Cloud computing adoption by SMEs in Australia.

This study aims to examine the important factors that influence SMEs’ adoption of cloud computing technology. The results showing that SMEs were influenced by factors related to advantaging their organizational capability rather than risk-related factors. The findings are useful to SMEs owners, Cloud service providers and government in establishing Cloud computing adoption strategies for SMEs

Curtin’s Circus : the Prime Minister and Canberra news correspondents, 1941-1945

While the Australian wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, has been the subject of intensive biographical and historical material, particularly during World War II, very few publications have focused on his relationships with journalists. Certainly, there is a distinct absence of a comprehensive study of his mass media strategies that would give us a detailed insight into his leadership in a critical period. Major forces converged with the commencement of another global war, the rapid expansion of relatively new radio and film industries, along with the appointment as prime minister of a skilful Labor communicator, well-known for his passionately anti-conscription views during World War I.This thesis investigates Curtin’s success in persuading the predominantly conservative news media to promote his wartime views. First, it identifies the prime minister’s mass media strategies to influence the Canberra Parliamentary Press Gallery journalists and their editors to accept his wartime policies and portray them positively in the media.The thesis argues that Curtin revealed a genius for initiating, developing and overseeing mass media strategies that made the best use of the latest technology to persuade journalists to communicate his government’s policies. In doing so, he extended the Australian public sphere, and his impact on political communications remains evident today. Curtin also bestowed a permanent legacy to benefit the parliamentary press gallery, contributing to our understanding of contemporary political journalism

The application of disclosure law, principles and requirements of corporate governance among public listed companies in Malaysia

Weakness in corporate governance and lack of disclosure are considered as causes of the Asian Economic Crisis in 1997-98. As a consequence, investors have demanded improvements in corporate governance practices as a guideline for companies to disclose accurate information. The Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance has consistently been revised to illustrate the guidelines towards best practices on the processes being adopted by companies in their operations to achieve the best governance framework. As most of the principles in the Code are largely derived from developed countries, it is timely to explore whether the principles influence disclosure of listed companies. The aim of this study is to investigate the application of disclosure law, principles and requirements among public listed companies in Malaysia. Qualitative data were collected from companies’ annual reports (representing 30% of 742 companies) from the period of 2012-2015, interviews, legislations and laws, etc. Analytical, comparative and content analysis approach were employed in analysing the law and policy, corporate governance principles and best practice of disclosure requirements among public listed companies. The findings of this study are as follows: firstly, the current laws in Malaysia are sufficient to govern corporate disclosure, but they are dispersed in more than one act/ laws or legislative system, some of which can be found in the Capital Market and Services Act 2007 and others in Companies Act 2016; secondly, public listed companies have applied the principles of the corporate governance; thirdly, the Public Listed Companies have partially reported the best practice of the companies in their annual report. The study recommends that the disclosure principles and laws should be made compulsory for every public listed company. Bursa Malaysia should also stipulate clear and full provisions that specify the disclosure of information through the companies’ annual reports and general corporate information to help investors to make good and timely decisions

Animal welfare for wild herbivore management

This thesis describes an approach for scientific assessment of animal welfare relevant to the management of wild herbivores. The research identifies animal welfare risks and uses quantified animal-based measures to examine welfare outcomes. The requirement for evidence-based approaches is emphasised, particularly through transparent, independent assessments. The thesis is presented as a series of case studies assessing a variety of management techniques (lethal and non-lethal) applied to wild Australian herbivores. Case study species include European rabbits, feral horses, free-ranging cattle, and eastern grey kangaroos. Management techniques examined include ground-based and helicopter-based shooting, chemical immobilisation and fertility control. Quantifying the duration of stress experienced by animals and the frequency of adverse animal welfare events for several management techniques permitted robust welfare assessment and comparison. Analysis of large datasets of animal-based measures allowed identification of explanatory variables (e.g. the skill of shooters) that may influence welfare outcomes. Limitations were identified for approaches currently used to assess welfare impacts, particularly for wildlife fertility control. An improved welfare assessment framework was developed that emphasised consideration of positive welfare states and the importance of natural behaviour. Animal welfare regulation was examined, and limitations were identified for a popular approach in wildlife management, use of procedural documents. Two key recommendations are made for future studies in this field. Firstly, animal welfare assessment should be evidence-based and outcomes should be quantified using animalbased measures, rather than the eminence-based subjectivity inherent in deeming practices to be either humane or inhumane. Secondly, the duration of stress and frequency of adverse welfare events offer a robust template for quantifying welfare outcomes. This approach does not attempt to quantify intensity of stress (which is not easily measured) but is practical for field studies and could be used to compare techniques, to designate desirable welfare standards, and to facilitate incremental improvements

