Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 26/06/2025
15 firefighters from ACT Parks & Conservation Service (ACTPCS) and 5 firefighters from the ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) are leaving for Canada today to assist with wildfires burning throughout the country.
The firefighters will be based in the province of Alberta for 38 days helping to control and put out wildfires. There are currently over 290 fires burning this severe wildfire season in Canada and over 50 of these are in Alberta. Australian firefighters have been deployed in Canada since 12 June 2025, and this group leaving today is the first ACT contingent.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson, is proud to see ACT firefighters giving up their time to help our friends overseas.
“The past year has been a busy one for our ACT emergency services as they’ve responded to incidents across Australia. The deployment of ACT personnel to Canada is a powerful reflection of our people’s unwavering commitment to helping communities in need, wherever and whenever they’re called upon.”
“I would like to wish all our firefighters departing today a safe journey. I look forward to hearing about their experiences and the valuable insights gained upon their return.”
Quotes attributable to ACTRFS Chief Officer, Rohan Scott
“Australia and Canada share a strong resource sharing relationship. ACT firefighters have been supporting Canadian wildfire efforts since 2016 and in return, Canada stood with us during the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.
“Having just returned from visiting the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, it is clear to me both North America and Australia can benefit from shared experiences and lessons learned. I look forward to seeing what our firefighters learn in Canada during this deployment that can impact how we prepare for and tackle bushfires here in Australia.”
Quotes attributable to ACTPCS Director of Operations, Ailish Milner
“The ACT Parks and Conservation Service is honoured to support Canada by sending our crews alongside the ACT Rural Fire Service to join the Canadian firefighting effort.
“ACT firefighters have a proud history of supporting our international colleagues, joining multiple deployments overseas, including to Canada, over the past decade. Our skilled and experienced firefighters will provide Canada with much-needed relief during their difficult fire season.
“Thank you to the crews deployed today who are really going above and beyond to will help protect life, environment and property abroad.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The 2025 NAIDOC Week theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.
2025 NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held from 6 to 13 July 2025.
This story lists free and paid 2025 NAIDOC Week events.
Each year, Canberra celebrates NAIDOC Week with a range of events and activities.
NAIDOC Week 2025 is a special time to stop, reflect and celebrate the enduring culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy – 50 Years of NAIDOC Week’. It marks an important milestone and honours the voices, culture and strength of Indigenous communities.
The theme looks back on the past with pride and looks forward with hope. It celebrates the work of young leaders, the dreams of communities and the powerful legacy left by ancestors.
Museum of Australian Democracy(MoAD), Parkes From Sunday, 6 July to Sunday, 13 July Hear stories of how First Nations Australians have created change. Learn about Wiradjuri Elders travelling to Old Parliament House, activists who campaigned for a voice and visit heritage spaces of significance. Bookings required. Cost: free.
Australian Parliament House From Sunday, 6 July to Tuesday, 8 July Visit Parliament House to see Michelle Lewis’ breathtaking artwork illuminated on the Parliament House façade. View the striking colours and designs of Michelle’s Tjala Dreaming (Honey Ant), a 2023 artwork. To mark the event, a ceremonial lighting will be held on Monday, 7 July from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm. No bookings required. Cost: free.
National Museum of Australia(NMA), Acton Thursday, 10 July The NMA is featuring a screening of Keeping Country Strong on Thursday, 10 July. This new documentary highlights the critical work of Indigenous Rangers in Indigenous Protected Areas across Australia. A panel discussion with Traditional Owners will follow. Bookings required. Cost: $15 for a standard ticket, $12.50 for a concession and $10 for friends.
National Film and Sound Archive(NFSA), Acton Saturday, 12 July The NFSA is hosting a dementia-friendly screening of A Day at the Movies: Top End Wedding on Saturday, 12 July. Enjoy a warm and light-hearted comedy that celebrates the joyful chaos of family and the strength of community. Bookings required. Cost: $16 for a full price ticket, $12 for concession card holders and free for carers.
National Library of Australia, Parkes Tuesday, 8 July Join Brooke Blurton and Dr Melanie Saward as they yarn about their new young adult novel, A Good Kind of Trouble. They discuss what it means to write Indigenous-led stories for today’s young people. Bookings required. Watch online or attend in person. Cost: free.
Palace Electric Theatre,Canberra Tuesday, 8 July Come and watch the award-winning film from 10 Indigenous filmmakers from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. It interweaves eight stories – both fictional and non-fictional – that span 1,000 years. Each showcases the resilience and survival of Indigenous peoples. Bookings required. Cost: admission is free for First Nations attendees and $10 for non-First Nations attendees.
ANCA Gallery, Dickson From Sunday, 6 July to Sunday, 13 July Join Thomas Coen Bonson, an emerging artist and one of Australia’s few First Nations jewellers. His solo exhibition is called Elegance in Heritage: First Nations Jewellery Unveiled. RSVP required Cost: free.
Belconnen Arts Centre, Belconnen Saturday 12, July Belco Arts is celebrating the 10th anniversary of NAIDOC in the North. The event is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture through story, song, art dance and ceremony. Check out a huge program of events. Learn from our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through workshops, performances, activities and entertainment. No bookings required. Cost: free.
Tuggeranong Arts Centre,Tuggeranong From Saturday, 5 July to Sunday, 13 July Visit the Arts Centre for a range of events including workshops and exhibitions that celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Bookings required. Cost: from free to $10.
ACT Historic Places, Tharwa Saturday, 12 July Join Ngunawal custodian Wally Bell on a walk at ACT Lanyon Homestead. Learn about Aboriginal connection to the area and the Murrumbidgee River. Discover the significance of the Canoe Tree to the Ngunnawal people and what its presence here tells us of the strong community that lived within the cultural landscape. Bookings required. Cost: $30 for standard ticket and $25 for concession.
National Capital Authority (NCA),Reconciliation Place From Monday, 7 July to Sunday, 13 July Join the NCA for a guided tour along Reconciliation Place that explores the rich history, culture and contributions of First Nations peoples. Bookings required. Cost: free.
Winnunga Warriors Basketball Club and Basketball ACT Friday, 11 July to Sunday, 13 July Be part of a fun and exciting event with over 125 teams from around the country. Celebrate Indigenous culture through basketball and enjoy games for all age groups as they honour NAIDOC Week together. No bookings required. Cost: free for spectators.
To learn more about NAIDOC Week and explore upcoming events, visit the official NAIDOC website.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
Please attribute to Sean Cairns, Area Investigations Manager, Southern District Police:
A young person is set to appear in front of the Youth Court today, after he was arrested in relation to two aggravated robberies in Invercargill on Saturday morning.
At around 6am on Saturday, Police responded to two robberies at commercial premises on Tay Street and Dee Street.
The youth fled from the scene of the second robbery in a stolen vehicle, however was located and arrested by Police a short time later near Otepuni Ave.
Enquiries into the two incidents remain ongoing, however Police are not seeking anybody else in relation to them.
We’d also like to thank the members of the public who assisted Police with information at the time.
Counties Manukau Police continues to appeal to the wider Māngere community for their assistance in locating Ella Davenport.
Ella, 57, has been missing from her Hain Avenue home since Friday 20 June.
Police have information she is still in the local community, with the last unconfirmed sighting of her being around the BP on Massey Road in late June.
She may also frequent the 24-hour laundromat near the petrol station.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Robb Kerr says: “I would like to thank those in the community who have contacted us or spoken to Police about Ella in recent weeks.
“I’m asking for residents in Māngere and Māngere East to keep an eye out for her.
“If you see her, please contact Police straight away.
“We are concerned for Ella’s wellbeing; on top of this we have been experiencing quite cold and wet weather recently.”
If you have other information which might assist Police, you can update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250621/8662 for Ella’s case.
Police and Ella’s family thank the community for their assistance.
Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott:
Police investigating the serious injuries caused to a young baby in the Hutt Valley are now in a position to provide further information on the baby girl’s injuries.
On 14 June, Police were notified that a three-month-old baby had been brought into hospital by her family.
The baby girl had sustained nine fractures, including throughout her ribcage and a fracture to her ankle and upper arm.
Some of these injuries occurred at different times, and Police are working tirelessly to find the truth about how the injuries were sustained.
We do not believe that these injuries could have been accidental.
Police would like to thank everyone who has come forward with information so far, and continue to assess all information as it comes in.
The baby’s condition is thankfully improving, but we continue to ask for anyone who knows anything about how this baby girl sustained such serious injuries to come forward.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105, quoting file number 250614/8509.
You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the findings and recommendations handed down today by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.
The inquest, which commenced in 2022, has been one of the most comprehensive and difficult processes in the Territory’s recent history. It has examined not just the tragic events of November 2019, but also the broader systemic and cultural challenges that intersect with frontline policing.
We recognise the enduring grief experienced by Kumanjayi Walker’s family, the Yuendumu community, and many others across the Northern Territory. Today’s findings mark a significant moment in what has been a long and painful journey for all involved.
The Northern Territory Police Force will now carefully consider the Coroner’s recommendations in full. We are committed to taking time to review and reflect on the findings and recommendations to continue our efforts to build a modern police force that serves all Territorians with fairness, respect, and integrity.
“We acknowledge the Coroner’s work and thank her for the careful consideration she has given to such a complex and sensitive matter,” Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said. “We extend our sympathies to the family of Kumanjayi Walker and acknowledge the courage of those who contributed to this process. This has been a hard road, and we are determined to ensure that what has been learned is not lost.”
As the inquest progressed, the Northern Territory Police Force initiated a number of internal reforms in direct response to the issues that were raised:
Anti-Racism Strategy: A draft strategy, which has been developed with the assistance of major Aboriginal organisations in the NT, will soon be out for broader consultation.
On going delivery of Cultural Awareness and Anti-Racism Training: Territory-wide programs continue to be rolled out to enhance cultural competency and eliminate racism in all its forms across the organisation.
Recruitment and Training Reforms: New entry and training pathways are in place to better prepare and screen recruits for the realities and responsibilities of policing in diverse communities, particularly Aboriginal communities. These reforms stand alongside our commitment to reach 30 per cent Aboriginal representation across our entire organisation.
Disbanding of the Immediate Response Team (IRT): The unit involved in the incident was disbanded.
Creation of the Cultural Reform Command: Led by Executive Director Leanne Liddle, this command is focused on strengthening relationships, rebuilding trust with Aboriginal people and communities, and tackling racism.
Reform is not a single act — it is an ongoing responsibility and continuous journey. The NT Police Force will continue to work with government, Aboriginal leadership, and the broader community to ensure the recommendations are considered in the spirit in which they were made: to improve, to heal, and to build a better path forward.
Media Contact: NT Police Media Unit Phone: 0417 770 686
Police are continuing to make enquiries to locate missing man Kahu, who was last seen on Friday 27 June.
A vehicle was located in the Whanganui River, matching the description of the vehicle belonging to Kahu.
Kahu is still yet to be located, and we’re asking the public for any sightings of him in the Whanganui area.
He was last seen wearing a black hoody, with red text on the sleeves, and camo cargo pants.
We’re asking anybody who is walking along or near the river or coastline near Whanganui to report any unusual findings or clothing matching the description of what Kahu was wearing.
If you have any information, please contact Police via 105 either over the phone or online, and reference file number 250702/3842.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A telecom fraud suspect is escorted by Chinese police officers at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan province, Jan. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China, Myanmar and Thailand agreed to intensify cooperation to dismantle all telecom scam compounds and arrest all suspects in Myawaddy and other telecom fraud hubs, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced Sunday.
The decision came during a recent ministerial meeting on a joint crackdown against telecom fraud attended by law enforcement agencies of the three countries.
Thanks to their joint efforts, over 5,400 Chinese nationals suspected of fraud in Myawaddy have been repatriated in 2025, marking significant progress in the tripartite crackdown campaign.
This is not the first time China has collaborated with Southeast Asian countries to combat telecom fraud.
In November 2024, the Chinese ministry announced that all large-scale telecom fraud centers located near the China-Myanmar border in northern Myanmar had been wiped out.
By the end of 2024, over 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of fraud had been arrested through cooperative efforts from Chinese and Myanmar police since the Chinese ministry launched a crackdown on telecom fraud in northern Myanmar in 2023.
During China’s cooperation with Lao police in 2024, a total of 268 people suspected of involvement in cross-border telecom fraud affecting Chinese citizens were returned from Laos and placed in Chinese police custody, the ministry said.
China has also called on other neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam to join hands with China in a resolute crackdown on online gambling, telecom fraud and other types of cross-border crime.
Fighting online gambling and telecom fraud is a necessary choice to safeguard the common interests of China and other regional countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in February.
The sophisticated and transnational nature of telecom fraud and related crime requires concerted international efforts to address the challenges facing Southeast Asia, according to Benedikt Hofmann, acting regional representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The cooperation between China and other countries in the region has been “encouraging” and has created momentum for such collaboration, Hofmann said in an interview in February.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 7, 2025.
The hard questions NZ must ask about the claimed economic benefits of fast-track mining projects Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn Banks, Professor of Geography, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Much of the debate about the fast-track applications by a number of new or extended mining projects has, understandably, focused on their environmental impacts. But the other
New US directive for visa applicants turns social media feeds into political documents Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Angel DiBiblio/Shutterstock In recent weeks, the US State Department implemented a policy requiring all university, technical training, or exchange program visa applicants to disclose their social media handles used over the
Ageing bridges around the world are at risk of collapse. But there’s a simple way to safeguard them Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Nguyen, Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering, University of Southern Queensland The Story Bridge, with its sweeping steel trusses and art deco towers, is a striking sight above the Brisbane River in Queensland. In 2025, it was named the state’s best landmark. But more than an icon,
Much to celebrate as NAIDOC Week turns 50, but also much to learn Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lynette Riley, Co-chair of the National NAIDOC Committee and Professor in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work; and Chair, Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies.original Education & Indigenous Studies., University of Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and/or images
Just $7 extra per person could prevent 300 suicides a year. Here’s exactly where to spend it Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne xinlan/Shutterstock Medicare spending on mental health services varies considerably depending on where in Australia you live, our new study shows. We found areas with lower Medicare spending on out-of-hospital mental health
A Māori worldview describes the immune system as a guardian – this could improve public health in Aotearoa NZ Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tama Te Puea Braithwaite-Westoby, Tautoro Māori Engagement Advisor, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Getty Images In biomedical science, the immune system is described as a cellular defence network that identifies and neutralises threats. In te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), it can be seen as a dynamic
We don’t need deep-sea mining, or its environmental harms. Here’s why Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Alger, Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer in Global Environmental Politics, The University of Melbourne Potato-sized polymetallic nodules from the deep sea could be mined for valuable metals and minerals. Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Deep-sea mining promises critical minerals for the energy
‘The customer is always right’: why some uni teachers give higher grades than students deserve Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ciprian N. Radavoi, Associate Professor in Law, University of Southern Queensland Pixels Effect/ Getty Images Grade inflation happens when teachers knowingly give a student a mark higher than deserved. It can also happen indirectly, when the level of difficulty of a course is deliberately lowered so students
The Rainbow Warrior saga. Part 2: Nuclear refugees in the Pacific – the evacuation of Rongelap COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle On the last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior prior to its sinking by French secret agents in Auckland harbour on 10 July 1985 the ship had evacuated the entire population of 320 from Rongelap in the Marshall Islands. After conducting dozens of above-ground nuclear explosions, the US government had left the
Legends of a Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific – Octo Mote Pacific Media Watch West Papuan independence advocate Octovianus Mote was in Aotearoa New Zealand late last year seeking support for independence for West Papua, which has been ruled by Indonesia for more than six decades. Mote is vice-president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and was hosted in New Zealand by the
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a 26-year-old male with several drug and traffic offences following a traffic apprehension on Friday night.
