Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Babak Zolghadr-Asli, QUEX Joint PhD Candidate, Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, and Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

When it comes to inland surface water bodies, saline lakes are unique. They make up 44% of all lakes worldwide and are found on every continent including Antarctica. These lakes’ existence depends on a delicate balance between a river basin’s water input (precipitation and inflows) and output (evaporation and seepage).

The reason a lake turns saline is often because it doesn’t have a consistent stream outlet, leading to a build-up of dissolved salts from water inflows. The water levels of saline lakes are naturally unstable and these lakes are generally susceptible to any disturbance.

This heightened sensitivity makes saline lakes more responsive than freshwater lakes to natural and human-caused factors. The main cause of change in a saline lake is disturbances in its water balance. These can be the result of natural or human-induced factors that are local, such as droughts, pollution, and upstream water diversions, or global, such as climate change, decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature.

The rapid response of saline lakes to the changing conditions makes these lakes suitable candidates for reliably reflecting the regional, and potentially global, status of water resources, and revealing crucial changes in the water balance. Unsurprisingly, many of the world’s saline lakes are shrinking rapidly, a major warning about the sustainability of regional water resources.

How are saline lakes changing?

There have always been fluctuations in saline lakes. Unfortunately, more lasting changes have become more common in recent years due to regional human activities and global climate change.

Most lakes have been shrinking and their water quality has declined. In permafrost regions of the Arctic and the Tibetan Plateau, however, some salt lakes have expanded due to areas of ice melting in a warming climate.

Changes in saline lakes pose significant challenges. They can endanger local ecosystems and industries, threaten public health and cause broader socio-economic harm.

Iran’s Lake Urmia is a good example. Until a few decades ago, Lake Urmia was one of the the world’s largest saline lakes, but it shrunk rapidly due to unsustainable human activities. The resulting problems include a decline in tourism, dust and salt storms, falling agricultural productivity and a loss of biodiversity.

The Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest inland water body, is another tragic example. Since the 1960s it has shrunk to a fraction of its former size largely due to poorly planned irrigation development in the region.

The consequences have been disastrous. Despite many efforts, it has not been possible to restore the lake to its former glory.

Our natural early-warning systems

Saline lakes, much like the canaries used to give coalminers early warning of dangerously poor air quality, could play a vital role in monitoring the health of our water resources.

To better understand this analogy, we must first step back in time to the depths of underground mines where coalminers battled a hidden danger: carbon monoxide. This gas could build up silently, without any warning, endangering the miners’ lives.

Miners devised an ingenious solution: canaries. These small birds, with their rapid breathing rate, small size and fast metabolism, were tiny detectors of danger. When carbon monoxide levels rose, the canaries would be the first to show signs of distress, giving the miners a crucial warning to evacuate before it was too late.

The natural world continues to offer us unexpected insights. Saline lakes, with their intricate ecosystems and unique characteristics, act as nature’s early-warning systems.

Just as the canaries signalled hidden dangers in coalmines, the behaviour of saline lakes can alert us to looming issues with our water resources.

The bigger picture demands our attention

Of course, it is crucial to act when lakes are shrinking, whether through preservation efforts or restoration projects. But we must not overlook the bigger picture. It would be like a miner focusing on a distressed canary when it’s a sign of a more serious problem.

The real challenge lies in delving into the root cause, much like improving poor air quality in mines rather than merely trying to revive the birds.

This highlights the urgent need for a fundamental shift to water management and getting to the root of the problem rather than just dealing with the surface issues. Unfortunately, real-world experience shows we’ve often failed to make much of an impact when tackling these issues. But we can learn from our past mistakes to make better decisions now and in the future.

In the quest to ensure water resources remain sustainable, paying attention to saline lakes would be a good starting point. We need to grasp their intricacies and accurately gauge the water budget of these lakes around the world. We can only do that by investing in continuous monitoring of their health and behaviour.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Why saline lakes are the canary in the coalmine for the world’s water resources – https://theconversation.com/why-saline-lakes-are-the-canary-in-the-coalmine-for-the-worlds-water-resources-232477

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanita Northcott, Research Fellow, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

The Australian government has been investigating whether we should ban unhealthy food advertising online, and how it could work. In the United Kingdom, a ban on unhealthy food and drink advertising online will start in October 2025.

We recently used the Australian Ad Observatory to investigate targeted junk-food ads on Facebook in Australia. Our study finds that unhealthy food and drinks are promoted in ways designed to appeal to parents and carers of children, and children themselves. Additionally, young men in our study were being targeted by fast-food ads.

Kids, young people and parents should be aware of the strategies online advertisers use to normalise unhealthy eating patterns. We should all demand a more healthy digital environment.

Our work supports ongoing calls for a ban on junk food advertising online.

What did we see in the ads?

The Australian Ad Observatory has created the world’s largest known collection of the targeted ads people encounter on Facebook. Our 1,909 volunteers have donated 328,107 unique ads from their social media feeds. This gives researchers an unprecedented opportunity to examine what ads Australians see on social media and how they are being targeted.

We searched the database for ads promoting the top-selling unhealthy food and drink brands. These are “discretionary” or “sometimes” foods that tend to be high in fats and sugars. They include fast-food meals, confectionery, sugary drinks and snacks. (To identify unhealthy food and drink categories, we used government guidance on healthy food and drinks.)

We also looked at online food delivery companies because of their popularity on digital platforms. They play a likely role in promoting unhealthy foods.

We found nearly 2,000 unique ads by 141 separate advertisers observed about 6,000 times by individuals. Ads for fast-food brands made up half of the unhealthy food ad observations in our study.

Fast-food giants KFC and McDonald’s combined accounted for roughly 25% of all unhealthy food ad observations. Snack and confectionery brands, like Cadbury, featured in a third of the ad observations. Soft drink brands such as Coca-Cola were promoted in 11% of observations.

About 9% of ads promoted online food delivery companies, and typically promoted fast-food options. Other advertisers we might not think of as junk food brands, such as Coles supermarkets and 7-Eleven convenience stores, also regularly promoted junk foods.

The power of junk food

The vulnerability of children to junk food ads is well established. Children’s exposure to food marketing has been associated with what types of food they prefer and ask their parents to purchase. When they develop preferences for unhealthy foods, this contributes to unhealthy habits and related health concerns.

But it’s not only children who are susceptible to unhealthy food marketing. Junk food advertising also shapes the food norms and attitudes of young people aged 18 to 24.

Our experiences online and digital technologies more generally can impact our health. These are known as “digital determinants of health”.

Food advertisers use the vast amounts of data collected about individuals to target specific audiences. They can seamlessly integrate advertising into everyday life.

Our study shows junk food advertising is disproportionately served to young people, especially young men. Young men are seeing a much higher proportion of fast food ads (71%) compared to the sample overall (50%), suggesting fast food is marketed to them more aggressively. Many ads promoted special “app-only” deals, including free delivery, especially for fast food.

The ‘halo effect’

We also found examples of ads aimed at busy parents, painting fast food as something that saves parents time, quietens children and feeds families.

Even though Facebook accounts are available only to people 13 and over, junk-food ads still use child-oriented themes, such as characters and games. Many appear to be designed to appeal directly to children. This included ads promoting “healthy” foods, such as vegetables, in kids’ meals.

The most insidious marketing tactics we found connect junk foods, and the brands synonymous with junk foods, to wholesome or popular activities. This creates a “halo effect”.

For example, many ads use “sports-washing” to associate unhealthy foods with healthy sports activities or pleasurable spectator sports. Sports in junk-food marketing can appeal to a broad audience, including young people.

While not all of these sport-related ads promoted or displayed unhealthy food products directly, the sport provided the focal point of ads with strong brand-specific elements, therefore forging the connection.

Other ads used “mental health-washing”, including ads for chocolate bars, packaged snacks or fast food co-promoting community mental health organisations.

Unhealthy food advertising should be banned

Last week a Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes in Australia repeated calls for the government to restrict the marketing and advertising of unhealthy food to children on television, radio, in gaming and online.

The federal government should soon issue its report on how best to limit unhealthy food marketing to children. Our study supports the government’s proposal to ban all unhealthy food and drink advertising online.

The proposed ban should cover not just unhealthy food itself, but also any mention of the brands synonymous with those foods. This is because mentioning these brands brings such foods instantly to mind.

We also recommend the government should include all types of promotions. This includes ads from online food delivery companies, supermarkets and sports clubs that cross-promote unhealthy foods.

Many are concerned about the impact of social media and its algorithmic content feeds on children and young people. Our study highlights the food and drink ads targeting children, young people and harried parents can also create an unhealthy digital environment.

Christine Parker receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society.

Tanita Northcott does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Junk food is promoted online to appeal to kids and target young men, our study shows – https://theconversation.com/junk-food-is-promoted-online-to-appeal-to-kids-and-target-young-men-our-study-shows-234285

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Massey University

It’s easy to look back at the bad haircuts, beige clothes and brown Beehive carpets and chuckle. But whatever one’s views on its aesthetics, the Fourth Labour Government – elected 40 years ago on July 14 – was no laughing matter.

After nine years of economic nationalism and social conservatism under National prime minister Robert Muldoon, David Lange’s new broom left no corner unswept. In the space of a few short years, fuelled by a high-octane blend of neoliberal theory and neoclassical state minimalism, it reinvented the nation.

The incoming government was helped on its way by Muldoon precipitating a constitutional crisis just days after the election, and by a political system that allowed a government with a parliamentary majority to legislate with relative impunity.

Lange and his finance minister Roger Douglas also relied heavily on the intellectual support of senior Treasury officials who had spent the Muldoon years absorbing the free market philosophies of the Chicago School of Economics.

Labour deployed the political resources of a new, reforming government to full effect. And the list of its reforms says as much about the country we once were as it does about the one we have become.

The rise of Rogernomics

During its first term in office, public subsidies in the agriculture and forestry sectors were removed. Foreign exchange and interest rate controls were lifted. The dollar was floated and financial markets substantially deregulated.

The goods and services tax (GST) was introduced, the personal income tax structure simplified, and the top tax rate for individual income earners fell from 66 to 48 cents in the dollar.

Government businesses and departments were corporatised. Many were then privatised, particularly after Labour’s increased support at the 1987 election. One of the most regulated economies in the world rapidly became one of the most open.

It was dubbed “Rogernomics”, but the Lange-Douglas government’s social and foreign policy reforms were almost as significant. Rape within marriage was finally outlawed, homosexuality was decriminalised, and nuclear-free laws passed as part of a newly assertive and independent foreign policy.

Attorney-general Geoffrey Palmer revised parliament’s Standing Orders, transforming our legislature into one of the most open in the parliamentary democratic world. Palmer also shepherded the Constitution Act (1986) through the House, which formally ended the outmoded provision that New Zealand governments could ask the British parliament to legislate on their behalf.

The past shapes the present

The Lange government would drive other, deeper transformations over time. The manner in which both Labour and its National Party successor threw their executive weight about, for instance, goes a long way to explaining the advent of the MMP proportional electoral system in 1993.

Many, perhaps naively, hoped MMP would clip the wings of the political executive. But the more astute architects of reform recognised MMP was the perfect system for locking in the structural changes made in the 1980s and 1990s by Labour and National.

The sort of radical politics that would be required to undo the neoliberal reforms enacted since 1984 are much harder to achieve in a multi-party system than in one dominated by two parties which swap executive power.

Moreover, the DNA of Labour’s Lange-Douglas era can still be found in the party system that has evolved under MMP.

Most obviously, the ACT Party was co-founded by Roger Douglas. It draws its intellectual inspiration less from Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged than from the Treasury’s epochal briefing to the incoming government in 1984, Economic Management. NZ First leader Winston Peters still adheres to aspects of the world Lange and his core cabinet ended.

And Te Pati Māori is the latest in many attempts to wrangle something for tangata whenua out of our Westminster parliamentary arrangements. The political environment in which it operates was shaped by Labour’s expansion of the Waitangi Tribunal’s powers.

A new orthodoxy

Perhaps the Fourth Labour Government’s most enduring legacy, however, is the least visible: it changed the way we talk and think about politics, especially what we now consider either politically possible or beyond the pale.

We have voluntarily chosen to constrain our ability to control fiscal and monetary policy. And these self-imposed limits on state power are now so embedded in legislation that any form of fiscal activism – such as saving jobs and businesses during a pandemic – seems extraordinary.

The notion that the human condition amounts to the rational pursuit of individual self-interest is similarly pervasive. By this reasoning, wealth inequality – of which there is a great deal more than in 1984 – is a moral not a market failure. Not even a global financial crisis or pandemic could really shift the paradigm.

These things are now widely accepted as natural and immutable, rather than the political choices they are. Without anyone really noticing, two equivalent fictions – the “dead hand” of the state and the “invisible hand” of the market – have assumed the status of both lore and law.

In France, one of the crucibles of modern democracy, the fall of the ancien régime during the revolution is commemorated on July 14, Bastille Day. On that same day in 1984, an old New Zealand order also fell. It was replaced by a new orthodoxy that has effectively smothered an alternative political or economic imagination.

We are all still living in the shadow of 1984. That is the real legacy of the Fourth Labour Government.

Richard Shaw does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. A nation reinvented: 40 years on from its 1984 victory, the Fourth Labour Government still defines NZ – https://theconversation.com/a-nation-reinvented-40-years-on-from-its-1984-victory-the-fourth-labour-government-still-defines-nz-232133

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, University of Sydney

When trying to lose weight, it’s natural to want to see quick results. So when the number on the scales drops rapidly, it seems like we’re on the right track.

But as with many things related to weight loss, there’s a flip side: rapid weight loss can result in a significant loss of muscle mass, as well as fat.

So how you can tell if you’re losing too much muscle and what can you do to prevent it?

Why does muscle mass matter?

Muscle is an important factor in determining our metabolic rate: how much energy we burn at rest. This is determined by how much muscle and fat we have. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat, meaning it burns more calories.

When we diet to lose weight, we create a calorie deficit, where our bodies don’t get enough energy from the food we eat to meet our energy needs. Our bodies start breaking down our fat and muscle tissue for fuel.

A decrease in calorie-burning muscle mass slows our metabolism. This quickly slows the rate at which we lose weight and impacts our ability to maintain our weight long term.

How to tell you’re losing too much muscle

Unfortunately, measuring changes in muscle mass is not easy.

The most accurate tool is an enhanced form of X-ray called a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. The scan is primarily used in medicine and research to capture data on weight, body fat, muscle mass and bone density.

But while DEXA is becoming more readily available at weight-loss clinics and gyms, it’s not cheap.

There are also many “smart” scales available for at home use that promise to provide an accurate reading of muscle mass percentage.

However, the accuracy of these scales is questionable. Researchers found the scales tested massively over- or under-estimated fat and muscle mass.

Fortunately, there are three free but scientifically backed signs you may be losing too much muscle mass when you’re dieting.

1. You’re losing much more weight than expected each week

Losing a lot of weight rapidly is one of the early signs that your diet is too extreme and you’re losing too much muscle.

Rapid weight loss (of more than 1 kilogram per week) results in greater muscle mass loss than slow weight loss.

Slow weight loss better preserves muscle mass and often has the added benefit of greater fat mass loss.

One study compared people in the obese weight category who followed either a very low-calorie diet (500 calories per day) for five weeks or a low-calorie diet (1,250 calories per day) for 12 weeks. While both groups lost similar amounts of weight, participants following the very low-calorie diet (500 calories per day) for five weeks lost significantly more muscle mass.

2. You’re feeling tired and things feel more difficult

It sounds obvious, but feeling tired, sluggish and finding it hard to complete physical activities, such as working out or doing jobs around the house, is another strong signal you’re losing muscle.

Research shows a decrease in muscle mass may negatively impact your body’s physical performance.

3. You’re feeling moody

Mood swings and feeling anxious, stressed or depressed may also be signs you’re losing muscle mass.

Research on muscle loss due to ageing suggests low levels of muscle mass can negatively impact mental health and mood. This seems to stem from the relationship between low muscle mass and proteins called neurotrophins, which help regulate mood and feelings of wellbeing.

So how you can do to maintain muscle during weight loss?

Fortunately, there are also three actions you can take to maintain muscle mass when you’re following a calorie-restricted diet to lose weight.

1. Incorporate strength training into your exercise plan

While a broad exercise program is important to support overall weight loss, strength-building exercises are a surefire way to help prevent the loss of muscle mass. A meta-analysis of studies of older people with obesity found resistance training was able to prevent almost 100% of muscle loss from calorie restriction.

