Read the complete First Dog On The Moon cartoon at:
Saturday, 13 July 2024
Friday, 12 July 2024
On 9July 2024 UN experts declared famine has spread throughout Gaza strip
A malnourished Palestinian baby is held while receiving treatment at the International Medical Corps field hospital, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip, June 22, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
PRESS RELEASES | SPECIAL PROCEDURES
UN experts declare famine has spread throughout Gaza strip
09 July 2024
GENEVA (9 July 2024) – The recent deaths of more Palestinian children due to hunger and malnutrition leaves no doubt that famine has spread across the entire Gaza strip, a group of independent experts* said today.
“Fayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on 30 May 2024 and 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on 1 June 2024 at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died on 3 June 2024 in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. All three children died from malnutrition and lack of access to adequate healthcare,” the experts said.
“With the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza.”
The experts said the death of a child from malnutrition and dehydration indicates that health and social structures have been attacked and are critically weakened. “When the first child dies from malnutrition and dehydration, it becomes irrefutable that famine has taken hold,” the experts said.
“We declare that Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza. We call upon the international community to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid by land by any means necessary, end Israel’s siege, and establish a ceasefire.” [my yellow highlighting]
“When a 2-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on 24 February and 4 March respectively, this confirmed that famine had struck northern Gaza. The whole world should have intervened earlier to stop Israel’s genocidal starvation campaign and prevented these deaths,” the experts said. “Thirty-four Palestinians have died from malnutrition since 7 October, the majority being children. Inaction is complicity.”
The experts: Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Barbara G. Reynolds (Chair), Bina D’Costa, Dominique Day and Catherine Namakula, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Comprising the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, Special Procedures is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
Thursday, 11 July 2024
So how are we all feeling about life right now? *a rhetorical question*
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| via X/Twitter 10.07.24 |
So how are we all feeling today? Short answer is — nobody knows for sure what Australia's collective mood is.
However the statisticians tell us that most of us feel out families are "worse off" than they were last year and are not expecting to see "good times" anytime soon.
Many of us are still in the dumps about the cost of living. We are not spending up big and that is reflected in business turnover.
We are doing what Aussies always do in tough times — we gamble a little bit more chasing the rainbow of a home of our own or a car that isn't falling to bits.
Low income families are sometimes having to borrow from family or friends to meet household utility bills, despite small government subsidies for residential electricity.
While the average Internet subscriber is still spending 10 hours a week on entertainment streaming services, it seems quite a few people are now switching to advertising-supported content streaming as a way to shave a few dollars off the weekly budget.
When it comes to looking at economic activity and consumer confidence statisticians rarely mention homelessness or food poverty. The sad fact is that homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity are as entrenched as they have ever been and are exacerbated by the sustained rising prices we have experienced for the last two years.
However, Australians statisticians are generally a grounded mob making measured comment. So after reading their reports no-one is yelling from their bedroom windows that the national economic sky is falling on our heads — except Peter Dutton.
Australian Bureau of Statistics media release published 10 July 2024:
Reference period: May 2024
Business turnover in trend terms rose 0.2 per cent in May according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Robert Ewing, ABS head of business statistics, said: “The pattern we have seen in recent months continues as the business turnover 13-industry aggregate remained flat in May.
“In seasonally adjusted terms, most industries either fell or were flat which resulted in the 13-industry aggregate falling 0.6 per cent.
“Softening the fall, we saw larger rises in Arts and recreation, up 2.8 per cent, and Information media and telecommunications, up 2.6 per cent.”
The Arts and recreation growth was driven by an increase in gambling activity. Information media and telecommunications was driven by the Publishing (except internet and music publishing) subdivision as demand for generative artificial intelligence continues to grow.
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While over at Roy Morgan Research om 9 July 2024:
Finding No. 5920
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 2.3pts to 79.0 after End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales finish up; buying sentiment indicator has largest weekly drop so far this year
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence dropped 2.3pts to 79.0 this week after the End of Financial Year (EOFY) Sales period finished at the end of June after the buying sentiment indicator suffered its biggest weekly decline so far this year – down a net 9% points from a week ago.
Looking longer-term, Consumer Confidence has now spent a record 75 straight weeks below the mark of 85 and is a large 5.7 points above the same week a year ago, July 3-9, 2023 (73.3), but is now 2.8 points below the 2024 weekly average of 81.8.