Around 11:45pm, Darwin Traffic Operations members apprehended a vehicle on Tiger Brennan Drive, after it was detected speeding at 136km/h in a 100km/h speed limit area.
The driver of the vehicle was subjected to a roadside drug test which returned a positive result for cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates.
Whilst being taken into custody, the driver was searched and was found to have a less than traffickable quantity of cocaine in his possession.
Darwin Traffic Operations members conducted a further lawful search of the man’s vehicle and located a commercial quantity of MDMA, traffickable quantity of cannabis and a less than traffickable quantity of cocaine. The vehicle was seized by police.
The man was arrested, and the matter was referred to detectives from the Drug & Organised Crime Squad. Detectives executed a search warrant at the male’s residence, where the following was located and seized:
• A less than traffickable quantity of cocaine
• A less than traffickable quantity of MDMA
• A less than traffickable quantity of cannabis
• Items indicative of drug supply
The man has been charged with:
• Supply Dangerous Drug Commercial Quantity – schedule 1
• Possess Dangerous Drug Commercial Quantity – schedule 1
• Possess Dangerous Drug Traffickable Quantity – schedule 2
• Possess Dangerous Drug less than Traffickable Quantity – schedule 1
• Receiving or Possessing Tainted Property
• Driver with Prohibited Drug in Blood
• Exceed Speed – 31-45km/h Over Limit
He is remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.
Deep-sea mining promises critical minerals for the energy transition without the problems of mining on land. It also promises to bring wealth to developing nations. But the evidence suggests these promises are false, and mining would harm the environment.
The practice involves scooping up rock-like nodules from vast areas of the sea floor. These potato-sized lumps contain metals and minerals such as zinc, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and rare earth elements.
Technology to mine the deep sea exists, but commercial mining of the deep sea is not happening anywhere in the world. That could soon change. Nations are meeting this month in Kingston, Jamaica, to agree to a mining code. Such a code would make way for mining to begin within the next few years.
On Thursday, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, released research into the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. It aims to promote better environmental management of deep-sea mining, should it proceed.
We have previously challenged the rationale for deep-sea mining, drawing on our expertise in international politics and environmental management. We argue mining the deep sea is harmful and the economic benefits have been overstated. What’s more, the metals and minerals to be mined are not scarce.
The best course of action is a ban on international seabed mining, building on the coalition for a moratorium.
The Metals Company spent six months at sea collecting nodules in 2022, while studying the effects on ecosystems.
Managing and monitoring environmental harm
Recent advances in technology have made deep-sea mining more feasible. But removing the nodules – which also requires pumping water around – has been shown to damage the seabed and endanger marine life.
CSIRO has developed the first environmental management and monitoring frameworks to protect deep sea ecosystems from mining. It aims to provide “trusted, science-based tools to evaluate the environmental risks and viability of deep-sea mining”.
Scientists from Griffith University, Museums Victoria, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Earth Sciences New Zealand were also involved in the work.
The Metals Company Australia, a local subsidiary of the Canadian deep-sea mining exploration company, commissioned the research. It involved analysing data from test mining the company carried out in the Pacific Ocean in 2022.
In a media briefing this week, CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Piers Dunstan said the mining activity substantially affected the sea floor. Some marine life, especially that attached to the nodules, had very little hope of recovery. He said if mining were to go ahead, monitoring would be crucial.
We are sceptical that ecological impacts can be managed even with this new framework. Little is known about life in these deep-water ecosystems. But research shows nodule mining would cause extensive habitat loss and damage.
Do we really need to open the ocean frontier to mining? We argue the answer is no, on three counts.
How does deep-sea mining work? (The Guardian)
1. Minerals are not scarce
The minerals required for the energy transition are abundant on land. Known global terrestrial reserves of cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and nickel are enough to meet current production levels for decades – even with growing demand.
There is no compelling reason to extract deep-sea minerals, given the economics of both deep-sea and land-based mining. Deep-sea mining is speculative and inevitably too expensive given such remote, deep operations.
Claims about mineral scarcity are being used to justify attempting to legitimise a new extractive frontier in the deep sea. Opportunistic investors can make money through speculation and attracting government subsidies.
But deep-sea mining will not necessarily displace, replace or change mining on land. Land-based mining contracts span decades and the companies involved will not abandon ongoing or planned projects. Their activities will continue, even if deep-sea mining begins.
Deep-sea mining also faces many of the same challenges as mining on land, while introducing new problems. The social problems that arise during transport, processing and distribution remain the same.
3. Common heritage of humankind and the Global South
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international seabed is the common heritage of humankind. This means the proceeds of deep-sea mining should be distributed fairly among all countries.
Deep-sea mining commercial partnerships between developing countries in the Global South and firms from the North have yet to pay off for the former. There is little indication this pattern will change.
For example, when Canadian company Nautilus went bankrupt in 2019, it saddled Papua New Guinea with millions in debt from a failed domestic deep-sea mining venture.
The Metals Company has partnerships with Nauru and Tonga but the latest deal with the US creates uncertainty about whether their agreements will be honoured.
European investors took control of Blue Minerals Jamaica, originally a Jamaican-owned company, shortly after orchestrating its start up. Any profits would therefore go offshore.
Given the threat of environmental harm, the evidence suggests deep-sea mining is not worth the risk.
Justin Alger receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
D.G. Webster receives funding from the National Science Foundation in the United States and various internal funding sources at Dartmouth University.
Jessica Green receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Kate J Neville receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Stacy D VanDeveer and Susan M Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Deep-sea mining promises critical minerals for the energy transition without the problems of mining on land. It also promises to bring wealth to developing nations. But the evidence suggests these promises are false, and mining would harm the environment.
The practice involves scooping up rock-like nodules from vast areas of the sea floor. These potato-sized lumps contain metals and minerals such as zinc, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and rare earth elements.
Technology to mine the deep sea exists, but commercial mining of the deep sea is not happening anywhere in the world. That could soon change. Nations are meeting this month in Kingston, Jamaica, to agree to a mining code. Such a code would make way for mining to begin within the next few years.
On Thursday, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, released research into the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. It aims to promote better environmental management of deep-sea mining, should it proceed.
We have previously challenged the rationale for deep-sea mining, drawing on our expertise in international politics and environmental management. We argue mining the deep sea is harmful and the economic benefits have been overstated. What’s more, the metals and minerals to be mined are not scarce.
The best course of action is a ban on international seabed mining, building on the coalition for a moratorium.
The Metals Company spent six months at sea collecting nodules in 2022, while studying the effects on ecosystems.
Managing and monitoring environmental harm
Recent advances in technology have made deep-sea mining more feasible. But removing the nodules – which also requires pumping water around – has been shown to damage the seabed and endanger marine life.
CSIRO has developed the first environmental management and monitoring frameworks to protect deep sea ecosystems from mining. It aims to provide “trusted, science-based tools to evaluate the environmental risks and viability of deep-sea mining”.
Scientists from Griffith University, Museums Victoria, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Earth Sciences New Zealand were also involved in the work.
The Metals Company Australia, a local subsidiary of the Canadian deep-sea mining exploration company, commissioned the research. It involved analysing data from test mining the company carried out in the Pacific Ocean in 2022.
In a media briefing this week, CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Piers Dunstan said the mining activity substantially affected the sea floor. Some marine life, especially that attached to the nodules, had very little hope of recovery. He said if mining were to go ahead, monitoring would be crucial.
We are sceptical that ecological impacts can be managed even with this new framework. Little is known about life in these deep-water ecosystems. But research shows nodule mining would cause extensive habitat loss and damage.
