ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on November 19, 2025.
How Australia’s first outback mosque was built 600km north of Adelaide, 150 years ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ismail Albayrak, Professor of Islam and Catholic Muslim Relations, Australian Catholic University The Mosque at Hergott Springs, photographed around 1884. State Library South Australia From 1860 to 1930, an estimated 3,000 people came to Australia from Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Punjab, Sindh and the northern part of Pakistan. Still
Living with PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ can be distressing. Not knowing if they’re making you sick is just the start
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martyn Kirk, Professor, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University If people eat food grown with contaminated water, PFAS chemicals can accumulate in their blood. Karola G/Pexels When we talk about the health effects of PFAS, we commonly think about any physical effects on
NZ’s earliest climate change debate: the 150-year-old feud over glacial retreat
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ciaran Doolin, PhD candidate, School of Science in Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Haast’s 1866 watercolour painting of the Lyell Glacier. Alexander Turnbull Library (A-149-003), CC BY-NC-ND Climate change may seem a uniquely 21st-century concern, but people have been wrestling with the idea
The ultra-processed foods problem is driven by commercial interests, not individual weakness. Here’s how to fix it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phillip Baker, ARC Future Fellow and Sydney Horizon Fellow, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, University of Sydney Tanya Barrow/Unsplash Ultra-processed foods are displacing traditional foods and meals globally, degrading diet quality, and contributing to the rise of diet-related chronic diseases. And despite the combined advertising
Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist The editor of Samoa’s only daily newspaper barred on Monday from accessing the Prime Minister’s press conferences says media freedom in Samoa is under attack. Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt “temporarily” banned the Samoa Observer from engagements with him and his ministers. In a statement, La’aulialemalietoa said
One Nation’s surge continues in Redbridge poll, but Labor dominant
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne One Nation surges to a new record 18% in a federal Redbridge poll as the Coalition falls to 24%, but Labor dominates with 38%. In Victoria, the
Minister Moutchou ends New Caledonia visit – political announcements, no new financial pledge
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French minister for overseas Naïma Moutchou left New Caledonia at the weekend after a 5-day stay, with an announcement regarding a re-scheduled referendum-like consultation on a project for the French Pacific territory’s political future — but few pledges regarding further French commitment to tackle a dire
Are animals and AI conscious? We’ve devised new theories for how to test this
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Klein, Professor, School of Philosophy, Australian National University Merlin Lightpainting/Pexels You might think a honey bee foraging in your garden and a browser window running ChatGPT have nothing in common. But recent scientific research has been seriously considering the possibility that either, or both, might be
Yes, migration to Australia is up. But new figures show most migrants do not become citizens
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aude Bernard, Associate Professor, Queensland Centre for Population Research, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Immigration has become a hot-button issue in Australia, particularly amid specious claims it is responsible for the housing crisis and straining the economy. Recent anti-immigration rallies across the country have
Hospitals are under pressure. These changes could save $1.2 billion a year – and fund 160,000 extra hospital visits
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute State and territory governments have reacted angrily to a letter from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September asking them to rein in hospital spending. This comes amid negotiations for the next five-year funding agreement to determine the
57% of young Australians say their education prepared them for the future. Others are not so sure
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucas Walsh, Professor of Education Policy and Practice, Youth Studies, Monash University Justin Lambert/ Getty Images When we talk about whether the education system is working we often look at results and obvious outcomes. What marks do students get? Are they working and studying after school? Perhaps
Franchise businesses have long been plagued by scandals. Domino’s is just the latest
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Buchan, Emeritus Professor, Business School, UNSW Sydney The blue and red boxes with white dots are immediately recognisable as containing Domino’s pizzas. The pizza chain is Australia’s largest and is run as a franchise, with the ASX-listed public company Domino’s Pizza Enterprises holding the Australian master
Why are screen villains always drinking milk?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Wilkes, PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia Netflix Whether its Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange (1971), Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds (2009), Homelander from The Boys (2019–), or Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men (2007) – there’s no denying there’s something sinister
Comedians and kings: is Donald Trump reviving the ancient crime of lèse-majesté?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato Getty Images Donald Trump has a problem with comedian Seth Meyers and it fits a consistent pattern of hyper-sensitivity to criticism and satire. Early this month, Trump declared in a post on Truth Social that a
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Liberal Andrew McLachlan on why he’ll still promote net zero
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal Liberals and their National partners have scrapped their commitment to net zero emissions. While many Liberal conservatives are celebrating, it has left other Liberals unhappy and in a tough position with voters. One strong critic of the policy
Which policies would face the chopping block under the Coalition’s retreat from net zero?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Dargaville, Assoc Prof. Renewable Energy, Monash University Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Getty In 2021, Australia’s Coalition government pledged to reach net zero by 2050. Four years later, the Coalition have reversed course. After successive election losses, the Liberal and National parties have settled on a new climate
Jacinda Ardern: Why NZ’s tiny group of hysterical haters can’t face the facts
COMMENTARY: By Gerard Otto As you know, there’s a tiny group of Dame Jacinda Ardern haters in New Zealand who are easily triggered by facts and the ongoing success of the former prime minister on the world stage. The tiny eeny weeny group is made to look bigger online by an automated army of fake
How Victoria’s new crime-reduction unit can help tackle its youth crime problem
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Robert McGregor, Senior Lecturer, Criminology, Swinburne University of Technology For months, Victoria and its capital Melbourne have been dealing with issues of violence, especially among young people. This has caused significant community concern and, unsurprisingly, Victorians are turning to the state government for answers. The Allan
As people live longer and healthier, nurse training needs to respond to avoid ageist attitudes
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Heath, Senior Lecturer in Nursing , University of Waikato Getty Images Life expectancy in New Zealand has increased dramatically over the past five decades. In 1970, men lived on average to 68. Today, it’s over 80. These gains reflect major advances in public health and medical
How fashion designer Paul McCann reimagines the Indigenous debutante ball
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design and Society, University of Technology Sydney Michael Currie/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the following article contains images and voices of deceased persons. Marrithiyel artist and designer Paul McCann defines
