Gladys Makes Masks Mandatory in Greater Sydney
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has just made face masks mandatory in greater Sydney, as the region records seven locally acquired cases of Covid-19. The Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Order 2021 makes it mandatory from midnight tonight – Saturday 2nd January, to...
Federal Government’s New IR Laws: Further Weakening Employee Protections
Despite all the horrors and restrictions of the COVD-19 pandemic period, there was a positive moment towards the beginning that saw the federal Coalition displaying concerns about how everyday Australians on the ground were going to cope with the accompanying...
As the Climate Crisis Accelerates, Morrison Shrugs Off a Future for Short-Term Profit
Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the regular UN climate conference - COP26 - was postponed. But rather than simply forget about the ever-intensifying impacts of the climate crisis, the UK, France and the United Nations teamed up to run...
New Year’s Eve During COVID-19: Restrictions on Gatherings and Movements
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that New Year’s Eve fireworks will go ahead this year, but is discouraging attending them amidst concerns about the spread of COVID-19. In fact, a New Year’s Eve pass is required to enter the...
What is a Police ‘Move On Direction’ in New South Wales?
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has slammed ‘backpackers’ who partied in Bronte Park on Christmas Day, saying they blatantly ignored physical distancing advice. Up to 500 people gathered for the event, with beers in hand, allegedly ignoring the alcohol free rules...
Police Accused of Revenue Raising Over Mobile Phone Fines
In a year when we all need compassion more than anything else, police around Australia have shown very little of it. No one is suggesting they haven’t had a challenging time enforcing ever-changing pandemic-related health regulations, but New South Wales...
NSW Police Officer Criticises the Use of Excessive Force Against Protesters
In a widely-distributed open letter to NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller, a senior member of the NSW Police Force Public Order and Riot Squad has drawn attention to a situation that’s seen “excessive force” being deployed by state police with...
What is a Biosecurity Emergency Declaration in Australia?
There have been glimmers of hope that life might be getting back to ‘normal’ post pandemic in Australia, but the Federal Government announced this week that the soon-to-expire biosecurity emergency period implemented in March 2020, will be extended a further...
Governments Must Address the Homelessness Crisis
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in Victoria, the government made an unprecedented decision: to provide temporary accommodation for thousands of homeless people – to get them off the streets, and into safe places where they could practise social...
NSW Government Wants “Retrograde” HIV Testing Laws: An Interview With ACON’s Brent Mackie
The Berejiklian government recently introduced a bill that requires people to undergo mandatory blood testing to see if they have a blood-borne disease - specifically HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C - if they deliberately expose a health, emergency or...
