In The News January Week 3
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
Southern Cross star now known by traditional Aboriginal name
The smallest star of the constellation has been known as Ginan to the Wardaman people of northern Australia for thousands of years — now that name has been officially recognised by the International Astronomical Union.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/star-from-the-southern-cross-now-has-aborginal-name/9331190
Did Aboriginal and Asian people trade before European settlement in Darwin?
Aboriginal people from the north coast of Australia were travelling to the far reaches of South-East Asia long before white settlers ever arrived Down Under. But how far back does the international trade go? Curious Darwin investigates.
Indigenous voice ‘misunderstood’
The government either ‘misunderstood or misrepresented’ the idea of an indigenous voice in parliament
Celebrating Australia Day on 26 January like dancing on graves, says reconciliation body
Neither federal government nor opposition support push to change date of Australia Day
Why the Closing The Gap campaign is not working
Piers Akerman
Next month marks the 10th anniversary of Kevin Rudd's teary apology to the so-called Stolen Generation.
Indigenous ranger programs are working in Queensland – they should be expanded
Emilie Ens, Macquarie University and Alana Grech, James Cook University
Indigenous ranger programs have now been running successfully for a decade. Given Queensland's size and large Indigenous population, there's a strong case for expanding the program in that state.
They were first — we should listen
Fred Chaney
A special place for first nations has done no harm in US, Canada, NZ or Finland.
In reclaiming our history of resistance, we can also revitalise decimated languages
Callum Clayton-Dixon
On the bicentenary of the colonisation of New England, IndigenousX host Callum Clayton-Dixon reassesses the frontier wars
Indigenous recognition in our Constitution matters – and will need greater political will to achieve
Dominic O'Sullivan, Charles Sturt University
Explainer: the evidence for the Tasmanian genocide
Kristyn Harman, University of Tasmania
That colonial wars were fought in Tasmania is irrefutable. More controversially, surviving evidence suggests the British enacted genocidal policies against the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
https://theconversation.com/explainer-the-evidence-for-the-tasmanian-genocide-86828
Tasmania's only abortion clinic closes, leaving women to go interstate
The State Liberal Government is under pressure to find a new surgical abortion service, after the state's only dedicated provider closes down.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-13/tasmanias-only-abortion-clinic-closes/9325194
Travel scheme extended to cover abortions in Melbourne
The Tasmanian Government’s Patient Travel Assistance Scheme will be extended to women referred by their GP to Melbourne for surgical abortions.
Vatican laud She Decides founder
Catholic pro-life lobbyists are outraged that the Vatican would give an award to a woman who advocates abortion.
Anti-abortion Democrats navigate divide between March for Life and the Women’s March
Democrats who oppose abortion while also holding progressive views find their position increasingly tenuous in today’s polarized political climate.
Samantha Maiden
Surgical abortion laws are a public policy disgrace driven by middle-aged men who don’t think about the consequences of their incompetence.
'Every day I am crushed': the stateless man held without trial by Australia for eight years
A UN body says Said Imasi should be released and compensated. But he still faces a potentially limitless detention
'I need my family': how a refugee held on Nauru is struggling to make a new life in Cambodia
Abdullah hoped that moving to Cambodia under Australia’s refugee deal would allow him to be reunited with his family. But that has not happened
Study finds that global warming exacerbates refugee crises
Higher temperatures increase the number of people seeking asylum in the EU
The refugees brought to Manus Island and the local people share their stories
Population growth and the threat this represents to the 'developed' world
Guy Hallowes
Even if the Syrian crisis does resolve itself there is a veritable Tsunami of potential refugees coming from Africa. Africa, you may well ask: Why?
https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19511
'Help us': the Australian-made purgatory of Manus drains the refugees of hope
Tim Costello
The government’s cruelty has cut the refugees off from the countries of their birth but left them unable to reach the countries of their dreams
Centrelink allowed companies accused of exploitation to deduct payments from welfare
Appliance retailers with histories of breaches and Asic enforcement action use Centrepay system to deduct money direct from welfare recipients
Queensland's most generous philanthropists of 2017
Giving Through PayPal Breaks $1B Threshold
A record amount of more than $1 billion was donated to charities through the PayPal platform during the Christmas period as experts say people are turning to new ways of giving.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/01/giving-paypal-breaks-1b-threshold/
Hunger in the lucky country – charities step in where government fails
Carol Richards, Queensland University of Technology
Teens who were severely bullied as children at higher risk of suicidal thoughts, mental health issue
Teens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/cmaj-tww011018.php
Pope sorry for damage to children
Pope Francis begged for forgiveness last night for the “irreparable damage” done to Chilean children raped and molested by priests.
