Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Prime Minister Albanese slated for an official visit to the Philippines this September, Workers begin strike vote at Chevron’s LNG facilities, Origin Energy’s annual profit up by more than 83 per cent, and Five indigenous students chosen for NASA internship.
Politics
Australian PM slated for an official visit to PH in September 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit the Philippines to enhance the relationship between the two countries, the Philippine Inquirer reported. This will be the first time a head of state from Australia will visit the Philippines since 2003. “The President’s meeting with Prime Minister Albanese on 08 September is anticipated to reinforce this partnership, ushering in a new era of closer cooperation across key sectors, such as defence and security, trade, economic development, and maritime affairs,” the Philippine government said. In May, the Philippines and Australia jointly said they were bolstering efforts to improve the ties between the two nations.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/218023/australian-pms-visit-to-ph-a-significant-milestone-palace
Business
Workers begin strike vote at Chevron’s LNG facilities
Chevron faces the prospect of work stoppages or even an all-out strike at Australia’s second-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Gorgon and its Wheatstone operations after voting opened on Friday for a union ballot. Australia’s labour regulator last week cleared the way for unions to conduct a “protected action ballot” that gives employees the chance to secretly vote, fuelling worries any potential strike could slow the country’s LNG exports. Based on industrial rules, the ballot for workers at Gorgon and the Wheatstone downstream facility must close by Aug. 24 at the latest. A separate ballot for the Wheatstone offshore platform workers must close by Aug. 28 at the latest. Chevron said it was taking steps to ensure reliable operations could be maintained if any disruption occurred, Devdiscourse reported.
Companies
Origin Energy’s annual profit is up by more than 83 per cent
Origin Energy ORG.AX on Thursday reported an 83.5 per cent jump in its annual profit, helped by improved earnings across energy markets and integrated gas segments, Reuters has reported. Origin, which agreed to a $15.35 billion takeover offer by a Brookfield-led consortium BAM.TO, posted an underlying profit of $747 million for the year ended June 30, compared with $407 million a year earlier.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/australias-origin-energys-annual-profit-rises-more-than-83
Science and Technology
Indigenous students were chosen for NASA internship
Five Indigenous Australian university students will next week head to the USA for a once-in-a-lifetime internship with NASA, The Australia Department of Industry, Science, and Resources said. The two female and three male students have been selected for the first-ever cohort of the National Indigenous Space Academy. They will partner with a scientist or engineer mentor at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) in California for the 10-week full-time internship. They will complete projects outlined by their mentors while also contributing to NASA JPL missions. The chosen students are first taking part in a space boot camp focused on aerodynamics, robotics, astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, computer and earth sciences. The program will create a pathway for the students to take part in NASA JPL projects such as robotics, robot perception control, path planning and artificial intelligence.
https://www.industry.gov.au/news/australian-indigenous-students-chosen-nasa-internship
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