Relying on diet alone to lose weight will reduce muscle along with body fat, slowing your metabolism. So it’s essential to make sure you’ve incorporated sufficient and appropriate exercise into your weight-loss plan to hold onto your muscle mass stores.

But you don’t need to hit the gym. Exercises using body weight – such as push-ups, pull-ups, planks and air squats – are just as effective as lifting weights and using strength-building equipment.

Encouragingly, moderate-volume resistance training (three sets of ten repetitions for eight exercises) can be as effective as high-volume training (five sets of ten repetitions for eight exercises) for maintaining muscle when you’re following a calorie-restricted diet.

2. Eat more protein

Foods high in protein play an essential role in building and maintaining muscle mass, but research also shows these foods help prevent muscle loss when you’re following a calorie-restricted diet.

But this doesn’t mean just eating foods with protein. Meals need to be balanced and include a source of protein, wholegrain carb and healthy fat to meet our dietary needs. For example, eggs on wholegrain toast with avocado.

3. Slow your weight loss plan down

When we change our diet to lose weight, we take our body out of its comfort zone and trigger its survival response. It then counteracts weight loss, triggering several physiological responses to defend our body weight and “survive” starvation.

Our body’s survival mechanisms want us to regain lost weight to ensure we survive the next period of famine (dieting). Research shows that more than half of the weight lost by participants is regained within two years, and more than 80% of lost weight is regained within five years.

However, a slow and steady, stepped approach to weight loss, prevents our bodies from activating defence mechanisms to defend our weight when we try to lose weight.

Ultimately, losing weight long-term comes down to making gradual changes to your lifestyle to ensure you form habits that last a lifetime.

At the Boden Group, Charles Perkins Centre, we are studying the science of obesity and running clinical trials for weight loss. You can register here to express your interest.

Dr Nick Fuller works for the University of Sydney and has received external funding for projects relating to the treatment of overweight and obesity. He is the author and founder of the Interval Weight Loss program.

– ref. 3 signs your diet is causing too much muscle loss – and what to do about it – https://theconversation.com/3-signs-your-diet-is-causing-too-much-muscle-loss-and-what-to-do-about-it-223865

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Jane Elliott, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney

As a mother, I know the dread of hearing a gastro bug is going around the daycare, school or netball team. Diarrhoea and vomiting can stun a healthy child for days and wreak havoc on a family for weeks.

As a paediatrician, with extensive research experience in acute gastroenteritis (gastro), I also understand the effects on the community, our hospitals and our most vulnerable patients.

In the past year, Australia has experienced a surge in gastro cases due to a bug called cryptosporidium, which particularly affects children.

Cryptosporidium is not the only cause of gastro, but its spread provides a timely reminder to think about what we can do to manage and prevent this nasty illness.

Symptoms and causes

Gastro is characterised by the rapid onset of diarrhoea, or vomiting, or both, which lasts fewer than 14 days. These symptoms may be accompanied by tummy pain, nausea, appetite loss and fever.

Hundreds of strains of different pathogens may infect the gut to cause gastro. Worldwide, viral pathogens (such as rotavirus or norovirus) are the most common cause, but bacterial pathogens (such as Salmonella or E. coli) and parasites (such as Giardia and cryptosporidium) also cause gastro. Traveller’s diarrhoea may involve pathogens rarely seen in Australia, such as typhoid and cholera.

Gastro is usually transmitted from person to person, including through contact with saliva, vomit or faeces. It may also be acquired by ingesting contaminated water or food (food poisoning), swimming in contaminated water (in pools, dams, estuaries or water parks), or contact with farm animals.

What about cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidium is a relatively common cause of gastro, called cryptosporidiosis. It especially affects young children, but the elderly and people with suppressed immune systems are also vulnerable.

Cryptosporidium is spread by spores called oocysts excreted in the faeces of humans and animals.

People often become infected through ingestion of contaminated water or contact with contaminated water, including in swimming pools.

When the parasite escapes the gut, it may survive in pool or spa water, even if it’s chlorinated, for days. So outbreaks often occur in spring or summer months when children are more likely to be swimming.

We saw this over the summer in Australia, when outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis led to pool closures and general alerts in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

The infection can also be spread from person to person.

Cryptosporidium causes symptoms typical of gastro, notably watery diarrhoea and tummy pain. Fever and vomiting are less common. Symptoms usually begin a few days after infection but may come and go over a few weeks.

Children may be infectious for two weeks. People with poor immune function may carry and shed cryptosporidium (and therefore infect others) for longer.

An upward trend

Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System confirms an upward trend in cryptosporidiosis cases across Australia this year. Some 11,860 cases have been recorded so far in 2024, compared with 3,716 during all of 2023.

From February to May, cases were more than ten times higher than the five-year average for that period. Cases have been particularly high in Queensland.

We don’t know the reason for this cryptosporidiosis epidemic, but it may be related to changing weather patterns and extreme weather events, perhaps reflecting climate change.

Rates may be higher in Queensland because more kids swim year-round in a warmer climate.

What to do if your child is sick

The mainstay of managing gastro at home, including cryptosporidiosis, is to prevent and treat dehydration. This can best be achieved by offering frequent drinks of a commercial oral rehydration solution which is formulated to promote absorption of water and electrolytes by the gut and replace fluids lost through diarrhoea and vomiting.

If your child’s symptoms are severe or ongoing and you’re worried, contact a doctor, as it’s possible they may need hospital treatment.

Keep any child with diarrhoea or vomiting away from other children or vulnerable adults and home from daycare, pre-school or school until 24 hours after their symptoms have resolved. Parents, child-care workers and teachers are also at risk of infection and should isolate if symptomatic.

If your child has had cryptosporidiosis, they should not swim in a public pool for at least two weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped. Likewise, don’t share towels, linen or utensils with them during this period.

Simple measures can go a long way

To prevent gastro generally, the approach is similar regardless of the pathogen. Some worthwhile precautions include:

• don’t drink untreated water from tanks, bores or wells

• don’t eat or drink unpasteurised milk or dairy products

• wash all fruit and vegetables before eating raw

• wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, particularly after changing nappies, using the bathroom, gardening, before preparing food or drinks, or after contact with animals

• follow local advice and avoid swimming at beaches and in other waterways after heavy rain or flooding, as run-off and sewage overflow may result in contamination.

• make sure your child is vaccinated against rotavirus.

Gastro is a global problem

Despite advances in diagnosis (improved identification of gut pathogens), prevention (notably rotavirus vaccination), and treatment (particularly use of oral rehydration therapy), gastro remains a major cause of illness and death in young children, particularly in developing countries.

According to the World Health Organization, each year there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of diarrhoeal disease in children globally.

It’s worth taking extra care when travelling, especially to low- and middle-income countries where food and water may be less safe. Take advice from your doctor regarding appropriate vaccination for specific destinations, such as for cholera or typhoid.

Elizabeth Jane Elliott does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Cryptosporidiosis: what to know as gastro surges among Australian children – https://theconversation.com/cryptosporidiosis-what-to-know-as-gastro-surges-among-australian-children-234160

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University

In the past few days, two well known survivors of the battle between marine mammals and vessels have been spotted in Australian waters. I’m talking about Bladerunner the humpback and Split Fin the killer whale. Both have become famous for the massive scars they bear on their bodies, inflicted by boats.

Bladerunner is marked by a series of lines across her back and part of her tail. These lines were made by a propeller in motion. Spilt Fin, as her name suggests, has a split dorsal fin – likely also caused by a boat propeller.

I’m lucky to have seen both during my career studying whales. I first saw Bladerunner in 2013 while conducting research off Cape Solander, Sydney. And I spotted Spilt Fin and her pod on a whale watching trip off Eden, New South Wales, back in 2009.

I get a buzz every time I hear about another sighting. I know countless other people feel the same way. But there’s another feeling, too, knowing they were hurt yet narrowly avoided a fate far worse. So let’s take this opportunity to learn a bit more about these majestic creatures and how to keep them safe from harm.

What happened to Bladerunner and Split Fin?

Bladerunner and Split Fin sustained terrible injuries quite some time ago now. Bladerunner was struck in 2001 and Spit Fin was first spotted in 2003. In both cases, the wounds healed without becoming infected.

Killer whales, such as Split Fin, are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. Whales and dolphins swim to the surface to breathe. They may also feed and socialise at the surface, where they’re highly likely to encounter a vessel.

A collision in the ocean is called vessel strike (sometimes ship strike or boat strike).

Unfortunately, whales and dolphins are at risk of vessel strike worldwide. In some cases, whales may be fatally wounded or sustain terrible injuries that restrict movement and leave them unable to swim properly. This makes them more vulnerable to predators such as killer whales.

Bladerunner and Split Fin look different, so people notice them

It’s impossible for scientists to be out on the ocean all the time, so it’s helpful when other people spot whales travelling on the “humpback highway”. For example:

Bladerunner was sighted by people onshore at Tathra, NSW, on Wednesday, and filmed using a drone :

Split Fin and her pod were spotted off Eden last week from a whale-watching platform:

Both humpback whales and killer whales can live for well over 50 years, so hopefully we can enjoy many more sightings.

Dedicated “citizen scientists” capture sightings on social media through groups such as Killer Whales Australia. There’s also various “whale-y” fun local projects, right around Australia, where you can get involved.

In addition, my team and I are documenting unique humpback whale sightings including the elusive white humpback whale Migaloo. Being all white makes him stand out, so people tend to notice him. But it’s been four years between sightings now. When will Migaloo turn up next?

A reminder to please keep your distance

Both Bladerunner and Split Fin remind us all to take care when on the water, or flying a drone over the ocean.

All whales, dolphins and porpoises in Australian waters are protected. The authorities have rules in place to keep these animals safe.

As a general rule, please keep your distance on the water by staying at least 100 metres away from whales. If a calf is present, the “exclusion zone” extends out to 300 metres.

If you’re flying a drone, that means the drone must fly at least 100m or higher above the ocean’s surface.

Ensuring we don’t get too close will allow these creatures safe passage in our waters, so we can continue to enjoy them.

Of course, vessel strike is not the only threat whales and dolphins face. Human activities present other dangers such as entanglement in fishing gear, noise and other forms of pollution, climate changes, and underwater construction to name a few. The good news is science is helping us understand these threats, so we can make evidence-based decisions to better protect these creatures in the future.

Tail end

Bladerunner is one of more than 40,000 humpbacks currently migrating north to warmer waters from Antarctica. They’re on their way to a fun place I call the “whale disco”, where male humpback whales sing and socialise with females. Humpback females may give birth or fall pregnant during this time.

It’s a special time of year, when all eyes are on the big blue.

Let’s hope for safe passage for all whales and dolphins, as they enjoy Australian waters.

This article was drawn from material in Vanessa Pirotta’s new book Humpback Highway: Diving into the mysterious world of whales.

Vanessa Pirotta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The return of Bladerunner the humpback and Spilt Fin the killer whale – a cautionary tale about seafaring vessels – https://theconversation.com/the-return-of-bladerunner-the-humpback-and-spilt-fin-the-killer-whale-a-cautionary-tale-about-seafaring-vessels-234389

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Asher, Retail Expert, PhD Candidate & Sessional Academic, University of Sydney

The proposed merger of Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island raises the prospect of even less choice for New Zealanders in what is an already heavily concentrated market. But will regulators prevent it from happening?

New Zealand currently has just three major supermarket entities: the two Foodstuffs cooperatives (member-owned companies) and Australian-owned Woolworths. These three control 85% of the grocery market and almost 100% of the supermarket sector.

The Commerce Commission will release its delayed decision on the proposed merger in October.

Less choice in NZ than overseas

The dominance of Foodstuffs and Woolworths gives the New Zealand supermarket industry a concentration ratio of almost 100% – calculated by adding the top four firm’s market share of an industry.

By comparison, the supermarket sector concentration ratio in Italy is 58.3%, in Spain it’s 67.4%, in the United Kingdom it’s 61.2%, and in the United States it’s 58.5%. These lower ratios point to markets that are more competitive.

A recent OECD survey has raised concerns over the concentration in the New Zealand market. And suppliers have warned they are being hurt by the dominance of these retailers.

Research has long shown higher levels of concentration favour the companies dominating the market to the detriment of consumers and competition.

Our research supports this finding.

In 2022, the Commerce Commission released a report on New Zealand’s grocery sector. It found competition was not working well for consumers in the retail grocery sector. Recommendations included establishing a dedicated
grocery regulator to provide monitoring and oversight, which was done by the then Labour government last year.

To better balance the market, regulators need to ensure local markets are competitive. This will require not just the rejection of Foodstuffs’ merger but, also, the possible split or demerger of the existing entities.

The most logical step is split the Pak’nSave and New World brands, ensuring they are independent of each other.

Otherwise there is a risk of precedent being set, which establishes an example for other sectors and markets to follow. It also raises the question of the point of the market study, if – despite the knowledge of concentration – the market was allowed to concentrate further.

Research shows the high price we pay

New Zealand’s size and low population density are often blamed for higher food costs.

But our ongoing research shows low population density in developed markets is not a predictor of supermarket market concentration.

Highly concentrated markets have lower store availability for consumers, driving up population per store and reducing choice.

New Zealand has four times more population per store than Germany, and more than two times the UK and US. New Zealand also has the highest revenue per store across 25 developed markets, ahead of the United States.

Foodstuffs North Island, for example, generates double the global average operating profit of supermarkets.

Individual store owners are benefiting from the lack of competition. In 2018, three Foodstuffs supermarket owners entered the NBR rich list.

Anti-competitive claims against Foodstuffs

The proposed merger of the two Foodstuffs cooperatives is not the first time the company has joined together geographically disparate entities.

In 2013, Foodstuffs merged their Wellington and Auckland regions to become Foodstuffs North Island. This merger concentrated an already small market further.

The cooperatives’ increased market and bargaining power after the 2013 merger has resulted in complaints from some suppliers over Foodstuffs North Island’s tactics.

Despite being two separate entities, Foodstuffs has admitted to sharing information between its North and South Island entities. And since 2020, Foodstuffs North Island and South Island have released joint annual corporate social responsibility reports.

In a submission on the merger to the Commerce Commission earlier this year, one industry insider claimed the two Foodstuffs cooperatives were behaving as an unofficial cartel. Foodstuffs has rejected this claim.

But the commission has active fair trading investigations into both Foodstuffs South Island and Foodstuffs North Island over pricing and promotional practices. It is also investigating Woolworths New Zealand for the same issues.

And the regulator recently filed proceedings against Foodstuffs North Island, alleging that anti-competitive land covenants were lodged by the supermarket operator. The commission claims Foodstuffs did this with the purpose of blocking competitors from opening rival supermarkets at particular sites.

Splitting the Foodstuffs brands

New Zealand is not the only country facing increasingly concentrated supermarket sector, though it is, arguably, one of the worst.

In Australia, concerns have been raised about the dominance of Coles and Woolworths. These two companies control 65% of the grocery sector between them. The Queensland Greens have called on the government to introduce a 20% cap on market ownership.

In May, the Australian government outlined a mandatory code of conduct for supermarkets to address anti-competitive behaviour. It is clear Australia is attempting to prevent further concentration of its grocery market, highlighting just how much of an outlier New Zealand is.

In contrast, the UK’s two largest supermarkets, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, control just 42.2% of their market. An investigation into rising food prices by the country’s competition watchdog found inflation was not driven by weak retail competition.

Operating profits in the sector in the UK fell 41.5% in 2022-23, with average operating margins falling to 1.8% from 3.2%. This suggests retailers’ rising costs were not passed on in full to consumers.

The UK grocery sector shows how competitive a grocery sector can be – if consumers and regulators are vigilant. But the merger of the two Foodstuffs cooperatives is taking New Zealand in the opposite direction.

Instead, the commission should reject the merger. It should also look at the demerger or divestment of the Foodstuffs banners to foster real competition and a better outcome for consumers.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Supermarket concentration benefits stores, not shoppers. It’s time to split Foodstuffs – not make it stronger – https://theconversation.com/supermarket-concentration-benefits-stores-not-shoppers-its-time-to-split-foodstuffs-not-make-it-stronger-234150

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shumi Akhtar, Associate Professor, University of Sydney

This article is part of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance.

It’s July, which means if they haven’t already, many Australians will be thinking about and filing their tax returns.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who likes paying taxes, but they fund essential public services such as health care, education, infrastructure, defence spending and social services.

In Australia, we tax individuals under a progressive tax system – the tax rate increases as your income rises. Such a system is designed to ensure those who earn more contribute a larger percentage of their income towards the country’s revenue.

But this isn’t the only way to tax individuals’ income. Some countries including Estonia and Bolivia have a “flat” tax system that imposes the same income tax rate on everyone, no matter how much they earn.

