Because children are being harmed every day by unreasonable, inhumane and cruel decisions and processes in Family Law and child protection which are not child-focussed or child-friendly and without any meaningful consultation with the children involved.

*****UPDATE 2017***** The Tootgarook Swamp, also sometimes called Boneo swamp is a groundwater dependent wetland (fen) found on the Nepean Peninsula in Victoria. It is the largest example left of a Shallow freshwater marsh in the entire Port Phillip bay and Western Port Bay region, at ~650 hectares (According to the Tootgarook Wetland Ramsar Nomination Feasibility Study 2015 BMT WBM for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council) it is worthy of international Ramsar protection. Much of the Tootgarook swamp is inappropriately zoned as residential, and industrial with a large portion of it outside the green wedge. This key area of biodiversity at the urban Growth Boundary is the area most under threat is inappropriately zoned to the north and has been identified in a report (Purnell, C and Herman, K., 2016. Tootgarook Swamp Bird Monitoring Program – Year 2 Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council by BirdLife Australia) as Core range and nationally significant, critical habitat for the Australasian Bittern (EN, EPBC) and a range other EPBC and FFG listed species. The largest accumulations of waterbirds was observed across this particular area of the Tootgarook Swamp. The swamp contains fifteen state, federal, and international protected species of fauna, along with another seven-species listed as vulnerable. The majority of species threatened with extinction in Victoria are wetland dependent. Tootgarook Swamp has so far recorded 159 bird species, 13 reptilian species, 9 amphibious frog species and 12 mammals, including 5 bats, no full survey of the entire swamp has ever been done to show its true value, and much of the current data has been collected during drought time. Though recently the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has made steps to undertake the larger bird and fauna surveys and has undertaken the Tootgarook Wetlands strategy thanks to your support something that we have been heavily involved in and we are continuing to gather data from bird surveys it is one facet that has been yielding results The swamp is also home to at least nine bioregional endangered plant communities. (Update) Though a local ecologist believes up to 24 bioregional endangered plant communities exist within the swamp and updated on ground flora surveys need to be commenced. There had been approximately 80 hectares is marked with (update) no present development proposals we have been successful at VCAT (most recent Nov 2016) with other stakeholders in showing the value of the Tootgarook Swamp. Instead of coming up continually against inappropriate development rezoning is needed. Though within this area the biggest threat the most significant risk to this area, similar to Roe8 in Western Australia is a freeway reservation for the Southern Peninsula section of what is known as Peninsula Link it cuts though the most sensitive area of the entire wetland. Did you know there are only 4% of total wetlands left in Victoria that are greater than 100 hectares , and of the original wetlands in the state we have already lost over 37% in the last 200 years. Of the 100% of shallow fresh water marshes in Victoria, 60% has been destroyed. It has high cultural significance for the Bunurong / Boonerwrung people of the Kulin nation, it’s name purportedly meaning land of the growling frog. High scientific value also exists as pointed out by Sir Frederick Chapman in 1919, Australia’s first nationally appointed palaeontologist and world authority in the field of ostracods (a type of small crustacean), and close companion and co-worker with Sir Douglas Mawson. Sir Chapman personally visited and studied within Tootgarook Swamp where he catalogued numerous fossils and ostropod species not seen anywhere else but in Tasmania showing a link of a land bridge between the two states. The Tootgarook swamp is described by Geologist A. Shugg as “The swamp is a natural groundwater discharge area lying close to sea level” and that “The swamp forms a window to the aquifer through which ground water discharges”. Climate change wise the Tootgarook Swamp is a peat regenerating wetland, the most threatened form of wetland type internationally, as a peat regenerating wetland it is a major carbon storehouse (Blue Carbon), exceeding that of forests. You might wonder, will the loss of a few wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp really make much difference? Well, biodiversity is a complex fragile structure. It may be helpful to think of the ecosystem as a woven carpet, if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it, or it might unravel the whole carpet. Wetlands are threads keeping the ecosystem carpet together and as we pull out more wetland threads the ecosystem begins to unravel causing lots of problems. So help us keep this unique wetland for our biodiversity and future generations, View our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6effLtymA&feature=player_detailpage or for even more information and photos check out our website http://www.savetootgarookswamp.org A short film was also made by Anthony Kelly for the Peninsular Short Film Festival. While it did not succeed in being selected for the festival, we think it is a beautiful depiction of the swamp and its wildlife. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNuM-YVZgGY&feature=share Mornington Peninsula Shire has also had some short films made in relation to it Bird monitoring program with Birdlife Australia. Birdlife Video 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SCsjhaCZPc Birdlife Video 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJNIYzv9G8 Or even join our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SaveTootgarookSwampInc?ref=hl

Lipson Island may be more important as a bird rookery than we know. While Centrex's public environment report predicted the colony to be in decline, that was misinformation based on a flawed assumption. It was reported elsewhere as "stable" although the species is generally believed to be in decline statewide. Better sites for future grain export exist, away from sensitive receptors like Lipson Island.

