Editorial Opinion

It's not often that a question from a stranger prompts you to reflect so deeply on your home country, but that's what happened in Palau, a small Pacific Island nation located in Micronesia when a local driver asked me last week: "How does Australia treat Aboriginal people?"

I couldn’t help but feel bemused upon reading that the Federal Court ordered the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) to pay $9 million in legal costs to Australian energy provider Santos last week. The case stemmed from years of litigation over 'Santos' $5.8 billion Barossa gas project, which aims to supply energy to northern Australia and beyond.

Senator Lidia Thorpe has been labelled everything from an embarrassment to polarising, unfiltered, coarse, and intimidating. The politician many love to hate, her brand is controversial and self-promoting.

In recent weeks, a slew of reports across different sectors have made for uncomfortable reading, exposing the extent of harmful and pervasive toxic workplace cultures, including allegations of racism, bullying, and sexual harassment.

I've been reading about the rise of fake, random acts of kindness on social media. This phenomenon involves social media influencers staging heart-warming moments or doing kind things for others to gain likes and attention or stand out online. These gestures may seem spontaneous, sweet, and innocent initially, but they are cleverly orchestrated for maximum impact.

Last month, the Senate Inquiry into Murdered First Nations Women and Children wrapped up after two years. It included sixteen hearings and over 80 submissions. The 227-page Inquiry report highlighted ongoing patterns of systemic failures across Australia, noting that First Nations Women and children remain disproportionately affected by violence.