Squatters: Who are they and why do they squat?

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7 July 2011
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Many people’s idea of squatters will be gleaned from media reports of young people occupying multi-million pound houses in the UK’s most exclusive postcodes. Less frequently, there will be sensational stories about owners returning from holiday to find squatters in their house.

The predominant media image is one of posh, anti-establishment eco-warriors who spend their rent-money on parties and devote their energies to sustainable living. The counter-argument from squatters is that they often endear themselves to neighbours by fixing up derelict properties and establishing cafes, art galleries and workshops in their new homes.

But what is the reality? — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Australia’s infrastructure barely adequate

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5 July 2011
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Infrastructure Australia, which was set up to advise the Government, says the country is suffering from poor planning and less than adequate investment in infrastructure.

It says Australia’s infrastructure is barely adequate and there will be long-term costs if there is not significant improvement.

It has singled out water and energy infrastructure as key areas in need of extra investment — via redwolf.newsvine.com

A history of marriage in Australia

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2 July 2011
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On 13 August 2004, in a debate punctuated by rage and tears, the Senate passed a Howard government amendment to the Marriage Act banning same-sex marriages.

Exactly 45 years earlier, on 13 August 1959, in the midst of debating Australia’s first national Marriage Act — the one Howard later amended — the House of Representatives erupted at the news an Aboriginal woman had been denied permission to marry — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Google pulls paid apps from Taiwan after being fined

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29 June 2011
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Taiwanese users of Google Inc’s Android Market were left in the dark yesterday as the search engine giant removed the paid app section from its online store.

The removal of the paid app section came after the Taipei City Government slapped Google with a NT$1 million (US$34,550) fine for failing to offer Taiwanese consumers a seven-day free-trial mechanism as mandated by law — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Legal aid reform could end right to a free solicitor

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26 June 2011
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A cornerstone of the legal system, the universal right to a solicitor upon arrest, could be jettisoned in favour of means-testing under controversial plans drawn up by the Ministry of Justice.

Legal experts including Lord Ken Macdonald QC, a former director of public prosecutions, have expressed alarm at the proposal and questioned how it would work in practice — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Hells Angel kills NSW anti-bikie laws

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24 June 2011
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Police and politicians have been forced back to the drawing board in their fight against serious gang-related crime after a single Hells Angels member succeeded in having NSW’s tough anti-bikie laws scrapped.

In a remarkable legal challenge which could have national ramifications, Derek Wainohu, a Sydney Hells Angels member, asked the High Court to declare the Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act invalid — via redwolf.newsvine.com

African jitters over blogs and social media

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20 June 2011
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African governments are turning to more sophisticated techniques to block internet sites and bloggers who they perceive to be a threat.

That is the conclusion of The Committee for the Protection of Journalists, who together with the internet giant Google SA, have gathered African journalists together in Johannesburg’s financial hub Sandton to take stock in the wake of the North African uprising — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Victoria reinstates religious right to discriminate

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15 June 2011
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The Baillieu Government’s controversial Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill has been passed through the Upper House.

The bill passed early this morning, with 19 votes to 17.

The legislation will reverse changes made by the former Brumby Government — due to come into effect in August — which tightened the ability of religious organisations to discriminate against GLBT people — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Chinese Spying Devices Installed on Hong Kong Cars

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15 June 2011
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For years now Chinese authorities have been installing spying devices on all dual-plate Chinese-Hong Kong vehicles, enabling a vast network of eavesdropping across the archipelago, according to a Hong Kong newspaper.

The report in Apple Daily states that the recording devices began being installed as inspection and quarantine cards in July 2007. They were installed without charge by the Shenzhen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on thousands of vehicles — via redwolf.newsvine.com

The myth of temporary protection visas

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14 June 2011
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In the ongoing debate about asylum seekers, it’s not unusual for misinformation to be spouted as if it is fact.

The recent publicity about how Malaysia treats non-citizens, confirmed by UNHCR officials, at least puts paid to the nonsense that asylum seekers moved on from that country where they had the option of living in safety. Not possible without work rights, without access to education for children and in a country where caning is normal practice for people without visas.

But the misinformation around the asylum seeker issue abounds. In particular, it intrigues me that there continues to be calls for Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) to be reintroduced as a deterrent to asylum seekers when all the evidence points to them being a factor in increasing the number of boat arrivals — via redwolf.newsvine.com

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