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Articles by Mark Irving
Administrator: Royal Commission must examine the whole construction industry
Thursday August 20, 2026 Administrator: Royal Commission must examine the whole construction industry The CFMEU will fully cooperate with the Victorian Royal Commission into construction. Significant public attention has been focused on the CFMEU, yet anyone who knows this industry understands that misconduct is not confined to one organisation. If this Royal Commission is serious about uncovering the truth, it must follow the evidence wherever it leads.
Over-representation of Indigenous persons in adult provincial custody, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021
Skip to main content Skip to "About this site" by Paul Robinson, Taylor Small, Anna Chen, and Mark Irving Release date: July 12, 2023 The Daily release More information PDF version On this page Highlights Introduction Part One – New indicators of over-representation Text box 1 Indicators of over-representation in Correctional Services Text Box 2 Incarceration rate higher for First Nations peoples than for Métis Part Two – New indicators of persons experiencing incarceration Part Three – Use...
Altech reveals specs for grid storage batteries
European-focused Altech Batteries has unveiled its preliminary specifications for two products aimed at the burgeoning grid power storage battery market, in a move it predicts will kickstart discussions with potential buyers. Altech is banking on countries such as Germany needing reliable energy storage solutions to successfully transition to a “green-energy” future, so as not to be at the whim of weather-dependent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
Assays sweeten Youanmi gold potential for Venus, Rox
The Youanmi gold project near Mt Magnet in Western Australia’s Murchison region has coughed up more high-grade results to bolster the confidence of Venus Metals and its joint venture (JV) partner Rox Resources in upgrading the project’s mineral resource estimate.
Dynamic drilling confirms Lake Percy nickel potential
New kid on the block, Dynamic Metals, has revealed a promising start to work at its Lake Percy project in Western Australia’s Goldfields, with its maiden drilling program returning multiple significant nickel intersections, including 16m going 1.11 per cent nickel from 32m downhole and 645 parts per million copper.
Surefire pencils in November for vanadium project PFS
Surefire Resources is eyeing a November delivery of the prefeasibility study (PFS) for its Victory Bore vanadium play, clearing the way for the next step in commercialising the project’s massive deposit in Western Australia’s Mid West region. Victory Bore’s PFS has previously been flagged for some time between the middle and end of this year. But Surefire has now narrowed its estimated time of arrival.
Memphasys goes to top of global sperm separation class
Reproductive biotechnology company Memphasys has received a boost for its flagship Felix system, with the first global study of its kind rating its novel technology as “best available” for recovering high-quality sperm for IVF following the sperm’s cryopreservation. Felix is a medical device that gently separates high-quality sperm from semen for use in IVF programs.
Texas revealed as first site for Chimeric cancer trial
Cell therapy cancer-fighter Chimeric Therapeutics is wasting no time on its mission to commercialise its novel potential treatment for glioblastoma. The ASX-listed company was given approval in April for a phase-1B clinical trial of the treatment, which employs the venom of the deathstalker scorpion. The first of multiple sites to enrol patients in the trial has now been revealed in the United States.
Toro confirms massive sulphide near Mt Keith nickel mine
Geochemical sampling has confirmed massive nickel-sulphide at ASX-listed Toro Energy’s Jumping Jack discovery, which is part of its wholly-owned Dusty nickel project in Western Australia’s northern Goldfields. Two discovery holes were drilled last year and Toro later said that hand-held portable X-ray fluorescence (hh-XRF) suggested a concentration of between 1.44 and 4.66 per cent nickel.
Lindian hails “spectacular” rare earths results in Malawi
Perth-based mineral explorer Lindian Resources has released the highest assay grades to date at its Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi, with headline figures of 49 metres going 5.47 per cent total rare earths oxide (TREO) from surface to end of hole and a 293.4m hit at 3.66 per cent TREO from 4m to the end of another hole.
ClearVue snags $2 million for onshore manufacturing Original
Western Australian-based solar windows innovator ClearVue Technologies is transferring the manufacture of its core technology from Asia to Australia after securing a $2 million grant from the McGowan Government. The company says the move will mitigate supply chain risks as it spreads its footprint globally. Local manufacturing will replace imports that have been coming from China and until recently, Russia.
Lindian reaches further into Malawi rare earths Original
Lindian Resources says the second phase of its depth-extension drill program at its promising Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi is on track – and it has whetted the appetite of investors by flagging the return next week of more assay results from its phase-one work. The company’s first diamond-core drill hole from phase two has been completed to a depth of about 980m and samples have been prepared for assays from the initial 380m.
