Latest news with #IanTaylor
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
A tale of two stories — the new Equal Pay Amendment Act
Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden. PHOTO: RNZ It is difficult, if not impossible to see how the recently passed Equal Pay Amendment Act could be all about empowering women as allegedly claimed by the minister in charge. The explanation note to the Bill claims its purpose "is to achieve a better regulatory framework for parties to a pay equity claim to assess whether there is sex-based undervaluation". One may ask: better for who? The changed-for-the-better framework includes such things as a robust process for raising claims, clarity on the appropriateness of comparators to assess sex-based under-remuneration, sustainability for employers to meet their obligations and the right incentives to encourage parties to resolve pay equity claims. Possibly all fair enough at face value, although the tilt at sustainability for employers is a bit of a giveaway. The same explanatory note goes on to include such things as increasing the threshold for raising a pay equity claim, greater evidentiary burden on claimants, increased opportunity for employers to opt out and an obligatory assessment of market factors. Clearly a strong shift in sentiment towards the employer. This factor is emphasised by an expressed intention of the legislation to ensure a robust process to ensure appropriate scoping of claims and comparators so that employers can meet their obligations "in a manner that is sustainable". Coupled with the fact that the legislation strikes out numerous pay equity claims in the pipeline and, according to the soon-to-be deputy prime minister, has created savings on a scale to "save" the upcoming Budget. It is not difficult to argue that the story line of support for the legislation is a far cry from reality and dresses the Act as something it is not. As Sir Ian Taylor so eloquently points out (ODT 12.5.25), if women are empowered by the legislation, it is certainly not those in the lower-paid but essential services he describes. That the government is empowered to pass the legislation under urgency is not at issue. What is at issue is the increasing use of urgency by successive governments to push through legislation in furtherance of their agendas, walking over, not around, due process. It is of concern that the current government, approaching the halfway mark of its three years in office, has now utilised urgency 23 times. This approaches the last government's record 28 times during its term in office. One could argue that resorting to urgency on this scale is both unwarranted and a direct assault on necessary due process under our rules-based system of government. This is a constitutional matter, among a number which we face in the country at this time, and requires serious, thoughtful and non-partisan consideration. Something that should be driven by the public at large to encompass our growing maturity and diversity. The Westminster system of democracy so often lauded by segments of the body politic embodies not one but two deliberating bodies, as does our next-door neighbour's. Restoration of this element would fetter such ready resort to the adoption of urgency by successive governments simply to undo the legislative programme of its predecessors. • Noel O'Malley is a Balclutha lawyer and is a past president of the Otago District Law Society.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
My hours seem to slip away. How can I manage my time better?
The other day, a visiting friend and I planned a trip to the seaside. I was taking her on the scenic route to the station, ambling happily along, when she pointed out: we might miss our train. We made it with seconds to spare. My friend was very understanding, but it was a wake-up call. In general, I prefer to go with the flow. Being self-employed (and without dependents) makes this possible, but I also hate feeling pressured by a schedule. Part of my motivation for leaving my job five years ago was to avoid the morning rush. Despite my best efforts to make the daily 8.45am meeting, I'd always end up slinking in at 8.47am, already feeling like a failure. Working from home has allowed me more day-to-day ease – but my friend's visit made me think I've perhaps become too comfortable with cutting things fine. It's not just trains (and planes – a costly mistake). I'm often optimistic about how long a task will take, resulting in a last-minute rush and entirely preventable stress. Behavioural scientists call this 'event time', meaning my internal sense of time guides me more than the clock. 'Clock-timers', on the other hand, instinctually organise their lives around external cues – eating lunch at the same time every day, for example. At work, they might spend a set amount of time on a work task, then declare it finished. For an event-timer, the 'end' is open-ended: how long is a piece of string? Day-to-day, time can feel like it slides through my fingers; hours pass in a blur. The shapelessness of time – that sense of days rolling into one – troubles me, while those peaks of stress are all the more misery-inducing for being self-imposed. Could I be managing my time better? *** Your relationship to time is the 'essential ingredient' in how you experience your days, argues Ian Taylor in his new book Time Hacks: The Psychology of Time and How to Spend It. When you feel that your time is well spent, there's a sense of flow, says. Taylor – like when I know that I'm free to take the scenic route or fall into research rabbit holes. But if how you pass your hours doesn't align with your values or wellbeing, for example, this can derail and degrade your life. It's more subtle than being overworked or burned out, says Taylor, who researches the science of motivation at Loughborough University. Sometimes a sense of having 'no time' can speak more to your outlook and environment than your workload. 