A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows the index was down in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia but virtually unchanged in Queensland.
Views on personal finances compared to a year ago were slightly worse off this week while views on the Australian economy’s performance going forward were virtually unchanged.
Current financial conditions
Now under a fifth of Australians, 19% (down 1ppt), say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year compared to 53% (up 3ppts) that say their families are ‘worse off’.
Future financial conditions
However, views on personal finances over the next year were virtually unchanged this week, with under a third of Australians, 31% (unchanged) expecting their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year while another 35% (down 1ppt) are expecting to be ‘worse off’.
Short-term economic confidence
In addition, only 8% (unchanged) expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next twelve months compared to 36% (down 1ppt), that expect ‘bad times’.
Medium-term economic confidence
Net sentiment regarding the Australian economy in the longer term was virtually unchanged this week with 12% (up 1ppt) of Australians expecting ‘good times’ for the economy over the next five years compared to just over a fifth, 21% (up 1ppt), expecting ‘bad times’.
Time to buy a major household item
There was a big dip to net buying intentions this week after the End of Financial Year (EOFY) Sales finished up with just over a fifth, 21% (down 4ppts), of Australians saying now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items (the biggest drop for this indicator so far this year) while a majority of 51% (up 5ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’ major household items (the largest increase for this indicator so far this year).
The net result was a movement of 9ppts towards ‘bad time to buy’, the biggest net move down for this indicator for nearly 18 months since early February 2023 after the Reserve Bank raised interest rates for the first time in 2023.
ANZ Economist, Madeline Dunk, commented:
"ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence dropped to its second lowest level for the year. The decline was driven by a 9.0pt fall in the ‘time to buy a major household item’ subindex, following the conclusion of end-of-financial year sales. This was the largest weekly fall in the subindex since February 2023. There was also a 4.7pt drop in ‘current financial conditions’.
Across the housing cohorts, confidence declined most for those paying off a mortgage, perhaps due to talk about the possibility of an RBA rate hike in August. Confidence also fell for households that own their homes outright, while it was broadly stable for renters."
Wednesday, 10 July 2024
Assistant Minister for Social Services, Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence & Labor MP for Richmond Justine Elliot announces 26 Safe Places will be provided in Tweed Shire
Assistant Minister for Social Services Assistant, Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence & Labor MP for Richmond Justine Elliot has announced that the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program will provide 26 Tweed Safe Places in Tweed Shire.
This emergency accommodation for women is part of the Albanese Labor Government commitment of $100 million over five years up to 2026-27 to continue the Safe Places program through the Safe Places Inclusion Round begun in 2023.
This initiative is part of the Government’s investment in women’s safety and the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
9 July 2024
Joint with:
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Social Services
Member for Kingston
The Hon Justine Elliot MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
Member for Richmond
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to improving accessibility and availability of emergency accommodation for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.
Under the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Inclusion Round, 19 new projects will be funded to deliver around 720 new safe places across Australia over the next three years, as a result of successful grant applications.
The Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program provides a capital investment to fund the building, renovation or purchase of emergency accommodation to support women and children in circumstances, where staying safely at home is not possible.
Around 4200 women and children are currently supported each year by Safe Places sites with temporary housing, and also case management and additional supports while accessing the services.
The Safe Places Inclusion Round supports the Government’s program of reform to improve women’s safety under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Any women and children experiencing violence, regardless of background, will be able to access the new emergency accommodation. However, the projects will have a focus on improving inclusion and access for First Nations women and children, women and children from CALD backgrounds and women and children with disability.
This will be achieved through dwelling design and/or other specialised, accessible and culturally safe supports. The grant round also prioritised projects in locations with high unmet demand to help ensure victim-survivors can access emergency accommodation where and when they need it.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth said ensuring women and children have safe, secure emergency accommodation to turn to is vital when experiencing family and domestic violence.
“Family and domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness and housing uncertainty for women and children across Australia, and we know there is an increased demand for emergency accommodation,” Minister Rishworth said.
“We are funding the delivery of around 720 new safe places, which will bring the total number of emergency accommodation places delivered under the Safe Places Program across Australia to around 1500 once projects are completed.
