As we head into Christmas, it’s finally slowing down a bit – for politics at least.
The Northern Territory Juvenile Justice Inquiry has started with Dylan Voller giving evidence to the Commission. Voller, whose treatment in the Don Dale Prison was featured in the Four Corners story that sparked the set up Commission, talked about tear gassing, starvation, being deprived of toilet facilities and being put in isolation. He’s currently in an adult prison, but he has said that he isn’t proud of his past and wants to turn his life around.
The government has finally signed off on Badgerys Creek Airport, meaning it will be built over the next ten years or so. It will start with one runway, but will not get a second until 2050. There are also concerns over the flight paths and 24/7 operating hours, as well as the fact that while there will be a road link in place by the time the airport is built, there are no plans for a rail link – with the NSW government saying they want to wait and see what the demand is.
Aboriginal groups are putting pressure on the federal government to start working on a treaty, after South Australia announced it was setting aside $4 million to start working on their own treaty.There are debates over whether or not there should be a treaty at all, as well as questions over what should be the priority – reconciliation or closing the gap.
Also this week, there has been some Liberal and Labor fighting, after robo-calls from the ACTU regarding pension changes, suggesting that pensioners will get less money, and the Liberal’s counter robo-calls saying that the changes affect very few and benefit more people. It’s bound to lead to some confusion and anxiety amongst pensioners who probably now have no clue whether their pensions are increasing or decreasing.
Finally thus week, the High Court has ruled that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will have to block several piracy sites including the Pirate Bay; there is a push to continue to fund research in the Antarctic and keep the current Antarctic Treaty going so as to avoid militarism of the continent; experts say the power and electricity infrastructure needs to be upgraded in he next twenty years; it has been two years since the Lindt Café Siege. and it was marked with a memorial service; and there are calls to change the ATAR University entry system.
That’s all from me for now, so have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Tweet of the Week
The trials and tribulations of working in current affairs – one day you’re a “lefty” and the next you’re a “right-wing nut”.
Things I’ve Been Looking at Online
The difficulties of caring for adult children with disabilities – ABC Online
Leigh Sales on her top ten interviews of 2016 – ABC Online
Kara L 