The Wire - Individual Stories

The ACT has kicked off a program to support children with disabilities and their carers. Thriving Kids launched today in Canberra and it will support children up to 8 years of age with developmental delay or autism, and with low to moderate support needs. The program will start with providing some initial services. By 2028, aims to provide full services following the NDIS reforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are calling for the Australia Federal Government to act on the Nation’s housing crisis, with the results of their Senate inquiry into intergenerational housing finding that for the first time in history the wealth gap between generations is widening. The inquiry identifies that for young Australians, hard work is not paying off, creating a large social divide. Greens Senator Barbara Pocock spoke to the Wire’s Georgia Perry about the outcome of the inquiry and what steps need to be taken by the Federal Government to support young and vulnerable Australians.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New South Wales government is on the spotlight for not taking climate action seriously, but the community is pushing harder to be heard. The NSW Blue Mountains City Council has unanimously passed a motion urging the federal government to introduce a levy on fossil fuel companies to make them pay for climate-related disasters. The motion comes as a local community campaign demonstrates how coal and gas corporations are making billions of communities bear the brunt of climate reality. Organiser for the Blue Mountains Climate Compensation Group Anne Welch, says the levy is desperately needed, so communities traumatised by bush fires like Black Summer don’t have to continue paying the price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Adelaide Crows captain Jordan Dawson showed the world personal messages he received from a stranger mocking the passing of his late brother, it demonstrated ongoing issues with how social media is still being used as a weapon for online abuse. The wider AFL community has given their support to Dawson after receiving the message, which has reignited discussions around digital safety and the impact cyberbullying has on professional athletes. The Wire’s Danilo Facciorusso spoke with the CEO of Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, John Mannion, about the impact of online harassment and what more can be done to prevent future situations from occurring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1971 one of the most disturbing studies of human behaviour was carried out, known as the Stanford Prison Experiment it aimed to test how much the social pressures of authority shaped individual behaviour. The experiment randomly assigned roles of prisoners and guards to university students and as the experiment progressed the guards behaviour got worse and worse, leading to the study being terminated after only six days. Stephen Hill asked Western Sydney University lecturer Noah Cohen to provide an overview of this famous psychological experiment?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With NSW only six months away from an election, the issue of healthcare will be salient in many voters’ minds, when it will be determined how well the state is keeping up with the health needs of the over 8.5 million people residing across the state. Over the last few years a range of healthcare issues, including a mental health system under serious strain, an increase in the uptake of vaping and illegal tobacco and also some good news about improved cancer recovery rates. To give a preview of this week’s health debate between Labor’s Ryan Park, the National's Sarah Mitchell and the Greens' Amanda Cohn Stephen Hill asked Anita Dessaix of the Public Health Association of Australia what are the biggest issues when it comes to the NSW healthcare system?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 15, the Senate voted down a Coalition bill to amend the Sex Discrimination Act with definitions based on biological sex. The push, led by Liberal senator Michaelia Cash, follows similar moves in the US and UK that have excluded trans and gender diverse people from legal recognition. An open letter, signed by 100 civil society groups and coordinated by Equality Australia, has urged Parliament to keep rejecting changes like this. The letter claims that such policies are not only discriminatory, but also impractical and risk jeopardising decades of case law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For several centuries the press has been known as the ‘fourth estate’ a guardian that watches over government and powerful groups. Yet over the last decade we have seen increased partisanship in political behaviour leading to the media being increasingly targeted by politicians and their political supporters. This has amplified since the election of Donald Trump, with the US president decrying the media as ‘the enemy of the people’ and last week prevented three media organisations from accessing the White House. Stephen Hill asked former political correspondent and Macquarie University Journalism Professor Peter Greste how concerning it is to democracy that the Trump administration is determined to exclude reporters from the White House?