Tasmania acts to make cyber bullying a criminal offence
Qld prison guards hospitalised from inmate 'fight club' violence
Prison guards are being hospitalised and there's fears one could be killed as violent inmates launch more than eight assaults a day on supervisors and each other in an escalating trend.
Deradicalisation plan on gangs
Deradicalisation programs similar to those aimed at would-be terrorists could be used to tackle street gang violence.
Victorian Opposition proposes bail and sentencing changes
The Victorian Opposition wants to scrap concurrent jail sentences for people who commit serious offences while on parole or bail, as the state continues to debate law and order ahead of this year's election.
What statistics can and can't tell us about Melbourne's African crime concern
Crime data seems to show that Sudanese youth are over-represented in the list of alleged offenders in Victoria. But a criminologist says the numbers don't tell the full story.
Servicing remote communities a job 'too big' without more police
Residents in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal communities say the lack of a regular police presence is putting lives at risk, as they call for more permanent officers to help battle issues including grog running and domestic violence.
Youth court pushes soft sentences
Child offenders in Victoria were sentenced to less than half the time in custody of NSW offenders for serious crimes.
The gang crime our leaders help create
Peter Martin
What is it about the African gang crisis that's so disturbingly familiar?
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/the-gang-crime-our-leaders-help-create-20180112-h0hgvf.html
The 'gang crisis': backing people into a corner simply won't work
Benjamin Millar
Why some people in non-violent relationships kill their partners
Belinda Parker, Queensland University of Technology and Claire Ferguson, Queensland University of Technology
Intimate partner homicides where there is no known history of violence are not uncommon.
https://theconversation.com/why-some-people-in-non-violent-relationships-kill-their-partners-89151
Women must expose sexual harassers boldly, but also wisely
Skye Saunders
Women need not fear publicly condemning their tormentors - if they do it accurately.
Supply and remand: why are our prison populations ballooning?
Jason Murphy
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/01/18/supply-and-remand-the-economics-of-prison/
Jennifer Hewett
When does an intense media focus on Sudanese youths committing violent crimes become responsible reporting of unpalatable facts rather than dismissed as pandering to racism?
https://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/the-politics-of-gang-violence-in-victoria-20180118-h0kgmn
New device to prevent suicides
A new suicide prevention device that monitors patient’s heart rates will be trialled in NSW after a spate of deaths in mental health units.
How did we evolve to live longer?
Researchers at Newcastle University show that a collection of small adaptations in proteins that respond to stress, accumulated over millennia of human history, could help to explain our increased natural defences and longer lifespan.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/nu-hdw011818.php
Japan suicide figures declining
Japan has seen the number of suicides last year fall for the eighth year in a row, the National Police Agency says.
Incidence of suicide in serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel: detailed analysis 2001–2015
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
https://apo.org.au/node/128581
NDIS leaves black hole of abolished care services
The 22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme is on a collision course with state and federal agencies over interface problems with other systems such as health and aged care after revelations that a woman has spent 15 months in a hospital bed due to inaction.
NDIS rollout falling short, disability service providers warn
Delayed payments and serious disability service shortfalls are among problems highlighted by South Australia's disability service providers as they jointly lobby the Federal Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency for improvements.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/disability-service-providers-unhappy-with-ndis/9330650
Human rights exemption for Queensland trains should be rejected, group says
People with disabilities fear being left behind on the station platform due to the design of Queensland Rail's new trains.
Calls for Harsher Penalties for Leaving People with Disability in Hot Cars
Disability advocates have called for harsher penalties for service providers leaving vulnerable people with disabilities in cars, after reports emerged a person with disability was locked in a vehicle for more than 50 minutes in almost 40 degree heat.
DIVERSE SEXUALITY
Here's What Happened At Australia's National LGBTIQ Conference
Six hundred people from Australia's LGBTIQ community attended the Better Together conference in Melbourne.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/whats-next-for-lgbti-australia?utm_term=.wno0Q0A4lq#.efwY9YJNkA
Lawyer highlights ‘unintended consequences’ on SSM estate planning
A succession lawyer has warned that the right for same-sex couples to legally marry could have a substantial impact on their estate planning
Same-sex marriage will be anything but a litigation-free zone for years to come
David Leyonhjelm
People who are not religious still have convictions.
Unfinished business: the fight for marriage equality isn't over for trans Australians
Allison Gallagher
As the nation celebrates marriage equality, one group has been left with a frustrating wait for change on archaic legislation.