Do we really need to open the ocean frontier to mining? We argue the answer is no, on three counts.
How does deep-sea mining work? (The Guardian)
1. Minerals are not scarce
The minerals required for the energy transition are abundant on land. Known global terrestrial reserves of cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and nickel are enough to meet current production levels for decades – even with growing demand.
There is no compelling reason to extract deep-sea minerals, given the economics of both deep-sea and land-based mining. Deep-sea mining is speculative and inevitably too expensive given such remote, deep operations.
Claims about mineral scarcity are being used to justify attempting to legitimise a new extractive frontier in the deep sea. Opportunistic investors can make money through speculation and attracting government subsidies.
But deep-sea mining will not necessarily displace, replace or change mining on land. Land-based mining contracts span decades and the companies involved will not abandon ongoing or planned projects. Their activities will continue, even if deep-sea mining begins.
Deep-sea mining also faces many of the same challenges as mining on land, while introducing new problems. The social problems that arise during transport, processing and distribution remain the same.
3. Common heritage of humankind and the Global South
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international seabed is the common heritage of humankind. This means the proceeds of deep-sea mining should be distributed fairly among all countries.
Deep-sea mining commercial partnerships between developing countries in the Global South and firms from the North have yet to pay off for the former. There is little indication this pattern will change.
For example, when Canadian company Nautilus went bankrupt in 2019, it saddled Papua New Guinea with millions in debt from a failed domestic deep-sea mining venture.
The Metals Company has partnerships with Nauru and Tonga but the latest deal with the US creates uncertainty about whether their agreements will be honoured.
European investors took control of Blue Minerals Jamaica, originally a Jamaican-owned company, shortly after orchestrating its start up. Any profits would therefore go offshore.
Given the threat of environmental harm, the evidence suggests deep-sea mining is not worth the risk.
Justin Alger receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
D.G. Webster receives funding from the National Science Foundation in the United States and various internal funding sources at Dartmouth University.
Jessica Green receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Kate J Neville receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Stacy D VanDeveer and Susan M Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Prezado Presidente Lula, muito obrigado pelo seu amável convite e pela sua hospitalidade tão amiga.
Excellencies,
Artificial intelligence is reshaping economies and societies.
The fundamental test is how wisely we will guide this transformation.
How we minimize the risks and maximize the potential for good.
I am particularly concerned with the weaponization of AI, in a world where peace is more necessary than ever.
Peace in Palestine, based on building the two-State solution, starting by an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, free and unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery, and the ending of the crippling annexation and violence in the West Bank.
A just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Silencing the guns in Sudan, where civilians have also suffered too much. And the list goes on, from the DRC to Somalia, from the Sahel to Myanmar.
Excellencies,
Artificial intelligence needs a multilateral response grounded in equity and human rights.
The Pact for the Future, approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, calls for a new architecture of trust and cooperation – starting with the establishment by the UN of an Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
This Panel should provide impartial, evidence-based guidance available to all Member States.
The Pact also calls for a periodic Global Dialogue on AI within the UN, with all the Member States and relevant stakeholders.
The AI can’t be a club of the few, but must benefit all, and in particular, developing countries which must have a real voice in global AI governance.
I will also soon present a report outlining innovative voluntary financing options to support AI capacity-building in developing countries, and I urge the BRICS’ support and your support for these efforts.
But we cannot govern AI effectively – and fairly – without confronting deeper, structural imbalances in our global system.
We are in a multipolar era.
Power relations are shifting.
A multipolar world requires multilateral governance – with global institutions tuned for the times, in particular the Security Council and the international financial architecture.
They were designed for a bygone age, a bygone world, with a bygone system of power relations.
The reform of the Security Council is crucial.
The message from the Financing for Development Conference last week in Sevilla was clear:
Ensuring that developing countries have a greater participation in global economic governance and its institutions;
Putting into place an effective debt restructuring mechanism;
And tripling the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, in particular, with concessional funding and in local currencies.
All this is crucial for countries, especially in the Global South – to bridge the digital divide and fully harness artificial intelligence’s potential, making AI a powerful driver for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Excellencies,
At a time when multilateralism is being undermined, let us remind the world that cooperation is humanity’s greatest innovation.
That begins with trust, and trust begins with all countries respecting International Law without exceptions.
Let us rise to this moment – and reform and modernize multilateralism, including the UN and all the systems and institutions to make it work for everyone, everywhere.
Attributable to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers:
A rapid review of Police IT systems and devices has found while Police have a wide range of security measures in place, there are opportunities to strengthen and tighten controls on their use.
The review found Police has a range of modern security controls which protect Police information and systems from malicious activity. Most user activity is logged in line with good industry practice and there is clear guidance and expectations for staff around acceptable use.
However, the review also identified several areas where improvement was needed. These include more monitoring of staff internet use and stronger filtering mechanisms to guard against inappropriate or harmful content being accessed or downloaded.
It also recommended better oversight of all Police-owned devices, including those that sit outside the Police network for legitimate work purposes.
Police is an extremely complex workplace and different levels of security settings will always be required by some staff for lawful policing purposes. Some staff also require devices that operate outside the central Police system.
However, the review has made it very clear the current settings are not robust enough and urgent attention is required. The report includes recommendations to strengthen the settings.
I have made two decisions immediately:
– Re-introducing audits of data and internet usage on police devices, a process that was halted 4-5 years ago. These will recommence as soon as possible.
– Initiating an assessment of Police-owned standalone devices which operate outside the Police network. While there are legitimate work reasons for such devices, clarity is needed around the oversight of them.
I have requested a remediation plan to consider the review’s recommendations and address key issues. I have asked this be done quickly and expect to make further decisions within the month.
We have shared the review with other relevant agencies.
The NZ Police Rapid Review Summary Report is attached.
The Commissioner’s statement announcing the review on May 16 can be found here.
Please attribute to Acting Senior Sergeant Bernie O’Brien.
Police officers working dedicated area patrols to prevent burglaries in the Horowhenua area last week caught a recidivist offender with help from a quick-thinking caretaker.
On Thursday 3 July the Old Horowhenua Hospital complex was targeted with an offender cutting the main water supply to the site.
The burglary was discovered by workers on Friday morning and the damage repairs were estimated to be around $20,000. A plumber had to be called to reconnect the water supply to the building.
At about 9am on Saturday 5 July police were called to a burglary in progress by a caretaker at the hospital complex.
Police arrived to find a male running through the back fence of the complex. He had fled the premises allegedly leaving a substantial amount of copper piled up in sacks ready to go.
Police made immediate area enquiries and this work encouraged the suspect to report to the station and hand himself in.
Over several months the Old Horowhenua Hospital has been targeted by burglars removing copper pipes from within the buildings and under the floors.
While the site is no longer a hospital it is still the offices for community organisations such as The Horowhenua Learning Centre, and Life to the Max who rely on the building for their daily work.
The burglaries have caused thousands of dollars of damage and cutting and stealing pipe undermines the infrastructure of the building which can lead to further damage.
The offender responsible has been charged with five counts of burglary and will appear in the Levin District Court today.
Police would like to thank the public for their help in locating the person responsible for the burglaries and damage. Their quick thinking alerting police immdiately made all the difference.
We continue to encourage members of the public contact us if you see any suspicious or unlawful behaviour in the community.
Please contact Police on 111 immediately with as much information you can safely gather if an offence is currently in progress.
Information can be reported in non-emergencies or afterwards online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.
Left to right – Ethan Brown, Pat Sutton and David Wheeldon. Image: Uniform Photography
Three members of Trentham Fire Brigade have been recognised for their extraordinary bravery after they ventured into a severe storm to assist isolated community members in need.
CFA volunteers David Wheeldon, Pat Sutton and Ethan Brown each received the distinguished Unit Citation for Courage, at a ceremony at the Trentham Community Hub on Sunday (6 July).