Modelling the incubation microclimate to predict offspring sex ratios and hatching phenology in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Successful conservation of terrestrial biodiversity requires understanding and predicting the impacts of rapid climate warming on the suitability of both current and potential future habitats. Most predictions of range shifts and other population-scale effects of climate change rely to some extent on statistical links between a species' known geographical distribution and the suite of environmental conditions experienced within that space. However, species' responses to climate change are likely to be more complex than can be represented by the projection of current species-environment relationships into unknown environments. An important goal in biodiversity conservation is the development of quantitative tools with which to assess habitat suitability independently of distributions. In populations of oviparous species, climate change and habitat modification may have distinct effects on different life stages. Temperatures that are well within the thermal tolerance range of adults, for example, may affect embryonic development rates, hatching phenology, or offspring survival and phenotype. I examined how environmental variation may affect the thermal suitability of habitat for facilitating embryonic development and maintaining balanced sex ratios in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), an endemic New Zealand reptile with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Once widespread throughout New Zealand, populations are now restricted to offshore islands and fenced mainland sanctuaries, though establishment of additional populations via translocation is ongoing. Due to intensive conservation efforts, tuatara are not classified as an endangered species, but, like other species in which hatchling sex is determined by the incubation environment, populations are potentially at risk from the detrimental effects of sex-ratio bias. I conducted two seasons of field work on the island of Takapourewa to quantify the relationship between rapid vegetation succession and selection of nesting areas. I then used a variety of predictive models to link data on nesting behaviour collected in the field with the microclimate conditions experienced by nesting female tuatara and developing embryos. Using mechanistically modelled soil temperature data, I generated predictions of incubation temperatures, offspring sex ratios, and hatching dates for two populations of tuatara on environmentally distinct islands, Takapourewa and Hauturu, under current and projected future climate scenarios. Finally, I classified the thermal suitability of sites on Hauturu for facilitating successful embryonic development and created geospatial surfaces defining suitable nesting locations adjacent to tuatara habitats. Offspring sex ratios on both islands are unlikely to become male-biased if the magnitude of climate warming observed over the next century more closely matches the minimum, rather than the maximum, projected warming scenario. On Takapourewa, the timing of nesting will be critical in determining whether sex ratios become male-biased under a scenario of maximum climate warming. Earlier nesting may also lead to shifts in hatching phenology under either scenario of climate warming. Warmer annual temperatures on Hauturu are more likely to lead to heavily male-biased offspring sex ratios under the maximum warming scenario. Female tuatara on Hauturu do not need to travel away from their current habitats to locate suitable nesting sites. Monitoring the population to quantify nesting behaviour on the island will be important for determining whether females' choices of incubation microclimates can compensate for the sex ratio-biasing effects of climate change

Release protocols and release environment: what influences reintroduction success for the brushtail possum?

This thesis examines the relative influence of release protocols and the release environment on short-term establishment and long-term persistence in reintroduction programs, using a brushtail possum reintroduction in semi-arid South Australia as a case study. I present a comparison of three release treatments, as release methods are known to influence post-release parameters but vary greatly by species and other factors such as source and release environment. The survival, post-release dispersal, change in body mass and reproductive condition of possums in each treatment are compared and results highlight a mismatch between release protocols that may benefit a species and being able to deliver them effectively. I investigated whether exposure to predators was likely to influence the antipredator behaviour of possums, and whether this translated to a difference in post-release survival between predator-exposed and predator-naïve possums. Antipredator behaviour was assessed using a variety of methods. Predator-exposed possums exhibited heightened antipredator behaviour compared to predator-naïve possums in all tests. However, post-release survival of both source populations was high, suggesting that successful fox control may negate the need to source predator-exposed animals for release. With predation the leading cause of reintroduction failure in Australia, the successful control of foxes at the reintroduction site provided an opportunity to investigate the impact of habitat quality. Habitat quality was assessed via the availability and recruitment of hollow bearing trees, mid storey vegetation cover and known preferred food plants in arid systems. Effects of habitat quality were measured post-release. Body condition and mass was maintained or increased over the study period following an initial post-release drop, and reproduction was constant. Most mortalities were due to predation by feral cats. Results suggest that habitat quality varies according to the factors tested but that despite a history of degradation at the site, short term reintroduction success was achieved. However, longer term persistence may be compromised unless further habitat restoration occurs. I investigated the interaction between diet and time since release to understand acclimatisation patterns and likelihood of long–term persistence. Next-generation DNA sequencing was used to identify plant genera within possum scats. Vegetation surveys were conducted to measure plant availability. Diet changed significantly over time and suggested that acclimatisation periods revealed by diet may be longer than indicated by other commonly used measures. Results have implications for reintroductions and restoration. Finally, I documented the survival, movement and growth of juvenile possums, as an indicator of the feasibility of population growth and persistence. I found sex effects for movement and growth, which interacted with maternal effects. Dispersal involved multiple movement phases and was male-biased. Most mortalities were attributed to predation by feral cats, but were not high enough to arrest population growth. Dispersal behaviour is interpreted in light of other studies of mammalian dispersal, and the influence of sex, maternal behaviour and environmental conditions are discussed. Release environment was found to be more important for short-term reintroduction success for brushtail possums than release protocols, but its influence on long-term persistence should be carefully monitored over time and, particularly, through drought. This thesis includes three chapters that have been published (chapters 2, 3 & 6) and two chapters that have been submitted to journals (chapters 4 & 5). Formatting styles may thus vary slightly between chapters. A single reference list is provided at the end of the thesis.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Biological Sciences, 201