So how does Australia’s tax system work for individuals – and how has it just been changed?

First, working out what you earn

Each financial year, every taxpayer must either lodge a tax return – detailing their income and any deductions or offsets to which they are entitled – or submit a “non-lodgement advice” form.

Read more:
What are financial years – and why are they different from calendar years?

To prepare a tax return, a taxpayer has to work out their taxable income, which the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) defines as “assessable income minus any allowable deductions”.

At one end of the scale, a person’s assessable income might just include their salary or wage payments made over the course of a financial year.

But for others with diverse income streams – which could include interest, investments, government payments and profits from owning a business – preparing a tax return will be more complicated. These income streams may face their own tax implications before being taxed progressively.

Taxpayers are often able to make deductions against their taxable income, including for certain work-related expenses, charitable donations and educational costs.

Depending on their income and level of private health cover, individuals may also have pay to a Medicare levy.

It’s important to note that our discussion here is only general in nature, and tax laws are always evolving. Consider seeking professional advice to manage your own tax return.

Read more:
Beware of ‘tax hacks’ to maximise your return this year. The tax office is taking a close look at incorrect claims

The more you earn, the more you pay

Once we’ve worked out how much someone has earned, we tax them on a progressive scale, where tax rates increase with income.

But you don’t pay a higher rate of tax on all of your income, only on your respective earnings above and within certain thresholds.

For example, under the tax brackets for the last financial year (2023–24), Australian residents faced marginal tax rates of:

Bracket creep

But there’s a problem. Over time, inflation in an economy increases the general cost of goods and services, eroding the purchasing power of money. As a result, people demand higher wages so their living standards don’t decrease.

Over the years, these higher incomes amid high inflation can push people into new tax brackets, meaning they might pay higher rates of income tax without seeing any improvement in purchasing power. This is called “bracket creep” or “tax creep”.

As the Parliamentary Budget Office explains, even those who aren’t pushed into new tax brackets can still be impacted by bracket creep. This is because the design of our system means the more a taxpayer earns, the greater the proportion of their income will be paid in tax.

Put simply, they face a higher average tax rate – total tax calculated as a proportion of total taxable income – as their income increases, even if they stay in the same bracket (excluding those below the tax-free threshold).

Avoiding bracket creep was one of the key rationales for Australia’s recent income tax cuts, stage three of which came into effect on July 1. As you might remember, these cuts were changed from what was originally planned.

The previous Coalition government’s original plan was to eliminate the 37% tax rate, reduce the 32.5% bracket rate to 30% and expand it to cover earnings all the way up to $200,000, and apply the 45% tax rate to earnings over $200,000.

But the current Labor government ended up instead lowering the 19% rate to 16%, reducing the 32.5% rate to 30% for earnings up to $135,000, keeping the 37% rate above this higher threshold, and applying the 45% marginal tax rate to earnings above $190,000.

These changes mean that over the current financial year (2024–25), Australian residents will face the following new marginal rates of income tax:

The changes have reduced some of the tax savings for those on high incomes. For example, a worker earning $200,000 will see a tax saving this year of $4,529, down from $9,075 under the original plan.

Not the only way to tax

It’s sometimes argued that an alternative system of flat taxes – applying the same tax rate to everyone no matter how much they earn – could increase simplicity and economic efficiency.

But like many other countries, Australia’s progressive tax system is designed to ensure that those who earn more contribute more accordingly. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring it stays fair over time.

Shumi Akhtar is affiliated with Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (ANU).

– ref. How does Australia’s progressive tax system work – and what is ‘bracket creep’? – https://theconversation.com/how-does-australias-progressive-tax-system-work-and-what-is-bracket-creep-234152

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Political donations would need to be disclosed in “real time” during elections under reform legislation that also would restrict spending on individual seat campaigns to an amount that will be less than $1 million per candidate.

The package, which Special Minister of State Don Farrell aims to introduce in the next parliamentary sitting fortnight beginning August 12, also includes a truth-in-advertising provision, and is expected to boost public funding for elections. Total election funding paid by the Australian Electoral Commission for the 2022 election was nearly $76 million.

All donations of $1000 and above would have to be disclosed, under the proposed measures. At present the disclosure threshold is more than $16,900. There would also be caps on donations.

Under the real-time disclosure provision, donations outside election periods would have to be made public within weeks. During an election campaign, they would need to be disclosed weekly, then daily as polling day approached.

Some details of the package are still being finalised. One major issue is the need to minimise the risk of a successful High Court challenge on the grounds of limiting the implied freedom of political communication.

The plan includes caps on parties’ campaign spending at a national and a state level (the latter covers campaigns for the Senate) as well as on spending at the seat level.

Parties, candidates and others involved in elections would be required to have dedicated Commonwealth campaign accounts for all donations and spending, which would be subject to audit by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Parties would receive some funding for their administration.

Farrell says his package will “address the growing threat of big money in politics”.

During Farrell’s extensive negotiations there has been blowback from some crossbenchers. Some “teal” MPs ran highly expensive campaigns which saw them elected in 2022.

Independent member for the Victorian seat of Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, one of the teals, said she supported a lower disclosure threshold for donations and real-time disclosure. “Above everything else, the priorities are transparency and accountability,” she said.

But she warned, “I remain suspicious that the major parties will dress up their proposals as electoral reform when their real goal is self interest. We must make sure they don’t collude to lock out newcomers and tilt the playing field in their own favour, in contrast to the demonstrated wishes of voters at large.”

The Coalition parties have been in negotiation with Farrell over the measures, but where they will land is unknown.

The package will have provisions covering “associated entities”, which are funding-raising arms for parties, and “significant third parties”, which spend on and raise money for elections. They include unions, advocacy groups such as Advance and organisations such as Climate 200. Details of the provisions covering them are not known.

Earlier consideration of increasing the number of senators from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory (at present two each) has been abandoned.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘Real time’ donation disclosure and spending limits in Labor electoral reforms – https://theconversation.com/real-time-donation-disclosure-and-spending-limits-in-labor-electoral-reforms-234471

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary (Senior Fellow) School of Culture and Communication University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne

In the latest instalment of the Ladies Lounge saga at Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), curator Kirsha Kaechele’s has revealed she faked a number of Picasso paintings hanging in the gallery’s new ladies toilets, established in response to the forced closure of the Ladies Lounge earlier this year.

This entire saga is perhaps the most effective piece of performance art I’ve seen since Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece of 1964 – a work hailed as being the Titanic of performance pieces. In it, Ono sits, as members of the public are invited to approach and cut off pieces of her clothes.

As was the case with Cut Piece, the public’s reaction to Kaechele has been intense. Unlike Ono, however, Kaechele’s performance has lasted for months and has engaged and scandalised many more people, garnering worldwide attention.

An ongoing performance

The very first stage of this serialised event was Kaechele’s creation of the Ladies Lounge. In this space, women could have high tea, admire great art and be served by attractive, adoring male butlers.

The butlers had to be young, handsome and dressed to be of service to the ladies. In Kaechele’s own words:

They are the only men allowed in the Ladies Lounge, and that is because they live to serve women. They attend to our every desire and shower us with praise and affection (in chivalry — the unequal rights component of the reparations equation). And champagne. They also massage us.

So when a man, Jason Lau, complained about being denied access on account of his gender, the media had a field day.

Indeed, the presence of a women-only lounge serving champagne and great art drew the ire of some men. And that was the point: in a world where women have been (and continue to be) denied access to the same spaces as men, Jason Lau was “experiencing the artwork as it’s intended”.

Read more:
Women have been excluded from men’s spaces for centuries. That’s why the MONA Ladies Lounge matters

Lau took Kaeschele and MONA to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, where the hearing became the second act of Kaeschele’s performance.

In court, Kaechele and her troupe staged a synchronised performance reacting to those who stood over them in judgement. The tribunal found the Ladies Lounge discriminated against “persons who do not identify as ladies”. But even as the case was lost, the troupe danced out of the courtroom to the tune of Robert Palmer’s Simply Irresistible.

While the lounge was closed “for reform”, Kaechele pondered her next move. She considered a ladies bible study room, but eventually settled on decorating a toilet with some of the master works.

When questioned on the desirability of drinking champagne in a toilet, Kaechele replied:

There is a real precedent for people imbibing in the toilet. People enjoy all kinds of substances in there.

She has a point.

Once the toilets were open, a fascinated media noted – among other works – paintings by Picasso. To treat famous (and expensive) art with such open contempt drew international attention, including from the Picasso Administration, which manages, collects, distributes and controls the rights attached to Picasso’s works.

Kaechele then “confessed” she painted the “Piacassos” herself three years ago. She said she she made the paintings green to match the lurid green aesthetic of the Ladies Lounge, where they were first placed.

These “Picassos” weren’t the only fakes in the lounge/toilets. Others included modern spears from Papua New Guinea captioned as antiques and plastic jewellery claimed to be heirlooms.

Might there be consequences?

As well as taking the mickey out of the patriarchy, one lesson from Kaechele’s work is that gallery and museum visitors should use their eyes and not always believe what labels say.

If Kaechele had persisted in claiming the works were by Picasso after being challenged by the Picasso Administration, she would have been guilty of fraud. However, she immediately “confessed” and explained why and how she acted as she did.

As a result, the Ladies Lounge/toilet has become an amusing exposé on how thin-skinned some men can be – and why the legal system (at least at its lower levels) needs to get some perspective.

This event reminds me of Melbourne artist, Ivan Durrant, who in 1974 put a dead cow in the forecourt of the National Gallery of Victoria. The following year his commercial gallery, Hogarth Gallery, announced Durrant had acquired a severed human hand which would be exhibited as art. The photographs looked so realistic that the national media tied itself in knots trying to locate the person whose hand it was. It was, of course, a prosthetic.

The last laugh goes to…

For Kaechele – and for MONA – the Ladies Lounge controversy has been a spectacular success. She has reminded visitors that the roles of artist and curator are often intermingled. She has also succeeded in exposing the patriarchy as a humourless joke.

Kaechele’s acts fall within a great tradition of performance art, which had fallen out of fashion since it’s heyday in the 1960s and ‘70s. She is, however, more lighthearted than Pat Larter’s Tailored Maids. In this performance work, which itself was critique of female circumcision, she sat behind a sheet and used shadow play. As the implements of destruction – including secateurs – approached her body, she threw pieces of raw meat into the audience.

Ever since it opened, MONA’s exhibitions and installations have combined curatorial originality with a talent for attracting the kind of worldwide publicity other art museums yearn for. Kaechele’s husband, David Walsh, has said his mission is to make the arts approachable to people who aren’t a part of a self-defined cultural elite.

Indeed, Kaechele has now brought more international prominence to MONA, showing yet again why it is essential viewing for any art lover in Australia.

Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council

– ref. Fake Picassos in a ladies toilet: why the saga at MONA is one of the most effective pieces of performance art I’ve seen – https://theconversation.com/fake-picassos-in-a-ladies-toilet-why-the-saga-at-mona-is-one-of-the-most-effective-pieces-of-performance-art-ive-seen-234470

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Reardon, Postdoctoral researcher in pulsar timing and gravitational waves, Swinburne University of Technology

Neutron stars are some of the most extreme objects in the universe. Formed from the collapsed cores of supergiant stars, they weigh more than our Sun and yet are compressed into a sphere the size of a city.

The dense cores of these exotic stars contain matter squashed into unique states that we can’t possibly replicate and study on Earth. That’s why NASA is on a mission to study neutron stars and learn about the physics that governs the matter inside them.

My colleagues and I have been helping them out. We used radio signals from a fast-spinning neutron star to measure its mass. This enabled scientists working with NASA data to measure the star’s radius, which in turn gave us the most precise information yet about the strange matter inside.

Read more:
Explainer: what is a neutron star?

What is inside a neutron star?

Matter in the core of neutron stars is even denser than the nucleus of an atom. As the densest stable form of matter in the universe, it is squashed to its limit and on the brink of collapse into a black hole. Understanding how matter behaves under these conditions is a key test of our theories of fundamental physics.

NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) mission is trying to solve the mysteries of this extreme matter.

NICER is an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station. It detects X-rays coming from hot spots on the surface of neutron stars where temperatures can reach millions of degrees.

Scientists model the timing and energies of these X-rays to map the hot spots and determine the mass and size of the neutron stars.

Knowing how the sizes of neutron stars relate to their masses will reveal the “equation of state” of the matter in their cores. This tells scientists how soft or hard – how “squeezeable” – the neutron star is, and therefore what it is made of.

A softer equation of state would suggest that neutrons in the core are breaking apart into an exotic soup of smaller particles. A harder equation of state might mean neutrons resist, leading to larger neutron stars.

The equation of state also dictates how and when neutron stars get ripped apart when they collide.

Solving the mystery with a neutron star neighbour

One of NICER’s primary targets is a neutron star called PSR J0437-4715, which is the nearest and brightest millisecond pulsar.

A pulsar is a neutron star that emits beams of radio waves that we observe as a pulse every time the neutron star rotates.

This particular pulsar rotates 173 times per second (as fast as a blender). We have been observing it for almost 30 years with Murriyang, CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales.

The team working with NICER data faced a challenge for this pulsar. X-rays coming from a nearby galaxy made it hard to accurately model the hot spots on the neutron star’s surface.

Fortunately, we were able to use radio waves to find an independent measurement of the pulsar’s mass. Without this crucial information, the team would not have recovered the correct mass.

Weighing a neutron star is all about timing

To measure the neutron star’s mass, we rely on an effect described by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, called the Shapiro delay.

Massive and dense objects such as pulsars – and in this case its companion star, a white dwarf – warp space and time. The pulsar and this companion orbit one another once every 5.74 days. When pulses from the pulsar travel to us across the compressed spacetime surrounding the white dwarf, they are delayed by microseconds.

Such microsecond delays are easy to measure with Murriyang from pulsars like PSR J0437-4715. This pulsar, and other millisecond pulsars like it, are observed regularly by the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array project, which uses these pulsars to detect gravitational waves.

Read more:
Using a detector the size of a galaxy, astronomers find strongest evidence yet for gravitational waves from supermassive black hole pairs

Because PSR J0437-4715 is relatively close to us, its orbit appears to wobble slightly from our point of view as Earth moves around the Sun. This wobble gives us more details about the geometry of the orbit. We use this together with the Shapiro delay to find the masses of the white-dwarf companion and the pulsar.

The mass and size of PSR J0437-4715

We calculated that the mass of this pulsar is typical of a neutron star, at 1.42 times the mass of our Sun. That’s important because the size of this pulsar should also be the size of a typical neutron star.

Scientists working with the NICER data were then able to determine the geometry of the X-ray hot spots and calculate that the neutron star’s radius is 11.4 kilometres. These results give the most precise anchor point yet found for the neutron star equation of state at intermediate densities.

Our new picture already rules out the softest and hardest neutron star equations of state. Scientists will continue to decode exactly what this means for the presence of exotic matter in the inner cores of neutron stars. Theories suggest this matter may include quarks that have escaped their normal homes inside larger particles, or rare particles known as hyperons.

This new data adds to an emerging model of neutron star interiors that has also been informed by observations of gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars and an associated explosion called a kilonova.

Murriyang has a long history of assisting with NASA missions, and was famously used as the primary receiver of footage for most of the Apollo 11 moonwalk. Now, we have used this iconic telescope to “weigh in” on the physics of neutron star interiors, advancing our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Daniel Reardon receives funding from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav).

– ref. What happens when matter is squashed to the brink of collapse? We weighed a neutron star to help NASA find out – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-when-matter-is-squashed-to-the-brink-of-collapse-we-weighed-a-neutron-star-to-help-nasa-find-out-229813

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University

What if significant portions of William Shakespeare’s text for Macbeth had been lost, leading to a narrative in which Lady Macbeth charts a different path, free from madness?

This is the twist in Scottish playwright Zinnie Harris’ show Macbeth (An Undoing). First presented last year at the Lyceum in Edinburgh, the contemporary re-imagining of the classic tale is now premiering at The Malthouse Theatre.

Harris is celebrated for revitalising timeless works from the Western canon, infusing them with freshness and innovation. In Macbeth (An Undoing), Malthouse Artistic Director Matthew Lutton directs an ensemble cast which interweaves the original text with fictional “lost” scenes and re-imagined story fragments.

Billed as as an “adrenaline fuelled epic”, this is a rollicking tale in which grandiose Shakespearean proclamations are juxtaposed with contemporary vernacular and asides made to the audience.

A stereoscopic effect

The show’s ten actors largely work in and around Dann Barber’s imposing, monotone set. It is a labyrinthine structure of gunmetal-grey rooms and passageways on a rotating stage. The actors can variously walk around and through Castle Inverness at a pace, or be framed within contained lit vignettes.