On the night of 9 June 2021, destructive winds exceeding 160km/h tore through central Victoria, felling hundreds of trees, blocking roads, and cutting power and water to entire Trentham community for days.
Faced with dangerous conditions, David, Pat and Ethan recognised the need for immediate action after receiving an urgent call for help from a woman who had been left stranded by the storm damage and urgently needed access to an oxygen cylinder due to a health condition.
With roads blocked and no way for vehicles to get through, the trio set out to deliver the oxygen themselves.
Joined by a Victoria Police officer, they began to cut their way through a road strewn with dozens of trees.
David, who is now the captain of the brigade, said they didn’t give the rescue a second thought.
“You don’t think, you just go. The road was completely blocked, some of the fallen trees were huge and the weather just kept getting worse,” David said.
“I’ve never experienced winds like that, it was over 100 miles an hour, and trees continued to come down around us as we worked.”
Despite their efforts, the road proved to be impassable, but using local knowledge of backroads and paddocks, the crew was able to reach the person in need and deliver the oxygen in time.
“We thought we were responding to help the one person, but when we finally got through, there were six or seven cars out there with around 10 people trapped,” David said.
The crew moved the group to a nearby farmhouse, providing them with blankets, water and supplies to ensure their safety.
“We couldn’t bring them back it was too dangerous,” David said.
“So, we gave them any essentials we had on hand to ensure they were comfortable.”
After confirming the group was safe, and catching a few hours rest, response efforts resumed at first light.
David added that it was an honour to be recognised alongside Pat and Ethan.
“I couldn’t have asked for two better people to be out there with,” David said.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan, who presented the trio with their awards, praised the crew’s bravery and dedication.
“These volunteers placed themselves in harm’s way to protect others, without hesitation and under incredibly dangerous conditions,” Jason said.
“Their courage, teamwork and community mindedness perfectly reflect what CFA stands for.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
CHICAGO, IL – Just daysafter their attempt to conduct oversight at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the South Loopof Chicago was denied, Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) havesent a letterto Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding immediate access to the facility and full transparency around recent detentions and conditions inside.
“We were denied the ability to perform congressional oversight – as is our duty as members of the United States House of Representatives,” the lawmakers wrote. “During the visit to this facility, the ICE officer who refused to identify himself called the Chicago Police Department to evict us for ‘trespassing.’”
The visit by Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Jackson came afterdisturbing reports that on June 4, ICE officials detained at least 10 individuals after sending them text messages instructing them to appear at the facility for a “routine appointment.”
“It is unclear exactly how many people were taken, where they were taken to, and if they were given access to counsel,” the lawmakers wrote of the incident. “We were denied those answers.”
The congressmen emphasized the urgency of their request amid a broader immigration crackdown. Last week,President Donald Trump announcedhe was instructing ICE to target Democratic cities, including Chicago, as part of the “single largest mass deportation program in history.”
“The President’s politically motivated actions are deeply troubling, particularly for communities like ours in Illinois that have already seen intensified enforcement activity in recent weeks,” Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Jackson wrote.
The letter concludes with an urgent call to action by Congressmen Krishnamoorthi and Jackson: “Given the serious and potentially illegal nature of the activity in these reports, we request that the Department of Homeland Security allow Members of Congress to access the South Loop facility for the purpose of investigating their activity further. Please issue a response by Friday, June 27.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Congressmen Mike Lawler (R-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in calling on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse the decision to discontinue specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In the bipartisan letter, the congressmen expressed alarm and concern over the plan to terminate the service within the next 30 days, pointing to its proven impact in the form of an average of roughly 2,100 contacts each day as of February 2025. Following the adoption of 24/7 availability in March 2023, there have been over 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats, providing LGBTQ+ youth in need with a safe, reliable, and secure outlet during a moment of crisis.
“To a young person feeling alone and scared, 988 is truly a lifeline,” the congressmen wrote in their letter. “Discontinuing this service would be a dangerous step backward and would send a devastating message to LGBTQ+ young people across the country that their needs are not seen, their lives are not valued, and that support will not be there in their darkest hour. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“Cutting this crisis line is not just a policy decision; it’s a moral failure,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “We have a duty to protect every young person in crisis, and ending this service would abandon LGBTQ+ youth at the exact moment they need us most.”
The bipartisan group concluded their letter by urging HHS to maintain the staffing, infrastructure, and funding necessary to continue this lifesaving service.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
WASHINGTON – Today, during a House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hearing, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate the dedicated LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline within the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In a powerful line of questioning, Congressman Krishnamoorthi warned that removing this lifesaving service, under the banner of eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, was not just misguided; it was cruel.
Early today, Congressman Krishnamoorthi also led a bipartisan letter callingon Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse the decision to discontinue specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“In the name of expunging DEI, the Trump administration is not only rewriting history, it is actively putting lives at risk,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “There is no more tragic example than the decision to end the LGBTQ+ crisis hotline, which has fielded over 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats since becoming fully operational.”
Citing data from the Trump-era Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Congressman noted that LGBTQ+ youth face suicide risks at rates four times higher than their peers.
When questioned, Republican witnesses claimed to be unaware of both the CDC’s findings and bipartisan support for the hotline.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi also referenced a 2018 statement from Republican Senator Orrin Hatch highlighting the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ youth, as well as a May 2025 bipartisan letter from Republican Representatives Mike Lawler and Young Kim urging the Trump administration to preserve the LGBTQ+ lifeline.
“You don’t dispute that my Republican colleagues said this, do you?” he asked one witness.
“I’m not aware of anything to do with the suicide hotline,” the witness replied.
“And that’s the problem,” the congressman responded. “A lack of awareness. The fact that we are expunging an LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline in the name of expunging DEI is precisely why this crusade is so dangerous.”
While also addressing Medicaid and SNAP cuts elsewhere in the hearing, Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasized that eliminating support programs for vulnerable populations, especially under the false pretense of advancing “equality for everybody,” only makes life harder for working families and marginalized communities.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s question line is available in full here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act, bipartisan legislation with the goal of aiding schools in connecting students with the mental health services needed to succeed and thrive. Students and young people continue to face unprecedented mental health challenges inside and outside of school, with pressure and stress impacting Americans across the country. Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s legislation seeks to ensure all students, particularly those in underserved communities and under-resourced school districts, have access to appropriate and timely care. Joining Congressman Krishnamoorthi in introducing this bipartisan bill are Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH), Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR).
“Our school systems are lifelines of support when young people need mental health care and don’t know where to turn,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “Currently, most American school districts are unequipped to support our children, but our Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act will fill in the gaps and connect young people with the mental health services they need. By investing in the mental health of America’s future generations, we are setting all students up for success, regardless of their background or where they live.”
“The youth mental health crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time, and schools cannot tackle it without real support,” Congressman Fitzpatrick said. “The Connecting Students to Mental Health Services Act delivers targeted, high-impact resources—especially for underserved communities—to ensure students get the care they need. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, my priority is to advance solutions like this that strengthen our system and ensure every student has a clear path to support, stability, and success.”
“Getting students better access to mental health resources is so important,” Congressman Landsman said. “As a former teacher and the son of teachers, I’ve seen firsthand what’s happening in our classrooms – and know how much more we can do. Expanding access to care in our schools, especially through telehealth, will give our students what they need to be stronger and healthier. And when it’s easier to connect with professionals to work through what they’re facing, they’re in a much better position to succeed in school and life.”
“Students across the country are facing a growing mental health crisis, and we have a responsibility to ensure they’re not navigating it alone. The Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act will help break down barriers to care, especially for students in rural and underserved communities, by expanding access to telehealth in our schools. I’m proud to join Rep. Krishnamoorthi and our colleagues in delivering resources for our students and schools,” Congressman Lawler said.