Godolphin set to stamp bigger gold, copper footprint
Minerals explorer Godolphin Resources is planning a drilling program to follow up fieldwork at the company’s Yeoval East prospect and further expand its resource footprint in the rich Lachlan Fold Belt in NSW’s central west region. The company’s fieldwork comprised hand-auger soil and rock-chip sampling programs designed to provide it with a better understanding of the copper and gold mineralisation that was identified in the 1990s – and also to give pointers to its potential size.
Terrain goes back to go forward at Smokebush project
WA minerals explorer Terrain Minerals has uncovered a 600m-long induced polarisation (IP) anomaly at its Smokebush gold-lithium project in Western Australia’s Mid West region. The anomaly, found during the company’s ongoing IP survey, is situated parallel to its Monza gold prospect in Smokebush’s north. It will be the target of drill-testing in coming weeks.
Venture JV engages driller to continue rare earths hunt
Venture Minerals has wasted no time in kick-starting its new joint venture (JV) project in Western Australia’s Mid West region, signing a contract with drillers for a maiden drill program to test the extent of the clay-hosted rare earths mineralisation at its Iron Duke deposit. The move will give the company the opportunity to follow-up two shallow historic drillholes, both of which have broad, high-grade intersections of total rare earths oxide (TREO).
Strickland back in zinc after cyclone setback
Strickland Metals says a maiden diamond drilling program at its Iroquois project in outback Western Australia has produced “fantastic” zinc results, providing a timely boost after being unable to access its site due to bad weather. The company is today reporting that it has intersected a feeder structure of high-grade zinc mineralisation, with a headline figure of 4.3m going 27 per cent. Assay results have been returned from two of its four diamond drill holes completed for a total of 885.6m.
Terrain finds gold, copper-nickel anomalies in Mid West
WA-based minerals explorer Terrain Minerals is priming its drills at its Smokebush project in the State’s Mid West region after gold and copper-nickel anomalies were discovered in a “highly-successful” field program. The discoveries were made at the project’s Larin’s Lane target where a maiden exploration program unearthed a new 700m-by-250m gold anomaly that management says is ready for air-core drilling.
Buru turns Kimberley oil tap back on after cyclone
Western Australian-based Buru Energy has been buoyed by the return to operations at its Ungani oil field in the Kimberley region after being forced to close last summer as a result of the widespread devastation wreaked by Tropical Cyclone Ellie. Restarting operations means the company’s first revenue of the year from its sole producing asset will soon be rolling into its coffers, as it prepares to start shipping oil again in the third quarter of this calendar year.
Thick SA manganese zones keep coming for ChemX
The third and final batch of assay results from ChemX Materials’ 2023 drilling campaign at its Jamieson Tank manganese deposit on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula have landed, including a headline 16m hit going 17.9 per cent manganese from 17m. Management says the results reveal significant manganese intercepts near surface and extend to depth and describes its latest discoveries as “highly encouraging”.
Altech fast-tracks “salt” battery prototype production
Subiaco-based Altech Batteries has fast-tracked to production in Germany of the final prototype of its battery pack that uses sodium ions found in ordinary salt instead of expensive and scarce minerals. The company is aiming its ABS60 battery pack towards the world’s burgeoning renewable energy and grid storage markets and management believes it has the potential to be an industry “game-changer”.
Venture continues expansion in WA rare earths hunt
Venture Minerals has continued its recent splurge on rare earths projects by signing a joint venture (JV) agreement designed to deliver the diversified metals explorer a majority stake in the Western Australian project known as Iron Duke. The West Perth-based company’s JV agreement with Iron Duke’s owner, Sentinel Exploration, gives it the chance to earn-in 51 per cent of the project by spending $250,000 within two years, including a minimum of $75,000 in the first year.
DiscovEx confirms Edjudina gold - but source still a mystery
DiscovEx Resources is hunting an “enigmatic” gold source at its Edjudina project about 250km north-east of Kalgoorlie after recent drilling assays confirmed bedrock gold at all three prospects tested and ratified the continuity of mineralisation at the transition between weathered and fresh rock.
CSIRO helps Octava kick-start WA critical minerals search
Octava Minerals is putting boots on the ground at its Yallalong nickel-gold project, about 220km north-east of Geraldton in Western Australia’s Mid West region – and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) has jumped in with funding to help lessen the impact of the imprint.
Tasmanian rare earths bounty scales new heights for ABx
ABx Group has boosted the mineral resource estimate at its rare earths project in northern Tasmania by 50 per cent, to pass the 20 million tonnes milestone on the back of a 30-hole drill program. The company reports that thicknesses and grades of its indicated resources category have increased significantly and described the level of its high-value magnet rare earths as “exceptional”. The company’s project comprises two rare earths deposits west of Launceston – Deep Leads and Rubble Mound.
