Vaccine passports are coming

Yesterday, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the state’s roadmap out of COVID lockdown.

Once 70% of the state’s over-16 population has been vaccinated, restrictions will ease for fully vaccinated people. This includes being able to visit gyms, retail and hospitality establishments, and other venues, and have five people to your house.

Victoria is also planning a two-track future, with Premier Daniel Andrews saying “we are going to lock out people who are not vaccinated and can be”.

But how will we prove our immunity?

Katie Attwell, a vaccine uptake expert from the University of Western Australia, explains how this might work across Australia – and it could be as simple as a certificate on your smartphone.

Liam Petterson

Deputy Editor, Health + Medicine

Today's newsletter supported by The Conversation

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Vaccine passports are coming to Australia. How will they work and what will you need them for?

Katie Attwell, The University of Western Australia

Australians will soon need to prove they’re fully vaccinated to do things like travel overseas and visit restaurants and pubs.

AAP

Grattan on Friday: Morrison is wedged between Biden and Barnaby in forging climate policy for Glasgow

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

In the lead-up to the climate conference in Glasgow, and with increasing pressure from the Biden administration, Scott Morrison finds himself beset by the limited flexibility of the Nationals on climate policy.

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I’d prefer an ankle tag: why home quarantine apps are a bad idea

Toby Walsh, UNSW

Home quarantine apps face serious privacy, security and bias issues. Home detention ankle tags might be a better option.

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COVID gives us a chance to rethink traditional end-of-school exams, and move into the 21 century

John Fischetti, University of Newcastle

Our educational model, and particularly end-of-school assessments, are based on old modes of practice that no longer serve the 21st century student and their future. We have other options.

AAP Image/James Ross

How urban soundscapes affect humans and wildlife — and what may have changed in the hush of lockdown

Kurt Iveson, University of Sydney; Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney

Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown.

A Taliban fighter stands guard at Sarai Shahzada market in Kabul. Wali Sabawoon/AP/AAP

20 years after 9/11, the American colossus has gone and the Middle East remains strife-torn

Tony Walker, La Trobe University

After 20 years that cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, America’s engagement in the Middle East appears to be over. So what happens now?

Mark R. Cristino/AP

The Philippines passes the 2 million mark as COVID-19 cases surge in Southeast Asia

Michael Toole, Burnet Institute

The Philippines has reported 34,000 deaths in the pandemic. It’s now in its fourth wave and with vaccination levels at just 14%, case numbers continue to soar.

Les Cayes in south-western Haiti was hardest hit by the August 2021 earthquake. Orlando Barria/EPA

Haiti’s history of political fragility makes its recovery from disaster even harder – podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation

Plus, new research chronicling the experiences of Japanese Americans interned by the US government during the second world war. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Arts + Culture
Friday Essay: an introduction to Confucius, his ideas and their lasting relevance Yu Tao, The University of Western Australia Confucius looked nothing like the great sage in his own time as he is widely known in ours. But his ideas continue to shape contemporary life for many.

Science + Technology
Technology is key for refugees starting new lives in Australia. But women and children don’t have equal access Tadgh McMahon, Flinders University; Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University Refugee women reported less internet use than men across all online activities, including banking, education, health services and social services.

Politics + Society

Australia’s ‘A’ rating on human rights is under threat with a handpicked, politically engineered commissioner

Justine Nolan, UNSW

An open process for appointing commissioners is necessary to preserve the Human Rights Commission’s independence and legitimacy.
Who are my parents? Why New Zealand’s ‘creaky’ surrogacy laws are overdue for major reform

Debra Wilson, University of Canterbury; Annick Masselot, University of Canterbury; Martha Ceballos, University of Canterbury

Judges have described New Zealand’s surrogacy parentage laws as ‘creaky’ and ‘inadequate’. The Law Commission has finally proposed significant reform.

Health + Medicine

Counselling almost always happens in a room — what if more people had the option of going outside?

Will W Dobud, Charles Sturt University

During COVID, many therapists took their sessions online. But others went outside with their clients, taking a leisurely stroll through a near-by park.
We’re sick of COVID. So government messaging needs to change if it’s to cut through

Ernesta Sofija, Griffith University; Natalie Reyes Bernard, Griffith University

After what feels like a never-ending 18 months of lockdowns and COVID-19 saturated government messages, we’re all just a bit over it.

Business + Economy
Qantas fights on against court ruling it unlawfully sacked 2,000 workers Anthony Forsyth, RMIT University Few Australian companies have been as harsh as Qantas in dealing with employees through the pandemic.

Environment + Energy

A promising new dawn is ours for the taking – so let’s stop counting the coal Australia must leave in the ground

Frank Jotzo, Australian National University; Mark Howden, Australian National University

The world is moving away fossil fuels, and there’s nothing Australia can do about it. Racing to dig up and sell whatever fossil fuels we can before the timer stops is not a future-proof strategy.

Education
Why universities may come to regret the costs of City Deals and private sector ‘solutions’ Geoff Hanmer, University of Technology Sydney A capital funding squeeze led universities to seek new ways of developing their campuses. It now appears city CBDs and developers might do better out of those deals than universities.