“As a mom of four, I know how essential providing mental health services to students is to their success. We need to make sure we are investing in America’s youth, and that starts with making sure they can succeed in the classroom,” Congresswoman Bynum said. “That’s why I’m so proud to introduce the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act which takes important steps towards providing this vital care to our students in rural and high-poverty areas, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive now and for generations to come.”
The legislation would support partnerships between public schools and community-based mental health providers by:
Establishing a grant program through the Department of Education to fund school-based mental health coordination initiatives;
Supporting the hiring and training of school mental health professionals and liaisons;
Helping schools create referral pathways to community providers and expand access to tele-mental health options.
The legislation has been endorsed by leading mental health and education organizations, including the School Superintendents Association (AASA), National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National Association of Social Workers.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force are currently investigating a fatal crash that occurred along the Arnhem highway overnight.
Around 9pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received report that a vehicle had rolled on the Arnhem Highway, approximately 40km outbound from the Marrakai turnoff. The vehicle was carrying a 32-year-old male driver, a 14-year-old female and an 8-year-old male.
St John Ambulance, Police and the NT Fire and Rescue Service attended and conducted first aid.
The 8-year-old male was declared deceased at the scene, with the 32-year-old man and 14-year-old female conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital via CareFlight.
Both currently remain in stable conditions. It is believed the occupants are all family members.
The Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating and the Arnhem Highway remains closed from the Bark Hut Inn for 11km outbound.
Police advise motorists to avoid the area as delays are expected to remain until midday July 7.
Police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25181329.
The lives lost on Territory roads now stands at 22.
A man was arrested after allegedly being caught red-handed stealing copper from a communications pit at Beulah Park overnight.
About 1.30am on Monday 7 July, police were notified of an alarm activation within a cabling pit on the corner of The Parade and Shipsters Road, Beulah Park.
Police attended and located the suspect and his vehicle nearby.
A large quantity of copper piping was found inside the vehicle.
A 40-year-old man from Leabrook was arrested and charged with property damage and theft. He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court later today.
His vehicle was seized for further forensic examination.
The extent of damage to the cabling and communications equipment is not yet known.
Grade inflation happens when teachers knowingly give a student a mark higher than deserved. It can also happen indirectly, when the level of difficulty of a course is deliberately lowered so students achieve higher grades.
To better understand grade inflation, we sought the opinions of those closest to the phenomenon: university teachers. The findings of our survey were recently published in the Journal of Academic Ethics.
Increases in grades
Over the past 50 years, many countries have reported an increase in higher university grades. This includes the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.
For example, a 2024 Australian report found a 234% increase in the number of distinction grades awarded to students at the University of Sydney between 2011 and 2021.
But are grades improving due to changes in teaching and student performance, or rather is marking generally more lenient to keep students happy?
Our study
To investigate the causes of grade inflation in Australian universities, we surveyed lecturers and tutors who have direct contact with students, teaching them and marking their work.
Our main question was:
[What is] your opinion regarding grade inflation? Does it occur, and if yes, why, and how does it impact the student, profession, institutional reputation, society, and yourself?
In July 2024, we sent the survey to the deans (heads) of research at all Australian universities, asking them to distribute it to their academics. Academics then had two months to answer the questions.
In total, we had 110 respondents, of which 88 answered all the questions of the survey. The majority were aged 31-55 (55%), women (56%), born in Australia (about 70%), with more than five years in academia (more than 80%). There were more respondents from regional Australia (44%) than from urban locations (24.5%). About 30% had experience in both types of locations.
The disciplines most represented were legal studies (37%), education (21%), science, nursing and psychology (each around 7%).
Overall opinions
The majority (73%) said they had seen grade inflation in their universities.
Academics’ dominant feelings about grade inflation were frustration (50% of respondents), powerlessness (44%) and dissatisfaction (31%).
Of those surveyed, about 11% were indifferent and 7% were satisfied with the situation they experienced around grade inflation.
The fact that many academics surveyed felt frustrated and powerlessness indicates they do not inflate grades willingly. Previous studies have suggested university management encourages grade inflation as students are seen as clients and they want to keep the client happy.
Pressure from university administration
Our respondents supported this idea. Most said grade inflation was due to student evaluations – and the role they play in management decisions about staff.
Student evaluations are anonymous questionnaires completed by students after the course about their teachers’ performance. Studies, including those in Australia, have shown the results can be insulting and even abusive, often a “punishment” of unpopular teachers. These studies also question students’ capacity to objectively assess the quality of their educators.
Because students evaluations are commonly used in promotion and retention decisions, this means teachers may inflate grades to get positive evaluations. One respondent to our survey explained the link between these evaluations and grade inflation:
there is a lot of pressure […] as students will often provide strong negative feedback in [student evaluations].
Other academics similarly lamented how the quality of their teaching was assessed “based on student surveys”. Or as another academic told us:
Everyone I know who admits to grade inflation cites student evaluations, promotion, and workload as drivers.
Complaints generate more work
On top of this, if a student complains about their grade, there is automatically more work for an academic who needs to review it and potentially respond to seniors or others in university management. As one academic admitted:
I have inflated grades slightly for students who have failed the course by less than two marks. This saves hundreds of hours of work time.
In this climate, university teachers told us they do not feel supported if a student challenges their grades. They reported it was “very hard” to fail a student and described a “fear” of students’ reactions.
The customer is always right and if they are not happy, you are asked to grade again.
Is it always a problem?
Some respondents justified grade inflation as an acceptable trade-off when done to a limited extent, or as something morally neutral. As one noted, higher grades are the result of more people studying at university:
It is simply a corollary of shifting from tertiary education for the elites to tertiary education for the masses. It is no big deal.
Another said if the increase was small – depending on the context – it would not make a big difference.
1–5 marks do not make a significant difference on professional competence for some course content.
Only three respondents presented grade inflation in a positive light, as an act of social justice or compassion. As one noted:
Students experience many competing demands and many experience mental health issues. Teachers need to be compassionate to students’ situation.
An honest discussion is needed
While countless studies debate grade inflation, ours was the first to invite academics to express their feelings. Despite the relatively small sample, the survey suggests a worrying picture of a frustrated and at times, fearful academic workforce.
Meanwhile, the extent of grade inflation reported raises questions about the quality of some degrees, and more generally about the culture of learning in Australian universities.
To maintain the quality and reputation of higher education in Australia, we need to have an open and honest discussion about grade inflation in our universities.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Grade inflation happens when teachers knowingly give a student a mark higher than deserved. It can also happen indirectly, when the level of difficulty of a course is deliberately lowered so students achieve higher grades.
To better understand grade inflation, we sought the opinions of those closest to the phenomenon: university teachers. The findings of our survey were recently published in the Journal of Academic Ethics.
Increases in grades
Over the past 50 years, many countries have reported an increase in higher university grades. This includes the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.
For example, a 2024 Australian report found a 234% increase in the number of distinction grades awarded to students at the University of Sydney between 2011 and 2021.
But are grades improving due to changes in teaching and student performance, or rather is marking generally more lenient to keep students happy?
Our study
To investigate the causes of grade inflation in Australian universities, we surveyed lecturers and tutors who have direct contact with students, teaching them and marking their work.
Our main question was:
[What is] your opinion regarding grade inflation? Does it occur, and if yes, why, and how does it impact the student, profession, institutional reputation, society, and yourself?
In July 2024, we sent the survey to the deans (heads) of research at all Australian universities, asking them to distribute it to their academics. Academics then had two months to answer the questions.
In total, we had 110 respondents, of which 88 answered all the questions of the survey. The majority were aged 31-55 (55%), women (56%), born in Australia (about 70%), with more than five years in academia (more than 80%). There were more respondents from regional Australia (44%) than from urban locations (24.5%). About 30% had experience in both types of locations.
The disciplines most represented were legal studies (37%), education (21%), science, nursing and psychology (each around 7%).
Overall opinions
The majority (73%) said they had seen grade inflation in their universities.