Terrain moves quickly after gold anomaly find in Mid West
Terrain Minerals has extended an induced polarisation (IP) survey at its wholly-owned Smokebush gold and lithium project in Western Australia’s Mid West region after its initial scrutiny picked up a third hidden target that has more than whetted its interest. As a result, the IP survey will be extended for another fortnight at the company’s Paradise City, Hurley and Monza prospects, in addition to other areas, and Terrain has moved quickly to drill-test its latest discoveries.
Surefire banks on METS metrics to enhance vanadium play
Surefire Resources has commissioned METS Engineering to undertake vital metallurgical testwork at its Victory Bore project in Western Australia’s Mid West region to help further its bid to impact Australasia’s emerging vanadium battery sector. Management hopes the move will boost the project’s value by finding a streamlined separation process to extract vanadium from its magnetite hosts.
Initial drill results buoy American West hopes in Canada
American West Metals has revealed immediate RC drill program success at its Storm copper project in Canada’s far north … with the promise of more to come. The North American-focused company says the first four holes completed at its 4100N prospect all intersected thick visual copper sulphide intervals, confirmed to contain copper based on portable XRF analysis.
Estrella study moves Kambalda project closer to production Original
ASX-listed Estrella Resources has run the rule over a promising 5A nickel target at its Spargoville project, 20km south-west of Kambalda in WA’s Goldfields, and has opted for an underground decline operation over open-pit mining. The decision means production at the Spargoville 5A nickel mine, which was excavated between 1996 and 1997, is a step closer to being restarted as Estrella presses full-steam ahead towards the production of nickel – now a much-needed battery metal.
Venus unearths LCT pegmatites at Murchison lithium project Original
First-pass shallow RC drilling at Venus Metals’ Youanmi lithium project in Western Australia’s Murchison region has unearthed pegmatite-hosted lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation that the company says remains open at depth and along strike. The Youanmi lithium project is nearly 500km north-east of Perth and about 20km south-west of the Youanmi gold mine.
Singular saddles up with Sony in push for commercial success Original
Perth-based medtech Singular Health Group says Sony Electronics is likely to “actively promote” its 3Dicom medical device (MD) as a complementary application for the global giant’s second-generation Spatial Reality Display. The new Sony product allows for 3D displays without the need for special glasses through the deployment of high-speed vision sensors that follow a viewer’s eye movement.
TMK raises cash to chase more gas in Mongolia Original
Perth-based oil and gas explorer TMK Energy has raised nearly $6 million from sophisticated and institutional investors to accelerate and expand its exploration drilling program at its promising coal seam gas project in Mongolia’s South Gobi Basin. TMK is reporting firm commitments for $5.7 million, before costs, by way of a private placement and says the move is strongly supported by new and existing sophisticated and institutional investors in addition to its own board members.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Venture itching to dig for rare earths at new WA projects
Diversified minerals explorer Venture Minerals is keen to get its drill bits spinning in search of rare earth elements in WA after adding two new Mid West projects to its portfolio and identifying two new targets at its existing Kulin deposit, south east of Perth. Venture has developed a strategy to expand the company’s exposure in the rare earths space with a particular bias for clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Buru buoyant about floating LNG option for Kimberley resource
West Perth-based Buru Energy is pressing the pedal to the metal on its promising Rafael gas and condensate discovery in the Kimberley following a tick of approval on the option of introducing a floating liquified natural gas (FLNG) facility into the processing chain. Buru took a body blow last September when Origin Energy announced it was walking away from downstream exploration activities and quitting joint ventures with the company in the Canning Basin, including the Rafael project.
Western Mines steps closer to “elusive” nickel source Original
Mineral explorer Western Mines Group is stepping ever-closer to what it believes is a significant nickel source in WA’s Goldfields, reporting multiple new occurrences of visible nickel sulphide mineralisation at its flagship Mulga Tank nickel-copper-PGE project. The company’s latest discovery has whetted its appetite to find the source of the mineralisation, which it says “remains elusive” and requires more drilling and downhole electromagnetic surveying to help locate it.
Radiopharm targets “first-in-class” brain cancer treatment
ASX-listed biotech Radiopharm Theranostics has secured the supply of a valuable isotope that will enable the company to soon kick off a human trial of a treatment designed to tackle brain cancer. Management says the isotope, Therbium-161 (Tb-161), boasts great promise in helping to expand treatment options for patients living with cancer - but it is in short supply.
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