Media raids are a threat to democracy

Editor's note

This week has seen two high-profile raids on the media – on Tuesday, it was the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst; yesterday, it was the ABC’s turn, for a 2017 series of stories known as “the Afghan Files”. Rebecca Ananian-Welsh writes that these events have confirmed fears raised by Australia’s enhanced data powers and broader suite of secrecy offences – namely, the demise of source confidentiality and the potentially chilling effect on public interest journalism.

Meanwhile, building owners face costs to replace combustible cladding that Simon Lockrey and Trivess Moore calculate could add up to as much as $1.6 billion in Victoria alone if the process isn’t well handled.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

On Wednesday, the AFP raided the ABCs Sydney headquarters in relation to the 2017 “Afghan files” report. AAP/David Gray

Why the raids on Australian media present a clear threat to democracy

Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, The University of Queensland

This week's raids on journalists and media outlets show not just the risk to those doing work in the public interest, but the potentially chilling effect it will have on more such journalism being brought to light.

The Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne’s Docklands district rang alarm bells about the risks of combustible cladding back in 2014. MFB

Flammable cladding costs could approach billions for building owners if authorities dither

Simon Lockrey, RMIT University; Trivess Moore, RMIT University

Estimated costs for Victoria alone range from hundreds of millions to as much as $1.6 billion If work to rectify buildings fitted with combustible cladding isn't well handled.

Isabel, on left, when she was working for Mangankali Housing Company, talking to politicians and/or bureaucrats on the Wollai, the Aboriginal reserve at Collarenebri. Family collection, provided to author.

Hidden women of history: Isabel Flick, the tenacious campaigner who fought segregation in Australia

Heather Goodall, University of Technology Sydney

Denied an education in 1930s Australia because she was too black, Isabel Flick went on to fight segregation at her local cinema in the early 1960s. She became a powerful campaigner for Indigenous rights.

Science + Technology

Electronic monitoring bracelets are only crime deterrence tools, they can’t ‘fix’ offenders

Lacey Schaefer, Griffith University

Electronic monitoring can help deter people from committing further crimes, but it needs to be used along with other crime prevention methods.
The gene therapy revolution is here. Medicine is scrambling to keep pace

Elizabeth Finkel, La Trobe University

As we enter an era where once incurable diseases become curable, be prepared for some challenging debates about how to pay for gene therapy and the value of a human life.
We taught bees a simple number language – and they got it

Scarlett Howard, Université de Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier; Adrian Dyer, RMIT University; Andrew Greentree, RMIT University

We're left wondering whether we as humans are so very special after all – that perhaps the ability to learn mathematics could be universal.

Education
Is my child being too clingy and how can I help? Elizabeth Westrupp, Deakin University When children are being clingy, they're communicating their feelings. This is normal and healthy. Parents can help by acknowledging the feelings that come with their child's behaviour.

Health + Medicine

Kids are more vulnerable to the flu – here’s what to look out for this winter

Christopher Blyth, University of Western Australia; Kristine Macartney, University of Sydney; Samantha Carlson, University of Sydney

Children's immune systems are more vulnerable to the flu; even kids who are otherwise healthy can develop complications. The best way to protect children is by having them vaccinated.
It’s perfectly legal for doctors to charge huge amounts for surgery, but should it be allowed?

Louisa Gordon, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

It is perfectly legal for a doctor working in private practice to charge what they believe is fair and reasonable. But that doesn't mean it's OK to charge tens of thousands of dollars for a procedure.

Environment + Energy

How we’re helping the western ground parrot survive climate change

Shaun Molloy, Edith Cowan University; Robert Davis, Edith Cowan University

Here's how climate change affects recovery efforts for the elusive western ground parrot.
Australia should give victims a voice in tackling environmental crimes

Hadeel Al-Alosi, Western Sydney University; Mark Hamilton, UNSW

Evidence shows restorative justice can help fix environmental crime – so why isn't Australia using it more?

Politics + Society
Press, platforms and power: mapping out a stronger Australian media landscape Tim Dwyer, University of Sydney; Timothy Koskie, University of Technology Sydney The quality of Australian media was heavily criticised during the 2019 election campaign. So what can be done about it?