Academics’ dominant feelings about grade inflation were frustration (50% of respondents), powerlessness (44%) and dissatisfaction (31%).
Of those surveyed, about 11% were indifferent and 7% were satisfied with the situation they experienced around grade inflation.
The fact that many academics surveyed felt frustrated and powerlessness indicates they do not inflate grades willingly. Previous studies have suggested university management encourages grade inflation as students are seen as clients and they want to keep the client happy.
Pressure from university administration
Our respondents supported this idea. Most said grade inflation was due to student evaluations – and the role they play in management decisions about staff.
Student evaluations are anonymous questionnaires completed by students after the course about their teachers’ performance. Studies, including those in Australia, have shown the results can be insulting and even abusive, often a “punishment” of unpopular teachers. These studies also question students’ capacity to objectively assess the quality of their educators.
Because students evaluations are commonly used in promotion and retention decisions, this means teachers may inflate grades to get positive evaluations. One respondent to our survey explained the link between these evaluations and grade inflation:
there is a lot of pressure […] as students will often provide strong negative feedback in [student evaluations].
Other academics similarly lamented how the quality of their teaching was assessed “based on student surveys”. Or as another academic told us:
Everyone I know who admits to grade inflation cites student evaluations, promotion, and workload as drivers.
Complaints generate more work
On top of this, if a student complains about their grade, there is automatically more work for an academic who needs to review it and potentially respond to seniors or others in university management. As one academic admitted:
I have inflated grades slightly for students who have failed the course by less than two marks. This saves hundreds of hours of work time.
In this climate, university teachers told us they do not feel supported if a student challenges their grades. They reported it was “very hard” to fail a student and described a “fear” of students’ reactions.
The customer is always right and if they are not happy, you are asked to grade again.
Is it always a problem?
Some respondents justified grade inflation as an acceptable trade-off when done to a limited extent, or as something morally neutral. As one noted, higher grades are the result of more people studying at university:
It is simply a corollary of shifting from tertiary education for the elites to tertiary education for the masses. It is no big deal.
Another said if the increase was small – depending on the context – it would not make a big difference.
1–5 marks do not make a significant difference on professional competence for some course content.
Only three respondents presented grade inflation in a positive light, as an act of social justice or compassion. As one noted:
Students experience many competing demands and many experience mental health issues. Teachers need to be compassionate to students’ situation.
An honest discussion is needed
While countless studies debate grade inflation, ours was the first to invite academics to express their feelings. Despite the relatively small sample, the survey suggests a worrying picture of a frustrated and at times, fearful academic workforce.
Meanwhile, the extent of grade inflation reported raises questions about the quality of some degrees, and more generally about the culture of learning in Australian universities.
To maintain the quality and reputation of higher education in Australia, we need to have an open and honest discussion about grade inflation in our universities.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Alger, Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer in Global Environmental Politics, The University of Melbourne
Deep-sea mining promises critical minerals for the energy transition without the problems of mining on land. It also promises to bring wealth to developing nations. But the evidence suggests these promises are false, and mining would harm the environment.
The practice involves scooping up rock-like nodules from vast areas of the sea floor. These potato-sized lumps contain metals and minerals such as zinc, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and rare earth elements.
Technology to mine the deep sea exists, but commercial mining of the deep sea is not happening anywhere in the world. That could soon change. Nations are meeting this month in Kingston, Jamaica, to agree to a mining code. Such a code would make way for mining to begin within the next few years.
On Thursday, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, released research into the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. It aims to promote better environmental management of deep-sea mining, should it proceed.
We have previously challenged the rationale for deep-sea mining, drawing on our expertise in international politics and environmental management. We argue mining the deep sea is harmful and the economic benefits have been overstated. What’s more, the metals and minerals to be mined are not scarce.
The best course of action is a ban on international seabed mining, building on the coalition for a moratorium.
The Metals Company spent six months at sea collecting nodules in 2022, while studying the effects on ecosystems.
Managing and monitoring environmental harm
Recent advances in technology have made deep-sea mining more feasible. But removing the nodules – which also requires pumping water around – has been shown to damage the seabed and endanger marine life.
CSIRO has developed the first environmental management and monitoring frameworks to protect deep sea ecosystems from mining. It aims to provide “trusted, science-based tools to evaluate the environmental risks and viability of deep-sea mining”.
Scientists from Griffith University, Museums Victoria, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Earth Sciences New Zealand were also involved in the work.
The Metals Company Australia, a local subsidiary of the Canadian deep-sea mining exploration company, commissioned the research. It involved analysing data from test mining the company carried out in the Pacific Ocean in 2022.
In a media briefing this week, CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Piers Dunstan said the mining activity substantially affected the sea floor. Some marine life, especially that attached to the nodules, had very little hope of recovery. He said if mining were to go ahead, monitoring would be crucial.
We are sceptical that ecological impacts can be managed even with this new framework. Little is known about life in these deep-water ecosystems. But research shows nodule mining would cause extensive habitat loss and damage.
Do we really need to open the ocean frontier to mining? We argue the answer is no, on three counts.
How does deep-sea mining work? (The Guardian)
1. Minerals are not scarce
The minerals required for the energy transition are abundant on land. Known global terrestrial reserves of cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and nickel are enough to meet current production levels for decades – even with growing demand.
There is no compelling reason to extract deep-sea minerals, given the economics of both deep-sea and land-based mining. Deep-sea mining is speculative and inevitably too expensive given such remote, deep operations.
Claims about mineral scarcity are being used to justify attempting to legitimise a new extractive frontier in the deep sea. Opportunistic investors can make money through speculation and attracting government subsidies.
But deep-sea mining will not necessarily displace, replace or change mining on land. Land-based mining contracts span decades and the companies involved will not abandon ongoing or planned projects. Their activities will continue, even if deep-sea mining begins.
Deep-sea mining also faces many of the same challenges as mining on land, while introducing new problems. The social problems that arise during transport, processing and distribution remain the same.
3. Common heritage of humankind and the Global South
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international seabed is the common heritage of humankind. This means the proceeds of deep-sea mining should be distributed fairly among all countries.
Deep-sea mining commercial partnerships between developing countries in the Global South and firms from the North have yet to pay off for the former. There is little indication this pattern will change.
For example, when Canadian company Nautilus went bankrupt in 2019, it saddled Papua New Guinea with millions in debt from a failed domestic deep-sea mining venture.
The Metals Company has partnerships with Nauru and Tonga but the latest deal with the US creates uncertainty about whether their agreements will be honoured.
European investors took control of Blue Minerals Jamaica, originally a Jamaican-owned company, shortly after orchestrating its start up. Any profits would therefore go offshore.
Given the threat of environmental harm, the evidence suggests deep-sea mining is not worth the risk.
Justin Alger receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
D.G. Webster receives funding from the National Science Foundation in the United States and various internal funding sources at Dartmouth University.
Jessica Green receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Kate J Neville receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Stacy D VanDeveer and Susan M Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Alger, Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer in Global Environmental Politics, The University of Melbourne
Deep-sea mining promises critical minerals for the energy transition without the problems of mining on land. It also promises to bring wealth to developing nations. But the evidence suggests these promises are false, and mining would harm the environment.
The practice involves scooping up rock-like nodules from vast areas of the sea floor. These potato-sized lumps contain metals and minerals such as zinc, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and rare earth elements.
Technology to mine the deep sea exists, but commercial mining of the deep sea is not happening anywhere in the world. That could soon change. Nations are meeting this month in Kingston, Jamaica, to agree to a mining code. Such a code would make way for mining to begin within the next few years.
On Thursday, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, released research into the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. It aims to promote better environmental management of deep-sea mining, should it proceed.
We have previously challenged the rationale for deep-sea mining, drawing on our expertise in international politics and environmental management. We argue mining the deep sea is harmful and the economic benefits have been overstated. What’s more, the metals and minerals to be mined are not scarce.
