Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology; Andrew McGee, Queensland University of Technology, and Ben White, Queensland University of Technology
The main arguments used by those who voted against assisted dying – including that the bill has insufficient safeguards – in Victoria’s upper house, deserve further scrutiny.
For all offences in the higher courts, the proportion of Victorians sent to prison is actually higher than the national average.
AAP/Paul Miller
Ben White, Queensland University of Technology; Andrew McGee, Queensland University of Technology, and Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology
There is now a reputable body of research evidence from places that have introduced assisted dying, and MPs must examine that evidence before deciding how they will vote.
Religious opponents of assisted dying laws most often appeal to the sanctity of human life.
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Christianity’s long tradition of compassionate care for both the dying and the dead means it brings some wisdom and experience to the voluntary assisted dying issue.
An artist’s impression of the new river crossing to be built as part of the West Gate Tunnel project.
Western Distributor Authority
Melbourne’s proposed road project relies on assumptions that inflate estimates of the traffic the new link will carry – but other choices about the future of transport are open to us.
Malcolm Turnbull has made clear his apparent enthusiasm for a rail line to Melbourne Airport – with or without state government support.
AAP/Julian Smith
A rail link is a big step towards transforming transport access and land use in ways that will enable a much bigger city to remain liveable. And Melbourne can learn from Sydney about this.
Police speak with members of the public outside the Buckingham Serviced Apartments in Brighton, Melbourne, following the violent attack on Monday night.
AAP/Julian Smith
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ firefighter reforms have much to recommend them, but there are still many hurdles to jump before they are peacefully implemented.
The royal commission made 227 recommendations to transform Victoria’s family violence system.
AAP/David Crosling
Australia needs to be very careful not to allow the bail system to become a political scapegoat at the hands of commentators exercising 20/20 hindsight.
Naming and shaming exacerbates criminal behaviour due to the stigma attached with such a label.
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The federal government’s bill to protect volunteer firefighters following a long-running dispute in Victoria will not solve the problems to which it was allegedly directed.
Historically, the CFA was a voluntary organisation. But with increasing urbanisation, there are pressures to increase the number of career firefighters.
Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull is using Victoria’s long-running enterprise bargaining dispute between the CFA and firefighters’ union to highlight the Liberals’ credentials to challenge union militancy.
Malcolm Turnbull featured prominently at a recent volunteer firefighter rally on the steps of Victorian state parliament.
AAP/Jacqueline Le
With a popular state Labor government and premier in charge, the economy picking up speed and the state budget in substantial surplus, federal Labor had every reason to see Victoria as its own.
It will take a whole-of-community effort to challenge child abuse material and prevent such sexual violence and abuse before it occurs.
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The Victorian government will bring its laws up-to-date with new forms of exploitation and abuse of children and young people that are associated with communications technologies.
Victoria has passed legislation that establishes ‘safe access zones’ of 150 metres around clinics at which abortions are provided, such as this one.
AAP/Mal Fairclough
Victoria has had a huge victory for the rights of women to exercise their choice to access a legal medical service free of intimidation and harassment.
The numbers of people in Victoria’s prisons are unsustainable and in part due to recent policy changes.
AAP/Paul Miller
Victoria is failing in relation to rehabilitation of prisoners and post-release support. The consequence is that more people are imprisoned, more often.
The term ‘child pornography’ is not only inaccurate, it is also potentially damaging.
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The continued use by politicians and the media of the term “child pornography” minimises the offence’s seriousness. They are online child abuse material.
The public hearings of Victoria’s royal commission mark the next stage of changing how we see, and respond to, family violence.
AAP/David Crosling
The royal commission presents a timely opportunity to greatly improve responses to family violence in Victoria. But as the volume of submissions reveal, this is a task not easily achieved.