This stereoscopic effect is a satisfying and artful conceit, setting up a kind of analogue fade where scenes appear and disappear. But it does establish a particular spatial constraint for the ensemble. The flat perspective is perfect for a tableau effect – such as witches shivering under snowfall – but little to no downstage space sometimes results in awkwardly composed clusters of actors.

The costumes are simple, stylish and streamlined, featuring muted forest colours which pop against the monotone panels. In a nod to the postdramatic, the Shakespearean world of rustic belts, cinched-in waists and thonged doublets is slowly undone as the play deconstructs – exposing modern underwear and the mechanics of the headset technology that amplifies the actors’ voices.

Solid performances – but a lack of presence

Award-winning actor Bojana Novakovic plays Lady Macbeth with a kind of daily, quotidian energy. Macbeth himself (played by Johnny Carr) is equally restrained. Both actors skirt the territory satisfactorily, but I was a little underwhelmed by their lack of physical presence, which is required to effectively convey the terror and weight of Macbeth’s story (even a re-imagined version).

I do wonder if the casual, soap-opera style of delivery was a directorial decision. It felt peculiar to me. It was lacking the necessary presence and depth needed for these roles, detracting from my engagement.

However, I did enjoy David Woods as a simmering Macduff and Natasha Herbert as Carlin, the witty and acerbic witch/servant. Herbert, in particular, has an embodied gravitas and grounded physicality that the text requires. She is funny, complex and compelling in the role.

Woods’ grimy Macduff – suspicious of Macbeth having committed the regicide of King Duncan – broods and rages in the corner. His version of Murderer is a silent, gum-chewing brute with a sustained physicality that remains potent even as he says nothing.

Despite its two-and-a-half hour run time, the show moves at a cracking pace.

Jethro Woodward’s sound design is relentless throughout, mixing deep rhythmic drones with textured crunches and spatialised audio. The aural space is cinematic and constant: music swells between sections to indicate scene changes and background sounds – including bells, grinding tones, knocks and ghostly fluttering wings – fill the auditorium.

The post-show music was also an apt choice, with Led Zeppelin’s thrashy Immigrant Song.

Overall, a bit undercooked

Ultimately, I felt slightly disappointed in the work, which was presented as a radical re-telling. The meta-commentary that runs through the play asks us to embrace a new trajectory for Lady Macbeth, but seems unresolved in its delivery and tone.

The play sets up big questions. Who is really in control here? Who can we trust? How do we hold it together when all else is falling and failing? Yet for all the dripping, blood-covered bodies (the blood is convincing), the work feels undercooked.

Its monumental themes of power, ambition and perspective deserved a larger, bolder set of choices. The stage combat could have also used more work as it was questionable. Perhaps the show will run itself in as the ensemble builds cohesion over time.

Either way, the audience at opening night seemed appreciative and engaged in this story of ambition, power and grief.

Kate Hunter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Macbeth (An Undoing): a new take that aims to reimagine Lady Macbeth’s path – but ultimately leaves you guessing – https://theconversation.com/macbeth-an-undoing-a-new-take-that-aims-to-reimagine-lady-macbeths-path-but-ultimately-leaves-you-guessing-233880

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracy Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Sport Governance, Law & Ethics, Auckland University of Technology

As the All Blacks’ bruising first encounter with England last weekend showed, rugby is not a game for the faint-hearted. The same can apply off the field as well.

At the end of May, a special general meeting of NZ Rugby, the game’s national organisation, decided on a future governance structure. It marked the culmination of an arm wrestle between the national board and key provincial unions, with the latter prevailing.

Media coverage captured the depth of feeling attached to the outcome: NZ Rugby chair, Dame Patsy Ready, was reportedly prepared to resign, and the Players Association threatened a breakaway organisation for the professional game.

Behind the substantive issues of funding and board appointment models, deeper forces were at work.

Since the game went professional in 1995, there has been a longstanding tension between two institutional “logics”. One is corporate, about commercialisation, professionalisation and efficiency. The other is community oriented, about the “grassroots” voice and member representation.

Making that dual remit workable now falls to NZ Rugby and the provincial unions to progress at tomorrow’s annual general meeting. Some commentators are suggesting the future stability of the game is at stake.

Finding common ground

The challenges to the game are commonly accepted: static or declining participation rates, the financial sustainability of the professional game in a small domestic market, disrupted spectator engagement, low Māori and Pasifika presence in leadership, and questions about maximising opportunities for the women’s game.

What is contested is how the game should be funded, and how NZ Rugby should be structured to address these challenges.

The tensions that came to head in May were sparked by the investment agreement NZ Rugby made with US private equity firm Silver Lake in 2022.

Part of the deal involved NZ Rugby commissioning and publishing an independent governance review. This resulted in the Pilkington Report (named after the review panel chair David Pilkington). Published last year, the report found the NZ Rugby model no longer “fit for purpose”:

The structure it sits within was not designed for a business of this size and complexity.

The report contained two key recommendations: the selection of independent board members through an independent process, and the creation of a “stakeholder council” to ensure broad representation.

Two proposals were presented at the special general meeting. The first, supported by the NZ Rugby Board, the Māori Rugby Board and the Players Association, was rejected in favour of the second, backed by key provincial unions.

Competing proposals

At the core of the debate is a complex disagreement over achieving “independence” of board members. NZ Rugby wanted to move away from an “independence of office” model, which risked undue influence by provincial union interests, to a more corporate “independence of thought” model.

Under the previous NZ Rugby model, board members could not also sit on the board of a provincial union or similar rugby organisation (“independence of office”).

In practice, the board selection process saw candidates campaigning for nomination by provincial unions. The fear was that they may then feel obliged to promote those unions’ interests, potentially influencing an elected board member’s decisions.

However, the new Incorporated Societies Act requires board members to “act in good faith” and in the “best interests” of the organisation as a whole (“independence of thought”).

Both proposals presented at the special general meeting allow for an “open” application process, meaning candidates no longer need to be nominated by a provincial union. Both proposals also include a stakeholder council and an appointments panel in the board selection process.

However, the provincial union proposal requires three of the nine board members to have previously been on a provincial union board. This potentially narrows the candidate pool, and could see pro-provincial union members back on the board.

Given there would still be six other board members, this may not be a problem. More telling, perhaps, would be the provincial union proposal effectively giving the stakeholder council more power over the board appointments panel than recommended in the Pilkington report.

Importantly, this would give the stakeholder council the power to “sign off” on some board selection criteria and processes.

But the stakeholder council (now called a governance advisory panel) is a broad church. It provides for representation of the Māori Rugby Board, Pasifika Advisory Group, NZ Super Rugby clubs and the Players Association. Combined with an independent chair and three provincial union representatives, it can represent a range of community and professional perspectives.

All on the same team

Our research shows appointment panels have been used by New Zealand sports organisations for over 25 years. The NZ Rugby model, with a mix of independent and stakeholder perspectives on the appointments panel, is not new.

The research also suggests the two competing logics within NZ Rugby – professional/elite and amateur/grassroots – can be resolved. Both coexist in various forms within other New Zealand sporting codes.

As NZ Rugby prepares for tomorrow’s AGM and the staged implementation of the provincial union proposal, all involved will need to act in the best interests of the whole game and the NZ Rugby organisation.

Ultimately, the game’s top administration needs well-chosen representatives who can bring their individual experience and perspective to the table, but be capable of thinking and acting independently, without favouring any particular interests.

Rugby has been described as a “game for everybody and every body”. The same applies to the NZ Rugby board, the stakeholder council and the appointments panel. They’re all on the same team, contributing their respective skill sets.

Now they just need to get the ball over the line at the AGM, and then convert it between the goal posts of good governance.

Lesley Ferkins worked with NZ Rugby and Auckland Rugby on the research project Navigating Two Worlds: Pacific Contribution to Leadership in Rugby.

Geoff Dickson and Tracy Molloy do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. NZ Rugby’s big test: can it select the right boardroom players for the modern game? – https://theconversation.com/nz-rugbys-big-test-can-it-select-the-right-boardroom-players-for-the-modern-game-232483

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thea van de Mortel, Professor, Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University

What’s the difference? is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter.

The term “man flu” takes a humorous poke at men with minor respiratory infections, such as colds, who supposedly exaggerate their symptoms.

According to the stereotype, a man lies on the sofa with a box of tissues. Meanwhile his female partner, also with a snotty nose, carries on working from home, doing the chores and looking after him.

But is man flu real? Is there a valid biological reason behind men’s symptoms or are men just malingering? And how does man flu differ from flu?

What are the similarities?

Man flu could refer to a number of respiratory infections – a cold, flu, even a mild case of COVID. So it’s difficult to compare man flu with flu.

But for simplicity, let’s say man flu is actually a cold. If that’s the case, man flu and flu have some similar features.

Both are caused by viruses (but different ones). Both are improved with rest, fluids, and if needed painkillers, throat lozenges or decongestants to manage symptoms.

Both can share similar symptoms. Typically, more severe symptoms such as fever, body aches, violent shivering and headaches are more common in flu (but sometimes occur in colds). Meanwhile sore throats, runny noses, congestion and sneezing are more common in colds. A cough is common in both.

What are the differences?

Flu is a more serious and sometimes fatal respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Colds are caused by various viruses such as rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and common cold coronaviruses, and are rarely serious.
Colds tend to start gradually while flu tends to start abruptly.

Flu can be detected with laboratory or at-home tests. Man flu is not an official diagnosis.

Severe flu symptoms may be prevented with a vaccine, while cold symptoms cannot.

Serious flu infections may also be prevented or treated with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu. There are no antivirals for colds.

OK, but is man flu real?

Again, let’s assume man flu is a cold. Do men really have worse colds than women? The picture is complicated.

One study, with the title “Man flu is not a thing”, did in fact show there were differences in men’s and women’s symptoms.

This study looked at symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis. That’s inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses, which would explain a runny or stuffy nose, a sinus headache or face pain.

When researchers assessed participants at the start of the study, men and women had similar symptoms. But by days five and eight of the study, women had fewer or less-severe symptoms. In other words, women had recovered faster.

But when participants rated their own symptoms, we saw a somewhat different picture. Women rated their symptoms worse than how the researchers rated them at the start, but said they recovered more quickly.

All this suggests men were not exaggerating their symptoms and did indeed recover more slowly. It also suggests women feel their symptoms more strongly at the start.

Why is this happening?

It’s not straightforward to tease out what’s going on biologically.

There are differences in immune responses between men and women that provide a plausible reason for worse symptoms in men.

For instance, women generally produce antibodies more efficiently, so they respond more effectively to vaccination. Other aspects of women’s immune system also appear to work more strongly.

So why do women tend to have stronger immune responses overall? That’s probably partly because women have two X chromosomes while men have one. X chromosomes carry important immune function genes. This gives women the benefit of immune-related genes from two different chromosomes.

Oestrogen (the female sex hormone) also seems to strengthen the immune response, and as levels vary throughout the lifespan, so does the strength of women’s immune systems.

Men are certainly more likely to die from some infectious diseases, such as COVID. But the picture is less clear with other infections such as the flu, where the incidence and mortality between men and women varies widely between countries and particular flu subtypes and outbreaks.

Infection rates and outcomes in men and women can also depend on the way a virus is transmitted, the person’s age, and social and behavioural factors.

For instance, women seem to be more likely to practice protective behaviours such as washing their hands, wearing masks or avoiding crowded indoor spaces. Women are also more likely to seek medical care when ill.

So men aren’t faking it?

Some evidence suggests men are not over-reporting symptoms, and may take longer to clear an infection. So they may experience man flu more harshly than women with a cold.

So cut the men in your life some slack. If they are sick, gender stereotyping is unhelpful, and may discourage men from seeking medical advice.

Thea van de Mortel teaches into the Master of Infection Prevention and Control program at Griffith University.

– ref. What’s the difference between ‘man flu’ and flu? Hint: men may not be exaggerating – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-man-flu-and-flu-hint-men-may-not-be-exaggerating-231161

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Davies, Lecturer in Sustainability and Urban Planning, RMIT University

Have you ever walked or ridden a bike along a street, and thought to yourself, “Gosh, it’s noisy”, or “This feels unpleasant”? Odds are you were on a stroad.

Maybe you’ve seen someone on social media talking about a “loud, polluted, car-filled, congestion-blocked, unbearably hot, decaying concrete nightmare” of a street. Yep, that’s definitely a stroad.

The term stroad – a portmanteau of street and road – is said to have been coined over a decade ago by “recovering engineer” Charles Marohn to describe a hybrid street and road.

Stroads are trying to be both a thoroughfare for vehicles, and a place for people.

Typically they fail at both, with Marohn saying:

It is truly the worst of all possible approaches. Our neighborhoods are filled with stroads.

What’s wrong with stroads?

Stroads have an inherent conflict between their role as a movement corridor and their role as a place. While they try to be everything to everyone, they become nothing to anyone.

Focusing on movement funnels more cars and trucks into a street, making it more like a road.

This lessens the sense of place, which is the very reason people wanted to go there in the first place.

The end result is a stroad, something which is neither a good street for people nor a good road for drivers. In some cases, they can be a good road to drive on, but a particularly unpleasant street for pedestrians and cyclists to be on.

In the United States, where the term originated, the term stroad largely refers to highways with shops along the sides.

Many major roads in large Australian cites are stroads. Think of Parramatta Road or Cremorne’s Military Road in Sydney, and City Road in Melbourne. In Brisbane, consider Ann Street and Wickham Street. In Perth, think of Charles Street or Beaufort Street. Or, lastly, Sir Donald Bradman Drive or Anzac Highway in Adelaide.

We also find stroads in our many shopping strips. King Street in Sydney or Sydney Road in Melbourne spring to mind.

Again, movement of cars and trucks gets prioritised above people and sense of place. This results in a significant imbalance in space allocation between motorists and other users.

The development of stroads is a reflection on an older way of thinking, which views all streets and roads as places for cars and trucks. As one Victorian government document put it:

Traditionally, roads and streets are considered only movement corridors to get us from A to B. [But] streets not only keep people and goods moving, they’re also places for people to live, work and enjoy.

How to fix a stroad

Thinking has changed on how we should use street space. Many Australian states have begun implementing a framework called “movement and place”.

This shifts away from seeing streets as things that support movement of cars and trucks, and toward a view they move people and goods, but also have a place function.

“Movement and place” frameworks can be used to identify what a street’s role is, and where it may be lacking. However, this only diagnoses the problem, it does not solve it.

To truly solve the stroad, we need to change the priority of the street. We need to remove some space given to cars (both driving and parking), and give that space to people and place.

And yes, it can be done. There is a concept called complete streets. This re-imagines how our streets are laid out, giving more space to people and public transport. These makeovers improve overall flow of people and benefit the local economy.

Many major stroads have benefited from street makeovers. Prominent examples include:

• in 2009 traffic was removed from New York City’s Times Square

• the Sydney light rail has offered the opportunity to transform the stroad of George Street into a vibrant and welcoming place

• Melbourne initially closed Swanston Street to through traffic in 1992, converting a horrible stroad into a bustling civic spine.

Smaller scale, temporary initiatives, such as parklets, can help too. This is where parking spaces are converted to public space, as either parks or outside dining space. We saw pop-up parklets across Australia during COVID, to help with physical distancing. These temporary measures can be a great way to see how change could look.

Opposition to change

Such proposals often meet fierce opposition.

In 2015, then-NSW opposition leader Luke Foley called a plan to replace cars on George Street with light rail “stupid”, claiming it would worsen traffic.

In Melbourne, Robert Doyle ran for, and won, the 2008 mayoral race on a promise to reopen Swanston Street to traffic.

However, the Sydney light rail was built and Swanston Street was instead redeveloped to improve pedestrian, cycling, and tram access.

We now have two bustling civic places of which we should all be proud, both replacing unpleasant stroads which ran through the heart of each city.

While urban change can sometimes be controversial, it can help to consider the counter-factual. How would we feel if things were the other way around?

For example, if we currently had trams, widened footpaths, and bicycle lanes down Sydney’s Parramatta Road or Melbourne’s City Road, would we rip them out to build six lane stroads?

I think not.

In addition to his academic position, Liam Davies works for a private consultancy, the Institute for Sensible Transport, which provides services to Australian governments. His PhD was funded by an Australian government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship, and an AHURI Housing Postgraduate Scholarship Top-up. He is currently, and has previously, worked on projects funded by Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute investigating housing policy. He is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia, Victoria division.

