Amid the rise of fringe politics, Jacinda Ardern champions empathetic leadership

Jacinda Ardern is calling for more empathy in politics.  Since stepping down as New Zealand’s Prime Minister in 2023, Dame Jacinda has been warning against divisive and authoritarian leadership in favour of compassionate and values-driven governance. She says that a tendency towards strongman leadership is missing the mark with voters. “Often we hear discussion about…

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Future of Liberty Bell Bay site in doubt following manganese smelter’s closure

Australia’s only manganese alloy smelter has closed, leaving the future of the site uncertain and the country more reliant on imported alloys for steel production. The beleaguered Liberty Bell Bay smelter, roughly 50 kilometres north of Launceston, produced an alloy from manganese ore called ferromanganese, a critical component of steelmaking with applications across defence, construction…

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Horsham council rejects mining company WIM Resource’s invitation to join reference group

A regional Victorian council has declined to join a mining company’s community reference group, with the mayor saying the council is “disgusted” with the company’s attitude towards community concerns. WIM Resource invited Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) to join its Community and Coexistence Reference Group (CCRG) for the proposed Avonbank mine in Victoria’s west. The…

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RSV vaccination rates halve NSW hospitalisations, as influenza peak looms

New South Wales health authorities have hailed a vaccination program that has nearly halved hospitalisations for a potentially deadly respiratory virus among newborn babies a “fantastic” success ahead of the winter peak. A study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia has shown the maternal and infant vaccination program for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)…

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Dealers warn EV drivers of repair and refund delays under warranty from new brands

Drivers are being left stranded without transport for months waiting for repairs, refunds or loan cars under warranty from overseas brands new to Australia and “inexperienced” with local consumer protection laws. Dealerships are sounding the alarm about their growing struggle to get timely authorisation to fix faults and repairs in cars from new manufacturers that…

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