For a country that was theorized amongst some social circles to be non-existent, Australia has recently seen itself featured more prominently on the international stage. Aside from cricket news, it is, however, not for good reasons. In what was described as an ‘embarrassing’ lack of commitment seen at the COP26,
Announcements for a film set in New Zealand has recently sparked an international backlash for its controversial subject material. Plans for the film – They Are Us – is being marketed as an “inspirational story” which follows how the Kiwi Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, responded to New Zealand’s deadliest terrorist
Dark Mofo is an annual Tasmanian art festival that has been scheduled to return in June. It has dropped one of its headlining exhibitions. The festival – notorious for its provocative and often taboo subject matters – rarely backs down from controversy as it prides itself on darker themes that
There is nothing more stereotypically Australian than going for a swim, hosting a barbecue, getting on the beers, and watching fireworks on 26 January. As children, we are taught how the day holds significance as it signposts the 1788 arrival of Captain Arthur Phillip and his First Fleet. By raising
As we eagerly await with white knuckles for all votes to be counted, the uncertain outcome of the U.S. election has created a global sentiment of anxiety. However, Tuesday’s election was not just the ‘Thunderdome-Esque’ battle between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. During the 2018 midterm elections, a small cluster
This week has been emotionally confronting as casualties from the Christchurch Terrorist attack shared with the court a mixture of sadness, resentment, anger, and boldness in their victim impact statements. Emboldened by the outcry of support – which extends far beyond the physical walls of the court – more than
In the first of four days, the High Court in Christchurch has relived the horrifying details of New Zealand’s worst peacetime massacre. The actions of an Australian terrorist – who will not be named in this article –murdered 51 people, across two Islamic places of worship in March 2019. His
2020 has characterised this new decade through a state of instability, emphasising long-standing inequalities. By recognizing the divisions along the lines of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and socioeconomic status, we can begin to understand how there has been a lack of a cohesive and consistent public health response to current Coronavirus
George Floyd has left a legacy that resonates around the world. His untimely death as a result of racial profiling and abuses of power has ignited global variants of protests against police brutality. The string that connects these global movements, march in support of Black Lives Matter by linking it
The days have blended, and the weeks are defined based on the newest bingeable series. As we adopt social distancing and self-isolation measures, these attempts to reduce the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus have shifted our definitions of ‘normal’. A return to a pre-coronavirus world is unfeasible – the
Earlier this month, the world commemorated the 109th ‘International Women’s Day’. Through acts of courage and determination, the day honours the advancements that women have accomplished across the sociopolitical, economic and cultural spheres. This year, global celebrations encapsulated the theme: “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”. It recognizes how
Last week in Sydney’s multicultural hub, a group of friends sat at the front of a Parramatta café, pondering the menu while chatting. CCTV footage shows that the three women—all hijab-wearing, with one heavily pregnant—were approached by an older man who began seemingly innocuous conservation. Within mere seconds of this
Sentenced initially in 2009, Paul ‘Jock’ Palfreeman was found guilty of the murder of Bulgarian law student, Andrei Monov, and of intent to murder Antoan Zahariev. The Australian, who was travelling abroad in Bulgaria’s capital, was handed a 20-year sentence for his involvement in a 2007 street brawl: Palfreeman stabbed
Within the previous fortnight, seven Australian women were murdered. Except for two friends, these victims did not know each other – they were from across Australia, from various ages with different socioeconomic backgrounds and relationship statuses. Yet, they share a thread that indirectly weaves their experiences together: all women met
Since its 2016 trial beginnings in rural Australian towns, the Coalition’s enforcement of the Cashless Welfare Card has been a contested issue. Now, with the Morrison government’s new plans to expand the scope of its power, further restrictions will limit the spending habits of welfare recipients from selected towns. While
Six months after the Christchurch terrorist attacks, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern marked the anniversary by announcing new legislation intended to place restrictions on gun ownership. Ardern also revealed that the new legislation will dedicate more resources and funding towards mental health services, as well as the creation of
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader, has died. The 95-year-old was periodically receiving hospital treatment in Singapore for ill health and old age. His death was announced by his successor and erstwhile deputy, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, via Twitter. Describing Mugabe as an “an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated
In her campaign against the impending climbing ban placed on Uluru, last week Pauline Hanson travelled to the Northern Territory. Her sights were set on hiking up the iconic Australian natural landmark. It is a decision which has been criticized as an attention-seeking ploy that clearly disregards Indigenous cultural sensitivities.
The Louisianan district of East Baton Rouge was shaken by horrific news earlier this month – the dead body of civil rights activist, Sadie Roberts-Joseph, was found abandoned in a car trunk. The shocking discovery has triggered an outpouring of sympathies, spanning on- and offline with many expressing disbelief. The
Earlier last week, a single photo reminded the world of the real people affected by extreme and inhumane border policies. In what has horrifically been labelled as “America’s own Alan Kurdi moment”, Julia Le Duc’s photo captures the lifeless bodies of a Salvadorian migrant father and daughter. Óscar Alberto Martínez
