News

Editorial coverage from the Melbourne Australia Wire newsroom.

Culture
Verbatim theatre uses the real words of real people. But can an edited truth ever be real?
Both theatre and God have been proclaimed to be dead or dying for longer than most can remember. For God, it was Nietzsche, Derrida and Altizer; the theatre, Grotowski and Kiesler.
SyndicatedDavid Simes, Teaching Assistant and Researcher, Te Whare Ngangahau – Theatre and Performance Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington19 Oct 20264 min read
Environment
There’s a hidden bias affecting what we know – and don’t know – about nature
Our knowledge about life on Earth is built through research on how organisms function, evolve and interact with each another and the environment. Yet there are far more species on our planet than scientists can study in detail.
SyndicatedPietro Pollo, Visiting Fellow, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW19 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Why do I keep getting mouth ulcers?
If you’ve ever had a mouth ulcer, you’ll know even the smallest sore on your lips, gum, tongue or inside cheek can make eating and talking extremely painful.
SyndicatedAmit Arora, Associate Professor in Public Health, Western Sydney University16 Oct 20264 min read
Business
The government wants trusts to pay a minimum 30% tax. What’s behind the changes?
This week, the federal government introduced into parliament proposed changes to discretionary trusts, imposing a new minimum 30% tax rate on income from trusts.
SyndicatedRobert B Whait, Senior Lecturer in Taxation Law, Adelaide University16 Oct 20264 min read
Technology
Kids and teens are going to AI chatbots for advice. How can parents make sure this is safe?
Last week, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett warned artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are not a sufficient replacement for human support for children.
SyndicatedAmy Dawel, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University16 Oct 20265 min read
Health
Replacing just 10% of ultra-processed foods with whole foods linked to drop in bowel cancer rate
Replacing 10% of your intake of ultra-processed foods with minimally processed foods is linked with 2% lower incidence of bowel cancer, according to our new analysis of data from more than 460,000 US adults.
SyndicatedErikka Loftfield, Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer16 Oct 20264 min read
Culture
Winston Peters says ‘diversity is disunity’ – what does the evidence tell us?
When New Zealand First leader Winston Peters recently announced his party’s immigration policy by saying “diversity is weakness and disunity”, he deliberately set himself apart from the political pack.
SyndicatedPaul Spoonley, Distinguished Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University16 Oct 20264 min read
Environment
Earth’s oldest evidence of life is written in stone – but it’s at risk of disappearing
Today, our planet is teeming with life, but it has not always looked the same. Long before forests reached skyward, animals walked on land, and the rise and fall of dinosaurs, our planet was shaped by a much smaller, more unassuming form of…
SyndicatedHeidi Jane Allen, Paleontologist, The University of Melbourne16 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Grattan on Friday: Labor will need yet another budget backtrack to resurrect some of its health rebate cut
The ins and outs of some of the seemingly endless fights over the Albanese government’s budget measures are often arcane or difficult for many people to easily understand.
SyndicatedMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra15 Oct 20265 min read
Government
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Greens Senator Steele-John to be investigated
The Western Australian Greens will investigate allegations that Senator Jordon Steele-John has behaved inappropropriately towards women.
SyndicatedMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra15 Oct 20262 min read
Technology
Australia’s ‘digital duty of care’ was just introduced to parliament. So what’s in the bill?
Communications Minister Anika Wells has introduced Labor’s digital duty of care bill into parliament. The legislation amends the Online Safety Act, designed to protect Australians from online harm.
SyndicatedKimberlee Weatherall, Professor of Law, University of Sydney15 Oct 20265 min read
Culture
Sally Rooney’s books are being withdrawn from sale in the UK, due to her support for Palestine Action
Internationally acclaimed Irish novelist Sally Rooney has announced that she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the United Kingdom.
SyndicatedJulian Novitz, Senior Lecturer, Writing, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology15 Oct 20265 min read