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Endangered bogong moths are swarming homes across parts of New South Wales as they make their annual migration to the Snowy Mountains. Researchers say increased rainfall, warmer weather and strong winds could be behind the surge in numbers. The species has experienced major population declines in recent decades, making this year's migration an encouraging sign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Optus, QANTAS, Medibank, Origin and now Medicare For many Australians, high-profile data breaches involving sensitive and private information have become an unfortunate part of life. But the latest incident is different. Last week, an OpenAI agent reportedly attempted to access a private Medicare portal to gather medical data. No human instructed it to do this. Professor Niusha Shafiabady, expert in computational intelligence and head of IT at the Australian Catholic University emphasises the importance of protecting your data in this new cyber security ecosystem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is just around the corner, and with it, Australians need to be prepared for potential natural disasters. The Get Ready program has launched resources for disaster preparedness in easy to read English and in ten different languages. The translated resources were funded by the Federal government to support multicultural communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters has stepped down from her role, citing health reasons. Waters has been managing a pre-existing kidney condition, which she says has declined significantly in recent months. She says the demands of leading the Greens, have made it difficult to prioritise her recovery. Waters will take medical leave, but plans to return to parliament when she is well enough. The Greens are now looking for a new leader as the 2028 federal election nears. So, what does Waters’ resignation mean for the Greens, and what challenges will the party face in choosing its next leader? The Wire's Moemina Shukur spoke to Mark Kenny, host of the Democracy Sausage podcast and Associate at the Australian Politics Studies Centre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Labor and the coalition voted last week to block the landmark Red Lines package from a parliamentary or Senate inquiry, leaving a wide cohort concerned about lack of deeper analysis. The Redlines Package legislation was introduced into Federal Parliament days earlier by a crossbench-independents coalition. The bills would increase oversight and prohibit defence exports, technology or services where they could risk Australia’s international human rights obligations, or if there is a risk of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. The package remains supported by a broad coalition of civil society, faith, and legal advocacy organisations campaigning for support ahead of next month's sitting. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network supports the bill, and its Political Engagement and Campaigns Lead Maria Poulos says it's critical these laws become universal and not specifically targeted.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least 52 women and 21 children have reportedly lost their lives to date due to violence across Australia this year - that's according to data tracked by the Australian Femicide Watch and The Red HEART Movement. That figure remains part of a broader picture revealing over 1300 women and girls who have been lost to violence since the year 2000 with research also showing that every four days, on average, a woman or girl is killed in Australia. Almost always by a man. Anti-violence advocate, femicide researcher, Sherele Moody documents and tracks the killing of Australian women and children, and, is calling for a Royal Commission and national truth telling inquiry on the issue. Her petition has this month surpassed 160 000 signatures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viral sports campaigns like Novig’s "Just Sport" featuring Sydney Sweeney have been raising concern about the hyper-sexualisation of women in sports. Beyond headlines, this campaign has sparked conversation about how sexualised advertising impacts body image of young female athletes, confidence levels, and the participation in community sports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations is searching for its next Secretary General as Portugal’s Antonio Guterres steps down in December. Amidst the ongoing candidate process, there is a crisis of trust towards the current international system as well as the United Nations as an organisation. The UN reports many nations are now disregarding transnational laws and withdrawing from international treaties as geopolitical conflicts continue in parts of the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The job market across the country is becoming narrower, seeing more Australians looking for jobs to keep up with the cost of living. Applying for a job, often means “faking it till you make it”, but what if the real faker was the job itself? Ghost jobs are rising and job seekers are the most impacted cohort. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A content warning - This story contains depictions of animal death. A marine rescue expert had a heart-breaking experience watching a female humpback whale grief as her dead calf lay on the sea floor off the Gold Coast. Seaworld Foundation Rescue Boat Captain Andrew Mulville spotted two humpback whales and a whale's placenta on the ocean's surface when he responded to calls of whales acting strangely off Palm Beach. When he dove down, he captured vision of the mother putting her fin around the calf while sitting eye to eye. He was told the whale remained there for three days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The following contains distressing themes listener discretion advised The New South Wales government has proposed new legislative changes to protect victim-survivors of sexual assault from reliving their experiences in court. The pilot legislative changes will begin in 2027 however only in Parramatta, Wollongong and Dubbo District Courts until 2030. The reforms centre on many areas of the law surrounding the court process, but academics and supporter alike hope these reforms will curve the concept of “rape myths” from ever being proposed in court. The Wire’s Georgia Perry spoke with Jane Gilmore, PHD candidate at Monash University and journalist, on the topic of rape myths, and how these preconceptions can cause lasting distress If this story raised concerns for you or someone you know help is available call 1800 respect - 1800 737 732 or 13Yarn - 139276 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at the New York Climate week, highlighting