Trans people are a convenient punching bag. But the hits hurt
Bridget Clinch
The latest ‘political correctness’ outrage to rock the trans community happened in Queensland ... a year ago
The term ‘LGBTI’ confuses desire, behaviour and identity – it’s time for a rethink
Dennis Altman, La Trobe University
'LGBTIQA+' is a term often employed to be inclusive – but it runs the risk of being so inclusive it loses all meaning.
No adverse health impacts from long term vaping -- Study
24-month clinical trial shows no negative health impact on smokers who used vaping products, and no increase in body weight
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/ac-nah011618.php
Prescription strong (Schedule 8) opioid use and misuse in Australia – options for a regulatory response: consultation paper
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
https://apo.org.au/node/128606
Plain packaging is a failed experiment
Sinclair Davidson
In the five years since Australia introduced the worlds first tobacco plain packaging laws several European countries have either actually followed suit, or announced plans to follow suit.
Research reveals that wealth may drive preference for short-term relationships
According to new research by psychologists at Swansea University, resource-rich environments may cause people to favor short-term relationships
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/su-rrt011618.php
Women need a time-out shed even more than men
Jill Murphy
Everyone needs a space where they can be alone and do what they choose.
The Y chromosome is disappearing — so what will happen to men?
Darren Griffin and Peter Ellis, University of Kent
The Y chromosome may be able to protect itself from extinction in the short term. But what about in a future where we all reproduce artificially?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-19/y-chromosome-disappearing-what-will-happen-to-men/9342994
How to make Australia cashless by 2020
https://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/how-to-make-australia-cashless-by-2020-20180111-h0gngw
Household debt 'extremely elevated' and tipped to grow
Australia's household debt to income ratio hits nearly 200 per cent, a level UBS analysts call "extremely elevated" and "one of the highest in the world".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-18/household-debt-extremely-elevated-and-tipped-to-grow/9340880
It's not the food deserts: It's the inequality
Access to higher-quality grocery stores doesn't significantly improve people's eating habits, a new study finds.
Australia's steps away from education and health equality have harmed us deeply
Crispin Hull
Let’s wrench power back from the billionaires
Bernie Sanders
If we stand together against powerful special interests we can eliminate poverty, increase life expectancy and tackle climate change.
We should focus on helping individuals rather than 'improving' income inequality
Daniel Wild, Andrew Bushnell
Time-honoured truths are as relevant today as ever: pursuing a career, obtaining a good education, getting and staying married, participating in community and religious organisations, and eschewing crime and drugs and alcohol dependency are all necessary if people are to reach their potential and live a dignified life.
Shareholder value: Is the 'dumbest idea' in capitalism on its last legs?
John McDuling
It has been described as the 'dumbest idea in the world', it might be the worst idea in finance, and it looks like it's finally falling out of favour.
Gambling report’s existence acknowledged by Treasurer Peter Gutwein
A legislatively-required report into the impact of gambling on communities was submitted to the state government in late December, but Treasurer Peter Gutwein has not yet been briefed on its contents.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5166605/gambling-report-conflict/?cs=95
Online gambling the winner as report finds Tasmanians on the punt less
Tasmanians are gambling less, but when they do they are going online. The Government saying the latest industry report justifies its stance on poker machines, but opponents say they see through the "spin".
William Hill might leave Australia over tighter gambling regulations
Senator Nick Xenophon says he "doesn't have a violin small enough for William Hill" after the global gambling giant says it is reviewing its Australian operations because of changes to betting laws.
Crucial new pokies report ‘exposes Liberals’ lies’, Labor claims
Removing pokies from Tasmania’s clubs and pubs would help gamblers without hurting the economy
Charles Livingstone, Monash University
Disadvantage predicts the extent of poker machine losses far more in Tasmania than in other Australian states and territories.
$170 billion rise in NSW land values may be end of the line for growth
The value of NSW houses continued to grow by 14 per cent, or more than $170 billion, last financial year, to nearly $1.4 trillion, a level which experts say probably represents the high-water mark of residential land values.
Home ownership would rise if negative gearing is scrapped, study says
Melbourne University modelling, presented to Reserve Bank, says nearly 75% of Australian households will be better off if the policy is ditched
Reason negative gearing won’t change
An Australian economist has outlined a very simple reason why negative gearing concessions aren’t going anywhere.
Melbourne's house prices soared last year – but the boom could be over
Despite a big annual increase in house prices, Melbourne's housing market softened in the last quarter of 2017.