“The new projects will have a focus on improving inclusion and access to support for First Nations women and children, women and children with disability, and women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who we know can face unique challenges and barriers to accessing support when experiencing violence.”
Projects will be funded in each state and territory and were selected for funding through an open competitive grant round. All projects are expected to be complete and delivering services by June 2027.
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot said it was important anyone experiencing or fleeing domestic violence had a safe place to go.
“Anyone experiencing family or domestic violence should have access to a safe place, where they can connect with specialised services and supports that effectively meet their needs,” Assistant Minister Elliot said.
“Along with states and territories we are committed to ending violence against women and children in one generation through our investments under the National Plan and this investment will help to progress this goal.”
For more information on the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program visit the Department of Social Services website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.
Tuesday, 9 July 2024
NSW Government Reconstruction Authority is seeking community feedback on the draft Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) Guidelines.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority is currently seeking feedback on a set of draft guidelines to improve how we plan for and reduce the impacts of disasters in NSW.
The draft Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) Guidelines explain our approach to the preparation and implementation of DAPs across NSW and align with the State Disaster Mitigation plan.
We know that successful disaster adaptation planning requires a coordinated, place and community-centred approach. The process outlined in the guidelines for the development of DAPs provide an opportunity for us to work together to enable more effective disaster risk reduction. We cannot achieve this independently.
DAPs will draw together hazard risk information, community insights, and existing plans to reduce natural hazard risks in a defined geographic area. These options might include mitigation infrastructure such as flood levees or sea walls, changes to planning controls on development in certain areas or investing in evacuation capacity upgrades to local and state roads.
The Reconstruction Authority is committed to playing its part, but we know local and regional actors are best placed to make local and regional decisions about the kinds of solutions that we need.
This consultation is about making sure the DAP model and process work for councils, State government agencies, critical infrastructure providers and the community and understanding what the RA can do to help successfully implement it.
Based on the feedback received through this consultation the guidelines will be finalised for release later in 2024.
Together we can chart a course to a better prepared NSW.
Public consultation on the draft Disaster Adaption Plan Guidelines officially started on Monday 1 July and is to finish at 5pm on Friday 23 August 2024.
A HAVE YOUR SAY webpage has been created which includes an online survey which can be found at at:
https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/dap.
Read the draft Disaster Adaptation Plan Guidelines (PDF 6.87MB)
Read a 4 page overview of the draft Disaster Adaptation Plan Guidelines (PDF1.18MB)
Read draft Disaster Adaptation Plan Guidelines frequently asked questions (PDF 185.48KB)
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NSW Government, Media Release:
Major milestones in disaster recovery for Northern Rivers
Published: 4 July 2024
Released by: Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Australia’s largest disaster adaptation project on the Northern Rivers has moved into its next phase, with tailored home assessments available to make homes more resilient against flooding.
Under the Home Raising and Home Retrofit stream of the $790 million Resilient Homes Program approximately 370 homeowners have been identified as eligible for home raising or retrofit.
A key recommendation of the NSW Flood Inquiry, home raising reduces risk by raising homes to reduce the frequency of potential flood related damage, while home retrofits reduce risk by refurbishing homes to better withstand flooding.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is working with leading architect for flood resilient design, James Davidson from JDA Co, to establish the program and develop guidance for home raising and retrofit work. After receiving their free in-home assessment report, homeowners can appoint their builder of choice to deliver works suitable to their home to make it more resilient to future flooding.
Eligible homeowners will be granted up to $50,000 for a home retrofit and $100,000 for a home raise with a dollar-for dollar co-contribution between the RA and homeowners, up to a maximum of $100,000 for retrofits and $200,000 for home raising.
In addition to this program, the highly anticipated North Lismore development has been announced as the latest site to be released through the $100 million Resilient Lands Program and will deliver around 85 home sites.
This follows previous announcements at East Lismore, Goonellabah, Brunswick Heads, Casino and Lennox Head, with more than 2,800 housing sites now in the planning pipeline across the Northern Rivers.
North Lismore will be master planned and developed in consultation with the community, taking into consideration the site’s environmental, biodiversity and cultural significance.
As part of the supporting infrastructure program, to assist primary producers, up to 100 drains that support agricultural properties across the Northern Rivers are being repaired and cleaned out through the $5 million Northern Rivers Agricultural Drainage Reset Program.
