All the news the headlines missed in 2025.

The legislation’s opponents will argue that it is over-inclusive and disproportionately limits free speech History tells us that anti-protest laws rushed through parliament often have an unhappy ending in the courts. In 2022 laws were whipped through the New South Wales parliament in response to a series of climate protests to prevent protesters disrupting infrastructure and major facilities. They were challenged by the “knitting nanas”, who succeeded in having part of the law struck down for impermissibly burdening the implied freedom of political communication. Then we had the Dural caravan episode, which led to more laws being urgently passed – this time to restrict protests outside places of worship. Again, part of the legislation was struck down. It had allowed police to issue “move-on” orders to people who were protesting near a place of worship, even though they were not obstructing, harassing or intimidating any people who were entering or leaving the place of worship. But the NSW supreme court held that this went beyond what was necessary to achieve its legitimate purpose of protecting worshippers. There were more narrowly focused equally effective alternatives which could have been adopted and would have had less of a burden on political communication. Continue reading...

Pro-Palestine activists, some Jewish groups and civil liberty campaigners criticise NSW Labor for ‘eroding our democratic freedoms’

YouTube video by Turner Classic Movies

Chris Minns’ protest ban is not just authoritarian: it is breathtakingly racist and must be resisted, writes Nick Riemer.

Proposed changes to gun laws and protest rights in NSW after the Bondi terror attack risk being kneejerk It is understandable that the Minns Labor government wants to rush new restrictions about guns and protests into law. A tragedy like the Bondi massacre demands action – the unpredictable political wave of public feeling after a disaster can either wipe you out or see you riding high. The risks are obvious in Anthony Albanese’s plummeting poll numbers. Continue reading...

November 14, 2025 The Jewish Council of Australia joins a coalition of nine Jewish organisations in releasing an open letter […]

The PM must show the same determination and commitment as John Howard following the Port Arthur massacre and abolish recreational hunting licences The Bondi shooting has guaranteed that formulation of new laws to control gun use will be urgently considered at state and federal levels. It is well overdue. New laws in Western Australia provide an excellent model for such laws, and it is time we had informed national oversight of gun ownership and use. Anthony Albanese must now show the same leadership, determination and commitment John Howard showed after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, including a commitment to abolish recreational hunting licences. Anything less will fail to honour the lives of those lost at Bondi. Charles Watson is a public health physician and a board member of Gun Control Australia. Roland Browne has been a gun control advocate since 1987 and is a lawyer and vice-chair of Gun Control Australia Continue reading...

US offers to get Australians out of camps if they are issued with travel documents, but Labor has said ‘this is not something the government is considering’

NACC boss Brereton has disturbing history of giving misleading information. How much more is needed for him to resign?

Very sloppy, lots of tongue.

The minister says quick approvals can happen while protecting the environment, but my experience tells me that haste brings unintended consequences

We often hear about "failing schools", but what if it is us, the Australian community, who are failing them?  Public school advocate Jane Caro argues that Australia's pursuit of school choice, and the...

It’s a nice feeling when your brain suddenly comes up with an answer.

Offsets were meant to be a last resort for mitigating environmental damage from development projects, but rapidly became the default

New research is making solar panels that have higher energy output and last longer that expected that help move the solar revolution forward.

SHIFT is the go-to guide for climate-concerned individuals ready to take the most effective, science-backed personal climate action

Should the Australian Defence Force (ADF) stick with the US and the AUKUS alliance or can Australia defend itself? Rex Patrick reports

Minns government to create one of the largest national parks in the state as forest advocates welcome ‘historic’ victory