News by Jessica Marszalek
Premium Content  New child safety laws stemming from the Mason Jett Lee tragedy that encourage the adoption of neglected or abused children could leave them in new traumatic situations, MPs have been told. Their concerns come as new figures show 197 children were sexually, physically, emotionally abused or neglected while in care last year. A parliamentary inquiry is considering legislation that makes it clear adoption should be seriously considered in cases where a child cannot be returned to their family and can t be granted a long-term guardianship to another suitable person, like their grandparents. Tragic toddler Mason Jett Lee
News by Jessica Marszalek
Premium Content  New child safety laws stemming from the Mason Jett Lee tragedy that encourage the adoption of neglected or abused children could leave them in new traumatic situations, MPs have been told. Their concerns come as new figures show 197 children were sexually, physically, emotionally abused or neglected while in care last year. A parliamentary inquiry is considering legislation that makes it clear adoption should be seriously considered in cases where a child cannot be returned to their family and can t be granted a long-term guardianship to another suitable person, like their grandparents. Tragic toddler Mason Jett Lee
Australia is a vibrant multicultural democracy with robust institutions, but in 2020 the global Black Lives Matter movement refocused attention on the severe disadvantage suffered by First Nations people in Australia, particularly the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison and high rate of deaths in custody.
While Australia largely contained the spread of Covid-19, a severe outbreak in Victoria after a mismanaged hotel quarantine scheme led to more than 700 deaths, mostly residents of aged care homes. Police efforts to enforce curfews and lockdowns during the pandemic raised concerns over freedom of expression and the misuse of police powers.