Latest news with #Australians'
IOL News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas banking on 'human element' ahead of WTC final at Lords
PROTEAS top order batter Tristaan Stubbs will be looking to exploit the Australians' human insecurities when they face off in the World Test Championship in London. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers However, that is not the mood in the Proteas Test camp, as top-order batter Tristan Stubbs revealed. The Proteas batting unit has been diagnosed as the weak link due to the lack of experience in Test match cricket, and also due to the unit not having played against a potent bowling attack this World Test Championship cycle. Throughout the build-up, the Proteas' weaknesses have been thoroughly discussed, and very little has been said about the Australian Test team and their disadvantages. THE Proteas Test team landed in the United Kingdom over the weekend, and the full squad will start their first preparations as a group for the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord's staring on June 11. The 24-year-old emphasised that the Australians, despite being the defending champions and their vast experience of high-pressure games, are also human and they would be nervous just as much going into Lord's. Having played with Australian opening bowler Mitchell Starc at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League over the past two months, Stubbs' claim is warranted. "I played with him (Starc). The biggest thing is they're also human. They have the same thoughts we have, which you sometimes forget because they've won these big games. They're also a bit nervous. Don't use that as a headline," chuckled Stubbs. "They're just as scared as we are. They have the same fears, so that bodes well. They also have insecurities." Right from the start of his career, coach Shukri Conrad was clear about the role that he wanted Stubbs to play in the Test team. The coach wanted Stubbs to bat at three. However, the 24-year-old has found himself batting at different positions in the order in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle for a host of different reasons. Many thought that the youngster would be deterred by the varying batting positions and perhaps lack an understanding of his role in the team. However, Stubbs told the media that he is not deterred. "My whole career, every team I play for, I have a different role, so it's nothing new. One day I'm batting at three, another day I'm batting at six. I don't mind it," said Stubbs. "It helps the team, wherever they need, I can mould my game to that role. Once you've batted at three, you face the harder stuff with the new ball. It's pretty much like batting later in a one-day game. The situation tells you that it might be flat, and you might be able to score a bit quicker. "It might be overcast, you might have to come in and dig in. It's more of your game plan's role, the situation way up top. You know, okay, I'm going to come in, new ball, it's going to move around." Having not played much red ball cricket this year, Stubbs and the rest of the batting unit will have a much-needed time in the middle next week as they are set to play against Zimbabwe in a once-off Four-Day warm-up match.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Energy expert says gas price drop from Queensland exploration 'not guaranteed' as Anthony Albanese government looks to unlock east coast gas reserve
The development of an east coast gas reserve could be on Anthony Albanese government's agenda as a looming investigation is revealed, as an energy expert has warned a fresh move to explore gas opportunities in Queensland may not necessarily benefit the domestic supply. The Queensland government this week announced nine new areas, totalling about 16,000 square kilometres, will be available for gas exploration. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli claimed opening up the state for gas supply will put downward pressure on power prices. The state's Minister for Natural Resources David Last said only two of tenders will be left for domestic supply demands at this stage, leaving about 15,000 square kilometres of the total tendered area without domestic mandates and available for export. However, an energy expert has said though the state government's move may drive gas prices down, it is 'not guaranteed". Centre for Independent Studies director of energy research Aidan Morrison said it was 'critical' to determine whether more or less gas ends up being contracted for export than what the newly earmarked areas produced. 'If they develop more gas in Queensland, but sign contracts to export even more gas than what they can produce and use the domestic market to top up what they develop... that pushes up domestic prices, which flow through to electricity costs,' Mr Morrison told "However, there could be substantial downward pressure on prices even if some of the gas is exported, particularly if this export meets Santos' current shortfall in their own production. It all depends on the balance - ensuring more gas is produced than is contracted for export." It comes as Resources Minister Madeline King outlined a review of Australian domestic gas supplies that would soon get underway at a conference in Brisbane earlier this week. 'I will say publicly what I have said privately to industry – the review we are about the undertake is an opportunity to achieve important reforms in the national gas system,' Ms King said in her speech. Energy sector sources have now signalled they are getting ready for the federal government to launch a viability study into developing a gas reservation on the east coast, according to AFR. A spokesperson for the Resources Minister told the masthead 'the role of market bodies to ensure more gas is made available for Australians' will be looked at as part of the federal government's gas review. 'Queensland and Western Australia are our two biggest gas exporters and they both have state-based gas reservation schemes,' the spokesperson told AFR. 'Australia has a suite of mechanisms that ensure Australian homes and businesses have enough gas for heating, cooking and manufacturing.' Meanwhile, the federal Labor government has this week approved a bid to extend the life of Australia's largest gas plant until 2070. Environment Minister Murray Watt announced on Wednesday a proposed decision to approve pushing out Woodside's North West Shelf gas project from its original deadline of 2030.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Gen Z feels trapped between the pros and cons of gen AI