When it comes to negative gearing, this government prefers fiction to fact
Greg Jericho
It is a matter of concern that Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison chose to ignore the reliable recommendations of the Treasury
Why Australians should worry about a housing crash
Michael Janda
History shows it's misguided to predict an imminent Australian housing crash, but also that it's sheer folly to write-off the possibility.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-17/australian-housing-crash-why-you-should-worry/9336082
SA’s most vulnerable are being shamefully neglected
Anne Moran
Anyone aged over 45 living in South Australia grew up in a state without homelessness, without drug-affected and mentally ill people wandering untreated on the streets.
Canberra Times editorial
First-home buyers have repeatedly told Fairfax what they really want is a free-standing home on its own block of land which would give them room for a dog, a cat and a child or two.
IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM
Skilled migrant list more inclusive
The latest skilled migration lists include an occupation that health officials had previously recommended be left off.
'Gang' hysteria will cause lasting damage to South Sudanese community
Melanie Baak
The fostering by media and politicians of fear and contempt is the opposite of what is needed.
Trust in ethnically diverse areas is improving, but there is more work to be done
Yogi Vidyattama, University of Canberra
African gangs in Melbourne: Attempts to politicise multiculturalism do us no favours
Theo Theophanous
Could Cronulla happen again?
Charlie Lewis
1.5 degrees warming and the search for climate justice for the poor
The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees is a ‘greater likelihood of drought, flooding, resource depletion, conflict and forced migration,’ a new IPCC draft warns.
Food justice requires land justice
Savi Horne, director of the Land Loss Prevention Project, discusses how protecting access to land will strengthen food justice efforts.
https://civileats.com/2018/01/15/food-justice-requires-land-justice/
Aid for oceans and fisheries in developing world drops by 30 percent
Sustainable fisheries make good sense for jobs, nutrition, and climate change resilience
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uobc-afo011718.php
Criticism of Chinese Pacific aid borderline hypocrisy
Canberra Times editorial
The reality is that if the Chinese, and to a lesser extent, the Taiwanese, are moving into the Pacific then it is in response to a vacuum of Australia's making.
Those Libs in a tizzy about China giving aid are gobsmackingly hypocritical
Guy Rundle
Driverless cars a privacy car crash in the making
The testing of driverless cars on Australian roads has presented a new challenge, with serious concerns raised about the privacy of users.
https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/wig-chamber/22556-driverless-cars-a-privacy-car-crash-in-the-making
Are US judges coming for Australian emails? Microsoft case worries privacy advocates
Australian privacy advocates are concerned a US Supreme Court case could see data held by American companies seized anywhere in the world.
Why isn't business demanding an anti-corruption body? It would help Australia's economy
Ben Oquist
A robust national anti-corruption watchdog can help address the declining reputation of both business and politics
Public servant gag orders hide the truth
Hayley Sorensen
Internet use may prompt religious 'tinkering' instead of belief in only one religion
Why can’t we allow our public servants to speak freely on their area of expertise without having to jump through bureaucratic hoops?
Ban all donations to political parties to restore public trust
Nick McKim
Labor and the Liberals continue to sling mud at each other over political donations from Chinese interests. These allegations have been partisan, and each is ignoring their own history of accepting massive donations from the very same sources.
Independent media: Our democracy depends on it
Cathy McQueen
Newly tertiary-qualified veteran journalist, Cathy McQueen, argues Australia's democracy depends on our support of independent media.
Internet use may prompt religious 'tinkering' instead of belief in only one religion
Frequent internet users may see themselves as 'free agents' and are less likely to choose a religious tradition, Baylor study finds
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/bu-ium011318.php
Census reveals Australia’s religious diversity on World Religion Day
World Religion Day aims to foster interfaith understanding and harmony, and is an opportunity to recognise the diversity of religion present in modern day Australia.
Who are the Mormons, and are they Christians?
Mormonism has a much wider following in the US than in the UK, where its tenets are not widely known. So who are the Mormons – and are they Christians?
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/who-are-the-mormons-and-are-they-christians/123894.htm
Church of England braced for 'controversial' next step in ending 200-year split with Methodists
John Dickson: Jesus is not who you think he is
In a new book, The Doubter’s Guide to Jesus, to be released in February, Australian historian and author John Dickson lays out the “portraits” you have of Jesus … and smashes them.
https://www.eternitynews.com.au/opinion/john-dickson-jesus-is-not-who-you-think-he-is/
New monasticism: Why are so many young people choosing to become temporary monks?
'Spiritual but not religious' has become a catchphrase for the interested-but-uncommitted as numerous studies document the relentless decline in church attendance in the UK.
Moving beyond a fear-based faith
Jonathan Merritt
https://religionnews.com/2018/01/19/moving-beyond-a-fear-based-faith/
Has there been a “greening” of Christianity?
