Australia is failing its children. A ‘tough on crime’ approach to youth justice puts politics before prevention | Anne Hollonds
A child in youth detention told me something that echoed the pleas of many others: ‘We need help way earlier’ We all want to live in communities where we feel safe and where children can flourish and get the best start in life. But the last few weeks have marked a major step backwards for the rights of Australia’s children. Between the newly elected Northern Territory government’s plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10, the Queensland opposition’s pledge to sentence serious child offenders as adults if it wins next month’s state election and last Thursday’s tragic death in youth detention of a teenager in Western Australia, our nation’s failures to protect our most vulnerable children have again been laid bare. Continue reading...
This is how the "black summer" began.
Fire services warn of likely early start to Australia’s bushfire season
Three states and the Northern Territory face an increased risk of bushfire this spring, according to fire authorities and the BoM Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Large parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory, the south-west of Victoria and south-east corner of South Australia face an increased risk of bushfires this spring. An official assessment from fire authorities and the Bureau of Meteorology, co-ordinated by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities (AFAC) and released on Wednesday morning, points to a likely early start to the fire season in Victoria. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...
This is unambiguously a good thing - but a turning point? I think a turning point would be a huge increase in financial commitments to build very large volumes of new wind and solar...... reneweconomy.com.au/turning-poin...
The share of coal power falls below 50 per cent average for whole week, for the first time in what industry observers are hailing as a “turning point.”
By a nose: Australian science prize goes to team who use odours to distract predators from endangered species
Researchers discover how to use ‘olfactory misinformation’ to protect native animals and farmers’ crops Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Peter Banks’ remarkable road to a prestigious Eureka prize began nearly two decades ago as he watched rodents escape predators and wondered: why were the mice peeing everywhere? “They were just putting their smell everywhere,” the ecologist said. “And I went, ‘how about if we use that principle of the smell of prey being everywhere to stop predators from finding their food?’” Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...
Don’t know why I should care about the science literacy of others. But I do. Maybe it’s because the future of civilization depends on it. www.instagram.com/scotthamilto...
Bill Shorten accuses Greens of NDIS misinformation as he tries to reassure participants over new laws
NDIS minister says participants will still be able to request funding for support that is not pre-approved if it is genuinely needed Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The national disability insurance scheme minister, Bill Shorten, has assured participants they will be able to request funding for support that is not pre-approved if it is genuinely needed under Labor’s changes. The comments come as the Greens and disability advocacy groups warn a draft list outlining which supports and services can be funded, and which ones cannot, will leave some participants worse off. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...