A comparative analysis of the motivational factors of Chinese and non-Chinese tourists visiting Melbourne

This study is devoted to a comparison of motivational factors of travellers from China and non-Chinese countries visiting the same destination (Melbourne). Given the importance of the Chinese market to Australia, it seems important to explore this market in terms of motivational factors and understand its specifics and peculiarities. In addition, the topicality of such research was revealed through a content analysis of cross-cultural push/pull motivational studies in tourism relating to nationalities. Leiper’s model of tourist’s pre-trip psychological process (2004) was adapted and modified in terms of push and pull factors that combine not only needs and destination attributes, but also include a number of additional factors, such as information about recreation possibilities of visiting places, expectation about potential experiences during the trip, as well as means, namely money, time and absence of other constraints. The model enables an understanding of the linkages and relationships between the various motivational variables and their influence on destination choice. This study employs quantitative methods to examine and compare the motivational factors of two studied samples. Data were collected through an online survey, which was provided in two languages (English and Chinese). The data analysis was undertaken in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) - 26.0 software by the means of various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent T-tests, Multiple regression analysis, and Canonical correlation analysis. In addition, the relationships between motivational variables in a proposed model were examined by using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The present study revealed a number of differences in trip characteristics and tourist motivational factors between the Chinese and non-Chinese samples. The differences identified between the two target markets are closely related to traits of individualist and collectivist cultures. This conclusion verifies the findings of previous tourism research that culture influences travel behaviour. The knowledge of cultural differences in motivation is very important for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of international tourism marketing. In addition, customising the services, products, and marketing programs for specific markets results in a high level of tourist satisfaction, and that in turn, leads to an increase in financial benefits associated with customer satisfaction and loyalty. This research has both theoretical and practical scientific significance. One significant contribution of this research is the development of a model of interrelated motivational factors in the travel decision-making process that enables the identification of the most influential motivational factors in travel decisions. The relationships between the push and pull factors, such as motivations, destination attributes, information sources, expectations and constraints, and their influence on destination choice, were examined. In the present study, a close positive relationship between personal motivations and destination attributes, as well as a significant influence of information sources on expectations and destination choice were found. Such results highlight the importance of properly developed advertising and promotion strategies with special attention to their contents, emphasising particular push and pull factors for particular tourist markets or segments. In addition, the current study identified possible product bundles of tourists’ motivations and destination attributes and segmentation of visitors to Melbourne that might present valuable information for destination practitioners and marketers, as successful matching of push and pull factors is a prerequisite for effective and successful actions on attraction and retention of visitors. Identified similarities and differences between Chinese and non-Chinese samples in terms of their demographic profiles, trip characteristics, motivations for travelling, preferences of destination attributes, information source usage, trip expectations, constraints for travelling, and their evaluation of destination choice criteria provided useful information for developing specifically customised tourist products and services, as well as promotion programs, that are tailored to each market. Moreover, from theoretical perspective, the present study adds new depth to understanding the nature of motivational factors, affecting the travel decision-making process, and causal relationships among them. Thus, the study contributes to advancing both tourist behaviour research as well as tourism decision-making literature. In addition, this research identifies and addresses the gap in empirical research investigating tourists' behaviour patterns across economically and culturally different countries. As comparative motivational research of tourists from China and non-Chinese countries travelling to Australia had yet to be undertaken, this study might be considered important because it provides valuable information for targeting the main source countries for Australia. Such research may be especially valuable in post-COVID times when international borders open up and carefully planned marketing will be needed.Doctor of Philosoph

Routledge Handbook of Ocean Resources and Management

This comprehensive handbook provides a global overview of ocean resources and management by focusing on critical issues relating to human development and the marine environment, their interrelationships as expressed through the uses of the sea as a resource, and the regional expression of these themes. The underlying approach is geographical, with prominence given to the biosphere, political arrangements and regional patterns – all considered to be especially crucial to the human understanding required for the use and management of the world's oceans. Part one addresses key themes in our knowledge of relationships between people and the sea on a global scale, including economic and political issues, and understanding and managing marine environments. Part two provides a systematic review of the uses of the sea, grouped into food, ocean space, materials and energy, and the sea as an environmental resource. Part three on the geography of the sea considers management strategies especially related to the state system, and regional management developments in both core economic regions and the developing periphery. Chapter 23 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 license. https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9780203115398.ch2

Conservation Genetics for Management of Threatened Plant and Animal Species

This book focuses on conservation genetic (and genomic) papers that demonstrate applied outcomes that inform practical threatened species management. We cover a broad range of species and genetic approaches, but focus on how conservation genetic information is used to underpin management actions for species recovery. Through the exposition of a diversity of approaches, we aim to demonstrate to conservation managers and researchers how conservation genetics can inform on-ground species management