So, as we’ve probably all noticed, Australian news is kind of… Australia-centric? I’m wondering what news stories you’ve been encountering that really should be getting wider coverage. Here are some of mine: After years of military dictatorship, Burma is on… Read More ›
western australia
Breastfeeding people protected in WA at last
I’ve blogged before about the fight to get breastfeeding included in Western Australia’s anti-discrimination legislation. That fight is logged below – now, for purely historical reasons! Because today, finally, the Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill 2009 passed the Upper House of… Read More ›
WA Police using Smartrider public transport data to track people
WA Today reports that police are weekly requesting personal information from Perth’s public transport system without a subpoena – and are receiving it. Police using Smartrider to track people Police are using the Public Transport Authority’s Smartrider electronic ticketing system… Read More ›
SUCCESS! Breastfeeding discrimination law likely to change in WA
Remember the Perth rally against breastfeeding discrimination back in April? Mandy Crabtree was ejected from a cafe for requesting to breastfeed her baby, and the Premier responded to public outcry by saying that women should breastfeed in a “discreet, modern… Read More ›
Sunday Garden
I love this Geraldton Wax. Lots more below the cut…
Fremantle by-election is verrrry interesting
This Fremantle by-election is getting exciting! I wasn’t letting myself believe that Greens candidate Adele Carles could actually win, after the brief moment of false hope at the last election – but early results are very promising. Whoever would have… Read More ›
A new analogy! Breastfeeding = bloodied corpses.
Those opposing new legislation in the wind to protect the rights of mothers and children to breastfeed in public are getting increasingly desperate. I’ve read an awful lot of comment threads about public breastfeeding (Bingo card here), so to come… Read More ›
Emergency Department “Did Not Waits” – what’s the real story?
This appeared in yesterday’s West: “Urgent ED cases walk out before treatment”
More than three patients needing urgent attention leave the busy emergency departments of Perth’s major hospitals every day without being treated, new figures show. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information laws show that last year, 7215 patients across all levels of urgency attended the emergency departments at Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner, Fremantle and Princess Margaret hospitals but left without being seen by a doctor.
They included 48 category 2 or “emergency” patients, typically including suspected heart attacks, and 1184 category 3 or “urgent” cases, which can include head injuries and major bleeding or fractures. Twenty of these patients were children.
This article looks at some important questions, but it fails to illuminate us on what the answers might be – and the information presented is a little misleading.
Severely injured asylum seekers and the right to privacy
As Aussies probably know, folks on a boat were rescued by the Navy up off Ashmore Reef this week, after their boat caught fire. The origin of the fire is a matter of some dispute. The Liberal (conservative) Premier of… Read More ›
Mothers Not Human: In The Words Of Our Premier
In Barnett rules out breastfeeding legislation, the West talks about WA Premier Colin Barnett’s appearance on the 6PR Breakfast Show. Barnett ruled out bringing WA into line with other states with regards to adding breastfeeding discrimination to the Equal Opportunity… Read More ›