Eureka Street

Keywords: Legislation

AUSTRALIA

Reflecting on the year that was
- David Halliday, Michael McVeigh, Laura Kings, Michele Frankeni, Andrew Hamilton, Julian Butler
- 18 December 2024
To close the year for Eureka Street, the editorial team are taking a step back to reflect on the character of 2024. What did it demand of us? What did it teach us about ourselves, and the world we inhabit?
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AUSTRALIA

Coles, Woolies and the battle for the basket
- Claire Heaney
- 13 December 2024
For years, Coles and Woolworths have been accused of squeezing both producers and shoppers in equal measure. With new regulatory changes on the horizon and a web of inquiries underway, the supermarket duopoly finds itself under unprecedented scrutiny. But will these reforms actually lower grocery bills?
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EDUCATION

The hidden cost of digital childhood
- Peter Hosking
- 11 December 2024
In a world reshaped by smartphones and social media, Generations Z and Alpha grapple with rising anxiety, diminished attention spans, and the erosion of real-world connections. As governments and parents push for reforms, the challenge is clear: how can technology serve young people’s growth without exploiting their vulnerabilities for profit?
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AUSTRALIA

New immigration laws treat humans as parcels
- Andrew Hamilton
- 04 December 2024
Australia’s recent immigration detention laws reveal a stark shift in governance, prioritising power over human dignity. As families face indefinite separation and bureaucrats enforce policies with brutal efficiency, the High Court's rebuke offers a glimmer of ethical resistance. But can such laws truly claim legitimacy in a democratic society?
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AUSTRALIA

Offshore people dumping by a spooked government
- Frank Brennan
- 04 December 2024
1 Comment
When High Court rulings challenge government policy, they usually prompt reflection and refinement. But for the Federal Government, a recent decision on non-citizen rights has sparked a legislative overreach, mirroring the Opposition’s hardline stance.
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AUSTRALIA

Can a ban save kids from social media’s harms?
- Binoy Kampmark
- 04 December 2024
In a move that’s been both lauded as necessary and criticized as overreaching, Australia has enacted legislation banning social media for users under 16, placing enforcement squarely on Big Tech. But behind the legislation lies a contentious debate: does prohibition protect, or does it merely shift the harm?
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AUSTRALIA

Housing is a human right. It's time it became law
- Kevin Bell
- 29 November 2024
2 Comments
With unaffordable housing pushing families into impossible choices, homelessness affecting 120,000 people, and systemic inequities deepening, we must ask: What kind of society do we want to build — and for whom?
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AUSTRALIA

What happened to the Greens?
- Erica Cervini
- 25 November 2024
4 Comments
Once seen as the champions of climate action and progressive politics, the Greens are now grappling with internal chaos, falling poll numbers, and a disillusioned voter base. From controversies over identity politics to disputes about housing and Middle East policies, the party is facing a critical question: What do they stand for today?
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AUSTRALIA

Long-term detention, curfews and ankle bracelets for asylum seekers under the rule of law
- Frank Brennan
- 08 November 2024
7 Comments
Last week, Australia’s High Court blocked government restrictions on non-citizens with criminal records. As Parliament scrambles to impose new restrictions, Chief Justice Stephen Gageler’s court remains steadfast against policies deemed discriminatory and excessively punitive.
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AUSTRALIA

Demonic youths and sacred children
- Binoy Kampmark
- 31 October 2024
3 Comments
Two narratives dominate Australia’s view of children. The first casts them as dangerous, irredeemable offenders. The second, as vulnerable innocents threatened by risks online. Both anxieties reveal deep-seated tensions over safety, innocence, and societal responsibility.
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MEDIA

On lying
- Michele Frankeni
- 15 October 2024
Two years ago to the month, I wrote in this column of my despair and disgust of the impunity with which society leaders and politicians didn’t just shade the truth, but buried it six-feet deep and then gleefully stomped on it. In the past week, a couple of things reminded me of that piece and about the role truth plays in our public discourse. It reminded me how fragile our grasp on reality has become, and why that matters.
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AUSTRALIA

A second try at combatting disinformation
- Frank Brennan
- 25 September 2024
3 Comments
The Government is making another valiant effort to rein in the adverse effects of ungoverned digital platforms. But in debating such a detailed bill without the backstop of a constitutional or statutory bill of rights recognising the right to freedom of expression, there are no clear guard rails for getting the balance right.
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Keywords: Legislation