Politics

Health and Wellbeing

We knew offshore detention was bad for the mental health of people seeking asylum. Our new research shows exactly how bad

by Belinda Liddell, Daphne Keats Chair in Cross-Cultural Psychology (University of Newcastle), & Adjunct Professor, School of Psychology (UNSW), Phillipa Specker, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program (UNSW), and Angela Nickerson, Professor & Director, Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program (UNSW)

For more than a decade, mandatory offshore detention has been a cornerstone of Australia’s strategy to deter people who arrive by boat to seek asylum.

Busines, Law and Politics

Conservative governments protect more land while socialists and nationalists threaten more species

by Matt Hayward, Professor of Conservation Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Andrea Griffin, Associate Professor in Wildlife Conservation Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, and Jacob Jones, PhD Candidate in Conservation Politics, School of Environmental and Life Sciences

The dire state of biodiversity across the globe suggests not all governments are willing to act decisively to protect nature. Why is that the case, and is a country’s political ideology a factor?

Busines, Law and Politics

Like being ‘slapped’ or ‘kicked’: judicial bullying is a problem in Australian courtrooms

by Ray Nickson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, School of Law and Justice and Alice Neikirk, Lecturer, School of Law and Justice

Bullying by judges, magistrates and other judicial officers is a factor in many lawyers leaving the profession. Our latest research has shown that judicial bullying remains an issue across all states in Australia.

Busines, Law and Politics

Australia’s first civilian jury was entirely female. Here’s how ‘juries of matrons’ shaped our legal history.

by Alice Neikirk, Lecturer in the School of Law and Justice

It’s hard to imagine now, but for almost 1,000 years, pregnant women in England could avoid the death penalty just by virtue of being pregnant. A pregnant woman sentenced to death would receive a stay of execution until the baby was born.

Busines, Law and Politics

The policing of LGBTQ+ people casts a long, dark shadow. Marching at Mardi Gras must be backed up with real change.

by Justin Ellis, Lecturer in the School of Law and Justice at the University of Newcastle, and Nicole L. Asquith, Professor of Policing in the School of Social Sciences at he University of Tasmania

Public trust and confidence in NSW Police has been sorely tested in the past two weeks. The charging of a police officer with the murders of a Sydney gay couple, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, has seen shock turn to grief and then anger.

Arts, Culture and Society

Not just a youth movement: history too often forgets older protesters

by Effie Karageorgos

Recent sustained anti-coal action by Blockade Australia in the Hunter Valley has brought public protest back into the news cycle. Activists have occupied trains, railway lines and machinery in an attempt to obstruct coal production and broadcast their message about the climate crisis.

Arts, Culture and Society

Our hybrid media system has emboldened anti-LGBTQ+ hate – what can we do about it?

by Justin Ellis

Anti-LGBTQ+ hate from religious conservatives and far-right extremists in the United States, and now in Australia, is a worrying trend.

Arts, Culture and Society

Long before the Voice vote, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association called for parliamentary representation

by John Maynard

The most startling point on the referendum for a Voice to parliament is the fact the majority of people in this country have no idea of history. And I mean both Black and white people.

Busines, Law and Politics

Putin is now implicated in the downing of flight MH17 – so why is the investigation shutting down?

by Amy Maguire

The investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 has found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the supply of the missiles used by separatists to shoot down the plane.

Arts, Culture and Society

NGARRAMA – Newcastle’s largest reconciliation event

by Shahni Wellington

How one conversation became a community movement

Busines, Law and Politics

A class action against Optus could easily be Australia's biggest - here's what is involved

by Mirella Atherton and Eliezer Sanchez-Lasaballett

With the Optus data breach exposing almost 10 million current and former customers to identity theft, law firms are circling for what could end up being the biggest – and most valuable – class action case in Australian legal history.

Health and Wellbeing

Australia's preparation for the next disaster

by Mark Maund, Kim Maund and Thayaparan Gajendran

Nearly 6 months on, flood victims are still waiting to be housed. This is what Australia must do to be ready for the next disaster.

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