Australia’s renewables progress. But the address left out key figures experts say don't accurately represent Australia’s progress towards net-zero. Rod Campbell, research director at the Australia Institute, says that while domestically Australian renewables look good. Australian exports make us the third largest fossil fuel exporter in the world. He also says that Australia needs to use this position as leverage to encourage other countries for fossil fuel phase out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new drama profiles the career of Italian actress Anna Magnani whose naturalist acting would be the driving force for many Italian classic films, becoming the first Italian actress to win a best actress award at the Academy Awards. Magnani would be remembered for her performances in neo-realistic classics like Rome Open City, Bellissima, and dramatic roles such as L’Amour and her career defining performance as Mamma Roma. Stephen Hill asked University of Melbourne's Elisabetta Ferrara about the career of one Italy’s most popular actors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Government is planning to cut the number of Working Holiday Makers coming to Australia, as part of its broader plan to reduce migration by 75,000 by 2028. The number of second-year visas is expected to fall from around 57,000 to 45,000, while third-year visas could drop from around 31,000 to just 5,000. The Government also plans to introduce a ballot for people applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa, meaning eligible applicants will have to enter a random selection process rather than automatically progressing to another year. The Government says the changes will help bring migration back under control and ease pressure on housing, but this reform leaves regional employers exposed to unknown workforce risk. The Wire Manon Louvet asked Richard Shannon, Executive Officer of the National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council what he thought would be the impact of the government’s reforms to working holiday visas? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed a plan by the European Parliament to have Canada form an associate membership with the EU. This is due to economic pressures and an ongoing trade war with the US. This has sparked discussion in Australia on whether they should follow Canada’s footsteps along with New Zealand. The Wire’s Thomas Koutis asked Professor Tim Harcourt from the University of Technology Sydney, what is Canada’s proposal with their membership to the EU?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public health researchers found that alcohol companies are more than twice as likely to tell consumers to “Drink responsibly” than to actually warn them why. A recent study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, analysed over 6,000 alcohol labels across three major retailers. Findings revealed that only a quarter of the products carried a voluntary warning and most of these focused on advising specific groups not to drink, including minors, pregnant women or drivers. Lead author Asad Yusoff, from The George Institute for Global Health, said that the alcohol industry is using vague, largely hidden, responsible drinking messages that neither informs consumers of the risks associated with even low levels of alcohol use nor does it have much influence on alcohol consumption rate. Alcohol is linked to a wide range of health harms.The World Health Organization position is that there is actually no safe level of alcohol consumption, but people in Australia aren’t seeing that information on alcohol packaging. The Wire’s Shaun Dourado asked Asad Yousoff to introduce the study and its importance in more detail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For four years, Melbourne filmmaker Kim Chow-Evans has followed the community campaign to stop a fifty-year-old market being demolished and replaced with luxury apartments. The Save the Preston Market Action Group’s decade-long fight has already secured a Heritage Overlay protecting the site. But similar battles are playing out at Sydney’s Paddy’s Markets, Adelaide’s Crown & Anchor Hotel, and Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. The Wire’s Jon King speaks with Kim Chow-Evans about her documentary The People’s Market, the campaign it follows, and what’s at stake when developers target the spaces that hold communities together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women continue to face challenges in politics, from discrimination to unfair treatment. Emily’s List Australia CEO Pamela Anderson says having women represented in politics is important for advancing women’s rights and creating greater equality. SYN’s Represent Nationals presenters Zoe Eyles, Ashley Sharkey and Benita Paul spoke with Pamela Anderson about why women’s voices matter in politics and the challenges they can face.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research reveals the growing number of teenagers are forming relationships with AI chatbots. In the US, one in five teenagers use AI chatbots for romantic relationships, while almost half say they see AI as a friend. RMIT Professor Diana Bowman says this could affect how young people develop relationships and deal with emotions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victorian Government has announced new restrictions on data centres, with Premier Ben Carroll unveiling the changes today. Under the new rules, new data centres will have to source their own renewable energy and will be banned from using drinking water for cooling. They will also need to be at least 150 metres from homes and cannot be built near schools.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today, Minister for Immigration Tony Burke released the government's immigration overhaul aimed at reducing the Net Overseas Migration. The changes will affect mostly international students and visa hoppers, with 2015's protection visa policy returning to the table. The government says it supports migration but defends the new regime intending to target migrants supposedly "rorting the immigration system". But there has been mixed reaction across the political spectrum, with concern Labor has avoided proper parliamentary debate. Meanwhile other advocates have expressed concern including a leading education advocate says reforms "send the wrong message". