News from Australia, 18 July
Constitutional expert Prof Greg Craven is furious at being quoted in the no campaign's essay and will complain to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Prof Greg Craven will complain to electoral commission after being quoted in no pamphlet despite writing to Peter Dutton’s office last week
Craven accuses the no campaign of misleading conduct and criticizes their essay as embarrassing, while prominent yes campaigners slam it as cooked and filled with misleading information.
The no essay includes quotes from Craven that oppose the voice, despite him publicly supporting it, leading to accusations of misleading and disreputable tactics.
2. Labor plans to scrap the policy that strips government subsidies and loans from university students who fail half their subjects.
University students who fail half their subjects will no longer be stripped of government loans under Labor’s reversal of a contentious poli
The interim review of the university system highlights inequality in higher education and the need to address student safety and staff underpayments.
The government aims to increase university enrolments and boost participation from disadvantaged backgrounds to meet the future skills challenge.
The majority of Australians will have a university degree in the next 15 years, emphasizing the increasing demand for educated workers. The Australian government recognizes the need for changes in the university system to make it more accessible to students from various backgrounds, including those from outer suburbs, regions, poor backgrounds, students with disabilities, and Indigenous students. The government has outlined immediate actions to address these challenges, such as abolishing the 50% pass rule, increasing funding for First Nations students, establishing additional Regional University Study Hubs, and providing support for universities to improve governance.
3. The Federal Court in Australia has ruled that the government's plan to build a nuclear waste dump on the land of the Barngarla people in South Australia cannot proceed.
Judge sides with Barngarla people when blocking facility near Kimba, citing ‘apprehended bias’ of former Coalition resources minister Keith
The court found that there was "apprehended bias" and "pre-judgment" by the former resources minister, Keith Pitt, in deciding on the location of the facility.
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (Bdac) had challenged the decision, arguing that the minister had already made up his mind before the formal declaration.
The Barngarla people celebrated the court's ruling, stating that it was a victory for listening to and respecting First Nations people.
The government had spent nearly $14 million in legal costs fighting the Barngarla people's opposition.
Environmental campaigners argue that the waste should be kept at the Lucas Heights facility in Sydney instead.
The current resources minister, Madeleine King, said she would review the ruling.
4. July is bowel cancer awareness month in Australia. The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) is a digital platform that aims to increase participation in screening programs for bowel and cervical cancer.
The NCSR improves health care provider engagement in cancer screening through better access to patient screening records and by facilitating
5. A new report has found that more Australians are living alone than ever before. Based on the latest census data, the Australian Institute of Family Studies report found more than one in four households, 26% are now occupied by one person. The average Australian household has shrunk from 2.6 people in 2016 to 2.5 people in 2021, the first decrease in household size since the year 2000. Those living alone are mostly women at 55%, with half the women living alone aged 65 years or older. The report also found that Australian households are more diverse, with more than 1/3 their immigrant households and increasing proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [per Nirs News/Triple A | Murri Country].