David Konisky
Despite some inroads, Christians in America remain largely unconcerned about the environment
https://www.dailyclimate.org/christians-care-environmental-climate-change-2524249177.html
Combing up with solutions to cut down on salon waste
Hairdressers are joining the war on waste by helping to recycle hair clippings and other rubbish that will ultimately help sick children and clean up the environment.
Researchers explore psychological effects of climate change
Wildfires, extreme storms and major weather events can seem like a distant threat, but for those whose lives have been directly impacted by these events, the threat hits much closer to home.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/uoa-rep011718.php
No one wants your used clothes anymore. This is why
A practical, non-vegetarian guide to sustainable eating
Making informed, feasible changes towards a more environmentally sustainable diet starts with the food items you put in your shopping basket.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-19/practical-non-vegetarian-guide-to-sustainable-eating/9340744
Natural environments promote positive body image
New research led by Anglia Ruskin academic shows powerful effect of green spaces
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/aru-nep011818.php
These growing global efforts herald the end of plastic
It can take hundreds of years for plastic to decompose. It's time we stopped using it.
https://futurism.com/end-plastic-officially-arrived/
Our dogs and cats are spreading fleas around the world (and to us)
Nicholas Clark, The University of Queensland; Jan Slapeta, University of Sydney, and Konstans Wells, Griffith University
Everywhere humans go, we take our pets. Fleas are along for the ride, spreading everything from typhus to bubonic plague.
https://theconversation.com/our-dogs-and-cats-are-spreading-fleas-around-the-world-and-to-us-88069
Great cities enable you to live longer
Dense, well-educated, immigrant-friendly cities boost longevity-especially for the low-income.
https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/01/great-cities-enable-you-to-live-longer/550463/
20 Percent More Trees in Megacities Would Mean Cleaner Air and Water, Lower Carbon and Energy Use
Planting 20 percent more trees in our megacities would double the benefits of urban forests, like pollution reduction, carbon sequestration and ...
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180118162455.htm
The downside of plastics recycling: Toxics in children’s toys
Toxic chemicals are actually entering the recycling stream and coming back to the EU in new products.
https://www.radio.cz/en/section/panorama/the-downside-of-plastics-recycling-toxins-in-childrens-toys
Am I at risk? How do you clean it up? A PFAS expert answers basic questions
Getting firm answers on how much PFAS exposure is dangerous and how to best clean it up has been hard to nail down.
https://michiganradio.org/post/am-i-risk-how-do-you-clean-it-pfas-expert-answers-basic-questions
The everyday items that cause infertility and even cancer
Dr Channa Jayasena, a consultant in reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London, said: ‘We know little about hormone altering chemicals but our exposure to them is a concern.'
We can’t afford to ignore indoor air quality – our lives depend on it
Steve Atkinson, Deakin University
Most of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors, according to many surveys. Add up the time you spend at home, in the office and on transport, and you will see how close this figure is for yourself.
https://theconversation.com/we-cant-afford-to-ignore-indoor-air-quality-our-lives-depend-on-it-87329
What does it take to turn a city green?
Chris Woods
The Republican mayor of Lancaster, California, is showing that it’s possible for a city to thrive amid the Green revolution, even if it takes some light fascism.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/01/16/lancaster-parris-turn-a-city-green/
Survey shows that we just love chucking a sickie
Almost half of Australians taking sick leave are actually chucking a sickie, according to new research.
Why some of your old work commitments never seem to go away
Study finds lingering effects of long-ended obligations
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/osu-wso011718.php
We should be concerned about the casualisation of full-time work
Greg Jericho
More young people are being employed casually. If this continues long-term, society has a problem
Australia needs a road safety revolution to stop people dying in truck crashes
Michael Byrne
The safety of trucks on our roads is under the spotlight again after a horrific three days saw five people killed and more than 10 injured in truck crashes in NSW.
Vital Signs: jobs may be increasing but the real test is whether we get a pay rise this year
Richard Holden, UNSW
The number of jobs might be going up but the real test will be whether wages rise too.
Gemma Rygate
The provocative notion that volunteering does not make the world a better place is nonsense
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/01/vote-yes-volunteering/
The rape and murder of Zainab Ansari is only part of the story
The seven-year-old's tragic death in Pakistan has left dozens of questions. But it's not the first time shocking sex crimes against children have rocked the region and experts have no confidence it will be the last.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-13/zainab-ansari-rape-murder-only-part-of-the-story/9323874
Australia's human rights record attacked in global report for 'serious shortcomings'
Human Rights Watch criticises Indigenous incarceration rate, counter-terrorism laws and detention centre abuse
Fifty years on, is life better for everyone?
Jessica Irvine