'If you're surrounded by people who are frantically going from one thing to another, then you're just going to get sucked along,' he says. Related: I'm disagreeable – and it's backed by science. Can I change my personality? But Taylor cautions me against striving to 'manage' my time: paying too much attention to the clock can actually be counterproductive. 'This idea that time is completely inflexible and obdurate is, I think, putting a lot of pressure on.' It's natural to go in and out of high-pressure periods and downturns, he says, but fluidity – aiming for a lack of friction or strain in one's schedule – might be a better goal than, say, an equal split between work and leisure. One study found that people who report having very little free time 'yet seldom feel rushed' are happier than others, he points out. Seamlessly going from one activity to the next, being busy but not feeling out of control, 'is an optimum state', he says. For me, that means trying to shift, if only a bit, from event-time to clock-time – to recognise hard deadlines, give myself sufficient time to meet them, and prevent those uncomfortable sprints to the finish. *** I need more clarity on where my time is going. For three days I track my activity on a spreadsheet, in 15-minute increments. Almost immediately, Taylor's warning against email ('the lowest form of work') is borne out: I spend twice as much time on my inbox as I had imagined, or intended. I realise some emails are busywork, sent mostly to make myself feel productive. The other revelation of my schedule is a pronounced mid-afternoon slump. From 2pm to 5pm, my focus wanes so much that I struggle to even record what I'm doing. Looking back on the spreadsheet, I see I've coded hours-long chunks as 'writing', omitting a lot of brain-dead social-media scrolling. There's a mismatch here: I should tackle thinking-intensive tasks first, rather than ease into the day with email, errands and admin that could be done on low-power mode. I tend to exercise at 9am or 10am, but pushing it to lunchtime could extend my productivity. Related: Why do I feel like I'm stuck in a 'waiting room', hoping for my life to get started? Typically, Taylor says, your willpower erodes over the course of the day, meaning your best hours can easily be lost to admin. 'Getting a bit of nourishment in first thing – making some small progress on your dreams or ambitions, however you want to phrase it – is particularly important.' But seeking to wring the juice out of every hour isn't advisable either. 'I'm a big fan of scheduling nothing,' he says. A well-balanced schedule, powered by a mix of motivations – not just willpower – feels more effortless, Taylor says. Identity is a powerful, often hidden influence on behaviour. For instance, a self-described bookworm doesn't have to use willpower or external incentives to find the time to read; it's easy. Similarly, thinking of yourself as a runner or a writer can be the first step to making that a habit. If time is dragging or slipping away, there might be a disconnect between your sense of self and how you are spending your days. More from Why am I like this:'Think about your character and your values, and live in line with that,' says Taylor. 'It takes a lot of effort and thought and reflection, but life will be a lot easier.' If I want to start really giving myself enough time to catch a train or meet a deadline, I could try channelling my values – focusing on the unpleasant physical sensations of stress, the threat it poses to my sleep and good humour, and my desire to be a dependable friend. I could also begin thinking of myself as a punctual person. But, Taylor says, what's really important is avoiding 'dead time', or hours that feel wasted – and that will differ between individuals. Those who get to the airport early aren't necessarily more virtuous than I am. If they spend those hours anxiously spiralling, any peace of mind from arriving early might be negated, Taylor points out. On the other hand, I'll confess – for me, there's no more life-affirming thrill than making my flight with a minute to spare. • Time Hacks: The Psychology of Time and How to Spend It by Ian Taylor is published by Piatkus
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The cycling wheelie craze that's terrorising London streets: How gangs of brazen teenage riders are causing rush-hour chaos with their reckless stunts for social media clicks
Londoners are being terrorised by an idiotic social media trend that sees cyclists pull wheelies through busy streets next to cars, pedestrians and police officers. Clips of teenage riders doing wheelies while weaving through traffic are regularly appearing on social media sites like Instagram and TikTok alongside laughing emojis. One video shows two mounted police officers shouting 'what are you doing?' as a cyclist on a BMX-style bike rides on one wheel within inches of their horses. In the footage, filmed near Buckingham Palace and shared online two weeks ago, the teen's friend can be heard egging him on to 'go between the horses'. In the end, he swerves around the officers as one of them shouts after him 'not ok'. Motoring campaigners have condemned the trend as dangerous and 'irresponsibility personified'. Another video found on Instagram shows a rider pulling a wheelie while weaving through pedestrians on a crowded pavement in central London. At one point, the youngster filming the video approaches a man on a hire bike and shouts at him to move. Other clips show riders deliberately going on the wrong side of the road before swerving out of the way of approaching cars right at the last minute. All of them appear to have been filmed in central London - suggesting the riders are specifically targeting busy streets to generate more traction on social media. Ian Taylor, from the Alliance of British Drivers, told MailOnline: 'We're not anti-cyclist, but what we do condemn is dangerous cycling that doesn't have any regard for other road users. 