– ref. Not quite a street, not quite a road – why ‘stroads’ are disasters of urban planning, and how to fix them – https://theconversation.com/not-quite-a-street-not-quite-a-road-why-stroads-are-disasters-of-urban-planning-and-how-to-fix-them-232485

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wayne Peake, Adjunct research fellow, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University

The Latin motto of the Olympic Games, which Baron Pierre de Coubertin – known as the father of the Olympics – resurrected at Athens in 1896, is “citius, altius, fortius – communiter”.

In English, this means “faster, higher, stronger – together”.

The addition of “together” in 2021 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which oversees the games and decides who hosts them, is significant.

It demonstrates its more recent desire to be a progressive and inclusive organisation. In earlier years, many had accused it of being rigid, conservative, and Western oriented.

The original, shorter, motto summed up what the early modern summer games were about – identifying athletes who were self-evidently the best in their sports.

In 1896, except for gymnastics, disciplines requiring judges to award points to rank competitors were not included.

A brief history of Olympic sports

De Coubertin resurrected the Olympic Games almost as an afterthought.

His first desire, inspired by a visit to Britain’s Rugby school, was to encourage physical education in French schools.

It took seven years to organise the 1896 Games. Since then, the meeting, held every four years, has showcased the finest athletes in the world, competing in an ever-changing mix of competition.

The Olympic Games program consists of sports, disciplines, and events. For example, in 2000, Ian Thorpe won the 400 metres (the event) freestyle (the discipline) at the swimming competition (the sport).

These categories can be slightly tricky – while the decathlon is an event in the athletics program, the modern pentathlon is a sport.

The sports contested at those first modern Olympic Games – with the obvious exception of shooting – would have been familiar to the athletes who competed at the ancient Olympics, held at Olympia in Greece from 776 BCE until 393AD.

Notably absent at Olympia was swimming. Boxers wore not padded gloves, but leather straps studded with lead. Tough guys.

From the unusual to the bizarre

In the first decades of the modern games, organisers sometimes included events that were either weird variations of mainstream sports, or sports not often associated with Olympic competition.

At the 1900 Paris Olympics, Australian swimmer Fred Lane won a 200 metres obstacle event. Contestants scrambled over the first two obstacles (a pole and a row of boats) and swam under the third (another row of boats).

Cricket and croquet made one-off appearances at Paris 1900. A rugby union competition took place at the 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 Games.

Other discontinued sports include:

• Jeu de paume, or real tennis (1908). The forerunner of modern tennis, jeu de paume players at first struck the ball with their hands, later a glove and finally a crude racquet. The enclosed court has a net but also sloping walls off which the ball may be bounced.

• Lacrosse (1904, 1908). A ten-a-side team sport that resembles a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. The racquet has a small net on one end, in which the ball is carried and hurled towards a goal.

• Motor boating (1908). Contested at the 1908 London games in eight metres, under 60-foot and open class races, each over 40 nautical miles. Remarkably in each race there were two starters and only the winners reached the finish.

• Pelota basque (1900). A team sport that resembles jeu de paume but the ball is caught in, and hurled from, a large, banana-shaped scoop. Pelota basque was also an exhibition sport in 1968 and 1992.

• Polo (1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, 1936). Olympic polo competitions were held only in countries where the sport had an established following.

• Rackets (1908). The forerunner of the sport of squash where all four walls are in play. Although often associated with England’s public schools, the game originated in that nation’s prisons.

• Softball (1996 to 2008). Softball suffered the same fate as its big brother, baseball, though both made a possibly temporary return in 2021.

• Tug-of-war (1900 to 1920). Teams contested tug-of-war competitions at each Games from 1900 until 1920. The objective was to pull the opposition more than six feet. If there was no decision within five minutes, the team which had made the most ground was the victor.

A gold medal for experimentation

The IOC is never shy in experimenting with its mix of sports and events.

Some popular sports made early Olympic debuts, were dropped, then revived decades later.

For example, golfers competed at the 1900 Paris and 1904 St Louis games but then remained in the clubhouse until Rio in 2016.

Winners at tennis jumped the nets in celebration from 1896 to 1924 then sat it out until 1988.

Baseball made six appearances as an exhibition sport before its inclusion for full medal competition at Barcelona 1992. It struck out after Beijing 2008.

And sometimes, big-time sports are discontinued because the best players had become pros or were prevented from competing by their ruling bodies.

In more modern times, the IOC continues to add new events.

The Tokyo games in 2020 showcased 33 sports — the most in Olympic history — including Olympic debuts for sports such as sport climbing, skateboarding, surfing and karate, and events like BMX freestyle and 3×3 basketball.

Next up, breaking – better known to most of us as breakdancing – makes its debut in Paris.

Wayne Peake does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Anyone for obstacle course swimming? How some of the more unusual Olympic Games sports came to be – https://theconversation.com/anyone-for-obstacle-course-swimming-how-some-of-the-more-unusual-olympic-games-sports-came-to-be-228398

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nina Lansbury, Associate Professor in Public Health, The University of Queensland

The theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week is “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”. The organisers are calling for “a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected”.

Australia’s Indigenous peoples have gained intimate Knowledges of this continent through long-term observations and holistic thinking. They have connections to their traditional estate, known as Country, spanning thousands of generations. As climate change worsens, Indigenous peoples can offer valuable insights into sustainability and resilience.

Governments and others increasingly recognise how Indigenous Knowledges can helps us better monitor and adapt to a warmer world. This can lead to better understanding and decision-making.

When it comes to climate change in Australia, the fires of Knowledge are burning bright. It’s time Indigenous Knowledges are heard – and it’s time for action.

What are Indigenous Knowledges?

Indigenous Knowledges refer to the “understandings, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings”. These Knowledges emphasise the inextricable connections between mind, body and Country, as well as humans and non-humans.

The Knowledges held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are highly relevant to the process of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the United Nations body whose reports inform government responses to the climate threat, including policies and funding.

But only in the past two years have the vast Knowledges of Indigenous peoples around the world been meaningfully included in IPCC reports – largely because such data were not widely documented in peer-reviewed academic literature.

‘Respectful inclusion’

The authors of this article were on a team commissioned by the federal government to advise on ways to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ voices in the IPCC process.

Our team included three Aboriginal and one Torres Strait Islander scholars and three non-Indigenous allies. Three were authors on the sixth IPCC assessment report.

We delivered our advice to government in July last year, ahead of planning discussions for the seventh IPCC assessment report now being prepared.

Our report made 29 recommendations, including:

• respectful inclusion in IPCC reports of Indigenous scientific data alongside Western scientific data

• information in IPCC reports from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that considers wellbeing in a holistic way, that is connected to Country, involves historical truth-telling and is Indigenous-led

• set and engage a minimum number of Indigenous IPCC authors from Australia

• provide climate change information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through appropriate channels.

Our research involved a survey and an associated “extended yarning” method, which recognises Indigenous peoples’ preference for, and skills in, oral communication. The yarns involved conversations up to 90-minutes with Elders, Indigenous scholars and community leaders.

The report yielded many insights into how Indigenous Knowledges can help Australia track and cope with climate change. In the spirit of this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, we outline these below.

Identifying climate changes

We documented how Indigenous communities monitor climate changes. For example, a Melukerdee respondent from Lutruwita/Tasmania identified the effects on biodiversity:

I have seen changes in the patterns of seasons all around. Flowers bloom too early, crops are lost from summers that are too warm and too long, uncontrollable fires that are too hot ravage Country and leave animals homeless, the abundance of special cultural species reduces and diseases take out many key species of different ecological areas which have previously long stood resistant.

In fact, the IPCC’s sixth assessment report noted the value of engaging Indigenous knowledge holders in fauna field surveys and the benefits for conservation planning.

Adapting to a warmer world

The long-standing “relational thinking” of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is an important resource in the stewardship of Country.

The term refers to a worldview that humans are in a relationship with everything else on Earth. This thinking enables an understanding of how ecosystems respond to, adapt to, and recover from human-driven climate change.

One Aboriginal respondent told us:

There is limited recognition regarding First Nation peoples other than relegating us to ‘vulnerable communities’ in context of climate change. This disregards our over 65,000 years of sustainable practices and customary knowledge of the natural environment and thus our significant contribution to policy.

The IPCC’s sixth assessment report identified Indigenous Knowledges relevant to climate adaptation, including:

• Indigenous fire management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Indigenous Ranger land management, including carbon abatement, weed management and recovery of threatened species

• “cultural flows” in waterways that define when and where water is to be delivered, particularly in a changing climate.

Sharing climate information with all

Our report has been shared in written, verbal and animated formats to research participants and government decision-makers.

We engaged Wiradjuri artist Dr Tom Munro-Harrison to create both the report’s cover art, and an animation we are launching today. Munro-Harrison’s art seeks to promote Indigenous voices and perspectives on key issues, including climate change.

He says:

My graphic art practice acts as the site of this self-determining activity and process, where meaning-making and identity can be explored in ways that demonstrate the ongoing survivance, resurgence and modernity of my Wiradjuri culture.

Indigenous self-representation was crucial to our work. Munro-Harrison reflects this in the animation by using direct quotes from Indigenous cultural practitioners who informed the report. This legitimises primary sources of cultural practice in the form of Indigenous oral story.

Planning for the seventh IPCC assessment report is underway. The federal government has already shared key aspects of our advice with the IPCC international secretariat.

The IPCC has come far in recognising Indigenous Knowledges. For example, it is now seeking authors with expertise in how to integrate “different forms of climate-related knowledge and data, including Indigenous Knowledge”.

There is more work to do, and the task is urgent. Accelerating climate change means the value of these Knowledges is more pertinent than ever.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of our report co-authors: Adjunct Professor Sandra Creamer AM (Waanyi Kalkadoon), Dr Vinnitta Mosby (Meriam Nation), and Professor Gretta Pecl (IPCC AR6 Lead Author).

Nina Lansbury has received research funding from the Australian government, Health Translation Queensland, the water industry and the University of Queensland.

Bradley J. Moggridge is affiliated with the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and WWF Australia

Geoff Evans is affiliated with Noosa for Yes.

Tom Munro-Harrison has consulted for the University of Queensland and received funding from the Australian government.

Lillian Ireland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘Knowledge keeps the fires burning’: how ancient Indigenous wisdom can transform our battle against climate change – https://theconversation.com/knowledge-keeps-the-fires-burning-how-ancient-indigenous-wisdom-can-transform-our-battle-against-climate-change-234074

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Cebulla, Associate Professor in The Future of Work, Flinders University

As year 12 students across Australia ponder their next move, the world of work is undergoing a seismic shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and rendering some traditional roles obsolete.

Many young adults may be fretting about how to factor AI into their decision about what to study after school.

But before you panic, let’s unpack what AI means for the future careers of today’s school leavers.

Tech skills in demand – but that’s not the whole story

AI seeks to transform the world of work.

As colleagues and I have pointed out in a recent book, this tech revolution is indeed creating both opportunities and challenges for the workforce.

AI can help us do things that just a while ago seemed, as robotics researcher Navinda Kottege put it in our book, “too dull, too dirty, too dangerous or too devilishly impossible” to contemplate .

There is obviously demand for more tech experts to help in that endeavour.

But despite all the AI hype, wages for jobs using AI skills in Australia are comparatively low; lower than in the United States, United Kingdom or Singapore.

It seems Australia isn’t quite ready to pay top dollar for tech talents just yet. So, by all means pursue a career based on AI development, if it interests you and you don’t mind moving abroad to achieve the top incomes.

But don’t assume there’s no future for non-tech skills and degrees.

Comprehension, communication and articulation

It’s not just about technical know-how anymore. As pointed out in our book, while robots might steal some jobs, new roles will emerge that mix tech skills with uniquely human abilities.

For example: even as AI technology becomes more complex and sophisticated, its successful application depends on the AI being user-friendly.

This means we don’t all need to become data scientists and we don’t all need to be able to design or build AI tools; we just need to learn how to use them. In other words, don’t feel you need to rush out and enrol in a degree on how to become an AI engineer (unless, of course, that is where your interest and passion lie!)

The real challenge lies with educators and tool designers who need to bridge the gap between complex AI systems and user-friendly applications.

So yes, AI is set to become omnipresent, with tools that automate various tasks becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.

But we shouldn’t lose sight of the need to train for those essential skills that help us run and fix the everyday appliances and applications we use at home or at work.

And whatever we run or fix, we will need to document that and explain the process to others.

Tech skills will be in demand, but employers will also need people with good comprehension, communication and articulation skills.

Critical thinking is crucial

We’ll also need to harness our ability to think critically and discern truth from fiction.

This skill involves not just identifying false information, but also recognising when true information is being used to draw inappropriate conclusions.

This is a skill that will be used again and again in workplaces, in politics and in the sphere of social media.

Universities and vocational institutions will specifically need to teach students how to:

• evaluate sources critically

• understand context

• recognise faulty reasoning and misleading statistics

• differentiate between correlation and causation

• identify potential biases in AI-generated content.

Students should be looking for tertiary education and training institutions that understand how to teach these skills and why they’re crucial.

So, what’s a school-leaver to do?

Thanks to the astonishing pace of AI development and adoption, the world is still in considerable flux – and will likely remain so for some time.

Perhaps the best plan is to not allow AI to totally shape your decisions about what to study after school. Follow your passion and keep an eye on the job market but remember the future isn’t set in stone.

Trying to predict now exactly what the job market will look like in ten years is folly. The job you do and love in future may not even exist yet.

Instead, stay curious, stay flexible, never stop learning and don’t be afraid to chart your own course.

Andreas Cebulla does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How should I factor AI into my decision about what to study after school? – https://theconversation.com/how-should-i-factor-ai-into-my-decision-about-what-to-study-after-school-232821

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tijl Grootswagers, Senior Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience, Western Sydney University

You are standing in the cereal aisle, weighing up whether to buy a healthy bran or a sugary chocolate-flavoured alternative.

Your hand hovers momentarily before you make the final grab.

But did you know that during those last few seconds, while you’re reaching out, your brain is still evaluating the pros and cons – influenced by everything from your last meal, the health star rating, the catchy jingle in the ad, and the colours of the letters on the box?

Our recently published research shows our brains do not just think first and then act. Even while you are reaching for a product on a supermarket shelf, your brain is still evaluating whether you are making the right choice.

Further, we found measuring hand movements offers an accurate window into the brain’s ongoing evaluation of the decision – you don’t have to hook people up to expensive brain scanners.

What does this say about our decision-making? And what does it mean for consumers and the people marketing to them?

What hand movements tell us about decision-making

There has been debate within neuroscience on whether a person’s movements to enact a decision can be modified once the brain’s “motor plan” has been made.

Our research revealed not only that movements can be changed after a decision – “in flight” – but also the changes matched incoming information from a person’s senses.

To study how our decisions unfold over time, we tracked people’s hand movements as they reached for different options shown in pictures – for example, in response to the question “is this picture a face or an object?”

When choices were easy, their hands moved straight to the right option. But when choices were harder, new information made the brain change its mind, and this was reflected in the trajectory of their hand movements.

When we compared these hand movement trajectories to brain activity recorded using neuroimaging, we found that the timing and amount of evidence of the brain’s evaluation matched the movement pattern.

Put simply, reaching movements are shaped by ongoing thinking and decision-making.

By showing that brain patterns match movement trajectories, our research also highlights that large, expensive brain scanners may not always be required to study the brain’s decision evaluation processes, as movement tracking is much more cost-effective and much easier to test on a large scale.

What does this mean for consumers and marketers?

For consumers, knowing our brains are always reevaluating decisions we might think of as “final” can help us be more aware of our choices.

For simple decisions such as choosing a breakfast cereal, the impact may be small. Even if you have preemptively decided on a healthy option, you might be tempted at the last minute by the flashy packaging of a less healthy choice.

But for important long-term decisions such as choosing a mortgage, it can have serious effects.

On the other side of the coin, marketers have long known that many purchase decisions are made on the spot.

They use strategies such as attractive packaging and strategic product placement to influence people’s decisions.

New ways of studying how people’s brains process information – right up to the last minute – can help marketers design more effective strategies.

Opportunities for further research

Further research in this area could explore how different types of information, such as environmental cues or memories, affect this continuous decision evaluation process in different groups of people. For example, how do people of different ages process information while making decisions?

Our finding – that hand movements reflect the inner workings of the brain’s decision making process – could make future studies cheaper and more efficient.

The ability to fine-tune marketing in this way has implications beyond just selling products. It can also make public strategic messaging far more effective.

This could include tailoring a public health campaign on vaping specifically for people aged under 30, or targeting messaging about superannuation scams more effectively at those of retirement age.

