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ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
Four Corners: S2025 Trump's Power and the Law
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West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Post and boast: Lawyer's warning crackdown on ‘crim-fluencers' could target ‘political material' online
Labor's post and boast laws could face a legal challenge, with environmental activists worried they could be jailed for filming protests and demanding a free speech exemption. Hoons are the primary target of a crackdown on 'crimfluencers' online, announced during the State election campaign, but legal advice that was commissioned by the Australian Democracy Network claims the legislation could 'unjustifiably infringe' on 'free' political communication. The Conservation Council of WA has written to Attorney-General Tony Buti, urging him to excuse 'protest and satire' from the laws. 'We share the concerns of youth justice advocates and legal professionals who say the laws may have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly young people,' CCWA executive director Matt Roberts wrote. 'We are also concerned the legislation may unintentionally lead to the repression of peaceful, non-violent protest, including for environmental causes.' The Cook Government insists only law-breaking protesters have anything to fear. 'The post and boast laws do not impinge on the right to lawfully protest,' a Government spokesman said. 'They will only impact those breaking the law and glorifying illegal activity'. But Mr Roberts claims a blockade protesting the Barnett Government's Roe 8 highway in 2017 is an example of activity that could become illegal to film and debate online. 'People would have posted some of that and Labor backed that,' he said. 'So when we talk about whether it's lawful or not, people don't actually have to be charged with a crime or convicted in any way for these laws to come into effect against them. 'It seems to me overreach for what we're trying to achieve here, when it comes to protest and people putting themselves on the line because they're concerned about the future of our country. 'I think cooler heads need to prevail at this point and we just need to actually hit pause on this because the unintended consequences seem very significant.' WA Justice Association co-founder Tom Penglis has warned the legislation's current form could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech. 'There is no evidence that 'post and boast' laws deter crime. They're based on 'vibes' not evidence,' he said. 'The proposed laws will unquestionably outlaw the sharing of certain political material, including videos of direct-action activities and non-violent civil disobedience.' The post and boast legislation is due to be introduced on Tuesday, when State Parliament resumes from its winter break. It was announced in January, as part of Labor's $22.5 million community safety package. 'These are laws that we committed to at the election,' Premier Roger Cook said on Friday. 'They're to make sure the Police Commissioner and his team have the resources and the laws they need to reduce the incidents of people going out there bragging to their mates about how they're breaking the rules, flaunting the laws of this State and putting people at risk. So we think this is important.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
WA hit with ninth meningococcal case in 2025
Health authorities have confirmed an adult has been diagnosed with meningococcal B. WA Health said the adult is currently recovering in hospital from the uncommon but life-threatening illness. Meningococcal is caused by a bacterial infection in the blood or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. The five most common strains are A, B, C, W and Y. The bacterium is present in droplets from the nose and throat when coughing or sneezing but is not spread by saliva and does not survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Nine cases of meningococcal have been reported this year, seven of which were type B, one type Y, and another unconfirmed. Last month, WA Health reported the type Y case, an older adult, had died. It was the first death related to the disease this year. There are two types of meningococcal vaccine available, one for MenACWY and another for MenB. The MenACWY vaccine is free for children at 12 months. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can have the MenACWY jab as early as six weeks, as well as the MenB vaccine for free up to age two. The MenB jab is also free for other children with specified medical conditions. It follows a sustained push from advocacy groups and the Opposition for the State Government to fund the MenB vaccine. At present, two doses of the jab in WA costs between $320 to $350 outside of specified groups.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
WA Health authorities confirm ninth case of meningococcal in 2025 as the adult recovers in hospital
Health authorities have confirmed an adult has been diagnosed with meningococcal B. WA Health said the adult is currently recovering in hospital from the uncommon but life-threatening illness. Meningococcal is caused by a bacterial infection in the blood or membranes that line the spinal cord and brain. The five most common strains are A, B, C, W and Y. The bacterium is present in droplets from the nose and throat when coughing or sneezing but is not spread by saliva and does not survive more than a few seconds in the environment. Nine cases of meningococcal have been reported this year, seven of which were type B, one type Y, and another unconfirmed. Last month, WA Health reported the type Y case, an older adult, had died. It was the first death related to the disease this year. There are two types of meningococcal vaccine available, one for MenACWY and another for MenB. The MenACWY vaccine is free for children at 12 months. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can have the MenACWY jab as early as six weeks, as well as the MenB vaccine for free up to age two. The MenB jab is also free for other children with specified medical conditions. It follows a sustained push from advocacy groups and the Opposition for the State Government to fund the MenB vaccine. At present, two doses of the jab in WA costs between $320 to $350 outside of specified groups.
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Babies dying from syphilis in Australia ‘of national significance'
Syphilis has officially been declared a 'communicable disease incident of national significance'. Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd made the declaration following record notifications of infectious syphilis and a growing number of preventable congenital syphilis cases resulting in infant deaths. It is a sobering reminder of the health inequities facing rural, remote, and First Nations communities, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) said. The crisis reflects long-standing gaps in access to timely testing, treatment, and antenatal care, despite syphilis being entirely preventable and treatable, ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin said. 'In many rural and remote communities, the local rural generalist is the only doctor available,' Martin said. 'They provide everything from antenatal care to STI screening and treatment, and they must be supported with the workforce, training, and tools to respond effectively.' From January 1 to August 6, Australia has already recorded 3546 cases of infectious syphilis and 11 cases of congenital syphilis, leading to four infant deaths. In 2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had infectious syphilis rates seven times higher than non-Indigenous Australians. Since 2016, more than half of all congenital syphilis cases have occurred in First Nations babies. One in three affected infants have died. In 2023, there were 6566 cases of infectious syphilis and 20 cases of congenital syphilis reported in Australia, resulting in 10 infant deaths. Between 2016 and 2024, 99 cases of congenital syphilis were reported. Of these children, 33 infants died. More than half were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants. 'Every one of those deaths is a tragedy,' Martin said 'We know syphilis often presents without symptoms, but with early testing and treatment, congenital syphilis is entirely preventable.' CRRM continues to work to strengthen culturally safe care and grow a skilled rural generalist workforce, Martin said. To help support rural generalists in delivering high-quality sexual health care, ACRRM has launched a new STI and HIV Care course. The course is designed to give doctors the skills and confidence to conduct evidence-based STI and HIV consultations, assess risk, and manage follow-up care, with content applicable to practice nationwide. 'We're committed to giving rural generalists the tools they need to care for their communities because that's what ultimately saves lives,' Martin said. He urged all Australians who are sexually active, especially those planning for a baby, to get a sexual health check. 'Testing is simple, treatment is effective, and awareness is essential to preventing serious outcomes — including a perinatal death rate of up to 30 per cent.'
