There is no space of time more intense for Australian party leaders than the weeks leading up to the day of the federal election. We know this, because there seems to be very little practical work going for the rest of the year. Though it seems that during this week of hand shaking and baby…
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Campaign 2016 closes up for Australia’s political hopefuls in just two days. Recent research based on Twitter users suggests young people and women are the group most undecided – or more aptly, weighing up their options – about how to exercise their democratic right. As the federal election’s vote grows nearer, sometimes a…
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Content Warning: this article contains mention of rape, rape culture and victim blaming ‘… we should not make the mistake that law can provide the solution to the oppression that it celebrates and sustains’ – Carol Smart in Feminism and the power of law This quote from Carol Smart has been banging around in my…
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The federal election is now less than a month away, and in the past week or two, the issue of women’s participation in sport has managed to make its way onto the mainstream agenda. It appears that the two major parties are vying to demonstrate who is better committed to women’s sport. With…
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In 2009, the Salvation Army capitalised on the discrimination of sex workers through a derogatory promotion for their Red Shield Appeal. After protests and a threat of a “red ban”, the Salvation Army were forced to publically apologise and withdraw their ads about “Rick”, an alleged sex worker they had “rescued” from his industry. Unfortunately…
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Ira Trivedi is the bestselling author of What Would You Do to Save the World?, The Great Indian Love Story and There Is No Love on Wall Street. Her latest book and first work of non-fiction is India in Love: Marriage and Sexuality in the 21st century, a landmark book on India’s new social revolution…
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LGBT community gets behind suspended La Trobe academic Roz Ward In the wake of private Facebook comments criticising the Australian flag as ‘racist’, academic at La Trobe University in Melbourne and founder of the Safe Schools Coalition Roz Ward was suspended from her position at the university. The hashtag #IStandWithRozWard was created by LGBT people…
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First ever Indigenous woman to contest Miss World Australia For the first time ever, an Indigenous woman will be contesting the Miss World Australia competition. Maminydjama ‘Magnolia’Maymuruis a 19-year-old Yolgnu woman and will be representing the Northern Territory. She says she’s come out of her shell to compete in the competition ‘for all the young…
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Mia Freedman criticised for auctioning off an internship for Mamamia Founder of Mamamia, Mia Freedman, has come under fire online for auctioning off a ‘priceless’ internship at the organisation – for $10,000. While the money raised will go to Caritas Australia, Freedman has already faced criticism in the past for underpaying writers. The criticism comes…
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Winners and losers: it’s a dichotomy Treasurer Scott Morrison wants to ditch when Australians discuss the Turnbull Government’s Federal Budget for 2016-17. He’d prefer to talk about jobs and growth. But Scott Morrison has too much privilege to tell us how to speak about this Budget. The fact of the matter is, if you are…
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First female Muslim magistrate in Victoria Urfa Masood will become the first Muslim woman magistrate in Victoria, with the appointment announced by the Attorney-General on Tuesday morning. Ms Masood has previously worked in criminal and family law, as well as experience with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. Triggs: Australia must respect Papua New Guinea’s decision…
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Jessica Jones and Master of None honoured by Peabody Awards Critically acclaimed TV shows Jessica Jones and Master of None have been recognised by the judges of the prestigious Peabody Awards. In particular, the judges applauded Jessica Jones for asking ‘unpopular questions about power and consent’. Yay for recognition! Prince dies aged 57 In the…
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Maley: the hypocritical reaction to child welfare cases Jacqueline Maley writes for the Sydney Morning Herald on Australia’s response to two different cases this week – the 60 Minutes botched “child rescue” in Lebanon that has left the crew in jail and a mother charged with the death of her 14-month-old daughter in Melbourne. Why…
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NSW police officers found trolling Greens MP online Lovely. It has been discovered that serving members of the NSW Police Force trolled Greens MP Jenny Leong on Facebook with racist and sexist comments. The member for Newtown was attacked with racist and lewd messages after she introduced a bill to the NSW lower house to…
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