Anonymous online voices allow people to ‘do and say anything’
asserted
people → allow → anything
Liberal MP Dan Tehan has raised concerns about the impact of anonymous online accounts on inflammatory political discourse.
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Tehan → raise → discourse
He told ABC Radio National:
The problem we’ve got at the moment is the anonymous voices online.
I’m a big believer in freedom of speech or always have beat, but I’ve always strongly believed that you have to put your name to your words.
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you → tell → words
That’s the key.
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That → ’ → ?
In the community, those who disagree tend to do so respectfully, he said.
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he → disagree → community
What you tend to see online is the people who are there, anonymously, will just do and say anything.
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who → tend → anything
Now, whether that then heightens it, I don’t know, but I sort of, it’s always the question of balance.
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it → heighten → balance
Auditor-general examining if detention in Victorian police cells breaches human rights
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detention → examine → rights
The Victorian auditor-general is investigating the detention of people in police cells, after Guardian Australia revealed the practice routinely led to the force breaching its own guidelines.
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force → investigate → guidelines
The auditor-general’s office confirmed it was set to examine whether Victoria Police and the department of justice “manage prison and police cell capacity to support human rights and the efficient functioning of the justice system”.
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Police → confirm → system
Guardian Australia reported in November last year that the process of “decanting” was resulting in people being moved hundreds of kilometres across Victoria as the government grappled with tougher bail laws and a shortage of prison beds and corrections workers.
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government → report → beds
This was also leading to people spending more than the 14 day-target in police cells, and, in some cases, meant they were serving their entire sentences there.
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they → lead → sentences
In announcing the audit earlier this month, the Victorian auditor-general’s office (Vago) said:
Police cells are designed to hold people for short periods, such as after arrest and for bail hearings.
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cells → announce → hearings
However, in 2025 there were media reports of police holding prisoners in police cells beyond the recommended 14-day limit.
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police → be → limit
When cells at one station are full, police may transport individuals to other stations.
uncertain
police → transport → stations
In some reported cases, police have transported individuals hundreds of kilometres away.
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police → report → kilometres
This can mean that prisoners miss their court appearances and do not have easy access to their lawyers and health services.
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prisoners → mean → lawyers
This undermines both prisoners’ human rights and the proper functioning of the justice system.
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This → undermine → system
Vago noted that Victoria’s recent bail reforms were also likely to increase pressure on prison beds and staff capacity.
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reforms → note → beds
It said in a statement to Guardian Australia that the audit was underway and was expected to be tabled early next year.
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audit → say → Australia
Safety concerns and threats have changed ‘dramatically’ for politicians
Cabinet minister Mark Butler has said this sitting week offers an opportunity to to discuss ways to keep MPs, their families and staffers safe.
Asked by ABC Radio National if much had changed during his time in parliament, Butler said:
It’s changed dramatically in my time.
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It → change → time
I’ve been here for almost 20 years and security has changed, and the federal police, in my experience, have been very, very responsive to our requests when there are threats or the possibility of me going to an event.
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me → change → event
But just the number and the nature of threats of violence and death, not just to MPs, but to their children and to their partners and to their staff, is like nothing we saw 20 years ago.
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we → see → nothing
Politicians to sign ‘civility pledge’ following alleged attack on Haines
The speaker of the house, Milton Dick, will call for civility in parliament today, and some politicians are expected to sign a “civility pledge”.
Independent MP Helen Haines was the first to sign this pledge before she was allegedly attacked last week.
Fellow independent Kate Chaney, on Monday told ABC radio she would be adding her name:
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she → sign → name
I think there’s something really symbolic about the fact that Helen was [the first] federal MP to have signed this.
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Helen → think → this
It just says ‘in my political life I pledge to act with honesty, respect, and compassion’.
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I → say → honesty
That feels to me like a simple and poignant way to honour the contribution Helen’s made to the parliament and continue to try to embody those values that she personifies in the way that I do my work in parliament.
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I → feel → parliament
All Australian women will soon be able to attend a pharmacy for UTI treatment or re-supply of hormonal contraception, as the federal government expands a trial program to lower health care costs.
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government → attend → costs
This program was previously restricted to concession card holders, but health minister Mark Butler and minister for women Katy Gallagher announced on Monday that it would be expanded to benefit an estimated 900,000 women.
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it → restrict → women
The 12 month trial, to begin from early 2027, will allow Australian women to access pharmacy treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and initiation or re-supply of hormonal contraception.
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women → begin → contraception
The federal government will cover pharmacist consultation costs, of up to $38 per visit.
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government → cover → visit
Gallagher said:
For too long, women’s experiences of the health system haven’t received the attention they deserve.
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they → say → attention
We’re determined to change that.
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We → ’re → that
We’re making practical changes that give women more choice, make health care more accessible and help save women thousands of dollars over their lifetimes.
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care → make → lifetimes
Butler added:
We want to make it easier for women to get care that fits into their lives.
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that → add → lives
MPs to ‘try to do justice’ to wounded fellow MP Helen Haines
Parliament will mark a solemn start to the sitting week as politicians pay tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, who was rammed by a vehicle outside her electoral office.
asserted
who → try → office
The popular crossbencher was allegedly targeted in a deliberate attack when she was struck by a four-wheel drive on the main street of the Victorian town of Wangaratta on 19 October.
uncertain
she → target → October
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will deliver a speech to parliament on Monday, reflecting on the alleged assault and its impact, and invite colleagues to do the same.
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minister → deliver → same
Fellow independent MP Monique Ryan described Dr Haines as the parliament’s “most gentle, principled and kind” member ahead of her planned remarks in the lower house.
“People who love her will try to do justice to Helen’s integrity and leadership,” she said.
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she → describe → integrity
“I hope that all members will rise to the occasion as Helen would do were she with us.
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she → hope → us
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