The act of reaching for a product is not a simple consequence of a decision already made; it’s a highly dynamic process. Being aware of what influences our last-minute decision-making can help us make better choices that have better outcomes.

Tijl Grootswagers receives funding from The Australian Research Council (ARC).

Manuel Varlet receives funding from The Australian Research Council (ARC).

Genevieve L Quek does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Think you’ve decided what to buy? Actually, your brain is still deciding – even as you put it in your basket – https://theconversation.com/think-youve-decided-what-to-buy-actually-your-brain-is-still-deciding-even-as-you-put-it-in-your-basket-234167

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Wright, Chief Investigator – Looking Forward Aboriginal Mental Health Project, Curtin University

Aboriginal Elders in Perth are working with mainstream mental health service leaders to improve mental health services for their community.

The Looking Forward research project, which I lead, has enabled mental health service providers in Perth and Nyoongar Elders to be active partners in a steady and sustained engagement process. In this part of the project, four elders worked with one mental health service leader for eight years to pass on this knowledge and transform the way his service treats Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.

Our latest research paper, published as a case study in the journal Social Sciences, shows how Perth-based mental health services are now becoming more culturally informed and responsive, with Aboriginal people more likely to feel acknowledged, respected and safer when accessing services.

The Elders stressed it was vital to work boss to boss, or biddiya to biddiya in Nyoongar language. Strong leadership is needed to ensure changes are embedded across all levels of services.

As Nyoongar Elder Uncle Peter Wilkes explains, this way of working is informed by an Aboriginal cultural approach to leadership:

Biddi is actually a path and biddiya is someone who leads down that path. [… The bosses are] protecting whoever is following. So, that’s what we’re doing. So, they call us biddiyas [cultural bosses]: we’re doing things now for people [the future generations] to come.

What’s the problem?

It is unrealistic to expect quick-fixes and rapid changes to the western medical model, which tends to function in a transactional and clinical way. There is limited scope and time for service providers to interact more personably, so consumers often feel unheard and alienated.

So we know what’s not working well: a transactional mental health system that fails to accommodate consumers’ needs for human connection and understanding. This means people struggling with mental illness have had little or no capacity to be involved in improving their social and emotional wellbeing.

For Aboriginal people in particular, the western medical model has done very little for them to feel culturally safe. Cultural safety requires an understanding of their specific needs, as well as the time and commitment of service providers to be respectful and responsive.

Change starts with relationships

Our research over the past ten years has involved 15 mental health and drug and alcohol support services, in partnership with over 30 Elders living in the Perth region. This research has extended to the Kimberley, where we have worked with Yawuru Elders and young people, and youth mental health services.

One of the main messages from Looking Forward’s consultation with Elders and the broader Aboriginal community was the need:

to be part of the process and to have input into all policies.

For this to occur, trust needs to be built between mental health services and the community. And relationships are essential for understanding and trust to grow.

Engaging in a “relational” way means slowing down and dedicating time and space to connect, listen and learn. Doing so opens a space for dialogue so people feel heard and included.

Very few non-Aboriginal people have meaningful relationships with Aboriginal people. Our research participants remark on how much they value the opportunity to build a relationship with Elders and the Aboriginal community. It is more likely that people will trust one another when they get to know each other.

The Elders make a big impression by communicating their love for their Country (the term used for different groups’ distinct ancestral land) and their desire for their community to build self-determination.

In contrast to the often transactional nature of cultural training, this engagement enables service providers to understand the deep and enduring connection Aboriginal people have with kin, culture and Country.

Breaking down the transactional mindset

Our research has found most organisations, and the people working in them, are eager to be more relational, to the extent that many want to take immediate action. But we stress the need to go steady – debakarn – and to build relationships first.

Over time, participants move beyond a narrowly transactional mindset and become more relational and culturally flexible in their everyday workplace. Importantly, participants build their confidence in relating with Aboriginal Elders and community members.

Many organisation leaders and their staff describe this steady relationship-building experience as being transformational. As one leader pointed out:

[Y]ou’ve got to be personally invested. Unless you’re personally invested in this, you will not make a change.

Another said they want their organisation to:

[get to a place] where we’re actually accountable to the Aboriginal people. Where the Elders feel they have a strong enough relationship with us so they can come to us and say, ‘This isn’t good enough; we want you to do this.’

The latest Looking Forward case study identified five key elements for successfully collaborating with Elders to improve health services:

• openness and humility to be teachable
• commitment, listening and responding
• unlearning to apply new learning
• integrating new leadership practices
• stewarding resources to facilitate decisions that impact Aboriginal clients.

The real test is for mental health services, led by Elders, to keep walking the path in a sustained working relationship with the Aboriginal community so constructive changes are co-designed to benefit consumers. Doing so not only creates positive and lasting change for Aboriginal people’s social and emotional wellbeing, it’s good for all mental health consumers.

Michael Wright receives funding from the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) as part of the Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission (MRF1178972).

– ref. Mental health services that consult with Elders can deliver better care to Aboriginal people – https://theconversation.com/mental-health-services-that-consult-with-elders-can-deliver-better-care-to-aboriginal-people-231488

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Case, Lecturer in Musicology, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people.

Following on from the failed referendum, this year’s NAIDOC theme, “Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”, continues NAIDOC’s long-standing practice of responding to current events and looking to the future of the ongoing survival of Indigenous people.

NAIDOC events have always combined advocacy, protest and celebrations of culture through music, dance and art. This year is no exception.

The acronym NAIDOC represents the now old-fashioned sounding National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The name sounds out of date because the organisation, as the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) was established in the late 1950s at the height of the assimilation era.

Organised by church missionary councils in collaboration with the Federal government, the first “Aborigines Observance Day” was scheduled for July 12 1957.

Government and mission assimilation agendas framed many of the activities in the early years, but opportunities to perform publicly at an annual demonstration in Sydney’s Martin Place from 1959, and in a talent quest from 1961, soon became a meeting place for talented musicians and performers.

Here we see the seeds of the thriving Indigenous music scene of the present day.

A stage for talent

The 1961 and 1962 talent quest stages featured gumleaf players, guitars, piano accordions and homemade instruments including one constructed from an “oil drum, broom handle and two strings”.

Big name country singers Jimmy Little and Candy Williams were featured performers.

To compete in the talent quest, singers and dancers – including Lorna Beulah, Jimmy Little Snr, Eva Mumbler and Joe Timbery – travelled from Aboriginal reserves all over New South Wales.

Talent quest winner Beulah subsequently received a scholarship to the NSW State Conservatorium in 1962. She went on to perform in professional touring shows such as the 1965 tour of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess as the only Australian singer alongside a cast of African American principals and Māori performers.

Building connections

Feature entertainers and talent quest participants in the 1962 event formed an ensemble for a self-produced one-off “All Coloured Show” the following year featuring Jimmy Little, Dandy Devine, Betty Fisher, Claude (Candy) Williams, Freddie Little and Noel Stanley.

On the eve of Aborigines’ Day 1963, Jimmy Little led a Revue at Sydney’s ANZAC House, featuring emerging stars of both opera and country music: Candy Williams, Lorna Beulah, Harold Blair, Freddie Little, Doug Peters, Col Hardy and Betty Fisher.

Aboriginal performers made the most of these state-organised events to build networks and connect with other Aboriginal musicians across the east coast.

Keeping networks active during the assimilation period set the stage for the transformation of NADOC to an Indigenous-led organisation after the 1967 referendum for constitutional change.

In 1962, The ABC provided the non-Indigenous composer of the ballet Corroboree John Antill as judge of the talent quest. By 1963, Jimmy Little was judge and by 1974, NADOC was fully Indigenous run and led.

Individual, cultural and collective identities

The “I” was added to the organisation’s title in 1991 to acknowledge Torres Strait Islanders.

The current organisation traces its roots back well beyond the first officially named NADOC events. It continues to build on the momentous acts of resistance and commemoration of the 1920s and 30s where Aboriginal rights groups boycotted Australia Day in protest against the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

As Aunty Lynette Riley, national NAIDOC co-chair wrote this year:

Our people held a march to protest that the 150 year celebrations basically denied Aboriginal people’s existence, but also the lie that it was a peaceful colonisation of Australia.

Just around the corner from the site of the original moment of colonisation, and from Martin Place where the first talent quest was held, performers will once again gather to celebrate NAIDOC week.

Sydney’s Town Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Art Gallery of NSW form the backdrop for iconic Aboriginal performers this year such as Barkaa, Uncle Roger Knox and students and staff at the Conservatorium. These musicians will celebrate Aboriginal identity and resilience through musical performance.

This year, NAIDOC week offers an opportunity to reset our journey towards the Uluru Statement from the Heart and ongoing calls for a Treaty.

This year’s theme calls us to keep the fire burning by honouring the “enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture”.

It is a bold offer to come together and celebrate Indigenous culture and “the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity”.

NAIDOC’s online exhibition of historic posters shows protest and optimism have characterised NAIDOC themes since the post-1967 referendum era.

Marches to the Aboriginal tent embassy, commemoration of the “Bringing them Home” report on the Stolen Generations, emphasis on justice, self-determination and Treaty have always been part of the NAIDOC week celebration of culture.

The history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people transforming a day of mourning born out of protest into a week of cultural celebration brings home the ongoing relevance of NAIDOC.

Aboriginal people have always used music in the creation and preservation of individual, cultural and collective identities. As such, it makes sense that musical performances will continue to operate as an integral part of the demonstrations this year, and in the years to come.

Amanda Harris receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Pacific Development and Conservation Trust and the Australian Research Data Commons

Laura Case does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Identity and resilience: Aboriginal performers have been singing up the streets of Sydney for NAIDOC week since 1959 – https://theconversation.com/identity-and-resilience-aboriginal-performers-have-been-singing-up-the-streets-of-sydney-for-naidoc-week-since-1959-234163

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Astrid R.N. Haas, Adjunct professor, University of Toronto

The economic growth paths of Asian and African countries have often been compared. China, with gross domestic product per capita of US$251 in 1987, was poorer than most African countries at the time. Uganda’s GDP per capita was US$392, Zambia’s US$319 and Ghana’s US$354. Yet today China has GDP per capita of US$6,091 and it is the world’s second largest economy. In Uganda, it is still only US$964.

Asia and Africa have urbanised at similar speeds. Africa is undergoing the fastest urban transition the world has experienced to date with projections that nearly 1 billion more people will live in Africa’s cities by 2050. Earlier, China was in the top spot: between 1978 and 2010, over 700 million people moved to China’s cities. The urbanisation rates in south-east Asia have been impressive as well and many of these nations have not even completed their urban transition yet.

There’s a difference too. Across China and south-east Asia, urbanisation has been coupled with industrialisation and, through increases in economic productivity, has been unlocking growth dividends and reducing poverty. The same pattern has not happened in Africa.

Much has been written to analyse how the urban transition happened, particularly in China, and what other parts of the world can copy from it. The “best practices” identified include policies around special economic zones, which have now proliferated across Africa.

Success in replication has been limited, at best. It’s not always remembered that China’s success did not happen overnight. It was not a linear process and not all regions benefited equally.

But something did happen in China and many benefited. As Chinese scholar Yuen Yuen Ang highlighted in her book How China Escaped the Poverty Trap, China’s economic reforms over this period were bold, broad and uneven. What lessons and ideas does that offer for Africa?

Africa: urbanisation without industrialisation

No country has reached middle-income status without undergoing a well-managed process of urban transition. However, although the urban transition in many African countries is even quicker than China’s, it has largely been decoupled from industrialisation. What the African experience is showing is that when urbanisation is not linked to investments in public infrastructure and services, it will amplify the downsides of dense living, such as the proliferation of informal settlements, congestion and contagion, as seen most recently with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publications about and comparisons of Chinese and African urbanisation have mostly come from the global north. Less comparative work has been done by African urban scholars.

This presents a learning opportunity, through better understanding some of the details of what actually happened. Therefore, as an African urban scholar myself, I did some initial research on this a few years ago, together with co-authors. We published our findings in the working paper Can Africa learn from the Chinese urbanisation story?.

Our conclusion was “yes” – but with caveats.

The first caveat is obvious but needs to be restated. China is a large country. Africa, by contrast, is a diverse continent with 54 countries and even more diversity in its cities.

And learning should not mean directly adopting what China did, which was very context specific. Rather, Africa’s scholars and policymakers now have the benefits of hindsight and should use this to carefully assess what worked and what did not, and why.

Perhaps most importantly, comparative learning can and should go both ways.

Deep dive into China’s urbanisation

I now have an ideal opportunity to build on this research and to learn directly from the Asian region itself, thanks to Hong Kong’s top-talent visa scheme, which allows me to live and work from the region for two years.

Nearly a year into my stay here, and through my expanding networks into the government, academic and private sector circles in Hong Kong, China and beyond, my own understanding of the urbanisation processes here is growing.

It’s an important time to engage especially with China. Through its Belt-and-Road Initiative, China is directly shaping many African cities through investments and policies. It’s visible in expressways, railways, and special economic zones.

There has been some growing concern with the amount and type of Chinese debt that some countries are taking on and under what conditions. So it’s necessary to understand what may be shaping policies and investment decisions from the Chinese perspective.

Over the coming year, I will be reflecting on what I’m learning in a series of articles for The Conversation Africa. These will touch on some of what I conclude are the most important factors from the African urban perspective, based on my research and work on African urbanisation over the past decade. I will also draw on leanings from academics who have studied and written both about urbanisation in China and the south-east Asian region more broadly.

Topics will include financing of public infrastructure, urban planning, special economic zones and smart cities, among others. These reflections will also form the basis of a more formal publication that I plan to write.

I reject the notion of establishing “best practices” and finding “a model” that can be directly replicated. As noted, China’s urban transition, although it happened quickly, did not happen overnight and was, like everywhere else in the world, rooted in deep historical, institutional, economic and cultural contexts.

It is exactly these idiosyncrasies that I want to understand and unpack: the messiness of the policy process, how policies were suited to local context, what challenges China faced and some of the opportunities and challenges we can glean from hindsight following over 40 years of implementation. These will direct “deposits” for what Yuen Yuen Ang, in an essay, calls the Non-Best Practice Bank of Knowledge, with the emphasis on the fact that “solutions can come in multiple forms, even in ways that contradict western best practices”.

This is the first in a series of articles that will look at Africa’s urbanisation and draw lessons from other countries.

Astrid R.N. Haas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. African urbanisation: what can (and can’t) be learned from China about growing cities – https://theconversation.com/african-urbanisation-what-can-and-cant-be-learned-from-china-about-growing-cities-233686

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel da Silva, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne

A very large factory fire in Melbourne sent plumes of thick, dark smoke billowing across the western part of the city on Wednesday afternoon, with authorities issuing warnings for people in surrounding suburbs. The fire has now been brought under control, but efforts to control the impacts will likely continue for days.

It has been reported the fire, which Fire Rescue Victoria said involved a large chemical explosion, was at a site run by the chemical blending corporation ACB Group.

That’s yet to be officially confirmed at the time of writing, but is consistent with the type of fire seen in media footage. ACB Group mixes together a range of different hazardous chemicals for various industries.

We don’t know at this stage exactly what was on site during the fire. But when I looked at a cached version of the ACB Group’s website on Wednesday afternoon, I could see they handle common flammable compounds such as fuels, corrosive substances, chemicals supplied to the automotive industry and various solvents and thinners. These chemicals are typically highly flammable.

The issue is that when you have so many liquids like these stored together, once a fire starts and you get an explosion, it will continue to grow and burn very intensely.

People reported seeing barrels exploding and launching themselves into the air, which makes it particularly hard to battle the fire.

In a fire with so much fuel, not enough air is available to completely burn those chemicals. This results in the plumes of thick, black, billowing smoke seen here.

Why is smoke from a fire like this a problem?

The first thing to remember is that all smoke is harmful. Typically, if you can smell smoke, it’s at a level where it could be impacting your health.

It’s not so much a function of what produced the smoke from Wednesday’s fire; it’s just there was so much of it and it was so concentrated.

Smoke contains ultrafine particles known as PM2.5 (PM stands for “particulate matter”). There might be other vapours in there specific to the fuel source – but even in the absence of those, smoke has particulate matter in it and that is harmful to health, no matter the chemical composition.

I looked at PM2.5 levels across Melbourne and at the start of Wednesday they were very low. But PM2.5 levels did spike in the west of Melbourne in the afternoon, reaching levels of concern.

Fortunately they have since come back down, but may increase again on Wednesday night as mixing slows down in the still night air.

