Jessica Mutch McKay

The Australian Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds, issues a compelling statement addressing the recent challenges facing the rights and well-being of children in Australia. In response to the distressing incident of a youth detention fatality in Western Australia and the prevailing efforts to intensify youth crime legislation in various states, Commissioner Hollonds emphasizes the inadequacy of a punitive approach towards children involved in criminal activities, echoing decades of research that deem such methods ineffective. Commissioner Hollonds calls upon the National Cabinet, convening this Friday, to prioritize the national agenda for child well-being, emphasizing the importance of early intervention strategies to tackle the fundamental causes of youth offending and the necessity for comprehensive legislative reforms nationwide. This plea is reinforced by the Commissioner's landmark report on child justice, which underscores the critical need for proactive measures to safeguard the rights and future of Australia's children. The existence of youth detention facilities in Australia has sparked my interest in understanding the procedures and conditions within these establishments. As an individual who has not previously encountered such cases, I am deeply troubled by the practice of detaining young individuals and question the duration of their confinement in these facilities. I firmly believe that children should not be deprived of the opportunity for bail when facing arrest and detention. I am enthusiastic about delving deeper into this subject to gain a comprehensive understanding of its implications for the youth affected. I advocate strongly for parents to acknowledge their responsibilities and be answerable for the consequences of their children's actions. It is crucial for parents to fulfill their obligation to provide proper guidance and education to their children, recognizing that mistakes are a natural part of their developmental process. The harsh realities experienced by children in detention centers highlight the pressing need for a compassionate and effective approach to address these issues.

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Thanks Matt… Journalism in Oz has many many challenges, but MEAA is extremely uncomfortable with the idea that governments and legislation should control what constitutes journalism or who is a journalist. What could possibly go wrong hey? MEAA, and the Australian Journalists Association before it, has 100 years of working with Australian journalists, upholding ethics via MEAA’s Journalist Code of Ethics, and advocating for media freedom.We are concerned about who would decide who is a journalist and who is not. It’s critical that these decisions are made by industry peers who understand first-hand the challenges of journalism in Australia.A Media Freedom Act would not provide solutions to the real and ongoing issues journalists face, such as defamation laws, restrictive Freedom of Information processes and court suppression orders. These are critical concerns that continue to limit journalists' ability to report freely and effectively every day in serving the public’s right to know.MEAA is focussed on addressing the deeper structural and systemic issues that are threatening journalism today — broken business models, the rise of misinformation and disinformation, the pressure on news media outlets to chase clicks, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence and social media. MEAA is committed to elevating quality journalism and journalistic standards in Australia. On Monday I will be addressing the impact of social media on journalism when I appear before the Joint Parliamentary Committee looking at Social Media and Australian Society. 

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Not everyday two of the major #auspol polling firms deliver their latest Federal politics analysis within the same MSM media cycle. Some very interesting polling data after one of the more fractuoua periods in Australian & western society for many years. RoyceComm Nine Newspapers & the Resolve Political Monitor paints a stark picture around cost of living biting alongside a sliding Labor primary vote, a firmer Coalition post Voice referenda l bounce still very strong > 1/3 of electorate 3rd party voting cohort. 2PP all square ALP 50 / Coalition 50.The Age Over at The Australian & the long-standing ‘Newspoll’ has similar trend lines but a stronger Labor primary (a 33% instead of a just 30%) & a retained 51/49% 2PP across party outcome. Three weeks out from the all-critical Federal Budget, technically the last of this first-term Govt as an election will be due by May 2025. The dynamics are widespread & increasingly fascinating. #ausbiz #politics #newspoll #elections2024 #labor #liberal #elections2025 #costofliving #inflation #budget2024 #australianpolitics #crime #socialorder

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A Central News investigation has uncovered deeply concerning allegations about the safety of women in #Sydney's nightclubs, particularly within Merivale-own Ivy – one of the top Sydney nightspots. 🚨 Our reporting reveals: – Claims that staff at Ivy are required to sign NDAs when working on VIP floors. – A young woman's account of being mistaken for a sex worker and taken to a VIP area at Ivy. – A viral TikTok video with allegations of young women being taken to a secluded area in an unnamed Sydney nightclub. – An anonymous forum created by UTS Law student Jessica Helinski has gathered over 60 responses detailing alleged incidents of sexual harassment, assault, and drink spiking at Merivale venues. These are serious allegations that demand further scrutiny. CN has reached out to Merivale for comment, but they have yet to respond as we published the story. We are committed to shedding light on this issue and giving a voice to those who feel unsafe in Sydney's nightlife. More stories to come from CN as our investigation continues. Disclaimer: *CN does not suggest the allegation in the TikTok relates to Ivy or any other Merivale establishment. There is no evidence to suggest where the incident occurred, and social media comments on the piece are only speculation. CN also does not suggest any employee of Ivy or Merivale has committed a crime or done anything illegal. Read the full investigation on Central News by Geneviève Blandin de Chalain: https://lnkd.in/g96f_KvM #SydneyNightlife #MeToo #WomensSafety #Merivale #Accountability #CNInvestigates Central News UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) University of Technology Sydney

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I offered a bet to anyone at the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) #RadComms event yesterday - that by 2034, we’ll be discussing Interplanetary Spectrum Management. I don’t think it’s a huge gamble to believe that ten years from now, rapid advances in space technology mean we’ll have the first transmission tower on Mars. It’ll make for some interesting diplomacy at International Telecommunication Union WRC-35 where international spectrum planning decisions are made! Australia stands to disproportionately benefit from rapid advances in satellite technology - so Australia has a disproportionate role to play in the WRC-27 planning process. Communications Alliance will be there every step of the way.

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