'This is dangerous behaviour. I'm sure these people aren't representative of a majority of cyclists, but it's the same as bad drivers - it's the few that give everyone a bad name. 'When people are filming them that makes a bad situation even worse given they won't be in control of their bikes. It's irresponsibility personified.' A series of new laws have been proposed that would see cyclists face education courses or fixed penalty notices for ten new offences including cycling on a road without due care and attention or not using a light a night. The new legislation will attempt to tackle antisocial cycling, although penalties for certain offences - including dangerous cycling and ignoring school crossings - could be downgraded. Under proposals put forward by the Home Office earlier this year, those breaching the new rules could have to take a 30-minute e-learning course by the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) for a £100 fee instead of receiving a fine or points. Cyclists are currently exempt from needing to follow the national speed limit but they can be prosecuted for cycling dangerously. However, the changes would see ignoring school crossings, dangerous cycling and hitching rides from moving cars dealt with by a more educational approach. The Home Office report said: 'Such courses are offered as an alternative to an offer of a fixed penalty notice, and therefore a driver who successfully completes a course is not required to pay a fixed penalty amount in relation to the offence, or to have points endorsed on their driving record. 'The operation of the NDORS allows the police the discretion to deal with low level driving offences without reference to the courts by offering training courses as an alternative to prosecution.' Since 2013, more than 30 pedestrians have been killed by cyclists in England and Wales. Campaign group Cycling UK has condemned dangerous cycling but pointed out that an average of 417 pedestrians are killed each year by cars. Particular concerns have been raised about an increase in high-powered e-bikes that have been adapted to go faster than the legal limit. Donna Jones, who is responsible for policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, warned the electric bicycles which resemble motorbikes are frequently being used by criminals due to their 'agility'. A rider crashes to the ground after losing his balance while attempting a wheelie The police and crime commissioner claimed the majority of people using these type of e-bikes are 'doing something wrong' as she voiced her concerns over the spate of crime gripping Britain. Silent and capable of reaching top speeds with dangerous modifications, thieves using these stealthy e-bikes are prowling around and waiting for the perfect moment to pounce on unsuspecting victims. Detectives are battling an epidemic of theft in the UK, particularly in London, where phone snatchers are terrorising mothers, teenagers, commuters and tourists on a daily basis. The e-bike causing the biggest headache for officers is the Sur-Ron, which have become one of the go-to option for robbers menacing British cities, where they are used by masked thugs behind a dramatic rise in 'snatch' thefts.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Presentation to RIU Sydney Resources Roundup
Press Releases Presentation to RIU Sydney Resources Roundup Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) advises that the attached presentation has been released to the market. A copy of this presentation can be accessed on the ASX website, the investor section of Barton's website, or directly by clicking here. Authorised by the Managing Director of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander Scanlon Managing Director +61 425 226 649 Jade Cook Company Secretary cosec@ +61 8 9322 1587 About Barton Gold Barton Gold is an ASX, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed Australian gold developer targeting future gold production of 150,000ozpa with 1.7Moz Au & 3.1Moz Ag JORC Mineral Resources (64.0Mt @ 0.83 g/t Au), brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the region's only gold mill in the renowned Gawler Craton of South Australia.* Tarcoola Gold Project Fully permitted open pit mine with ~20koz Au within trucking distance of Barton's Central Gawler Mill Historical goldfield with new high-grade gold-silver discovery in grades up to 83.6 g/t Au and 17,600 g/t Ag Tunkillia Gold Project 1.6Moz Au & 3.1Moz Ag JORC Mineral Resources Optimised Scoping Study for competitive ~120kozpa gold and ~250kozpa silver bulk open pit operation Key Regional Infrastructure Region's only gold processing plant (650ktpa CIP) Multiple camps / accommodation across projects Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 (JORC). Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Stockpiles) Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Perseverance Mine) Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at or on the ASX website The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates, and any production targets and forecast financial information derived from the production targets, continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. * Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 4 March 2025. Total Barton JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 909koz Au (30.8Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Indicated category and 799koz Au (33.2Mt @ 0.75 g/t Au) in Inferred category, and 3,070koz Ag (34.5Mt @ 2.80 g/t Ag) in Inferred category as a subset of Tunkillia gold JORC (2012) Mineral Resources. SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Optimised Scoping Study Accelerates Tunkillia PFS Programs