One of the world’s biggest fishing trawlers with a history of over exploiting fish stocks, the FV Margiris, wants to trawl for small pelagic fish – some of the most critical species in our marine ecosystem. Small pelagic fishing around Tasmania already has a bad record. The surface schools of jack mackerel that were once common off southeast Tasmania have not returned after the collapse of that fishery over 20 years ago. The fish are a vital food source for important species like the critically endangered southern bluefin tuna, marine mammals, seabirds and game fish. Trawlers like this not only catch the target species, they also get tonnes of bycatch - unwanted marine life like dolphins, seals and seabirds, that gets thrown back dead. This fishing trawler is the opposite of the fishing activities we need to ensure healthy oceans and healthy communities – we need better valued seafood that doesn’t rely on government subsidies, sustainable employment for local fishermen, science based fisheries management, and no unwanted by-catch. Learn more at http://stopthetrawler.net Follow us on twitter @stopthetrawler

Newcastle's nightlife has not undergone the same transformation as the city's dining and cultural scene. Locals and visitors to our city are limited in their options after dark and recent findings suggest most do not feel safe in the city centre at night. Small bars will give our city's nightlife the personality and vitality that it needs to move beyond a "booze barn" mentality. The City of Sydney has recorded a dramatic fall in alcohol-related assaults since supporting small bars and their working model should be appropriated by the City of Newcastle.

The beautiful 8,000 hectare nature refuge named Bimblebox situated in central-west Queensland is about to get bulldozed to make way for one of the earths largest coal mines. Australia’s mining boom is creating more extensive and intrusive coal than ever before, and the majority of Australians are unaware of this reality. The "China First" project will destroy Bimblebox Nature Refuge to supply energy to Asia for the next thirty years. Locals and conservation groups have banded together to purchase the land that is Bimblebox in a bid to protect it from mining. Resisting the might of the coal industry and the political bodies that back it is a huge job for a small group of citizens; this campaign needs you and those like you to make a stand and appeal to the better sense of those that appear to forget the importance of this nations uniqueness and diversity.

Access to physical bank services is a basic need.

It is important because then we cannot waste half of our pe lesson getting changed, and we can be more comfy in our school day.

THIS LIFE SAVING RURAL HEALTH SERVICE CLOSES 7 DECEMBER DUE TO FUNDING CUTS! This remote NSW health service is run by a team of nurses and doctors who monitor daily the COVID conditions of people over 70 who live alone or in remote locations. Once the patient registers their COVID positive test with Service NSW, an algorithm flags if they are in the high risk category and refers them to this service. Within 24 hours the patient receives a call from a nurse who arranges, if necessary, for a doctor to call and provide a prescription for the antiviral. The nurse continues to call the patient daily asking them to complete a survey to monitor their condition. This service has saved the lives of a number of rural people whose condition deteriorated rapidly during the week with an ambulance called by the nurse to take them to hospital. It also enables many patients to access the antiviral within the first 3 days window of infection. We are now facing another surge of infections with the Western Area COVID in the community care team doubling their number of intakes to 60 a day at the moment. HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT PUT MONEY BEFORE LIVES AND RURAL PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE? ESPECIALLY DURING THIS NEW SURGE WHICH WILL CONTINUE OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. IT'S JUST POLICY MADNESS!!

The govt could redirect the Money from these tax cuts to reducing the cost of living through investment in: - education (more money to public schools, fully fund pre-school for 3-5 year olds, make tertiary education free) - health (e.g. raise GP Medicare Rebate, include dental and mental health to Medicare) - aged care (e.g. increase aged care workers wages) - child care (e.g. make it free and increase educators wages) - mitigating climate change (e.g. invest in rapid decarbonisation of our economy and more sustainable farming practices) - public & social housing (e.g. build more) - indigenous issues (e.g. better funding of Closing the Gap initiatives) - raise pensions (e.g. Jobseeker, Parenting, Carer's, Disability and Aged) - Fully fund NDIS - the Arts (e.g. increase funding across Arts industries and for the ABC) Here is the parliamentary petition link: https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4458

Ph.D students do a massive amount of research and development in Australia. For Australia to remain competitive on a global scale, we need to support and encourage as many scientifically minded people to participate in research as possible. This research allows us to be at the forefront of technological advancement in a wide range of areas such as molecular science (cancer, vaccine and drug development), computer science (AI, technology innovation) and many other disciplines. Currently the legislated minimum stipend payrate for a Ph.D student is $28,854 p.a (2022 data). Most, if not all Ph.D students are only ever awarded the minimum amount or slightly higher for the duration of their degree (Often up to four years). Ph.D students have all undertaken between 4 - 6 years of previous study to begin their doctorate degree and all possess several degrees in their own disciplines. This minimum payrate needs to be increased to fall into line with the current costs of living in Australia, and at the least should be equal to or greater than the legal minimum wage. Doing a Ph.D is full time work and working weeks well exceed 40 hours. Ph.D students are highly skilled and qualified workers that are undertaking work critical to Australia to be competitive on a global stage. Lets start to support them during these formative years as Australia's young scientists and researchers and award them minimum wages at the least.

There are plenty of old and disabled people who need subtitles on the wonderful English programs on SBS. I'm disabled and blind in the left eye and half blind in the right and I need subtitles.