Vegetation build-up presents a serious problem with large drains unable to channel water away from the land.
The program will drive long-term resilience and ensure farmers and communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future floods. It is being delivered by the RA in partnership with Soil Conservation Service and in cooperation with local councils.
The recovery program is being informed by feedback from the community and the Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum which was established 12 months ago.
Between August 2023 and January 2024, the RA doorknocked more than 4880 homes across seven LGAs. Pop-up information offices continue to be an important conduit between the RA and the community, with more than 4,339 visitors as of late June.
These changes are expected to lead to better outcomes as the region moves into medium to long-term recovery phase from the 2022 floods.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“What we’re doing in the Northern Rivers is not a simple rebuilding exercise – we’re making significant long-term changes to where people live, how we plan for climate change and how we mitigate future disasters.
“As part of our commitment to disaster mitigation, there’s already been significant progress with the Resilient Homes Program, but there is still more to do.
“As of June 28, 788 buyback offers had been approved and 656 offers accepted, which represents an 83 per cent take-up rate.
“Today we’re announcing that North Lismore is the sixth site for more homes through the Resilient Lands Program and there are more to come.”
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“During our many visits to the area we have seen the community working together to maintain the unique identity of the region and the strong desire to build back better.
“We established the community leaders forum to guide decision-making and local engagement is informing projects supporting flood recovery efforts and making communities more resilient.
“Across the region a wide range of projects are underway including improvements to evacuation routes which will provide better access for emergency workers and supplies during disasters.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:
“As chair of the Community Leaders forum I am enormously pleased to see input from that group included in announcements like today.
“Feedback from the community has helped the NSW Reconstruction Authority to develop a more people-friendly, place-based approach to determine eligibility for key programs like the Resilient Homes Program. That is a good thing.
“Repeat visits by my parliamentary colleagues show the reset is progressing in the Northern Rivers and the NSW Government is in this recovery for the long haul.”
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said:
“I am pleased that the NSW Government agreed to Council’s call for a ‘reset’ a year or so ago and developed a more community centric approach that has seen the pace of our recovery pick up, although as we all know. We still have some way to go.
"I welcome the announcement on North Lismore that will allow disaster-affected families to build new houses or relocate their existing timber home. The commencement of the Raise and Retrofit program will also be very welcomed by the community.”
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Monday, 8 July 2024
After 1,700 women were murdered by an intimate partner in the last 34 years & 8 months up to March 2024, finally an Australian Government creates an accessible public record of such deaths
For the last 34 years and 8 months an average 4 women a month have been murdered by a current or former intimate partner.
Finally an Australian federal government has moved to make an easily accessible public record of such deaths.
In large measure as a response to women from Destroy The Joint who, by a sustained monthly recording of all females mentioned in the media after dying a violent death from September 2012 onwards, kept a spotlight on the issue of lethal violence against women and girls.
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| Counting Dead Women a Destroy the Joint project |
Eight women were killed in June alone, three in as many days and 17 more women have been killed than at this same time last year. [ABC News, 1 July 2024]
UPDATE:Fatal house fire - Lalor Park
Sunday, 07 July 2024 05:11:32 AM
A man is in custody following a fatal house fire in Sydney’s west.
About 1am today (Sunday 7 July 2024), emergency services were called to Freeman Street, Lalor Park, following reports of a house fire.
On arrival of emergency services, one nine-year-old girl and three boys aged eleven, seven and six were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and taken to Westmead hospital in stable condition.
Two boys – aged two and four – were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition; however, they died a short time later.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the fire before a third child – believed to be a 10-month-old girl – was found deceased.
The three children are yet to be formally identified.
A 29-year-old woman has been taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command arrested 28-year-old man at the scene; he was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital under police guard.
Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages. [My yellow highlighting in article]
Det Supt Danny Doherty described the circumstances as “incredibly tragic”. He alleged that a 28-year-old man arrested at the scene attempted to prevent police and emergency services from rescuing those inside the home. The man is the father of the deceased children, police confirmed. [The Guardian, 7 July 2024]
Homicide in Australia
Intimate partner homicide dashboard (data commencing 1 January 2024 & updated quarterly) can be found at:
https://www.aic.gov.au/statistics/homicide-in-australia
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