The best course of action is a ban on international seabed mining, building on the coalition for a moratorium.
The Metals Company spent six months at sea collecting nodules in 2022, while studying the effects on ecosystems.
Managing and monitoring environmental harm
Recent advances in technology have made deep-sea mining more feasible. But removing the nodules – which also requires pumping water around – has been shown to damage the seabed and endanger marine life.
CSIRO has developed the first environmental management and monitoring frameworks to protect deep sea ecosystems from mining. It aims to provide “trusted, science-based tools to evaluate the environmental risks and viability of deep-sea mining”.
Scientists from Griffith University, Museums Victoria, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and Earth Sciences New Zealand were also involved in the work.
The Metals Company Australia, a local subsidiary of the Canadian deep-sea mining exploration company, commissioned the research. It involved analysing data from test mining the company carried out in the Pacific Ocean in 2022.
In a media briefing this week, CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist Piers Dunstan said the mining activity substantially affected the sea floor. Some marine life, especially that attached to the nodules, had very little hope of recovery. He said if mining were to go ahead, monitoring would be crucial.
We are sceptical that ecological impacts can be managed even with this new framework. Little is known about life in these deep-water ecosystems. But research shows nodule mining would cause extensive habitat loss and damage.
Do we really need to open the ocean frontier to mining? We argue the answer is no, on three counts.
How does deep-sea mining work? (The Guardian)
1. Minerals are not scarce
The minerals required for the energy transition are abundant on land. Known global terrestrial reserves of cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum and nickel are enough to meet current production levels for decades – even with growing demand.
There is no compelling reason to extract deep-sea minerals, given the economics of both deep-sea and land-based mining. Deep-sea mining is speculative and inevitably too expensive given such remote, deep operations.
Claims about mineral scarcity are being used to justify attempting to legitimise a new extractive frontier in the deep sea. Opportunistic investors can make money through speculation and attracting government subsidies.
But deep-sea mining will not necessarily displace, replace or change mining on land. Land-based mining contracts span decades and the companies involved will not abandon ongoing or planned projects. Their activities will continue, even if deep-sea mining begins.
Deep-sea mining also faces many of the same challenges as mining on land, while introducing new problems. The social problems that arise during transport, processing and distribution remain the same.
3. Common heritage of humankind and the Global South
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international seabed is the common heritage of humankind. This means the proceeds of deep-sea mining should be distributed fairly among all countries.
Deep-sea mining commercial partnerships between developing countries in the Global South and firms from the North have yet to pay off for the former. There is little indication this pattern will change.
For example, when Canadian company Nautilus went bankrupt in 2019, it saddled Papua New Guinea with millions in debt from a failed domestic deep-sea mining venture.
The Metals Company has partnerships with Nauru and Tonga but the latest deal with the US creates uncertainty about whether their agreements will be honoured.
European investors took control of Blue Minerals Jamaica, originally a Jamaican-owned company, shortly after orchestrating its start up. Any profits would therefore go offshore.
Given the threat of environmental harm, the evidence suggests deep-sea mining is not worth the risk.
Justin Alger receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
D.G. Webster receives funding from the National Science Foundation in the United States and various internal funding sources at Dartmouth University.
Jessica Green receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Kate J Neville receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Stacy D VanDeveer and Susan M Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lynette Riley, Co-chair of the National NAIDOC Committee and Professor in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work; and Chair, Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies.original Education & Indigenous Studies., University of Sydney
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and/or images of deceased people.
In 1938, when Australia celebrated the sesquicentenary – 150 years since Captain Phillip and the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove – the organisers wanted Aboriginal people to be involved in a re-enactment.
More than 25 Aboriginal men were rounded up from Menindee in western New South Wales. They were told if they did not perform the role of running up the beach away from the British, their families would starve.
Ngiyaampaa elder Beryl (Yunghadhu) Philp Carmichael, who was three at the time, recollected years later that all she could remember was the crying:
All the women were crying. Whether they were taking them away to be massacred, no one knew.
The re-enactment was of course a fallacy of what really happened on January 26 1788 – it was a “white-washing” of history.
The mistreatment of the Menindee men illustrates the anger that was simmering over the status and treatment of fellow Aboriginal kin.
Protests against Australia Day, which had been growing since the 1920s, led to the Aboriginal Day of Mourning, the first national gathering of Indigenous people speaking up against discrimination and dispossession.
The Aboriginal Day of Mourning was regarded as one of the first major civil rights movements in the world. National Museum of Australia, CC BY
The emergence of Aboriginal protest groups nearly a century ago gave birth in the 1970s to what eventually came to be known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC), which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Celebrating culture
NAIDOC’s role is to encompass all Indigenous/First Nations peoples in Australia.
to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is essentially a celebration of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. Numerous events are held across the country – performances, art and photographic exhibitions, smoking ceremonies and the popular National NAIDOC Awards.
They present a crucial opportunity to increase awareness in the wider community of Indigenous history and excellence, while acknowledging the challenges that remain.
It is distinct from Reconciliation Week, which focuses on relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
As a current co-chair of the NAIDOC Committee, I recognise the ongoing need, as initially established by our Elders as the founders of NAIDOC Week, to highlight the continuing issues for us as Indigenous peoples in Australia.
NAIDOC themes
We do this by setting a theme each year focused on a specific challenge.
The themes are determined through deep consideration of the significant issues facing Indigenous peoples. They have evolved through political protests, social change, recognition, respect and appreciation of Indigenous rights.
Some examples down the years from the 1970s include:
Advance Australia Where? (1972)
Self Determination (1974)
White Australia has a Black History (1987)
Understanding It Takes the Two of Us (1985)
Justice not Tolerance (1995)
Gurindji, Mabo, Wik – Three Strikes for Justice (1997)
Bringing Them Home (1998)
Advance Australia Fair? (2008)
Our Languages Matter (2017)
Voice. Treaty. Truth. (2019)
Always Was, Always Will Be (2020).
NAIDOC Week helps promote to the wider community the importance of truth-telling and learning of societal issues, the heritage of culture and languages, and the history of interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Ask yourself: what do you know about the themes? Why are they relevant and what impact do they have on Indigenous peoples across Australia?
Next generation
The theme for 2025 is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”.
It was selected following the committee’s distress at the way in which our youth are often demeaned in the media and presented as social pariahs and potential risks to the wider community’s safety.
To us, our youth are our cultural and social strength, and the continuity for our communities.
We therefore celebrate our youth. We wish to highlight these amazing young people in our communities, as our vision and legacy for our future.
Look no further than our past NAIDOC Youth winners:
Dante Rodrigues 2024: a professional martial arts and kickboxer who runs health and wellbeing programs for young Indigenous people
Courtney Burns 2023: a marine biologist who is deeply passionate about the connection between ocean, Country and our Mob
Elijah Manis 20022: Young islander working in the fields of social justice issues and the effects of climate change on the Torres Strait.
In NAIDOC and the ABC’s educational resource Culture Is Life, three young people speak of the kind of ancestor they would like to be to inspire future generations.
Visual artist Irwin Lewis said he would want to be known for his conservation of cultural knowledge, stories and language.
Foster care worker Shaylem Wilson nominated never turning away from hard truths, and working with young people who continue to be taken away from their families and Country, as well as maintaining and strengthening their family and cultural ties.
Youth advocate Manny Williams noted he wanted to seek deeper connection to Country to help guide the next generations of young people:
I want to be an ancestor who always nurtured everything
from people to Country — guiding those who seek a deeper
connection; sharing wisdom and knowledge to those who listen. An ancestor who is there to remind our people of the light we all have within ourselves.
The future is in the hands of these remarkable Indigenous youth as they grapple with the human rights, political and societal issues facing their communities.
Many Australians have much to learn from NAIDOC Week.
All of us have much to celebrate.
Lynette Riley is the co-chair of the National NAIDOC Committee