If you are especially sensitive to particulate matter – for example, if you have asthma or a respiratory condition – and you ever find yourself close to smoke like this, you could do the following things:

• stay indoors or away from affected suburbs

• close ventilation openings

• close windows and doors

• try to isolate yourself in clean air and wait until the air quality has improved outside

• wear an N95 or P2 mask if must go outside.

It’s similar to what you would do in cases where bushfire smoke is affecting air quality.

Across broader Melbourne, though, the air quality threat quickly dissipated.

Longer-term effects

The more lingering environmental effect is the threat to waterways. The risk is the water used to put out the fire carrying chemicals, ash and debris from the fire to local waterways, which can cause problems for plants and animals. Authorities would be actively trying to manage that risk.

For humans, incidents such as these can contribute to the burden of air pollution that people in cities deal with over the long term.

This long-term exposure to poor quality air is now known to contribute to many conditions affecting almost every part of our bodies.

Gabriel da Silva does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How might the Melbourne factory fire affect health and the environment? An air pollution expert explains – https://theconversation.com/how-might-the-melbourne-factory-fire-affect-health-and-the-environment-an-air-pollution-expert-explains-234379

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Buchanan, Professor, Discipline of Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney

Australia is now in the same league as Lithuania, Estonia and Hungary when it comes to cutting real pay, according to a new OECD report.

These are the only countries where cuts in real pay – pay adjusted for inflation – have been more severe for low-paid workers than those on higher salaries.

The OECD’s latest Employment Outlook 2024 reports that, compared with the period immediately before the pandemic, real wages are lower today in 16 of the 35 countries.

Australia’s real wages are 4.8% lower than pre-pandemic levels while across the OECD real wages over the same period have, on average, risen 1.5%.

How did we get here?

Wages are an artefact of both market and institutional forces. As economist Thomas Piketty has noted, “technology and skills set limits within which most wages must be fixed”, while institutions such as unions and government policy determine the wage levels that actually prevail in any particular country at a given time.

In recent decades, the institutions that shape wages have been transformed. Employers today enjoy far more bargaining power than they did in the era of full employment capitalism (that is, the postwar era up to mid-1970s).

This has not been unique to Australia. The OECD reports that several countries with which we normally compare ourselves are also struggling with real wage decline.

These include Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Japan. Australia’s road to real wage decline has, however, been distinctive. There have been two profound changes.

The shift to enterprise bargaining

The first was to shift to enterprise bargaining in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before this change, Australia had a distinctive system that combined collective bargaining and arbitration.

Well-organised unions in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, road transport, warehousing and coal mining set standards for the rest of the community.

Industrial tribunals then generalised these gains by increasing award rates of pay for all workers. In a nutshell, it was a system where the wage gains of the strong flowed to the weak.

Enterprise bargaining destroyed that system. It meant wage increases for the strong were quarantined to the enterprises where they worked. The rest of the workforce had to fend for itself.

The very low-paid receive some minimal wage protection in the annual wage review directed at the most vulnerable members of the workforce. But even in this “reformed” system, wage leaders still played a role.

They set community norms that other workers could take as a standard for the going rate of a wage increase. With the decline of blue collar work and the rise of services, the nature of the wage leaders changed.

The changing workforce

In the 1960s, one in four worked in manufacturing, while other well-unionised blue collar sectors accounted for a further 15% of employment.

Today, manufacturing accounts for less than 7% of the workforce, and much blue collar work has been either replaced by automation or transformed through things such as outsourcing and labour hire.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, new sectors such as education and health emerged as pace-setters in defining wage norms.

Teachers and nurses in states such as New South Wales set standards through vigorous campaigns, and associated work value cases won wage rises of 8–10% in nominal terms and 4–5% in real terms.

These standards then flowed to other public sector workers and the community more generally as going rate wage increase norms.

All this ended in 2012. This marked the second major change.

In that year, the newly elected O’Farrell coalition government in NSW legislated for a cap that prohibited annual wage increases above 2.5% for state government workers.

This then became the norm as all other jurisdictions in Australia followed this model. This cap remained in place until the defeat of the NSW coalition government last year.

The cap worked with ruthless effect during the post-COVID inflationary surge. As a result, real wages for teachers, nurses and other government workers have fallen by more than 10% in the post-COVID era.

What will it take to change Australia’s real wage problem?

In 2023, the incoming NSW Labor government removed the cap, and wages for public sector workers began to move again.

Last year the average wage rise for NSW public sector workers was 4%. NSW Teachers achieved gains of between 10% and 14% in a one-year agreement. Paramedics gained an average of 8% a year in a three-year agreement.

Victorian nurses recently settled for 28.4% over four years.

These recent changes are indicative of addressing the first of the two major factors holding back real wage growth. But the restraint on wage growth entrenched in our system of enterprise bargaining remains.

Changing our approach

The OECD observes that in those countries where real wages have risen in recent times, inflationary pressures have been contained as businesses have taken a cut in profits.

Indeed, it notes

the growth … in profits over the last three years allows for more buffering against the inflationary pressures stemming from the recovery of real wages.

It is vital that the debate on wages policy move beyond the tired arguments of market economists fighting the battles of the past – obsessed as they are with a fear of a “wage-price” spiral.

In Australia, real wages have been suppressed for too long.

We need a mature debate on how this legacy can be overcome in a sustainable way. The OECD observations about excess profits providing the capacity to absorb future wage increases is an important contribution to the debate.

John Buchanan has been an academic for over 35 years. During that time he has undertaken applied research for governments, employers and unions. In the very recent past he has lead research teams that have generated new knowledge on wages policy for the NSW Teachers Federation and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. He is a member of the National Tertiary Education Union and was part of the bargaining team that negotiated the University of Sydney’s latest enterprise agreement between 2021 and 2023.

– ref. Why real wages in Australia have fallen while they’ve risen in most other OECD countries – https://theconversation.com/why-real-wages-in-australia-have-fallen-while-theyve-risen-in-most-other-oecd-countries-234362

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matteo Vergani, Associate professor, Deakin University

The Albanese government has named Jewish lawyer and businesswoman Jillian Segal as the county’s first antisemitism special envoy. The appointment was made in response to rising incidents of violence against Jewish people against the backdrop of the Gaza war. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would also soon appoint an Islamophobia special envoy.

So what are these roles and why are they needed?

When overseas wars reach Australian shores

Overseas conflicts often lead to tensions within diaspora communities. The Israeli–Palestinian war, due to its global symbolic importance and high death toll, is creating significant strain worldwide. Australia is not immune to this, and there have been ongoing incidents and friction that have the potential to fracture Australia’s multicultural society.

Since October 7 and the subsequent war, documented incidents of hate have dramatically increased, globally and in Australia. These have included antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents ranging from verbal abuse and graffiti to extremely serious incidents of physical assault.

This in turn has led both communities to feel traumatised, unsafe, and frustrated with the government’s inability to protect them. On top this, there is the feeling in both communities that these problems are not being taken seriously.

While antisemitism and Islamophobia were both tracked in Australia long before October 7, the recent escalation in Israel and Gaza has seen reports increase dramatically. The creation of antisemitism and Islamophobia envoys is one of the ways the Australian government is trying to address this delicate situation.

Antisemitism special envoys are not an invention of the Albanese government. They exist in many countries, including Canada, the United States and Germany.

In Australia, the antisemitism envoy’s responsibilities will likely include recommending stronger anti-vilification laws and better reporting of hate crimes. This will also likely include better support for hate crime victims, leading education and advocacy activities to combat anti-Jewish sentiment, and attending international conferences to discuss antisemitism with other global envoys. The envoy will report directly to the prime minister and the minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs.

Contestation around the nomination

Segal is the past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), an umbrella organisation for more than 200 Jewish organisations across Australia. The ECAJ has a broad national reach and more members than any other Jewish community organisation, considering the membership of its affiliates.

However, some Jewish voices have vocally opposed the ECAJ and its positions in support of the military operations in Gaza, which Segal has publicly endorsed multiple times. For this reason, smaller-scale Jewish community organisations such as the Jewish Council of Australia have criticised her appointment, saying it “risks breeding divisions”.

Another key point of contention is whether anti-Israel positions should be considered antisemitic. The ECAJ adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism (adopted by 44 countries globally, including Australia), which includes both incidents targeting Jewish identity and those targeting Israel using antisemitic themes, such as drawing comparisons between contemporary Israeli policy and that of the Nazis.

Some, including pro-Palestinian voices and critical voices within the Jewish community, criticise the IHRA definition of antisemitism, accusing it of being used to silence legitimate criticism of Israel. Supporters of the IHRA definition argue such criticism is permissible, but not when it uses antisemitic tropes or dehumanisation. The debate is highly contentious.

Where is the Islamophobia envoy?

Like the antisemitism envoy, Islamophobia envoys are not an invention of the Albanese government. Canada has a special representative for combating Islamophobia, and earlier this year, a UN general assembly resolution requested a special envoy to combat Islamophobia.

However, while Albanese announced one would be appointed soon, it’s been “more of a challenge”, and at this stage, the envoy has not been announced.

The reasons for this “challenge” were not explained by Albanese, so we can only speculate as to the reason behind the delayed announcement. It may be because it’s harder to identify a body that represents Muslim communities with a national reach comparable to the ECAJ. The ECAJ’s structure, with state-based constituents and affiliate organisations, has provided the Jewish community with a clear point of contact for the government and other stakeholders.

While there are national bodies such as the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), they operate both structurally and in practice quite differently to ECAJ. This means the Albanese government would have needed to consult more widely to get a truly representative insight into who the diverse Muslim community would support in the role.

Whatever the reason, the lack of announcement of the Islamophobia envoy alongside the antisemitism envoy risks giving the impression to Muslim communities that the government is not being evenhanded with both groups, a sentiment that is already felt by some.

However, the Albanese government would say such a conclusion is incorrect, and that although the government wanted to announce both envoys simultaneously, the antisemitism envoy was appointed now because of the upcoming World Jewish Congress in Argentina. In addition, Segal was secured months ago (her appointment was first flagged by Sky News in April, and the Islamophobia envoy will be announced soon as they are confirmed.

It serves no-one’s purpose to pit antisemitism and Islamophobia against each other, as both are manifestations of hate – and often perpetrated by the same individuals. Certainly, the war in Gaza complicates and heightens these matters, and navigating these complexities is precisely what the antisemitism and Islamophobia envoys will need to do.

Matteo Vergani receives funding from the Australian Human Right Commission, the New South Wales Government, the Canadian Government, Red Cross Australia.

Susan Carland has received funding from the Australian Research Council to research islamophobioa. She has received funding from the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Monash University to research antisemitism and Islamophobia. She is a board member of the Islamophobia Register Australia.

Dan Goodhardt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Australia has its first antisemitism special envoy, with an Islamophobia special envoy to follow. What will this mean? – https://theconversation.com/australia-has-its-first-antisemitism-special-envoy-with-an-islamophobia-special-envoy-to-follow-what-will-this-mean-234359

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Senator Fatima Payman, who quit Labor last week to sit as a crossbench independent, says she would advise Muslims not to form their own political party.

The Middle East conflict, which has greatly increased Muslim activism, has led to speculation of the possible formation of a Muslim party that could contest seats in western and south western Sydney and parts of Melbourne.

Payman has told The Conversation’s Politics podcast: “I can’t speculate what they plan on doing and not doing. But what I can say is, I don’t think it would be wise to have a Muslim party.

“And so if I was to advise them, I’d say, don’t establish a Muslim party because you need to look at your broader base.”

Different states had different demographics but “I just don’t think that would be conducive to the way things function in our democratic system”.

While it was the prerogative of those involved as to whether to go down that route, “if I was to advise whoever wants to start a party out there [I’d say] think about the bigger picture. Think about Australia as a whole.

“Think about how we look so different to what we did even 30 years ago. And we’re going to keep evolving into this melting pot of incredible cultures and, you know, identities and belief systems. And I think that’s just beautiful.”

Last week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned against faith-based parties. He said: “I […] don’t want Australia to go down the road of faith-based political parties because what that will do is undermine social cohesion”.

Payman pointed out there have been faith-based parties previously, and said a Muslim party would not challenge social cohesion.

“People are free to do what they want to do and [set up] parties they want to set up. There’s the fishers and farmers and all sorts of parties out there. So if people want to go down this route they can.

“It’s incorrect to […] not just politicise the Muslim faith, but also to make it seem like they’re a threat to social cohesion or it’s going to impact the way we politically engage.”

She said the important thing was to educate the community about their right to vote, how to use it effectively and how to understand the political system.

“A lot of multicultural communities out there have come from countries where democratic ways of governing is not established or is not a thing. And so for them, voting can be quite an alien concept. And so education is paramount to these communities.”

“They have the right to voice their concerns, to voice their opinions and if they think that their elected members or incumbent members are not doing a great job representing their voice, they can they can use the elections as a way of sending a message to their local representatives.”

Payman said if she were setting up a party – which she hasn’t ruled out – “I would not set up a Muslim-only party. I see the bigger picture of my constituency in Western Australia and know that I represent people from all walks of life.”

She said the genocide in Palestine was “not the only thing that I’m focused on. And that’s why it’s important for me to immerse myself within the broader West Australian community to understand what are the things that are important to them,”

She was not intending to play a major role in mobilising the Muslim vote at the next election.

“I don’t intend on doing that. But more power and strength to as many communities out there who want their voices heard.”

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Fatima Payman advises Muslims: ‘Don’t establish a political party’ – https://theconversation.com/fatima-payman-advises-muslims-dont-establish-a-political-party-234372

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman quit Labor after defying the party’s “solidarity” rule. Her action, spurred by the Gaza issue, has intensified Labor fears about the possible impact of the Muslim vote in some of its safe seats at the election.

The now-independent senator joined the podcast to discuss her decision, the challenges of regrouping as a crossbencher, and the impact of the Muslim vote.

Payman is bluntly against Muslims forming their own party:

I don’t think it would be wise to have a Muslim party. And so if I was to advise them, I’d say, don’t establish a Muslim party because you need to look at your broader base.“

In her position on Palestine, Payman insists she was following Labor’s platform:

I understood our platform to be very clear […] The advocates from Gough Whitlam to Bob Hawke to Paul Keating, all those big Labor giants who have been so outspoken on Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood. And knowing that the Prime minister himself has advocated for longer than I’ve been around. For me, I felt like this is the best time. Like, we’ve come from opposition, into government, we’re progressive. We’ve got our party platform in order. We know what our constituents and rank-and-file members want from us. So, I did not see it as a recipe for disaster.

On how she’ll vote on other issues, Payman styles herself as an independent voice for West Australians:

It’s going to be quite challenging and an interesting new chapter in my life because, obviously, I’ll have to go through each piece of legislation, understand how it’s going to impact West Australians. Make sure that I know what West Australians need from me as their independent voice in Canberra and then moving forward, make those big decisions. It’s no longer just following what the whip or the caucus decide as a whole.

On her identity, personal and public, she says:

I am a devout Muslim. That’s personal and private to me. I try praying five times a day. And I do rely on spiritual guidance. But that’s for me. That’s personal. When I’m serving the best interests of West Australians, I’ll be talking to people. I’ll be on the ground. I will listen to their concerns and be their voice in Canberra. And whether that’s through a party or me as an independent, [it’s] paramount for me to make it clear to everyone that, no, I will not be forming a Muslim party because I represent voices from all backgrounds, people from all walks of life, here in WA.

Asked what message she would give the local Jewish community, Payman says:

I’m very hopeful that in the time to come that there [will be] a ceasefire, to be able to see Israelis and Palestinians be able to live side by side within their own recognised borders, their own states, their own freedoms and liberties. And hopefully that will ease the tensions here in Australia because I believe that we can live in a harmonious society with our differences but focusing more on what brings us together and what the common denominator is here in Australia, and that’s that we’re all proud Australians.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Fatima Payman on the challenges and opportunities of being a crossbencher – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-fatima-payman-on-the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-being-a-crossbencher-234358

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic T. Jordan, Sessional Academic, Edith Cowan University

Many of us would like to think if we saw a stranger committing a crime, we’d be able to identify them later in a lineup. Even if it was only a fleeting glimpse, a haircut or a different outfit wouldn’t stop us recognising them again shortly after. Surely we’d remember their facial structure, or eyes or any distinctive marks?

Our research indicates probably not. Even subtle changes in appearance that can occur in a matter of days can make identifications incredibly difficult.

Having eyewitnesses accurately identify people suspected of crimes is a crucial part of police investigations. But as studies have repeatedly shown, it’s a fallible process that can result in wrongful convictions.

Here’s what we found about how even the slightest changes to someone’s appearance alter our ability to recognise a face, and why it’s so significant.

