News from Australia, 14 June
A group of Australian nuclear survivors and relatives are calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman talked about the devastating effect the testing had on her family, including the loss of her father.
Survivors shared their experiences of the British nuclear testing program in Western Australia and South Australia, which began in 1953. Karina Lester, daughter of a survivor, highlighted the lasting scars of nuclear weapons on the earth and on people. Survivors and advocates hope that signing the treaty will address the damage suffered by individuals and communities affected by nuclear weapons testing.
2. The Yoorrook Justice Commission in the state of Victoria, Australia, extended an invitation to non-Indigenous people to make observations about past or ongoing injustice experienced by Indigenous Australians.
All Victorians, regardless of their background, can now make submissions to the state's truth-telling inquiry. The Yoorrook Justice...
Submissions were previously only open to Indigenous Victorians. The commission heard evidence from First Peoples, the government and other organizations and is scheduled to run until June 2025, making recommendations to the government. The invitation to make referrals is part of the truth-telling process, which is seen as an important part of the healing process.
3. Independent senator David Pocock has criticized fearmongering about the Indigenous voice proposal and expressed concerns about misinformation.
ACT senator David Pocock says fearmongering and misinformation about the voice are impacting broad sections of the community.
The debate on the Indigenous voice continues in parliament, with a final vote expected next week and a referendum scheduled between October and December.
4. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that consuming so-called "smart drugs" to improve mental performance may lead to poorer performance on complex tasks.
Research has found those who use medications such as Ritalin without having conditions such as ADHD actually reduce their mental performance
Drugs like Ritalin and Modafinil are often used by people without conditions like ADHD who believe they boost cognition. Researchers gave 40 healthy participants one of three drugs or a placebo and asked them to tackle a complex task that mimicked real-life problems. Those given the drugs spent significantly more time on the task and tried more combinations, but all the extra effort didn't translate into better performance.
