The Turnbull Government has made it clear that ‘all options are on the table’ when it comes to tax reform. With a constant re-assurance that fairness is the most important element, is this really achievable? There has been recent media hype surrounding the proposal by South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill, regarding his proposal to…
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*TW: Discussion of domestic violence* Domestic violence is a horrific epidemic. One in three women experience a form of domestic violence from the age of 15, and almost two Australian women are killed by partner abuse each week. Persistent gender inequalities continue to run rampant in our society. This can be seen in double-fold: the…
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In 2007, Channel Nine made Jessica Rowe redundant while she was on maternity leave. This was following an incident the previous year when the editor-in-chief, Eddie McGuire, was caught saying he wanted to ‘bone’ her. Rowe has made headlines with her recent book Is This My Beautiful Life?, which bravely explores her public scrutiny, sexual…
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With a recent survey revealing that one in thirteen teenagers have contemplated suicide, it is clear that humanising mental illness is more important than ever. This is the goal of Project UROK (you-are-okay), which uses personal testimonials to normalise these struggles and offer support. Public figures, such as Wil Wheaton and Bobby Long,…
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The 2016 presidential election is looming in Taiwan. With both major parties being led by women, Hung Hsiu-chu and Tsai Ing-wen, the country seemed poised to make history with their first female president. Now, with James Soong joining the race for presidency, this is no longer so certain. A competing factor is the distinct…
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*Trigger Warning: Discussion of Rape* New findings show more than 70,000 rape kits remain untested in the US, leaving victims with no justice or resolution. These kits, which collect forensic evidence from sexual assault, are vital for successful persecution and stopping serial rapists from offending again. In 2001, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest…
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Bellini’s masterpiece, I Puritani, originally premiered in 1835, and has since rarely been performed due to it’s complex vocal scores. Last Thursday, a stellar cast made a single gala performance as a production by Victorian Opera. This bel canto rendition definitely lived up to expectations. Aesthetically, the simple presentation worked in the show’s favour, with…
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In May, ten asylum seekers launched a High Court challenge against the Federal Government. The Human Rights Law Centre, representing the refugees, argued that the government had no clear legislative authority for offshore detainment, making it illegal. Another point of the case was to address whether using $1.2 billion of taxpayer money to run…
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I have sympathy for Tim Hunt. First, the public shaming, and now, according to an interview in the Observer, being “hung out to dry” by scientific establishments. I agree that this situation would be horrendous for anyone, and that these comments may have very well been a nervous error, a miscommunication or a…
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The Senate has recently passed legislation which will give underpaid workers with intellectual disabilities 50% of their owed wage, on the condition that they waive their right to take court action or pursue the rest of their back payment. The 10,000 workers have been paid as little as $0.99 per hour under the Business Services…
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A two-year study of modern day hunter-gatherer societies has dismissed the idea that sexual equality is a new invention, or that it emerged with modernity, instead suggesting that egalitarianism was a norm for early civilisations. The anthropologists leading the discovery have also proposed that these early values are the indirect cause for human cooperation and…
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Kim Kardashian is surprising everyone with her recent involvement as Executive Producer in upcoming documentary, #RedFlag. The hour-long special will air during US Mental Health Awareness Month to explore mental health and its relationship to social media. After its premiere, Producer, Dr Drew Pinsky also plans to have an interactive follow-up and similarly themed programming…
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After Hillary Clinton’s announcement that she will be running in the US Presidential Election next year, the drastic transformation of her image from cold and calculating to feminine and soft has raised many questions regarding her policy stances, sincerity and motives. Clinton is no stranger to media spotlight, coming under scrutiny while acting as First Lady…
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Lady Sings It Better is an impressive cabaret group of four women, who are performing in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, that deliver a clever mix of musical talent and entertainment, with underlying feminist themes and hard-hitting pop culture critiques. The ladies, Maeve Marsden, Libby Wood, Annaliese Szota, and Fiona Pearson,…
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