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 21 marks 100 years since the birth of Don Dunstan – one of the most transformative political figures in South Australia’s history. As Premier, Dunstan helped reshape this state. His government is remembered for social reform, Aboriginal rights, multiculturalism, the arts and equality. He influenced perceptions of the state including how south Australia saw itself. But behind the public figure was a man known closely by only a small group of advisers and colleagues. One of them was Mike Rann. Before he became Premier, Mike Rann worked with Don Dunstan as his press secretary, speech writer and adviser. He saw Dunstan not just as a politician but also behind the scenes, dealing with the pressures, possibilities and personal cost of political life. To commemorate Don's birth 100 years ago Radio Adelaide's Penny Gale spoke with Mike Rann about working with Dunstan and he saw in him that the public didn't get to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dementia is a brain condition that affects memory, thinking, mood and behaviour. Around half a million Australians live with dementia, while about 1.7 million people care for someone with the disease. Its impact extends beyond the person diagnosed, affecting families, friends and carers. Ahead of Dementia Action Week, The Wire’s Georgia Perry spoke with Michelle Bishop about dementia’s far-reaching impact along with her experiencing supporting her late-mother.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two First Nations-owned literary organisations have recently launched the First Stories Collective, a national network for storytelling and publishing. Delivered in partnership by Blak & Bright and Magabala Books, the Collective will deliver professional development opportunities, reduce financial barriers, and provide culturally grounded pathways for First Nations Australians. The Collective aims to promote visibility in an industry where fewer than 1% of staff identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, according to the 2022 Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new national report backed by Monash University research is examining the abuse of older people living in regional, rural and remote Australia. The study found that abuse is overwhelmingly committed by a child or partner, with financial abuse the most common form of harm identified by researchers. It also highlights the difficulties older people face when trying to access support outside major cities. The Wire spoke to lead researcher Associate Professor Bridget Harris and co-author Dr Naomi Pfitzner about the findings and the challenges older people face when trying to access support.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crossbench MPS in the parliament are pushing for stronger legal powers focused on greater oversight when it comes Australian defense equipment, technology or services being used where they could breach Australia’s international human rights obligations. The Redline legislation is a private-members bill introduced into both the Senate and House of Representations that aims to prohibit defense exports when there is a risk of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. I asked Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Teal Independent for McKellar Sophie Scamps why such laws needs to be put in place?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales recently issued a joint statement, indicating a desire to work towards independence from the United Kingdom. The parties spoke of their commitment to their connections through shared goals of building a stronger economy, energy resources and rebuilding a relationship with the EU. The path to get there will be complex and look different for each country. The Wire’s Shaun Dourado spoke with Dr. Rob Manwaring, associate professor of political science and public policy at Flinders University. Dr. Rob gives an overview of the situation and starts by discussing the significance of this moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks 70 years of Aussie TV. It was on this day in 1956 that Channel Ninelaunched its first broadcast to the country, beginning a new era of television inAustralian homes. From the early days of black-and-white television to the huge range of programs and streaming services available today, television has become a major part of Australianlife.To mark the anniversary, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia has beenrevisiting some of the programs and moments that became part of Australiantelevision history.The Wire’s Thomas Koutis gets Simon Smith, curator of the National Film and SoundArchive of Australia to look back at how television became part of everydayAustralian life and the shared experiences it created for generations of viewers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This week the McGrath Foundation marks its 21st anniversary of providing care nurses for patients living with cancer. It's been more than 18 months since the McGrath Foundation broadened their program of cancer care nurses to cover all types of cancer. With ONE in TWO Australians expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the challenge is to reach as many patients as possible, especially in regional areas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October last year, TWO activists were arrested in the outskirts of US military facility Pine Gap, 28kms south west of Alice Springs, for blocking the main access point. Yesterday, the Courts decided not to record a criminal conviction against activists Jorgen Doyle and Yul Scarf.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.