Read more:
How mistaken identity can lead to wrongful convictions

Hazy memories, wrongful convictions

In a criminal trial, the most compelling evidence is often the identification of a suspect by a witness to a crime.

Unfortunately, research has shown eyewitness identifications are often mistaken, resulting in the imprisonment of many innocent people. In the United States, evidence collected by the Innocence Project suggests identification errors contributed to 65% of wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence.

In Australia, the exact number of mistaken identifications leading to wrongful convictions is unknown.

However, there have been several high profile cases, like Terry Irving’s. Irving spent five years in prison after being mistakenly identified by witnesses to an armed robbery. This shows identification errors can and do contribute to wrongful convictions domestically.

Appearances can be deceiving

For many years, researchers have tried to understand and identify factors that contribute to mistaken identification.

In our study, 350 people were shown a photograph of a “guilty” suspect. They were then asked to identify that same person from a photographic lineup. Half of the lineups included the “guilty” suspect, the other half did not.

Photographs of lineup members were presented together (a simultaneous lineup) or one at a time (a sequential lineup). In some lineups, the “guilty” suspect had slightly shorter hair, their stubble was gone, and they were wearing different clothes.

While many criminals, such as bank robber Conrad Zdzierak, go to great lengths to avoid being recognised, this sort of effort may be unnecessary. We found participants were 50% less likely to correctly identify the “guilty” suspect when appearance changed in just a small way.

Participants who were 100% confident in the accuracy of their decision were also much more likely to mistakenly identify an “innocent” suspect, whom they had never seen before, when appearance changed than when it had not. Regardless of their accuracy, identifications made with high confidence are extremely persuasive in court.

Police have direct control over how the lineups are conducted. Alarmingly, we found the method used to present lineups and the position of the suspect in the lineup did not improve the accuracy of identification when the suspect’s appearance had been altered.

Collectively, our findings suggest when perpetrator appearance changes in the delay between a criminal event and police lineup, witnesses may mistake them for different people. Even changes that occur naturally, easily and often appear to lead to large declines in identification accuracy.

Based on this, eyewitness researchers and policymakers may have greatly overestimated the capabilities of eyewitnesses in making identifications from lineups in the real world.

Where to from here?

Several exciting innovations in the field of police lineups have emerged in the last decade that (in theory) might better reflect the limited recognition capabilities of eyewitnesses.

For example, a range of experimental lineups have recently been developed that do not require witnesses to make a categorical (yes/no) identification. These new procedures frame recognition as similarity or matching tasks, where witnesses rate how closely lineup members resemble their memory of a perpetrator.

Although such procedures are not yet recommended for investigative and legal purposes, they might represent the future of police lineups and may help to reduce wrongful convictions associated with mistaken identifications.

Read more:
Kathleen Folbigg pardon shows Australia needs a dedicated body to investigate wrongful convictions

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Think you could pick a criminal suspect out of a lineup? If they’ve shaved or changed their clothes, you’d probably fail – https://theconversation.com/think-you-could-pick-a-criminal-suspect-out-of-a-lineup-if-theyve-shaved-or-changed-their-clothes-youd-probably-fail-233117

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lyndell Bruce, Senior Lecturer in Sport Science, Deakin University

Are you too old to be an Olympian?

If you are older than 18 and not already competing at a high level of sport, it’s unlikely you’ll compete at the Olympics.

The oldest Olympian ever was 72 but that was back in 1920 – Oscar Swahn was a Swedish shooter who completed at three Olympics, winning three gold medals.

At the other end of the scale, Australia’s Chloe Covell is 14 and has booked her ticket to Paris in skateboarding. She is a world champion silver medallist, X Games gold medallist and ranked fourth in the world.

The demands of a sport – physical, technical and tactical – have a large bearing on the age at which athletes reach optimal performance.

In endurance sports such as triathlon and distance running, athletes typically peak in their early-to-mid 30s.

In contrast, gymnasts and divers typically reach peak performance earlier, with women around the age of 16 and men early-to-mid 20s.

This can affect the age at which talent is identified.

Talent identification and early specialisation

Usually, athletes have been participating in their sport for many years before competing at an Olympics.

They have accumulated many hours of practice but these hours may not all be in their chosen sport, which is unlikely to be a bad thing.

Why? Because specialising in one sport from an early age can lead to burnout and an athlete dropping out of the sport.

It’s useful for athletes to pursue more than one sport for the sake of diversity. For every Rafael Nadal – who reportedly trained maniacally by the age of seven – there are multiple athletes who have quit their sport and not made it to the highest level.

Research exploring the developmental histories of Olympic and world champion athletes shows they often sample several sports before specialising.

They were often not typically successful as a junior athlete and had invested similar amounts of sport-specific practice as athletes who had specialised earlier.

Participating in multiple sports as a child provides greater adaptability as an athlete, as children can develop various physical, technical and tactical skills due to the varying nature of sports.

What about talent transfer?

Another avenue for identifying talent is through the process of talent transfer.

Talent transfer occurs when an athlete stops participating in one sport (maybe due to injury, failing to reach a certain level or retiring from their sport) and then takes up another sport that likely has similar attributes.

Often, the skills learnt in the first sport can be transferred to the second.

Australia has a strong history of using talent transfer with younger athletes, including the successful diving program of the NSW Institute of Sport and the aerial skiing program of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia. In both cases, gymnastics is typically the “donor” sport.

Talent transfer has also put older elite athletes on the path to success.

Notable examples include Jana Pittman, a former multiple world champion 400m hurdler who, after retiring from athletics, transferred into bobsleigh. Within two years she competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

You need not only the right fit of athlete but also importantly, the right coaching talent for successful talent transfer.

That is, specialist and experienced coaches who can see the future skill potential in an athlete and can capitalise on the athlete’s prior training history and skills.

Athletes may be approached directly by a sport coach or administrator to transfer. Alternatively, as an athlete exits a sport, they may be advised to try a different one, or they can attend “come and try days” or “talent identification days” which match them with a sport.

What about the Paralympics?

Talent identification is likely to be different in Paralympians. Some athletes acquire a disability while others have a congenital disability.

For some Paralympians, the ascent to a world class level can be very fast.

Australia’s Lauren Parker had a serious training accident in 2017 when preparing for an Ironman race that left her with paraplegia.

After just three months of training, Parker was able to transfer her able-bodied skills and experience into para-triathlon and win a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2022, she won gold at the world championships and now also competes in para-cycling.

Within Australia, regular talent identification programs are run, such as Paralympics Australia’s talent identification days and the Queensland government’s YouFor2032 program, which aim to identify Paralympic talent.

What do talent identification and development programs do?

Specialised talent identification programs typically focus on physiological testing such as sprinting, jumping and endurance. In some instances, match or competition performance is also assessed.

Every sport has a different process for how they identify talent. And the age of talent identification varies as well.

For team sports, young athletes are often selected into representative teams. This then leads to regional and state representation.

For individual sports, athletes are often identified by their result, like a time or distance. The best performing athletes then represent the district and potentially progress to state and national competitions.

Physical attributes are often used to identify athletes. However, in young athletes this leads to a phenomenon know as “the relative age effect” – when children born in, or close to, a critical age cut-off period may have a sporting advantage.

Research has shown coaches make decisions about talented athletes on the basic of their tacit knowledge or instinct.

However, coaches do not always agree on the potential of athletes.

Athletes who excel are provided opportunities for further training and coaching.

A successful environment for the talented athlete is one where they are supported, which includes appropriate coaching related to their age and rate of development. An emphasis on health and wellbeing (not solely focusing on their athletic pursuits) and the athlete’s long-term development are also important.

While age is important for athletes and coaches with Olympic dreams, it shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all for competitors at lower levels.

Organisations need to sometimes “look outside the square” and take a chance using varied identification strategies and not look at a prospective athlete’s age but their “X factor” and mindset.

The author would like to thank Juantia Weissensteiner for her contributions to the article. Juanita is the Principal Advisor of Pathways at the NSW Office of Sport and has a research background in talent identification and talent transfer.

Dr Lyndell Bruce receives funding from the Victorian government Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, and the Australian government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

– ref. Are you too old to be an Olympian? Spoiler alert: probably – https://theconversation.com/are-you-too-old-to-be-an-olympian-spoiler-alert-probably-227782

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Bartlett, Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle

We’re in the midst of a bad cold and flu season in Australia. Along with the usual viral suspects, such as influenza, RSV, and rhinoviruses (which cause the common cold), bacterial pathogens are also causing significant rates of illness, particularly in children. These include Bordatella pertussis (whooping cough) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Meanwhile, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) is responsible for recurring waves of infection as it continues to evolve and mutate into new variants which keep it a step ahead of our immunity.

The latest variant is nicknamed “FLuQE”, and is reportedly gaining traction in Australia and other countries. So what is there to know about FLuQE?

From FLiRT to FLuQE

In recent months, you may have heard of the “FLiRT” subvariants. These are decedents of the Omicron variant JN.1, including KP.1.1, KP.2 and JN.1.7.

KP.2, in particular, significantly contributed to COVID infections in Australia and elsewhere around May.

The name FLiRT refers to the amino acid substitutions in the spike protein (F456L, V1104L and R346T). Amino acids are the molecular building blocks of proteins, and the spike protein is the protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 which allows it to attach to our cells. These changes in the spike protein arise from mutation – random changes in the genetic code of the virus.

SARS-CoV-2’s goal is to select mutations that produce a spike protein that binds strongly to our cells’ receptors to support efficient infection (sometimes called viral fitness) while avoiding neutralising antibodies in our immune system (immune pressure).

The FLiRT mutations seem to reduce the ability of neutralising antibodies to bind to the spike protein, potentially enabling the virus to better evade our immunity.
But at the same time, it appears the immune pressure which has selected for these mutations may have affected the ability of the virus to bind to our cells.

These findings are yet to be peer-reviewed (independently verified by other researchers). However, they suggest the FLiRT variants may have traded in some ability to infect our cells for a spike protein that’s more resistant to our immune system.

According to experts in Australia and internationally, what appears to have occurred with FLuQE is an additional mutation has restored fitness that may have been lost with the FLiRT mutations.

FLuQE (KP.3) is a direct descendant of FLiRT, meaning it has inherited the same mutations as the FLiRT variants. But it has an additional amino acid change in the spike protein, Q493E (giving FLuQE its name).

This means the amino acid glutamine at position 493 has changed to glutamic acid (the spike protein is 1,273 amino acids long). Glutamine is a neutral amino acid, whereas glutamic acid has a negative charge, which changes the properties of the spike protein. This could improve the ability of the virus to infect our cells.

It’s still early days for FLuQE and we don’t have peer-reviewed research on this yet. But it appears we now have (another) immune evasive virus that is also well adapted to infecting our cells. It’s no surprise, then, that FLuQE seems to be becoming dominant in many countries.

What next?

We would expect with widespread transmission of and infection with FLiRT and FLuQE variants, population immunity to these variants will mature, and in time, their dominance will be supplanted by the next immune-evasive variant.

The tug of war between our immune system and SARS-CoV-2 evolution continues. The issue we are dealing with now is vaccines don’t sufficiently protect from infection or suppress virus transmission. While they’re very good at protecting against severe disease, the virus still infects lots of people.

As well as the burden on people and health care, lots of infections means more opportunities for the virus to evolve. The more “rolls of the dice” the virus has to find a mutation that helps it evade our immune system and infect our cells, the more likely it is to do so.

Next-generation vaccines and therapies really need to boost immunity in the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) to reduce infection and transmission. This is where infection initiates. A human challenge study, where volunteers are experimentally exposed to SARS-CoV-2, showed people who didn’t become infected had a robust anti-viral immune response in their upper respiratory tract.

To this end, there are immune-stimulating nasal sprays and nasal vaccines in clinical development. The hope is this approach will slow down the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the emergence of new subvariants that continue to drive waves of infection and disease.

Fortunately, so far these mutations have not generated a virus that is obviously more pathogenic (causes worse disease), but there are no guarantees this won’t happen in the future.

Nathan Bartlett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. From FLiRT to FLuQE: what to know about the latest COVID variants on the rise – https://theconversation.com/from-flirt-to-fluqe-what-to-know-about-the-latest-covid-variants-on-the-rise-234073

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris North, Associate Professor, Outdoor and Environmental Education, Te Kaupeka Oranga Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury

Most of us will remember a school trip – that sense of excitement and anticipation of days spent outside the classroom, away from school and home, making new friends, appreciating teachers and parents in a new light.

Indeed, what is known as “education outside the classroom” (EOTC) provides some of the most important and memorable school experiences. Along with field trips, theatre performances, noho marae and international exchanges, “school camp” can add so much depth to educational experiences.

In 2020, a national study showed more than 96% of schools saw EOTC as an important part of school life. They valued the way it enhances learning and engagement, enriches the curriculum, develops relationships between students and staff, and works for different types of learners.

But school trips also demand a lot of teachers, on top of what we already expect of them. As well as the duty of care to their students, there are the legal requirements governing school trips to consider.

In fact, our research was inspired by the concerns we began hearing from teachers and principals worried about the impact the Health and Safety at Work Act may have on the EOTC experience.

Our newly published research shows how anxiety about legal liability and the burden of paperwork are affecting teacher attitudes to EOTC. Already busy, many feel overworked and under-trusted.

At the same time, some schools continue to run EOTC at similar or even higher levels than previously. We wanted to know what differences exist between these schools.

Risk and reward

EOTC trips take students into environments far less controlled than classrooms. Busy roads, swimming pools, machinery and outdoor hazards all contribute.

So, EOTC is not without its dangers. In the past 24 years, there have been 22 fatalities during school trips in New Zealand, with 20 of those drownings.

International studies of fatalities on school and youth group excursions conclude most could have been prevented. Clearly it’s important teachers plan these trips carefully.

The purpose of health and safety law is that everyone comes home healthy and safe. The law creates expectations that all practicable steps will be taken to avoid accidents. And it allows for fines or imprisonment for serious breaches.

These penalties can be applied to school board trustees, principals, teachers, parents and even students in some situations.

As with all laws, of course, those governing EOTC can have a variety of effects. They can make people think and act differently, or they can encourage the appearance of compliance without real behavioural change.

How schools are responding

Importantly, we found strong evidence teachers and principals cared deeply for the learning and safety of their students.

They spoke of their anxiety when “driving other people’s babies” and how they lost sleep when their students were away on trips. In short, they did not take the responsibility of EOTC lightly.

However, the Health and Safety at Work Act adds legal and bureaucratic responsibilities to those natural human anxieties. We found three responses to this from teachers and principals.

1. Stop offering EOTC

In our survey, 44% of schools indicated the law was reducing EOTC, while only 35% said EOTC was not affected.

Stopping EOTC obviously removes the safety risk, fear of legal liability and need for extra paperwork. But it also deprives students of valuable learning experiences.

2. Put little effort into paperwork

The time between filling out forms and the actual school trip can be considerable, and some teachers found it difficult to see the links between paperwork and any benefit to students. Some saw it as simply “butt covering and box ticking”.

While understandable at one level, this clearly raises concerns about depth of engagement. If an incident were to occur and the paperwork didn’t show proper planning, or was not relevant to what was actually happening on the trip, it could contribute to legal liability.

3. Continue to run EOTC programs

We found around a third of teachers and principals were now offering EOTC at the same or a higher level than they had in the past.

In these cases, there was some combination of four enabling factors: competent staff, systems to minimise paperwork, a specialised EOTC coordinator to support teachers, a whole-school commitment to EOTC, and attending professional development courses.

Saving the school trip

Schools are influenced in different ways by health and safety law, with secondary schools less affected than primary or intermediate ones. We think larger school size and more staff, including specialist teachers, may explain some of this difference.

For small or rural schools, limited staffing can make EOTC more challenging. Schools in the highest 20% of socioeconomic areas had fewer concerns. This may be due to them having more resources, but further research into this is needed.

We understand the law governing EOTC adds to the workload on teachers and principals already struggling with resource constraints and other demands on their energies.

But the research shows how perception and observance of the law is limiting student access to the rich and diverse educational experiences available through EOTC. There are ways to overcome this, however.

As well as focusing on the four enablers referred to above, schools can keep trips more local and focus on lower-risk activities. This will reduce the stress and paperwork, and help support EOTC in these challenging times.

The research project received funding from Education Outdoors New Zealand. He is a board member of Education Outdoors New Zealand.

– ref. Legal risk and more paperwork: do health and safety laws threaten the great Kiwi school trip? – https://theconversation.com/legal-risk-and-more-paperwork-do-health-and-safety-laws-threaten-the-great-kiwi-school-trip-233982