$2.7bn operating cash || $1.4bn NPV || 73% Equity IRR || 1 year payback 'Starter Pit' yields $825m operating cash from 206koz Au in ~1.1 years ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / / May 4, 2025 / Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) (Barton or the Company) advises that the attached results have been released to the market. A copy of these results can be accessed on the ASX website, the investor section of Barton's website, or directly by clicking here. Authorised by the Managing Director of Barton Gold Holdings Limited. For further information, please contact: Alexander ScanlonManaging 425 226 649 Jade CookCompany Secretarycosec@ 8 9322 1587 About Barton Gold Barton Gold is an ASX, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed Australian gold developer targeting future gold production of 150,000ozpa with 1.7Moz Au & 3.1Moz Ag JORC Mineral Resources (64.0Mt @ 0.83 g/t Au), brownfield mines, and 100% ownership of the region's only gold mill in the renowned Gawler Craton of South Australia.* Tarcoola Gold Project Tunkillia Gold Project Key Regional Infrastructure Competent Persons Statement & Previously Reported Information The information in this announcement that relates to the historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources as listed in the table below is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by the Competent Person whose name appears in the same row, who is an employee of or independent consultant to the Company and is a Member or Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ( AusIMM ), Australian Institute of Geoscientists ( AIG ) or a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO). Each person named in the table below has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to quality as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 ( JORC ). Activity Competent Person Membership Status Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Stockpiles) Dr Andrew Fowler (Consultant) AusIMM Member Tarcoola Mineral Resource (Perseverance Mine) Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Tarcoola Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tarcoola Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (until 15 Nov 2021) Mr Colin Skidmore (Consultant) AIG Member Tunkillia Exploration Results (after 15 Nov 2021) Mr Marc Twining (Employee) AusIMM Member Tunkillia Mineral Resource Mr Ian Taylor (Consultant) AusIMM Fellow Challenger Mineral Resource Mr Dale Sims (Consultant) AusIMM / AIG Fellow / Member The information relating to historic Exploration Results and Mineral Resources in this announcement is extracted from the Company's Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 or as otherwise noted in this announcement, available from the Company's website at or on the ASX website The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Exploration Results and Mineral Resource information included in previous announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates, and any production targets and forecast financial information derived from the production targets, continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the applicable Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the previous announcements. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This document may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "target" and "intend" and statements than an event or result "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information is subject to business, legal and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks relating to property interests, the global economic climate, commodity prices, sovereign and legal risks, and environmental risks. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and opinions at the date the statements are made. Barton undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such dates or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future (including projections of revenue, expense, net income and performance) are based upon the best judgment of Barton from information available as of the date of this document. There is no guarantee that any of these estimates or projections will be achieved. Actual results will vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the past or future. Any reliance placed by the reader on this document, or on any forward-looking statement contained in or referred to in this document will be solely at the readers own risk, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. *Refer to Barton Prospectus dated 14 May 2021 and ASX announcement dated 4 March 2025. Total Barton JORC (2012) Mineral Resources include 909koz Au (30.8Mt @ 0.92 g/t Au) in Indicated category and 799koz Au (33.2Mt @ 0.75 g/t Au) in Inferred category, and 3,070koz Ag (34.5Mt @ 2.80 g/t Ag) in Inferred category as a subset of Tunkillia gold JORC (2012) Mineral Resources. SOURCE: Barton Gold Holdings Limited View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
