on Nottinghamshire County Council’s Twitter Feed at NCC Twitter

domain: sports