Nine in 10 young Australians are using artificial intelligence tools in their everyday life, a study has found, but few are using the software to "cheat" at school and many are changing their career paths to avoid its impact. A gender gap is also emerging among generative AI users, with women more concerned about creative work being stolen to train tools while men are more confident in its use. Research firm The Insight Centre released its findings into young Australians' use of generative AI tools based on a survey of 560 people aged between 14 and 27. The report comes as a growing number of Australians report using AI tools, and one week after tech giant Google used its developers' conference to unveil more AI features. The report, From Gen Z to GenAI, surveyed young people studying at high school, university and TAFE and working in full-time jobs and as apprentices and interns. Ninety per cent of those surveyed used generative AI tools, with almost one in five using AI once a day and almost twice as many using it once a week. Reasons for using AI were mixed, with many asking it for personal advice or emotional support, and others using it to improve their communication. Amid concerns of the technology's use in education, seven in 10 said they had not passed AI-generated work off as their own, and one in 10 said they would not do so again. One in 10 said they planned to use AI to plagiarise assignments in future. Young people's opinions on AI showed they were aware of the risks and rewards, The Insight Centre associate director Dr Anna Denejkina said. The technology's convenience, productivity gains, and access to information rated highest among its benefits, while concerns about cheating, misinformation and a lack of originality were its biggest downsides. "There is a clear tension between the opportunities Gen Zs see in AI and the significant concerns they hold about its impact on their future," she said. "Gen Z remains deeply concerned about how gen AI could affect their job prospects, the creative industry and their online safety." One in three people surveyed said the arrival of generative AI had made them reconsider their future study and careers. Male respondents were more likely to feel confident using AI (41 per cent) than their female counterparts (20 per cent), however, and women were more concerned about creative theft to train AI (73 per cent vs 59 per cent). "A concerning AI gender gap is forming," Dr Denejkina said. "There is a risk that AI could deepen existing inequalities if we don't take steps to ensure women are equipped with the skills and confidence to engage with these tools." One male university student surveyed said he had used AI to teach him how to write computer code despite no coding background. But a young female data analyst said she had stopped using ChatGPT after becoming concerned about political deepfakes and the role it played in her personal life. "It was doing all the micro-decisions and that felt like it was rewiring my brain," she said. The findings come as the federal government considers mandatory AI guardrails following a public consultation and a Senate inquiry in late 2024.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Gen Z feels trapped between the pros and cons of gen AI
Nine in 10 young Australians are using artificial intelligence tools in their everyday life, a study has found, but few are using the software to "cheat" at school and many are changing their career paths to avoid its impact. A gender gap is also emerging among generative AI users, with women more concerned about creative work being stolen to train tools while men are more confident in its use. Research firm The Insight Centre released its findings into young Australians' use of generative AI tools based on a survey of 560 people aged between 14 and 27. The report comes as a growing number of Australians report using AI tools, and one week after tech giant Google used its developers' conference to unveil more AI features. The report, From Gen Z to GenAI, surveyed young people studying at high school, university and TAFE and working in full-time jobs and as apprentices and interns. Ninety per cent of those surveyed used generative AI tools, with almost one in five using AI once a day and almost twice as many using it once a week. Reasons for using AI were mixed, with many asking it for personal advice or emotional support, and others using it to improve their communication. Amid concerns of the technology's use in education, seven in 10 said they had not passed AI-generated work off as their own, and one in 10 said they would not do so again. One in 10 said they planned to use AI to plagiarise assignments in future. Young people's opinions on AI showed they were aware of the risks and rewards, The Insight Centre associate director Dr Anna Denejkina said. The technology's convenience, productivity gains, and access to information rated highest among its benefits, while concerns about cheating, misinformation and a lack of originality were its biggest downsides. "There is a clear tension between the opportunities Gen Zs see in AI and the significant concerns they hold about its impact on their future," she said. "Gen Z remains deeply concerned about how gen AI could affect their job prospects, the creative industry and their online safety." One in three people surveyed said the arrival of generative AI had made them reconsider their future study and careers. Male respondents were more likely to feel confident using AI (41 per cent) than their female counterparts (20 per cent), however, and women were more concerned about creative theft to train AI (73 per cent vs 59 per cent). "A concerning AI gender gap is forming," Dr Denejkina said. "There is a risk that AI could deepen existing inequalities if we don't take steps to ensure women are equipped with the skills and confidence to engage with these tools." One male university student surveyed said he had used AI to teach him how to write computer code despite no coding background. But a young female data analyst said she had stopped using ChatGPT after becoming concerned about political deepfakes and the role it played in her personal life. "It was doing all the micro-decisions and that felt like it was rewiring my brain," she said. The findings come as the federal government considers mandatory AI guardrails following a public consultation and a Senate inquiry in late 2024.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
